Konoha Uchiha estate
Akashi was seated in his grandfather courtyard.
He already had his own estate of Konoha, but he often came here, beside him was his grandfather elder Uchiha Mikami.
He had arrived a week ago to open the Uzumaki sealing shops in konoha, and as proof of trust Akashi came in person, of course he was followed by hundreds of ninjas of Uzushiogakure in charged of his safety.
The Uchiha had not yet been pushed out of the center of the village so he often walked or sleepy there.
The soft glow of the sun illuminated Akashi.
His long blood red hairs seemed to absorb the sun, while his red eyes focused on his calligraphy while the old man was basking on the sun not far away.
"So, kid how are things going on the business side?"
Mikami asked his grandson as he looked at his grandson so focused on his new seals.
"Excellent, like usual we are making tons of money, the shops were quickly established, the hokage was eager to host us,"
"Of course, after all, things are worsening out there, the other great villages seems to have recovered enough to start moving again.
"Already," Akashi's movement stopped for a few seconds, "It has been only five years since the last war, they are recovering a little sooner than I expected."
It was during the last war that his mother died, that Uzushiogakure was destroyed and that they were nearly annihilated, but during the attack on Uzushiogakure they amount of ninjas of the great villages that they eliminated was staggering, enough to make them feel the pain for years.
"The money that they save buying your seals is used to boost ninjas training," Mikami explained
"Ah, I see, unfortunate, but that money is put to good use," Akashi replied resuming his calligraphy, the staggering amount of money that they have was put to good use too, they have many trained ninjas and mercenaries working for them so he wasn't worried.
"So war is starting again," a sinister smiled flashed on Akashi's lips 'Go ahead and destroy yourself,'
As if he could read his mind the old voice of Mikami sounded "You are a pretty scary kid you know that right?"
"I know," He responded calmly, "Do you think we will get involved? In the war I mean..." He asked his grandfather "Grandpa, not you, grandpa is sure that no matter what we thing or try we will be forcefully involved in the war, and I agree,"
"Indeed," Mikami smiled a little at that "No matter what you do you the ninjas villages and Daimyos will drag you down,"
"The emergency of a sixth ninjas villages will not be easy,"
"So! Did you received your reward?" Akashi inquired, "You worked so hard to obtain it, I hope it was worth it,"
"It was, they kept their words, tried their best to reduce it as much as possible though,"
...
Hokage's office
The three advisors Danzo, Koharu, Nomura were seated beside Hiruzen Sarutobi, seated in front of them were Hiruzen's three young students Orochimaru, Tsunade and Jiraya.
"The situation outside is getting more and more volatile, kumogakure's ninjas are already harassing out border,"
"Those barbarian. Why are they so active now, Accord to the report they have not yet recovered from the last war," Koharu said
"The first war was a disaster for every village lost thousands of peoples and even the kages died," Koharu said clenching his fist remembering his own teacher death. "How are they so eager to start another one,"
"They aren't the only ones on the moves, the others villages are according to my spies more active," Danzo added
"I too am a little surprised, I expected that they will take more time, but I somewhat understand why they are acting like that," Hiruzen said taking his pipe and lite it using a dexterous usage of fire chakra.
"Even though they were greatly weaken and lost the war, konoha too was weakened, in fact we were more weaken than all the other villages," he said passing his hand between his short brown hairs and everyone nodded
Everyone here had access to high level information or had suffer from the war an they all knew that how much loses the village had endured, some clans were whiped out while others like the Senjus had lost about half their peoples.
What Hiruzen and the others advisors didn't say were that the weakening of the clans were their objectives, and they intended to keep it that way.
"Not only that we also lost the Uzumaki's support, granduncle and grandma Mito also died." Tsunade added, even though she was still young she had great presence.
"Speaking of Uzumaki, how is it going with Akashi?" Orochimru asked "Have you manage to get him on our side?" everyone gazed turned toward her, getting Akashi on their side, not just on the side of the Uchiha but on the side of the Hokage faction was a policy of Hiruzen.
"No."
"Unfortunately Akashi is not some naive boy, he is smart, prudent, and composed. Those are just a few of his quality, if you think that getting him on your side will be a small afair you are naive." Tsunade explained after her observation of Akashi.
"Tsunade is right on that he is a though nut to crack," Jiraya intervened "But he is close with Kushina, and through Kushina, Minato has also spent a some time with him and the peoples he has beside him, like that little Karin. From what he told me even his grandfather Mikami cannot control him,"
"Well it's understandable, he is not really a ninja, plus old people tend to be lenient toward the grandchildrens." Tsunade said remembering her own grandfather.
"So what do we do about him Hiruzen? We need to tied them to konoha again." Danzo asked the hokage, "From the report I received part of the reason they recovered so quickly is due to the money they save from logistics, explosives tags and others,"
"If lady Mito was still here she would be able to convince them," Koharu said with a sigh, it was no secret that the old woman had been an headache for Hiruzen and his group but she was a pillar that they leaned on often, in fact the reason why Hiruzen was able to seat on the seat of Kage was due to her support.
"We need a way to control him." Danzo said his eyes turned toward Tsunade "Maybe you should try to seduce him,"
"...?!"
A awkward silence filled the room before "What?!"
The indigned shouts of the peoples present resounded.
Bang
The sound of crashing furniture resounded and it took both Orochimaru and Jiraya to restrain Tsunade from killing Danzo.
Just like that the meeting ended in chaos.
A while later
'The famous Ichiraku ramen, it has been a while,' Akashi thought walking inside
"A bowl of ramen, mister Teuchi," Akashi said sitting on a empty seat.
"Ah, Lord Akashi, good morning," the enthusiastic Teuchi said as Akashi sat down
"A bowl of ramen coming soon, it is a pleasure to have you in my shop again,"
"You recognize me?!" Akashi asked raising his eyebrows
"Well, I have a very good memory that allows me to easily recognize my customers, sometime I even inadvertently recognize people related to them in the street." He explained "and to be honest sir, your red hair make you hard to forget,"
Akashi looked at the young man preparing his ramen with a smile
"You would have made a good ninja if you had chosen that profession,"
Hearing that a light laugh echo from Teuchi
"I thought so too when I was younger, but making ramen is my real calling,"
"And I am happy that you did." The animated and cheerful voice of Kushina appeared on the seat next to him
"Good morning Akashi, Teuchi San," they greater the cook
"Good morning you two,"
"Good morning Akashi San," Minato Namikaze greeter Akashi before taking the seat next to Kushina who was ordering for the two of them.
" Good morning, how was the mission Minato?" Akashi as he started eating his ramen.
"Very good, it was just a bandit exterminating a few kilometers away from the village," he responded with his usual sunny smile.
"I am surprised that bandits dare to come so close from konoha,"
"There are always a few daring peoples in the world," he responded
"You mean stupid bandits near Konoha, what a bunch of idiot,"
For a second Akashi just looked at Kushina wondering if she unconsciously letting something spill that and that bandits extermination mission was just a fassage, but it didn't matter to him, so he just shook his shoulders.
"Another bowl,"
"Of course," a new bowl of ramen already ready appeared in front of Akashi and soon he started a contest with of the biggest eater with Kushina while Minato let out a sigh of relief.
"Where is Karin?" Kushina asked as empty bowls stacked beside them, she had gotten along very well with her, due to the fact that she was a Uzumaki and a girl, She was closer to her that to the aloof Akashi.
"Taking care of the shops, there are still a few things left to do there."
"Humph, as a man shouldn't you be the one taking care of things like that,"
"Does your Kage take mission himself," Akashi asked back.
"You- how dare you compare yourself to the Hokage, humph,"
"Please calm down Kushina, he is the future leader of the Uzumaki, I am sorry Akashi-san,"
"No problem, I know what kind of person she is," Akashi responded putting down his bowl
The discussion continued due to Minatosoften things between the two strong headed red head, he was like a peace keepers.
In truth Akashi and Minato was both observing and analysing everything, from the mere disagreement earlier they had both noted that Kushina was more loyal to the Hokage and Konoha than to Uzushiogakure.
After a few minutes
"It will be all, thank you for the meal Teuchi-san,"
"It was my pleasure,"
"Good bye to you two,"
After paying Akashi left the stand when
"Here you are Akashi Uzumaki, I am Uchiha Ikaku and I challenge you to a duel!"