Chapter 61: Alliances and New Eyes
Akatsurugi finished his snacks and made his way toward the Aburame Clan's compound.
The moment he stepped onto their grounds, the clan leader was already aware of his presence and came to the entrance to greet him personally. Despite his youth, Akatsurugi was a bona fide powerhouse who had proven himself on the battlefield. He was the man who had killed the Second Kazekage and fought a Jinchūriki single-handedly. These were not feats the Aburame Clan could afford to ignore.
"Lord Akatsurugi, to what do we owe this honor?" the Aburame Clan leader, Shifu, asked, his tone humble.
After all, the Aburame were only a minor clan within Konoha. If not for the unique nature of their insect-based ninjutsu, their position would be far more precarious.
"Chief Shifu, my apologies for the sudden visit. I've come to discuss a matter with you," Akatsurugi stated, getting straight to the point.
Aburame Shifu nodded, inviting him inside. "Please, Lord Akatsurugi, speak freely."
Akatsurugi held nothing back. He explained that Danzō had demanded personnel from his ANBU battalion and that, given his current position, he was in no place to refuse. He could only request that the Aburame Clan provide a few members for Root.
After hearing this, Chief Shifu's expression turned troubled. As a small clan, they had few ninjas to spare, and even fewer elite ones. Sending them to Danzō was a grave concern. Everyone knew the man's methods were ruthless, and the mortality rate for Root operatives was notoriously high.
"Chief Shifu, I have little leverage in this matter," Akatsurugi admitted. "However, I can give you my personal guarantee. From this day forward, I, Akatsurugi, will do everything in my power to look after the Aburame Clan. As long as I live, your clan will have a place in Konoha."
Empty promises wouldn't suffice; Danzō would just keep demanding more ninjas. He needed to offer a tangible commitment.
With Akatsurugi's assurance, a relieved smile spread across Aburame Shifu's face. "You needn't worry, Lord Akatsurugi. The Aburame Clan will handle this matter appropriately."
Satisfied, Akatsurugi nodded and took his leave. Next on his list was the Kurama Clan.
The Kurama were masters of genjutsu, their skills fundamentally at odds with the Uchiha's. However, their clan was small, and only a handful ever awakened their bloodline limit. The Uchiha, consequently, didn't see them as a threat.
The Kurama Clan leader hurried out to greet him as well. Akatsurugi was just as direct, offering them the same guarantee he had given the Aburame. The Kurama leader also readily agreed to send a few members to Root.
With that business concluded, Akatsurugi felt the weight of the second Mangekyō Sharingan in his pocket. Should I transplant it? It's better to do this sort of thing sooner rather than later.
He sought out the medic-nin who had performed his first eye transplant, Matsushima. The man had become one of Konoha's most sought-after medical-nin, his skills so renowned that even Tsunade had studied under him for a time.
"Matsushima, I need your assistance again," Akatsurugi said.
Matsushima simply nodded. "Of course, Lord Akatsurugi. Follow me, please."
With his prior experience, Matsushima performed the transplant swiftly. Supported by his expert medical ninjutsu, the nerves in Akatsurugi's eye healed at a remarkable rate.
"Lord Akatsurugi, your right eye is settled," Matsushima said, handing him the old one. "Sir, I don't know why you wish to replace your other eye, but the rejection between two foreign eyes may drastically increase your chakra consumption. It could be a detriment to your strength."
Akatsurugi smiled, acknowledging the warning. "I understand the risk. But these were my teacher's eyes. I want him to continue watching over this world through me."
Matsushima was taken aback by the sentiment, but a look of admiration soon crossed his face. "A noble sentiment. Very well, please take care of yourself, Lord Akatsurugi."
Akatsurugi stored his original right eye and began to acclimatize to the new one. He already knew the left eye's ability: Transposition. The right eye's power, however, was still a mystery. He needed to find a place to test it.
It was already night, and he had a mission assembly in the morning. After a moment's hesitation, he headed for a remote training ground.
Though Konoha was still lively, the paths to the outskirts were quiet, patrolled only by occasional ANBU squads. Akatsurugi exchanged brief nods with them; they didn't question his presence at the training ground.
Once he arrived, he took a steadying breath. He closed his eyes, and when they snapped open again, the pupils had morphed into a four-pointed windmill pattern. He focused, activating the right eye's ability.
In an instant, the world around him froze. The rustling leaves, the very air—everything became perfectly still. He took an experimental step forward. A moment later, he was back in his original position. A sharp pain lanced through his eye, and a trail of bloody tears streamed down his cheek. Clutching his right eye, he understood its power.
"Imprisonment," he whispered.
It wasn't time-stop, as he'd first thought, but a powerful spatial lockdown. The ability was formidable, yet had its limits. Against a powerful ninja, a two-second imprisonment where everything simply reset was of little use if he couldn't land a decisive blow in that window.
However, a specific application came to mind. This could be the perfect counter for Obito's phasing technique. If I imprison the space around him, he'd have nowhere to phase to. He'd be completely at my mercy.
He finally understood why Uchiha Kagami, even with this Mangekyō, had fallen to the Third Raikage. These specific abilities were nearly useless against an opponent with such overwhelming speed and defense. Even an underdeveloped Susano'o could be shattered by the Raikage's fist.
As for Susano'o, Akatsurugi had no intention of attempting it. The chakra and ocular strain were far too great. Without Hashirama cells or his own original Mangekyō pair, he had to cherish and preserve this precious gift from his teacher.
He returned home and found a pair of sunglasses. With both eyes now permanently holding the Sharingan, it was better to be discreet.
The next morning, Akatsurugi arrived at the village gates. The merchant caravan was already assembled, and Tsunade and Orochimaru were waiting. Jiraiya was absent, likely still training in the art of Sage Mode at Mount Myōboku.
Another figure stood with the team—a young man with distinctive white hair. Seeing Akatsurugi, the white-haired ninja immediately offered a respectful salute.
"Greetings, Lord Akatsurugi!"
Akatsurugi smiled. He recognized him instantly, especially with the distinctive short sword strapped to his back. This was Konoha's recent workhorse, Hatake Sakumo.
"No need for formalities, Sakumo," Akatsurugi said warmly. "I've heard you're Konoha's most dedicated shinobi these days—either on a mission or on your way to one. Impressive work."
Hatake Sakumo simply scratched his head, a little embarrassed. He had no choice. The reason he worked so tirelessly was for the chakra-conducting blade on his back. He had spent the entire Hatake family fortune to forge this single, precious short sword.