The fat cat was no longer the mindless creature it used to be. Now that it had gained intelligence on par with a human, keeping it locked inside the pocket dimension wasn't appropriate anymore.
But carrying it around all the time was also inconvenient. Forming a Summoning Contract solved that problem, and Akio finally felt relieved.
Whenever something happened, he could summon it. When nothing was going on, he could still sense its location and condition. Incredibly convenient…
With this matter settled, Akio continued toward the Senju compound.
During wartime, not many shinobi remained in Konoha, he had barely seen a handful these past two days, and none of them were familiar faces.
But the Senju compound was different. Whether they knew him personally or not, all Senju clansmen certainly recognized Akio. Every person he passed reacted the same way, first shocked, then excited.
"Elder Akio, you're really alive!"
Akio kept smiling, but by the time he reached the Nawaki, Mikoto household, even his face felt stiff.
"Not home?"
He let out a helpless exhale. Early in the morning, where could they have gone?
From the neighboring house, a door opened. The person froze upon seeing him.
"Elder Akio…"
"Yes, I'm really alive."
"You're alive…"
"Yes, being alive is wonderful. Could you say something else?" Akio said with a smile.
The clansman went blank for a long moment before finally muttering, "You… came to find Uchiha Mikoto, right?"
Akio let out a breath of relief finally, someone who wasn't hung up on whether he was dead or alive.
"Where did Mikoto go?"
"She returned to the Uchiha… They say her grand-uncle passed away yesterday, the previous Great Elder of the Uchiha clan."
Akio nodded. "I see."
He still remembered that Uchiha Elder. When Itachi was born, that old man had even come over to nag at him.
Saying things like Senju didn't treat Itachi well, so he wanted to take the child away. Then ranting about how he had obediently followed Akio's instructions to marry his granddaughter Meiling to Fugaku. And that if Mikoto's second child awakened the Sharingan before graduating the Academy, the child must bear the Uchiha surname…
"I remember his health was already terrible ten years ago. Didn't think he'd hold on until now… Was he waiting for that child who shares my name to awaken the Sharingan?"
"But that poor guy won't make it. The kid is only five, probably hasn't even started refining chakra yet."
After thinking for a while, Akio looked at the Senju clansman. "Since Mikoto isn't here, and considering what happened, I'll head out first."
"Elder Akio, please take care!"
…
Akio didn't go to the Uchiha. They were likely busy with funeral arrangements anyway; he could meet the child later.
Judging that it was about time, Akio headed to the Hokage Building.
Sure enough, Hiruzen was a diligent Hokage.
"Elder Akio, you've returned. Danzo, he…" Hiruzen looked troubled. He had already received reports of the massive battle in the Land of Rivers.
Akio waved his hand, deciding to mess with him a little. He tossed out Danzo's torn clothing. "Here, collect Danzo's remains."
Hiruzen hurriedly took the clothes, his expression twisting. "You… killed Danzo?"
"Hm?" Akio was about to speak when Hiruzen suddenly froze. He reached into Danzo's clothing and pulled out a letter.
Akio blinked. Because he had found the clothes distasteful, he hadn't bothered checking the pockets, so he truly hadn't noticed the letter.
As Hiruzen read, his expression grew darker and darker until he finally slumped back into his chair.
Akio frowned and took the letter. It was Danzo's last message.
"Elder Akio, if you are reading this letter, I have likely already died by your hand."
Akio made a strange face and continued reading.
"When I used Edo Tensei, I did so intentionally to provoke you, and to let you vent your anger on Uchiha Madara."
Akio couldn't help but laugh. Poor Madara.
"The reason I did this is because there is something you would eventually discover: I was the one who ordered people to spread news of your death."
Akio paused. "I actually almost forgot about this."
Hiruzen: "…"
Danzo, you died in vain. You forgot that Elder Akio has terrible memory.
"When news spread that you were still alive, I knew I wouldn't escape punishment, unless I chose to defect…"
"In this operation, though I acted for Konoha, I made three grave miscalculations. Not only did Konoha suffer heavy losses, but relations with Uzushio collapsed. I offer my life to atone."
Akio's expression grew stranger. Something about this didn't feel like Danzo, Danzo saying something like that?
"Hiruzen, did Konoha lose that many shinobi?" he asked.
Hiruzen's expression darkened. "Nearly… half."
"I see." Akio sighed. "The war should be ending soon. I doubt Kumo will dare move again."
Hiruzen nodded, his expression becoming firm. "We cannot let Iwa off lightly this time."
"That's your business," Akio said, giving him a glance before continuing the letter.
"When I left the Konoha camp, I told no one. Elder Akio, I hope that since I willingly chose death, you will announce that I was assassinated by Kumo shinobi and engrave my name upon the memorial stone."
"Finally, may my death allow the friendship between Konoha and Uzushio to endure."
Akio shook his head in exasperation. Danzo doing something like this was truly unexpected.
"That guy really was willing to risk his life to protect the village. He understood that Konoha cannot afford to offend Uzushio right now. I've gained a bit of respect for him… though his methods were still excessive."
"But now there's a problem, I didn't actually kill him. I only wanted to find out why he was so eager to die. So… what do I do with this?"
Akio shook his head. Hiruzen spoke sorrowfully, "Elder Akio, Danzo's last wish…"
"Forget it. Let it end here; I won't pursue it anymore." Akio nodded. "There's probably something in here involving you as well. But since Danzo took the blame for everything, consider yourself lucky."
Hiruzen let out a breath. "Then about the memorial stone…"
Akio shook his head. "Absolutely not. Tell everyone Danzo intentionally sabotaged Konoha's alliance with Uzushio by spreading false rumors of my death, declare him a missing-nin."
"Elder Akio…" Hiruzen wanted to plead but suddenly froze. "Missing-nin?"
"Yes. Danzo isn't dead. Maybe his talent for courting death was too weak, I didn't kill him at the time."
Hiruzen exhaled in relief. "A missing-nin…"
"Consider it punishment for his actions," Akio said.
Besides, he was now intrigued.
When Danzo lost mobility and Madara's words made it clear the Edo Tensei caster hadn't died, yet Danzo disappeared by the time Akio returned… someone must have taken him.
If Konoha had rescued him, Hiruzen would know. Since he didn't
The rescuer was… suspicious.
"Orochimaru, perhaps?" Akio murmured.
---
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