- Time Skip: Two Years – A Village Transformed
The passage of two years had wrought a remarkable transformation upon Uzushiogakure, rendering it almost unrecognizable from its former state. The influx of wealth generated by their diversified trade agreements had fueled an unprecedented era of growth and renovation. Nearly every structure within the village had been revitalized, lending an air of newfound prosperity and permanence.
However, this burgeoning success had attracted an unwelcome shadow: espionage. Uzushiogakure had become a prime target for spies from various nations.
Thankfully, the pervasive sensory capabilities of the Kagura Eye had proven remarkably effective, thwarting the vast majority of infiltration attempts. Yet, with the steady stream of new families migrating to their thriving village, the challenge of identifying and neutralizing these clandestine operatives was a constant and evolving concern.
The integration of the Chinoike Clan had exceeded all expectations. They had not only proven to be steadfast allies but also genuine friends. Their naturally serene and composed demeanor had facilitated a smooth assimilation into the village, and many Chinoike had forged close bonds with the existing populace. Their calm temperament, reminiscent of the Hyuga Clan, fostered an atmosphere of tranquility. With the security and stability of their new home, the Chinoike experienced a significant resurgence. The past two years had witnessed a joyous wave of new births within their compound, leading to lighthearted jokes among the villagers about the constant lullaby of newborn cries emanating from their district.
Akashi himself had undergone a significant evolution. The relentless training of the past two years had honed his physical and chakra control to a remarkable degree. Tree walking and water walking were now effortless extensions of his will. His chakra nature had manifested as a potent combination of Wind and Lightning, elements he found both versatile and ideally suited for attack and swift movement. While his repertoire of jutsu was still limited – the C-rank Twitching Limb Technique for temporary paralysis and the D-rank Spinning Shield of Winds for basic projectile defense – he had recently mastered a technique that promised to accelerate his training exponentially: the B-rank Shadow Clone Jutsu, a more refined and less chakra-intensive version than the one used by Naruto in his past life. This will change everything, he thought, a spark of excitement igniting within him.
{AUTHOR NOTICE: While the canonical chakra nature affinities of the Uzumaki clan are not definitively established, for the purpose of this narrative, we will proceed with the assumption that Wind is a common affinity within the clan, potentially inherited through lineage.}
Acquiring Wind-based jutsu had been relatively straightforward, given this assumed affinity. Lightning, however, had presented a greater challenge. Serendipitously, the bodies of fallen Cloud shinobi from the invasion had yielded storage scrolls containing Lightning-based techniques, though nothing exceeding B-rank had been recovered.
The two areas where Akashi felt he was lagging were Taijutsu and Fuinjutsu. No one had yet begun to instruct him in the intricate art of sealing, a delay that was largely his own doing, as his focus had been directed elsewhere. However, he resolved to prioritize Fuinjutsu in the coming year. As for Taijutsu, he could only point the finger at Kuroko-sensei. His instructor stubbornly refused to impart his personal martial arts style, citing Akashi's current lack of physical strength and conditioning.
"Akashi! Stop daydreaming in the middle of training, or I'll double your laps!" Kuroko's voice, sharp with annoyance, sliced through Akashi's thoughts.
"My bad, sensei. Just got lost in thought for a moment there," Akashi replied, refocusing his attention on the grueling endurance exercises. He spent the remainder of the afternoon pushing his physical limits until his limbs felt like lead.
"Huff… haaa… sensei… I can't feel my body," Akashi gasped, collapsing onto the training grounds. He genuinely felt paralyzed.
"Hmph. And you claim you're ready to learn my Taijutsu," Kuroko retorted, a hint of amusement in his tone.
Tch, Akashi thought, a flicker of defiance within him. This guy acts like his martial arts are some forbidden Eight Gates technique. How difficult can it possibly be?
"Well," Kuroko said, stretching languidly, "that's enough for today, I suppose. Oh, before I forget, Lord Ashina asked me to inform you to report to his office after our training session."
Gramps wants to see me? That's unusual.
"Alright, I'll head over there now. See you later, sensei."
As Kuroko departed, Akashi lay on the ground, channeling a concentrated flow of chakra into his aching muscles, accelerating their recovery – a useful trick he had stumbled upon during a particularly taxing training session months prior.
"Huu… much better," he sighed, the intense stiffness receding. "Still some lingering soreness, but at least I can move again." With a few more stretches, he finally made his way towards his grandfather's office.
- UzushioKage Office – Ashina's POV:-
Ashina leaned back in his chair, a deep sigh escaping his lips. The village was thriving, a beacon of prosperity and peace. But the same could not be said for the world beyond their borders. Small skirmishes between the major nations had become increasingly frequent. The Second Great Shinobi War had depleted their resources, and the recovery was proving slow and uneven. Initially, he had hoped these conflicts were isolated incidents, but a growing unease gnawed at him. War, a full-scale war, felt ominously close.
Yugakure shinobi had also become a persistent irritant, frequently crossing into their territory under the flimsy pretense of demanding compensation for Uzushiogakure's "theft" of the Chinoike Clan. Their pettiness was astounding. What are they, bandits demanding tribute?
To make matters worse, Kumogakure's patrols had been observed with increasing regularity near their borders. An attack from two sides… the thought sent a chill down his spine.
Knock, knock.
- Akashi's POV: -
Arriving outside his grandfather's office, Akashi was immediately struck by the unusual tension radiating from within. His grandfather's chakra felt… strained, burdened. Stress?
Knock, knock.
"Come in," Ashina's voice was heavier than usual.
Stepping inside, Akashi noticed the subtle but undeniable signs of weariness etched onto his grandfather's face. He knew Ashina was well over a century old, but he hadn't seen him this visibly stressed in a long time.
"Gramps, what's wrong?" Akashi asked, his concern genuine.
"Let's just say… the winds outside our village are growing turbulent, Akashi."
Looks like the prelude to the Third Great Shinobi War is drawing to a close, Akashi thought, a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach. I need to find a way for our village to not just survive, but to somehow benefit from the coming chaos. He knew it was a morally ambiguous desire, to profit from the suffering of others, but if war was inevitable, and they couldn't prevent it, then self-preservation and the advancement of Uzushiogakure had to take precedence.
"Is a war coming, Gramps?" Akashi asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ashina sighed, his gaze meeting Akashi's with a hint of melancholy. "You are far too perceptive for your own good, Akashi. Yes, I'm afraid so. All the nations are amassing resources and training new shinobi at an alarming rate. We have some time, perhaps, but in these volatile times, one can never be certain."
"How prepared are we, Gramps?" Akashi couldn't shake the nervous tremor in his voice. Their shinobi numbers were still a fraction of what they once were, even with the addition of the Chinoike. Quality was important, but quantity still held significant sway in large-scale conflicts.
"Not as prepared as I would like," Ashina admitted, his brow furrowed. "We have been diligently reinforcing our island's defenses with intricate barrier formations and intensifying joint training exercises to ensure seamless coordination between our Uzumaki and Chinoike shinobi. But we still lack sheer numbers. Once this war erupts, we will undoubtedly suffer casualties, and we will need a steady stream of replacements. This urgency has forced my hand regarding the academy. We will need to commence operations earlier than initially planned. The academy will now open its doors in two weeks."
A wave of relief washed over Akashi. His suggestion to establish the academy, initially a long-term strategy, was now proving to be a crucial lifeline. The consequences of not having this infrastructure in place were almost too grim to contemplate. "That's… good news, Gramps."
"Well," Ashina said, a faint smile returning to his lips, "let us set aside these somber matters for the moment. I called you here for a different, albeit related, reason."
"What do you need, Gramps? If there's anything I can do to help, I will," Akashi said earnestly. He hadn't seen his grandfather this burdened in a long time, and he felt a deep desire to alleviate some of that weight.
"Thank you, Akashi. I sense your sincerity." Ashina paused, his expression shifting to one of grave seriousness, the look he reserved for matters of clan leadership.
"First, the time has come for you to embrace your destiny as a Jinchuriki. This matter has been delayed long enough. We will perform the sealing ritual tonight, in a secure and secret location. I will send an Anbu operative to escort you."
Jinchuriki… A knot of fear tightened in Akashi's chest, a primal apprehension at the prospect of housing a Tailed Beast. The moment the seal was complete, his fate would be irrevocably intertwined with the turbulent currents of the shinobi world, potentially placing him on a collision course with figures like Nagato and Obito. Yet, amidst the fear, a strange undercurrent of excitement pulsed within him.
What kind of reincarnator would I be if I cowered away from every challenge? he thought, a surge of defiant resolve coursing through him. Forget just the Akatsuki; the moment I was reborn into this world, a confrontation with destiny became inevitable. It was only a matter of time.
His ultimate goal remained the acquisition of true, self-reliant power. Becoming a Jinchuriki was merely one step on that path, a temporary boost. He would need to find a way to achieve a level of strength that didn't rely on an external source like the Seven-Tails. But for now… it would have to suffice.
"I'm ready, Grandfather," Akashi declared, his voice surprisingly steady.
A rare smile, filled with a mixture of pride and concern, touched Ashina's lips. "Hm! That's the spirit, Akashi."
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End of 13th chapter