As night deepened, the lights of Konoha Village lit up one by one, casting a soft glow over the streets.
Akira and Tsunade walked side by side on the path leading to the tavern, their shadows stretching long on the cobblestone road.
"Are you sure you want to go drinking?"
Lady Tsunade glanced at Akira , a hint of subtle concern in her tone.
"We're leaving tomorrow."
Akira smiled slightly, his gaze falling on the tavern's signboard in the distance.
"Precisely because we're leaving tomorrow, I want to have a drink with Lady Tsunade tonight even more."
He paused, his voice deepening a bit.
"After all… on the battlefield, no one can say for sure what will happen."
Lady Tsunade's steps paused slightly.
She didn't reply, simply quickened her pace, heading straight for the tavern.
There were only a few scattered people inside the tavern.
Akira chose a secluded private room, closing the door to shut out the outside noise.
The server quickly brought sake and a few small dishes, then respectfully withdrew.
Akira filled a cup for Lady Tsunade, saying softly,
"Tonight, let's temporarily forget about Hokage-sama and the Medical Team."
Lady Tsunade took the cup and drank it in one gulp, the spicy liquor sliding down her throat, making her frown slightly.
She put down the cup and looked directly at Akira .
"Why did you agree to Orochimaru? You could have refused."
Akira didn't answer immediately, instead pouring himself a cup of sake and slowly drinking it.
Slightly tipsy, his eyes became profound.
"Some things, someone has to do them.
The Sharingan's suppression of the Tailed Beast is a fact, and if my ability can help my comrades on the front lines, I have no reason to shrink back."
Lady Tsunade's jade fingers unconsciously caressed the rim of the cup, her voice a few shades lower.
"But do you know how terrifying the Jinchuriki's power is? Once—"
"I know."
Akira interrupted her, his tone calm but firm.
"If even the Uchiha, who have a natural advantage against Tailed Beasts, don't go, then who in the Village will?
Other clans fight for Konoha on the battlefield, but if my Uchiha clan doesn't contribute, how will others view my Uchiha clan in the future?
Only when all clans share a common hatred for the enemy,
can Konoha achieve victory in war."
Lady Tsunade suddenly looked up, a flicker of emotion in her eyes.
She opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but swallowed it back, simply grabbing the sake pot to refill both her and Akira 's cups.
The two silently drank a few more cups, the alcohol gradually taking effect.
The atmosphere in the private room became subtle, as if a thin veil enveloped the two of them, both hazy and heart-accelerating.
"Actually…"
Akira suddenly spoke, his voice a bit hoarse.
"There are some things I've always wanted to tell Lady Tsunade; if I wait too long, I'm afraid I won't have the chance."
Lady Tsunade's heart skipped a beat, but she feigned composure and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? What is it?"
Akira looked directly at her, his eyes filled with an unprecedented seriousness.
"Lady Tsunade, from the first time I saw you, I was drawn to you.
Everything about you makes me unable to look away."
Lady Tsunade's cheeks instantly flushed, and she instinctively turned her face away, though her voice softened a bit.
"You smooth-talking brat, do you know what you're saying?"
"I'm very clear."
Akira chuckled lightly, his tone suddenly tinged with self-mockery.
"I just didn't expect to have to go to the battlefield before I could get to know you better.
Perhaps… this is fate."
"Fate?"
Lady Tsunade suddenly turned her head, instantly thinking of her deceased younger brother.
A hint of anger flashed in her eyes.
"Don't talk as if something is bound to happen to you! Besides, you'll have Orochimaru and those elite Ninja with you this time…"
Akira didn't refute, just quietly watched her, the emotions in his eyes so complex they were heartbreaking.
Lady Tsunade felt a pang from his gaze, a tightness in her chest.
She grabbed her cup and drank it all, trying to numb her surging emotions with alcohol.
"Lady Tsunade."
Akira 's voice was as soft as a breeze.
"If… I mean if, I really encounter a Jinchuriki, or if I encounter Hanzo of Hidden Rain Village, and I can't come back, will you still remember me then?"
"Shut up!"
Lady Tsunade suddenly slapped the table and stood up, her eyes slightly red.
"Don't say such things! You will definitely come back safely!"
Akira stood up and slowly walked in front of her.
They were close enough to feel each other's breath.
He raised his hand and gently brushed a wisp of golden hair from Lady Tsunade's cheek.
Lady Tsunade felt her breath catch, and her emotional defenses completely crumbled at that moment.
She suddenly grabbed Akira 's wrist, her voice trembling slightly.
"You brat… what are you trying to prove?
You've barely been on missions outside the Village, and now you're going to face that Jinchuriki with Orochimaru.
He's crazy, are you crazy too?"
Akira didn't explain.
Him facing a Jinchuriki alone?
He wasn't foolish enough to fight a Jinchuriki by himself.
Orochimaru would be taking the lead, and there were battle-hardened elite Ninja by his side.
While the mission was good, things were unpredictable.
If the situation turned bad, he would run away.
Akira understood the principle of 'where there's life, there's hope.'
As for encountering Hanzo, Akira was just talking nonsense.
Who would be so unlucky as to encounter Hanzo right after entering Amegakure?
Seeing the usually proud Lady Tsunade looking so vulnerable because of him, Akira knew his plan was mostly successful.
At this moment, the opportunity could not be missed.
He raised his hand and forcefully pulled her into his embrace.
Lady Tsunade didn't resist, simply burying her face in his shoulder.
"Promise me, you must come back."
Akira tightened his arms, feeling the warmth of the person in his embrace.
Alcohol and affection intertwined, and the air in the private room seemed to solidify.
After a long while, Lady Tsunade pushed him away and looked up, staring directly at Uchiha Akira .
She suddenly stood on her tiptoes and voluntarily kissed Akira .
Their lips touched and parted instantly.
"Lady Tsunade, I don't want us to have any regrets…"
Hearing this, Lady Tsunade's body trembled, and her eyes instantly became hazy with emotion.
"Brat!"
"To say something so unreasonable… when you come back, I'll teach you a good lesson!"
Lady Tsunade twisted in Akira 's embrace, her bright brown eyes filled with arousal.
What a scoundrel!
Fine, let him be!
Click.
As the lights went out and the private room door locked, the two finally broke through the last barrier.
…
The next morning.
When Akira woke up, the person on the other side of him was already gone.
Akira shook his head, which was dizzy from the alcohol and revelry, and stood up, his legs feeling weak.
He pulled open the private room door, and a delicate breakfast had been placed outside, still warm.
Looking at the note next to it that read, "Eat well and wait for you to come back."
Akira knew it was left by Lady Tsunade, and the corners of his mouth curved upward.
My great Tsunade!
So thoughtful!
Having been busy for most of the night, Akira was already hungry and no longer stood on ceremony.
He immediately devoured the food.
A night of Body Flicker Technique study had, after all, consumed a great deal.
Twenty minutes passed.
Akira left, full and satisfied.
After returning home, he packed his equipment for the battlefield.
"Mission: Intercept Tsunade completed."
"Reward: Please choose."
Hearing the system's prompt, Akira paused his movements.
Completed?
Akira 's heart swelled with joy, and he focused on the reward.
"I choose the Advancement Card! Advance my Three-Tomoe Sharingan!!"
"Congratulations to the host for receiving the reward: Advancement Card."
"The Advancement Card is strengthening the Bloodline Limit: Sharingan."
Akira felt a cool sensation wash over his eyes, his pitch-black eyes, the Three-Tomoe faintly visible.
Immediately following, intense emotions released from his eyes, rushing straight to his mind.
Akira let out a muffled groan, unconsciously closing his eyes.
He stood rooted to the spot, the hand gripping his kunai trembling slightly.
"Hmph!"
When Akira opened his eyes, what was originally the pitch-black Three-Tomoe had now transformed into a six-petaled, blood-red Manjusaka pattern.
At the center of the flower, a tiny Rinnegan pattern appeared.
"Sharingan advancement successful."
"Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Eye Technique: Yellow Springs Other Shore."
"Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Eye Technique: Karma Cycle."
Akira 's entire Chakra also surged, his clothes flapping wildly.
Ten minutes later.
The terrifying oppressive feeling finally receded, and the scarlet Mangekyo Sharingan also concealed itself.
"System, bring up my character panel!"
"Name: Uchiha Akira "
"Age: 18"
"Chakra: 10 Kakashi"
"Bloodline Limit: Sharingan (Mangekyo)"
"Skills:
Mangekyo Eye Technique: Yellow Springs Other Shore, Karma Cycle.
Genjutsu Mastery, Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, Body Flicker Technique, Shadow Clone Technique, Three Body Technique, etc."
He gained two Eye Techniques, and his Chakra also surged by nine Kakashi.
Akira understood.
This surging Chakra was precisely due to the special Yin Release Chakra that flooded his mind when he advanced to Mangekyo.
The activation of Eye Techniques requires the support of ocular power; ocular power is a type of Chakra.
The increase in ocular power caused the current 10 Kakashi of Chakra.
Akira let out a long breath, a newfound confidence in his eyes.
This time, on the mission to Amegakure, let alone that small Jinchuriki.
Even if he encountered the "Demigod" of Amegakure, he would be capable of eliminating him!
What Jinchuriki, what Demigod…
Go talk to my Mangekyo Eye Technique!
"Akira !"
Hearing the voice, Akira used Body Flicker Technique and exited the room.
Seeing the person, Akira was stunned.
The person who came was actually Mikoto's grandfather, Uchiha Sosuke.
"You were impulsive about going to the front lines this time!"
"Sosuke-sama!"
"Some things, after all, need someone to do them."
Hearing this reply, Uchiha Sosuke fell silent, swallowing the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
"As long as you come back alive, I will no longer stop you and Mikoto's relationship!"
You still want to stop it?
He and Mikoto were a perfect match; did he really need this old man to come out and object?
Akira grumbled in his heart.
However, thinking that this old man's psychological endurance wasn't very good, and seeing the worry in his eyes,
Akira assured him,
"I… will come back alive! And, I will come back completely unharmed!"
As Akira spoke, a hint of scarlet appeared in his pitch-black eyes.
Sosuke frowned upon hearing this confident remark.
The battlefield was no child's play; just as he was about to reprimand him and tell Akira to be extremely careful,
When he saw the change in his eyes, his pupils suddenly constricted.