Chapter 54: Vigilance and Growth
Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's warning, a look of solemn gravity settled on Namikaze Minato's face. "Fugaku, I must thank you for the reminder. In truth, I had grown somewhat complacent regarding Kushina's security lately."
"It is my duty. Had Akira not brought it to my attention, I would not have considered the possibility," Fugaku replied with a polite smile.
"Please convey my thanks to him," Minato said sincerely.
Watching Fugaku depart, Minato's thoughts turned inward. Kushina's defenses must be reinforced. I should consult the Third Hokage and request a detachment of his personal Anbu.
He proceeded to the advisors' office and succinctly presented his concerns.
"This matter cannot be taken lightly," Sarutobi Hiruzen agreed, nodding gravely. "I will assign two full squads of my Anbu to provide rotating protection for Kushina."
"Thank you, Lord Third," Minato expressed his gratitude with a respectful bow.
"Minato." The voice of Mitokado Homura interjected. "I must caution you. While the Uchiha can be utilized, they cannot be fully trusted. That clan has a history of attempted insurrection. You may rely on them in certain matters, but when it comes to something as critical as the Jinchuriki, extreme caution is paramount."
Minato felt a flicker of irritation but kept his expression neutral. In his assessment, the Uchiha clan had proven themselves repeatedly through distinguished service and were trustworthy allies. The coup during the Second Hokage's era was ancient history, and the clan had demonstrated loyalty for decades since. This persistent suspicion was disheartening. Still, he was confident in his own ability to manage any dissent.
"I understand," Minato replied evenly. "I will ensure they have no involvement in Kushina's security arrangements."
"Good," Homura nodded, satisfied.
"Precisely," Utatane Koharu, who had been silent until now, spoke up, her tone severe. "Minato, Kushina's safety is our collective responsibility. The Uchiha must be kept entirely separate from this affair." Her voice turned colder. "Furthermore, I am aware Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto are close friends. During this sensitive period, you must instruct Kushina to limit her contact with Mikoto. This is not a time for personal indulgences."
Feeling cornered, Minato could only acquiesce. "Understood. I will speak with Kushina."
"See that you do. Do not be negligent," Koharu stated firmly.
Time flowed on. Soon, it was July of Konoha Year 51.
Near the month's end, the second son of the Uchiha clan head was born.
Uchiha Fugaku named the child Sasuke—a name once borne by Sarutobi Hiruzen's own father, a renowned and powerful shinobi. Fugaku hoped his son would grow to embody similar strength. Of course, such a namesake required and received Sarutobi Hiruzen's prior blessing.
The child's birth caused no significant ripples. Konoha remained at peace.
Having been Hokage for over half a year, with the steadfast support of the Uchiha clan and the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance, Namikaze Minato had moved beyond being a figurehead. He now wielded genuine, consolidated authority over the village.
"I've finally mastered it... the Spiritual Transformation Technique!" Uchiha Akira let out a long, satisfied sigh. After more than six months of dedicated practice, he had achieved the highest level of proficiency in this formidable, S-rank ninjutsu.
"Next, to test its practical applications." Akira formed the necessary hand seals and sat in a meditative posture on the floor.
A faint, almost imperceptible white haze began to emanate from his body. Then, a slightly translucent version of Uchiha Akira—his spiritual form—detached itself and stood up from the seated physical vessel.
So this is the spiritual body. The Sharingan functions normally, but other ninjutsu are inaccessible...
He observed his new state with a sense of profound strangeness. His form glowed with a soft, milky light, was semi-transparent, and felt utterly weightless. It seemed as if the ends of the earth were merely a thought away.
In the next instant, the spiritual body dissolved into a streak of light and shot skyward, vanishing from Konoha in a blink.
While not instantaneous teleportation, a spirit transformed by this technique traveled at a speed comparable to light itself.
He reappeared over the former battlefield between Konoha and Kirigakure.
Here, Akira extended his spiritual perception, attempting to locate the chakra signature of the Six-Tails. Having made direct contact with the beast before and absorbed some of its chakra, he could theoretically sense its location anywhere in the world, provided it wasn't sealed away.
As expected, no trace of the Six-Tails' chakra. It must already be sealed within the Gedo Statue by Obito. The result didn't surprise him.
Then let's find the statue itself. He expanded his perception once more.
Almost immediately, he detected the familiar, colossal chakra signature of the Gedo Statue emanating from the distant Land of Rain. The volume of chakra was staggering—in his spiritual perception, it felt like a boundless, raging ocean. Within that vast energy, a rising will radiated pure tyranny and madness.
Terrifying... Akira inwardly acknowledged the sheer scale of the power, even with only one tailed beast sealed within.
That's Uchiha Obito... the Six Paths of Pain... and that's Nagato? Suddenly, Akira's spiritual expression shifted. Nagato's condition felt... off.
The chakra of the Six Paths originated from Nagato. Having fought the Paths, Akira could recognize Nagato's unique energy signature. But now, intertwined with it, he sensed a chakra quality eerily similar to Uchiha Obito's.
Something is wrong with Nagato's state. Why do I detect a chakra aura resembling Obito's? Could he have... transplanted Hashirama Senju's cells as well? The possibility struck him for the first time. In his perception, Nagato's chakra now brimmed with a vibrant, potent vitality he had only ever associated with Hashirama's cells.
That's the distinct essence of Senju chakra.
What incredible movement speed! Nagato has fully recovered! Akira's spiritual form trembled slightly as he sensed Nagato's rapid locomotion. While his spiritual perception couldn't "see" visually, it could pinpoint location and movement precisely. Nagato's current speed indicated his legs were not only healed but enhanced.
Uchiha Obito has empowered Nagato... This complicates matters significantly. If Nagato reaches his full potential... Akira's thoughts raced.
With transplanted Hashirama Senju cells, Nagato's potential ceiling was now incalculable. He possessed the Rinnegan, the vast chakra reserves of the Uzumaki lineage, and now, through the cells, the power of Wood Release. Theoretically, Nagato's upper limit now surpassed that of both Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara in their primes.
(End of Chapter)
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