"My Sharingan is here? What the hell does that mean…"
Madara walked forward.
"Are you playing some kind of word game?"
Konan replied calmly, "It's nothing. Don't worry about it."
— Universal Pull!
Madara used gravity to draw an unused sofa from the corner. With one hand, he set it down beside Akira.
After flicking up the hem of his brand-new crimson rose-patterned divine robe, he sat down, crossed his legs, and folded his arms.
Then he turned to Akira.
"I've taken your daughter."
"She's now my personal disciple."
Akira smiled.
"So you're just informing me?"
Madara raised a brow.
"Do you have any objections?"
"No," Akira replied. "It's Snow's blessing. Please take good care of her, Uncle Madara."
At that moment, Konan poured tea for Madara.
He lifted the cup.
On the clear surface, his own reflection slowly shifted—into Snow's face.
"I've lived nearly a hundred years," Madara said slowly.
"I've seen more than a dozen geniuses in the Uchiha clan. But I never once thought of taking a disciple."
"Snow has great potential, that's one reason."
"The other is… I feel a karmic connection with her."
"This master-disciple bond is no small thing."
"From today onward, she's not just your daughter."
"She's my disciple."
With that, Madara drained his tea.
"I understand," Akira said.
"I believe it means just as much to her."
He tapped the table lightly with his teacup and drank as well.
Konan refilled their cups and made a round for everyone, then sat across from Akira.
"Have you eaten breakfast?" Akira asked.
"I'm fasting lately," Konan replied softly. "I only eat one light meal at noon."
A-Fei thought to himself:
Fasting… mostly fruits and vegetables, right?
Then wouldn't her poop be colorful…
Akira smiled and took a sip.
"I see…"
When Konan was killed by Obito, she was thirty-five.
Fifteen more years had passed since then.
Logically, she should be fifty now.
But Akira had frozen her in the Daryu Time Zone for five years.
She was only unfrozen two years before the founding of Hidden Shadow.
So her real age was forty-five.
With careful maintenance and a pure, restrained lifestyle, she showed no signs of aging.
Her skin was even better than in her youth.
"Let's talk business," Akira said, setting his cup down.
"Konan, I've decided that Hidden Shadow will participate in this year's Chunin Exams in Konoha."
Konan picked up the fairness pitcher and refilled Akira's and Obito's cups.
"So it's settled."
"Then the next steps are clear."
"First, qualification verification."
"Hidden Shadow has never appeared publicly. If we suddenly apply, Konoha will definitely investigate our credentials."
"Recognized ninja villages must have treaties with countries."
"Large or small, alliances are mandatory."
"But we're special. We're completely independent, with no affiliated nation."
"I'm not sure if Konoha will raise objections."
"That's easy," Akira said.
He stood and walked to the world map on the wall, tracing mountains, rivers, seas, and nations.
His finger stopped at the nameless territory in the southwest, beside the Land of Birds.
"Let the Land of Birds vouch for us."
"They're extremely poor. They can't even hire ninja, and their people are displaced."
"We'll give them financial aid to improve livelihoods."
"That solves both their problems and ours."
Konan nodded.
"Good idea."
Madara chuckled inwardly.
Usually, countries supported villages.
Now a village was supporting a country.
Hashirama, look at how our Akira runs things…
"I'll have Kakuzu handle it," Konan said.
"Tell him to smile more," Akira added.
"Be warm. Be generous."
"By the way," Konan asked, "what if they demand too much?"
"That's happened before."
Akira returned to his seat and took a sip of tea.
"If they're sensible, we'll give extra without being asked."
"If they're not, we replace them."
"Two-legged lords are everywhere."
Madara smiled to himself.
That's the spirit.
"Understood," Konan said.
"That solves qualifications."
"Next, participants."
"The Chunin Exams require three-person teams."
"This year, four students qualify for headbands."
"Wind, Flower, Snow, and Yamato's son, Kansuke."
"I already asked their opinions."
"Flower isn't interested."
"Snow and Wind are determined."
"Kansuke wants to go, but he lacks confidence in his bamboo-style Wood Release."
"He's afraid of embarrassing the village."
"Flower doesn't want to go?" Akira smiled.
Not surprising.
His little niece was basically a 'laid-back lifestyle' person.
She hated crowds.
She did have dreams, though.
When Akira once asked Wind and Flower about their dreams on their tenth birthday, Flower had said seriously:
"Uncle, my dream is to eat, drink, and have fun in Hidden Shadow for my whole life!"
"And someday marry a fair-skinned, capable, emotionally stable guy who listens to me, treats me well, can cook, respects my mom, and helps raise kids!"
Akira had been stunned.
Kids these days were terrifying.
She'd already planned her ideal partner in detail.
But that was fine.
Knowing what you want and saying it honestly was a blessing.
So Akira respected her choice.
"If Flower doesn't want to go, that's fine."
"Let Snow, Wind, and Kansuke form a team."
Konan nodded and poured more tea.
"On the surface, we also need a team leader—an elite jonin."
"Who should go?"
"Let Yamato go," Akira said.
"His son is participating. A father should cheer him on."
"But won't he be recognized?" Konan asked.
"He's listed as a fallen war hero."
Yamato had never been seen during the war.
Later, Kabuto revealed he'd been captured.
No body was found.
Out of respect, Kakashi had honored him as a war hero and built a memorial.
Akira smiled.
"It's fine. I'll insure him."
"He'll walk openly in Konoha, and no one will see through it."
Konan set down the pitcher.
"Then the Chunin Exams are settled."
"So… you didn't come today just for this, did you?"
Obito perked up.
Finally.
Akira wiped his mouth, straightened his posture, and spoke solemnly.
"Sister Konan, I'd like to borrow your body again."
Enjoyed these chapters? Access advanced chapters and exclusive content by visiting my Patreon. https://patreon.com/WillOFD129?