章 44: Arrival
Two days later, Akio found himself standing at the edge of the Hima clan's newly built library , watching Sayuri work with quiet fascination.
The Uzumaki envoy moved with a precision that was almost hypnotic. Her hands traced intricate patterns in the air before pressing them onto the parchment with deliberate care. Her chakra flowed steadily, glowing faintly as she wove the sealing script into the ancient scroll.
Akio leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed, pretending to observe passively. But his sharp eyes were focused on every flick of her wrist and twist of her fingers, committing each movement to memory.
"You're unusually quiet, Clan Head," Sayuri remarked without looking up, her voice calm yet tinged with amusement.
Akio raised an eyebrow, feigning nonchalance. "I'm just appreciating your clan's artistry. Sealing techniques like these aren't something we see often."
"Artistry, you say?" she replied with a faint smile, pressing her palm against the scroll as the seal pulsed and locked into place. "I'd call it discipline. But I suppose it depends on perspective."
Akio chuckled softly, but before he could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps broke the moment. The flap of the chamber's entrance was pushed aside, and a Hima ninja entered, his expression tight with urgency.
"Clan Head," the ninja said, bowing deeply. "Yamamoto and his group have returned."
Akio straightened, his calm demeanor sharpening. "They're back? Good."
The ninja hesitated, his gaze flickering to Sayuri before continuing. "But… they don't look well. Yasuke is injured, and their expressions… something's happened."
Akio's eyes darkened slightly, his usual measured tone hardening. "I'll meet them outside. Inform the others to stand by."
The ninja bowed again and exited swiftly. Akio turned to Sayuri, who was watching him closely.
"Care to join me?" he asked, his voice neutral but with a hint of invitation.
Sayuri inclined her head, stepping away from the scroll. "I wouldn't miss it."
Together, they left the chamber and made their way to the clan's central courtyard. As they approached, the sight of Yamamoto's group confirmed the ninja's report.
Akio's eyes swept over the group as they approached. He noted Yasuke's bandaged hand, the faint grimace on his face, and the somber demeanor of everyone else. But then his gaze settled on the young girl walking beside Yamamoto, her confident posture contrasting with the tension in the air.
He frowned slightly. She wasn't familiar.
Yamamoto came to a stop before Akio, giving a small nod of acknowledgment. "Clan Head," he began, his tone even. "We've returned. The mission was a success, though not without complications."
Akio's gaze shifted briefly to Yasuke, then back to Yamamoto. "I can see that. But before we get into details…" He motioned toward Akiko. "Who's this?"
Yamamoto glanced at the girl beside him, his expression softening just slightly. "This is Akiko. My student."
Akio blinked. For a moment, he just stared at Yamamoto, as if he hadn't quite processed what he'd just heard. Then his voice rose slightly, incredulous. "Your student?"
"Yes," Yamamoto replied matter-of-factly, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Akio's composure cracked, a mix of surprise and amusement playing across his features. "Since when do you take students, Yamamoto? I thought you swore teaching was a 'waste of valuable time.'"
Yasuke, despite his injury, couldn't resist jumping in. "Yeah, about that—it's been hilarious watching him try to be patient."
Yamamoto shot him a glare, but Yasuke merely grinned and stepped slightly behind Akiko, using her as a shield.
Akiko, meanwhile, looked between the two men, her expression unreadable. "I take it this is surprising?" she asked, her tone polite but curious.
"Surprising doesn't even begin to cover it," Akio said, still looking at Yamamoto with raised eyebrows. "Yamamoto, the Inferno King, feared across nations, suddenly decides to mentor a student? This is the same man who once told me, 'I have no time to babysit rookies.'"
Yamamoto shrugged, as unbothered as ever. "Things change."
Akio shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Well, Akiko, you must be quite something if he decided you were worth the time."
Akiko gave a small, respectful bow. "I'm honored by his guidance, Clan Head Akio."
Yasuke leaned over, his grin widening. "She's also the reason he didn't turn into a fireball of rage on this mission. I think she's his emotional support student."
"Yasuke," Yamamoto said sharply, though there was a faint twitch of amusement in his eyes.
Akio chuckled, finally regaining his composure. "I'll need to hear the full story later. For now, let's focus on what happened out there."
Yamamoto nodded, his expression hardening again. "Agreed. It's a situation that requires careful attention."
Akio's humor faded as well, and he gestured for the group to follow him into the main hall. Still, a part of him couldn't shake the image of Yamamoto trying to teach someone without terrifying them into running for the hills.
Inside Akio's main chamber, the atmosphere was heavy with unspoken tension. The polished wood floor gleamed under the soft light of lanterns, and a faint aroma of burning incense filled the room. Akio sat cross-legged on a futon mat, his posture straight but relaxed, his sharp eyes studying the group seated across from him.
Yamamoto, as always, was calm and composed, his katana resting against his shoulder. Yasuke sat next to him, cradling his injured hand with an exaggerated pout, while Akiko maintained a quiet, formal demeanor befitting of the former daughter of a city lord, ren and Yoru sat the same with each having a serious expression on their face.
"Yamamoto," Akio called out, his tone sharp yet calm. "What happened?"
Yamamoto stepped forward, his expression hard as steel. "A minor skirmish. Nothing we couldn't handle."
Akio's gaze shifted to Yasuke, whose "minor" injury didn't match Yamamoto's words. "That doesn't look minor to me."
Yasuke grinned weakly, holding up his injured hand. "Oh, this? Just a love tap. You should see the other guy."
"You mean the guy who almost took your hand off," Yamamoto interjected, his voice cold. "Or were you planning to leave out the part where you charged in without thinking?"
Yasuke's grin faltered. "I wasn't charging—I was… advancing creatively."
The glare Yamamoto gave him could've melted steel. "You were being reckless. Don't dress it up."
Akiko, despite her worry, couldn't help but stifle a laugh. "You were trying to show off again, weren't you?"
"I was strategizing," Yasuke protested, though his tone lacked conviction. "And how was I supposed to know that guy had, like, six kunai hidden in his sleeves? Who even carries that many?!"
Yamamoto crossed his arms, unimpressed. "Someone who knows what they're doing. Unlike you."
Akio, watching the exchange, finally stepped in, though a faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Yasuke, I'd say this is a learning experience, but it's starting to feel like a pattern."
Yasuke scratched the back of his head with his good hand, looking sheepish. "Come on, Clan Head, you know I'm a fast learner. I mean, I didn't lose my hand, right? That's progress!, also I happened to take down a Kaguya clan ninja during the mission"
"So you're the one that caused this?" Akio asks the pieces finally fallen into place, he had always wondered what an innocent clan like his had done to receive the wrath of two clans but it seems that the perpetrators were in front of him
'Sending them out was a horrible mistake' he thought using his hands to rub his head,
Akio sighed, shaking his head. "I'll give you this—your optimism is impressive. Now, go see the healer before you bleed out trying to make your case."
"Yes, sir," Yasuke said, giving a mock salute before Akiko and the rest dragged him toward the healer's quarters,with Akiko muttering under her breath about how he'd better not faint on her.
As they left, Akio turned back to Yamamoto. "He's lucky you were there."
"Lucky," Yamamoto said flatly, "isn't the word I'd use. He's fortunate he still has his hand attached. Next time, I'm tying him to a tree before we fight."
Akio chuckled faintly, the brief levity a welcome reprieve from the weight of Yamamoto's report. "I'm starting to think Yasuke's antics are the universe's way of testing your patience."
Yamamoto allowed a rare, faint smirk to cross his face. "If that's true, the universe is working overtime."
The chamber was quiet again after the others had left. Akio remained seated, his sharp eyes fixed on Yamamoto, who had yet to move from his spot. The faint flicker of the lanterns cast long shadows across the room, emphasizing the weight of their conversation.
Yamamoto was wiping his blade with a cloth, his motions methodical but his mind clearly elsewhere. Akio took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to say.
"Yamamoto," Akio began, his voice calm but with a tinge of regret.
The swordsman glanced up, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You're sending me out again, aren't you?"
Akio nodded slowly, his expression softening. "Yes. I'm sorry, Yamamoto. I know you've just returned, and I know what I'm asking of you is unfair."
Yamamoto set the cloth aside, placing his katana across his knees. "You wouldn't send me unless it was important. What's the mission?"
Akio leaned forward, his tone growing serious. "There's a civil war brewing in the Land of Water. The Yuki Clan is caught in the middle of it, trying to fend off multiple threats, including the Kaguya Clan. We have an opportunity here to gain a powerful ally. Your mission is twofold: provide the Yuki Clan with aid and convince them to delay or counter any Kaguya movements that might target us."
Yamamoto's eyes sharpened, his mind already working through the implications. He had already figured out the situation of the clan from the patrolling ninjas. "You want the Yuki to act as a buffer against the Kaguya."
"Exactly," Akio confirmed. "The Kaguya are relentless, and their attention on the Yuki could buy us valuable time to regroup and fortify. But this is about more than strategy. If we secure the Yuki as allies, it could shift the balance of power in this conflict."
Yamamoto absorbed this silently for a moment before speaking. "This isn't just a mission—it's a political gamble."
"It is," Akio admitted. "But it's one we have to take. The Yuki Clan is powerful, and their mastery of ice techniques would complement our own flames. Together, we could hold off even the most ferocious assault."
Yamamoto's gaze didn't waver. "When do I leave?"
"At first light tomorrow," Akio replied. "The journey will be long, and the Land of Water is treacherous. I've prepared provisions and maps. You'll also have the option to select your team."
Yamamoto nodded, then paused, his brow furrowing slightly. "If I may, Clan Head, I have a request."
"Speak," Akio said, intrigued.
"I'd like to take Akiko with me," Yamamoto said plainly.
Akio blinked, surprised. "Akiko? She's still untested for a mission of this scale. Are you certain?"
Yamamoto's expression remained steady. "She's eager to learn, and this is an opportunity for her to see what real missions entail. She won't just watch—I'll make sure she contributes. If she's going to be a part of this clan, she needs to understand the weight of its responsibilities."
Akio considered this for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly against his knee. "You believe she's ready for this kind of exposure?"
"She's sharp, determined, and has the potential to become an exceptional kunoichi," Yamamoto said firmly. "Besides, I'll be there to ensure she doesn't take unnecessary risks."
A faint smile tugged at Akio's lips. "You've become surprisingly protective of her."
"She's my student," Yamamoto replied simply. "It's my job to prepare her."
Akio nodded after a moment. "Very well. Take her with you, but make sure she understands the stakes. This isn't just a training exercise—it's life or death."
"She'll understand," Yamamoto said confidently as he stood, his katana now sheathed.
Akio rose as well, walking over to place a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, Yamamoto. For everything. The clan owes you more than I can express."
Yamamoto's expression softened just slightly. "No thanks are needed. I do what I must for the clan."
Akio nodded, stepping back. "Then prepare yourself. The Land of Water is unlike anything we've faced before. And… take care. The Yuki Clan are potential allies, but they're also cautious and wary. Convincing them won't be easy."
Yamamoto gave a small nod of understanding. "I'll handle it."
As Yamamoto turned to leave, Akio watched him go, the flickering light casting long shadows across the room. A faint sense of unease lingered in the air, but Akio pushed it aside.
"If anyone can do this," he muttered to himself, "it's him."
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