The Wind Shadow, Rasa, was completely stunned.
At first, he thought Uchiha Akira had come regarding the Five Kage Summit, or perhaps to discuss how the Five Great Ninja Villages could cooperate against the Akatsuki Organization.
After all, the last time Konoha sent a messenger, he had flatly refused. And now Uchiha Akira was here in person. Could this visit be about the same topic?
The appearance of the Rinnegan, said to be the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths himself, had already shaken the entire shinobi world. Even someone as powerful as Uchiha Akira, capable of casting the Deep Forest Emergence, had been pushed back, leaving the world reeling from the power of these eyes.
But what did Akira just say? He wasn't here for the Five Kage Summit but rather to save his life?
"What do you mean by that? Why would my life be in danger?" Rasa asked in confusion after being frozen in place for a moment. He was, after all, the Kazekage of the Sand Village, one of the Five Great Nations. Why would his life suddenly be at risk? Was the Sand Village on the verge of destruction?
"If it weren't for my influence altering events, you'd have been dead for years, with grass already growing tall over your grave," Akira thought to himself. But of course, he didn't say this out loud.
"We've received credible intelligence that the Akatsuki will attack your village in a few days," Akira explained. "Their target is Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast. As the Kazekage, you're strong, but against the Akatsuki, the odds are grim. It's a life-or-death situation."
Hearing that the Akatsuki were after Shukaku, Rasa's face grew serious. The fact that the Akatsuki would target the One-Tail and, by extension, his village, was no small matter.
While Akira's words were just his personal account, Rasa couldn't afford to underestimate the threat. After all, the Akatsuki's recent assault on Konoha had shown their overwhelming strength.
Not only did the Akatsuki's leader wield the power of the Rinnegan, but each of its members was also a force to be reckoned with.
For example, Deidara, the explosive expert, was a genius of Iwagakure and even considered a strong contender for the next Tsuchikage.
Then there was Sasori of the Red Sand, a genius puppeteer of Sunagakure, who could easily have been the next Kazekage if things had gone differently.
Or Kisame, a member of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, who was similarly a candidate for Mizukage.
And let's not forget Uchiha Itachi, who not only possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan but was also the eldest son of the Hokage. He, too, could have been a contender for the Hokage's title.
When you looked at it that way, nearly all of the Akatsuki members had the qualifications to lead one of the Five Great Nations. The thought of such powerful individuals banding together was nothing short of terrifying.
And then there was that mysterious masked man with the spiral-patterned wooden mask, capable of manipulating space-time jutsu—an ability that instantly marked him as a top-tier shinobi.
Throughout the history of the shinobi world, very few people who could wield space-time jutsu had been weak. Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, and Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, were both legendary figures.
"The Akatsuki have a plan, something that could change the entire shinobi world," Akira continued. "And to execute it, they need immense power. Their goal is to capture all nine Tailed Beasts."
"We don't know the full extent of their plan, but considering the power they've displayed, it's certainly not for the benefit of the shinobi world," Akira added.
He didn't go into specifics about the Moon's Eye Plan. Still, even without explaining it, the Akatsuki's goal of capturing all the Tailed Beasts was alarming enough.
Hearing this, Rasa's expression darkened further. The sheer magnitude of the threat was becoming clear, and the danger felt very real.
"If that's the case, then I must ask you both to stay in the village for a few days," Rasa said after a moment of contemplation. Even though Akira's information was unconfirmed, it wasn't something he could afford to ignore. Better to be safe than sorry.
"Of course, we'll be staying in Sunagakure for the next few days," Akira nodded, agreeing to Rasa's request. He had said everything he needed to say, so he politely took his leave.
As Akira and Naruto stepped outside, Naruto, ever the straightforward one, suggested, "Hey, now that we've wrapped up the talks, let's grab some food! We've been on the road for days, and I'm starving!"
"Oh? Are you offering to treat me?" Akira teased, seizing the opportunity to make it clear that Naruto would be footing the bill.
Having learned his lesson seven years ago, when treating Naruto to a meal left his wallet aching, Akira had no intention of making the same mistake again. Especially now, since Naruto was no longer poor—he had inherited a portion of the Uzumaki clan's wealth, making him a certified rich kid.
"Sure, my treat!" Naruto cheerfully replied without a second thought.
Akira nodded to himself in approval. Traveling with Naruto had its perks—like saving money on meals. After all, even if he ate ten or twenty meals on Naruto's tab, it still wouldn't match the amount Naruto could put away in one sitting.
As they wandered the streets of Sunagakure looking for a restaurant, Naruto quickly grew frustrated. "Man, Sunagakure's nowhere near as great as Konoha! The food here isn't nearly as good, and there's hardly anything worth buying!"
Eventually, they settled for a ramen shop that looked decent enough.
"This ramen is nowhere near as good as Ichiraku's in Konoha," Naruto grumbled after downing seven or eight bowls. "And the prices here are outrageous! It's at least two or three times more expensive than back home!"
Akira chuckled. "And that's exactly why the other villages are always eyeing Konoha."
"Wait, is it because the food is better and cheaper in Konoha?" Naruto asked, genuinely puzzled. Politics had never been his strong suit, and he had never really thought about why other villages might envy Konoha.
"Well, part of the reason is that the Land of Fire has the most fertile land in the shinobi world," Akira explained. "So naturally, the resources are more abundant, and good things are more affordable. Now, imagine living in a place like Sunagakure, where food and supplies are scarce. Wouldn't you be tempted to take advantage if Konoha ever showed any weakness?"
Naruto thought about the barren, sandy landscape they had passed through on their way to the village. "I guess that makes sense," he muttered. "But even if things are tough here, they shouldn't try to take what isn't theirs!"
Naruto's innate belief in the goodness of people came through in his words, and Akira could only shake his head in amusement.
"Well, that's the world we live in," Akira said. Before he could explain further, a voice suddenly interrupted them.
"Isn't it obvious why Konoha is so prosperous? You think it's fair that your village gets to sit on the best land, thanks to the strength of the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara?"
Naruto turned toward the source of the voice and saw a man with a puppet on his back, his face painted with distinct markings.
"Hey! You're that puppet guy! The one Hinata beat up during the Chunin Exams, right?" Naruto exclaimed.
The man, Kankuro, scowled at the remark. Couldn't Naruto just ask for his name instead of reminding him of his defeat?
"And what brings you two to Sunagakure?" Kankuro asked, his tone less than friendly.
"Oh, we're here to save your Kazekage!" Naruto answered without hesitation.
Kankuro's face darkened even more. Akira, noticing the tension, smiled and extended an olive branch.
"Kankuro, right? Come sit with us," Akira invited.
Kankuro's mood instantly lifted. It was much easier to take when someone as respected as Akira remembered his name. Compared to Naruto, Akira was much easier to get along with.
*************
Bonus chapter for 300 powerstone
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Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 255+ at patreon.com/Emik01.
Uchiha Akira had become a legend throughout the entire ninja world by now!
More importantly, Kankuro had personally witnessed Uchiha Akira's Deep Forest Emergence when it was first unleashed. Kankuro, along with his two teammates from Sunagakure, had kept their distance during the fight between Akira's Wood Golem and the Gedo Statue.
It hadn't been that long since that battle, and now, here Uchiha Akira was, walking into Sunagakure. Even though Kankuro found Naruto irritating, he couldn't help but take note of what Naruto said about them coming to save his father.
So, when Akira invited him to sit down and share a meal, Kankuro accepted and joined them.
As they chatted, Kankuro couldn't help but probe further, wanting to understand the real reason behind their visit.
"You don't need to dig for information," Akira said with a casual wave of his hand. "It's pretty simple. I've already spoken with the Kazekage." Then, Akira explained the situation, mentioning the upcoming attack by the Akatsuki.
"What? The Akatsuki is coming to Sunagakure for Gaara?" Kankuro immediately tensed up.
Having personally witnessed the Akatsuki's strength in Konoha, the idea that they were now targeting Sunagakure sent chills down his spine. Could Sunagakure's forces really hold off the Akatsuki?
Kankuro couldn't help but feel uneasy at the thought.
"All because of the monster inside me, huh?" Gaara's voice suddenly cut through the conversation. He pointed at Naruto, then looked at Akira. "Aren't you worried they'll take the fox from him, too?"
As it happened, Gaara and Temari had just arrived.
"Oh? You three are sitting here, having ramen together? Looks like you've got a good relationship with your siblings!" Akira remarked, somewhat surprised. It seemed like Gaara's relationship with his brother and sister was much more relaxed compared to what it had been in the original story. Perhaps things had changed without Kotoamatsukami being involved?
"Hmph," Gaara grunted. He thought Akira was mocking him, so he didn't bother responding.
"Kurama says he can't stand the stench of that raccoon inside him," Naruto suddenly said, breaking the silence.
Thanks to Akira's help, Naruto had met Kurama much earlier than in the original timeline. Though he hadn't yet fully gained Kurama's trust, they had at least developed a relationship where they could have the occasional conversation.
"Shukaku says the same thing," Gaara responded, his own Tailed Beast's chakra stirring uneasily. He stared down Naruto, the tension between them evident in their hostile glares.
Akira couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. Naruto's relationship with Kurama had significantly improved compared to the original story, and it seemed Gaara had also grown somewhat closer to Shukaku over the years.
Akira knew from the original that the Tailed Beasts often didn't get along, especially Kurama and Shukaku.
The reason? Kurama ranked the Tailed Beasts by the number of tails, with himself being the strongest and Shukaku, with only one tail, being the weakest.
Naturally, Shukaku couldn't stand that, and their rivalry had been ongoing ever since.
Now, because of this animosity between the two Tailed Beasts, Naruto and Gaara seemed to be butting heads just as much as their respective beasts did.
Watching the sparks fly between the two Jinchuriki, Akira found the situation rather amusing.
It was almost like the two of them were walking their pets—pets that were snarling at each other—and now the owners were about to start a fight themselves.
"What's so funny, Akira?" Naruto finally asked, frustrated that Akira was laughing when he was in the middle of a tense staredown with Gaara.
"Oh, nothing," Akira replied with a grin. "I just think you two are more alike than you realize. You could probably end up being great friends."
"That'll never happen!" Both of them shouted in unison.
Naruto and Gaara's voices were filled with conviction as they rejected the very idea.
Nearby, Temari and Kankuro exchanged glances, a look of quiet satisfaction in their eyes.
They knew better than anyone what Gaara had gone through growing up—how the village treated him as a monster. They had felt a mixture of sympathy and fear for him, understanding his pain while also being wary of his instability.
Over the past two years, Gaara had come to terms with the monster inside him and had matured somewhat. He wasn't as extreme as he had been as a child, but the change had been gradual, and he was still largely isolated.
But now, seeing Naruto, who was also a Jinchuriki, interacting with Gaara, they couldn't help but feel hopeful. It seemed Gaara had finally met someone who could truly understand him.
Of course, neither Naruto nor Gaara would admit it, but their constant bickering and rivalry were signs that they could eventually become close friends. The tension between them wasn't born of hatred but of mutual understanding.
Meanwhile, the owner of the ramen shop watched in horror as Naruto and Gaara's argument escalated. He couldn't believe the audacity of this ninja from Konoha—daring to talk back to Gaara of all people. Didn't Naruto know Gaara could kill him at any moment?
Most of the other customers had already fled in fear, sensing Gaara's growing agitation.
"Enough, both of you! If you don't settle down, I'll make sure you do," Akira finally intervened, raising his voice at the two of them. As he spoke, his eyes transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan, and he directed the full force of his ocular power at the two Jinchuriki.
Tailed Beasts were indeed powerful entities, but when it came to controlling them, few abilities rivaled the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Even the strongest of the Tailed Beasts, Kurama, had once been subdued and used as nothing more than a summoned beast by Uchiha Madara.
Both Naruto and Gaara, who had been on the verge of unleashing their Tailed Beasts' chakra, immediately felt the oppressive force of Akira's gaze. The chaotic energy swirling around them quickly dissipated, leaving the room eerily calm.
"Damn those cursed eyes..." In Naruto's mind, Kurama grumbled to himself, once again forced to retreat. Even within Naruto's subconscious, the Nine-Tails could feel Akira's powerful presence, just as he had when Konoha was attacked.
In that attack, Kurama had sensed the presence of multiple Mangekyō Sharingan users—Uchiha Fugaku, the current Hokage, Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Sasuke, and of course, Akira. Not to mention the masked man who had summoned him from Kushina's body all those years ago.
The realization that the world now held five pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan left Kurama muttering, "The shinobi world has truly changed. Even if I escape, what could I really accomplish?"
On the other side, Shukaku, similarly pressured by Akira's gaze, growled in frustration but ultimately quieted down as well.
"Damn those eyes..." Shukaku muttered, feeling utterly suppressed by the powerful Mangekyō Sharingan.
Gaara looked at Akira in disbelief. He had known Akira was strong, but this level of power was beyond what he had expected. Akira had not only easily subdued him during the Chunin Exams but could now silence Shukaku with nothing more than a look.
This was the first time Gaara had ever felt Shukaku so... docile.
"Don't look so surprised," Akira said casually, his Mangekyō fading back into his regular eyes. "When the Sharingan evolves into the Mangekyō, its ocular power becomes strong enough to control Tailed Beasts."
Gaara didn't say anything, but inside, Shukaku remained unusually quiet, not daring to protest.
Seeing this, Gaara couldn't help but think, This is the strongest bloodline limit in the entire ninja world? It can even control a Tailed Beast...
Gaara studied Akira more closely. A thought quietly took root in his mind.
If I could marry a woman from the Uchiha clan... one with the Mangekyō Sharingan... would I never have to fear Shukaku again? Could I finally sleep peacefully?
The idea started to grow inside Gaara. It wouldn't be easy, but it was at least something worth hoping for, right?
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A bonus chapter if we reach 300 Powerstone
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Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 255+ at patreon.com/Emik01.