After Danzo met privately with the Third Hokage, no one knew the details of their conversation. But something had clearly gone wrong. Danzo had entered the Hokage's office with his usual grim expression, yet when he emerged, his face was darker than ever. Whatever promises he made within those walls, they weighed heavily on him.
Returning to his own headquarters, Danzo gave the silent order to his subordinates: temporarily cancel all plans involving Akira.
Unaware of the confrontation behind the scenes, Akira continued on as usual. He had long suspected that Danzo might have been the one who leaked his whereabouts to Sunagakure, though he had no proof. His suspicion was based less on evidence and more on understanding Danzo's nature. He needed someone to blame for the ambush—and Danzo was the most convenient, and most likely, suspect.
What Akira didn't know was that Danzo had begun to believe the Third Hokage viewed Akira as a future Hokage candidate. That alone was enough reason for Danzo to move against him. But Akira, still in the dark, chalked up the ambush to his rising threat level and his enemies' desperation.
When the Third Hokage offered no reward for his dangerous mission or the lives he risked, Akira decided to keep his most valuable trophy a secret: the four puppets used by the elite puppeteer he'd defeated.
Officially, shinobi had the right to keep spoils of war unrelated to their missions, but dangerous or mysterious items were supposed to be submitted for inspection. Puppets especially could be rigged with deadly traps, chakra seals, or hidden poisons.
Akira, however, had no intention of giving them up. He believed that if he handed them to the research division, they would never return them. Sunagakure's puppetry techniques were rare and valuable; Konoha would want to study them thoroughly. If he was to be overlooked for a reward, then they had no right to his prize.
Besides, Akira had an advantage few others possessed—his Sharingan. He had fought the puppeteer with his eyes fully active, analyzing the flow of chakra threads in real time. While most Uchiha could barely glimpse how the chakra was used, Akira understood its delicate manipulations. His chakra control was masterful, allowing him to replicate the puppeteer's movements with surprising ease.
Like a child discovering a new toy, Akira started experimenting with the simplest of the four puppets: a double-edged model armed only with two blades. He avoided the others—especially the ones designed for poison attacks—fearing they might trigger toxic traps and ruin his home.
At first, the puppet moved clumsily under his control, like a newborn deer. But as he practiced, the puppet's movements became smoother, more responsive. It was an exciting moment for Akira, who began to realize the depth of puppetry's complexity. Despite his talent, mastering puppetry was no simple task. It was as intricate as any ninjutsu, genjutsu, or taijutsu.
He soon hit a wall. While he could mimic the puppeteer's controls, he couldn't make the puppet behave naturally, let alone battle-ready. Without proper training, he was just fumbling through instinct. Realizing this, Akira put his new toys aside for now.
But one technique lingered in his mind: Jutsu - Machine Light Shield Seal. He remembered it from his battle. A powerful defensive ninjutsu originally used by Chiyo, it could withstand even the Magnet Release techniques from Sasori's fearsome Third Kazekage puppet.
However, this jutsu wasn't human-compatible. It required the puppet's internal mechanisms to convert chakra threads into a high-density chakra shield. Akira couldn't replicate it alone.
Yet, as he stared at the puppet's thick, plated arms, an idea sparked. What if he dismantled the arms and repurposed them into wearable armguards? Using the mechanical knowledge he retained from his previous life, he might be able to refit them to his body and channel chakra through them. It was ambitious—but not impossible.
While Akira was immersed in study and experimentation, Takahashi finally staggered back to Sunagakure. His journey was one of humiliation and hardship. Having lost his comrades, robbed of his tools and money, he had to beg his way home, relying on the pity he could earn with his childlike appearance.
He couldn't travel openly. Konoha's patrols and the ongoing skirmishes made his route a minefield. Every step had to be calculated to avoid detection. And when he finally crossed into Sunagakure territory, he looked more like a refugee than a shinobi.
Upon arrival, Takahashi immediately reported to his superiors. But the truth was, he knew next to nothing. He had seen Akira only once or twice before falling victim to genjutsu. Everything else was a blur.
Still, he did his best to sound convincing. He painted Akira as a cunning enemy who used tricks and deception to pick them off one by one. By the time Watanabe caught up, the rest of the squad had already been annihilated. Then, he too fell under Akira's illusion.
Sunagakure's high command was stunned. They had considered the mission a sure thing. An elite Jonin, another high-ranking Jonin, and a well-trained eight-man squad had been sent. How could one Konoha ninja wipe them out?
They were skeptical at first, suspecting hidden reinforcements or secret guardians. But when scouts recovered the corpses, the truth became hard to deny.
The autopsies told a clear story. Each death was clean, precise, and powerful. Lightning chakra had been used with surgical efficiency. The strikes were deadly and fast—the work of a master, not a squad.
And Takahashi confirmed it: Akira specialized in lightning-style ninjutsu.
There weren't many lightning users in Konoha strong enough to do that alone. In the end, Sunagakure's leaders had no choice but to accept the unbelievable.
A child ninja from Konoha, named Akira, had slaughtered their elite task force single-handedly.
From that day forward, the name Akira echoed not only in the corridors of Konoha's Hokage building but also in the war councils of Sunagakure.
A prodigy had risen—and the entire shinobi world would soon come to know his name.
Akira was still unaware that his actions had drawn the attention of Sunagakure. After a brief period of rest, the Third Hokage finally summoned him with a new assignment.
During the few days Akira spent recovering, the antidote he'd delivered had been refined and mass-produced. It was now being distributed across the various military camps, transforming the tides of battle. With the antidote in hand, Konoha's shinobi no longer feared the insidious poisons of Sunagakure. Wounded soldiers could now counteract toxins before they spread through their system, and even those already afflicted recovered swiftly under medical care. As a result, the medical-nin previously redirected to the front lines were now returning to their original posts, and Akira's presence at the front was no longer urgently required.
The Third Hokage, always mindful of Akira's youth, initially intended to reassign him to a safer position at rear headquarters. He believed that Akira, still so young, should be spared the cruelties of war for as long as possible. However, Akira had other plans. With unwavering resolve, he bowed deeply before Hiruzen and declared:
"To bleed and sacrifice for the village has always been my aspiration, Hokage-sama. Please, allow me to return to the front lines. It's there that I feel alive. It's there I can offer the most to Konoha."
His words were fervent, almost too perfect. In truth, Akira's determination was not entirely driven by the desire to protect the village. Having learned that Orochimaru, Anko, and Hayate had returned to the rear lines, Akira had no intention of reentering Orochimaru's reach. Though he once sought the Ryūchi Cave scroll and the cells of the First Hokage from Orochimaru, circumstances had changed. He'd recently obtained the Mount Myōboku summoning scroll from Tsunade and, more importantly, a chance to learn Sage Mode. The allure of the Ryūchi Cave had diminished. As for the First's cells, Akira understood that to receive them, he'd need to entangle himself in Orochimaru's sinister experiments—something that risked unraveling the carefully constructed persona he'd maintained.
So, with subtle strategy behind his words, Akira pressed the Third Hokage to send him away from Orochimaru's reach and back to the front lines. Hiruzen, weighing the merits of his strength, finally relented. Akira had grown; his strength now rivaled that of elite jonin. As long as he didn't cross paths with a Kage-level opponent, his safety was assured.
Hiruzen even began to consider the bigger picture. A ninja like Akira, powerful and principled, was an ideal candidate to one day inherit the Will of Fire. Thus, he not only approved Akira's request but decided it was time to form a team under his leadership.
However, Hiruzen wasn't willing to leave things entirely in the hands of a youth with limited field command experience. He would provide guidance—in the form of a teammate both powerful and wise.
The next day, Akira reported to the Hokage's office, where a middle-aged man stood quietly by the desk. His posture was composed, his demeanor humble. He wore a simple headband and a low ponytail, and despite the faint lines of age, his eyes were sharp.
Hiruzen smiled warmly. "Akira, this is the first member of your new team—Maruboshi Kosuke. Get to know each other well."
Akira bowed politely. He recognized the name. Kosuke was a minor character from the original story, often overlooked, but Akira remembered his true worth. Despite the title of genin, Kosuke was a master of Water Release, genjutsu, and kenjutsu. He had been personally trained by the Second Hokage. Rumor had it that a youthful mistake led him to decline promotion, choosing instead a life of quiet service as penance.
"It's an honor to meet you, Senior Kosuke," Akira said with genuine respect.
Kosuke returned the gesture with equal warmth. "I've heard much of your accomplishments, Akira. Your work on the Wind Country frontlines has brought hope to many. I look forward to learning from you."
Hiruzen, seeing the cordiality between the two, nodded in approval. "Do not be fooled by Kosuke's rank. He's a reliable comrade, stronger than many jonin I know. I believe you'll find his experience invaluable."
Turning to Kosuke, Hiruzen continued, "Akira has been promoted to special jonin. He's not only a brilliant medical ninja, but also powerful in combat. If not for his age, I would've made him a full jonin."
Kosuke offered Akira a proud nod. "Then I'll support him with all my strength."
The two warriors had found mutual respect in mere moments.
Akira then turned back to Hiruzen. "Hokage-sama, a full team usually includes four. May I ask who my other two teammates are?"
Hiruzen smiled. "Your old comrades—Anko and Hayate. They're still stationed in the Wind Country, but I've already informed Orochimaru. You'll reunite with them there."
Akira's heart lifted. He had grown fond of Anko and Hayate during their time together, and their camaraderie would make for an efficient team. More importantly, it meant avoiding unfamiliar teammates who, in Akira's mind, risked becoming dispensable background characters in this deadly story.
With everything arranged, Akira thanked Hiruzen sincerely. As he and Kosuke departed for the Wind Country battlefield, Akira couldn't help but feel a quiet anticipation building in his chest. A new chapter awaited—one where he would step into leadership, not just in battle, but in navigating the subtle shadows of a war-torn world.
Behind them, the Third Hokage leaned back in his chair, satisfied. With Kosuke's unwavering loyalty and the bonds between Anko and Hayate, Akira was now surrounded by people who embodied the Will of Fire. Exposure, after all, was the best teacher. Perhaps one day, Akira would not only inherit Konoha's strength, but also its soul.