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Early the next morning, Akio stepped out of his room with dark circles under his eyes, making his way to the clan's reception hall. Along the way, he encountered younger clan mbers engaged in morning training, who stole sideways glances at him. However, in his good mood, Akio paid them no mind.
Upon reaching the hall, he realized that his excitent had caused him to arrive too early. Aside from a few clan mbers tasked with cleaning, no one else had arrived. The bride-welcoming procession wouldn't reach them until noon, and there were still two hours left before the clan's gathering. As the initial excitent wore off, exhaustion crept in. With plenty of ti to spare, he sat down on a chair and dozed off.
Ti passed quickly, and soon, the elite mbers of the clan began to arrive one by one. Every individual present was at least an elite jōnin, aning each person in the room was slightly stronger than Akio in terms of raw combat ability. They all noticed him sleeping soundly, but instead of waking him, they rely smiled—clearly accustod to such behavior.
Before long, the clan leader and the three elders entered the hall and took their seats at the head of the room. The clan leader cleared his throat, instantly quieting the hall. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed Akio still asleep and had no choice but to say:
"Second Uncle, wake up. Stop sleeping."
"Mm…" Akio groggily opened his eyes, revealing his pronounced dark circles.
"Pfft!" A clan mber couldn't hold back a chuckle. That single laugh was all it took to break the tension—soon, the entire hall erupted into laughter.
Akio looked around in confusion, clearly at a loss.
"All right, all right, let's settle down and discuss serious matters," the clan leader finally intervened.
"In a short while, the Senju clan's wedding entourage will arrive. Let's make sure we greet them properly and send Mito off with full honor and dignity."
"Indeed," the First Elder chid in. "This marriage will strengthen our ties with the Senju clan, offering our people greater protection in these turbulent tis. Everyone, take this seriously."
At this mont, the Second Elder cast a sidelong glance at Akio and said, "Clan Leader, given how crucial this alliance is, wouldn't it be unwise to send only Akio to accompany the bride?"
"No need to worry," the clan leader replied calmly, feigning ignorance of the underlying jab. "The Senju are responsible for ensuring the safety of the journey. Our role is rely to have soone look after Mito's needs along the way. Once she is settled, Second Uncle can return in as little as half a month, or at most, a month."
The Third Elder slightly opened his eyes, seemingly wanting to speak, but after catching a look from the First Elder, he closed them again and remained silent.
"Since the elders have no further concerns, does anyone else have anything to add?" the clan leader continued.
Akio glanced up briefly before lowering his head again, pretending as if the conversation had nothing to do with him. Inwardly, however, he muttered, "Damn Uzumaki Masahiro (Second Elder). Just because I bullied you a few tis as a kid, you've been holding a grudge for forty years?"
At that mont, a youthful voice rang out: "Clan Leader, please allow to accompany the entourage. Lady Mito's safety must be taken with utmost caution."
The speaker was Uzumaki Kurajin, a young prodigy whose na differed from Naruto's by just a single character. In Akio's eyes, this kid practically had 'main character aura' written all over him. At only twenty years old, he had already surpassed most elite jōnin. Since the clan leader had only one daughter—Mito—people often joked that Kurajin might marry her and beco the next clan head, ascending to the peak of life. But judging by the current situation… seems like his 'main character aura' ran out of credit.
"No need, Kurajin," the clan leader refused. "We can trust Second Uncle with this. While your strength is formidable, experience is what matters in situations like this."
"Hey, hey, Clan Leader Nephew, the way you say that makes sound like so weak old man… which, now that I think about it, might actually be true," Akio chid in.
With that, the tense atmosphere lightened once again, and smiles returned to everyone's faces. Just then, a guard entered the hall, pushing open the doors.
"Clan Leader, the Senju wedding entourage has arrived!"
"So soon? Everyone, let's go welco them!" the clan leader ordered.
A large group filed out toward the entrance of the Uzumaki compound, where, sure enough, a procession was waiting. A quick glance revealed three peak jōnin and seven or eight elite jōnin—truly worthy of the Senju na.
"Well, this is a first," Akio muttered. "Didn't think there'd be palanquins in the world of shinobi. And the ones carrying it are just regular jōnin? I suddenly feel so inadequate."
"What's that, Second Uncle? What did you say?"
"Nothing, nothing."
At that mont, a young man stepped forward from behind the palanquin. His cheeks and chin bore three distinct blue markings—none other than the young Senju Tobirama.
"Now that's a familiar stranger," Akio whispered to himself. "Finally eting you, Second Hokage."
The clan leader shot him a glance but said nothing, seemingly accustod to his Second Uncle's eccentricities. "Tobirama, you don't mind if I call you that, do you? It must have been a tiring journey. Why not co in for so tea?"
"No need for the formalities, Uzumaki Clan Leader," Tobirama replied. "As soon as Lady Mito is ready, we must set off imdiately. We need to return before nightfall to hold the wedding ceremony."
"Surprisingly well-mannered," Akio muttered again, completely unaware that every ninja present had exceptional hearing. Naturally, his words did not go unnoticed.
Sure enough, Tobirama's mouth twitched slightly, but he refrained from comnting. Seeing this, the First Elder quickly stepped in, "Soone, please fetch Lady Mito. Her belongings should be packed by now."
The Second Elder followed up with a smirk, "Tobirama, allow to introduce our 'famous' Uzumaki Akio. He will be the one accompanying Mito."
Tobirama's expression twitched again. "So, it really is him," he thought to himself before imdiately declining. "There's no need. Our group consists of three peak jōnin and eight elite jōnin, myself included. There is no cause for concern."
"It's not a matter of protection," the clan leader countered. "She is my only daughter. I cannot go myself, so I want Second Uncle to accompany her. When he returns, he can recount the wedding to , allowing to share in the mont as her father."
"…Why not just send soone else to tell you about it?" Tobirama thought but wisely kept to himself.
Just then, Mito erged from the house, accompanied by two kunoichi. She bowed respectfully to the clan leader and elders before giving Tobirama a polite nod, then turned and stepped into the palanquin.
"Since everything is settled, let us depart, Uzumaki Clan Leader."
"Safe travels. Second Uncle, take good care of Mito," the clan leader instructed.
"Don't worry, Clan Leader Nephew!" Akio replied with a slightly aged yet warm smile.
"Move out!" Tobirama commanded, and with that, the group slowly left the Uzumaki compound.
Akio embarked on a new journey…
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