After Obito beca the Fifth Hokage, Akio found each day dragging on endlessly.
He'd hit the jackpot yet couldn't spend a single point.
That kind of suffering wasn't sothing anyone else could really understand.
Obito took office on January 8. Kushina's due date was March 8.
Two full months apart.
Two agonizingly long months.
Konoha itself remained lively as ever.
Hokage appointnts, council reshuffles, ANBU rotations, constant motion.
But none of it matched the original tiline anymore, aning not a single Witness Point to be gained. Akio stirred things up, made his presence felt, and quickly lost interest.
Thankfully, there was still one unruly blond kid to keep him entertained.
With the second-to-third-year promotion exam approaching and with Obito becoming Hokage at just twenty-two, Naruto felt both pressured and inspired. He begged Akio to train him harder.
What Naruto ant was essentially:
"Great Ancestor, please don't go easy on ."
A kid with drive deserved encouragent. Akio had no reason to refuse.
So Naruto received an absolutely brutal pre-exam training regin.
Akio enjoyed it imnsely.
Every now and then, he'd even mutter to himself in mock reflection:
"When boredom strikes, what's the cure? Naruto."
And so Naruto spent nearly two months in what could only be described as hell.
March 1, Konoha Year 56.
Konoha Academy, Naruto's classroom.
"E-Elder Akio… what brings you here today?" Iruka asked respectfully.
"Relax," Akio said with a smile. "I'm just here to et Naruto's classmates."
He turned to face the room full of children, wearing a warm, welcoming expression.
"Hello, kids. I'm Uzumaki Akio. I'm 124 years old.
You can call Great Ancestor."
"…Great Ancestor," ca a scattered, uncertain response.
Akio nodded.
"Seems so of you don't know who I am. That's fine, I don't mind."
He paused.
"After all, if you don't know , your future prospects are probably limited."
Several kids imdiately looked uncomfortable. Whispers spread through the room.
Shikamaru lowered his head beneath his desk and muttered to Choji,
"Just like Dad said. What a pain."
Choji nodded while chewing his chips.
"Choji Akimichi!" Akio suddenly called out.
Choji jolted, nearly choking, and scrambled to his feet.
"P-Present!"
Akio smiled kindly.
"Easy there. Don't choke. Are the chips good?"
Choji hesitated, then glanced desperately at Shikamaru.
Shikamaru sighed and stood.
"Great Ancestor, Choji thinks they're good. Also… our dads talk about you a lot, so we all know who you are."
Akio's smile widened.
"Sit down. You've got potential."
Then he added calmly,
"Just rember, reputation isn't the sa as reality. What you hear from your parents isn't always the full truth."
Shikamaru paused, then nodded.
"Got it."
"Good kid," Akio said. "I'll visit your house soti soon. It's been a while since I saw your father."
"…He heard that," Shikamaru muttered. "Such a pain."
Akio stepped back.
"Now you should all rember . From now on, when we et, call Great Ancestor. Clear?"
Many of the kids in Naruto's class were practically walking piles of Witness Points.
Worth making an impression on.
As for the actual promotion exams, Akio wasn't particularly interested.
He could tell who'd win every match before it even started and exactly why. The kids lacked the experience for real tactical turnarounds. It was all painfully predictable.
Naruto had improved significantly. Against Sasuke, he even held the advantage for a while, until he lost to the Fireball Jutsu.
Which made sense. Naruto still hadn't been taught any ninjutsu beyond the basics.
Oddly enough, the written test was more entertaining.
Naruto's frantic scratching, the subtle cheating attempts around the room, it all kept Akio smiling.
"Cheating on exams," he mused,
"Really brings back mories from my old life."
There was sothing else, too.
Hinata glanced at Naruto seven or eight tis during the test.
She glanced at Toneri more than ten.
Her expressions were so adorable Akio almost pinched her cheeks.
He figured she was rembering Naruto's earlier comnt about "using eyes to cheat" and trying to confirm it.
Definitely not overthinking anything else. Definitely not.
"If Hinata ends up liking Naruto like in the original tiline…" Akio thought.
"…will she end up stuck with that classic dilemma, choosing the one who loves you, or the one you love?"
The exams wrapped up by noon.
Akio arranged a one-month leave for Naruto through Iruka.
Naruto had been sulking over losing to Sasuke again, but the mont he heard he didn't have to attend school, his mood flipped instantly.
"Hey! Great Ancestor, teach fire jutsu this month!"
Akio smiled.
"Only after you eat a cat."
Naruto froze.
"…I ant Sasuke's fireball. I can learn that too, right?"
"You haven't even learned to walk properly and you want to run?"
Akio scoffed.
"Forget that I should just teach you to fly."
Naruto didn't understand and ignored it.
"Teach the fireball!"
Akio ignored him right back.
Naruto complained all the way ho, until he saw who was waiting.
Minato and Tsunade stood on either side of Kushina as she stepped outside.
Behind them were Kimimaro, Haku, and Karin, each carrying heavy packs.
"Huh?" Naruto blinked.
"Kimimaro? Haku uh big brother? Karin? Why are you here?"
"Spontaneous trip," Akio said cheerfully.
He waved his hand, releasing a sleek flying craft.
"All right, everyone on board!"
Hokage Office.
Since becoming Hokage, Obito's days had been filled with paperwork and minor affairs.
The only matter that truly counted as major was Kushina's upcoming delivery.
Because of that, Obito had been preparing for weeks. With Hiruzen's help, every clan had been coordinated. Konoha's defenses were stronger than ever, especially around Kushina's ho.
The security was airtight.
Obito studied the village defense map, trying hard to spot any remaining gaps.
"With all this… and Sensei here too…"
He nodded to himself.
"It'll be fine. Definitely."
Suddenly, an ANBU appeared.
"Hokage-sama. Elder Akio has taken Kushina-sama and departed by flight."
Obito froze.
"…Flight? She's about to give birth! Where did they go?!"
He stared at the ANBU, then realization struck.
"Kakashi? Is that you? Stop ssing around!"
"…Idiot."
"…What'd you say? I'm the Hokage! The Fifth Hokage!"
"Idiot."
"Hey! You bastard what was that?!"
BOOM.
The Hokage Office exploded into chaos.
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