Naruto: The Book Eating Daimyo 3 - Growth, Hidden Hands, Daimyo's Heart & Kishi

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___________

"Ah!"

Thud!

Ikkyu's face was unrecognizable. Swollen, cut, bloodied. 

Not even three minutes had passed, and he was already on his knees, trying hard to stay standing to pass the test. He gritted his teeth and made the hand seals to use the Raging Waves Jutsu.

"Hah! Not bad, brat."

Jiraiya countered him instantly, using a wind element jutsu, cutting apart the water attack Ikkyu had made. 

Thud!

Once again, Ikkyu was thrown back, landing onto his back with a painful gasp. He felt broken, pained everywhere, his little five-year-old body at its limit. But he was no five-year-old inside that head. He pushed himself to the limit and once again crawled to his knees before standing up. 

Fuck! This is insane! 

All that time, Jiraiya hadn't even moved a single step. Heck, the man was poking his ear and chatting with Hokage all the while dealing with him. Showing him his place. 

Just… fifteen minutes. That's all I need. 

Ikkyu had no love for becoming a chunin. He just wanted to gain access to Mito's library. He was just hungry for more jutsu scrolls.

"Haaaa!" Ikkyu lunged forward and started running towards Jiraiya. 

He tried to be fast and created an earth wall quickly to hide himself. Then, using clones of himself, attacked Jiraiya from three sides. 

Bam!

Jiraiya directly struck the real him, his large fist pushed hard into his stomach, knocking the air out of him. Yet again, he was thrown back by Jiraiya, harder this time. 

"Aaaargh!"

Ikkyu coughed up blood this time, panting hard. He was just too slow. He hadn't practiced what he'd learned enough. Jiraiya countered him with absolute ease. He drained his chakra seal as well, but even that wasn't enough. His inexperience was as blatant as his age and height. 

Thud!

"Argh!"

Jiraiya finally moved, but only to place one foot on Ikkyu's back and keep him down, pressed flat on the dirt. 

"Stay down, kid. You’ve got the flashy moves, but you’re missing the sweat. Not everything shiny is gold, you know? Talent beats hard work... until it meets both." Jiraiya kept him pinned. "How about this? Train with me for a year, then take the Chunin Exam again. Deal?"

That was Jiraiya practically inviting Ikkyu to become his student. And while it was highly enticing, Ikkyu didn't want that. He had his own plans, and they were rather dark. He had to do them on his own.

"But Mito will be dead by then!" Ikkyu grunted and tried to get up, pushing with all his strength. 

Jiraiya frowned and looked towards Hiruzen to see what this was about. But the Hokage just shrugged. 

"Guess that settles it, kid. You’ve got skills, but not quite chunin level yet. Sleep it off, sweat it out, and stop rushing. It only lands you dead." Jiraiya said and leaned down. 

"No! I haven't given up!" Ikkyu thrashed his hands to get away. He saw what was coming. 

Bam!

Jiraiya knocked him out. 

####

Senju Residence,

There was silence and heaviness in the air. 

Mito sat nearby while Kushina wiped the wounds off of Ikkyu's body. He didn't speak ever since he woke up. He sat there and let Kushina wrap bandages on him. His eyes were unfocused, staring at nothing, but his mind wasn't. 

He was too overconfident. Sure, his scroll-eating ability gave him the best talent in understanding jutsus. But it didn't guarantee that he'd also be best at executing them. For that, he needed to train like all the other guys. His speed might be faster, but he couldn't run away from training. 

But what's the point now? 

He had failed to become a chunin. Soon, Mito would die, and his last chance to access the Senju Clan's library would be lost. 

"I'm done!" He blurted suddenly, making Kushina stop running her hands over his back. "I don't need to become a chunin or jonin. I'll go to other villages. They'll sell me whatever jutsu I need. Konoha can sit and hoard them for all I care."

Mito frowned in her seat. 

"Hey! What the hell are you saying?" Kushina scolded him. 

But Ikkyu didn't budge. He shrugged and jumped to his feet, letting the half-tied bandages fall from his shoulder. "I didn't come here to become another kid in Konoha’s army. I didn't come here to be treated like any random kid. I came here to learn, plain and simple. If that’s off the table, then I’m done wasting my time."

Fuck it! I'll get Tsunade to hand me the Uzumaki scrolls when she becomes the Hokage. Why waste time here? 

"Why are you in such a rush?" Mito asked him. 

At that, Ikkyu looked at her bluntly. "Come on, Granny. You and I both know once… once you're gone, they’ll lock them up for good. I’ll never get near them."

Kushina frowned and looked between the two. "What do you mean, Ikkyu?"

"I don't have long." Mito declared openly. "A few weeks left. Maybe a month."

"No… That's not true. You're doing so well." Kushina grew emotional. 

"The outside doesn't always show what's within, Kushina," Mito said quietly. She glanced at Ikkyu. "Come. Sit here."

With a small sigh, Ikkyu walked over and sat down right in front of Mito. She then asked for his hand, and he let her hold it. 

"As expected, the chakra has not grown. Ikkyu, I do not hold you back because I lack faith in your talent. I hold you back because your talent frightens me. Your understanding of jutsus surpasses all I have known, including my husband and his peers. I worry you may learn something dangerous without knowing it. That fear is what could end your life."

Ikkyu stopped frowning and nodded. It annoyed him that he couldn't tell them about his true mental age. That he knew what he was doing and which jutsus he needed to avoid. He hated being treated like a five-year-old, which he was. 

"I know that, Granny. I learned my lesson when I almost died. And… I don't want to be weak. I don't want to feel like I did back then. Tsuna saved me. I was lucky. But I don't want to just rely on luck."

"Hmm…" Mito smiled and fondly caressed his bluish-ashen hair. "You're a smart child. Very well, I will let you see the scrolls. But I will be with you, and you may only take what I approve. But in return, I want you to promise me something."

Ikkyu straightened up. "Anything!" 

"You'll be Daimyo one day, Ikkyu. I know it's selfish, but this is something I carry with me. When you grow strong and lead this land, promise me you will offer refuge to any Uzumaki survivors who remain in hiding."

He readily nodded. "I promise, Granny."

"And…" Mito looked at Kushina. "Take care of her when I'm gone."

"Her? I was going to do that anyway, Granny. She's too dense, I know that."

"Hey! I'm still here!" Kushina erupted in anger. "I don't need a caretaker, Lady Mito."

Mito gave a quiet chuckle. "I know, Kushina. But you and Ikkyu have grown close. When things get hard, don’t carry it alone. Let him be there for you. You need that."

"Indeed." Ikkyu nodded with folded arms, acting comically adult. "If that fox ever snaps, I’ll tie it up good."

Kushina and Mito both stared at his face in shock. 

"H-How do you know that?" Kushina asked. 

Ikkyu scoffed, chin high. He purposefully said that out loud. That way, they had a reason to be more involved with him. Especially Kushina, since she had another friend who knew her secret. "Heh, I have my ways. I'm gonna be Lord Daimyo, after all."

"..."

Mito sat frozen for a few moments before seriously addressing him. "Ikkyu, you must never reveal that secret to anyone."

"I know. Kushina is like the most important person in the Land of Fire. So she’s my top priority too. Don’t stress, Granny, I’ll keep her safe." Ikkyu gave her a firm thumbs up and a toothiest smile. "Can we check the library now?"

"Give me a hand." 

Ikkyu rushed to help Mito stand up. He looked at Kushina to see why she wasn't helping, and noticed a dumb blush on her face. He expected that, as she was somewhat of an outcast due to her hair. He and Kushina had grown very close by now.

"Hey, stop daydreaming and help," he called for her. 

"Ah, yes!" Kushina embarrassedly rushed over. 

Finally, with uncontrollable excitement, Ikkyu saw the forbidden door come into view. And when he saw Mito removing all the traps and seals placed on it, he thanked himself for not being a dumbass and trying to sneak inside. 

Wooosh!

The twin doors opened up. There was no dust, and the place was highly maintained. It was deep underground, and although there weren't any guards, entering it was the greatest challenge thanks to Mito's sealing techniques. 

"No touching. You'll only read the names and ask me first. If I allow it, you can take it." Mito warned him and ushered him into the hall. She had to walk slowly, so Ikkyu had to contain his excitement. 

Where is it? It should be here at this point, no? Shadow Clone Jutsu… where is it?

Ikkyu had a few limitations. Chakra was one that he had already overcome. The second limitation was his blessing itself. He could become the world's greatest encyclopedia of jutsus. But that didn't mean he could perform them to perfection. For that, he needed rigorous training. And what better way to do it than Shadow Clone Jutsu? Which could reduce his training time significantly?

Besides, thanks to Tsunade, he wanted to see if his seal would replicate on his clones. If it were possible, he could create a lot of clones and maintain them. While surely nothing outrageous like Naruto, even ten clones of himself would do. 

Umm… Damn, I love this smell. 

The smell of old scrolls. He was addicted to them. They excited him. 

"Oh! Granny, what about this? Adam… Adamantine Sealing Chains? Can I learn this?"

"Hmm…" Mito eyed the scroll, pondering for some time. She looked at Ikkyu, and then at Kushina. "Take it."

"Finally!" Ikkyu cheered and grabbed the scroll, resuming his walk. "Oh! Reaper Death Se—"

"Don't even think about it." Mito refused. 

Tsk… Too bad. 

The library was more like a warehouse with rows of racks. He walked each row, carefully looking at the scrolls. Most of the storage boxes were empty, however. 

"What about this one?"

"It's of no use to you. It requires Wood Release Kekkei Genkai." Mito refused him. 

Ikkyu kept walking and finally found something good. "This one?"

"Sealing Jutsu: Fire Seal. Hmm. Take it."

Yes! Fuck Amaterasu. 

"Granny, what about this Five-Seal Barrier?" 

"It's too complex. But… Perhaps you can learn it. Hold onto it." 

What a great harvest. 

Yet, he couldn't find what he was looking for. Since the Shadow Clone Jutsu was made by Tobirama, he reckoned it would be there. At least right now. 

Walking, he occasionally got himself some barrier techniques and sealing tag techniques. Rows upon rows, slowly, he started to lose all hope. 

"Hm?" 

That was when his eyes fell on a scroll named something as exciting as Shadow Clone Jutsu. 

"Granny, what's this… Flying Thunder God Jutsu?"

He hid the excitement in his voice. 

"Oh, Minato's learning that one!" Mito exclaimed. 

Acting curious, Ikkyu grabbed the scroll. "Then I'll learn it too."

"It's not easy to learn," Kishina said. "Minato struggled a lot with it."

How can teleportation even be easy? 

Mito didn't object to it, so Ikkyu kept on walking like he was in a shopping mall. He already had ten scrolls in his arms, but he kept on looking for one that mattered. Flying Thunder God Jutsu being there increased his hopes since it was also made by Tobirama. 

No, no… Why isn't it here? Because it's forbidden? 

At last, he came to the end of his tour. Shadow Clone Jutsu was nowhere to be found. 

Hmm… What if… Oh, that sounds like an idea. 

He reckoned that the Shadow Clone Jutsu was in the Hokage building. And he knew that soon, all the scrolls in Senju Residence would end up in the Hokage's building. 

I guess… I will have all of Konoha's jutsu soon enough. 

"I'll go and read them!" 

As soon as his tour ended, Ikkyu ran away to his room, promising that he wouldn't try to perform any of them. It was already late at night, so Kushina didn't follow him either. 

Alone, he started to make copies of those scrolls. Adamantine Sealing Chains, Fire Seal, Five-Seal Barrier, and finally, he ate the Flying Thunder God jutsu. 

Oh? It's almost like Summoning Jutsu, but more detailed. 

Instantly, his mind was filled with knowledge and peak understanding of every single jutsu he ate. He was truly excited about the Flying Thunder God because there were so few limitations to it. It was truly the most overpowering thing. 

All he had to do was mark his target first, and it could be done simply by touching. Even better, it cannot be removed. And there were no limitations to how many targets he could mark. He could teleport wherever he pleased, regardless of distance. Living or nonliving, everything could be marked. 

This is insane! I-It makes my work so much easier!

As soon as he was done eating, he studied how he could place his teleportation marker. It was the easiest aspect of the technique. So, once he knew it, he placed his marker on the original scrolls of the techniques. 

Now I just wait. 

Soon enough, the scrolls would be returned to the library below. He'd then eat a copy of everything in there. Later, when the scrolls would be transferred to the Hokage's office, he'd teleport in there and eat all the jutsu there as well. 

Sure, he didn't plan on using all of the jutsus. But just knowing them was a great boon. 

All I gotta do now is practice. 

The humiliating beating he'd received from Jiraiya was still not forgotten. And while he had no desire to become a chunin anymore, he still wanted to get stronger. 

That night, he slept like a baby. 

The next morning, he became serious about his training. He had Kushina available as his training partner. Then he acted, studying with Mito, learning the scrolls he'd already eaten. But he no longer cut corners. 

He no longer tried to cheat. 

He genuinely poured his blood and sweat into training. Although he was invited to become a member of a genin team, he refused and stayed inside the village. He sparred with Kushina, and sometimes Minato joined. 

Mito Uzumaki didn't last long and passed away in her sleep a month later. Kushina cried a lot, and even Ikkyu felt for her. The woman was actually concerned for him. For that, he promised her grave to fulfill his promise. He would bring the Uzumaki Clan back into shape. And he also took care of Kushina, continuing to live with her in the Senju Residence.

He visited various clans when bored, and they all invited him with open arms. All clans held dreams of one day having a Hokage from their clan. Ikkyu being the next Daimyo, his decisions would matter the most. 

Also, Ikkyu tried to befriend the future leaders and famous shinobis. For example, he met with Tsume Inuzuka and played with her dog. He went to the Aburame Clan and saw all their insects. He went to the Akimichi Clan, and damn, he loved their food. 

Slowly, years went by, and Ikkyu started to gain height and looks worthy of being a Daimyo. Sure enough, he caught the eye of plenty of girls in Konoha, regardless of age. Kushina was always ready to mock him for it, though. Too bad, he never acted embarrassed. 

Eventually, Ikkyu was once caught doing a perfect, insanely powerful Great Fireball Jutsu by an Uchiha Military Police patrolman. His name was Fugaku Uchiha, a twenty-two-year-old experienced shinobi. 

From then on, Ikkyu sparred with the Uchiha man regularly, always ending the training by seeing who created the biggest fireball. The one to lose would buy dinner. 

Soon enough, his regular outings became a competition amongst the firstborn of clan heads. Who would befriend Ikkyu the best. Heck, there were also a few girls involved, and the clans didn't even hide. With him being a shinobi, nobody saw an issue with the future Daimyo taking a shinobi wife. 

He met with Mikoto Uchiha soon enough, the girl arranged to marry Fugaku. He also met Kizashi Haruno and Mebuki Haruno. Shikaku Nara and Yoshina Nara. Ikkyu met with all the names he recognized. There was also Inoichi Yamanaka. Then there was the Akimichi clan. 

Eventually, Ikkyu became the reason why so many young prodigies got together to meet. Heck, he had Fugaku Uchiha on his left and Hiashi Hyuga on his right at Ichiraky Ramen a few times. 

He was the only guy in Konoha who had unrestricted access to every clan's district or compound. Even the usually cold and reserved Uchiha treated him with a genuine smile. Heck, he was invited by Fugaku to his wedding, and seeing that, other clans did the same, to the point he became annoyed because it felt like wedding season. 

Though he had to say, he loved it when he held baby Itachi for the first time. The kid was a personification of cuteness with his single-tooth smile. 

From a five-year-old, Ikkyu slowly grew into a tall, handsome boy of fame and acknowledged abilities. He no longer tried to portray himself as a super genius. He never took the Chunin Exam again. He remained a genin, but everyone knew he had surpassed that level. 

He never asked for any new jutsus. He trained those he already knew. Trained his speed and combos, and his ability to read the enemy's moves. Having sparring partners with Sharingan and Byakugan helped a lot. 

However, peace couldn't last forever. 

Ikkyu's peaceful days of just training, eating, and relaxing with friends came to an end. It happened on the day a few disguised Iwagakure shinobi tried to assassinate him inside the village.

But Ikkyu was faster. Equipped with the Flying Thunder God markers all across his house, the Senju Residence, and Konoha, he killed the four shinobis. Half of Konoha rushed to him that day, from Uchiha to Hyuga to Yamakana. They investigated and quickly found their identities. 

That was the trigger that started the Third Shinobi War.

And that was the sign for Ikkyu that it was time to move on and begin his grand ambitions. 

At the age of ten, five feet five inches tall, a lean body carved with all the needed muscles, he was ready to set out. He donned his usual attire, a dark grey half kimono, a darker open-front robe with a golden dragon embroidered across it. Then there were matching trousers, an obi around his waist holding the half kimono. It was a laid-back style that he loved because it was truly comforting. 

He combed his greyish-blue hair, cut short on the sides, and left it slightly messy on the top. It was Kushina's recommended hairstyle, so he kept it. 

"Are you really sure? They just tried to kill you."

"But they failed," Ikkyu replied as he stood ready to leave at the Senju Residence's gate. Kushina was there in her usual attire, a high-collared white, sleeveless blouse under a long, loose-fitting dress. By now, her red hair reached her thighs and her face… simple to say, she was considered the prettiest woman in Konoha.

Having spent almost eight years together, fighting, bantering, laughing, they were both used to each other's presence. Kushina was more than him as she had few friends to begin with. 

"Don't worry, I'm just going home. Gotta keep mom and dad safe." He lied, he had to. His plans couldn't be revealed to anyone. "You should focus on yourself. Things are about to get ugly."

"Oh, they won't let me go outside the village. You already know why," Kushina replied, eyeing him with concern. He was already as tall as her while just being ten, a whole decade younger than her. She could already see the sighs of a charmer in the making. 

"I'll miss you," Ikkyu said and reached for her, wrapping his firm arms around her waist. He was genuine about it. She was his first friend, and honestly, he loved teasing her or just hanging around with her. 

"Me too." Kushina nestled her face on his shoulder, arms around his neck. 

Ugh…

By now, Ikkyu had come to realize an issue. He had started to feel things. And out of habit, he wrapped one arm around her slender waist and the other went down… way down… palm wide, as he pulled her harder into his chest to hold her. 

He'd done it countless times, and at this point, it was a usual good morning for them. But over the days, he'd failed to stop those brain cells from waking up. 

"I swear, if you die out there, I'm gonna beat you up," Kushina murmured into his shoulder. "So keep training, got it?"

He chuckled, wondering how she'd beat him if he were to die. 

Too bad… 

He was seriously interested in this woman. Sadly, he'd been born too late. She'd been dating Minato for years now, and he was just ten right now. Barely able to feel those things. 

"I should get going now." 

Kushina eased out of the hug, kissed his cheek gently, and looked into his eyes. "You always have a place here. Don’t you ever forget it."

He cheekily grinned. "You bet! Who can forget the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero?"

"You!" 

He ran away quickly before her knuckle could reach him. 

"Bye-bye!" He waved from a distance, a small leather bag slung over his back. "Don't eat too much ramen, you'll get fat!"

Laughing, listening to Kushina scream back at him from a distance, he jumped over the buildings and headed to the village's gates. 

Of course, he wasn't going alone. He had an escort ready, consisting of Fugaku Uchiha and a few other Uchiha clansmen. They were already on their way on a mission, so escorting him was a side job they were too happy to accept. 

Ikkyu planned like a normal shinobi running from war. A normal lord not ready to die for Konoha. He had to do that to make himself the perfect alibi. 

As fast as he could, he reached the Daimyo Palace, entertained Fugaku and his men, and even helped Fugaku meet the Daimyo. After sending the Konoha team away, Ikkyu waited for the night in his room. 

Once everyone was asleep, he changed his attire. 

A pitch black ninja attire with a balaclava and a hood. Finally, he wore a mask, an iconic one from his previous life—the Guy Fawkes mask he made himself. Done with that, he tied a katana on his waist, shoved the kunai and shuriken in his hidden pockets, and all the tags needed for his risky adventure. 

Alright, time to recruit some terrorists for myself. Ame, here I come.

####

The Third Shinobi War was a strange war. In name, it started because Iwagakure tried to kill Ikkyu. 

But everyone knew that the real reason behind it was a show of strength. The second Shinobi war had left the Five Great Shinobi Nations in decline in power and influence. With low resources and manpower, smaller nations became emboldened and began to challenge the dominance of the Five Great Shinobi Nations.

That meant skirmishes with smaller border nations were a common occurrence. It was like a small ember that just needed a catalyst to spread like wildfire. The attack on Ikkyu was just that. 

On top of that, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind was hiring shinobis from Konoha, instead of Sunagakure in his land. It was because Konoha simply offered a lower price. And that made the Kazekage nervous, and the people of Suna felt betrayed by their Daimyo. The attack on Konoha was a show of strength to gain back their Daimyo's favor, as well as scare the Daimyo since the man was known to be very religious and frugal. 

There were so many aspects involved in the war. Each nation and village had their own goals. 

Amidst all that, Ikkyu spent his days sleeping, eating, and chatting with his mother and father. And on nights, playing his hidden games as a mystery shinobi, draped in black and masked in white. His plans in Amegakure with Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan were progressing well, now that he was a core member of Akatsuki, serving as their financier. 

His right-hand man, Yashin, had taken over Tanzaku Quarters and was already expanding the gambling and prostitution to maximize profits. Ikkyu had personally helped there with his alter ego.

Ikkyu had placed his teleportation markers across the Land of Fire by now, a few in Ame, some in Kusagakure. He covered the spots that neighboured the Land of Fire and mainly focused only on his own country. 

Now, at fourteen, four years after he left Konoha, the war was still ongoing. It had become a war of attrition, each side refusing to yield. Small children were being sent to the frontlines at that point. 

And seeing that, Ikkyu could only sigh. He didn't have the power yet. The power to financially control the nations around him. He would one day, but it would take a lot of hard work. 

"Father…"

As he usually did, Ikkyu sat with his father, the Fire Daimyo, for lunch. Life at the palace was calm and comforting as always. Even better now, as he had recently recruited a powerful woman to become his maid. She was saved by the Akatsuki from Kirigakure. 

Her name was Sayaka. It didn't ring a bell for Ikkyu initially. But when he found out that her son's name was Haku, it was easy. He helped her get out of the village that hated her, where she would have died. He saved her, gave her and her son a warm, comforting, protected life. In return, he planned on learning about her Ice Release Kekkei Genkai. 

"Lord Ikkyu, your soup." Sayaka placed his bowl before him and carefully moved away. In the Daimyo's palace, the servants had to train well first. 

"Sweetling, no talking when eating." His mother reprimanded him from the other side. 

"I know, but I wanted to tell Father something. I guess I shouldn't… not here."

As expected, with the lure of a secret, his father became interested. The man rushed to finish his food and invited Ikkyu to the private chamber. 

At that point, Ikkyu didn't feel overwhelmed by his father. The man sure was the Fire Daimyo, but he wielded that authority worse than a sheep. 

Even the damn Suna fuckers use Konoha shinobis. Of course, they fucking do, we don't even tax the fucking shinobi missions here. 

Ignoring his father's fiscal choices, he got to the point. 

"Father, you must have heard about the heroes of the war already, like the Wicked Eye Fugaku, Konoha's Yellow Flash. Please keep this just between us, but I think the war will end soon but… the armistice will make it so that Iwagakure has to pay no reparations. Hiruzen will step down, and you'll have to pick a new Hokage."

Fire Daimyo frowned slightly. "Who told you these matters? They have been kept strictly confidential."

So he's informed of the possible armistice.

"Don't worry, Father. I wasn't just playing during my time in Konoha. I need you to trust what I’m about to say. It’s the only way to stop us from losing half our firepower forever. If we don’t act now, the Land of Fire won’t recover."

Fire Daimyo sat uncomfortably. Although he'd personally witnessed his son's analytical skills over the past few years in the court, he still found it strange how his son acted vastly smarter than his peers. Especially when it came to numbers and planning things… less savory. 

"I'm listening."

"The two likely names you'll receive will be Minato Kazekage and Orochimaru. Hiruzen is likely to support Minato, and I agree. Orochimaru… has his use, but not at the top."

"I agree with that, my son." Fire Daimyo appeared proud. 

"I’m worried, Father. Hiruzen seems to carry the same distrust the Second Hokage had toward the Uchiha. Fugaku isn’t even being considered for Hokage, and people are starting to notice, especially by the Uchiha clan. They are at the frontlines in this war, Father, that entire clan. If you don’t do something, the Uchiha could rise up or leave and become a threat to us from another village."

"It can't be that bad. I've heard of the resentments but…"

"It's worse. I saw it. I lived with them, all of them. The Uchihas are as if… ostracized politically. And I wanted to avoid the greater harm. I have a plan… Since Hiruzen already acts vindictively, it won't matter if we vilify him more. We must ensure that the Uchiha clan's hatred is directed towards the Hokage, not the village itself. Moreover, I want the Uchiha clan to feel valued by you. Not just them, but all clans and heroes of this war."

"Me?" Fire Daimyo asked. "Ikkyu, you are aware why I don't meddle in Konoha's affairs. Conflict of interest and authority lead to dissatisfaction."

"But what if they’re not capable, Father? Will you let the whole Uchiha Clan walk away? Or just wait until they fight back? Besides, I'm not asking you to enforce anything. Minato will still be Hokage. I’m just asking you to mention Fugaku. Let it sound like you noticed him, like you saw value. Even a wild dog wags its tail when given treats. To a war hero, what is a treat? It's recognition. Just say you considered Fugaku as Hokage and were surprised not to see his name."

Fire Daimyo's jaw tightened. He unknowingly lowered his eyes from his own son. He'd done that before. He felt… overwhelmed by his son. The ambitions and the mind Ikkyu showed worried him for the future. A great balance was needed between the Daimyo and their Kage. What happens when that balance is broken?

"And…" Fire Daimyo stopped himself from dismissing his son outright. He feared it would bring an imbalance in his own household. "How do you suggest we reward him?"

"A pat on the back." Ikkyu smiled, and it sent a chill down his father's spine. "How about a war memorial in Konoha? One that honors every war, not just this one. We hold a ceremony. Medals for the brave. Photos. Handshakes. You look someone like Fugaku in the eye and say, ‘You kept this land safe.’ Medal of Fire for those who risked everything. Red Heart for the wounded—Konoha is a military outpost, Father. Let's treat them like soldiers."

"..."

Utterly speechless. Fire Daimyo sat back to relax, his usually lazy eyes gently wide. Unlike what most saw, he was no fool. He simply believed in not getting involved with the village's internal affairs. He was aware that everything was not well in Konoha. But he didn't bother with it because as long as he didn't poke into that mess, the mess wouldn't reach him. 

What Ikkyu was suggesting would undoubtedly create a more intimate relationship between Konoha's shinobi and the Fire Daimyo. And that would mean… the mess would reach him sooner. 

"Son… Why take such a risk? Right now, if Konoha catches fire, it will not reach us. Not so soon. But if we do what you suggest, Konoha catching fire will be the same as us catching fire."

Like Madara cares about that. We're all fucked anyway. 

Ikkyu just smiled and raised his right hand. He used basic chakra manipulation to create a ball. It wasn't Rasengan, just a visual treat. 

Snap!

Then he suddenly disappeared and appeared on the other corner of the room. 

"Father, the moment you sent me to Konoha, the Land of Fire's destiny changed. You avoid Konoha because it’s risky. But for me, doing nothing is even riskier. They surround me now, act friendly, try to win me over. What happens when I ignore them all? They’ll think I’m weak—Daimyo of the Land of Fire must not be weak."

Snap!

He teleported again, this time appearing in the middle of the room, right in front of his father. 

"I don't want to be weak, Father."

There it is! I can see it. Let it out, father. Let that desire consume you. 

Often, Ikkyu thought about the strange relationship between ninja villages and Daimyo. He often wondered what the Daimyo felt. Not being able to control their own military force. Being seen as a weakling by their own military. The same military that they feed and fund.

In the end, Ikkyu came to one single answer. Because he felt it himself. 

Humiliation.

Daimyo, unless mentally slow, felt humiliation. But most never did anything about it. Satisfied with their grand, luxurious life. Satisfied with the status quo, having the heads on their shoulders. But that very fact was humiliation.

In himself, Ikkyu was offering his father a chance to erase that humiliation. To actually be seen as the Daimyo. Not just some figurehead. 

So those eyes do open that wide. 

"Very well. I'll leave this matter to you. Tell me when I must journey to Konoha for this ceremony."

Yes! Yes, yes!

He was jumping with joy inside. 

"I will, Father."

He gave a deep bow and got up to leave. 

"Ikkyu—"

But he stopped at his father's call. He looked behind and… paused. Fire Daimyo's face was red, but it didn't seem like anger. 

"I hope you know what you're doing."

Ikkyu silently nodded. Making that decision, to meddle in Konoha's affairs, must have been an extremely challenging decision to make. Akin to asking a man with a noose around the neck to untie it himself while barely standing on his toes. 

Yeah… That's a better analogy. Daimyo are kings walking around on their toes, scared of stepping on a thorn.

But Ikkyu smiled after coming out of the room. 

But not me… Time to make a move. 

####

Amegakure,

It was raining. It always rained there. But that day, it was more depressing. 

Yahiko was dead. 

Konan was captured by Hanzo. 

Nagato held the kunai that killed Yahiko. 

Everything had gone downhill within a single day. Akatsuki was uprooted like it never existed. 

"Kill them!" Hanzo ordered. 

A hundred or so ninjas from Ame and Konoha Anbu reacted at the same time. There was no way that the battle could be won by Nagato alone. And Konan was poisoned. It was a perfectly planned ploy by Danzo. 

Almost perfect. 

Almost, because this time, there was another player. 

Snap!

"You're a fool, Hanzo!" An unknown voice echoed.

Out of nowhere, a flash came, and a man dressed in all black and a white mask appeared right behind Konan. 

Pat!

The man smacked his hand on Hanzo's back and then grabbed Konan in his arms, disappearing once again before appearing down the cliff where Nagato stood. 

"Kishi!" Hanzo erupted in anger. "Don't let him go!"

But there was no way the Flying Thunder God could be stopped. As soon as the man in black reached Nagato and Yahiko's deadbody, he disappeared with all of them. 

Hanzo and his army were left standing. 

"Spread out! They mustn't be far!"

Hanzo ordered with anger, fist clenched. If Akatsuki was an inconvenience to him, then Kishi was the thorn in his side. The mysterious man had appeared a few years ago and meddled in Amegakure’s affairs. 

"Find them at all costs!"

####

In a cave near the border of the country of Amegakure and the Land of Fire, four figures emerged like a flicker of flash. 

"Konan." Ikkyu removed his mask and held her in his arms while he sat down against the wall. He was sort of dating her. Sort of because they didn't really make it official or make any confessions. They just… felt it. 

He quickly summoned Lady Katsuyu and attached the small slug to Konan. Then he channeled his chakra through her to heal Konan. 

For some time, they all remained quiet. Konan stayed seated between Ikkyu's legs, her back against his chest, her eyes focused on the dead body of Yahiko. Nagato was in a much worse shape, in a daze beside the dead body. 

Konan. Ikkyu spoke with her telepathically thanks to Katsuyu's ability. You need to take care of Nagato. His eyes, they're dangerous. I came as fast as I could, but I was too late. His eyes are called Rinnegan, a dojutsu similar to Sharingan and Byakugan, but his are the most reputed and exalted. They say, the one who possesses it either becomes a god of creation or a god of destruction. 

Konan flinched in his embrace, feeling his tight, warm arms wrap around her body. She tried to look up at his face, concern in her eyes. 

His eyes are dangerous to himself. They'll drain the life out of him if he uses them without restraint. Moreover, there are people out there coveting his eyes. This attack, while not for his eyes, was also a scheme. A man named Danzo from Konoha is behind all this. He runs a secret, illegal underground branch of Anbu called Root, where he does human experiments and plots chaos. 

Konan looked towards Nagato with worry. She then talked back. 

Then we should work together and stop Danzo. 

Won't be easy, Konan. He has an entire army at his disposal. The Hokage is a blind fool. And there are others out there more dangerous than Danzo, hunting Nagato. You need to stay here and keep Akatsuki moving. I’ll be with you every step. I’ll take care of Danzo myself.

"But..." Konan sat up, her voice tight as she turned to face Ikkyu. "How can you fight him if he has an army? What if you get caught and…"

Ikkyu sighed and hesitantly, but gently, held Konan's face with his right palm, caressing her skin. Seeing her lean into it made him feel warm as well. 

"Don't forget who I am. I'll think of something. Don't worry about the funds, just expand Akatsuki. In the new armistice, I'll try to get Amegakure recognized as a non-shinobi protectorate of the Land of Fire. That way, my father will have to fund its recovery." Ikkyu said, gently holding her hand. "Take care of Nagato and yourself. Trust only each other."

It was impossible not to feel ominous by the way Ikkyu was talking. His words sounded more like a warning than advice. 

"You too," Konan replied and… leaned into him, her face inched close, and her lips softly landed on his. It was quick, short, and warm. A kiss with less passion but more feelings, of closeness, of trust, or warmth. 

Ikkyu put his arms around her waist and kissed her back. Less heat and more emotions. In truth, Ikkyu was interested in her since the day he saw her for the first time. And the more he got to know her, the more he was attracted. She was smart, stoic, calm, and level-headed, and also very caring. While not exactly the fun person he usually preferred, her mindset grew upon him. 

"I should get going now," Ikkyu said, releasing her from his embrace. "I’ll stop by often."

He got up and glanced at Nagato. The guy was sensitive to begin with. 

Keeping my word with Mito, I guess.

Finally, he put on his mask and walked out of the cave. He could have flickered away, but something told him that he was being followed by a certain someone. 

He walked into the forest at a regular pace. It being the Land of Fire, it was sunny and green. Pretty peaceful there despite a war going on. 

"Why are you doing this?"

Out of nowhere, a man came out of the ground, as if phasing through it. He just rose out like a mushroom, dressed in loose robes, face covered with a white mask that had one single hole for an eye. 

Ikkyu nonchalantly turned to look. He was aware of the dangers, but it was best to meet him now than on a battlefield. 

"You are?"

"I’m Madara Uchiha."

"Hah, a little too short for that, don't you think?” Ikkyu chortled, keeping himself constantly ready to teleport away. 

The single eye behind the mask quivered.

Still too young, I guess. 

"Why are you interfering in Ame?" the supposed Madara questioned.

"Why does it matter to you?" Ikkyu asked back.

"Because it should, after all, you're Ikkyu Madoka, the next Daimyo."

Ikkyu's identity was known. And yet, Ikkyu didn't act shocked, but rather, smirked.

"Is that so, Obito Uchiha?"

"..."