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The Next Day, Hokage Tower
Akio arrived early, standing before the massive glass window that overlooked the entirety of Konoha.
"To think I actually became the Acting Hokage of Konoha... fate truly works in mysterious ways," Akio murmured, waving his hand. An ANBU member immediately appeared.
Seeing the familiar mask and sensing the familiar chakra, Akio frowned. "Juze, are you the only one in ANBU? Why is it always you showing up in front of me?"
Juze didn't reply. Akio chuckled. "It's fine, I prefer dealing with someone I know. From now on, you're in charge of relaying messages for me."
"Acting Hokage-sama, I'm the head of the ANBU."
"Uh..." Akio paused. "Then go find me someone who is responsible for relaying messages."
Juze vanished in a flicker. Akio shook his head. "Still calling me Acting Hokage, huh? How am I supposed to build good relations with superiors like this... Just wait, I'll make life hard for you later!"
Muttering to himself, Akio sat down at the Hokage's desk.
"C-rank mission request, B-rank mission request, C-rank mission requestā¦" After picking up three documents in a row, his frown deepened. "What is this mess? The Hokage has to personally approve mission requests? No wonder Tobirama was always so busy."
"We really need to establish a Mission Assignment Office. The Hokage should only be personally approving S-rank missionsā¦"
"Well, until that's set upā¦"
Akio quickly skimmed through the documents, and before long, he'd sorted them into four stacks.
"One for C-rank, one for B-rank, one for A-rankā¦ and this last one is S-rank and miscellaneous." Akio looked at the uneven stacks, nodding in satisfaction.
Another ANBU member appeared. "Acting Hokage-sama, the three elders have arrived."
"Got it, send them in." Akio waved a hand, muttering to himself, "This ANBU also looks familiar... name was Yiran, I think? Don't tell me ANBU only has two people left."
A minute later, the three elders ascended the stairs and took their seats.
Akio sat at the head of the table and leaned back, sighing emotionally. "Last time I attended a meeting here, Hashirama was still Hokage. I never imagined I'd sit in this seat one day."
The three elders exchanged glances. Uchiha Izma shook his head and said softly, "Grandfather Akio, you're Acting Hokage."
Akio gave him a glance but didn't refute it. "Let's get to business. If you have something to report, speak. If not, you're dismissed!"
The elders froze for a moment before realizing he was serious, falling into awkward silence.
Akio looked left and right, only then remembering he was the one who summoned them. But it turned out he really didn't have much to say.
After a moment's hesitation, he began, "The ones who attacked Tobirama and me were from Kumogakure. Most of their jÅnin were killed or seriously injured in that battle. I suspect only the Third Raikage remains among their S-rank shinobi. The Five Great Villages may all be on shaky footing now. What are your thoughts?"
"Forgive me for asking, butā¦ are you currently able to fight?" asked the Nara clan head, voicing what the others were clearly thinking.
Akio paused. "I can fight, but it's best if I don'tāat least for now." The aftereffects of the Eight Gates still hadn't subsided, and he didn't want to waste any more Witness Points on the "Body" stat...
"Then it's best to hold off for now," the Nara head continued. "The Second Hokage is still recovering. Lady Mito is pregnant. Your condition isn't optimal either. Sunagakure hasn't completely backed off yet. And as for Kumogakureāif what you said is true, they won't recover anytime soon. We might as well wait six months to a year before settling the score."
Akio nodded. "A year? Even ten might not be enough. Actually, one more person was involved in that battleāSecond Tsuchikage, Mu. Otherwise, Tobirama wouldn't have been injured so badly."
"I'll personally settle the score with him once I've recovered!" Akio laid full blame for the situation at Mu's feet.
The elders exchanged glances but offered no objections.
"Now then, about Sunagakureāwe were the victors, so naturallyā¦" Akio started to speak but was interrupted by the Hyuga clan head.
"Acting Hokage-sama, Sunagakure already sent over an alliance treaty."
Akio blinked, then walked over to the smallest of the stacks and dug through it.
"Here it is..." He picked up a document and skimmed through it.
"Well, well. It is an alliance treaty. Those Sand shinobi really have skin thickened by wind and gritā¦"
He glanced at the elders, then pulled out a blueprint he'd prepared earlier.
"This is the only thing I gained from this last missionāa weapon blueprint. Handle its development, and keep it strictly confidential."
The three elders took turns reading it, each frowning.
"Grandfather Akio, some of these materialsā¦ Konoha may not have enough of them."
"Then get them from Sunagakure. Whatever we lack, ask for it. After the lecture I got from Mito, news that Tobirama and I are still alive will spread fast. There's no way they'd agree to an alliance so easily without giving something up," Akio said with a grin.
"Exactly. If they don't cooperate, we'll beat them into submission," Uchiha Izma added.
Akio gave him an amused look. "Alright then, next time the Uchiha better send more people."
Izma's expression shifted. He closed his eyes and fell silent.
"Well, for the time being, Konoha won't be launching any external wars. And honestly, I don't think anyone's brave enough to challenge us right now."
The elders nodded in agreement.
"Anything else?" Akio asked.
Seeing no one respond, he smirked and pulled the mission documents back toward himself.
"C-rank missionsāUchiha Izma, you'll handle those."
"B-rank for you, Hyuga Clan Head."
"A-rank ones go to you, Nara Clan Head."
The elders exchanged looks. Izma hesitated. "Grandfather Akio, I still have clan matters to deal with."
"It's yours nowāunless you plan on jumping off a cliff in protest." Akio waved him off.
Izma's expression darkened. He sighed and began reviewing the documents.
"Acting Hokage-sama, I really do have urgent clan businessā¦" said the Hyuga head, thinking he was in the clear.
"Oh really? Then maybe I should go take a closer look at the Caged Bird Seal tomorrow. Bet you'll have lots of work then."
The sound of rustling paper came from the sideāthe Nara head had already begun reviewing the documents.
"See? Isn't this greatā¦"
The Hyuga head took a deep breath and began flipping through the mission requests with a resigned look.
Akio glanced around and picked up the last, smallest stackāonly four documents left. He nodded in satisfaction.
Intel from the Land of Rivers:
The northern region is no longer habitable. Most civilians and shinobi have migrated to the former Land of Hot Springs. Chaos has resumed.
"Let it burn... If you get involved in the Konoha-Kumo conflict, don't blame me for firing the first shot," Akio muttered, tossing the report aside.
S-rank Mission:
High-ranking officials from the Land of Fire are preparing a goodwill visit to the Land of Lightning and wish to hire ninja escorts.
Akio glanced around, lips twitching. With a sigh, he picked up a pen and scrawled six large characters:
"Let him go die himself!"
Intel from Takigakure:
Half a month ago, Takigakure shinobi launched a surprise attack on Iwagakure. Due to Kirigakure's aggressive assaults, Iwagakure's defenses were thin, and Takigakure successfully captured ChÅmei, the Seven-Tails.
"Huhā¦ so that happened. I remember Iwagakure spent a fortune buying the Seven-Tails. Guess this is karma, huh, Muā¦"
Intel from Amegakure:
Years of civil strife have ended. A ninja named Hanzo has risen as its new leader.
"Hanzo, huhā¦" Akio sank into thought. "Didn't expect him to rise to power this early."
"Then again, the current shinobi generation is already my grandkids' generation turning into great-grandkidsā¦ There's Third Raikage, Hanzo, then Hiruzen, Ånokiā¦"
Akio returned to the Hokage's seat and plopped down, watching the three elders drown in the task of sorting mission requests.
"Being Hokageā¦ not bad at all."
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