Konohagakure Village
Akio finally stepped out from the Senju compound.
For the past while, he had devoted all his time and energy to the Senju, hardly leaving the clan grounds as he researched a way to solve their "infertility" problem.
Now that it was finally resolved, he felt a strange emptiness in his heart, not quite sure what to do next.
"Should I go take revenge on the Sand Village?" Akio sighed softly.
He bore half the responsibility for Kenji's death. The other half lay with Sunagakure.
"The direct culprit, Ebizō, was already slain by Sakumo. The indirect one… Chiyo, huh?"
Akio shook his head. No, he wouldn't go. Chiyo was a pitiful woman, her son and daughter-in-law had died in battle, her brother was killed, and her grandson had defected. She was truly alone now.
"In the future, even if she fakes her death while fishing, there won't be anyone left to fall for it."
He couldn't help feeling a trace of pity for her at the thought.
After a moment, he gave a self-deprecating chuckle.
"I'm the one who's really all alone. All that's left are juniors and disciples. And I still have time to pity others…"
Feeling a bit gloomy, he muttered, "Guess I'll go visit my adopted daughter and find some comfort."
Changing his appearance, he made his way toward his "shop."
Sara was inside. Ever since Teuchi had taken on a new apprentice, she'd had plenty of free time. She had just opened a boxed lunch she'd bought from elsewhere, about to eat after all, no matter how good Ichiraku's ramen was, one could still get tired of it.
Seeing Akio walk in, she greeted him with a sweet smile.
"Father, you're back! Have you eaten?"
"Not yet. What, you gonna share half with me?"
Sara: "…"
"You can have this one, Father. I'll go buy another."
Akio chuckled and waved her off.
"No need. I haven't had ramen in a while. When you're done, just go get me a bowl."
"I'll go now! It won't take long." Sara said and hurried out the door.
"Add extra noodles!" Akio called after her.
Ten minutes later, father and daughter sat opposite each other, eating together in a cozy, heartwarming scene. Akio found the food all the more delicious for it.
"Anything special happen recently?" Akio asked, his words a bit muffled from the noodles in his mouth.
Sara shook her head. "Nothing much. It's just that Obito's been looking for you every day for the last two days, morning and afternoon both. Around this time, he usually goes home to eat."
Akio blinked. "Obito's looking for me?"
He thought for a moment. "Don't tell me that kid failed the Chūnin Exams and came to me for comfort? Rin passed, and he didn't. Well, can't really blame… Konoha… for that."
He wasn't even curious why Obito failed. The reason was obvious, the kid just wasn't too bright.
"When he comes by this afternoon, I'm gonna have a good laugh at his expense," Akio muttered without a hint of sympathy.
…
"Sensei! Take me to the battlefield!"
Akio looked at the passionate, fired-up Obito and froze for a second.
"Sensei! You promised to take me to the battlefield!" Obito said urgently when Akio didn't reply.
Akio nodded. "Yeah, I did say that. But didn't I tell you it would be in half a year? It's only been, what, four months?"
Obito grew more desperate. "I'm ready now, Sensei!"
"Are you? Genin Uchiha Obito?"
Obito's face fell. "So you know about that…"
"This time, the Chūnin Exams really weren't my fault!"
Then came a long, rambling explanation, the written test was too hard, the opponents too strong, he'd been careless, he helped an old lady cross the road...
"Sure, sure. Blame the old lady."
"Sensei, please! Take me with you! Rin's already gone to the battlefield, I need to protect her! Otherwise, how can you be at ease?"
Akio blinked. "Rin went? But Minato's still in Konoha!"
Obito's expression was full of sorrow. "All those who became Chūnin after this exam were sent to the frontlines! Our clan leader himself led the team, but they didn't take me…"
"Shisui's uncle… (Kagami) led them?" Akio muttered. "So Konoha's using the battlefield as a training ground now…"
He looked at the boy before him and smiled faintly. No wonder Obito was so anxious, most of his peers had already been to war, while he'd been left behind.
After a brief silence, Akio thought: I'm not busy anyway. Might as well take him for a spin. Participating in the war a little might earn some witness points.
"Alright. Pack up, I'll take you there. Let's see what you can learn from the battlefield."
Obito's face lit up. "Sensei, I'm already packed!"
Akio blinked, then glanced at Sara. "You heard that? I'm taking him for a short trip to the battlefield."
Sara smiled. "Got it, Father."
Her tone was calm as if the battlefield were just the backyard of their house.
Anyone else would've found that strange, but Obito was a total newbie, too excited to notice.
Akio himself didn't need to bring anything special. He stood up, about to speak and then froze.
"Major event witnessed: Drastic alteration of main Naruto timeline — Third Great Ninja War. Witness points: 100 (/2) (*8)."
"The Third Great Ninja War… ended?"
He went silent.
This was the second time since Konoha's founding that a main story event was worth a base 100 points, proof of just how important it was.
In the original timeline, Konoha had been surrounded by the other four great nations, suffering heavy losses that forced them to send even academy graduates to the frontlines.
But now, thanks to the Land of Whirlpools' influence, things were different. Kumogakure still hadn't recovered and didn't join the war. Kirigakure only played a minor role. Sunagakure lost huge amounts of resources and even a village elder, leaving only Iwagakure to face Konoha alone and they couldn't handle it.
Konoha was literally using them for training exercises. Of course, Iwa would surrender and probably have to pay compensation just to stop Konoha's advance.
"Well… that's the plot blown wide open," Akio sighed.
The Third Great Ninja War had too many key events. Some didn't matter much, like Minato's "Yellow Flash" fame (a golden man will always shine, after all).
But others… like Obito's role, for example, Akio had planned to let events flow naturally and maybe nudge him toward awakening his Mangekyō. Now? All of that was gone.
"Really, Ōnoki? You gave up that easily? Guess you're getting old too…"
"Sensei! When are we leaving?" Obito's impatient voice pulled him back.
Akio glanced at him, then plopped back into his chair. "We're not."
Obito froze. "S–Sensei?"
Akio waved his hand. "The war's over."
"What?!"
Obito gawked, and when Akio nodded in confirmation, frustration surged within him, his chakra flared, and his eyes suddenly shifted into twin-tomoe Sharingan.
Akio couldn't help laughing. "Well, is this a blessing in disguise? Or just a protagonist's sudden power-up?"
…
Mid–Konoha Year 44.
The Third Great Ninja War, which had lasted less than a year…
Came to an abrupt end.
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