Konoha, Year 55 — Late January
Hashirama later admitted that he had thought he sensed someone interfering with him but it turned out to be a false alarm.
That kind of thing was basically crying wolf. The Uzumaki monitoring authority didn't let him off lightly and slapped him with three days of confinement inside a barrier seal.
After serving those three days, Hashirama was released only to be placed under two more weeks of restricted supervision before he was finally allowed to move freely again.
"Hashirama," Akio asked calmly, "was it really just your imagination?"
Hashirama forced a troubled smile.
"Great-Granduncle… I honestly can't be sure."
Akio nodded slowly and turned to Mito.
"And you?"
"I didn't sense anything," Mito replied, "but Hashirama wouldn't imagine something like that for no reason."
"So that's how it is…" Akio sighed.
He had been quietly hoping that the mysterious young man had died somewhere out of sight.
Clearly, that hope was wishful thinking.
"If he didn't immediately take control of Hashirama or you," Akio reasoned aloud, "and even cut off whatever link he had, then he's probablyo probably trying to stay hidden, hoping I'd assume he was dead. He just didn't expect Hashirama's instincts to be that sharp."
"Then, Hashirama…" Akio looked up.
Hashirama understood immediately. He spread his arms and relaxed, allowing Akio to act.
Akio placed a complete set of chakra suppression seals on him, layer after layer, thorough and precise.
"All set," Akio said. "I don't need to keep watching you nonstop anymore. That said, even without chakra, you're still absurdly dangerous. You'll need someone strong nearby at all times."
"I'll do it," Tsunade said, pushing the door open as she entered.
Akio smiled faintly.
"What, you're not out roaming around emptying casinos and becoming a legendary sucker anymore?"
Tsunade waved him off.
"Those places are rigged. Now I get why I never won. Next time I go, I'm tearing one down. You've seen me gamble with Grandpa sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. That's how it's supposed to work."
Akio raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
The more Tsunade talked, the more convinced she became that her losing streak had definitely been the casinos' fault.
"Grandpa," she said excitedly, "why don't we open our own place here? A fair one. Just the two of us gambling all the time gets boring anyway."
Hashirama's eyes slowly lit up.
Akio and Mito exchanged helpless smiles.
The sacrifices used to resurrect Hashirama and Mito had clearly been elite-level shinobi, meaning their current bodies could last two or three years as long as they avoided serious combat. But since the caster was still alive, there was always the risk of losing control.
Traveling elsewhere was out of the question. They were effectively anchored to this remote area.
Tsunade decided she'd stay to keep an eye on Hashirama. To keep everyone from going stir-crazy, she and Hashirama started seriously discussing the idea of opening a "fair casino."
No matter what name they officially chose, Akio was certain that outsiders would call it only one thing:
"The Cash Cow Casino."
"It'll be a hit," Akio chuckled. "A gambler's paradise."
Then he cut into their excited planning.
"You can open a casino if you want but as the owners, you need rules. For example, you're only allowed to gamble three times a day."
"Why?" Tsunade asked.
"Simple," Akio said. "Mystique. A legendary house owner who only plays three rounds a day? That'll attract real high-rollers."
Tsunade thought it over seriously, then dragged Hashirama back into discussion.
Mito laughed softly from the side.
"You've always been full of ideas, Uncle."
Akio nodded confidently.
"Of course. If they gamble nonstop, the place goes bankrupt in two days. But limit it to three matches a day, and gamblers will fight tooth and nail for those chances. That's how you turn a profit."
Mito smiled.
"Probably. I'll keep an eye on them."
Akio clasped his hands together thoughtfully.
"Who knew I had a head for business?"
"Yes, Uncle. Very unexpected," Mito replied with a smile.
Akio nodded repeatedly then noticed her expression.
"Alright, alright. I get it."
"I wasn't being sarcastic."
"Yes, yes. Of course," Akio replied halfheartedly.
The logistics of building and running the casino didn't concern Akio. Hashirama and Tsunade understood it far better than he did, and the Senju clan would handle the startup funds.
Akio only gave one final piece of advice:
"Tsunade once it opens, have Nawaki or Daoyama watch Hashirama for a couple of days. Then you take Shizune, wear that cloak of yours with the big 'Gamble' symbol on it, and visit nearby towns to spread the word."
"Your casino will take off across the Land of Fire no, across the entire shinobi world."
After delivering that terrible-but-effective idea, Akio stopped caring about the Cash Cow Casino entirely.
He had more important things to do.
He'd talked for ages about properly planning how to earn Witness Points.
Now he finally put that plan into motion.
Once he started, he realized there were plenty of opportunities most involving changes in key positions.
For example: assigning Itachi to ANBU.
Itachi was already thirteen. After nearly a month of personal training under Hashirama in Wood Release, his growth had skyrocketed. What he lacked now were high-risk missions to push him into S-rank territory.
Hiruzen wasn't thrilled. He'd spent years strengthening ANBU to balance tensions between the Senju and Uchiha, sending Senju-related influence in didn't sit well.
"Then bring Shisui Uchiha in as well," Akio suggested. "Those two are exceptional. Something interesting might come of it."
Just like that, Akio happily gained 20 Witness Points.
Later, Akio realized that perhaps due to his involvement in the Fourth Great Ninja War, Asuma still hadn't joined the Guardian Shinobi.
Twelve… no, eighteen guardians now.
He suggested Hiruzen send Asuma.
Hiruzen hesitated. Sending his son away wasn't easy but it was a traditional form of growth. He simply didn't understand why Akio suddenly cared.
After speaking with the Daimyō and arranging a replacement, Hiruzen prepared to send Asuma off.
That's when Akio showed up again.
"I've reconsidered," Akio said. "You're getting on in years. Your son should stay close. No need for that kind of trial. I'll personally train Asuma for five days."
Hiruzen was completely dumbfounded.
Akio , meanwhile, was beaming.
Witnessed and fully altered.
A full 50 Witness Points.
For a while after that, Akio kept doing similar things. Everything he did benefited the people involved and when it didn't, he compensated them properly, like with Asuma's training.
He had no interest in selfish, harmful schemes…
Like assigning a sixteen-year-old Anko to teach at the Academy and turning her into a joke.
By late February of Year 55, Akio had exhausted every event he could remember.
Total gained: 130 Witness Points.
"Five more," he muttered. "That's all I need to max out Yang Release. Where do I find them…?"
Before he could figure it out, news arrived:
The Cash Cow Casino would officially open on March 1st.
Congratulatory messages from gamblers everywhere were already pouring in.
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