Chapter 39
AKIHITO SHIRAHOSHI
When the previous daimyo had proposed to him to marry his daughter, Akihito understood that he was set to come to a very extreme amount of power. Power to decide the fate of the whole continent through the position of the daimyo.
He was faced with a choice. He could choose to maintain the status quo, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, ruling with reason. Or he could dare to dream bigger, to use Chiba's aspirations as a catalyst. The lands had not seen a Shogun in many, many years, and though the path was arduous, he believed he could reach that pinnacle. But he was acutely aware that such a decision could ignite a war, a conflict that would cost countless lives.
Yet that would cause war, a loss of life that unsettled him. Akihito believed that life was precious, and while he knew that war was a necessity, he also understood that things must change.
And so, change them he would.
"Your student is fine," he told the man, who he believed would be his arms and legs to fulfill his dreams. Minato Namikaze, the yellow flash, was an anomaly in the shinobi world, much like Akihito was in the country.
Born to nothing, yet now, through sheer willpower and some luck, he sat in the highest office in the village, with his name feared all throughout the land.
"As we speak, your student finds herself in the castle of the Water daimyo and is a guest there, kept at that location for her own safety, for Kiri's rebellion has entered its final stage and will end soon," Akihito told him and saw Minato's eyes narrow.
"How do you know that?" he questioned as Akihito passed him a message.
"Because the water daimyo calls me a brother, and he wishes to bargain a peace with us. I wish to endorse an alliance between Kirigakure's new establishment and Konohagakure. Your student's safety, though, will be guaranteed even without your ascent to this alliance," Akihito told him.
An alliance was a complex matter and could not be decided single-headedly by either Kage or daimyo. Both had to be on the same page.
"An alliance with Kiri is rather ambitious," the man said, and Akihito could feel the earlier tension leave his shoulders as he was confirmed as the safety of his student.
"That would ally Konoha to two of the Great Five villages," Minato added, and Akihito nodded.
"Indeed, and it would make what I wish to achieve much easier," Akihito added and saw Minato's gaze turn towards him once more, the small apprehension in it gone now as he looked at him with curiosity and wonder.
"And what is it that you wish to achieve?" he questioned, and it had taken him much time to realize that.
"A better world," he said honestly.
And the future Hokage's eyes narrowed as Akihito looked him in the eye and began.
"The world we live in today, good or bad, is a world built around the vision and ambition of two...maybe three people if you wish to be generous," he began, and it was the truth.
"The hidden village system was envisioned and achieved through the actions of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, the later actions of Uchiha set aside, these two people and Tatsugawa-sama's father who allowed them to make their alliance resulted in the formation of the village, and the world shifted improved," Akihito stood up and motioned for Minato to follow him as they retired to the garden.
"Yet now we have had three Great Wars, thousands dead, and I feel that it is time that we change once more, become better, achieve more than our predecessors, not to tarnish what they have achieved but improve it, to build a better world for those who are to come after us," he finished and looked towards the future kage as they stood in his garden. The kage looked at him with a complex gaze as he opened his mouth.
"It will not be easy, the people you speak of faced many obstacles and tribulations in their path. Your vision, while noble, will demand much the same, my lord," he began respectfully.
"Change is rarely easy," Akihito said as he looked into the sky. White clouds roamed freely over the blue infinity.
"And I am not naive enough to believe otherwise. It will require much from me but I believe I shall not be alone in this journey, I already have one who shares my beliefs," he said and saw Minato's eyes widen.
"The water daimyo, your brother-in-law," Minato replied, and he nodded.
"Indeed, but we are daimyo. The Hidden village and its kage are a daimyo's sword, and in this shifting of tides, I shall need my blade extensively," he spoke, asking him of his devotion.
As a daimyo, he could command the kage through his authority, yet it would be interference, and though he could justify much of it using Shimura's actions as a basis, he did not wish to use the proverbial stick.
It would be much better if Minato could be convinced to stand by him as he tried to unite the people through the commonality of betterment and peace.
"The village will answer the call, and so will I," he said as he knelt down infront of him on one knee, and Akihito smiled as he offered him a hand.
"Stand then, yondaime Hokage. Let us vow to leave this world in a better state than the one we were born into," he said as he helped the man stand.
"What do you plan to do?" Minato questioned.
"Not much initially, but first, we must heal from the devastations of the war. Your ascension shall do much for Konoha's morale, and I shall ensure that the village receives appropriate resources for its recovery," he assured the blonde, who smiled.
"That is highly generous of you," and Akihito continued.
"Then, when the situation in Kiri stabilizes, we shall for an alliance with them, though that is to come later. I wish to address some more internal matters in the meantime," Akihito began as they stood beside the small pond in the garden, the clear water held their reflections.
"I know that the Uchiha's have felt somewhat slighted that their candidate was denied the seat of the kage once more, and though there is little to doubt their devotion to the village and the country as a whole. I believe I have a gift to offer them as some console for the slight they may have felt," he said and saw Minato nod.
"The guardian twelve have a vacancy, and as the next daimyo, it is my duty to fill that vacancy. I believe a young Uchiha shinobi would make a fine addition to the order."
"The Uchiha will be honored by this," Minato said, and they should be, for being a member of the guardian twelve allowed one direct access to the daimyo, and hence his ear.
"I have heard much about a rising star of the clan, a young prodigy who has made quite a name for himself despite being quite young," Akihito began and saw Minato's eyes widen.
"I believe you talk of Shisui Uchiha. He is a fine shinobi," he accepted.
"Indeed, Shisui the teleporter, I believe he is called. Inform him of my nomination, and apart from that, I believe I have a gift for you as well," he recalled as the blonde kage frowned.
"A gift for me," he asked, somewhat surprised.
"A little something for becoming the yondaime Hokage," Akihito said as he gave the man a letter.
"I know it is rare for a jinchuriki to leave the village, yet I have heard that you and the Kyubi jinchuriki are quite close and how she wishes to meet her other clansmen. This is a letter from the Uzumaki in my service. They have agreed to meet with her and wish to set up a correspondence," he informed him, and he saw the man's surprise.
"Kushina will be elated," he said brightly, like a man in love, as he pocketed the scroll.
"And do tell her that I wish to meet her as well. There are some things I wish to tell her."
0000
In a ravine deep into the Earth, two shinobi met in another part of the continent.
"I had thought the letter a lie. Yet it seems I was wrong. You live indeed," one of them began, his voice filled with awe, his golden slit-like eyes with wonder as he gazed at the wrinkled life that sat infront of him.
"Madara Uchiha." He gasped.
"I do, and you wish to live even beyond me, to live till the end of time," the old man retorted. His voice held power and authority, even at in that decrypt age, as the old man sat opposite to a Sanin he looked imperious and unworried as if he could take him apart with ease.
"I do," the snake sanin acquiesced, somewhat surprised that the old man knew of his wish.
"Then I believe we can make an exchange."
"And what do you require of me?" the golden-eyed sanin questioned.
"A new body!"
0000
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