In his office, the Daimyo, his wife, Akashi, Karin, Arima, and the old Kuroko remained.
Together they started to discuss how to address the situation
"I see, we are glad that everything went well given the circumstances," Kana was the first to talk as she looked at her son
"So how was it? It's the kind of mission that you want right, rather than taking care of simple bandits"
"Well, that wasn't too bad!" Akashi couldn't say that he enjoyed the killing but, he realized in some weird way that he enjoyed fighting as much as training learning, and getting stronger.
'I guess that's in my blood,' he thought
After the report, Karin left the room, and a moment later other people arrived in the room.
They were all advisors, counselors, and people who helped in the administration of the country.
"So, now Suna also started to plot against us," Kana said with anger in her voice
"Well, we were already expecting that, no need to be anxious,"
"I know, it's just than expected them to take longer, the war has barely ended and they sustained a lot of damage, they seem as bloodthirsty as Kiri,"
Yanagi frowned a little, a little after the war Kirigakure sent ninjas to the country to collect information create trouble and if possible kidnap a few Uzumaki.
But after years of preparation and using the mercenaries of the dark market as practice targets, they were more than ready to take care of Kiri's ninjas who sustained a lot of loss due to the war.
"Yes, Suna sustains as much loss as Kiri I also thought that it would take longer for them to try something. But maybe this is because of than they are desperate to accomplish something, the technique of Uzumaki and our technology could help regain their strength faster,"
"It's possible or maybe they want revenge for the loss they sustained in Usushio, should we talk of that with the sand Daimyo, we have had a lot of exchange recently, and we can use that to buy ourselves more time by threatening them," Kana proposed
Since he took control of the Sky Country, as new Daimyo Sukeiro Yanagi had expanded the trade between his country and his neighbors, particularly the capital of the wind became their principal trade partner.
They traded everything and that of course included a little bit of their technology, even if they weren't as advanced as Konoha the capital of the other great nations is more technologically developed than the other countries of the ninja world.
"They have been sending ninjas to spy on us for a while now, that if we don't retaliate in some way they will get even bolder and we can't exclude the possibility of the other nations attacking too now that the war has ended,"
They pondered on the delicate balance they were in for a while before coming to a conclusion
"We are ready to welcome them all, but it will be better if we don't have to,"
"And for that, we can use Konoha and the fire nations," Kana said with a sigh
"Even though they aren't trustworthy having them by our side will be helpful,"
The talks continued for a while
A few hours later
"I hate those talks, we are forced to just sit there and look and observe while they discuss their affair," Arima said walking with Akashi in the corridors of the palace.
"Well I for my part kind of enjoy it is a way to form us after all," Akashi responded even though he knew that after all, they had those kinds of venting sessions quite often
"it's because you enjoy the machination and trickery and everything in between, I don't."
"Humph, so I guess that we are going to the Fire capital," Akashi said as he walked forward
"Yep, I guess so, I will get to see my half-sister," Arima said with a thoughtful expression
"Were you close, when she was still in Uzushiogakure,"
"Not really, I mean not more than with the other clansmen, I think that she had been chosen as the host of the nine tail since very young so she was kept from away me specifically, I think that father also had to keep some distance,"
"I see,"
'I guess we were in a kind of similar situation, they must have done that so that she would be less sad to leave her hometown, seems a little cruel,' he thought
They stopped at the door of Akashi's room
"We still have months before leaving for Konoha, what are you going to do in the meantime," Akashi asked
"What I usually do, train, take missions, and have fun in the city, a new gambling house and a bar have opened not far away you should come with me sometimes, instead of passing your time with researchers,"
He said as he left
'I guess that keeping them apart was the right solution, he seemed mostly indifferent about the fate of Kushina, that is better that way, after all the time there she is probably loyal to Konoha, and he also knows that,'
With his way of acting people tend to think that he is a hot heated kid but Akashi who spent so much time with him knows that Arima is a very shrewd individual, it's just that like he said he doesn't like intrigue and machination.
Passing the guards Akashi entered his room
'This is also better for me if I keep my distance I won't grow attached to her or them and they will stay characters of an anime that I saw in my past life, I already killed in that life so taking advantage of my knowledge of futures event is only natural,'
"Your bath is ready young master," said the head of his numerous maids a beautiful dark-haired woman
"Thank you," he said starting to take off his clothes.
"Do you want us to help you this time master," she said the head maid
"No, it won't be necessary, you can leave me" he responded and she followed his command
'At least let me grow up before throwing yourself at me like that, even though I look like I'm supposed to be eight, an eight-year-old killer!'
'I guess that's the reason Mother never said anything about the advance that I receive from women if you're old enough to kill you old enough to drink and have sex, plus having learned the adamantine chain I am officially an adult,'
As the son of the Daimyo Akashi had many people under his command ready to follow his every whim from beautiful women ready to lay in his bed to warriors ready to kill for him, still he tried to not let himself be corrupted by the opulence and the power at his disposal.
Getting in the bath he continued to ponder
'I never understood why in those fanfic the reincarnated ones tend to panic and lament their fate even with all the advantage that they have, ninjas are weapons trained to kill, and I will take full advantage of my knowledge to become the strongest,'
"Maybe I should take the offer," he said with a sigh
***
A few days later
Konoha
Hiruzen was seated in his office with his three advisors in front of him.
He seemed a lot older than just four years ago, his hair had a lot more white in it, and his face more wrinkled, it was obvious that the loss of lives and stress of the war that had just ended had taken a toll on him and yet his eyes and chakra had some sharpness that he seems to have trouble hiding.
"So this is true," he asked
"Yes, it has been confirmed the remaining Uzumaki have sought refuge in the Sky country, " Danzo said he too had suffered during the war, his right arm now hidden in his tunic was a testament to his near-death experience in the front.
"We had already received the rumors but I still have trouble believing that, they not only managed to escape but now they are part of the nobility," Koharu said
"They have been recognized as part of the nobility since even before Konoha was created this is one of the reasons they could rule Uzushio, but they kept their tradition as ninjas clan" another said
"What I'm surprised about is that they joined a country that was the enemy of Konoha," Omura said
"What's there to be surprised about, they aren't members of Konoha in the face of danger they prioritized their interest, what happened to the noble in the sky country might even be their doing,"
"You are right Danzo," Hiruzen said agreeing with his friend at the surprise of the other
"They prioritized their interest like you did when you withheld the information on the attack on their nation,"
Danzo looked at his old friend with surprise, the harsh look in his eyes told him that denying it was useless,
"I did it..."
"To force them to seek refuge in the village, to bring another bloodline into the village, to take possession of their sealing technique?!" the anger in the voice of the Hokage grew while his massive chakra still filled with the murderous intent collected in the war filled the room,
"You thought that you could manipulate everyone, now our biggest ally is no longer an ally and may even be an enemy"
Danzo just stood there not saying a word he knew that right now wasn't the moment, contrary to the many Ambu on the roof he could take the anger of his friend head-on and not crumble.
"Fuuu," with a sigh his murderous aura disappeared letting everyone breathe a sigh of relief
"The Daimyo received news in a few months a delegation of the sky country will make an official visit, at the Fire Country capital, maybe we can salvage the situation," he said turning around on his chair.