January 17th, Wednesday. Snowstorm, 3:50 a.m.
Tanaka was awake long before usual. After all, at 4:30 a.m., he needed to be at the Uzukage's office with Akane.
Tanaka didn't just leave. He created 30 shadow clones to stay behind and help take care of Kushina. Akane did the same.
Leaving a shadow clone to handle basic household tasks while taking care of her daughter was as easy as snapping her fingers.
And, she didn't have the same purpose as Tanaka, who intended to continue training while away on the mission.
The mission itself might be more complicated than it seemed. Tanaka felt that, considering what he understood about the Third Uzukage, it was strange that he agreed to send so many talented ninjas to support Konoha's war.
Even though they were allies, it was a war that Konoha had started, and they were the ones who chose to go all out, wanting to win the war after the Third Hokage was 'assassinated.'
"...Yawn."
'Is there something I don't know?' Tanaka pondered while yawning as he descended the stairs.
"Are you sleepy?" Akane, who spotted him, asked rhetorically while laughing: "Well, it's no wonder since the sun hasn't even risen yet. And in this cold, it's hard to want to get out of bed."
"Oh, tell me about it," Tanaka said. "I wanted to get up about 15 minutes ago, but the bed took me hostage."
"Ufufu." She laughed with her hand in front of her mouth.
"By the way, Akane-san," Tanaka finished adjusting his ninja uniform, fiddling with his headband, and asked her, "Do you know anything you can tell me about the mission?"
"Mm..." She thought for a moment before launching a tag that isolated the room. Then, she said, "I believe the Third Uzukage will soon talk about it... The mission we received isn't exactly what it seems. Of course, we're going to help in the war, but we won't be under anyone's command from Konoha; not even Danzo can give us orders."
"I understand..."
She continued, "And I'll tell you more: the only one who can give orders will be the designated team leader. We'll just be providing support to them with our Fuuinjutsu, not necessarily participating actively in the war."
When she finished speaking, he felt there was more behind it, but he realized she probably couldn't reveal more details...
"Thank you for telling me that." Tanaka smiled. "It makes me feel more at ease hearing that. To be honest, I was worried about having to follow Konoha's orders."
Akane, understanding his feelings, smiled reassuringly. "That won't happen. Although we're allies and it's our duty to help when they need it, as we expect the same if we need their help, we are still ninjas representing Uzushiogakure."
"Mm." Tanaka nodded.
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Outside the house, the snow had accumulated significantly.
The sound of Tanaka and Akane's footsteps in the snow echoed as they walked under the bridge, heading toward the Uzukage's office.
"Akane-san, are you going to be in command of the team sent?" Tanaka asked.
"I don't know." She replied with a mysterious tone: "But, I don't think so."
Tanaka didn't understand why she answered this way, but he didn't dwell on it as he changed the subject: "Did you tell Kushina-chan you're leaving on a mission?"
"No." Akane shook her head: "I don't want to make her worry. That's exactly why I left a shadow clone to take care of her in my absence."
He could understand to some extent. Although Kushina was still young, she understood the risks of going on missions. She didn't like it when he went on missions, and her reaction could be even more dramatic if it were her own mother.
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Observing Tanaka walking ahead of her, Akane, who had been taking care of him since his parents' death, noticed something different. It wasn't just an increase in power. Tanaka's now more robust back seemed more imposing and reliable. However, there was something in his demeanor that conveyed the sense that he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Since the day he regained consciousness, he had changed. It was as if he knew something he couldn't share with anyone. Additionally, the nature of his powers, so distinct from chakra, remained a mystery, even though he now disguised it, appearing to have chakra again.
Akane's eyes softened for a moment but grew more serious when she remembered the mission she had received. 'I need to find Tsunade...'
She sighed.
'I knew he wouldn't die so easily. His departure would never be as simple as an ambush, but…,' she thought. 'And to think that Danzo would be the culprit…'
Well, she had only met Danzo twice. And she always felt a strange sensation when near him. It was an uncomfortable feeling that made her want to get away from him as quickly as possible.
'I wonder... how disastrous it will be when this comes to light...,' she murmured in her mind, somewhat distracted. She could foresee the chaos this might unleash.
Several thoughts were swirling inside her at that moment.
"Akane-san?" When she nearly tripped on a stone, it was Tanaka who helped her and gently asked with concern, "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I am. Thank you." She smiled, grateful.
She forced the random thoughts down and regained her composure. Now was not the time to get lost in thoughts; they were almost at the Uzukage's office building.
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In the Uzukage's office, several ninjas were gathered.
Among them, Tanaka saw eight who were above level 90. One of them was even at level 100.
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LV100 Fusato Uzumaki
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Tanaka knew him. He was known by that title mainly because of the enormous amount of chakra he possessed, even among the Uzumaki.
He had long hair tied in a low ponytail, of a faded red tone, indicating his experience and age. His eyes were a dark brown shade.
He had strong features on his face and a look that seemed severe or even reluctant. It was somewhat confusing for Tanaka, even making him feel suspicious, if not for the fact that even with the map open, he saw that everyone in that room was marked as green points.
"Is everyone here, right?" Masashi asked rhetorically, and before he could continue, something happened.
"I'm sorry...!"
This apology came from none other than Fusato.
"Damn it!!" Masashi cursed.
Tanaka, who saw the alert flashing above his head, attacked with chains directed at Fusato.
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LV100 Fusato Uzumaki
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"No!!" The shout came from Masashi.
The reason was simple: what Fusato was trying to do was use something similar to the 'Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique.
Something akin to black ink began to be expelled nonstop as everything near him was being sucked in.
The instant his chest was exposed, he became a living bomb that could explode at any moment, and not even the Adamantine Sealing Chains would be able to stop it.
Tanaka also realized this a bit too late. The chains had already restrained Fusato's arms, but they couldn't prevent the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique from being executed; the chains were even being pulled, with 100 MP per second being drained by the technique.
But he realized something—because of this, the chains were still able to delay the explosion. However, the moment he ran out of MP, it would be the end.
"I'm sorry, but 'he' has my daughter, who is pregnant with my grandchild. I have no other choice; I must do this!" Fusato cried out, tears in his eyes.