A week had passed since Nami and Kirito had arrived in the nation on the Sky Island. The time had been intense. Kirito had firmly allied himself with Tony Stark in this short period. His passion for technology and machines had driven him to learn everything from the genius. Tony, who enjoyed having someone with a similarly curious mind around, was enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge. They often worked late into the night on various projects, with Kirito particularly fascinated by advanced AI systems and engineering.
Nami, on the other hand, spent most of her time with Shiho. Their similar age groups and shared curiosity about the world around them forged an unexpected friendship. Shiho helped Nami understand many of the technical and scientific concepts she had never encountered in her world. While Nami wasn't a scientist, she enjoyed broadening her horizons and acquiring new knowledge.
Meanwhile, as his allies forged new friendships and learned new skills, Akai had used his time efficiently during that week. He had mastered and further developed a powerful jutsu that would be of great use in upcoming challenges: the Shadow Clone Jutsu. This technique was already powerful, but Akai had taken it to a whole new level thanks to his divine understanding.
His improvements were significant. The clones were now not only more durable, but they could exist indefinitely as long as they weren't destroyed. Their physical integrity was crucial: as long as the head or heart weren't destroyed, the clones could continue fighting. But that wasn't all. Unlike the original technique, which only produced weaker copies of the user, his clones had 50% of his full strength—making them almost as strong as himself. Thus, an army of Kage-level fighters was at his disposal. Yet the greatest improvement was that they could transmit the knowledge they gathered directly to Akai without dissolving. And Akai could give them telepathic instructions even when he was farther away. This made the jutsu not just a tool for combat but also for administration and research.
Akai had immediately utilized this new ability. Hundreds of clones had retreated to the library to absorb all the knowledge they could find. Within a week, he had accumulated an enormous amount of knowledge in various fields—from science to history to military strategies. One of his special clones even spent most of the time in deep meditation to focus on the Asauchi and deepen his bond with it. Another clone had been sent to the Marine base to train the soldiers, including Smoker and Tashigi, in advanced combat techniques.
After this week of intensive work and preparation, Akai was ready to leave the Sky Island for the first time. He had prepared his nation well, and with the clones, he could always be present even if he wasn't physically on-site.
Now he stood on a cliff at the edge of the island. The winds blew strongly as Akai gazed into the expanse below him. Below lay the Earth, shrouded by clouds. It was time to face the challenges of this world.
Akai donned his special system outfit—a suit characterized by absolute purity and always remained clean, no matter how much time he spent in it or what challenges he had to endure. It was a symbol of his divine power and the purity he radiated. And the design gave him the aura of a ruler.
With a deep breath, Akai simply jumped off the cliff. The wind rushed past him as he fell at top speed through the clouds. But just before he could crash to the ground, his fall slowed. He floated slowly and safely to the ground, almost as if gliding on invisible wings.
As his feet touched the ground, Akai looked around. He had arrived in a land that felt gloomy and oppressive. The rain poured incessantly onto the surroundings. The sky was dark and threatening, and the streets were wet and muddy.
"Amegakure..." Akai murmured softly as he took in the environment. "So this is where I've landed."
The constant rain that had flooded the city for countless days hadn't ceased. The air was filled with a sinister heaviness, and the land seemed permeated with misery and suffering. Akai immediately knew that this was a place torn apart by tragedies and conflicts. Amegakure, the Village Hidden by Rain, was known for its isolation and violence, and it was a land that had witnessed many cruel battles.
Akai closed his eyes for a moment and let his senses wander through the village. He could feel the oppressive mood of the inhabitants—people living in constant fear, marked by the countless wars they had endured. But he could also sense something else. Something dark and powerful that lurked over the city.
"It's time to face this world," he whispered and set out to delve deeper into the village.
As he walked through the narrow, rain-soaked alleys, he could hear the hushed conversations and whispers of the residents who had gathered in the dark corners of the city. They hardly dared to come out of their homes, and the few he saw looked at him with suspicious eyes.
Akai knew he had to be cautious in this land. Amegakure was not only known for its brutal history but also for the mysterious leadership that held it in the shadows. A leadership that possessed immense power and knew no mercy.
But Akai wasn't here to hide or hold back. He was here to change the world. The only question was: How would Amegakure react to his arrival?
Akai stood calmly, the rain incessantly pelting his suit, which looked like imperial robes—white and blue with golden embellishments symbolizing his divine status. The rain that fell upon him simply bounced off, as if he wasn't touched by the physical world itself. In that moment, he decided to expand his perception to fully grasp Amegakure. It was time to understand the situation in this land precisely.
His senses extended, and soon he could feel every corner and alley of the rainy city. He sensed the despair of the people hiding under the endless rain, the uncertainty smoldering in the hearts of the inhabitants marked by war and suffering. His perception reached deep into the center of power, where he stumbled upon a scene that made his heart beat faster.
Before him unfolded a fateful encounter he had already anticipated. Yahiko stood on a remote rock, overwhelmed by pain and despair. Before him was Nagato, his closest friend, forced to make the toughest decision of his life. Yahiko was about to sacrifice himself by Nagato's hand to save Konan, who had been taken hostage.
Akai immediately understood that he had reached the decisive moment. If he had come even a day later, he wouldn't have been able to prevent Yahiko's death. The thought that Yahiko would die and the Akatsuki would turn into a dark, destructive organization pierced him. A significant part of his plan would have then evaporated.
But now he was here, and he would change the course of history.
As Akai continued to observe the scene, his gaze fell on another figure in the background—Danzo Shimura, the manipulative and insidious man who drove all this chaos from the shadows. Danzo's presence made Akai's anger swell. He remembered all the atrocities Danzo had committed over the years, the suffering he had caused. To Akai, Danzo was not a man with a tragic past like Obito, Sasori, or Zabuza. No, Danzo was a man who acted out of pure selfishness and lust for power. His "trauma" of not becoming Hokage had led him to destroy countless lives—the annihilation of the Uzumaki and Uchiha clans, his role in dismantling the Senju, his machinations behind the scenes to turn the Akatsuki from a peace movement into a terrorist organization.
In Akai's eyes, Danzo was a worm hiding behind patriotic slogans while poisoning the country out of sheer greed for power. And now Akai had the opportunity to rid this world of him.
"That cyclops is responsible for so many fates..." Akai murmured to himself. "And he will not escape."
With a determined step, Akai suddenly disappeared from his position and teleported directly next to Yahiko and Nagato. The moment when Yahiko was about to guide Nagato's hand to his chest to end his own life had come—but before the blade could find its dreadful path, Akai gently but firmly stopped Yahiko's arm.
Yahiko and Nagato, both overwhelmed by despair, looked at him with wide eyes. They had no idea who this stranger was or where he had come from so suddenly. But what surprised them more than anything at that moment was the feeling that the situation had completely changed.
With another snap of his fingers, Akai created a shadow clone, which disappeared immediately. Just a moment later, the clone reappeared, and this time he had Konan safely in his arms. Konan had been taken hostage, but now she was free. The man who had held her lay unconscious on the ground.
The entire scene held its breath for a moment. Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, the surrounding Akatsuki members—they all looked at Akai, unable to comprehend what had just happened. The oppressive atmosphere that had surrounded the place was suddenly blown away.
Akai smiled and spoke in a calm, firm voice: "Excellent... I arrived just in time."
His voice echoed across the plaza, and his presence was overwhelming. He was still wearing his imperial robes, which didn't seem to be touched by the rain at all. It was almost as if he stood above the elements themselves, untouched by the darkness and suffering around him.
Nagato, still overwhelmed by the events, stared at Akai incredulously. "Who... who are you?"
Akai directed his gaze at him. "Someone who has come to prevent the disaster that awaits this world. You are not monsters, Nagato. Neither you, nor Yahiko, nor Konan. You are victims of the greed and hatred of this world. But I am here to break this cycle."
Yahiko, still feeling Akai's hand gently holding his arm, breathed heavily. "Why... why are you helping us? We don't know you."
Akai smiled again. "Because I see in you the potential to change this world. But not through violence and destruction. I am here to show you the way to end the suffering of this world—without the darkness that threatens to consume you."
At that moment, Akai felt the anger that had built up in his heart toward Danzo almost overwhelm him. But he maintained control. This moment didn't belong to Danzo. This moment belonged to Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan. They should be given the chance to preserve their original dream.
But Danzo... oh, Danzo would receive his just punishment. Akai knew that the cyclops wouldn't linger much longer in this world.