Akira's preparation had one goal, avoid death at any cost.
With each section of the alliance carefully positioned, the Hyuga scouts forward, the 'Ino, Shika, Cho' division on the left flank, Sarutobi and Shimura on the right, Senju in the center, Uzumaki layered around command, it was textbook formation. What set this apart was that Akira was now in charge.
Clad in black armor with his standard, issue headband and no fewer than three hefty weapon pouches, he looked ready to sell half his gear before tossing it into battle. Everything about him screamed paranoia, right down to the elders of the Uzumaki clan standing nearby, each trained in Kagura's Heart Eye, their sensing range so vast and persistent even birds couldn't sneak through.
He'd placed fail, safes over both Hashirama and Tobirama, Flying Thunder God seals tucked into their gear without consent. It was enough to earn disdain from Tobirama, who gave him the kind of look that made his lips tighten in disgust.
"Seriously? You're loading up old people as bodyguards now?" Tobirama dropped the words flatly.
Akira started to answer, then caught the smile of one elder stepping forward.
"We're volunteers," the old man said. "We don't mind protecting our son, in, law."
Another added quickly, "Besides, if our bones are good for anything now, might as well be this."
"Lose one old bone or two, we've done what we came to do."
Akira grinned and whipped around toward Tobirama, arms already flared out in victory posture.
"See that? They're happy to protect your brother. You could learn from that!"
Tobirama scoffed through clenched teeth, "Idiot, I was talking about you!"
He turned sharply and stormed off. Akira fired off one last insult behind him without hesitation.
"Fine then die alone, you single dog!"
With that settled, Akira resumed his march up front under the cover of his army, leisurely pacing toward the forward camp while flipping Tobirama off behind his back. He didn't feel pressed for time; after everything set in place, it was just waiting for the next shoe to drop.
It barely took them hours before the full advance reached position. Morale ran high, too high, and they hadn't even seen blood. It was exactly the kind of situation where things break the wrong way without warning.
And then it happened.
"Sir! The Uchiha clan leader has come to speak with Lord Hashirama!"
Two voices snapped in response, Tobirama's filled with disbelief and rage, Akira's almost excited.
"What?!"
"What?!"
Everyone turned toward Akira. He held his expression together as half the tent stared directly at him, waiting for orders. He spoke slowly but clearly enough to cut through the tension.
"…Well, if we settle this without fighting, that'd be fine too."
Tobirama sneered on cue. "Trust Uchiha? That's insane. He's being reckless again, we should strike now!"
He spun on his heel and moved toward the tent flap, only to stop mid, step when he realized no one had followed him. Silence hung behind him; every eye had followed him partway before locking back onto Akira at command center.
Tobirama hesitated, frozen in place as awkwardness stained the air around him.
Akira exhaled slowly and spoke from his chair with forced ease. "Take it easy. You know Hashirama's not the type to underestimate her… If they're talking and we haven't heard fighting, means there's no ambush."
He glanced at the messenger.
"Is it accurate?"
"Yes, Lord Akira, they were simply talking just outside our formation lines."
Akira nodded sharply. "Exactly. If you went you'd probably make it worse."
He stood abruptly and gestured at Tobirama without looking at him again.
"I'll handle this myself. Hold position here, and don't do anything unless I say so."
Tobirama's hands curled into fists behind his cloak, but he said nothing as Akira vanished in an instant with Flying Thunder God.
What followed wasn't diplomacy, it was impact.
Akira appeared in mid, sentence with bright eyes and raised hand, "Hi~ o(￣▽￣)ブ!"
He didn't finish it before two fists collided against his arms, bang!
Both hits forced him back instantly. He'd managed to guard at the last second, but even then he skidded across dirt for ten meters before finding balance again on bent legs and sore wrists.
"What the fuck was that for?!"
He winced and rolled out his elbow as he walked back up toward them, but he wasn't really mad. The impact told him everything: it had been Hashirama and Madara both.
"Are You two serious? My arm's gonna bruise."
Neither of them spoke immediately. They were standing side, by, side pretending that absolutely nothing had happened, eyes facing opposite directions like guilty children caught mid, prank.
Akira narrowed his gaze on them before trying to grab their attention again with different bait.
"So what were you two actually talking about?"
Their smiles disappeared at once.
Madara stepped ahead. "I challenged Hashirama, to settle this with a duel."
Akira raised both brows. "Wait, duel? What happened to full scale war?"
Madara met his confusion with flat confidence. "We cannot defeat Senju in full battle, not when you're involved. And I know you have contingencies built into those weapons you gave me."
Akira flinched, that much was true, but only technically so. He'd loaded decoys just in case, but he hadn't set actual self, destructs since giving Madara even one reason to distrust him could've ended too many futures too soon.
Madara wasn't finished though; her tone dipped lower as she laid it bare,
"If I lose, the Uchiha clan will join you in forming the village you dream of."
"But if I win…" She hesitated, just barely, but enough that Akira locked on immediately and caught every flicker in her eyes before she steeled herself again.
"You'll help my clan find our own path forward."
Akira didn't hesitate either; he knew what she really wanted, even if she wouldn't say it out loud with Hashirama standing there watching closely.
"Deal."
He nodded once and twisted his lip into the faintest grin as he winked deliberately at her, watching her glance away as heat climbed her cheeks again too fast to hide it completely.
Hashirama's breath caught beside them.
"Wait, I'm just supposed to go along with this?! What happens if I lose?!"
Akira clapped him on the shoulder hard and leaned in closer with fake sympathy on his face. "Simple, I'll banish Tobirama somewhere for thirty days."
"That doesn't even involve me!" Hashirama flailed one arm in protest. "Wait… if he's gone… then I'll be left sorting his political garbage alone... no! I object!"
Akira was already turning away, his thoughts already spiraling through what arrangements would have to be made next, and how to handle housing Uchiha within proximity after terms were met.
He vanished with another flicker of teleportation before either could speak again, leaving behind one reluctant warrior and one increasingly flushed Uchiha leader standing there pretending nothing had happened.
READ 45+ ADVANCED CHAPTER AT MY P@TREON!
at [email protected] /Zaneninjacat