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Inside the capital of the Land of Fire.
After a day of traveling, Akio finally arrived in the capital of the Land of Fire, where the Daimyō's residence stood at the very center of the city.
As the economic hub controlling the lifeline of the Land of Fire, the capital was bustling with activity. The cityscape was a mix of low-rise buildings and towering pavilions, densely packed together.
Although Akio had been in the Naruto world for nearly 58 years, he had never visited the capital before. So, he decided to explore the city first.
There were no modern skyscrapers like in the 21st century, but the city had a rustic charm of its own.
As he walked through the bustling marketplace, Akio was surrounded by the shouts of merchants hawking their wares.
"Handmade pottery from the Land of Wind, fine fabrics from the Land of Water, exquisite stone carvings from the Land of Earth..." Various traders had transported exotic goods from all over to sell in the Land of Fire.
"Incredible... Even amidst the chaos of war, merchants still travel great distances just to make a profit. I guess the pursuit of wealth remains constant no matter the world."
Suddenly, a loud voice caught Akio's attention. "Don't miss out! Our latest invention is making its debut in the Land of Fire!"
Akio twitched at the familiarity of this sales pitch.
Curious, he walked toward the commotion to see what was being sold.
Upon seeing the product, he felt a strange sense of dissonance.
It was a wireless headset. Akio had no idea why such a device existed in the Naruto world, but judging by the reactions of the surrounding crowd, it seemed like a common sight to them.
"Well, the Naruto world was created by a modern author. A few anachronisms are to be expected..." Akio consoled himself.
At that moment, the merchant enthusiastically explained, "This is my shop's latest innovation—a wireless radio headset! With it, two people can communicate no matter how far apart they are. Many ninja have been arriving lately, and this device is perfect for battlefield communication! Only one hundred million ryō per set! Limited stock, first come, first served!"
Akio shook his head. This device... How should he put it? The ability to communicate over any distance made it seem like advanced technology. But selling it for one hundred million ryō? That was outrageous.
In Naruto's storyline, the bounty on Elite Jōnin Sarutobi Asuma's head was only thirty million ryō. Back then, thirty million probably had the purchasing power of three million today.
As for one hundred million ryō, even a small clan would struggle to accumulate such a fortune...
As expected, though the crowd grew larger, no one stepped forward to buy the headset.
"Only an idiot would buy this..." Just as Akio had this thought, a familiar voice rang out.
"I'll take one!"
Akio looked up and saw that the buyer was none other than the Nara Clan Leader.
Recognizing an acquaintance, Akio grinned. "Clan Leader Nara! Haha, we meet again!"
The Nara Clan Leader finally noticed Akio. Remembering a past battle against the Senju Clan, where Akio's summoning technique had led to their crushing defeat, his face darkened. He immediately turned to leave.
Akio, however, quickly blocked his path with a teasing smile.
"Don't leave so soon, Clan Leader Nara. In a big city like this, running into an old friend is rare."
"I was just thinking that only a fool would buy this... Uh, I mean, the Nara Clan sure is wealthy!"
The Nara Clan Leader sighed helplessly. If he understood correctly, Akio had just called him a rich fool.
With a resigned expression, he responded, "Ah, I suppose so."
Feigning curiosity, Akio asked, "Did you also come here at the Daimyō's summons?"
"The Daimyō's summons? No, I'm just here to buy some things." The Nara Clan Leader blatantly lied.
"Oh, I see." Akio didn't call him out on it. "So, you bought this just to use it alongside the Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques?"
The Nara Clan Leader's expression changed. He hadn't expected Akio to know even that.
"Relax. I've been around for 58 years. I probably overheard it somewhere along the way," Akio said casually.
The Nara Clan Leader hesitated, then reluctantly accepted the explanation and walked away.
"Pfft..." This time, Akio didn't stop him. Instead, he chuckled after he left. "Messing with smart people is way more fun than dealing with that blockhead Hashirama..."
With that amusing encounter, Akio lost interest in sightseeing.
After asking a few locals for directions, he made his way to the Daimyō's residence.
After explaining his purpose to the two guards, he was escorted to the Senju Clan's guest quarters.
"Second Granduncle, you got here so quickly! Was the journey smooth?" Tobirama greeted him proactively.
"Yes, everything went fine. I hurried over since I knew you'd be anxious. Now, let's see if I can come up with a few 'brilliant' ideas for you," Akio smirked.
Tobirama's expression stiffened, cursing his unreliable elder brother inwardly.
"How could they be 'brilliant' ideas? You've helped us immensely over the years," Tobirama quickly clarified.
"At least you have some gratitude. Now, tell me, what's going on?" Akio asked.
"We don't know the details yet since not everyone has arrived. But many clans have gathered—almost all of the major and minor families of the Land of Fire. I have a feeling something big is about to happen," Tobirama explained.
"All of them?" Akio's expression stiffened. "That means..."
Tobirama grinned mischievously. "You guessed right. The Uzumaki Clan Leader is here as well. And since we're relatives, he's staying right next door."
"What are you laughing at?! Since my dear nephew is here, I might as well pay him a visit," Akio muttered, feeling slightly guilty.
He walked to the neighboring room and knocked on the door.
When the door opened, sure enough, the Uzumaki Clan Leader stood there.
Seeing Akio, he was momentarily stunned before breaking into a smile. "Second Uncle, long time no see. You haven't changed a bit."
"You, on the other hand, have aged quite a bit..." Akio had maintained the appearance of a 48-year-old, unaffected by time, whereas the Uzumaki Clan Leader, now in his forties and burdened with clan responsibilities, looked even older than him.
Feeling a tinge of guilt, Akio spoke up. "After this business in the Land of Fire is done, I'll return to the Uzumaki Clan with you."
The Uzumaki Clan Leader was overjoyed. "With your help, things will be so much easier! Over the years, the Second and Third Elders have retired, and since you weren't around, I had to rely on my younger brothers. Some clansmen weren't happy about it, saying I ruled the Uzumaki Clan like a dictator."
Akio rolled his eyes. "Even if I return, it'll be the same. I just want to train a few kids—our younger generation of ninja is lacking. Everything else is still on you."
"That's fine! As long as you return..."
"Alright, I'm heading back next door. I came here to assist Tobirama, so don't bother me unless it's urgent."
The Uzumaki Clan Leader's face darkened.
"Still as unreliable as ever, huh..."
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