As Akira internally teased Sasuke, comparing his grudge-holding nature to that of a cat, he wondered how best to deal with this sulking feline. The answer, of course, was to soothe him by stroking his ego.
With a quick ntal shift, recalling how a cat owner might placate a huffy cat, Akira spoke up, "Sasuke, it's not that I didn't want to take you with back then. It's just that the situation at the ti was better suited for Naruto."
"Why? Are you saying I wasn't good enough?" Sasuke's expression darkened further.
"There are three reasons," Akira began.
"First, you've always had the highest potential. Itachi and I both acknowledged this. But because of that, you needed more ti to develop. Look at you now-you've awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan. I'm sure your reputation as a genius has spread throughout Konoha." "Second, it's precisely because of your high potential that you needed to train on your own. Naruto, being at the bottom of the class, couldn't catch up to you through normal training. So, he had to take shortcuts, what we'd call 'using hacks.""
"Given that, it made sense to take him along for a short-term boost in power. That's why I brought him instead."
"Third, and most importantly, our bond is stronger than what I share with Naruto. I didn't want to put you in danger."
As Akira spoke these words, even he couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed by how sappy they sounded.
But the effect was imdiate.
Sasuke's face softened, a mixture of happiness and bashfulness flickering across his features.
"Hmph!" Not knowing what else to say, Sasuke simply huffed before using the Body Flicker Technique to leave.
See? As cringe-worthy as those lines were, they clearly had a powerful effect on Sasuke. It's like when a guy sweet-talks a girl-does he enjoy saying those corny lines? Probably not. But there's no denying that they work wonders.
In Sasuke's case, he truly saw Akira as a brother. If Sasuke had been a girl, those words would have had him on his knees in an instant.
"So, I guess my 'talk-no-jutsu' isn't half bad after all," Akira thought, smiling to himself as he watched Sasuke's flustered retreat. He ntally patted himself on the back.
Once Sasuke confird Akira's identity, Kiba and the others dispersed.
But news of Uchiha Akira's return to Konoha, a na that had once echoed throughout the entire shinobi world, began to spread rapidly within the village.
"What? Uchiha Akira is back in Konoha?"
In the Inuzuka clan, Kiba's family reacted with surprise upon hearing the news.
Seven years ago, Akira's na had resounded across the entire ninja world. But then, he had suddenly disappeared without a trace.
Many had speculated that such a talented shinobi had likely t an untily end, with the Uchiha clan keeping the details under wraps.
No one expected that after seven years, he would suddenly reappear.
"Sis, I heard you fought him once, right?" Kiba asked his sister, Inuzuka Hana.
"Yeah, back then I was supposed to represent Konoha in the Chunin Exams held in the Hidden Cloud. But Akira challenged , and naturally, he took my spot."
"Ti flies-it's been eight years since then," Hana remarked, nodding with no hint of resentnt in her tone.
After all, it was during that Chunin Exam that Akira won first place, earning the title of a genius and bringing honor to Konoha.
Besides, even though she was older than Akira at the ti, there was no sha in losing to him.
"What? That kid Akira is finally back? Great, let's get things ready. We need to invite him over for dinner tomorrow. And make sure Hanabi stays ho tomorrow-no going out!" Over at the Hyuga household, Hiashi Hyuga was overjoyed when he heard the news of Akira's return.
Though the Uchiha clan hadn't broadcasted Akira's whereabouts during his absence, they hadn't kept it a secret either.
When Akira had been missing for a few months, Hiashi had asked Fugaku, the Fifth Hokage, and learned that Akira had been focusing on intense training all these years.
Now that Akira had finally returned, Hiashi couldn't sit still.
Akira was now fourteen, the age when feelings between boys and girls start to blossom. If Hiashi didn't act quickly and so other girl caught Akira's eye, he'd be kicking himself for missing the opportunity.
"Oh? So Akira's back in Konoha? I wonder what the Sage Mode from Ryuchi Cave is like."
One of the legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, quickly got wind of Akira's return and couldn't hide his excitent. He was eager to see how Akira had grown.
"Akira... he's completed the Dragon Transformation, hasn't he? I wonder what he's like now," Orochimaru mused in his lab, also having heard the news. A smile of anticipation spread across his face.
Orochimaru was perhaps the one person in Konoha who knew the most about Akira's situation.
anwhile, after surveying the current state of Konoha, Akira turned back towards the Uchiha clan compound.
Back in the day, thanks to the ddling of the Konoha higher-ups, the Uchiha clan's district had been pushed to the outskirts of the village.
Though Fugaku had beco Hokage since then, the location of the clan's compound hadn't changed.
For one thing, moving was a hassle. And for another, with the Hokage's seat firmly in Uchiha hands, did it really matter where they lived?
Returning ho without bothering to hide his presence, Akira triggered a response almost
imdiately.
"Who's there?"
A figure appeared quickly-it was a beautiful young woman in her early twenties. But upon seeing Akira, she paused in surprise.
Her Sharingan, with its three tomoe, locked onto Akira before her expression shifted to one of joy. "Master Akira?"
Keiko had grown even more beautiful over the past seven years. Smiling, Akira greeted her.
See? Keiko recognized him imdiately. But Sasuke? He couldn't even recognize his own brother at first, and he still had the nerve to hold a grudge for seven years?
Back then, Keiko had been around fifteen, about the sa age Akira was now-a vibrant
young girl.
Now, at twenty-two, she had blossod into a stunning woman, retaining so of her youthful charm but with an added touch of mature allure.
"Master Akira, you've finally returned! I'm so happy!"
Keiko, unable to contain her joy, rushed forward and hugged Akira tightly, as if afraid he
might vanish if she let go.
Though she was officially just a servant, back when she had been captured by Danzo, Akira had risked his life to save her, even going as far as to kill Danzo.
In her heart, Akira had long since beco the most important person in her life-no one else
ca close.
She hadn't seen him in seven years, and the longing she felt had only grown stronger, like a well-aged wine that had beco richer and deeper over ti.
"Ahem..."
Just then, a cough interrupted the mont.
It was the old man, Akira's grandfather, who had heard the commotion and ca out to
investigate.
He arrived just in ti to see Keiko clinging to Akira.
"Alright, alright, Keiko, I... I can't breathe!" Akira, who at fifteen was now as tall as Keiko, patted her back, his face flushed from the tight embrace.
Realizing she had been holding on too tightly, Keiko quickly released him, a bit embarrassed
by her impulsive behavior.
Though the old man and Akira didn't treat her like an outsider, Keiko was still technically just
a servant.
"Phew, I really couldn't breathe for a mont there!" Akira rubbed his chest, feeling like he had just been crushed under a heavy boulder.
It had been seven years since they last saw each other, and Keiko had been so overwheld with emotion that she hugged him with all her might.
"My dear grandson, you're back!"
Once Keiko let go, the old man tried to steady his voice, though it still trembled slightly with
emotion, and there was a raspy undertone.
"Yes, I'm ho," Akira replied, nodding as he looked at his grandfather.
Seven years had passed. While both he and Keiko had grown, the old man had clearly aged
further. His body was more hunched, his face more wrinkled and weathered.
"It's good that you're back. It's late now, so go to bed. We'll talk tomorrow." Though the old man had a lot to say after all these years, he glanced at the sky and decided it
was best to let Akira rest first.
"Alright, Grandpa," Akira agreed, his tone obedient and respectful. After saying his
goodbyes, he headed to his room.
Though he hadn't been ho in seven years, his room was spotless, and the bedding still
carried a faint fragrance.
It was clear that Keiko had been taking care of it all this ti, waiting for his return.
Lying in bed, Akira didn't feel much of an emotional impact.
For him, the seven years had passed like the blink of an eye, with no real sense of ti
slipping away.
But for many others, that night was destined to be a sleepless one.
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Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 193 at /Emiko1.
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