First Meeting

After Koji Kurama left, Akira rubbed his brow weakly. At least the first step had gone well.

Staring at the empty room, Akira had no idea what nerve had misfired, but he suddenly said to the air, "You've been hiding for so long. Aren't you going to come out?"

No one responded after two breaths. Just as Akira was about to lie down, a black shadow leaped down from the roof, a cold gleam flashing from the katana in its hand as it stabbed toward him!

Holy shit! There really was someone?! At a time like this, the only person in all of Konoha who would bother doing something like this was probably Danzo, right?

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, yet Akira was strangely calm as he faced the approaching katana. The Root member wielding it was like an emotionless machine, merciless even before a child.

In that case, die!

Blade-less Head Shave, activate!

In an instant, an eerie force sliced through the void. The Root member who had tried to assassinate Akira was separated from his head, blood erupting from the severed body and splattering across Akira's bed and body. The blood was warm.

With a thud, the corpse hit the floor, alarming Momoe and Nami outside the door. The two maids pushed the door open, only to see a head roll to a stop right at their feet.

Just as Akira worried that the two adorable girls would scream in terror, Momoe and Nami's reaction made him see them in a new light. Their eyes were filled with fear, but they forcibly choked back their screams. The two women ran around the head to Akira's side and asked tremblingly, "Y-Young Master... what do we do?"

"Momoe, go bring the Clan Head back immediately. Nami, find a large box, one big enough to hold all this." Akira took a deep breath. Only then did he finally feel afraid. He had long prepared himself mentally for killing, but he had not expected it to come so quickly, so suddenly.

"Akira, are you all right?" Koji Kurama had not expected someone to come assassinate him the moment he turned away. He hurried back, and upon seeing Akira's pale face, frowned and said, "Akira, you must understand. This is the world of ninja. Either you kill them, or they kill you. There is no right or wrong, nor does justice have anything to do with it."

"Then what is it for?" Akira came back to himself and asked weakly.

"To live, and to die for something worthwhile. Nothing more!" Koji Kurama said solemnly. "Some ninja are tools, objects, blades made for killing. Others are guardians, protectors, order itself. The key lies in the ninja. How do you define yourself?"

"Whew..." Akira slowly exhaled. "I understand."

"Good. Adjust your mindset." Koji Kurama nodded in satisfaction. Glancing at the dismembered assassin, he said, "How do you plan to deal with this? Was he Anbu?!"

"Not Anbu. Anbu answers directly to the Hokage. Lord Hokage has no reason to assassinate me. That outfit... it seems there is a secret force in the village that does not fall under Lord Hokage's authority. We need to be careful!" Akira had originally wanted to reveal the existence of Root, but then he considered how he could know intelligence that even Koji Kurama did not know. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings between them, he decided not to say anything for now. What he did not know was that Koji Kurama was already suspicious. For instance, how had Akira killed an assassin at the level of a jonin?

Turning away from the corpse, he said, "I think we can spread the news. Say that an assassin of unknown identity infiltrated the village. As for this body... make it disappear!"

In Root's underground base, Danzo sat coldly at its center. He had just received word that Koji Kurama had reported to Lord Hokage that an assassin of unknown identity had infiltrated the village! That meant the intelligence he had received before was true: someone from the Kurama Clan had awakened that terrifying Bloodline Limit...

"Lord Danzo, please allow this subordinate to kill Akira Kurama!" A Root Officer knelt on one knee and requested permission.

Danzo shook his head. "These are troubled times. We cannot create further unrest. If Akira Kurama can be killed, kill him. If not, it makes no difference. He is irrelevant to the larger picture!"

"Yes!" The Root Officer withdrew. Danzo looked toward Hokage Rock. The Fourth was dead, and the Third would return to power. The Uchiha Clan had always been a threat; it had to be completely eradicated!

Koji Kurama returned to the clan and immediately found Akira. "I told the Third what you said. He said he would investigate it thoroughly. Also, the Third suggested that you attend the Ninja Academy."

"No problem. When does the Ninja Academy start?" Akira nodded.

"In one month. During this time, familiarize yourself with the Kurama Clan's Bloodline Limit."

Over the following month, Konoha held a grand funeral for the Fourth Hokage and his wife, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki. It drizzled that day. Akira stood behind Koji Kurama while Mai Kurama held Yakumo in her arms. Dressed in black kimono and holding umbrellas, the group stood neatly before the graves.

Akira also spotted many familiar faces: Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, and other future pillars of Konoha, as well as the slightly younger Third Hokage and the equally youthful Jiraiya.

After placing the daisy in his hand before the Fourth Hokage's grave, Akira followed Koji Kurama home. But unexpectedly, they ran into Fugaku Uchiha and his family.

"It's been a long time, Fugaku," Koji Kurama greeted him first.

Fugaku Uchiha ignored Koji Kurama. He looked at Akira and asked, "Is this the child who awakened the Bloodline Limit?" Though phrased as a question, his tone was certain.

"Yes. Akira, come and meet them. This is the Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan, and this is..." Koji Kurama trailed off as he looked at the little boy standing beside Fugaku Uchiha.

"Uchiha Itachi, my eldest son," Fugaku Uchiha said.

Uchiha Itachi?!

Akira hurriedly took a closer look. He had finally met the living, universe-class little-brother fanatic! Then the child in Mikoto's arms must be Uchiha Sasuke, right? Ah... what a pair of brothers destined to love and kill each other!

"Nice to meet you. I'm Akira Kurama. Please take care of me!" Akira ran up to Itachi, grabbed his hand, and said with a cheerful grin.

"Uchiha Itachi. Please take care of me." At this point, Itachi God was still just a cute little boy. He had not yet been led astray by Uchiha Shisui... Cough, cough... he had not yet been influenced by Uchiha Shisui. So he was only a little more mature than ordinary children, with a slightly wilder imagination. He was still fairly easy to get along with.

"It seems Akira really likes Itachi! You two should get along well from now on," Mai Kurama said with a gentle smile.

"Of course we will, right, Itachi?" The moment Akira heard his aunt's words, he eagerly seized the opportunity, practically wanting to swear brotherhood with Itachi on the spot.

"Mm..." Itachi found it difficult to handle Akira's enthusiasm and could only give a perfunctory response.

"All right, it's time for us to go." Fugaku Uchiha clearly had no desire to associate with the Kurama Clan. He frowned, turned, and left. Mikoto gave the Kurama family an awkward smile before leaving with Itachi.

Watching the Uchiha family's retreating backs, Koji Kurama let out a heavy breath and looked at Akira. "I hope that one day, I can stand tall and speak before Fugaku Uchiha. You can make that happen, can't you, Akira?"

That's a little difficult...

Akira broke into a cold sweat. The Uchiha Clan would be wiped out by Itachi when he was thirteen, and Itachi was already five this year...

Wait, there are still nine years left. It seems there's enough time!

"Don't worry! I can definitely do it!" Akira promised Koji Kurama with a confident expression.