Naruto, Madara is my girl.

Akira stood up from his seat and stretched his arms with little effort, his words cutting straight into the discussions swirling around the room.

"You guys chat, I'm leaving first."

Chairs scraped the floor as silence spread through the war council. Every clan head turned toward him in disbelief. Even Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned forward slightly in his seat, clearly confused.

"Um, Lord Akira… could you give us some advice?"

Akira waved him off with one hand. "Advice? I think most of you read the books I wrote. Take this moment as your test results. If someone struggles, I'll help."

His tone left no room for argument. A few glances exchanged between the elders quickly turned into twisted grins and light chuckling that started to ripple around the room.

"Jie jie jie…"

Those laughs were low and slow with the kind of malicious undertone that made Akira raise his brow in mild amusement. They sounded ready, not for battle, but for mischief. He sighed and gave them a look that said, "Behave," but they clearly wouldn't.

"If we're really preparing for another war with Hidden Cloud…" he began again, but was immediately interrupted.

"What? Lord Akira, why?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up, startled by what sounded like surrender. Several others voiced their confusion in whispers and half-formed protests.

Akira cut in again curtly. "They know I exist now. Sooner or later, the whole ninja world will find out. Even if I try to hide, there's no way to cover it forever."

"Ah… mm?" Nara's hand lifted slowly to adjust his collar, as if his body recognized Akira's unspoken message before he consciously interpreted it. "Lord Akira… you're saying only Hidden Cloud knows?"

Akira gave him the smallest nod. "For now. The rest depends on how fast you move."

"...We appreciate it, Lord Akira."

Nara wasted no time after bowing slightly. He turned to the others and loudly proclaimed:

"Everyone, whether you gain military merit starting today depends on how well you stir the pot."

Murmurs erupted across the room in understanding.

fights starts. Cause tension. Push boundaries before word gets out that Akira Senju, the Thousand Stars, is back in Konoha. War became inevitable once again among those who chased power by name and title.

One by one, they quickly exited the chamber with those intentions clear on their faces.

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched it unfold from his chair, like someone who had missed his own inauguration while the rest of the country rushed off for battle. He looked down at his hands for half a second before speaking softly.

"…I'm supposed to be Hokage. This was supposed to be my moment."

Akira placed one hand on Hiruzen's shoulder and offered only this.

"Think of it as job training, you'll get your moment later. If anything happens, just use my name when it counts."

Hiruzen gave him half of a wry smile-caught between gratitude and resignation.

"…Thanks, Lord Akira."

Akira stepped back and gestured lazily toward the hallway door. "Well, now that's done, help me find somewhere to live. I'm not exactly planning on sleeping under the stars here."

Hiruzen hesitated as if trying to recall some detail he hadn't confirmed earlier-then nodded slowly.

"…Alright."

…

Eight wide roads converged around high-walled properties that screamed power and money from every corner of Konoha's most exclusive district. Wind rustled through pristine hedges while stone lanterns barely swayed on their poles near manicured gardens.

Akira stopped at the gate-eyes locking onto one particularly large doorplate carrying bold calligraphy across its polished surface. "Senju."

He whistled low under his breath with open sarcasm.

"You've really fallen far, Tobirama… Doing shady stuff behind everyone's back to afford this place? You must've raked in quite a bit as Hokage…"

Hiruzen walked beside him, trying not to smile at the commentary, but failing by half.

"…Um, Lord Akira-this is your house."

"…Mine?"

Akira couldn't even mask his surprise as he turned back to the towering structure that looked like it could double as clan headquarters, and was probably bigger than one to be fair.

Hiruzen just nodded again before stepping away from the threshold cautiously. "Yes, and uh…I won't be joining you inside."

Akira grinned immediately. "What? Don't tell me there's some kind of trap inside? Did you forget to clear out my enemies or is there…"

His words stopped abruptly when Hiruzen answered with complete seriousness.

"There's actually…a Nine-Tailed Fox in there."

"…What?"

"Oh yes," Hiruzen nodded solemnly again. "You'll understand once you go inside…"

Akira froze for half a breath-then slapped Hiruzen on the back with genuine excitement.

"You put the Nine-Tails in my house?! That's what I call efficiency!"

Delighted beyond reason, he took another step forward before remembering his next task.

"Oh, and get that lab set up along with the materials you promised. My old stuff should be somewhere in storage too, have it delivered here soon." He narrowed his eyes ever so slightly as one last request slipped out coldly. "And don't forget my Corpse too, or else…"

Whatever threat he'd been planning faded slightly when he saw how awkward Hiruzen looked at that mention.

"…Uh…well…most of your things are already inside your home but, about your body…"

Akira waved him off impatiently, already pushing open the front gate with curiosity riding high again.

"Fine, just send it in later!"

"…Yes, Lord Akira!"

…

Stone paths led through coordinated courtyards of fragrant wood and decorative ponds. The right side had peaceful benches shaded beneath pavilions, the left hosted koi drifting calmly through narrow streams designed around smooth-flowing bamboo spouts.

Muted splashes echoed around him as tranquil air settled over every inch of estate space built for someone long gone-and now abruptly returned.

"It's wasteful…but luxurious," Akira commented under his breath as he swung open the screen door to enter the main hall-

Only to stop cold at what he saw inside.

She sat where she shouldn't have been, in the middle of his living room like she'd always belonged there, all legs neatly folded beneath her on rich tatami mats.

"You're back."

Akira nearly choked from mild shock-but composed himself after half-blinking recognition returned to him slowly through her familiar features…

"…Ah? Uh-I think I walked into the wrong house, I'll just…"

He turned quickly-but not fast enough.

Rustle-

Arms wrapped tightly around him from behind before he could retreat two steps.

"You're finally back… Brother Akira. I've been waiting for you."

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