Re: Akimichi

Today was a splendid day at the start of the autumn season when the days get shorter and colder, and the green flash of the trees became sepia-toned, waving in the southerly wind.

The autumn season has dressed the land for the coming days, donning her most vibrant hues. She has swept into the streets and woodlands with a humble boldness that invites the eyes to see more than they otherwise might. The autumn takes her pirouette, her sweet turn on the stage all around, and the Konoha was now so blessed to be given such beauty.

The cold winds started to blow as the carpet of brown and golden leaves started to cover the soil, rain which started to pour from time to time wetting the land and filled it with fresh earthly aroma, the fragrance of homeliness.

Days passed and turned into weeks, the death of one of the Konoha elder council -Shimura Danzo- was finally announced to the public, it was declared that he was dead a natural death because of old age. In the meantime, Kakashi was tasked to lead the remaining root members and with Nara Shikaku's help to integrate them with the current Anbu.

Shikamaru has already accepted the Hokage's invitation to join the Anbu and was now trained under Hyuga Ko together with Uchiha Sasuke in the unit formerly lead by Hatake Kakashi. The Hokage decided that rather than let his hatred shaped him, it'll be better if that Uchiha heir to be shaped both mentally and physical wise under the strict environment with a little brainwash here and there before he was told the 'truth' about behind his family massacre.

Of course, the Hokage will blame it entirely to Danzo with him pleading guilty in some minor mistake. Until then, Sasuke will be under the strict watch of the Anbu.

Jiraiya was tasked by the Hokage to bring Tsunade back into the Konoha, and he took Naruto with him to train Naruto more along the journey and to watch the effect of Naruto's and Kyuubi's chakra blending inside Naruto.

Ino was apprenticed under Mitarashi Anko in the Konoha Torture and Interrogation Force, it was both to learn more about snake techniques from Anko as she was literally her senior in the snake technique, and to found her own path.

Meanwhile, Chouji was summoned by the Daimyo himself through the Hokage to the Capital city of the Land of Fire, Akiyama city. Akiyama city was a city situated beside a dead volcano on the southern side of the middle of the fire country itself. It was a big city that took a few weeks to walk from the Konoha. Chouji along with Aburame Shino and Hyuga Neiji was invited to the Daimyo's castle to be selected as the candidate of the new guardian ninja of the land of fire. And regardless they accepted or not, they have to fulfill the Daimyo's summon first.

The guardian ninja was a group composed of twelve skilled ninjas drawn from around the Land of Fire. Their only task was to protect the country's daimyō, even at the cost of their own lives. Even though the Guardian Ninja disbanded, its former members are still famed in criminal circles, earning them bounties on the black market: Chiriku has a bounty of 30 million ryō and Asuma has a bounty of 35 million ryō.

The trio -Chouji, Shino, Neiji- was accompanied by Asuma who was a former guardian ninja himself, along the way, Asuma told them what it means to become a guardian ninja. The benefits that it holds and the responsibility when holding that title.

"I will not join the guardian again, but my friend -Chiriku- will guide you all as he'll take the responsibility to screen all of the candidates then guide you all in your path. If you accepted, not only your family status will be elevated, which will not affect you much as you all already come from a military noble family, but you'll also be granted a vast amount of resources and a certain specific privilege of your choosing."

Asuma took his cigarette out and lit it before he put it on his mouth. "Mine was access to buy the strategist item such as chakra steel and the like by the way. Yes, I used it to make my clan thrive even more."

Asuma explained that the Fire Daimyō has a fickle and indecisive nature and is easily swayed in his decisions through biases as well as external influences. When situations call for fast, important decisions, he makes his advisers do the whole work: the one who convinces him most is the "winner".

After he has done with his explanation, Asuma patted Chouji's shoulder. "Have you done to decide which one that you will choose?" Asuma's question was replied with a nod from Chouji. "Good, we'll start after we're done with the Daimyo."

---

Another week passed, Konoha was holding the autumn festival and its streets were filled with street food vendors and were decorated with hundreds of paper lanterns

The autumn season was said to be the season of hearty appetites, and there's no better place to enjoy it than Konoha Village. With the Akimichi clan's food specialty, the Konoha hosts a range of gourmet items, including locally grown agricultural products, fresh-caught games, and delicious wine and sake. The festival has several themed venues, each with their own unique vibe, vendors, and dishes.

Just then, Chouji has just arrived at the Akiyama capital city, and Chouji along with the others which totaled to be eleven peoples were now kneeling in front of the Daimyo inside his castle, the Daimyo was an elderly man that has small, circular eyes and dark pupils, He also wears the standard daimyō headpiece, his skin was already wrinkled, showing his advanced age.

"Hm, I summon all of you here to be recruited as the guardian of the land of fire." The daimyo was seated in a lotus position on an elevated chair, his figure was covered by a layer of a veil. "If you accepted, you will be trained by the former guardian, Chiriku, you will be treated as a noble, and be assigned various resources that will be more than hard to be acquired otherwise."

---

The night after, Chouji was in his room inside the Inn that he chose. In his hand was a letter which was written by Ino, along the way, they often wrote to each other to tell each other's condition and share their experience through the days.

This time though, the content inside the letter made Chouji giggles then showed a frown on his face after he read it.

***

Hello to you again, Mr. worry wart!

Today was the day of the autumn festival, you forget about it, don't you? Admit it!

You know, I feel both happy and sad...

Today, I met with one of the legendary sennin, Tsunade Hime-sama! You're jealous, aren't you? You used to idolize her so much back in the academy. I need to confirm something to you, yes hers were as big as the people say. But, I will not lose to her if that's mean to make you happy! Tehe~

The sad part is... earlier, the bushy brows -Lee- was examined by Tsunade Hime-sama and she said that Lee will not be able to recover naturally on his own. He needs to went through a series of dangerous surgeries, either that or he'll be crippled forever. But, Lee will die if the surgeries are to fail.

I don't know what to do, and now I can't think of a way to help him. Do you have something that can help?

Sincerely, your purple lover, Ino.

***

Chouji sighed as he worried about his friend, and his brain was brainstorming to find a way to help. "Lee..."