Minato's visit to the Uchiha training area was brief. Both sides were there for business, after all.

  Masashi watched as Minato walked towards the meeting room the Uchiha had prepared. The young Hokage's blonde hair caught the sunlight, making him look almost angelic. Masashi snorted inwardly at the thought.

  "Masashi," a gruff voice called. He turo see Fugaku approag. "You'll be standing guard outside the meeting room."

  Masashi raised an eyebrow. "Me? Why not one of the elders?"

  "You have the three-tomoe Sharingan. It's a show of strength."

  And I'm expendable if something goes wrong, right? He nodded obediently. "Uood."

  As he took his position outside the ornate sliding doors, his mind was already analyzing the situation. He suppressed a sigh. Stuck outside while the real a happens iory of my life.

  The room beyohe fate of the Uchiha, but all he could do was stand there looking important. At least the door's soundproofing was as effective as wet paper. Carefully, he shifted his stance, angling his ear towards the door without appearing suspicious.

  Muffled voices drifted from inside. Masashi hesitated. Eavesdropping on the Hokage? If they're practically shouting...

  "...appreciate the opportunity to discuss these matters directly, Hokage-sama."

  "Of course, Fugaku-san," Minato replied, his tone warm and open. "Open dialogue is important for the future of the vilge."

  "And the Uchiha has always been part of Konoha's strength and future. Your tributions, especially through the Police Force, are invaluable."

  "We are honored by your words, Hokage-sama," Fugaku responded, his voice carefully measured. "The Uchiha have alut the vilge first."

  "And that dedication is precisely why I believe it's time for a ge," Minato said smoothly. "A ge that will be both the vilge and the Uchiha ."

  Masashi fought the urge to roll his eyes. All these pretty words, aher side saying what they really mean.

  "I believe the Uchiha's talents are being... uilized," Minato said. "The Police Force is crucial, yes, but your 's abilities could be doing so much more for Konoha."

  "Are you suggesting we abandon our duties to the Police Force?" Fugaku asked, a hint of anger in his voice.

  "Not at all," Minato quickly assured him. "But sider this: Konoha's strength lies in its ability to take on high-level missions. With more Uchiha jonin in the field, we could signifitly increase our mission capacity."

  Ah, there it is, Masashi's ears perked up. The real reason for this little chat.

  "And what of the vilge's security?" another elder questioned.

  "We have many capable shinobi who fill the ranks of the Police Force," Minato tered. "But the Sharingan... that's an asset we 't replicate."

  The room fell silent for a moment. Masashi could almost hear the gears turning in everyone's heads.

  "This would be a signifit ge, Hokage-sama," Fugaku finally said. "The Uchiha have been responsible for Konoha's internal security feions."

  "And you've done an admirable job," Minato agreed. "But times have ged. The war is over. The Uchiha belongs shoulder to shoulder with Konoha's shinobi."

  Masashi had to admit, Minato knew how to sell an idea.

  "We would ime to sider this proposal," Fugaku said cautiously.

  "Of course," Minato replied. "I wouldn't expe immediate decision. But I hope you'll give it serious thought. This could be a neter for both the Uchiha and Konoha."

  The versation began to drift into specifics – numbers, logistics, training schedules. Masashi felt his attention waning. Politics... always so tedious.

  His summary would be like this: The Fourth Hokage praised the Police Force's efforts while encing them to maintain their high standards. He challehem to be the vilge's legal superheroes, plete with capes and 'Law and Order' theme music.

  The Uchiha responded with almost theatrical enthusiasm. Fugaku, in particur, treated Minato's every word like sacred text, practically ready to enshrihe Hokage's vision of justice.

  He snorted softly. The reality was far less rosy. This whole meeting reeked of political theater, each side trying to outmahe other with smiles pstered on their faces. But he had a pretty clear idea of Minato's iions.

  This guy wants to liberate productivity.

  It made sense, in a cold, calg way. The vilge's ine came from three sources: gover funds, mission fees, and taxes. Gover funds were strictly trolled, but mission fees... that's where the real money was. Especially from high-ranking missions handled by jonin.

  And Uchiha jonin? They were something special.

  The Sharingan was a rare gift, even among the Uchiha. Fewer than a hundred members had awake, and only about twenty had achieved three-tomoe. But those who did... they were true jonin-level ninja, each capable of taking on two oppos at once.

  Now that Minato was Hokage, he believed that if Uchiha's bat power were unleashed, even a single Uchiha could fill the gap left by dead shinobis.

  This would allow Konoha to handle more high-level missions. After all, following the ret war, Suna had lost much of its ts' trust, leading to a diversion of mission orders.

  Konoha, Iwa, and Kumo were all eyeing these orders, and all three vilges had given strict orders: no jonin were allowed to take time off and had to be ready at any moment.

  Minato sees keeping us in the Police Force as a waste, Masashi realized. He wants us out there, taking on high-level missions. Bringing in the big bucks.

  Konoha didly have a she of people to patrol the streets. In trast, Konoha was stronger now than before the war. Its biggest loss had been...

  "...reminds me of the White Fang in his prime. Such potential," an elder's voice drifted through the door.

  Masashi's hand unsciously tightened on the hilt of his short sword. Memories flooded back – watg that overly serious man train, the fluid movements, the fsh of his bde.

  You were unstoppable. Until you stopped yourself. How sad.

  Konoha's White Fang ecial figure in Konoha's history. It wasn't about how strong he was, but rather his extreme effid overwhelming presence. He was essentially a mission-pleting mae, unstoppable.

  Before his downfall, his mission record could be summed up in three words: killed them all.

  Masashi's Body Flicker Teique was heavily inspired by Konoha's White Fang.

  That was also why he used a short sword—the way White Fang bihe Body Flicker with a short bde left a deep impression on him.

  Truth be told, it was indeed effective.

  Especially when the bde breaks, a darker part of him whispered. That's when it's most lethal.

  Lost in thought, Masashi suddenly noticed that the ughter in the room had grown louder, followed by the sounds of people getting up.

  He straightened, schooling his features into a ral expression as the door slid open.

  Minato emerged first, his face wreathed in a sunny smile. Behind him came a group of satisfied-looking Uchiha, with young Shisui bringing up the rear.

  Right now, the Konoha ninjas probably couldn't imagihat, within a decade—if Masashi couldn't ge certain things—the upper echelons of Konoha would turn into a geriatric club. The currently brilliant Fourth Hokage and the Legendary Sannins would either die, betray the vilge, or leave.

  The new jinchuriki would be a child, the Uchiha would be gone, and Konoha, the once great vilge, would face a talent crisis.

  And the people standing before him were tral pyers in those events.

  "You've worked hard, Masashi," Minato said, beaming at him. "By the way, I noticed your request from a while ago—to repce Obito on the Kannabi Bridge mission."

  "Yes," Masashi replied with a smile. "But unfortunately, the vilge didn't approve it."

  It was a bit awkward—right after submitting that request, he had been scolded by one of the elders. They thought he was meddling where he shouldn't.

  Minato chuckled. "Don't worry, there will be more opportunities." He patted Masashi's shoulder and walked off, the Uchiha group trailing after him.

  As the Hokage walked away, the group of Uchiha followed, esc him out. Masashi gged behind, hearing Minato cheerfully insisting, "You're all too polite! I see myself out. Let's work hard together from now on!"

  Masashi hung back, lost in thought. That request... it had seemed like a good idea at the time. Repce Obito, take advantage of the situation with Madara... But looking back, it had been rash. Not being approved robably for the best.

  Dealing with Bck Zetsu will be safer. That guy's got plenty of good stuff. It's just a matter of getting lucky.

  "Masashi-nii," a voice piped up beside him.

  Masashi turo find no ohen remembered to look down to see Shisui gazing up at him with those too-i eyes.

  Don't py dumb with me, you naive brat. I ought to knoe seo you like I used to. But then again, I might not be able to beat you now.

  This brat had awakehe Mangekyo, after all.

  "Masashi-nii," Shisui repeated, "don't you like the Hokage?"

  Masashi resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I'm a Konoha ninja," he replied evenly. "It's not about liking him. I respect him."

  "Why fear him? The Hokage is very kind."

  Masashi looked at the boy, remembering the tragic fate that awaited him in aimeline. "He's the Hokage first, Shisui," he said softly. "As Hokage, his will is no longer his own, much like a jinchuriki. You uand that, don't you?"

  Shisui's brow furrowed as he thought it over. Then, like a sun breaking through clouds, he smiled brightly. "I believe in the Hokage."

  "That's great," he said, f a smile. "I believe in the Hokage too."

  As Shisui trotted off, to joihers, Masashi's smile faded. He believed in the Hokage, all right—believed that Minato, like every leader before him, would do what he thought was best for the vilge.

  The question was: would the Uchiha fit into that vision of 'best'? Only time would tell.

  His thoughts turhen to the future. He thought of Minato's words—more opportunities.

  We'll see, his haed on his sword hilt. We'll see what those opportunities bring.