"Mizukage-sama, I don't mean to question your policy, but implementing it this way could lead to irrevocable sequences for the vilge."

  His eyes... they're not the same. The elderly advisor studied Yagura's vat expression. "Furthermore, weren't you the one who initially led the reform of this policy? If we tinue like this, that child's sacrifice would be in vain."

  This elder, known as Genji, was one of the few who had lived sihe time of the First Mizukage. He was sidered a living relic.

  Kiri's current state was less than ideal.

  The Land of Water had little e to the mainnd. Its people were aced to self-sufficy, as the nation was isoted but resource-rich, posing few problems.

  At its founding, Kiri was better off than most shinobi vilges. The Kiri ninjas rarely got involved in mainnd flicts, meaning their bat was limited, and Kiri had a rger number of small and mid-sized s than other areas.

  The vilge gained renown for its ma teiques and bloodline limits, and it had one of the rgest ninja armies. But things began to ge with the Seizukage.

  He had initially done well, establishing the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and f growth within the vilge. But everything ged when the news of Hashirama's passing reached the Land of Water.

  The Seizukage lost his life during the First Great Ninja War. His successor, the Third Mizukage, fared far worse. The most criticized aspect of his rule was his "Vilge of the Bloody Mist" policy.

  Genji could not uand how the man, who had once seemed perfectly reasonable, became so erratic after assuming the title of Mizukage.

  During the Third Great Ninja War, the Third Mizukage's strategy to wound Konoha on two fronts ended in disaster. His administration and Kiri's elite forces suffered unpreted damage.

  The Seven Ninja Swordsmen, responsible for drawing the enemy's attention, were nearly wiped out. The rear-line pn to unleash a tailed beast on Konoha failed due to a sacrifice among his own.

  Kiri was utterly defeated, plunging to the weakest position among the Five Great Shinobi Vilges.

  The Third Mizukage reaped what he had sown.

  The Bloody Mist policy had turhe vilge into a haven for extremist radicals. Before his people could execute him, he relinquished power.

  In these circumstances, Yagura, backed by the younger geion, assumed the role of Mizukage. He quickly initiated reforms to repair the damage caused by the Third Mizukage's reign, signing a ceasefire with Konoha, revitalizing Kiri's ey, and sealing the Three-Tails within himself, being the new jinchūriki.

  Under his governance, Kiri's bleak situation began to ease.

  But now, to Genji's shock, Yagura seemed i on stopping his reforms to the Bloody Mist polistead, he seemed ready to enforce it more strictly.

  For now, the situation was irely irreversible, as Yagura hadn't publicly annouhe policy ge. He had, however, sulted with Genji, discussing it for over a month.

  The policy could not be restarted. Kiri had suffered enough uhe Third Mizukage. Though no structural loss had yet occurred, they couldn't afford another disaster.

  Unfortunately, Genji had no idea that the man before him was no lura as he had known him—just a shell of his former self.

  "I uand. I'll sider it further," Yagura replied bnkly.

  "Please, do." Genji k was time to take his leave. He left the office, worried as ever.

  After he left, Yagura tinued with his paperwork. Whehing was pleted, he departed for his residence.

  While there were ANBU in the Mizukage's office, his residence was unguarded.

  Everyone believed that no one could attack the Mizukage in his home and survive. However, this was sadly not true. There was more tharuder.

  At his residence, Yagura sat in his chair, seemingly drained of all his energy. The extra of his memories was always taxing, though he was no longer aware enough to realize it.

  Obito appeared behind him, stepping forward until their eyes met. He received Yagura's plete recolle of the day's events.

  "That old man is really stubborn," Obito muttered, releasing his Sharingan's hold.

  "Why not trol him too?" Zetsu's head emerged from the wall. "An elder like him would be easy to handle."

  "One Mizukage under trol is enough. The old man's just a symbol; it's better to let the vilgers willingly accept this ge," Obito replied.

  Although he wanted everyone in this vilge dead, he hadn't fotten his purpose.

  Utilizing Kiri's resources to groom effective pawns was his goal. He wasn't just here to vent his ahough his hatred for Kiri ran deep.

  Moreover, the upper ranks, represented by Genji, opposed the inal Bloody Mist poliot out of kindness but due to a ck of bes.

  "In that case, Yagura had pns for the new geion of the Seven Ninja Swordsme's allow him to proceed as pnned," Zetsu suggested. "Only one of the inal Seven Swordsmen remains. What will you do with him? Will you put him to use?"

  "No, that guy has served this vilge on covert missions for years; he's too calg. In time, he'd ruin my pns," Obito said with a smile. "I have a better idea—let him go to Konoha."

  Showing Genji and the others the bes of restarting the policy was not feasible. Showing them the downsides of not restarting it, however, would be easy.

  All it took rovoking Konoha. After Kiri's ret defeat by Konoha, the vilge was highly sensitive to anythied to them.

  By creating a fait apli, Kiri's insuffit ninja forces would have no choice but to adopt ae policy tthen the vilge's defenses.

  This, in turn, would serve Obito's objective.

  The fractured Kiri, produg shinobi filled with rese, would yield perfect pawns for his pns.

  "Konoha? Do you pn to notify Masashi?"

  "No need. He's probably already told Konoha's higher-ups about me. In the end, he'll never be one of us; he's too tent with life in Konoha," Obito replied.

  Let him py his games in Konoha. Soon enough, none of it will matter.

  "I'll bring Fuguki along to stir things up. It'll be a good time to greet Danzō, too, and give him a little push."

  ---

  As the third quarter of the new year began, Mikoto finally stopped walking around with her big belly.

  She was about to give birth.

  At Konoha Hospital, Fugaku and Itachi, anxiously waited outside the delivery room, along with other members of the Uchiha .

  As the leader, Fugaku was well-respected, and with his wife about to give birth, the smen hoped for a safe delivery for both mother and child.

  The corridor was filled with quiet murmurs and occasional g the delivery room door.

  "Even you came? Rare to see you at gatherings," one of the senior members noted as Masashi approached.

  "A leader's sed son isn't born every day."

  After more than a month of re-evaluating his path, his efforts had proven quite successful. He could now fidently say he was no longer helpless with tailed beasts.

  Hard work truly paid off, and now Masashi could finally put his mind at ease, no longer fearing the night of the 's demise. The sealing teiques still need work, but they'll do against most bijuu attacks.

  Looking at the anxious father and son, he found it hard to imagihe se eight years from now.

  The huma is uable. If he couldn't stop Fugaku from snapping, he'd have to prevent Itachi from doing so i years.

  "Here it is! Here it is!" someone suddenly shouted with joy.

  Everyoood up.

  Fugaku looked tensely at the mediinja walking out of the delivery room, his Sharingan activated in his nervousness.

  The mediinja jumped in surprise at the sight of Fugaku with his Sharingan active. Realizing he hadn't begun with the usual small talk, he decided it was best to skip that part—better to avoid ending up on the floor.

  "Don't be so anxious, Fugaku-sama," he quickly said, trying to maintain his professional posure despite the intimidating red eyes fixed on him. "Mother and child are safe—it's a boy!"

  "Thank goodness! Thank you very much!" Fugaku, feeling he was calm and maintaining the posed image expected of a leader, tio look at the mediinja with his Sharingan still active. " I go in and see my wife now?"

  "Of course, yes. But perhaps it'd be best if other family members waited outside?" Please let them wait outside, the mediinja thought desperately.

  With so many people going in, if anything happened, he doubted the entire medical department could ha.

  Seeing the mediinja's strange expression, Itachi g his father.

  It seemed his father was too nervous and had activated his Sharingan without realizing it.

  "Father." He nudged Fugaku. "You're sg the doctor."

  Fugaku snapped out of it, realizing why things felt off—he was even seeing chakra.

  Deactivating his Sharingan, he sincerely apologized, letting the mediinja breathe a sigh of relief, then escorted father and son into the room.

  The other Uchiha members, having pleted their mission, began to disperse, each heading home.

  "Aren't you leaving?" Masashi noticed Shisui still staying by the door and reminded him, "The leader will probably be there for quite a while."

  "It's fine; I'll wait in case they need a hand."

  Always the loyal one, Masashi thought, studying the young Uchiha's dedicated stance.

  "Alright, then. I'll be going. Let me know if anything es up."

  ---

  Exiting the hospital, he decided to take a stroll around the shopping distrid grab something to eat—he was a bit hungry.

  In his youth, Ichiraku hadn't yet opened in Konoha, but during the Third Great Ninja War, the ramen shop had made its debut.

  Back then, the Police Force had iigated it, eventually determining that Teuchi was an ordinary person.

  Still, his ramen tasted excellent, and the prices were more affordable than Konoha's other ramen shops, so business quickly took off.

  Now, Masashi had bee a regur.

  Walking into Ichiraku, he saw the owner, in his early thirties, serving ers.

  "Oh! If it isn't Masashi-sama!" Teuchi greeted him cheerfully.

  "Teuchi, don't call me that." Masashi rubbed his hands together. "I'll have the usual, please."

  "Got it. Just a moment."

  "Much appreciated."

  Finding a seat, Masashi picked up a menu, just about to check for aems when someo beside him.

  Judging from the air currents, this person was carrying a hefty load.

  "I didn't expect you to e to a pce like this; I thought you only di high-eaurants."

  Turning to look, Masashi saw a blonde woman whose promi preseched what he'd sensed.

  "Who are you?" She looked familiar, but he couldn't remember who she was.

  "Really? You're the one whht me to Konoha." The blonde seemed a bit miffed.

  Huh? Did I do something like that?

  After a moment of sideration, he suddenly remembered her, spurred on by a certain… promi feature.

  "Oh, it's you, Madoka?"

  "It's Kumika!"

  "That's what I meant." Masashi handed her the menu. "You look like you're doing well. Go ahead and order. It's on me."

  "Hmph…" Kumika took the menu and slid it bato its holder oable. "No need. I already ordered."

  Then, they sat in silence, occasionally exging gnces.

  Masashi's gaze drifted, unavoidably drawn to the rather revealing cut of her outfit. Being an artist at heart, he pohe cultural differences between Konoha and Kumo.

  "Tell me, are you always this rexed?" Kumika broke the silence. "I've joined your ANBU's training division, but I still get tidbits of news—about the Uchiha. Want to hear it?"

  "And how would I listen?" he asked out of habit. "Do I o get closer?"

  At first, Kumika didn't uand, but following his gaze downward, she quickly caught on.

  "Is that what you like? That be arranged, given that I owe you something, after all."

  "No need for the act." Masashi looked away. "I've got a pretty good idea of which division you joined. What's the deal—selling info to both sides?"

  "How much would a bowl of ramen really get me?"

  Kumika shrugged.

  "At first, I thought the Uchiha were a noble Konoha, but then I saw how things are, and I was surprised you even tried recruiting me."

  "What's wrong with it?" Masashi's gaze drifted toward Teuchi as the smell of ramen wafted over.

  "Nothing, as long as it doesn't bother you. But with the number of Kiri ninja you killed, they're sending a delegation to meet with the Hokage soon. You might want to watch your bad avoid getting pummeled."

  "Kiri?" Masashi turo her. "Will they be meeting the Hokage or a former Hokage advisor?"

  "I don't know. I've just been ordered to greet them. It's not cssified, so you'll see soon enough. They're an official delegation."

  "Oh, a delegation…"

  This doesn't fit the pattern. Is Obito pnning something?

  Masashi thought of the Kiri ninja he'd faced otlefield.

  To call them terrorists would be to overstate the term; the Bloody Mist policy raised warriors of dubious mental stability.

  Those people didn't typically send formal envoys to Konoha.

  Masashi didn't kly when Kiri was brought under Obito's influence, but the thought couldn't be dismissed.

  Kiri hadn't sent an official delegation to Konoha at this point. Any efforts at reciliation had been attempted right after the war, and a delegation had already e to Konoha to sign an agreement.

  Hopefully, this wasn't Obito's doing. The timing didn't add up—Kushina wasn't due for ahree months. But then again, when had anything in this vilge ever followed the expected timeline?