Even though they possess chakra and the mysterious abilities of ninjutsu, the world of shinobi wasn't purely about fighting and killing; humaionships were actually the main theme.

  Flowers o bloom, trees o bear fruit, and people o express themselves.

  Often, shinobi actually survived by their words. The sharpest kunai wasn't always the one made of steel.

  Kumika was an experienced shinobi, and she wasn't influenced by Konoha's inal political enviro.

  Smart move, Masashi noted. Using small pieces of information to build trust while stayiached from vilge politics.

  Joining the ANBU didn't mean severiies with him, so when they met again over a meal, she naturally rekiheir e.

  Through what seemed like an insignifit piece of information, she shifted their retionship from a victor and spoils dynamic toward a friendship.

  Or perhaps she was just lucky to enter Masashi. With any other Uchiha, she might have been killed on the spot.

  This was because the traditional Uchiha operated on intimidation and dominance.

  Their approach to outsiders followed a questionable script: Provoke with arrogance, destabilize with emotional manipution, and demand rather thaiate.

  A versation would typically end not with an exge, but with a threat: 'Just hand it over!'

  Masashi was different. He followed what the would have sed as weak: Stay calm, unicate clearly, maintaiional stability, and ensure fair exge.

  So Kumika was indeed fortunate. A typical Uchiha jonin would have followed the 's way—enraging her with words, subduing her with the Sharingan, breaking her mind with genjutsu, and finally using fire to reduce her to ashes, keeping only her head as proof of the kill.

  Masashi felt this was a case of kindness being repaid with kindness.

  Kumika thought she was strengthening their retionship, but to Masashi, she had actually provided valuable intelligence.

  Sihe Third Mizukage, Kiri has been uhe influenadara, which expins the strange decision to seal the Three-Tails within a Konoha shinobi.

  But by the Fourth Mizukage's time, this perfect jinchuriki would be tered by the Mangekyō Sharingan, tearing dow facade.

  As Madara's best tool for Obito, Kiri's delegation wasn't here with good iions.

  Yet such crucial information hadn't reached the Uchiha , who were in charge of police work, showing that the Hokage's attitude toward the Uchiha hadn't ged at all.

  While the matter itself might be trivial, the principle remained.

  Perhaps Minato was unaware of this, but unscious as often revealed one's fual attitude.

  If the basic attitude hadn't ged, theionship between the Uchiha d the Hokage's office wouldn't ge either.

  There was no longer any right betweeo break the deadlock, one side would have to yield first. But nooi point, it could only end in an endless csh.

  And Masashi wouldn't take the Hokage's side.

  Thus, the pn had to ge—proteg the Fourth Hokage and the current jinchuriki was no lohe top priority.

  He wasn't disappointed; after all, his goal was he people in the Hokage's office.

  ---

  Days ter, the Uchiha finally received a notification from the Hokage's office that a delegation from Kiri was about to visit.

  The messenger was Dōtō from the Akimichi . When this plump shinobi arrived, he was all smiles.

  Before delivering the Hokage's message, Dōtō even joked and ughed with Uchiha jonin.

  The Akimichi was strong even ba the Warring States Period, known for their destructive power. Dōtō was a staunch supporter of the Fourth Hokage and had served in Minato's team during the Third Great Ninja War.

  Thus, the Uchiha treated him with respect. The head, Fugaku, personally received him, with all the joni.

  "Ah, Fugaku! Still as formal as ever, I see," he called out warmly.

  "Some traditions are worth maintaining," Fugaku responded.

  However, when he veyed the message, the entire Uchiha fell silent. But no one asked the foolish question, "Why are you only telling us now?"

  During Hashirama's era, the Uchiha had deaking power.

  In Tobirama's era, they had advishts.

  But during Sarutobi's era, the Uchiha became mere executors.

  When the Fourth Hokage assumed power, the Uchiha had high hopes, but now it seemed like merely aension of the Sarutobi era.

  What was there left to say?

  In light of this, the smile on Dōtō's face faded as he realized that something might have happened, something that Minato might have overlooked.

  In the past, the Uchiha often respoo messages from the Hokage's office with silence, but this time, the silence articurly uling.

  "Fugaku?" he asked tentatively, "Is something wrong? If there's anything I help with…"

  Some bridges 't be rebuilt with mere words, Fugaku thought bitterly. "No, nothing," he forced a smile at Dōtō. "It just came rather suddenly."

  Dōtō had been a rade in arms, and Fugaku knew his personality well; there was o direct his emotions toward him.

  The Akimichi had gentle and loyal members, and eveoic Uchiha found their pany pleasant.

  In the past, they might have muttered sarcastic remarks under such circumstances, but now, the Uchiha no longer behaved that way.

  Masashi had, after all, ied something new into the .

  A powerful Uchiha often, whether actively or passively, became a role model, influeng others' as.

  Shisui was no exception.

  "Alright, then I'll go report back." Dōtō nodded, but as he was leaving, he couldn't resist turning back. "Fugaku, if anything happens, don't hold it in; we're all here, and Minato is Hokage now."

  "Don't worry, it's not that serious." Fugaku sighed to himself, rising from the tatami mat to walk Dōtō out. "Report back; I'll see you off."

  The Uchiha watched in silence as Dōtō's figure faded from view.

  The air was heavy, as if a storm was about to break.

  "It's good," Masashi suddenly said. "Don't you think so?"

  Everyouro look at him. Some looked pensive, while others were holding their anger back.

  "Masashi-nii? What do you mean?" Shisui asked.

  "We shouldn't expeything, so why feel disappointed?" Masashi looked at them all. "Is everything we've worked for really just for that building? The Akimichi may be kind, but they aren't pushovers. In the past, they wouldn't have spoken like that."

  The anger in many eyes began to fade, with some quickly uanding Masashi's i.

  "Think of hoeople live in that building, and how many live in Konoha. Which matters more?" Masashi tinued, standing up. "I may be young and a bit blunt, but I think that if one shinobi must fall, it won't be the Uchiha."

  ---

  The Kiri envoy arrived at Konoha, drawing the attention of various parties

  Looking at the rge gate ahead, Fuguki, the leader of this envoy and a high-ranking representative of Kiri, felt a chill in his heart.

  He was vinced he had been exposed.

  During the Third Great Ninja War, the deade by the Third Mizukage had left him uled. The Mizukage's battle strategies against Konoha seemed pusible yet strangely insistent.

  At the time, however, with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen around, he hadn't given it much thought.

  Then he'd nearly been killed by that freak, saved only by his bde, Samehada. Otherwise, it would've been the end.

  It was rumored that the monster was dead, or he wouldn't have dared return to Konoha. If he were alive and spotted him…

  Fuguki shuddered, envisioning himself beaten to death by that monster.

  "Fuguki-sama," came a voice from behind him. "The Konoha ninjas are here."

  "Hm." Fuguki nodded, gng back at the figure cealed entirely in a cloak.

  About a month ago, the Mizukage had suddenly shifted his polid started aligning himself with the old ways of the Third Mizukage.

  Although it hadn't been officially announced yet, the revival of the Bloody Mist was already iable.

  This cloaked figure had frequently appeared by Yagura's side during that time. Now he had joihe envoy as well. Although he hadn't done mu the journey, Fuguki saw him as Yagura's eyes on him.

  But why would the Mizukage feel the o monitor a former close fidant like himself?

  It seemed Yagura had noticed his own cautious as after he began to suspeething was wrong with him.

  A few months ago, it had felt like Kiri was returning to prosperity. Yagura had bee a perfect Jinchuriki, revered by all within Kiri. With loyal veterans like Ao, Genji, and Konbei supp him from above while rising talents like Zabuza, and Masu stood ready to i the legacy.

  He thought things would improve beyond what they'd been in the past. But that dream crumbled when Yagura ged ht.

  Now, former allies turned on each other uhe pressures of power, and the war within Kiri had already begun. All hopes and aspirations began with the Bloody Mist, and they would end there too.

  For the sake of the vilge, I'm willing to do whatever it takes! Fuguki took a bold step toward the gates, followed closely by the rest of the delegation.

  This guy, he's definitely up to something.

  Hiddeh the robe and mask, Obito stared at the figure ahead, his heart burning with murderous i.

  However, as the familiar gates came into view, his emotions calmed.

  For a brief moment, he felt the urge to visit that small yard that had once given him boundless warmth.

  No. That life is gone. Focus on the mission.

  Theiced the Konoha ninja dressed in grees. Leading them was Shikaku.

  He approached Fuguki, extending his hand in wele.

  "Wele, Fuguki-san."

  "Thank you for the trouble." Fuguki extended his hand, shaking Shikaku's. "Five my unfamiliarity with the notable figures of your vilge. May I ask who you are?"

  "I am Nara Shikaku. At the Hokage's request, I am in charge of this welission."

  "I see. Shikaku-san himself came to greet us," Fuguki responded, so warmly that Shikaku was briefly taken aback.

  People from Kiri, this friendly?

  The term Bloody Mist made one expect a bloodthirsty disposition, not this warmth.

  In truth, it wasn't just Shikaku who was surprised—the entire delegatiohe same way.

  "Is this really Fuguki-sama?" one of the Kiri ninja whispered to another.

  "Perhaps Konoha's air affects evero of us," came the quiet reply.

  Fuguki paid no mind to the reas of those behind him, sing the Konoha ninja ahead one by one.

  I hope he is really dead. That guy was terrifying!

  Back then, he and the other Seven Ninja Swordsmen, handpicked by the Seizukage, had formed a force renowned across the entire ninja world.

  They were assigire battle zones without the need for reinforts, ahey'd been nothing more than paper dolls in front of that monster.

  And he'd even called himself a genin. Where was the shame in that?

  Kiri's Seven Ninja Swordsmen had yet to be reformed sihen…

  Suddenly, Fuguki heard a gasp from behind him.

  A fsh of anger appeared on his round face as he turned back. One of the delegates was staring ily ahead.

  Following the gaze, Fuguki spotted a young Konoha ninja with a red and white fan emblem on his left arm.

  He reized that symbol as the Uchiha 's crest.

  But so what? This wasn't a battlefield—what's with the overrea?

  "Is there a problem?" Holding back his anger, Fuguki stared at the Kiri ninja.

  From the look in his eyes, Shikaku firmed that this was indeed a Kiri ninja—a fierce gaze was their signature. Now that felt right. Just a moment ago, he'd almost mistaken Fuguki for someone like Chōza.

  "Apologies, Fuguki-sama." The Kiri ninja was sweating under Fuguki's gre.

  "I asked if there roblem."

  If this wasn't Konoha, Fuguki wouldn't have bothered with words; a sp would've cleared things up.

  Even if he didn't trust a single member of this delegation, he would never allow them to disgrace Kiri's honor.

  "I believe the issue may be with me," the Uchiha stepped forward. "Seeing an old enemy from the battlefield, I 't help but feel plicated emotions."

  "Oh?" Fuguki turned back, the fieress gone from his eyes. "Ah, I see. Kiri has many talented ninjas, but we ot pare to the Uchiha. Truly an enviable heritage."

  No one in the delegation found Fuguki's remark inappropriate.

  Kiri, the shinobi world's st bastion of bloodline purity, was a haven for values. The entire delegation was made up of ninja s from Kiri, with more than half carrying bloodline limits.

  "I take pride in my lineage, but a true shinobi transds their in. Fuguki-san, there's o ftter."

  "Haha, they say the Uchiha are very proud, but I see that's not always the case. May I know your name?"

  "An undeserved pliment. I am Masashi, fortuo have fought alongside your vilge's elite and emerged victorious."

  "Masashi…" Fuguki's smile faded abruptly.

  Now he uood why that subordinate had lost his posure.

  Ihird Great Ninja War, Kiri had lost many to Shisui. But among the s, another name was equally feared.

  This Uchiha's water ninjutsu alone was enough to shatter Kiri shinobi's morale, but the worst part was that he had copied various bloodlieiques from Kiri.

  It wasn't just the Yuki . Kiri's most promising young talent, Mei, had falleo his shameless mimicry as well.

  Sihen, bloodline smen in Kiri never appeared where he might be, and if they did, they'd rather die thaheir bloodline abilities.

  "So it was you." Fuguki's emotions were mixed.

  This person posed a far greater threat to Kiri than Shisui ever did. The Teleporter took lives; this man took something more valuable.

  He didn't have an infamous title, but among Kiri, he had a chilliation.

  Better to face Shisui the Teleporter thahe White Ghost.