A Scene at the Hokage Building

Satsuki nodded and dashed toward a sturdy oak tree nearby. Her long black hair streamed behind her, and her small figure traced a graceful arc beneath the sunlight.

"Smack!"

After running partway up the tree, a sharp crack rang out. The instant Satsuki's foot touched the trunk, she shattered a large chunk of bark. She swiftly used a kunai to carve a mark above the damaged spot, then pushed off and flipped back to the ground.

Satsuki looked up, comparing the marks on the two trees—hers was several inches higher than Naruto's. A flicker of delight flashed through her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by solemnity. I didn't expect maintaining a stable Chakra output to be this difficult... I injected too much Chakra just now and got bounced back.

At the same time, Naruto began his own practice. Although the system had granted him affinity and mastery over Fire Release, tree-climbing training tested an entirely different ability. Being able to use Chakra to peel an apple did not mean one could use Chakra to walk a tightrope.

Closing his eyes and focusing, Naruto replayed the tricks from the original story in his mind. Don't get too tense... but don't focus too hard either... Naruto adjusted his breathing and concentrated on the tree.

After that, the forest held only the rustling of feet against bark and the crisp scraping of kunai carving into trunks. The two small figures practiced with complete focus.

Satsuki sprinted up the tree again, deliberately reducing her Chakra output this time. But being too cautious had its consequences—before she even reached her mark, the Chakra beneath her feet dispersed. She hurriedly steadied herself with her kunai, her face filled with frustration.

Seeing this, Naruto's lips curled slightly upward. "Second Pillar... Satsuki, want to have a race? Let's see who gets to the top first."

Satsuki froze for a moment, then said proudly, "Of course!" She flicked her long hair back and assumed a starting stance again. "I'll show you the strength of the Uchiha! I'll definitely win!"

Inside an office at the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi had just seen Fugaku Uchiha off. He sat behind his broad desk, smoke curling from the pipe in his hand as his brows remained tightly furrowed.

This decision... may have been too risky...

The Third Hokage took a deep drag, letting the pungent taste of tobacco fill his mouth. He had already warned the Uchiha Clan and ordered the Anbu to strengthen their surveillance. The moment they discovered anything suspicious, Naruto's contact with Uchiha Satsuki would be cut off immediately.

But this was not only to give Naruto a sense of belonging in the village—it was also an opportunity for the Uchiha Clan, an opportunity to reintegrate into Konoha. The ember in his pipe flickered brightly and dimly, much like his wavering mood.

That man... should be arriving soon. He shook his head with a bitter smile and began considering how to deal with his old friend's accusations.

Sure enough, not long after, the office door was violently pushed open, with even the basic courtesy of knocking omitted. A gloomy figure appeared in the doorway. Half his face was wrapped in bandages, and beneath his gray-black kimono and white robe was a slightly hunched yet solid body.

Danzō Shimura, the "Darkness of the Shinobi."

The Third Hokage did not even raise his head, continuing to review the documents in his hands. "What is it, Danzō? I don't recall summoning you."

Danzō's expression darkened further. He strode up to the desk, his cane striking heavily against the floor. "Sarutobi!" His voice held suppressed fury. "You know why I'm here... and you know perfectly well what foolish thing you're doing!"

"Danzō, watch your attitude... This is Naruto's first time forming a bond in the village. People need emotional support. If a Jinchuriki has no sense of belonging to the village, that would be the real disaster."

A sinister glint flashed through Danzō's one exposed eye. "But that support is the bloodline of the Uchiha Clan! What if the village's weapon is brainwashed by the Uchiha—"

"Enough!"

The Third Hokage cut him off sharply. "That will never happen! Fugaku's daughter is only three years old, and the Anbu are monitoring their every move around the clock. If the Uchiha show any abnormality, I will cut off their contact immediately."

Seeing the Third Hokage refute him so mercilessly, Danzō's face grew so dark it seemed ready to drip with water. He would never forget Hiruzen's furious reaction when he had suggested handing Naruto over to him for training—"What do you intend to do to the orphaned child of a hero?" How righteous that had sounded.

Heh... How ironic.

Danzō sneered inwardly. Back when he had secretly spread rumors of the "demon fox," Hiruzen had clearly known yet chosen to turn a blind eye. And Minato's child... that brat who should have been revered as a hero's son had instead been deliberately isolated amid the villagers' malice.

His carefully designed script had been for Naruto to breed darkness amid prolonged hatred and loneliness, preferably leaking Tailed Beast Chakra out of resentment. Then, he could justifiably bring the Jinchuriki under Root's control in the name of "protecting the village."

But Naruto's maturity had completely disrupted his plans. Not only had the child failed to crave attention as expected, he had instead actively distanced himself from those who hated him, wholly adopting an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude. That calmness beyond his years had made all of Danzō's schemes come to nothing.

"Can you face the Second Hokage like this? Have you forgotten our teacher's teachings?!"

The Third Hokage slowly exhaled a ring of smoke. "Our teacher taught us to make use of the Uchiha for the village, but never to allow them near the core of power."

He rose to his feet. "Because of endless suspicion over these years, the relationship between the village and the Uchiha has already become strained to the extreme. Now is precisely their chance to prove themselves."

"I have clearly warned Fugaku not to interfere with Satsuki and Naruto's contact, and not to allow any other Uchiha clansmen to approach Naruto."

"Have you forgotten Kagami? Back then... our teacher listed Kagami Uchiha as a candidate for Third Hokage."

Danzō knew that he could no longer persuade this stubborn old friend. He turned away with a dark expression. When he reached the door, he stopped and threw out one final sentence without looking back.

"Sarutobi! Your decision will doom Konoha beyond redemption!"