Strategy for the Uchiha

Orochimaru, after being lectured by the elder, took his leave—he wanted to carefully put away the Enchantment Basics and study it after today's teaching was complete.

Satoru and Homura exchanged glances as they watched Orochimaru depart.

"He actually believed it," Homura pushed his glasses up.

"Of course, it's all a routine... Routines might be cliché, but they work," Satoru glanced at his father's glasses, suddenly feeling nostalgic for his own old black-rimmed pair.

"Routine..." Homura's eye twitched. "Was I also roped into one of your routines?!"

"How could that be..." Satoru gave an awkward laugh. "Um... regarding the report to the Third Hokage, Father, you handle it. I'm not familiar with the Hokage's temperament."

"Hiruzen... he'll probably be roped in too."

Mitokado Homura snorted, took out the original copy Satoru had given him, and sighed:

"So, you're telling me you pulled off something this significant without anyone noticing? Did you really come up with this?"

"Of course, otherwise, would it only be this much?"

Satoru said with a serious expression, "There are plenty of people more talented than me, what's this?"

"That's true," Homura thought about it and nodded. "When Hiruzen was your age, he had already mastered three types of Chakra Nature Transformation."

"...I was just being humble!"

Satoru left to meet Nawaki and Mikoto at the training grounds, while Mitokado Homura watched Satoru's retreating figure and shook his head gently.

"Your team actually has an Uchiha on it..."

"But thankfully, not a core member."

After returning to his room and re-copying Satoru's handwritten Enchantment Basics, Homura rubbed his wrist and brought the copied version to the Hokage's office.

Unless it was an official meeting, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was usually in his office handling affairs.

The two senior advisors and the Assistant Hokage, Danzō, typically discussed public matters with the Hokage in the assembly hall.

Relatively speaking, the office was a more private place.

"Hiruzen... cough cough cough—Achoo!"

"Oh, it's Homura, honestly, after all these years, you still have no resistance to this wonderful aroma!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen, holding a large pipe, was reviewing documents. Seeing Homura enter and choke, he let out a triumphant smile.

"Cough... You don't open the windows or the doors, are you trying to suffocate me!"

Homura's veins bulged on his forehead as he quickly walked to the window and yanked it open.

"If it were Koharu who came, you'd already be getting an earful! Should I go back and tell Lady Biwako!"

"Uh..."

Upon hearing his wife's name, Sarutobi Hiruzen instinctively flinched, removed his pipe, and changed the subject. "You came to see me specifically, what's up?"

"Two things. The first..."

Handing Hiruzen a notebook, Homura repeated the explanation he'd given Orochimaru, his expression unchanged. "I no longer have the energy to research these matters. Satoru and Orochimaru will be responsible for the work below."

"This isn't an urgent matter, so I've instructed them to prioritize the current war effort."

"You are indeed as cautious and careful as ever, Homura."

Hiruzen smiled and nodded. He naturally trusted his disciple, Orochimaru, implicitly.

And Homura's arrangement meant that his lineage would also have a share in the profits from this endeavor.

"Your plan is very sound, and I agree with it."

"That child Satoru, to receive your and Orochimaru's approval, it seems Konoha has another young genius, haha!"

Hiruzen had great faith in Homura's assessment. His old classmate and comrade had always been a serious person, and even when it came to his own son, his evaluations were absolutely objective and reliable.

"Yes, this thing might have great potential for development, depending on what the young people can achieve."

Homura smiled, then his expression turned serious. "The second matter... Hiruzen, Satoru's team consists of Nawaki and Uchiha Mikoto, besides himself."

"This Uchiha Mikoto..."

"Are you worried about the 'Uchiha strategy' that Danzō proposed yesterday?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen put away the Enchantment Basics notebook, intending to study it carefully later. Hearing Homura's words, he realized. "You're concerned that the strategy might affect Mikoto, which could lead to dissatisfaction from Orochimaru, Nawaki, and Satoru?"

"Yes."

Homura pulled over a chair and sat down, adjusting his glasses. "Nawaki is fine, he's quite simple-minded by nature and doesn't overthink things. Even if he did, it wouldn't be a problem with just a word from Lady Mito."

"But Satoru is a clever child. He seems to get along well with Mikoto."

Remembering the concern Satoru had shown her last night, Homura felt a warmth spread through her chest, bringing a smile to her face.

"Satoru may not say much, but he truly cares about his family and friends. Orochimaru is probably the same."

"If his students are affected by something like this, I'm sure Orochimaru would have something to say about it."

"Hmm... I'll handle Orochimaru."

Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered for a moment, admitting that Homura's concern was valid.

"Orochimaru was always a sensitive child, even as a youth. He was afraid of his comrades getting hurt and didn't fully trust their strength..."

Sighing, Sarutobi Hiruzen, as Orochimaru's teacher, felt both admiration and worry for him.

Orochimaru's personality made him prone to extremes. If he had a strong bond with his students, any setbacks they faced due to village politics could easily trigger emotional instability in him.

"Besides, Uchiha Mikoto, while talented, isn't a core member of the Uchiha clan. She shouldn't be significantly impacted, otherwise, she wouldn't have the personality she does."

Homura nodded, then frowned slightly.

"Hiruzen, while we haven't explicitly rejected Danzo's proposal, I can still vividly recall Kagami Uchiha fighting bravely for you, sensei.

Even though Kagami has been gone for over a decade, his ideals of peace still resonate with some members of the Uchiha clan. Implementing a policy of isolation against them now would be unwise."

Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent.

Kagami Uchiha, along with Sarutobi Hiruzen, Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, Danzo Shimura, and Torifu Akimichi, were all members of the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju's guard. They shared a bond forged in life-or-death situations.

Kagami Uchiha's Will of Fire was strong and pure. He contributed greatly to Konoha's development. Even Tobirama Senju, who was exceptionally wary of the Uchiha clan, placed his complete trust in him.

This was because Kagami was a rare Uchiha who was completely free from narrow clan-based loyalties. For him, the village and peace were what made life worth striving for.

Originally, Kagami Uchiha might have become a bridge for the integration of the Uchiha clan and the village. However, he died on the battlefield at the young age of 25. For the village, this was more than just the loss of an Elite Jonin.

"For the past decade, our policies towards the Uchiha have remained unchanged due to Kagami's legacy."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe and said calmly, "I have always hoped that a strong individual who truly inherited Kagami's will would emerge from the Uchiha clan, but regrettably, that has not yet happened.

Kagami's son is not particularly talented. While he inherited Kagami's ideals, he lacks Kagami's strength and status, and therefore cannot change anything."