The next morning, bright and early.
Groups of Uchiha set out from their clan compound, every one of them bringing their families and all their belongings. They made their way through the village's busiest district and headed straight for the original Uchiha Ancestral Land.
The villagers on the streets were horrified!
Ever since the Nine-Tails' Rampage had ended, the Uchiha had been labeled as the culprits. There simply had not been any evidence yet.
But even so.
The Uchiha had been driven out of the village's bustling areas and forced to huddle in a corner at its edge. Since that day, aside from members of the Police Force, people had barely seen any Uchiha around.
Who would have thought...
The Uchiha had come back?
"Wh-what is going on?"
"Why would the village do this? I don't want to live too close to the Uchiha!"
"The Bulletin Board in front of the Hokage Building said this morning that, after the village's investigation, it considered the possibility of the Uchiha causing the Nine-Tails' Rampage to be very low. Combined with the Uchiha's good behavior recently, the village decided to return their ancestral land to them."
"The village is confused!"
"Even without the Nine-Tails' Rampage, I still don't want to live next to the Uchiha!"
"We finally got rid of those damned Uchiha, but who would have thought they'd be allowed to come back like this?"
"..."
The streets buzzed with discussion.
Every villager wore an unpleasant expression, and ordinary ninja were not much different.
Only members of the various shinobi clans and commoner ninja with some standing looked deeply conflicted.
Clearly.
Those who knew some of the inside details understood that, despite the village announcement's lofty wording, this was actually a power struggle between the Uchiha and the village higher-ups. This time, the Uchiha had gained the upper hand over the village.
Left with no choice, the village had yielded!
Within the crowd stood a white-haired Anbu, keeping his guard up as he watched the Uchiha closely to prevent any conflict between them and the villagers.
But just then.
The energetic, watermelon-haired Might Guy ran over. "Kakashi, you're really just here to watch the show?"
"But today really is a day worth celebrating. The facts prove that the Uchiha are still everyone's companions. On such a happy day, how about a youthful competition?"
The white-haired Anbu's face went dark.
Looking at the hot-blooded youthful fool before him, he did not know what to say for a moment.
This was worth celebrating?
Knowing the truth, he only felt a headache coming on. This newly emerged Uchiha leader was obviously no harmless figure!
Now that the Uchiha had moved back into the village's central district, one could imagine there would definitely be even more trouble in the future.
Still...
He could not be bothered to argue about this with Might Guy. He merely said coldly, "I'm Anbu right now and carrying out a mission. You can't just talk to me whenever you want."
"Uh, fine." Might Guy scratched his head. "I'll wait until you get off work."
Kakashi: "..."
The corner of his mouth twitched. That really won't be necessary.
He was already busy enough every day. He truly had no mood to compete with him.
In a Teahouse by the street, at a window seat on the second floor.
The current Ino-Shika-Cho sat there drinking tea and chatting. Watching the Uchiha pass below, Yamanaka Inoichi could not help letting out a soft sigh.
"Troubled times indeed!"
At that.
Nara Shikaku's expression did not change. He merely stared blankly at the Uchiha, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.
Akimichi Choza could not be bothered to think that much. He could not even be bothered to drink the tea on the table, simply stuffing himself with pastries one bite after another.
"Choza, stop eating!"
Yamanaka Inoichi spoke helplessly.
His mood was already poor, and the sound of Akimichi Choza eating pastries only made him more agitated.
At that.
Akimichi Choza shrugged. "Why shouldn't I eat?"
"Forget it, there's no talking sense into you." Yamanaka Inoichi looked helpless. "Shikaku, what do you think?"
After pondering for a moment, Nara Shikaku helplessly set down his teacup. "This is a matter between the Uchiha and the village higher-ups. It has nothing to do with us Ino-Shika-Cho. In any case, I don't want to get involved in this mess."
Yamanaka Inoichi found that difficult to understand.
He gave Nara Shikaku a deep look. "You didn't used to say that."
"The situation has changed." Nara Shikaku's tone remained calm. "Naturally, my attitude has to change as well."
Yamanaka Inoichi was somewhat surprised. "Is that Uchiha Jin really that formidable?"
Nara Shikaku nodded.
Especially when he recalled that rushed clash with Uchiha Jin last time, his scalp still tingled even now.
Then.
He did not intend to hide anything and briefly described their previous confrontation.
"That was roughly how it went!"
"They were clearly holding Uchiha Jin accountable, yet he not only handled it with ease, but even dragged us Ino-Shika-Cho into it and casually drove a wedge between us and the Hokage."
"His thinking is unconstrained, and his reaction speed is terrifying. He can instantly find your weakness and strike back."
"More importantly, he is strong enough!"
"He dared to kill Danzo right in the Hokage Office, showing Sarutobi Hiruzen no respect at all, yet he was even able to keep things from completely falling apart in the end."
"Facing an Uchiha who can think and possesses such formidable strength, I truly don't want to oppose him. I even advise your two clans not to get involved in this matter."
"If it were Fugaku, I would definitely support the Hokage Higher-ups!"
"Because even an idiot knows the Konoha Higher-ups would definitely win."
"Now, though, things are different!"
"Jin now holds power over the Uchiha. The Konoha Higher-ups have acted perversely and recklessly these past years, so how many shinobi clans would truly support them with everything they have?"
"Who wins and who loses is still uncertain!"
Nara Shikaku's voice was quiet and distant. Hearing this, Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza also fell into thought.
Because after hearing Nara Shikaku put it that way, they too sensed Uchiha Jin's terrifying nature!
After a long while.
Yamanaka Inoichi spoke. "If the Uchiha win, will they make a move against Ino-Shika-Cho?"
"That's what worries me too." Akimichi Choza also became serious. "Ino-Shika-Cho belongs to the Hokage Faction. I'm afraid that once the Uchiha rise to power, they'll purge our three clans."
At that.
Nara Shikaku's eyes flickered.
After pondering for a long time, he finally spoke solemnly.
"I can't guarantee it for the other Uchiha, but if Uchiha Jin is the one who rises to power, I believe he won't purge us."
"He is a very rational Uchiha. As long as he isn't insane, anything can be discussed."
"And haven't you noticed? The Uchiha's approach has changed!"
"Under Uchiha Jin's leadership, the Uchiha have only targeted the Sarutobi Four Clans, the Anbu, and Root. Not once have they targeted any other shinobi clan. That alone says plenty."
"So, wait."
"The situation is still unclear. There is no need for Ino-Shika-Cho to rush. We just need to sit back and watch the tigers fight!"
After thinking it over for a moment, Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza nodded.
Indeed!
Nara Shikaku's words had struck straight at their hearts.
In the end, the two decided to listen to Shikaku.
Before you continue