The Task of Cutting In Was Long and Arduous; I Looked Forward to the Uchiha's Changes

Moonlight spilled like water over the silent streets.

Chiyo carried the already asleep Kushina on his back, his steps steady as he passed through the village gates.

The red-haired girl's cheek rested against his back, her breathing even. She was clearly exhausted to the extreme.

The moment he entered the village, he saw Tsunade standing by the streetlight with her arms folded.

She waited for him with a wary gaze.

Several members of the Uchiha Guard Unit stood in the distance as well.

"Tsunade, why did you come out so late?"

Chiyo asked quietly.

Tsunade did not answer. She simply stepped forward and gently took Kushina from his back.

The girl frowned unconsciously in her sleep, but quickly settled down in Tsunade's arms.

"Is she all right?"

Tsunade asked worriedly. Her gaze swept over the laceration marks on Kushina's wrist. She placed a hand over them, green chakra blooming as she gave her a simple treatment.

"She overexerted herself and got frightened, but it isn't serious."

Chiyo answered briefly.

Tsunade nodded. Once she saw the wounds heal, she stopped her ninjutsu.

"I'll take her back. Um... I won't be going over to your place tonight."

Tsunade murmured softly into Chiyo's ear.

Chiyo nodded and smiled at her.

"All right. Get some rest. Good night."

"Good night."

After saying that, Tsunade turned and headed toward the Senju Clan. Her figure soon vanished into the night.

The Guard Unit members quickly approached.

"Clan Leader!"

"While I was gone, were there any other families in the village whose children went missing?"

That Guard Unit captain stepped forward to report.

"Clan Leader, everything has been normal. No children have gone missing for the time being!"

Chiyo let out a sigh of relief.

"Continue patrolling. Starting today, the Guard Unit will assign people to patrol around the clock.

The Uchiha Clan suffered few casualties in this war, and many clans are more or less resentful of us because of it.

The Guard Unit exists to protect the village's safety. If cases like missing children continue to cause panic, the Uchiha won't be able to hold our heads up in Konoha anymore."

Chiyo had put it rather tactfully. What few casualties? The Uchiha simply had not participated in the war at all.

Only Chiyo had taken part, and even then, he had been personally mobilized by the Third Hokage for a special mission, so he barely counted.

"Yes!"

Hearing those mild words, the Uchiha captain's eyes filled with determination.

He had clearly taken them to heart.

"Also, patrol areas need to be divided fairly. Mobilize as many people as possible, and spread the work evenly!"

"Yes!"

"All right, everyone, get back to your duties. You, stay behind!"

As his words fell, all the Guard Unit members except that squad captain dispersed.

The captain who had been kept behind had no idea what Chiyo wanted. He stood silently to one side, waiting for Chiyo's orders.

Yet Chiyo said nothing.

From time to time, he looked up at the moon, as if waiting for something.

Suddenly—

Whoosh!

A black shadow landed soundlessly. A masked Anbu ninja appeared before him, his voice low.

"Clan Leader Chiyo, Lord Hokage summons you."

The corner of Chiyo's mouth lifted imperceptibly. He had expected this.

He turned his head and instructed the Guard Unit captain beside him.

"Go to Guard Unit Headquarters. Bring me all the documents on my desk."

The captain accepted the order and left. Chiyo followed the Anbu toward the Hokage Building.

When they reached the Hokage Building, that Uchiha arrived at the same time with the documents.

"Clan Leader! The documents!"

Chiyo nodded, took them, and waved him away.

"Get back to work."

After saying that, Chiyo walked inside.

He pushed open the door to the Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stood before the window. Smoke from his pipe curled around him, making his expression seem somewhat hazy.

Hearing the footsteps, he turned around and looked deeply at Chiyo.

"Sit."

Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed to the chair opposite him.

Chiyo did not stand on ceremony and sat down directly.

He casually placed the documents that had just been delivered on the desk.

"I heard about Kushina."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze swept over the documents without lingering, then turned solemnly toward Chiyo.

He got straight to the point.

"Did you bring her back?"

"Yes. Lady Tsunade has already taken her back."

Chiyo's tone was calm.

"I truly didn't expect Kumogakure's retaliation to come so quickly. And for them to take her out of Konoha so precisely... this matter is far from simple."

Chiyo had not expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to use the word "retaliation." After a brief silence, he said,

"This group has probably been lying low in Konoha for quite some time. Otherwise, they couldn't have abducted Kushina so silently."

He paused.

"Some of the places Kushina went to were beyond the Guard Unit's protection, and most of our efforts today were focused on investigating the missing children in the village..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes narrowed slightly as he lightly rotated his pipe between his fingers.

Naturally, he understood what Chiyo meant.

Kushina Uzumaki lived by a very regular routine. Even where she lived was the center of Konoha's barrier.

Ordinary Guard Unit personnel did not need to patrol such a place.

He did not immediately respond. Instead, he silently watched Chiyo, as though judging the deeper meaning behind his words.

For a moment, the only sound in the room was the faint crackling of the pipe.

At last, Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a long breath of smoke and said slowly,

"Leave the missing children case to your Guard Unit."

Chiyo understood.

They were only to investigate the missing children. As for Kumogakure's spies, that was not the Guard Unit's responsibility.

Chiyo nodded, unsurprised by the arrangement.

"Additionally..."

The Third Hokage's gaze fell upon the documents on the desk.

"What are these?"

"The Uchiha's recent reform plans."

Chiyo's tone was calm, but carried an unquestionable resolve.

"The Guard Unit cannot be confined to patrolling within the village. Any Uchiha members who meet the requirements should take on regular commissioned missions. If war breaks out, they must also serve as combat power to protect Konoha."

The Third Hokage fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

He picked up the documents and flipped through them, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

"Not a bad idea."

Chiyo showed no joy at the praise and merely continued.

"Also, the approval document for expanding the Training Ground needs the Hokage's signature."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took the document, glanced over it, then picked up a pen and signed his name without hesitation.

"I look forward to the Uchiha's changes."

He handed the document back, an unusual gentleness in his tone.

Chiyo accepted the document, rose to his feet, and gave a slight nod.

"I won't disappoint you."

He turned and left, the office door closing softly behind him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched his retreating figure. Through the smoke, his gaze was deep and inscrutable.

He took a Scroll from a drawer. It contained the Anbu's investigation into Kumogakure spies and their connection to Elder Uchiha Sanma.

Elder Uchiha Sanma was the name of the Uchiha Clan's Great Elder.

"The Uchiha Clan is not peaceful within.

I wonder how he will deal with it..."