Meeting

"No, Arashiyama, who says you're useless? I'll need you to help me put on a show later! Right now... you're the only ones I can count on!" Sōken glanced at the utterly devastated Shisui. This stubborn idealist, who refused to admit defeat, still had not given up on that utterly impossible fantasy.

He had clearly awakened the ocular technique Kotoamatsukami, capable of rewriting another person's will. Obviously, Shisui understood perfectly well that things like the village and the clan communicating, understanding one another, and turning conflict into peace... were simply impossible.

Yet Shisui was exactly that sort of incorrigible idealist. He clearly knew it was impossible, yet still stubbornly clung to the inherited Will of Fire.

At a time like this, Shisui, who had been deeply shaken by Root's attack on Sōken, could not be counted on.

Or rather, it would already be his greatest help if he did not turn around and join the opposing camp.

"Sōken, what exactly is this...?"

Uchiha Arashiyama looked around, staring at the few mangled corpses that no longer resembled human beings for several seconds. His expression grew even graver. "Who attacked you?"

"Who else could it have been?"

"Danzo? That old bastard!"

Danzo's reputation within the Uchiha Clan was truly awful. Arashiyama and the others, especially as Sōken's friends, held nothing but deep hostility toward Danzo!

"That's enough, Arashiyama. We have no evidence proving Danzo did it. To put it bluntly, even if we did have evidence, there's a ninety percent chance we still couldn't do anything to the Hokage Assistant. It would only put our clan head in a difficult position."

"Sōken, when... will the plan be carried out?"

Uchiha Chihaya.

Fifteen years old, two months younger than Sōken, and his childhood friend who had grown up alongside him. She had been promoted to jonin at the end of last year, less than half a year ago. But even a newly promoted jonin from the Uchiha Clan required at least two jonin to deal with—unless they were confident in resisting the Sharingan's genjutsu.

"Hey, Chihaya, Shisui is still here!"

Uchiha Arashiyama kept giving her meaningful looks.

Unfortunately, the Uchiha Clan's tragically clueless beauty did not understand what Uchiha Arashiyama meant at all. Instead, she asked, "Arashiyama, did you get sand in your eye?"

"Haha!"

Uchiha Akitaro, who was enjoying the show, burst out laughing while clutching his stomach.

"You lot, stop messing around. Arashiyama, don't worry either. I happened to talk with Shisui during the day, and I already told him about the plan." Sōken stepped on the brakes in time, preventing the situation from descending into chaos. "Chihaya, be patient. If you bite into freshly fried takoyaki too quickly, you'll burn yourself. When the time is right, you'll naturally be informed."

"I understand."

Uchiha Chihaya answered, then obediently stood where she was without another word.

"Shisui... Hey, Sōken, is this really okay?"

Uchiha Arashiyama walked over to Sōken's side, glanced furtively at the still-dazed Shisui, and said quietly, "His branch of the family has always been close to the village. He might not support our plan. If he tells the clan head beforehand, all our efforts could go to waste."

"It's fine. Shisui still has the clan in his heart. Even if he won't help, he won't sabotage us."

By comparison, no one had expected the clan head's eldest son to become the one who slaughtered the clan.

"As long as you know what you're doing."

Uchiha Arashiyama did not ask further.

As the eldest member of their little group, he had almost naturally taken on the responsibility of looking after this bunch of troublesome children. Half voluntarily and half by force, he had reined in a genius's pride and sharpness. Before he knew it, he had developed this steady, dependable personality.

"Alright, everyone, enough chatter. The big shots have arrived. Stay sharp, and don't let anyone look down on us Uchiha."

Sōken pushed himself up with a hand on his knee and looked toward the southwest.

A fierce blaze was still raging there.

But in the next instant, clear blue water swept through, extinguishing the flames. The surrounding view suddenly darkened, followed by a faint tremor beneath their feet. The waterlogged ground rose and split apart to either side, carving out a broad, open path through the middle.

"Ooh! An Earth Style Jutsu on this scale... They're elite!"

Uchiha Akitaro, that frivolous fellow, was once again unable to control his mouth.

A group of people raced down that broad path. At their head was none other than the Third Hokage, dressed in a black skintight combat uniform. Hiruzen Sarutobi, once famed as the Shinobi Hero, led the charge despite being over sixty years old. Like an arrow loosed from a bow, even from dozens of meters away, his sharp and imposing aura could be faintly felt.

"They're coming in aggressively, Sōken."

"Shut up, Akitaro. No one will think you're mute if you don't speak!"

"I was just telling the truth. Why are you always scolding me, Big Brother Arashiyama?"

"Enough nonsense. Shut your mouth. Keep making noise, and I'll show you what happens!"

Uchiha Akitaro puffed out his cheeks, looking thoroughly unwilling.

Still, he did not dare talk back. He had sparred with Uchiha Arashiyama twenty-two times so far, and lost all twenty-two matches without a single victory... Seeing the fierce glint in Uchiha Arashiyama's eyes, he wisely shrank back.

Sōken ignored his companions' emotional exchange. He stepped forward several paces to meet the Hokage and the two Elders.

"Hokage."

"Sōken."

The Third Hokage came to a stop before Sōken and greeted him.

Then he waved a hand and immediately directed his subordinates into action. Medical Ninja hurried forward and surrounded Naruto, carefully beginning a physical examination of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Meanwhile, a group of masked Anbu ninja vanished into the darkness in every direction, presumably to conduct an investigation.

Once his subordinates had orderly begun their respective tasks, the elderly man, whose face was already dotted with age spots, finally turned his gaze toward Uchiha Sōken standing before him.

"My apologies, Sōken-kun. I kept you waiting."

"You are too courteous."

"Then, can you explain exactly what happened here?" Third asked, as though he had no idea what had occurred.

"While I was escorting my sister's classmate home, we were attacked here by unidentified enemies. There were twelve attackers in total, and they were quite formidable. They launched their attack without saying a word. In order to protect Naruto—my sister's classmate—I had no choice but to be ruthless and wipe them all out."

"Did you determine the attackers' identities?"

"No. Every attacker had powerful self-destructing Fuinjutsu formulas placed on them. I tried investigating, but found nothing. Perhaps the Anbu elites might be able to uncover something, so I remained here to protect the scene. I just did not expect the Hokage to come personally."

Sōken answered Third's questions in a rigid, methodical manner. His tone was respectful, yet he sounded somewhat like an emotionless puppet.

At that moment, the Anbu examining the corpses seemed to have discovered something. One of them quickly approached, glanced at Sōken standing rather close to Third, and before he could say anything, Third lightly waved a hand. "If you found something, say it directly. There is no need to be evasive."

"Yes."

The Anbu from the Corpse Disposal Unit replied respectfully.

Without further hesitation, he reported at a rapid pace, "Hokage, we examined the bodies and found no items that could confirm the deceased's identities. However, their undergarments were woven from a material with exceptional water permeability. Very few people in the Land of Fire use this material, but it is in great demand in the Land of Water and the Land of Rain."