Please Command Us Freely

A day passed.

Asuma naturally didn't learn Sage Mode, and Naruto naturally didn't learn Chakra extraction either.

Uchiha Siming went home to sleep.

That's right.

It was the Senju Clan's compound.

"The whole Senju Clan isn't using it anyway, so why not make myself at home."

The place Uchiha Siming slept was the best house in the entire Senju Clan—a three-story building at the center of the compound. The room he occupied was the most spacious, and the key point was that it was clean, with a faint scent of jasmine.

Of course.

That wasn't why he chose this room.

The real reason was that this damn room had a huge bay window, and sleeping right by the window on it felt—

—freaking awesome!

If it rained and he cracked the window open to let in a bit of slanting drizzle, it'd be even more damn satisfying.

"If I could just lie low like this forever, become the strongest in the ninja world, marry a rich beauty, and reach the peak of life, I'd be all for it."

Just as he was about to sleep.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Someone knocked heavily on the window, careful not to be too loud but afraid he might miss it.

"Hey, Siming, Siming, are you in? It's me, Shisui!"

Shwoosh—!

Uchiha Siming pushed open the window, staring straight at Uchiha Shisui crouching on the second-floor ledge, squeezing his voice out through gritted teeth: "Shisui, it's damn twelve o'clock. You'd better have a real reason!"

"Hehehe."

Uchiha Shisui scratched his head with a silly grin.

"Siming, actually, it's not me who wanted to see you. Someone else does."

He shifted aside.

Behind him appeared a shadowy figure with gleaming eyes.

"Itachi?" Uchiha Siming raised an eyebrow. "What the hell do you want now?"

Tch—!

Two of the Uchiha's rebellious brats showed up on the same day, sneaking over late at night without sleeping. If there wasn't some trick here, he wouldn't buy it.

So, he clasped his hands behind his back, hidden from view.

Clapping behind his back or in front didn't matter—it didn't affect Wood Release's activation.

"Then, how about letting us in first?"

Uchiha Itachi glanced warily around, all about caution.

Three minutes later.

Uchiha Siming turned on the light, brewed tea, and poured a cup for each of them, keeping his hands clasped behind his back the whole time: "Spit it out. What's the matter? If you've got something to say, say it. If not, get lost and don't waste my sleep."

"Siming, actually, it's like this."

Uchiha Shisui spoke first. With his garlic-bulb nose, curly short hair, and honest face that died young:

"Last time, didn't you talk about how to save the Uchiha?"

"Yeah, so? Figured it out?"

A miracle, Siming thought in surprise. Could a straight-laced guy like Shisui actually agree?

"Not really."

Shisui chuckled and changed tack: "But Itachi figured it out. He thinks your plan is great, so he wanted to meet you."

"???"

Siming's head was full of question marks. He wasn't sure: "So you're saying, the 'organize a faction' plan I told you about—you don't approve of it, but your little fanboy Itachi really does?"

Shisui nodded.

Siming's expression turned very amused.

Tch.

This development was interesting.

Shisui was a staunch pacifist. He would never betray the Uchiha, so he wasn't even willing to form his own faction.

But he never expected that the little brother he had raised since childhood would actually think this was a brilliant plan!

"Shisui, neither of us can stop the Uchiha and the village from worsening their conflict—at least, all the efforts we've made over the years have been completely useless."

Itachi was very calm.

"So instead of waiting to die like this, it's better to try Lord Siming's method. Maybe it can still save the Uchiha."

If his only close friend died and he saw the chaos within the Uchiha, Itachi would almost certainly walk the path of exterminating the clan. But now, his friend was still alive, and he hadn't yet reached that point of desperation.

"Itachi, you're right."

Shisui sighed.

"I have no idea what to do about the Uchiha and the village anymore."

Uchiha Itachi let out a breath of relief. He looked at Uchiha Siming and said sincerely, "Lord Siming, I beg you to help the Uchiha! If it can save the clan, Shisui and I will do anything!"

They say Itachi is too cruel, even cold-blooded—and that's not wrong.

But Itachi was only thirteen when he awakened the Mangekyo.

His best friend died at the hands of the village, his father never opened up to him, no one in the Uchiha understood the value of peace, and in the end, for the sake of Konoha's peace, he had no other choice.

His wisdom couldn't give him a better solution.

Itachi was terribly wrong.

But Siming always believed that the truly wrong thing was this twisted world.

[Ding! Uchiha Itachi seeks Lord Hashirama's help. Rest assured, Lord Hashirama will never abandon any villager. Mission issued: Establish a faction capable of influencing the Uchiha!]

[Mission reward: Gate of the Great God!]

"Alright, I accept."

Uchiha Siming tapped his fingers on the table. "Since we're forming an organization, the most important thing isn't the goal—it's the leader. We need someone everyone can trust, a leader whose will will never waver no matter what."

Inside an organization.

There will be countless voices.

So there must be one person whose voice can drown out everyone else, making the decisive call amid the chaos of conflicting opinions!

Siming's gaze swept over the two.

"Don't look at me, Siming. I'm not a hard-hearted person."

Shisui let out a dry chuckle.

"Hmm..."

Uchiha Itachi thought for a moment.

"I... I don't really like being a leader. Siming, I think since you proposed this plan, you're the most suitable to be the leader."

The moment those words left his mouth.

Shisui's eyes lit up, and he quickly chimed in, "That's right. If my subordinates came begging me, I'd definitely cave under the pressure. As for Itachi—"

He didn't finish.

But Siming sneered, "No need to say it. His heart is harder than anyone's. Even if his girlfriend wasn't soft, he wouldn't budge."

If there was a ranking of ruthless figures in the ninja world.

Then Itachi's campaign slogan would definitely be:

—A man who can bring himself to wipe out his entire clan and his girlfriend will succeed at anything he does!

Itachi: "..."

Uchiha Siming poured tea for the two again, his voice turning cold.

"I have no problem taking the role, but let's get this straight first. If I become the leader, then no matter who it is—whether it's you two or anyone else—you must obey my orders."

"Otherwise, don't blame me for not honoring our bond!"

His dark eyes were deep as he stared straight at them.

If he wasn't going to be the leader, fine. But if he was, then he would be the one calling the shots!

"That's for the best."

Shisui let out a relieved sigh and gave a bitter smile. "I'm really not cut out to be a leader."

At that moment, Itachi finally sensed Siming's sharp edge.

Ordinarily, he never showed his hand, but when a problem arose, his will and capacity were enough to startle anyone. Perhaps that was exactly why.

He could propose such a bold plan.

"Siming, you're far more suited to be the leader than Shisui and me!"

The two bowed their heads and said respectfully, "Lord Siming."

"For the future of the Uchiha clan and Konoha, please command us as you see fit!"

Siming's lips curled upward. "Don't worry. I will."