Uzumaki Naruto's eyes lit up.
"Awesome!"
"But Naruto, you need to study hard these next few days. Grandpa will check your results then," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a smile.
"Mm-hmm, Grandpa Hokage, don't worry!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled. This way, Naruto would have no time to spend with Jinghuo Uchiha.
Uchiha Clan Land.
Second Pillar, who was about to head to school, looked at Jinghuo Uchiha standing in his way. His mouth opened and closed, then closed and opened again.
In the end, he merely gave a tsundere "Hmph."
Jinghuo Uchiha said, "Bring Uzumaki Naruto to the Uchiha Clan Land, and I can help you with a small favor."
Second Pillar was tsundere.
Especially since Jinghuo Uchiha was now useless.
But there was something he desperately wanted to know. Those eyes from that day had left an incredibly deep impression on him.
Even now, nearly a year later, he still occasionally dreamed of them.
So he coldly nodded in agreement and walked past Jinghuo Uchiha toward school.
Uchiha Itachi, who was monitoring the Uchiha Clan Land, saw this scene and wore a pained expression.
"Are you forcing me to choose a side, Shisui...?"
Police Force.
"I can't take this anymore!"
"A coup! We have to stage a coup!"
"I thought Shisui was on our side!"
"At this rate, the Uchiha Clan will be wiped out sooner or later!"
"Chief Fugaku, say something!"
"Yeah! We can't go on like this!"
The Uchiha Hawks had gathered together. The atmosphere was furious and heated.
Yesterday, they had arrested two drunks, only for the villagers to make a huge fuss and spread rumors about violent law enforcement. Talk about a guilty conscience.
Once or twice would have been fine, but this had happened who knew how many times over the past few years.
What, were they supposed to bow and apologize with "sumimasen" whenever someone insulted the Uchiha Clan?
Even the Conservatives could not stand something that humiliating.
Everyone urged Fugaku Uchiha to state his position.
Fugaku Uchiha closed his eyes as if he had heard nothing.
A year ago, Uchiha Shisui had come to see him and said that he wanted to become the Uchiha Clan Head.
As the Clan Head at the time, Fugaku Uchiha naturally refused. After all, he had a Mangekyo too.
Within the Uchiha Clan, he had been the most suitable candidate.
But after Uchiha Shisui revealed that his Mangekyo ability was Kotoamatsukami, Fugaku Uchiha knew he was not the most suitable one.
On top of that, Uchiha Shisui told him that the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the villagers had been brought about by someone among the higher-ups pushing it forward, while another had tacitly allowed it.
Fugaku Uchiha, who believed in Sarutobi Hiruzen, naturally objected fiercely.
Uchiha Shisui did not argue with him.
Uchiha Shisui had come for only one reason this time—to become the Uchiha Clan Head.
Fugaku Uchiha agreed.
The results were obvious. Even the last time the Uchiha Clan had nearly staged a coup, Uchiha Shisui had forcibly stopped it with a single step out the door.
But just as Uchiha Shisui had said—"What I want is deterrence, not threats."
Using that method once was fine.
Less than a year had passed. If they used it again, it would probably truly become a threat.
The Uchiha Clan... was once again at a critical moment between life and death.
"Chief Fugaku! Say something!"
"Chief Fugaku! Let's stage a coup!"
"Chief Fugaku! We can't keep going like this!"
"Chief Fugaku..."
"Chief Fugaku..."
Fugaku Uchiha, who had stepped down as Clan Head and become the chief of the Police Force, closed his eyes.
A few seconds later, he spoke.
"The timing isn't right yet. Wait a little longer."
The clan members looked at one another.
But those words still calmed them down.
At the very least, Fugaku Uchiha seemed to support their coup.
"Fine."
"Alright."
"Then we'll endure it a little longer."
Afternoon.
School was over at the Ninja Academy.
Uzumaki Naruto glanced at Second Pillar, who was surrounded by a group of girls, snorted, and headed outside alone.
"Wait!" Uzumaki Naruto felt that the other person was calling him, so he turned around.
The moment he saw who it was, he was stunned.
Second Pillar, the top student in the grade, had actually come to find him?
That made Uzumaki Naruto a little excited.
He liked Haruno Sakura, the pink-haired girl who clung to Second Pillar, though he was not entirely sure whether it was really affection or self-deception.
Because he had no reason for liking Haruno Sakura.
He had simply suddenly started liking her.
No matter what, the person he cared about most was still Second Pillar.
He wanted to be friends with Second Pillar.
But Second Pillar's usual smug attitude really annoyed him.
And now, Second Pillar had actually taken the initiative to speak to him!
Uzumaki Naruto was delighted, and he could not help putting on an act in an attempt to hide his happiness.
"Well, well, well, the busy man of the class actually came to see the great Uzumaki Naruto!"
His smugness was nearly bursting out of him.
A vein throbbed on Second Pillar's forehead.
He did not want to find Uzumaki Naruto, this loser, at all.
If he had not needed something from Jinghuo Uchiha, he definitely would not have said a single word to this loser for the rest of his life.
"Come to my house today." It sounded more like an order.
But Uzumaki Naruto ignored his tone and only heard the barely perceptible invitation in his words.
"You're inviting me?" His mouth fell open, his eyes widened, and he pointed at himself in disbelief.
"Yeah! Are you coming or not?" Second Pillar was getting impatient.
"I'm coming!" Uzumaki Naruto grinned like an idiot.
With his hands behind his head, he followed behind Second Pillar.
Whenever he saw someone, he would say, "Sasuke invited me to his house to play!"
At first, Second Pillar found it embarrassing.
But after hearing it so many times and realizing that Uzumaki Naruto was genuinely happy, he fell silent.
The two headed toward the Uchiha Clan Land together.
But just as they were about to enter, they were stopped.
Uzumaki Naruto did not realize the other person had come to stop him. Instead, he excitedly showed off, "Long-haired big brother from the Anbu! Sasuke invited me to his house to play!"
"(⊙o⊙)..." The Anbu who had always looked after Naruto found it unexpectedly difficult to ruin Uzumaki Naruto's excitement.
"Long-haired big brother from the Anbu?" Uzumaki Naruto asked in confusion.
Second Pillar glanced at him, then grabbed Uzumaki Naruto and tried to enter from the side.
He could not wait to ask Jinghuo Uchiha his questions.
But the next second, that Anbu stopped them again.
Uzumaki Naruto was even more confused.
"Long-haired big brother from the Anbu, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"
"..." The Anbu finally sighed and said, "Naruto, you can't enter this place."
The sudden appearance of an Anbu on the street puzzled the Uchiha Clan Members, who watched him with cold expressions.
Now that they saw this Anbu had appeared just to stop a child from entering the Clan Land, their expressions grew even uglier.
This place was called the Uchiha Clan Land, right?
What, did the Anbu now have to approve anyone entering their Clan Land?
Uzumaki Naruto innocently asked, "Why?"
"Because Grandpa wants to play with Naruto," a kind voice came from behind him.
"Lord Hokage." The Anbu breathed a sigh of relief and gave a slight bow.
Before you continue