Calculations

Inside the Uchiha Clan Head's residence.

"Clan Head, it looks like war between our village and Kumogakure may be unavoidable this time."

A burly man dressed in a kimono knelt on the Tatami. A low table stood before him, with a steaming porcelain cup resting on top.

He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said worriedly:

"Tobirama Senju dared to send someone to assassinate Uchiha Ao. He must have found out about our secret cooperation with Kumogakure. I doubt the proposal to expand the Police Force has any chance now..."

"Setsuna, do you really think I'm that stupid?"

Uchiha Qiongyue feigned heartache as he said, "If I really wanted to kill the eldest grandson of the Senju Clan, would I have sent that useless Uchiha Ao and left a witness alive?"

"Clan Head, you mean..." Uchiha Setsuna abruptly raised his head.

"Heh..."

Uchiha Qiongyue lifted his teacup unhurriedly and gently blew away the steam. Then his gaze drifted toward the entrance, where a Gunbai bearing the Uchiha family crest hung.

"Even without this incident, how likely do you think we'd be to expand the Police Force?"

"Less than thirty percent," Uchiha Setsuna replied after a moment's thought.

Although Konoha was ostensibly ruled directly by the Senju Clan, it had been founded by Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju working together.

In terms of influence and strength, even the Hyuga and Uzumaki Clans combined couldn't match either of them.

So if the Uchiha Clan tried to expand the Police Force, the other clans would certainly do everything they could to stop them. The proposal had almost no chance of passing.

"Then haven't we just given them an opportunity to attack us? The Sarutobi Clan and the Hyuga Clan will surely use this incident to put our clan on the front lines. And when that happens..."

As he spoke, Uchiha Setsuna's eyes widened. He looked at the Clan Head, who had been smiling all along.

"Clan Head, you mean..."

Uchiha Qiongyue sat in the seat of honor and looked toward the Hokage Building. "This war is the perfect opportunity for our clan to rise. While the other clans are figuring out how to preserve their strength, we'll send large numbers of elite shinobi into battle, earn merit, and raise our standing.

"Then, when we propose expanding the Police Force to protect the village, it'll be the natural choice, what the people want. Even Tobirama Senju won't be able to openly oppose us."

Uchiha Setsuna was thoroughly impressed. "Clan Head, your wisdom is unmatched. If this plan succeeds, our clan's strength will rise to a new level. However..."

He trailed off, a hint of hesitation on his face, as if he'd thought of something.

"You're worried about Kagami Uchiha?" Uchiha Qiongyue saw through him at once.

"Yes. The only Elite Jonin our clan can call upon are me and Kagami Uchiha. He's Tobirama Senju's student. I'm afraid he'll use this war to assign me somewhere and get me killed..."

Uchiha Setsuna understood the Hokage's character all too well. Unlike Hashirama Senju, whose personality was open and forthright, Tobirama was every bit as calculating as the Clan Head before him.

If Setsuna went to the battlefield, there was about a ninety-eight percent chance he'd end up dead with eight Kunai stuck in his back.

"Don't worry."

Uchiha Qiongyue chuckled. "I've already prepared a fallback for you. That long-term S-rank surveillance mission at the Kumogakure border is yours and yours alone. It's highly classified and top priority. Once you take it, no one can reassign you during wartime unless I personally recall you. As for Kagami Uchiha..."

He paused, speaking with a meaningful look. "The more he's Tobirama's student, the more he'll be put on the spot now. If Tobirama sends him, it'll be a sign of 'trust.' If he doesn't, it'll look like 'suspicion.' With his temperament, Tobirama will make sure everyone sees that 'trust' on display."

"Thank you, Clan Head." Uchiha Setsuna bowed.

"Mm."

As if something had just occurred to him, Uchiha Qiongyue asked casually, "By the way, how's that useless Uchiha Ao doing? What does the Ninja Academy think of him?"

At the name, Uchiha Setsuna gave a derisive laugh, as if he'd heard a joke. "You mean that good-for-nothing? I just got the news before coming here. The Ninja Academy expelled him. He's probably holed up somewhere getting drunk right now."

"Mm. When he returns to the Uchiha Clan Compound, have him come see me. I'm sure that fellow Tobirama has a message for me." Uchiha Qiongyue took a sip of tea and gave his final instructions.

"Yes!"

Uchiha Setsuna took his leave.

Left alone, Uchiha Qiongyue knelt in the room and gazed at a beam of sunlight breaking through the clouds into the courtyard. He murmured:

"The sky's clearing. It's time to begin this game of chess."

Six o'clock in the evening.

The sun was setting. The streets looked like a painting, the fading light laying a warm orange veil over them.

"Burn with youth!"

A big-eyed boy with thick eyebrows, dressed in a tight green jumpsuit, raced wildly down Konoha's main road.

As he ran, he performed all sorts of difficult moves.

This was already his ninety-ninth lap, but his stamina seemed inexhaustible. He kept running at full speed.

"Hey, kid. Mind if I join you?"

Uchiha Ao appeared from who knew where and silently fell into step behind Might Duy.

Might Duy braked with his heels, but even so, he slid a long way, kicking up clouds of dust.

He turned around and asked, looking a little dazed, "Who are you?"

Then he looked at Uchiha Ao's handsome face and the Forehead Protector tied loosely around his arm. Recognition dawned.

"Oh, I know you! You're Teacher Sou from the Ninja Academy."

"..."

Uchiha Ao opened his mouth, at a loss for words.

After all, sharing a name with that great artist had caught him off guard.

Teacher Sou—no, Uchiha Ao—coughed twice and forced a smile. "I'm not a teacher at the Academy anymore. You can call me Brother Sou."

Might Duy seemed to understand. He nodded earnestly.

"Oh, then, Uncle Sou, what do you need?"

"..."

Uchiha Ao felt a dull ache in his temples. He resisted the urge to rub them and did his best to keep his voice even.

"Little guy, where are your parents? I'd like to ask them a few things about Taijutsu."

He hadn't gone straight back to his clan because he wanted to use his connection with Might Duy to learn the Eight Inner Gates.

With his Heaven Rewards Diligence Destiny, training in Taijutsu would be a more convenient way to improve his strength.

As for whether the technique existed, he was fairly confident it did.

After all, even Uchiha Madara, that old fossil, knew about it. It must have existed for much longer than people imagined.

But when Might Duy heard his question, the light in the boy's eyes dimmed at once. He lowered his head and stared at his toes.

"They died on a mission a little while ago..."

"..."

Uchiha Ao fell silent for a moment, then said apologetically, "I'm sorry. I didn't know..."

"N-no, it's okay!"

Might Duy abruptly raised his head. He sniffed hard, his nose red, and wiped his face with his sleeve. Then he forced a broad smile, showing a row of bright teeth, though his eyes were still damp.

"My parents were heroes. I'm proud of them. They died following the path they chose!

"My father always told me that pity and sorrow are insults to a man who's already made up his mind.

"So I won't be sad. I'll carry on their will and keep walking the path I chose!"

Hearing those earnest, resolute words, Uchiha Ao was shaken and couldn't help but feel respect for him.

He took a deep breath and looked at the determined boy, his expression solemn.

"You're right. Your father was a real man."

He patted Duy's shoulder and spoke sincerely. "If you ever have trouble making ends meet, come find me at the Uchiha Clan Compound. I may not have much else, but I do have some money."

As for the Eight Inner Gates, he could only give up on learning about them for now.

After all, a child of only five or six wouldn't even have learned the fundamentals of many Ninjutsu. There was little chance he'd know much about such a complicated Secret Technique. Ao would have to think of another way later.

Might Duy flashed him a grin, this time much more naturally. "Thanks, Brother Sou."

The casual "Brother" made Uchiha Ao pause. Then he shook his head with a wry smile.

This kid was a lot more perceptive than he looked.

"I'm off. Keep training."

He turned to leave.

"W-wait! Brother Sou!"

Might Duy's timid, almost panicked voice came from behind him.

Uchiha Ao turned back. The boy was nervously twisting the hem of his shirt, his face full of hesitation and longing. He looked nothing like the fiery boy from a moment ago.

"Um... could you... teach me Ninjutsu in private?

"As a way of paying you back... I might, I—I might be able to help you learn the Taijutsu you asked about..."