Young Girl

"If Danzo could be half as reasonable as you two, Konohagakure would have no reason not to flourish even further."

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head with a soft sigh, placing his pipe gently onto the desk with a crisp click.

"In these turbulent times, Konohagakure needs the power of the Uchiha."

The two advisors looked at each other and nodded.

Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses revealing a complex sense of emotion.

"Five Kage-level Uchiha, over fifty Three Tomoe Uchiha, and dozens of Jonin, with the number of Chunin exceeding two hundred."

"Such formidable strength is truly a heaven-sent advantage; it is no wonder Tobirama-sensei sought to suppress them continuously."

"If it weren't for the Ninja Academy cultivating a large number of excellent ninja, it is hard to say who would be the master of Konohagakure today."

"Tobirama-sensei originally gave the Uchiha the Konoha Military Police Force just to keep them under his nose."

Utatane Koharu looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Hiruzen, letting the Uchiha leave the village this time is a dangerous gamble. I only hope that among the Uchiha heading to the front lines, that pair of evil eyes will not emerge."

"That is why we must achieve a quick victory; we absolutely cannot allow the war to drag on." Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the map spread across the table, his gaze sharp as a torch.

"The top priority is to throw the other four great ninja villages into chaos to avoid a situation where we are truly fighting one against four."

His fingertip traced the border of Sunagakure.

"I will have Orochimaru depart in secret to coordinate with Jiraiya, first kicking the weakest, Sunagakure, out of the war. At the same time, I will have the Anbu disguise themselves as Iwagakure to ambush Kumogakure."

"Specific details will be determined by the progress of the war."

"That would be excellent."

The two advisors nodded one after another.

The moonlight was like water, flowing silently over the Uchiha clan grounds.

When Uchiha Ren and Uchiha Mikoto returned side-by-side from the training forest, two familiar figures were already standing on the bluestone path at the entrance to the clan grounds—

The smiling Uchiha Setsuna and the helpless-looking Uchiha Koh.

"Grandfather Koh!"

Having just had intimate contact with Ren in the forest, Mikoto's cheeks were already flushed with a lingering redness, which appeared even more stunningly beautiful under the bright moonlight.

Seeing the gazes of the two elders, she hurriedly let go of Ren's hand like a startled fawn.

She quickly hid behind Uchiha Koh, lowering her head slightly in an attempt to hide her maidenly shyness.

She could ignore the gazes of subordinates and clansmen, but the eyes of these two close elders still made Mikoto feel somewhat bashful.

"The entire Uchiha clan knows about your relationship now, so why are you acting shy?"

Uchiha Koh looked at his granddaughter, whose face was as rosy as peach blossoms as she hid behind him, feeling both amused and sentimental.

He knew his granddaughter had been in contact with Setsuna's grandson, but he never expected that as soon as their relationship was exposed, they would already be lovers.

He had been reminiscing about the past and chatting about the future with Uchiha Setsuna that afternoon, and when he heard Uchiha Hazuki report the results of the clan meeting and this matter that evening, he almost thought he had misheard.

Uchiha Setsuna, standing to the side, had been grinning from ear to ear at the time and, without a word, dragged him to the entrance of the clan grounds, insisting on waiting for the young couple to return.

Although Uchiha Koh had silently accepted his granddaughter's choice in his heart, seeing them walk over with their fingers intertwined...

The moment he thought about how his carefully nurtured granddaughter had been quietly "snatched away" by the grandson of his old rival, a stifling, indescribable frustration welled up in his chest, making him feel quite unhappy no matter how he looked at it.

"Grandfather!"

Mikoto called out softly, then politely greeted "Grandfather Setsuna."

The girl's sweet voice seemed to carry magic, causing the old Hawk Faction man, who was enough to give children nightmares, to smile until his eyes crinkled.

"What 'Grandfather Setsuna'? You only have one Grandfather Koh!"

Uchiha Koh, standing to the side, was so angry he blew his beard and glared, wishing he could land a punch on Uchiha Setsuna's chrysanthemum-like smiling face.

"Good child."

Setsuna's hearty, unreserved laughter was exceptionally clear in the night air.

"If Ren ever dares to bully you in the future, just come and tell me. See if I don't break his legs."

"Ren would never bully me."

Uchiha Mikoto smiled brightly, sweetness rippling from the corners of her eyes.

Uchiha Koh, caught in the middle, was just about to say something when he noticed Uchiha Ren approaching with a smile.

The old man immediately snorted, turned around with his hands behind his back, and said, "Mikoto, let's go back first. I have some things to tell you."

"Ren, Grandfather Setsuna, then I shall take my leave." Knowing she had to save face for her grandfather at this moment, Uchiha Mikoto waved her hand.

Before leaving, she did not forget to cast a playful glance at Ren.

The moonlight chased her departing silhouette, dancing and flowing across her long hair.

Watching Mikoto's figure as she gradually walked away, Uchiha Setsuna turned around and patted Ren on the shoulder with a solemn expression.

"Mikoto is a good child we watched grow up; she will surely be a gentle and considerate wife in the future."

"You brat, you must treat her well and never let down her feelings."

Moonlight spilled across Ren's handsome profile, and he looked back at his grandfather with a firm gaze.

"Rest assured, Grandfather, I will treat Mikoto well for the rest of my life."

"Since that is the case, go back and have your dinner; I won't keep you here any longer."

Watching his grandfather walk away leisurely while humming an off-key tune, Ren stood in place and shook his head helplessly.

The night breeze brushed past, ruffling the bangs on his forehead, and a gentle smile rippled in his eyes before he lifted his feet and headed toward his own house.

On the other side, Uchiha Koh led Uchiha Mikoto back to the residence.

Under the old man's "confession leads to leniency, resistance leads to severity" gaze, the granddaughter sitting at the dining table first stammered, then explained "this and that, so this and that," which left Koh between laughter and tears, forcing him to just wave his hand.

"Since I already promised to let you do as you please at the clan meeting, I had already anticipated this."

Seeing the irrepressible joy welling up in his granddaughter's eyes, Koh secretly gritted his teeth.

He had wanted to tease her a bit more, but fearing he might actually upset his precious granddaughter, he had to suppress his amusement and put on a stern face.

"As for your business with Ren, you can decide for yourself, but..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Mikoto had already leaped up from her seat, her eyes curving into crescents as she cheered, "Thank you, Grandfather!"

By making her feelings for Ren known to everyone, she had harbored a small scheme in the depths of her heart, hoping that her grandfather, as an elder of the Dove Faction, would be forced to accept this relationship.

Mikoto was genuinely worried that the conflict between the Dove Faction and the Hawk Faction would lead to her and Ren not receiving their families' blessings.

Hearing her grandfather's tacit approval with her own ears, the heavy stone in her heart finally fell, and joy surged up like a spring in the spring.

"Alright, listen to me finish."

Koh said with a huff, "How many more things are you and Ren hiding from me?"

"For instance, why did you go to support the orphanage for no reason several years ago?"