A Girl

"If Danzo were even half as reasonable as you two, Konohagakure would have no trouble becoming even more prosperous."

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head and sighed softly, setting his pipe down on the desk with a crisp clink.

"At this turbulent time, Konohagakure needs the Uchiha Clan's strength."

The two advisors exchanged a nod.

Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses, a complicated look of emotion showing behind the lenses.

"Five Uchiha at Kage Level, more than fifty Uchiha with Three Tomoe, and dozens of Jonin. There are over two hundred Chunin."

"That's an impressive force, truly blessed with exceptional strength. No wonder Teacher Tobirama kept suppressing them."

"If the Ninja Academy hadn't been established to train so many excellent ninja, it would be hard to say who would be ruling Konohagakure now."

"Teacher Tobirama gave the Uchiha the Military Police Force back then so he could keep those two under his watch."

Utatane Koharu looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Hiruzen, allowing the Uchiha to leave the village this time is a risky move. I hope none of the Uchiha who go to war awaken those evil eyes."

"That's why we need to end this quickly. We absolutely cannot let the conflict drag on." Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the map on the desk, his gaze sharp.

"Our top priority is to stir up the other four great ninja villages and keep them from forming a united front against us."

His finger traced the border with Sunagakure.

"I'll have Orochimaru set out covertly ahead of time. He'll work with Jiraiya to eliminate the weakest village, Sunagakure, first. Meanwhile, Anbu will disguise themselves as Iwagakure ninja and attack Kumogakure."

"The details will depend on how the situation develops."

"Excellent."

The two advisors nodded in succession.

Moonlight flowed quietly over the Uchiha Clan's compound.

When Uchiha Ren and Uchiha Mikoto returned together from the training forest, two familiar figures were already waiting on the stone-paved path at the compound's entrance—

Uchiha Setsuna, grinning from ear to ear, and Uchiha Koh, looking helpless.

"Grandpa Koh!"

Mikoto had just shared an intimate moment with Ren in the forest, and her cheeks were already flushed. Under the bright moonlight, she looked even more beautiful.

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

She quickly stepped over to Uchiha Koh and lowered her head, trying to hide her girlish embarrassment.

She could ignore the looks of her subordinates and relatives, but being watched by two elders she was close to still made Mikoto feel shy.

"Everyone in the Uchiha Clan knows about you two now. Why are you suddenly getting embarrassed?"

Uchiha Koh looked at his granddaughter, who had taken refuge at his side, her cheeks as rosy as peach blossoms. He felt both amused and melancholy.

He'd known his granddaughter was involved with Setsuna's grandson, but he'd never imagined they'd become a couple as soon as their relationship came to light.

That afternoon, he'd been reminiscing about the past and chatting about the future with Uchiha Setsuna. Then, that evening, Uchiha Hazuki had come to report the clan meeting's outcome and the news about the two of them. He'd nearly thought he'd misheard her.

Uchiha Setsuna had grinned from ear to ear and, without a word, dragged him to the compound entrance, insisting they wait for the young couple to return.

Now that he'd seen them walking hand in hand, Uchiha Koh had already accepted his granddaughter's choice.

But whenever he thought of his precious granddaughter, whom he'd carefully protected, being quietly "stolen away" by his old rival's grandson, a knot of frustration rose in his chest. No matter how he looked at it, he couldn't feel good about it.

"Grandpa!"

Mikoto called out softly, then politely greeted him with, "Grandpa Setsuna."

Her sweet voice seemed to have a magical effect, enough to make even the Hawk Faction's old hardliner—someone who could give children nightmares—smile until his eyes crinkled.

"What do you mean, Grandpa Setsuna? You've only got one Grandpa Koh!"

Uchiha Koh, standing nearby, was so angry he bristled. He wanted to punch Uchiha Setsuna's old face, which was grinning like a chrysanthemum.

"Good girl."

Setsuna's hearty, unabashed laughter rang especially clearly in the night.

"If Ren ever dares to bully you, come tell me. I'll break his legs."

"Ren would never bully me."

Uchiha Mikoto smiled radiantly, sweetness dancing in her eyes and at the corners of her mouth.

Uchiha Koh, caught between them, was about to say something when he noticed Uchiha Ren approaching with a smile.

The old man gave a cold snort and turned away with his hands behind his back. "Mikoto, let's head back first. There's something I need to tell you."

"Ren, Grandpa Setsuna, I'll take my leave." Knowing she should let her grandfather save face, Uchiha Mikoto waved goodbye.

Before leaving, she made sure to give Ren a playful look.

The moonlight followed her retreating figure, dancing through her long hair.

Watching Mikoto disappear into the distance, Uchiha Setsuna turned and solemnly patted Ren on the shoulder.

"Mikoto is a good girl we've watched grow up. She'll surely become a gentle, considerate wife."

"You'd better treat her well, boy. Don't let her down."

Moonlight fell across Ren's handsome profile. He looked back at his grandfather with unwavering resolve.

"Don't worry, Grandpa. I'll treat Mikoto well for the rest of my life."

"In that case, go home and have dinner by yourself. I won't keep you."

Watching his grandfather stroll away, humming a tune that was nowhere near the right notes, Ren stood there and shook his head helplessly.

The night breeze brushed by, ruffling the hair over his forehead. A tender smile spread through his eyes as he turned and headed for his house.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Koh led Uchiha Mikoto back to his home.

Under the old man's "confess and be treated leniently; resist and be punished severely" stare, his granddaughter sat at the dinner table and stammered at first. Then she launched into a long-winded explanation that boiled down to "this happened, so that happened," leaving Koh amused and exasperated. He could only wave a hand.

"I'd already anticipated this when I agreed at the clan meeting to let you do as you pleased."

Seeing the unmistakable delight in his granddaughter's eyes, Koh gritted his teeth inwardly.

He'd wanted to tease her a little more, but he was afraid of truly upsetting his precious granddaughter. So he suppressed his smile and put on a stern face.

"You can decide for yourself what to do about you and Ren, but..."

Before he could finish, Mikoto leapt from her seat, her eyes curving into happy crescents. "Thank you, Grandpa!"

She'd made her feelings for Ren public knowledge partly because she hoped to force her grandfather, an elder of the Dove Faction, to accept their relationship.

Mikoto was genuinely worried that the conflict between the Dove and Hawk Factions would keep her and Ren from receiving her family's blessing.

Now that she'd heard her grandfather's approval with her own ears, the heavy stone in her heart finally lifted, and joy welled up like a spring.

"Enough. Let me finish."

Koh said irritably, "How much else have you and Ren been hiding from me?"

"For example, why did you go out of your way to help the orphanage for no apparent reason a few years ago?"