Flames Dance

Kaede had always been confused about the relationship between the Five Great Nations and the Five Great Shinobi Villages. She had met the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, and the guards around him had indeed been formidable. After all, the Guardian Twelve were there to protect him.

But compared with a shinobi village like Konoha, the Twelve were nothing. Even a hundred guards would be useless. If the shinobi wanted you dead, they could chop you to pieces in a matter of minutes.

"Konoha, as the shinobi village of the Land of Fire, has always fought on behalf of the nation and protected its vast territory. Everyone in the Shinobi World knows this.

"What are you trying to say?" The Third Hokage looked at Kaede.

He had a better impression of the boy before him. Kaede was a little older than Shisui, more mature and level-headed. He had reviewed Kaede's records at the Ninja Academy, the evaluations from his teachers and classmates, and his recent mission reports. Kaede was capable and sharp-minded. Most importantly, he didn't have the Uchiha's irritating mannerisms or their narrow-minded clan mentality. He was a good kid.

He was a suitable candidate to bring the Uchiha and the village together, just like his friend Kagami. But Shisui seemed to be Kagami's grandson. Which one should he choose?

Kaede met the Third Hokage's eyes. He knew the next question was a trap that could cost him his life. "Then, Lord Hokage, do you want to rely on Konoha Ninja to kill the Daimyo and rule the Land of Fire yourself?"

The Third Hokage stiffened. He put away his pipe, his face darkening with anger. "Kaede, that's a dangerous thing to say. Why would you think that? You've disappointed me."

Kaede hurried to explain.

"What I mean is that Konoha is powerful, yet it willingly accepts the rule of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. Isn't that much like the relationship between the Uchiha and the village? The village may fear the Uchiha Clan's strength and their volatile moods, but has Lord Third ever considered what the Uchiha think? Have they really considered betraying Konoha?"

The Third Hokage took out his pipe again and lit it. "Go on."

He found the comparison original. He had never heard anyone put it that way before, and was willing to give the boy another chance.

With the Third Hokage's permission, Kaede continued. "The Uchiha Clan is like Konoha Village, and Konoha is like the Land of Fire. They depend on each other. Sometimes they don't get along, but neither can do without the other. What do you think, Lord Hokage?"

He wasn't trying to flatter the Uchiha Clan. As the strongest shinobi clan in the Shinobi World, the Uchiha were formidable. They simply hadn't produced any top-tier shinobi in recent years. In terms of Jonin, they made up nearly half of Konoha's forces. Losing the Uchiha would be like losing an arm.

Although the Konoha High Command disliked the Uchiha, none of them had ever considered wiping out the clan themselves. If the village's leaders destroyed one of its shinobi clans, what would the other clans think? The Will of Fire would cease to exist.

Even Danzo had used Itachi to destroy the Uchiha Clan. By then, the village leadership already knew the Uchiha were planning a coup, but even in such a dire situation, they hadn't taken action themselves.

The Third Hokage studied Kaede, trying to discern what the boy truly thought. But Kaede was like a thick fog; he couldn't see through him. At that moment, he felt Kaede might not be the right candidate.

Still, Kaede's understanding of the Uchiha and the village impressed and pleased him. If he chose Shisui, the boy could at least live up to Kagami's example. But if he chose Kaede, he had no idea what might happen.

Perhaps Kaede could resolve the rift between the Uchiha Clan and the village once and for all. Or perhaps he would make their conflict even worse. The Third Hokage was uncertain and couldn't decide which one to choose.

"Kaede, do you know why the First made Konoha dependent on the Land of Fire when he founded the village?" The Third Hokage's gaze wandered, as if he were recalling distant memories.

He didn't wait for Kaede to answer, but continued on his own. "The number of shinobi is limited. Compared with the entire Shinobi World, ordinary people far outnumber them.

"Besides, shinobi don't have time for small tasks like growing crops. They need a great many resources, and the support of an entire nation.

"Of course, that wasn't the main reason. The First lived through a brutal age of war. Together with your Uchiha ancestors, he brought peace to the Shinobi World. The horrors of the shinobi wars made him realize that they must not spread to ordinary people. That was why he founded the shinobi villages and made them dependent on nations, instead of establishing the Whirlpool Country like the Uzumaki Clan.

"His only aim was to bring peace to the world. Unfortunately, the wars have only grown worse since then. I'm sure that's the last thing he would have wanted to see."

Kaede listened quietly, until the Third Hokage asked, "Kaede, what do you wish for?"

"I hope the Shinobi World can be at peace, and that I can live quietly with my family. I also want to see what the whole world is like. I've been thinking about taking a trip around it."

Kaede smiled at the Third Hokage as he answered. He knew the Third Hokage was starting to favor him.

"That is the true meaning of the Will of Fire. Kaede, wherever the leaves dance, the flames follow. The fire will shine on the village and help the new saplings sprout.

"Only by sacrificing ourselves can we give the next generation a peaceful life." The Third Hokage motioned for Kaede to stand.

Kaede did as he was told and stood behind the Third Hokage. "But to me, the true meaning of the Will of Fire is protection, not sacrifice. Imagine a forest suddenly engulfed in flames. The trees on the outside burn first, and the ashes form a barrier that protects the trees within.

"Our predecessors didn't burn themselves up without hesitation just to light the way for others. They protected everything they loved. It's like the Hokage through the ages beneath Kage Rock. Their sacrifice protected Konoha and the hard-won peace we have today. Lord Third, that is my way of the shinobi.

"I want to be one of the many shinobi who protect Konoha, because everything I love is here. For that hard-won peace, I will change the Uchiha."

"Kaede, you're the most different Uchiha I've ever met. I hope you can stay true to your way of the shinobi. It's late. Go home and get some rest. You'll be busy in the days ahead. Consider it a little push from me. Keep working hard!"

The Third Hokage patted Kaede on the shoulder and smiled.

"Yes, Lord Third. I'll take my leave." Kaede turned and used the Body Flicker Technique, vanishing into the night as a shadow. He had done his best to play the part. He hoped everything would go as he wished.

"Homura, what do you think of Kaede? Is he the one we're looking for?" The Third Hokage still needed to consult his advisor before deciding.

A middle-aged man around the Third Hokage's age stepped out of the shadows. He had been observing Kaede the whole time. He pondered the Third Hokage's question before answering. "I didn't see anything suspicious about the boy. I watched him closely, and he showed no signs of anything unusual. He seems like a trustworthy Uchiha, but what about Kagami's grandson...?"

Kagami was their friend. They had originally decided that his grandson Shisui should be the one for the job, but Shisui was too gentle and lacked Kagami's decisiveness. He didn't seem like the right fit for dealing with the stubborn Uchiha.

"Then it's settled. We'll have Kaede and Shisui join the Anbu together and observe them for another year. After that, we'll transfer Kaede to the Konoha Military Police. What do you think?"

The Third Hokage turned to ask his old friend. Homura was a cautious man, and when it came to the Uchiha, the Third Hokage preferred hearing his opinion over that of his other friend, the more radical Danzo.

"Let's do that, Third Hokage," Mitokado Homura replied.