Uchiha Hirotomo

Compared with the Senju compound, inside the Uchiha Clan Compound, Uchiha Clan Head Uchiha Hirotomo sat cross-legged on the floor, listening to Uchiha Kiyoshi's report. When he heard that although Tsunade had been the nominal commander of the battle, the real commander had been Uchiha Kō of the Uchiha Clan, his eyes lit up.

He looked at the six-year-old boy sitting beside him, posture perfectly straight. He sighed. His son, Fugaku, was good in every way, but he was so serious that it really worried him.

Uchiha Hirotomo didn't dismiss Uchiha Kiyoshi. Instead, with him there, he asked Uchiha Fugaku, "What do you make of this?"

Uchiha Fugaku bowed. "I think Uchiha Kō did the right thing. Our Uchiha Clan is in the spotlight right now, so we should keep a low profile and recuperate."

Uchiha Hirotomo's face darkened. He gave Uchiha Fugaku a sharp smack on the head. Uchiha Fugaku was dumbfounded. He looked at his father, his eyes asking, Had I said something wrong?

Uchiha Hirotomo snorted. "Then tell me, why did Uchiha Kō give up the credit?" Uchiha Hirotomo was the smartest and strongest person in the Uchiha Clan. He asked his son these questions to test his capacity for leadership.

Uchiha Fugaku froze. "Because he didn't want to draw attention?" This time, Uchiha Fugaku had managed to get half the answer right. Uchiha Hirotomo nodded.

Uchiha Hirotomo asked again, "Whose attention didn't he want to draw?" He closed his eyes. He knew that no matter how clever his son was, he wouldn't guess the answer.

He figured that only the clan heads of the various families could come up with it. If Fugaku could, it would prove he had the mind of a clan head.

Uchiha Fugaku thought it over, then finally said, "He didn't want to draw our attention. After all, people from the Uchiha Clan..." He trailed off, and Uchiha Hirotomo finished for him.

"Because no one in the Uchiha Clan supported him or treated him well. They even insulted and bullied him!" Uchiha Hirotomo opened his eyes. His pupils turned into Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and an oppressive chill spread out from him!

"F-Father!" Uchiha Fugaku was blown backward. He clutched the tatami tightly to keep from being swept away, while Uchiha Kiyoshi broke out in a cold sweat.

Uchiha Hirotomo closed his eyes again. His aura dissipated, as if nothing had happened. "Fugaku, your answer was incomplete. Besides the point you mentioned, there's another, most important reason."

Fugaku raised his head and looked at his father. He knew his father would explain. Sure enough, just two seconds later, Uchiha Hirotomo smiled and said, "On the other hand, he didn't want to draw the attention of Konoha High Command. Sometimes, a tree that stands tall catches the wind—and that's all the more true because his surname is Uchiha."

Fugaku froze. "His surname is Uchiha?" He'd heard that Uchiha Kō had beaten up the Great Elder's son, Uchiha Yamazaki. At the time, Kō certainly hadn't been thinking of the Uchiha name.

He didn't believe Uchiha Kō cared about his surname. He would never know, though, that if Uchiha Kō had been there, he would have broken into a cold sweat.

Uchiha Hirotomo truly was a clever Uchiha Clan Head. He had guessed almost exactly what Kō was thinking!

But seeing the confusion on his son's face, Uchiha Hirotomo couldn't help sighing. He turned to Uchiha Kiyoshi. "Kiyoshi, thanks for your hard work. Tonight, take Uchiha Kō back to the compound and tell him I'd like to speak with him."

Uchiha Kiyoshi acknowledged the order and left the clan head's compound. Uchiha Hirotomo walked outside and looked up at the sky, thinking, Uchiha Kō, can the fate of our clan be changed?

Then, unseen by anyone, his Three-Tomoe slowly vanished, his pupils turning into the shape of three plum-blossom petals.

If Uchiha Kō had seen that, he probably wouldn't have dared to come at all. Damn it, a Mangekyō Sharingan—who'd have the nerve to go?

But it lasted only an instant. His Sharingan turned black again, without a trace of change. He went back inside to rest; after all, he still had to talk with Uchiha Kō that evening.

He needed to get some rest now so he'd be able to think clearly later.

Meanwhile...

At the Senju Clan Compound, Uchiha Kō had received not only Mito's care, but also Tsunade's unabashed affection. She hugged his arm and took him around the courtyard. His arm was pressed between two soft mounds, and the warm, soft sensation made his face redden.

Jiraiya, meanwhile, discussed the Ninja World War and the Savior with Nagato, and even taught him some C-rank ninjutsu to defend himself.

Nagato was clever and learned everything in one go, which pleased Jiraiya immensely. Orochimaru was asking Lady Mito about Sealing Jutsu. Uzumaki Mito watched Tsunade and Uchiha Kō in the distance, feeling reassured, and taught Orochimaru quite a few things.

Everyone came away with something, and host and guests alike were happy. But now Uchiha Kō had to return to his clan's compound. He was a Uchiha, after all, and his presence at the Senju Clan Compound would cause trouble for Tsunade. They weren't married or dating, so just as Uchiha Kō was about to leave—

Tsunade called out to Uchiha Kō. He stopped and turned around. The next moment, a lovely figure darted up behind him while he wasn't paying attention and hugged him. His eyes flew wide as the two soft mounds pressed against him.

"Lady Tsunade... I..." Before Uchiha Kō could finish, Tsunade spoke first. "Kō, thank you. Without you, our Senju Clan would have lost who knows how much of its strength."

Although the Senju Clan had become more like ordinary people, its jōnin and core members were still alive. They were all Tsunade's family, and losing even one of them might have left her heartbroken.

Under Uchiha Kō's leadership, the Senju troops had suffered almost no casualties. More than a hundred had been seriously injured, but they could all recover.

That was why Tsunade was so grateful to Uchiha Kō. She might not have realized how much her actions were affecting an adult man.

Uchiha Kō was taken aback, then smiled. "Lady Tsunade, it was the least I could do."

Tsunade then let go of Uchiha Kō, puffed out her cheeks, and huffed. "From now on, Kō, just call me Tsunade. Or, like Grandma, you can call me Little Tsunade. 'Lady Tsunade' makes me sound old."

Uchiha Kō paused, then grinned. "All right, Little Tsunade." Tsunade froze too. What kind of way was that to address her? But she shook her head and said, "Kō, it's getting late. You should go. The Police Force will start patrolling soon."

Uchiha Kō nodded, waved, and left the Senju Clan Compound. Tsunade watched him until his figure disappeared, then turned around a little sadly—only to see Uzumaki Mito watching her with a knowing smile.

Tsunade blushed. Uzumaki Mito said nothing, simply putting an arm around her and leading her back inside.

Meanwhile...

At the entrance to the Uchiha Clan Compound—

Uchiha Kiyoshi appeared without warning. He bowed to Uchiha Kō, then said respectfully, "Lord Kō, the clan head wishes to see you."