Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed on his pipe as he looked over Uchiha Kō's file. He smiled, set it down, and was just about to relax when a clan member came to report.
"R-Report, Lord Hokage! The U-Uchiha Clan Head has brought a young man to pay you a visit."
Sarutobi Hiruzen froze when he heard this, then stood up. "You said... you said the Uchiha Clan Head is here?" He set down his pipe and straightened, his brow furrowing. Why had he come to visit in the middle of the night?
"Show them into the main hall. I'll be there shortly." Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly changed into a more formal-looking kimono.
Only then did he head to the main hall. Uchiha Hirotomo and Uchiha Kō sat in the guest seats. Whether by design or coincidence, they had taken the two seats nearest the head of the room.
Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, then laughed heartily. "Hahaha! Uchiha Clan Head, it's an honor to have you visit the Sarutobi Compound!"
Uchiha Hirotomo glanced at Uchiha Kō. After Kō nodded, he began to say what the two of them had discussed earlier.
"Lord Hokage, you flatter me. I've long admired you and wanted to pay you a visit. But with the war keeping us so busy, I couldn't find the time. Now that things have just eased up, I've brought a young clansman along to visit." Uchiha Hirotomo's words were well chosen and made perfect sense.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had naturally noticed the exchange between Uchiha Hirotomo and Uchiha Kō, but he didn't call attention to it. Some things were best left understood without being said.
"Come now, Clan Head Hirotomo, there's no need to say that. I'm still new to this myself. It's my first time serving as Hokage, and I have a lot to learn. I'll have to rely on the Uchiha Clan to look after me." Sarutobi Hiruzen was testing the waters.
Uchiha Hirotomo froze. They hadn't rehearsed this part. He looked at Uchiha Kō, who stood and led Hirotomo in bowing to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Lord Hokage, you flatter us. You are the Hokage, the village's highest leader. We Uchiha are the ones who should hope for your support. And our clan is willing to back every decision you make."
Uchiha Kō hadn't taken the bait. Instead, he'd gotten straight to the point and declared the Uchiha Clan's support for Sarutobi Hiruzen. Sarutobi Hiruzen froze, then flushed with excitement and hurried to help Uchiha Kō and Uchiha Hirotomo back up.
"Oh, come on, please, get up! Clan Head Hirotomo, Kō, what are you doing?" Sarutobi Hiruzen was already smiling. This was wonderful news. With Konoha's most powerful clan backing him, the other ninja clans would likely fall into line as well.
"Someone, bring tea for our guests! Honestly, don't you have any sense?" As he spoke, he helped Hirotomo and Kō up and personally escorted them back to their seats.
The Sarutobi Clan's servants hurried off to prepare tea. These were distinguished guests!
As Sarutobi Hiruzen escorted Uchiha Kō back, he patted him on the shoulder and gave him a knowing smile.
Uchiha Kō smiled back. Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was about to return to his seat, Kō used a ninja tool scroll to summon a pouch of ninja tools and handed it to him.
"Lord Hokage, this is a complete ninja tool pouch containing every kind of tool, acquired through a deal with the Ninja Cat Clan. I heard your eldest son has started at the Ninja Academy, so please accept this as a small token of our regard." Uchiha Kō held out the pouch.
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned. "I can't accept this. You're guests in my home; it's my duty to treat you well. Take it back."
Uchiha Kō pressed on. "Lord Hokage, you've won a splendid victory for Konoha. Thanks for all your hard work. We only want to express our gratitude. Please accept it."
Sarutobi Hiruzen replied sternly, "Protecting the villagers is the Hokage's duty. What is this? Take it back!" He pushed the pouch toward Kō again.
Uchiha Kō brought out his trump card. "Oh, come now, Lord Hokage. This is the Uchiha Clan's goodwill. We may not have much else, but we have plenty of high-quality ninja tools. When we heard your young master had started school, we sent over our newest and best selection. Let him try them out and see if they suit him. After all, your young master helped us out, too!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes and looked at Uchiha Kō. This kid was a talent. It was clearly a gift, yet he'd made it sound as if Hiruzen's own son had done him a favor. And when he said they had plenty of high-quality ninja tools, did he mean he'd be supplying them?
After thinking it over for a moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled. "Hahaha! Then I'll thank you on my son's behalf, young Kō, and you too, Clan Head Hirotomo."
Uchiha Kō quickly replied, "Please don't say that, Lord Hokage. I'm sure young Shinnosuke will become a pillar of Konoha and a great shinobi one day!"
The flattery made Sarutobi Hiruzen burst out laughing. He patted Uchiha Kō on the shoulder several times, while Uchiha Hirotomo fell into thought. Perhaps Uchiha Kō was more suited to be clan head than he was.
Then a Sarutobi servant brought three bowls of tea, one each for the Hokage, the Uchiha Clan Head, and Uchiha Kō. Just as the three took a sip, someone came hurrying in. It was the Sarutobi clansman who had delivered the earlier report.
"R-Report, Lord Hokage! There's..." He saw Uchiha Hirotomo and Uchiha Kō and stopped, saying no more.
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned. "The Uchiha Clan Head and young Kō are friends. Go ahead and speak!"
Uchiha Kō and Uchiha Hirotomo stood and bowed. Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and gestured for them to sit and listen.
"Yes, Lord Hokage! The leaders of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans have come to pay you a visit!" As he spoke, he glanced at the two Uchiha.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was delighted. The Ino-Shika-Cho clans had remained neutral, neither supporting nor opposing him. Now that all three had come together, his old friend Torifu Akimichi must have spoken up on his behalf!
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood and addressed Uchiha Hirotomo and Uchiha Kō. "Please wait here while I greet the three clan leaders. Then we can all discuss matters together!"
"Of course," Uchiha Hirotomo replied with a smile. Uchiha Kō sat beside him, sipping his tea. He'd guessed the Ino-Shika-Cho clans had come to declare their support. Hmph. No matter what, the Uchiha were the first to pledge their support. And in terms of influence and strength, we're the ones who matter more.
Just as Uchiha Kō had expected, a short while later, the three clan leaders entered the hall behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, chatting and laughing.
Uchiha Hirotomo drew a sharp breath when he saw them. Torifu Akimichi was one of the Second Hokage's bodyguards. The other two were Yamanaka Unkai and Nara Rokumei. Together, the three men represented the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance and led their respective clans.
Then he glanced at Uchiha Kō. No wonder the kid had asked him to make a late-night visit together. Uchiha Kō didn't even stir, continuing to sip his tea.
Sarutobi Hiruzen introduced them to the Ino-Shika-Cho leaders. "Ah, I forgot to mention it earlier. It's quite a night! The Uchiha Clan Head and one of his outstanding young clansmen have come to visit, too."
Sarutobi Hiruzen had said this deliberately, hoping to see how the two sides would react.
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