The Plan Was Complete!

Kakashi had always been close to the Uchiha.

Back then, he had visited Uchiha Fugaku's home with Namikaze Minato.

Later, when the teams were assigned, he had ended up on the same team as Uchiha Obito.

And now, his left eye was still a Uchiha Sharingan.

Suddenly, Kakashi found himself feeling warmly toward the Uchiha Roy before him.

Until now, just like everyone else, he had believed that the Uchiha were responsible for his teacher's death.

But ever since Uchiha Fugaku had told him that piece of information, Kakashi had been confused.

His teacher's relationship with the Uchiha hadn't been bad at all. In fact, because Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto were friends, he and Uchiha Fugaku had become friends too.

He had even started putting the Uchiha in important positions.

Given all that, there was no way the Uchiha would have done something like this.

"Since you're here, make sure you enjoy the food."

"This feast is Naruto's treat."

"So, for now, don't think about anything else."

As Kakashi sat lost in thought, Roy's voice interrupted him.

"Delicious..."

"A feast..."

Kakashi's voice grew a little choked.

He took off his mask and quickly began eating.

It wasn't exactly delicious.

But it was the best food Naruto could offer them.

Of course, there was also a box of milk in the corner of the house that was about to expire.

Kakashi had noticed all of it.

After quickly finishing his cup noodles, a drop of sweat ran across his eye.

"Kakashi, I'm taking Naruto to visit the Uchiha Compound next."

"If you want to come too, you can join us."

Roy set down his cup noodles and looked at Kakashi.

"No."

"I have a mission of my own to take care of."

"Thanks for the treat, Naruto. I'll be going."

After saying that, Kakashi didn't wait for anyone to respond. He simply vanished.

"Come on, let's head back too."

"Naruto, you don't need to bring any clothes."

"Sasuke has already bought some for you. Spend New Year's Eve at the Uchiha Compound tomorrow."

"Then you and Sasuke can play together."

As Roy spoke, he led the two little ones out of the building.

Naruto felt a little embarrassed, but Roy hadn't given him any chance to politely refuse. [All right, Naruto was actually very happy.]

Inside the Hokage Office.

"Lord Hokage, Uchiha Roy has taken Uzumaki Naruto."

"Should we intervene?"

An Anbu member quickly reported.

They had been busier lately than during the Third Shinobi World War.

Even a single move by the Uchiha had them rushing all over the place.

"Intervene?"

"How could we do that at a time like this?"

"Leave it for now. Let the Uchiha stir things up for a while."

Sarutobi Hiruzen calmly reviewed the village's files. The New Year was tomorrow, and there was far too much to take care of.

Besides, given the plan already in motion, there was no need to provoke the Uchiha now.

"But... what about Hatake Kakashi?"

"Leave that alone for now, too."

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned slightly, but still made the same decision.

The Anbu member said nothing more and left with the Body Flicker Technique.

Meanwhile, at the Uchiha Compound.

"Wow, is this my new outfit?"

"Thanks, Sasuke!"

Naruto couldn't have been happier with the clothes he was wearing, which were printed with a Kunai.

And the material was really nice, too.

They weren't bulky, but they were warm.

"Sasuke, Naruto."

A gentle voice came from nearby.

Uchiha Mikoto appeared.

"Mother!"

"Auntie."

Sasuke and Naruto both went over to Uchiha Mikoto.

Naruto had already spent time with Mikoto, so he didn't feel like a stranger around her.

"I knitted these scarves for you."

"You two go play. I'll get dinner ready."

"Naruto, you can sleep with Sasuke tonight. I've prepared a bed and clothes for you."

"Thank you, Auntie."

"Thank you, Mother."

With their scarves on, the two little ones were even happier.

Then they went off to play.

"Roy, what about this afternoon's training...?"

"Let them play for now."

"A ninja's life leaves little room for choice. They aren't at that point yet."

Itachi appeared just then, carrying several training kunai.

After hearing Roy's words, Itachi put the kunai away.

Late that night, both little ones were asleep.

Inside Uchiha Fugaku's study.

"Roy, is this your decision?"

Uchiha Fugaku looked at Roy, puzzled.

Bringing the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Naruto, to the Uchiha Clan wasn't a good choice under the current circumstances.

"Yes."

"The Uchiha can't seem too perfect. Otherwise, those people will have even more time to prepare."

"They'll probably make a move to approach the Jinchūriki as soon as the Daimyo leaves."

Roy had never thought much of Konoha's High Command, so he felt no guilt whatsoever about doing this.

"You're forcing them to act?"

"But... could this put the Uchiha in danger...?"

"Clan Head, do we have any other choice?"

Roy interrupted Fugaku before he could finish.

The Uchiha's recent calm had made Uchiha Fugaku mistakenly believe that the clan had secured its position.

But he didn't know that the High Command would never give up on targeting the Uchiha Clan.

"Have you already figured out what the High Command will do next?"

Uchiha Fugaku had the feeling Roy had already thought through everything that was about to happen.

"Pretty much the same old tricks."

"They'll exploit ordinary people's fear of the Uchiha, along with the old grudges between other clans and the Uchiha."

"They'll also manufacture an incident where the Uchiha make a mistake, probably with the High Command involved."

"Then they'll frame the Uchiha and hit them with some serious charges."

Roy thought it over, then spoke slowly.

He had seen schemes like this countless times.

Whether it was the death of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, the later suppression of the Uchiha, or everything Roy had experienced after being reborn, it was all more or less the same trick.

As expected, Konoha's High Command was full of old men whose thinking had grown rigid.

Only a bunch of straightforward fools like the Uchiha Clan would keep falling for the same tricks.

"Then, when we're faced with these charges..."

"Naruto's identity!"

Roy smiled as he spoke.

At that, Uchiha Fugaku felt as if a door to a whole new world had just opened before him.

He stood up at once.

"From the first time you planned for us to approach Naruto, you were already preparing for this?"

Uchiha Fugaku stared at him in shock.

From the very beginning, every move Roy made had been part of a plan.

For the first time, Uchiha Fugaku began to believe that the art of political maneuvering was truly terrifying!