The Fourth Hokage's Recruitment

Uchiha Yatsuhashi had just stepped out through the heavy gates of the Uchiha Clan ancestral grounds.

Deep in the shadows of the distant woods, Uchiha Shisui finally let out a long sigh of relief.

Because Uchiha Fugaku had ordered the Uchiha Clan members to withdraw from the ancestral grounds, he could not get too close.

It was only after a long time had passed, out of concern that Uchiha Yatsuhashi might once again affect the relationship between the village and the clan, that Uchiha Shisui had silently snuck over.

Seeing Yatsuhashi safe and sound, the nerves he had kept taut all night finally relaxed slightly.

"Yatsuhashi."

Shisui landed lightly from the treetops, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible exhaustion.

"Lord Hokage has summoned you."

As Shisui approached, the habitual smile on his face appeared somewhat forced, and his complexion looked unusually pale under the moonlight.

Although he had not engaged in combat, the immense mental strain left his body feeling weak.

"Mm." Yatsuhashi nodded, indicating he understood.

The two walked side by side toward the center of the village.

The night breeze was cool, dispersing the heat of the day, yet it could not blow away the oppression hanging in the air.

After walking together for a while, Shisui suddenly broke the silence. His voice was soft, yet it carried the weight of Thousand Jun: "Thank you."

Yatsuhashi was slightly stunned: "For what?"

"If you hadn't appeared in time today," Shisui's voice was low and sincere, "that situation earlier would likely have escalated into a full-scale conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the village. By then... I would have had to make a painful choice between my clan and the village. It was you who gave everyone a way out, and gave me... a buffer. Thank you."

Uchiha Yatsuhashi did not respond, merely looking at Shisui.

This genius, hailed in the Anbu as Body Flicker Shisui, was currently like a string pulled to its limit, on the verge of snapping at any moment.

Looking into Shisui's weary eyes, a sudden flash of inspiration struck his mind.

To avoid the impending night of the Uchiha Clan's annihilation, he had to start from the root.

And what forced Uchiha Itachi toward the extreme was not just the opposition between the village and the clan, but also the Uchiha Shisui standing before him.

"Senior Shisui," Yatsuhashi began, his voice calm, "what do you think the Will of Fire is?"

Shisui did not hesitate, blurting out: "Protecting the village, passing on the will..."

"The first four words are not difficult." Yatsuhashi cast his gaze toward the distant silhouette of the Hokage Rock. "Normally, any trained ninja has the consciousness to protect the village. But 'passing on the will' is the hardest part, isn't it?"

He stopped walking and turned to face Shisui directly.

"Have you ever thought about how this will should be passed on?"

Shisui's pupils constricted.

This was the answer he had been searching for, yet it had always remained blurred. He protected the village and loved the Uchiha, yet he struggled painfully in the gap between the two.

"Then... how should it be passed on?" Shisui couldn't help but ask, his voice filled with urgency.

Forcefully suppressing the clan members would only deepen the rift with the village. But if left unchecked, that would be the Coreflame of the Uchiha Clan's rebellion.

Uchiha Shisui craved an answer, a way to break this deadlock.

Yatsuhashi shook his head, cutting off his train of thought.

"I don't know either."

Shisui was stunned.

But the next second, Yatsuhashi's words struck like a heavy hammer:

"But I do know that if the members of the Uchiha Clan only have the glory of the 'Uchiha' in their hearts, and lack the concept of the 'village,'

then no matter how you explain 'heritage' to them, it is meaningless.

Because they have mistaken the object of their 'devotion'."

Shisui trembled all over, as if struck by a bolt of lightning!

Yes... if the clansmen's hearts were not with the village, then no matter how he mediated or sacrificed, he was only treating the symptoms, not the root cause.

True heritage was to make the clansmen identify with Konoha from the bottom of their hearts, rather than merely treating this place as Uchiha territory to fight for so-called sovereignty.

He had previously been obsessed with balance, suppression, and even considered using forceful means to "maintain" peace.

Yet he had never thought that the key to solving the problem lay in "enlightenment" and "identification."

If every single person in the Uchiha truly possessed the will to protect Konoha, then the conflict between the clan and the village would naturally vanish into thin air.

"So," Yatsuhashi watched the light gradually brighten in Shisui's eyes, he said calmly, "you must find a way to plant the 'Will of Fire' into the heart of every Uchiha.

Let them understand that protecting the village is protecting themselves."

Shisui stood where he was, motionless for a long time.

"Protecting the village is protecting themselves..."

And the confusion and struggle that had originally been in his eyes were fading away bit by bit, replaced by an unprecedented clarity and firmness.

"I understand..."

Shisui muttered to himself, then he suddenly looked up, looked at Yatsuhashi, and bowed to him with extreme solemnity.

"Thank you, Yatsuhashi. Truly."

Yatsuhashi just patted his shoulder, saying nothing more.

Some seeds only need a little light to break through the soil.

As for what they would grow into in the future, that was not something he needed to worry about right now.

Inside the Hokage's office, Minato Namikaze sat behind the large desk, quietly listening to Uchiha Yatsuhashi's report.

The content largely matched the account given by Anko Mitarashi.

Until Yatsuhashi reached the end, his voice dropping low:

"...On the border of the Land of Water, in order to cover Anko Mitarashi's retreat, I awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan."

The next second, Minato's gaze fell upon Yatsuhashi's face.

Those eyes had also changed from their original pitch black to the blood-red Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

"Was it the sacrifice of a comrade during the mission that stimulated your awakening?"

Minato Namikaze understood the Uchiha Clan very well.

Cases of awakening ocular power under extreme emotions were common within the clan.

For the village, a newly promoted Three-Tomoe ninja was undoubtedly a gratifying addition to their combat strength.

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Yatsuhashi replied respectfully, his eyes calm and waveless.

This was a plan he had been thinking about for a long time.

This could explain how he, a Special Jonin, managed to escape death at the hands of Kirigakure ninjas in the Land of Water.

And it could also hide the fact that he had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.

"Three-Tomoe..."

Minato repeated in a low voice, "To awaken it under those circumstances to protect a comrade is remarkable."

He paused, "Yatsuhashi, your current strength far exceeds that of a Genin.

One could even say you have surpassed the average Jonin."

"I have a proposal."

Minato leaned forward slightly, hands clasped on the table, his tone sincere.

"Join the Anbu. With your current strength, the Anbu is the stage best suited for you."

Yatsuhashi's heart gave a violent jolt.

The Anbu!

This was like rain after a long drought.

Joining the Anbu meant he would formally shed the dangerous label of "remnant of Orochimaru," leaping up to become a direct force under the Hokage.

If Danzo and his Root wanted to move against him now, they would have to weigh the consequences.

"I am willing, Lord Hokage."

Yatsuhashi did not hesitate in the slightest, his voice firm.

Minato nodded in satisfaction. "Kakashi."

Kakashi Hatake slowly stepped out from the shadows behind him.

"Sensei," Kakashi replied.

"From today on, Uchiha Yatsuhashi is assigned to your Anbu Team 6."

Minato instructed, "He has just awakened his Three Tomoe and needs an experienced captain to guide him."

Kakashi looked at Yatsuhashi, his gaze lingering on the Three Tomoe for a brief moment.

Although the two only locked eyes for an instant, Uchiha Yatsuhashi felt a peculiar chakra fluctuation from the left eye hidden beneath Kakashi's forehead protector—the same one he had previously sensed from Uchiha Fugaku.

This caused Uchiha Yatsuhashi to gasp sharply.

Kakashi was similarly struck, though he was puzzled and did not dwell on it.

"Yes, Sensei."

Kakashi accepted the order, his voice devoid of inflection.

Uchiha Yatsuhashi suppressed the emotions in his heart and bowed his head slightly.

"I look forward to your guidance, Captain Kakashi."

Stepping out of the Hokage Building, the heavy stone that had been hanging over Yatsuhashi's heart for so long finally settled.

With the status of an Anbu member and the protection of the Fourth Hokage, he could finally, for the time being, be removed from that dark "cleanup list."

A faint glimmer of light slowly appeared in the distant east, shining down on two thin figures beneath the Hokage Building.

Uchiha Tesho and Uchiha Uruchi had not slept all night.

They had first gone to the ancestral grounds of the Uchiha Clan, and then had come here, beneath the Hokage Building.

Until they saw that familiar figure walk out the door and step into the faint light of dawn.

In that instant, time seemed to freeze.

"Dad, Mom."

Yatsuhashi stood in the morning light and looked at them.

Uchiha Uruchi first gasped sharply, then let out an irrepressible sob. She stumbled forward and lunged at him, gripping Yatsuhashi's arms tightly, her knuckles white from the force, terrified that if she let go, her son would vanish before her eyes.

"It's good that you're back... it's good that you're back..."

Tears streamed down her face, yet she smiled as she said, "Mom will make you okonomiyaki later, with double the shrimp and double the meat..."

Uchiha Tesho stood where he was, unmoving, the muscles in his jaw clenched tight.

"It's good that you're back."

Uchiha Tesho's voice was incredibly hoarse. His large hands, which usually could steady a spatula with ease, were currently clutching the envelope containing the condolence money with a death grip.

When the clansmen had handed them that envelope, this couple, who were usually always smiling, seemed to have had their spines ripped out in an instant.

Overnight, the two of them looked as if they had aged a dozen years.

Yatsuhashi looked at his parents' aged faces, his nose stinging, and he fought back the tears.

He nodded forcefully. "Yeah, I'm back. From now on... I'll never make you worry again."