The Uchiha Clan held its annual clan ceremony.
On the day the cherry blossoms bloomed at their most beautiful, they remembered their departed loved ones and placed their hopes in the children who had been born.
Perhaps because of the distance, the Mist Frontline was nowhere near as tense as the Iwagakure and Kumogakure fronts.
Naturally, the missions on the Mist Frontline fell to the Uchiha Clan.
It wasn't that Sarutobi Hiruzen had kindly given the Uchiha the easiest front.
He simply didn't want the Uchiha Clan to earn too much credit.
Because Chiba knew—
The election for Fourth Hokage was about to begin.
In this era, when relations between the Uchiha and Konoha hadn't yet deteriorated that badly, there were still people in the village who supported Uchiha Fugaku becoming Fourth Hokage.
Under these circumstances,
Sarutobi Hiruzen was even less likely to assign important missions to the Uchiha Clan.
As long as Sarutobi Hiruzen was alive, the position of Fourth Hokage would never go to the Uchiha.
In the Uchiha Clan cemetery,
Chiba and Koizumi offered incense to his parents, paying tribute to them and remembering the past.
It seemed she had recalled the time when Chiba's father had held her as a little girl.
She began to sob softly.
Wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, Chiba did his best to comfort the girl.
How much longer could they enjoy this peaceful life?
At least they could enjoy a brief spell of peace before the Nine-Tails attacked the village.
And then—
Itachi Uchiha came to see him.
"Chiba."
"Hmm?"
"My father said that if you ever had the chance, he hoped you'd visit our home."
"The cherry blossoms are already blooming."
"Would you... like to come see them?"
Before Chiba could answer,
Koizumi beside him jumped up excitedly.
"Cherry blossoms? That's wonderful!"
Everyone in the Uchiha Clan knew that the cherry blossoms at the clan head's home were the most beautiful.
Watching Koizumi's excitement, Chiba smiled.
"Sure!"
Chapter 29
After the Senju Clan declined,
the Uchiha were the largest clan in Konoha. Even a prestigious clan like the Hyuga couldn't match their size.
As the head of the Uchiha Clan, Fugaku's home was every bit as grand as one would expect of the leading clan.
The cherry blossoms filling the garden were so lovely that even a distant glimpse was enough to lift one's spirits.
When the neighbors wanted to admire the blossoms, Uchiha Fugaku, as clan head, didn't act too strict about it.
In the eyes of the Uchiha, Fugaku was a kind clan head.
Having accepted Itachi's invitation, Chiba and Koizumi arrived at the courtyard, where cherry blossoms covered the grounds.
Koizumi ran through the blossoms, delighted.
"Clan head... did you want to see me about something?"
Itachi had never been good with words.
He'd actually come up with the clumsy excuse of "admiring the blossoms."
He knew Chiba couldn't see, so how was he supposed to admire them?
Perhaps Itachi was nervous because his father wanted to meet his friend.
After all, Uchiha Fugaku was not only Itachi's father but also the head of the Uchiha Clan.
Itachi shook his head to show that he didn't know.
When Itachi led Chiba through the door and into the meeting room,
a man sat calmly in the center.
His eyes were closed, as if he were resting. A low table stood before him.
Chiba knew this was Itachi's father, the head of the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Fugaku.
Fugaku didn't open his eyes. Seeming to sense Chiba's arrival, he simply spoke softly.
"Have a seat."
A cushion had already been set out in front of the low table.
Chiba set his cane aside and sat cross-legged.
The door slid open, and a gentle, gracious woman entered, carrying two cups of steaming tea.
She knew Chiba couldn't see, yet she still smiled at him.
Chiba knew she was Itachi's mother, Uchiha Mikoto.
Without thinking, Chiba nodded back to her.
Mikoto froze for a moment, seeming surprised.
After all, a smile made no sound.
Yet Chiba seemed to know she was smiling.
What a remarkable child.
No wonder he and Itachi had become friends.
"Clan head..."
Chiba was the first to break the silence.
Only then did Fugaku open his eyes.
"You don't have to be so formal. Make yourself at home."
"May I ask why you invited me here, clan head?"
At that, Fugaku, who had been sitting with a stern expression, suddenly smiled.
"Nothing in particular. Itachi keeps telling me he has an incredible friend, so naturally I wanted to meet you."
To be honest, Fugaku felt guilty toward Chiba.
As the head of the Uchiha Clan, he had a duty and responsibility to protect every member of the clan.
But when the village's public opinion had been turned against a newborn child—one born with a congenital defect—the one who had suffered most hadn't been the Uchiha Clan. It had been Chiba.
As if he had sensed the emotion in Fugaku's voice,
Chiba smiled and spoke.
"Clan head, I really don't care about what people say."
"I'm grateful for everything the clan has done for me. It's thanks to them that I've made it this far."
After Chiba's parents died, the clan had given him a large sum in compensation and made arrangements for him.
Apart from the matter of how the Uchiha dealt with the public opinion stirred up by Konoha High Command, Fugaku had done his best to protect his clansmen.
He was a capable clan head.
Unfortunately—
He had failed to recognize the true nature of Konoha High Command and had kept hoping things would work out.
It wasn't that Fugaku lacked ability. He simply didn't have the courage to risk everything.
Of course. The entire Uchiha Clan stood behind him.
And the Uchiha weren't just exceptional ninja. There were also countless women and children among them.
If they went against Konoha, the ones who would suffer in the end were the Uchiha.
"I see. I'm truly relieved you can think that way."
"Itachi is lucky to have a friend like you."
"I once heard Itachi mention something about the Uchiha and Konoha..."
"Ah, yes. I was the one who talked to Itachi about it."
Chiba spoke calmly.
Fugaku was taken aback. He had been careful with his words, yet Chiba seemed to have anticipated everything he had left unsaid.
This Uchiha clan member who couldn't see had a wisdom beyond anything Fugaku could imagine.
No wonder he had influenced Itachi so much.
"Then, about the Uchiha and Konoha... what do you think?"
This wasn't the sort of question a clan head should ask a five-year-old child.
But since the child had already formed such an opinion,
Fugaku had a duty as clan head to understand it and guide him.
"Clan head, do you... really want to hear what I think?"
Fugaku nodded.
Chiba drew in a breath and slowly let it out. Then he spoke calmly.
"I think the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha—in fact, between the Uchiha and Konoha High Command—is irreconcilable."
"Oh? Why do you say that?"
He wanted to know what this precocious five-year-old thought of the village and the Uchiha.
What had led him to make such suggestive remarks to his own son?
"Before I explain, clan head, do you understand the Hokage? Do you understand Sarutobi Hiruzen?"
At that, Uchiha Fugaku stroked his chin. After a moment's thought, he answered,
"The Hokage? If I had to say... I don't know him all that well."
"If I had to give my impression, I'd say he's a very politically savvy man."
"Of course, we can talk about this within the clan, but we shouldn't say it outside."
"I don't know much about what happened back then either, but I've heard that after the Second Hokage died, nearly every major clan opposed Sarutobi Hiruzen becoming Hokage."
"Yet in those circumstances, he still managed to secure the position and govern the village effectively. That alone shows how capable he is."
That was a very fair assessment.
Chiba couldn't deny it.
He could imagine it, too.