Sarutobi Hiruzen smoked as he looked over Uchiha Xiao's file. He smiled, then had just set it down 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."
When the report was finished, Sarutobi Hiruzen froze, then got to his feet. "You said... you said the Uchiha Clan Head is here?" He set down his pipe and straightened, furrowing his brow. Why come calling in the middle of the night?
"Show them to the main hall first. I'll be there shortly." With that, Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly changed into a more formal-looking kimono.
Only then did he head for the main hall. Uchiha Hirotomo and Uchiha Xiao sat in the guest seats. Whether intentionally or not, the two of them had taken the first seats.
Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha! It's an honor to have the Uchiha Clan Head visit the Sarutobi Clan Compound. You've truly graced my humble home!"
Uchiha Hirotomo glanced at Uchiha Xiao. When Xiao nodded, he began to say what the two of them had discussed beforehand.
"Lord Hokage, you're too kind. I, Uchiha Hirotomo, have long admired you and wished to pay you a visit. But with the war raging, I couldn't find the time. Now that things have just eased up, I've brought one of the younger members of my clan to call on you." Uchiha Hirotomo's words were deft and perfectly logical.
Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally noticed the exchange between Uchiha Hirotomo and Uchiha Xiao, but he didn't point it out. Some things were better left understood without being said.
"Now, now, Clan Head Hirotomo, what are you saying? I'm new to this myself. It's my first time as Hokage, and I have no experience. I'll be counting on the Uchiha Clan to look after me." Sarutobi Hiruzen was testing the waters.
Uchiha Hirotomo froze. They hadn't rehearsed for this. He looked toward Uchiha Xiao, who stood and helped him rise. Together, they bowed to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Lord Hokage, you're too kind. You're the Hokage, the village's highest leader. We Uchiha should be the ones hoping for your support. Moreover, our clan is willing to fully support every decision you make."
Uchiha Xiao hadn't taken the bait. Instead, he'd cut straight to the point and declared that the Uchiha Clan stood with Sarutobi Hiruzen. Sarutobi Hiruzen froze, then flushed with delight and hurriedly helped Uchiha Xiao and Uchiha Hirotomo to their feet.
"Oh, come on, get up, get up! Clan Head Hirotomo, Xiao, what are you doing?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes were already crinkling with a smile. This was great news. With Konoha's most powerful clan backing him, the other ninja clans would likely pose no problem.
"Someone, bring tea for our guests! Honestly, don't any of you have a shred of sense?" As he spoke, he helped Hirotomo and Xiao up and personally saw them back to their seats.
The Sarutobi attendants hurried off to brew tea. These were honored guests!
As Sarutobi Hiruzen escorted Uchiha Xiao back, he patted him on the shoulder and gave him a meaningful smile.
Uchiha Xiao smiled faintly in return. Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was about to return to his seat, Xiao used a ninjutsu scroll to summon a pouch of ninja tools, then handed it to him.
"Lord Hokage, this is a complete set of ninja tools that we acquired through a trade with the Ninja Cat Clan. I heard your eldest son has started at the Ninja Academy, so this is a small token of our goodwill. Please accept it." Uchiha Xiao held out the pouch.
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned. "I can't accept this. You came to visit me, so it's my duty to treat you well. Take it back."
Uchiha Xiao tried again. "Lord Hokage, you've won a brilliant victory for Konoha. Thanks for all your hard work. We simply wanted to express our gratitude. Please accept it."
Sarutobi Hiruzen replied sternly, "Protecting the villagers is the Hokage's duty. What are you doing? Take it back!" He pushed it away once more.
Uchiha Xiao brought out his trump card. "Oh, Lord Hokage, this is the Uchiha Clan's sincerity. We don't have much else, but we have plenty of ninja tools—and they're high quality. When we heard the young master had started school, we sent over the latest and best set for him to try out, and see if they fit his hands and work well. Besides, the young master helped us out too!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes and looked at Uchiha Xiao. This kid's a talent. He's clearly giving me a gift, yet somehow makes it sound like my own boy did him a favor. And when he says they have plenty of high-quality ninja tools, does he mean he wants to supply them to me?
After a moment's thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled. "Hahaha, then I'll thank you on my son's behalf, dear nephew Xiao, and yours too, Clan Head Hirotomo."
Uchiha Xiao hurriedly said, "Lord Hokage, please don't say that. I'm sure young master Shinnosuke will become a pillar of Konoha and grow into a great shinobi!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed heartily at the flattery and patted Uchiha Xiao on the shoulder several times. Meanwhile, Uchiha Hirotomo fell into thought. Perhaps Uchiha Xiao would make a better clan head than I would.
The Sarutobi attendants then brought three cups of tea to the Hokage, the Uchiha Clan Head, and Uchiha Xiao. Just as the three of them took a sip—
Someone suddenly rushed in. It was the same Sarutobi clansman who had brought the earlier report. "R-Report, Lord Hokage, outside..." He spotted Uchiha Hirotomo and Uchiha Xiao, stopped, and fell silent.
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned. "The Uchiha Clan Head and my dear nephew Xiao are trusted allies. You can speak freely!"
Uchiha Xiao and Uchiha Hirotomo rose and bowed. Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and gestured for them to sit and listen.
"Yes, Lord Hokage! The heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans are here to pay a visit!" As he spoke, he glanced at the two Uchiha.
Sarutobi Hiruzen beamed. The Ino-Shika-Cho clans had stayed neutral before, neither supporting him nor opposing him. Now that all three had come together, his old friend Torifu Akimichi had surely spoken up for him!
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood and addressed Uchiha Hirotomo and Uchiha Xiao. "Please wait a moment. I'll go greet the three clan heads, and then we can all discuss matters together!"
"Of course," Uchiha Hirotomo replied with a smile. Uchiha Xiao sat nearby, sipping his tea. He'd guessed that the Ino-Shika-Cho clans had come to declare their support. Hmph. No matter what, the Uchiha Clan was the first to take a side. And in terms of influence and strength, we're the ones who matter more.
Just as Uchiha Xiao had expected, before long, the three clan heads entered the main hall behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, chatting and laughing.
When Uchiha Hirotomo saw who had arrived, he drew a sharp breath. Torifu Akimichi, one of the Second Hokage's Guard Platoon; the other two were Yamanaka Unkai and Nara Rokumei. These three were the clan heads of the current generation of Ino-Shika-Cho.
He then glanced at Uchiha Xiao. No wonder this guy insisted that I come visit with him in the middle of the night. Uchiha Xiao, meanwhile, continued sipping his tea without so much as a twitch of his eyelids.
Sarutobi Hiruzen introduced the Ino-Shika-Cho clan heads. "Ah, I forgot to tell you. Tonight really is a good night. The Uchiha Clan Head and one of his clan's outstanding young members came to pay me a visit too."
Sarutobi Hiruzen had said this on purpose. He wanted to see how both sides would react.