A few days later, a meeting of the Konoha High Command was held in a conference room inside the Hokage Building, which was still being rebuilt. The atmosphere was so heavy it felt like you could wring water from it.
Besides Jiraiya, who was temporarily filling the Hokage's role, the meeting room held the two Hokage Advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, as well as Shimura Danzō. Ling, the central subject of discussion, had been permitted to attend and sat below Jiraiya at his side. He had changed into clean, dark civilian clothes. The bandages on his left arm had been removed, leaving only faint scars. His face was still somewhat pale, but his expression was calm and unreadable.
"Let's begin." Utatane Koharu spoke first, her voice dry as her sharp gaze settled on Ling. "Uchiha Ling, you need to give us a clear explanation regarding yourself and the organization under your command, known as 'Dawn Wind.' Especially at this sensitive time, when the village has only just suffered a devastating blow."
Mitokado Homura pushed up his glasses and added, "As far as we know, 'Dawn Wind' includes several Uchiha survivors whose identities are unknown, as well as members of the Kaguya Clan and people with Ice Release Kekkei Genkai. It's only natural to question the purpose of this force gathering around a six-year-old child."
Danzō sat with his eyes closed, as if the matter had nothing to do with him, but an invisible pressure continued to weigh over the conference room.
Jiraiya cleared his throat. "As for the Uchiha survivors, Ling explained in his previous report that he rescued some noncombatants amid the chaos of the clan's massacre. The Third knew about it before he died and tacitly allowed them to remain hidden. As for Haku and Kimimaro, Ling encountered them while he was away from the village. They were orphans with tragic pasts, possessing Kekkei Genkai but with nowhere to turn. Ling took them in and gave them shelter. I believe this is proof of his willingness to protect his companions."
"Willingness?" Danzō finally opened his one eye, his voice icy. "Jiraiya, you're far too naive. Taking in dangerous Kekkei Genkai users and privately forming an armed force are not things an ordinary child would do—or could do. Uchiha Ling, your hidden strength, your mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique, and the cold efficiency you displayed in this war all prove that you're not as simple as you appear. What, exactly, is your goal?"
Everyone's eyes turned to Ling.
Ling slowly raised his head and met Danzō's scrutinizing gaze. His voice remained steady. "My goal has never changed. To survive and protect the people I want to protect."
He paused and glanced at the two advisors. "As for 'Dawn Wind,' it was originally nothing more than a shadow meant to ensure our survival. But after this war, I realized that simply hiding in the dark can't truly keep us safe. Konoha needs strength to rebuild and defend itself against future threats. 'Dawn Wind' is willing to become part of that strength and serve the village in the open."
"Easy to say." Mitokado Homura frowned. "How can we ensure your loyalty? How can we regulate a force we can't control?"
"We're willing to accept oversight and follow the village's rules," Ling replied. "But on one condition: we need official status—status that won't let us be casually branded as a 'threat' and marked for 'elimination.' We can serve as a special operations unit, independent of Anbu and Root, reporting directly to the Hokage and carrying out special missions."
This was the plan Ling and Jiraiya had discussed beforehand. Securing a relatively independent and legitimate position was the best way forward for Dawn Wind.
"Absurd!" Danzō slammed his hand on the table. "A unit made up of traitors' descendants and Kekkei Genkai users of unknown origins, reporting directly to the Hokage? And who would this Hokage be? You, Jiraiya?"
The atmosphere in the conference room immediately turned explosive.
"Danzō!" Jiraiya's expression darkened.
"I believe Uchiha Ling and the forces under his command are far too dangerous to be incorporated into the village's system," Danzō said without backing down, his one eye glinting coldly. "They should be disbanded, and their members subjected to strict screening. The dangerous ones must be placed under control! Especially Uzumaki Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. He absolutely cannot remain under Ling's guardianship!"
At last, Danzō had revealed his true intentions, once again setting his sights on Naruto.
Ling's gaze turned icy. His hands, resting on his knees, curled slightly into fists. He would never allow anyone to go after Naruto.
"Elder Danzō," Ling said. His voice was not loud, yet it carried with strange force. "You seem to have forgotten that when the village was in its greatest danger, the 'dangerous ones' you speak of were the ones fighting Sunagakure and the Sound Ninja with their lives. They were the ones clearing out enemy infiltrators—and even stopping certain people from exploiting the chaos for personal gain."
His meaning was clear. He looked straight at Danzō without the slightest attempt to hide it.
Danzō's expression darkened at once.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged glances. Both saw the concern and hesitation in the other's eyes. Ling's words had struck at facts they did not want to investigate, yet could not entirely ignore. Some of Danzō's actions during the war had indeed seemed suspicious. And Uchiha Ling's demonstrated strength and potential, along with the fact that he had protected the Jinchūriki, made it difficult for them to reach a quick decision.
"This is a serious matter and requires careful consideration," Utatane Koharu finally said, choosing to delay the decision. "For now, our top priority is stabilizing the village and electing a new Hokage. We'll decide what to do about Uchiha Ling and 'Dawn Wind' after the new Hokage takes office."
Ling had expected this outcome. As long as they did not immediately label him an enemy, there was room to maneuver.
Danzō snorted and said nothing more, but the scheming in his one eye grew more intense.
The meeting ended on an unpleasant note.
Ling walked out of the Hokage Building. The setting sun cast a faint warmth over him, but it did nothing to ease the heaviness in his heart. He knew Danzō would never let the matter rest. The election of the new Hokage would be another struggle.
He looked up at the sky and took a deep breath. Just then, his senses picked up a familiar chakra signature, chaotic and resolute, rapidly moving away from Konoha.
It was Sasuke!
Ling's pupils contracted. He immediately activated the Flying Thunder God, vanishing from the spot.
In the next instant, he appeared on a rise outside Konoha. Below, Uchiha Sasuke carried a small pack and walked toward the village gates without looking back. His figure was resolute and lonely, and the unsettling darkness of the Cursed Seal clung to him.
"Sasuke." Ling's voice sounded from behind him.
Sasuke stopped but did not turn around. His voice was hoarse and cold. "What are you doing here? Trying to stop me?"
"You're going to find Orochimaru?" Ling asked calmly.
"So what if I am?" Sasuke spun around, madness burning in his dark eyes. "If I stay in Konoha, I'll never get the strength to kill that man! Only Orochimaru—only the Cursed Seal he gave me—can make me stronger! I want power! I don't care what it takes!"
He looked at Ling, his eyes filled with jealousy and resentment, as well as the helplessness of someone laid bare. "Of course you wouldn't understand! You're so powerful. You have everything! And I...I have nothing but hatred!"
Ling watched him in silence. He understood Sasuke's pain and despair, but he couldn't accept this path.
"There are many ways to gain strength," Ling said slowly. "If you throw in your lot with a demon, the demon will eventually devour you."
"Better than living on like a hypocrite!" Sasuke roared. "You have so much power, yet you're willing to let the people who killed our clan hold you captive in the village! Have you forgotten the Uchiha's hatred?!"
"I haven't forgotten." Ling's voice remained calm, but carried a heavy force. "But I know that as long as you're alive, there's a future. Once you're dead, there's nothing left."
"My future is revenge!" Sasuke stopped looking at him, turned, and strode away without hesitation. "Don't try to stop me. Otherwise, I'll kill you too."
Ling watched Sasuke's figure disappear into the forest swallowed by dusk. In the end, he made no move to stop him. He knew that no words could bring Sasuke back now. Forcing him to stay would only cause him more pain, perhaps even twist him beyond repair.
This was the path Sasuke had chosen for himself. All Ling could do was watch.
Still, the sense of responsibility he felt as an "older brother" brought a faint pang of pain.
He stood there until Sasuke's chakra signature had completely vanished from his senses. The evening wind stirred his black hair, carrying a chill.
Naruto needed him. The struggle within the village needed him. Dawn Wind's future needed him. He had no time to sink into useless sorrow.
He turned and activated the Flying Thunder God, vanishing from the spot.
Night in Konoha remained long. And the boy who had left was embarking on a thorn-covered path of no return.
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