From This Day Forward, the Tables Have Turned!

"Ever since the First Hokage passed away, the nations of the Shinobi World have coveted the Land of Fire and Konoha."

"The First Shinobi World War was not the end. More wars will come!"

Kagami Uchiha looked up, his gaze sharp as a blade, and delivered his orders one word at a time:

"From today onward, Konoha will no longer sit back and defend. We will take the initiative!"

"Ōnoki has massed troops at the border? Good. Danzo, leave at once for the Second Legion's garrison. Ready the troops and put the entire legion on a war footing. Be prepared to attack at any moment."

"We haven't fully recovered from the last war, but Iwagakure suffered heavy losses too. Their reserves cannot compare to ours."

Kagami Uchiha's presence surged, and his voice rang with resolve:

"With this battle, I will make one thing clear to the world: from this day forward, the tables have turned!"

His words rang with conviction. There was not a trace of hesitation in them; in that moment, his authority and decisiveness as Hokage were plain to see.

"Kagami, you..." Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated. He wanted to warn him of the risks of rushing into war, but Shimura Danzō caught hold of him.

Danzō fixed Kagami Uchiha with a blazing stare and answered loudly, "I accept your orders!"

Kagami, you must have been sent from heaven to help me achieve my dream!

To have a friend like you in this life—I could ask for nothing more.

Ōnoki, I hear your Dust Release is powerful?

My Wind Release is no less formidable!

With Kagami backing me, your head is mine!

He pulled himself from his thoughts, turned, and left the Hokage Office without looking back.

As Kagami Uchiha watched Danzō's resolute figure disappear, a complicated feeling stirred in his heart.

In his previous life, Shimura Danzō had borne the name of Konoha's shadow. Every dispute in the Shinobi World, great or small, and every ugly deed no one else wanted to own had been laid at his feet. People had mockingly called him the "Pot Kage."

Stubborn and brooding all his life, he had never made peace with himself, even at the end. He had spent his days trapped by power and suspicion, never truly finding release.

Perhaps the brief period when he had led Konoha as the unofficial fifth-and-a-half Hokage had been one of the few times he had felt any satisfaction.

But in this life, with Kagami himself holding the Hokage Position, Danzō would not have to bear all that darkness alone.

From now on, be the sharpest blade in my hand. Cut down every obstacle in my path.

A faint smile touched Kagami Uchiha's lips as he thought:

From this day forward, you will no longer be the shadow that bears Konoha's darkness.

You'll be my partner, the man who burns everything for Konoha: Fire's Joy!

Kagami Uchiha came back to himself and looked at the worry lingering on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face. His voice was calm, but his confidence left no room for argument.

"Don't worry, Hiruzen. Just have Root give Danzō its full support."

"No matter what happens, as long as I'm here, the Land of Fire will endure, and Konoha will stand."

Whose Konoha it will be by then is another matter!

Just then, bang! The door to the Hokage Office flew open and slammed against the wall!

Hatake Sakumo, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru stood shoulder to shoulder. The four young shinobi held themselves straight, their expressions solemn and resolute. They walked up to Kagami Uchiha and bowed together.

Hatake Sakumo stepped forward first, his voice ringing out. "Teacher, the border situation is urgent. The four of us request permission to fight and do our part to protect Konoha!"

Orochimaru nodded slightly; Tsunade clenched her fists, Chakra stirring faintly around her; and Jiraiya's expression was grave, his gaze firm. They were ready to head for the front.

Kagami Uchiha looked at the four spirited youths and tapped his fingertips lightly on the desk. "Oh? Are you truly ready to go to the battlefield?"

"A battlefield is a hundred times crueler than a training ground. Amid flashing blades, death can come at any moment. Have you thought this through?"

"Teacher, I'm your disciple. I will always be the blade in your hand!" Hatake Sakumo rested a hand on his sword hilt, his expression steady and his voice firm.

"Lord Hokage, if Iwagakure dares cross our border, Lord Jiraiya will teach them a lesson!" Jiraiya clenched his fists, brimming with youthful confidence.

"That's right, Big Brother Kagami! I'll protect the village Grandpa left behind!" Tsunade's young face tightened with determination, her fists clenched.

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and ran his tongue over his lip. His voice carried a cold edge. "If we let Iwagakure do as they please and disrupt the peace, it will probably interfere with my research."

At his side, Hiruzen Sarutobi hurried to object, his brow furrowed with concern:

"Tsunade, you're all still young. War hasn't broken out yet; the two sides are only facing off at the border. There's still room to negotiate. Rushing to the front would be too dangerous."

Kagami Uchiha raised a hand, gently cutting Hiruzen Sarutobi off. His tone remained unhurried.

"It's all right, Hiruzen. We should have faith in the village's future. Young people need to weather a few storms."

"With Danzō coordinating things at the front, their lives won't be at risk. The experience will do them good."

He turned to the four determined youths before him and said in a firm voice:

"Since you've made up your minds, go home and pack. Prepare for battle. Tomorrow morning, you'll leave for the border with Danzō."

All four bowed and accepted the order.

As Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru turned to leave, they bowed respectfully to their teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Teacher Sarutobi, we're off!"

"Don't worry. We'll be careful!"

"Hahaha, old man, you know how strong Lord Jiraiya is! Don't worry!"

The four wasted no more time. They hurried out of the Hokage Office and went home to pack for the front.

The decision was made. Looking at his eager disciples, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew further objections would change nothing. Still, he could not stop worrying about the front, especially their safety.

As the four prepared to head for the border, he thought it over, then stepped forward and addressed Kagami Uchiha.

"Kagami, why don't I go to the border as well?"

His expression was grave, his tone earnest. "If Ōnoki leads his troops there himself, Danzō may not be able to hold him off alone. And if Iwagakure deploys a Jinchūriki, things will become even less predictable. I could lend him a hand."

As he spoke, the steady, weighty presence of a Kage Level shinobi spread from him and filled the Hokage Office.

Kagami Uchiha quietly regarded Hiruzen Sarutobi, a man in the prime of his life, and felt a rush of emotion.

In later years, countless people would criticize the older Hiruzen for his indecision, poor leadership, and excessive caution. But no one had ever dared question his strength.

Right now, his body, Chakra, and mastery of Ninjutsu were all at their peak. He was a Kage Level powerhouse in every sense.

Even if Ōnoki himself came, with all his mastery of Dust Release, he might not gain the slightest advantage over Hiruzen Sarutobi at full strength.

Kagami Uchiha shook his head. He did not grant Hiruzen's request, but calmly explained:

"Hiruzen, you don't need to go to the Northwestern Border. I believe Iwagakure is probably testing us with this troop buildup. I sent Danzō there to give our forces practice."

"With Danzō there, even if Ōnoki arrives in person, he can hold him off. I intend to let this local conflict continue for two or three years."

"First, continued border clashes will temper the village's New Generation of shinobi and give them real combat experience."

"Second, this standoff will announce to the entire Shinobi World that Konoha will no longer hold back. Anyone who provokes us will face an immediate, forceful response."

His gaze remained steady as he continued:

"I need you to take command of the First Legion at the Land of Wind border."

"As I see it, Kumogakure has just signed an alliance with us and won't start a war anytime soon. Kirigakure is mired in internal strife, and the Third Mizukage has his hands full. They're in no position to fight abroad."

"Right now, the only uncertainty we need to watch for in the Shinobi World is Sunagakure."

"The Second Kazekage, Shamon, is still alive. He's devoted to researching Magnet Release and Jinchūriki, but his ambitions run deep."

"To keep Sunagakure from launching a surprise attack while we face Iwagakure, you need to hold the Southwestern Border."

"That's all. Go make your preparations, Hiruzen."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded solemnly and accepted the order. He left the Hokage Office to pack for his border assignment.

Silence settled over the office once more.

Kagami Uchiha rose slowly and walked to the window, where he gazed into the dark night.

Night covered all of Konoha. Scattered lights glowed in its homes, giving the village an air of peace, though dangerous currents were already stirring beneath it.

His gaze deepened. His expression stayed calm, but he gave a cold snort to himself.

If an age of chaos has arrived, then let's see who stands victorious when this conflict ends.