All Right, If They Cross the River, Then I'll...

"Clan Head Shinji."

"Clan Head Shinji!"

"Clan Head Shinji..."

This meeting was nothing like the last. As soon as Shinji entered, the Clan Leaders rose and nodded to him in greeting.

No one had any objections to a seventeen-year-old...

No, an eighteen-year-old Clan Head had an objection.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened. "Shinji's here. Sit."

"Oh..."

Shinji sat below Hiruzen Sarutobi and after Hyuga Hiashi. The seat had always been empty, as though it had been reserved for the Uchiha, Konoha's second-largest clan.

"Good. Everyone's here."

Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his brow and coughed. "I'll say it again. An envoy from Kirigakure will arrive tomorrow afternoon. Their purpose is still unknown."

Resting his chin on his hand, Shinji looked around the room. "Lord Hokage, is this little matter what everyone's been arguing about? Did celebrating the New Year scare the courage out of you all?"

"No!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head.

"If they were only sending an envoy, there'd be no need for a fuss. What matters is the news from the border: Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure are all sending reinforcements toward it..."

"Hmm..."

Shinji fell into thought.

Kirigakure was one thing, but Kumogakure and Iwagakure?

Ōnoki was a troublesome old bastard. A and Killer B hadn't appeared at the border in years. Had those two brothers finally grown strong enough to come out and stretch their legs?

That could be tricky...

But still.

Obito controlled Yagura and could therefore mobilize Kirigakure. A might be all muscle, but he was shrewd. Why would he throw in his lot with a crippled Kirigakure?

To stab an ally in the back and split the spoils?

It wasn't impossible.

But what was Ōnoki's reason?

Had that old bastard grown restless and decided to take a bite out of Konoha?

Shinji frowned.

"Clan Head Nara, what do you think?"

Shinji turned to Shikaku Nara.

Shikaku Nara paused, then said helplessly, "I can't make sense of it. In theory, the isolated Land of Water and Kirigakure have no reason to suddenly posture for an attack. They'd be digging their own grave. Even with Iwagakure and Kumogakure as allies, a weakened Kirigakure couldn't bear the cost of destroying Konoha."

"Both sides suffered losses in the last Shinobi World War, but they clearly needed longer to recover. They've spent the past few years fighting among themselves. Could they be trying to resolve their internal strife through an external war? But hastily forming an alliance with Kumogakure would be inviting wolves into their home. They could easily end up carved apart and devoured..."

"As for Iwagakure, I don't know. Ōnoki is a respected veteran. He wouldn't start a major conflict lightly. Perhaps he just wants to pressure Konoha into making concessions?"

Shikaku Nara frowned. "That's... about all I've got!"

Shinji nodded.

Konoha's foremost strategist knew his stuff. He simply lacked the right information. Otherwise, he might really have stripped Obito bare.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said wearily, "Things being what they are, I called you here today to discuss tomorrow's reception. Does anyone have any ideas?"

"Not really."

Shinji gave no one else a chance to speak.

"They're only an envoy from Kirigakure. There's no need to trouble the Clan Heads here. Third Hokage, I suggest sending a few people to greet them. Anyone will do."

Utatane Koharu hesitated. "But if something goes wrong, won't they use it against us as a reason to start a war?"

"A war?!"

Shinji grinned. "All right, then. If they start a war, we'll start one too!"

Everyone: "..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped the table in frustration. "Shinji, rein it in."

"Oh."

Shinji smiled. "I just don't think it matters. If they want to fight, they'll fight. If they're determined to pick a quarrel and start a war, it won't matter who goes to meet them."

"A few people die somewhere in the Land of Fire, and Kirigakure can send in its troops at once. Advisor Utatane, don't you think I have a point?"

The Clan Heads nodded one after another.

Hyuga Hiashi's expression darkened. No one knew what he was thinking.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked around and grasped what the clans wanted.

It was obvious.

After the Hyuga princess's kidnapping, none of them wanted to be dragged into trouble for no reason.

"Very well. I'll arrange the reception. While the Kirigakure envoy is here, Konoha will be under tight security! We cannot let history repeat itself!"

"No!"

Shinji rose with a cold laugh. "Third Hokage, there's no need for that. Wouldn't tightening security make Konoha look frightened? Like we've lost our nerve?"

"Let them come! The village can carry on as usual. I'll have Shisui assign more officers from the Konoha Military Police Force to patrol. If we want to show our strength, who better than the Uchiha Clan?"

Shinji gave a fierce grin, as though some Sealing on him had come undone.

Everyone's mouths twitched.

Lately, Shinji had mostly relied on talk. Only now did they suddenly remember that this was a man who had launched attacks while stationed at the border.

A ruthless man who had given Kumogakure no peace!

A true warmonger!

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Shinji's fervent expression, momentarily stunned.

For a moment, he felt dazed.

Sometimes he truly couldn't tell what Shinji Uchiha wanted.

Could Shinji really have the village's interests at heart?

After all.

The emotions a person showed without thinking were the most genuine.

To Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shinji Uchiha looked like someone who simply wanted to stand with the village and repel anyone who came against it!

That alone would disprove the rumors spreading outside about an Uchiha "coup."

It might stop their enemies from considering war at all.

After all, the Uchiha Clan was a force to be reckoned with throughout the Shinobi World. No shinobi village could easily dismiss its strength!

At the thought.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sank into contemplation.

"Third Hokage?"

Shinji frowned at Sarutobi.

That old bastard!

We're in the middle of a meeting, and you're openly daydreaming. Can you still do your job as Hokage?

"Ah! Oh! Right! Yes, we'll do as Shinji says!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood.

He swept his gaze across the room, his expression stern.

"Indeed, it's time we took a harder line. Age made me lose my resolve. I no longer had the courage to stake everything on one fight..."

"But now..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Shinji.

He had to admit how important it was for a village to have a powerful pillar—especially one who could hold Tailed Beasts in check.

"Let this visit from the Kirigakure envoy send a message to the outside world: Konoha is not a tiger whose whiskers anyone can pull!"

"Good!"

Shinji led the applause, giving the old man plenty of face.

The others exchanged looks, surprised to see Hiruzen Sarutobi yield at home while taking a hard line against outsiders. Then they politely joined in, and a scattering of applause filled the room.

"Meeting adjourned! Shinji, stay behind!"

Everyone else left.

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to Shinji Uchiha.

His expression was earnest. "Shinji... thank you. Should we assign someone else to investigate the Akatsuki? I've thought it over, and perhaps it would be better for you to remain in the village."

Shinji paused.

Then he smiled and waved a hand. "No need. I can deter those people from anywhere in the Shinobi World!"

As he spoke.

Shinji produced a kunai as if by magic.

A faint current of Chakra flowed across it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened. "Is that a Flying Thunder God Kunai? You really learned it?!"

Shinji thought for a moment. "It wasn't as hard as I'd imagined. By the way, Third Hokage, do you have any Flying Thunder God Notes from the Fourth Hokage or the Second Hokage?"

"I'd like to read them and see whether I can develop a few techniques..."

"All right... I'll see what I can find."

"Third Hokage, are you all right? You don't look well."

"Oh, I'm fine."

Hiruzen Sarutobi hid his shock.

He covered his mouth with a fist and coughed, then clumsily changed the subject. "By the way, Shinji, where's Shisui? As head of the Konoha Military Police Force, why didn't he attend the meeting?"

Shinji looked innocent. "Well... how would I know?!"

Sasuke had been downcast lately.

No matter how hard he racked his little brain, he couldn't understand.

Why had the person he called "big brother" quietly defected from the clan and killed that kind older girl, Uchiha Izumi?

Today.

Sasuke had finally slipped away from his "watchers" and escaped the house.

For the first time, he truly set foot in the village called Konoha.

The New Year had just passed.

Festive cheer filled every corner of the village.

Sasuke was only eight, and the gloom in his heart soon began to lift.

The bustling streets dazzled him. His eyes shone with Hikari as he looked around with a child's curiosity.

But soon.

A string of shrill curses caught his attention.

"You monster! Get out of my shop! I won't sell you anything!"

"Oh no! It's that cursed kid! Let's keep our distance!"

"Don't go near him, or his bad luck will rub off on you!"

Sasuke looked over curiously. A crowd of adults had formed a circle. He squeezed through and saw a blond kid being cursed at, fingers jabbing toward his face.

The kid kept his head down without a word. Snot hung from his nose, his face and clothes were filthy, and his greasy hair stuck up in matted clumps with rotten vegetable leaves caught in it.

He looked utterly wronged.

"...What's this?"

Sasuke frowned. His hard-won good mood vanished.