Natsuhiko had long been thinking about one question—
How exactly should he make contact with the Uchiha?
After all, such a vast "talent pool" was far too valuable to simply ignore.
Especially now… when the event that would shake not only the Uchiha clan, but the entirety of Konoha, was drawing closer by the day. At most, only a few months remained.
If he didn't establish any real contact soon, then later on… the difficulty of doing so would increase exponentially.
This wasn't speculation.
It was reality.
If Minato Namikaze were still alive, perhaps things wouldn't be so complicated. But the problem was—
He was dead.
And that changed everything.
"In the end… Minato Namikaze's death had too great an impact," Natsuhiko murmured softly, letting out a faint sigh. "So great it's almost enough to make one despair."
He raised his hand slightly, forming a simple gesture.
In an instant, the ANBU operatives who had been shadowing him dispersed without a word, vanishing into the surroundings as if they had never been there.
Natsuhiko remained where he stood, lost in thought for a moment longer.
Then—
His figure flickered.
Like a ghost, he disappeared on the spot.
When he reappeared, he was already inside the headquarters of his Third Division.
"Commander?"
Trout was in the middle of handling reports when he suddenly noticed the extra presence in the room. He froze for a split second before immediately bowing deeply.
"Commander."
"Relax. No need to be so formal," Natsuhiko said with a slight nod before getting straight to the point. "Is Kakashi here? And what about the person he brought back—how is she?"
"Captain Kakashi is currently training," Trout answered promptly. "As for the individual he brought back, she's being held in the detention block. As per your orders, we haven't made things difficult for her."
"Good work."
Natsuhiko smiled faintly.
"I have a task for you. Go inform the Third Hokage—I'll be paying him a visit this afternoon."
"The Third Hokage?" Trout blinked in surprise, but quickly nodded. "Understood. I'll go at once."
With that, he left the office briskly, clearly energized.
As for what fueled that enthusiasm, Natsuhiko neither cared nor intended to find out.
The waters within the ANBU ran deep.
And now that he had stepped into them, even if he could ensure he wouldn't drown… he still had to consider what might happen to those around him.
As far as his own strength was concerned—
In the current era, as long as he remained cautious, there were very few who could defeat him head-on.
And even if someone did manage to overpower him, escaping death was still well within his capabilities.
The Flying Thunder God Technique wasn't just terrifying in combat—
It was even more invaluable for survival.
Even in the past, relying solely on a beginner Sage Mode and his mastery of the Body Flicker Technique, Natsuhiko had already been among the best when it came to escape.
Now?
He was like a tiger with wings.
If he couldn't win, he could simply leave.
With his chakra reserves still intact, there were very few in the world who could truly corner him.
But that was his strength.
The Senju clan—the ones who had raised him—
They didn't share that same advantage.
"…Forget it. No point dwelling on that now. Handling my own matters comes first."
Stretching lazily, Natsuhiko turned and headed toward the detention block.
The Third Division's headquarters naturally had its own prison.
And unlike the standard Konoha detention facilities run by the Military Police—
This one was built to ANBU specifications.
Which meant—
It was on an entirely different level.
After all, the enemies the ANBU dealt with were rarely simple.
Once captured, before interrogation even began, preventing escape became the top priority.
Because of that, the design and security of their detention facilities had to be exceptionally strict—far beyond ordinary standards.
As Natsuhiko stepped into the prison, he moved without pause, heading straight toward the deepest cell.
There—
Pakura was being held.
Her condition was… miserable.
Heavy restraints bound her entire body, layered with multiple sealing formulas. A mask-like device covered her mouth, clearly meant to prevent her from speaking. At this point, aside from her vision, nearly all her senses had been tightly suppressed.
"Commander."
The ANBU guard stationed outside the cell bowed immediately upon seeing him.
Natsuhiko gave a slight nod.
"You can leave. I'll speak with her alone."
"Yes, Commander."
There was no hesitation. The guard accepted the order and quickly withdrew.
Silence settled over the corridor.
Natsuhiko looked into the cell, meeting Pakura's gaze. Hatred burned within her eyes—sharp, cutting, almost like blades.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Eyes like that could wound… but not kill.
After all, she wasn't an Uchiha.
Losing interest, Natsuhiko casually pulled out a kunai. As chakra flowed into it, the strange formula etched along its surface began to glow faintly.
Pakura frowned slightly, confusion flashing across her face.
She had no idea what this Konoha ANBU—her captor—intended to do.
But a moment later—
Her eyes widened.
Because standing before her, as if appearing out of thin air—
Was the Fourth Hokage of Konoha.
This bastard... he has such a close relationship with the Fourth? Why is the Hokage here? What is going on?
She had no way of knowing.
With her senses sealed, cut off from everything but sight, she couldn't hear a word, couldn't feel the flow of events beyond what she saw.
But one thing was certain—
If these two were meeting here, it had to be for something important.
"Hokage-sama."
The moment Minato Namikaze appeared, Natsuhiko gave a respectful bow.
"Natsuhiko-kun… why meet in a place like this?"
Minato glanced around the prison, his brows knitting slightly.
"Does this Pakura… have some hidden significance?"
"Nothing like that, Hokage,-sama" Natsuhiko replied, shaking his head lightly. "This location is simply… secure. With her here as a cover, certain discussions become easier to have."
Minato looked at him, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, but he didn't interrupt.
He wanted to hear what Natsuhiko had to say.
"As for Pakura… we've already discussed her situation last time."
Natsuhiko couldn't help but let a faint smile cross his lips before continuing.
"I plan to have Kakashi carry out a mission soon—he may set out in the coming days.
"And… today, someone named Uchiha Shin came to meet me."
"Uchiha Shin?"
Minato Namikaze froze at the name. It wasn't unfamiliar to him.
For someone like him, who had long worked to bring the Uchiha and Konoha back together, he naturally kept himself informed about the clan's internal affairs.
Uchiha Shin was an elder of the Uchiha clan—one of the rare Uchiha who shared a rational mindset and a philosophy similar to his own.
Unfortunately, Minato had never had the chance to meet him properly, much less engage in a real discussion.
Any policy involving the Uchiha was routinely blocked for one reason or another. On top of that, there were voices within the Uchiha clan that opposed him.
Those voices had begun to gain traction—a troubling sign—and the ANBU or Root had confirmed as much.
Minato had essentially no way of contacting them. Any attempt to change things directly was impossible.
And yet… to his surprise, this man—this Uchiha elder—had somehow sought out Natsuhiko.
"What exactly happened?" Minato asked, leaning forward with sudden interest. "How did he find you, and what did you talk about?"
"Why he focused on me specifically… I still need to verify that," Natsuhiko said, shaking his head lightly. "According to him, it was because of Kakashi that he became aware of me, which is why he came to find me. What he had to say… is quite interesting."
He recounted the events quickly, giving Minato the full picture. He explained Shin's thoughts, his understanding of Konoha's current situation, and whether those perceptions were accurate or not, Natsuhiko concealed nothing.
Even the fact that he had ordered the ANBU operatives to clear the area—he reported that truthfully as well.
Minato listened intently.
But as the details unfolded, certain points began to trouble him.
For instance—what Natsuhiko had mentioned about whether Uchiha Shin truly understood the internal divide at Konoha's highest levels.
That wasn't something an ordinary person could easily grasp.
To most, the Fourth Hokage and the Third Hokage were effectively one and the same—two figures, perhaps, but representing a single authority.
And that perception…
…was dangerous.
Once such a label took root, those already outside the Third Hokage's sphere of influence would find it nearly impossible to approach the Fourth.
Of course, everything had two sides.
The downside was obvious—but so was the upside.
Those already within the Third Hokage's circle would naturally draw closer to, and more readily support, the Fourth Hokage.
After Natsuhiko finished speaking, Minato let out a quiet, measured sigh. He fell into thought for a moment before finally asking,
"So… what are your thoughts, Natsuhiko-kun?" His voice carried a hint of hesitation. "If he intends to place someone in the ANBU to build a link between the clan and the Hokage… what do you think of that?"
"Hokage-sama," Natsuhiko interrupted before Minato could finish. "That's not something I have the authority to propose.
"You are the Hokage—you must make the decisions yourself. Decisions that are fully your own, independent and unbound."
Matters like this—Natsuhiko knew better than to speak his mind recklessly.
Even if he had thoughts, even if he had opinions, his position demanded restraint.
He couldn't afford to entangle himself unnecessarily, nor could he overstep his bounds. Such a misstep would be disastrous for his path toward the Hokage.
Still, subtle suggestions were possible. For example… revealing his true identity to Minato Namikaze.
"I understand." Minato exhaled softly and nodded with care. "I know what needs to be done. I'll grant you some authority. The next time you meet him, make sure it's completely private. Understood?"
"Understood...Hokage-sama." Natsuhiko replied with a bright, satisfied smile.
....
"Third Hokage-sama, that's roughly the situation," Natsuhiko reported, bowing slightly in the dim light of the ANBU headquarters as the sun sank toward the horizon.
After parting with Minato, he had come straight to the ANBU headquarters—but only now had the opportunity to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi.
And yet, Natsuhiko showed no sign of impatience. He maintained a demeanor of utmost respect, as if he were neither the Third Division commander nor Konoha's notorious Nightingale who gave Sunagakure headaches.
"I see…" Hiruzen murmured after listening quietly, a thoughtful expression on his face. Then, with a small embarrassed smile, he added, "Natsuhiko, you don't need to be so formal. You are the Third Division commander , and one of Konoha's greatest talents!"
"No, Hokage-sama," Natsuhiko replied, bowing his head even lower. "Respect has its place. You are the Hokage, and I am merely an ANBU commander. I will not forget my position—no matter my strength."
Hiruzen smiled warmly, clearly pleased, though he shook his head gently.
"Enough of that. Tell me your thoughts. After all, the Uchiha are your clan's old rivals."
Hiruzen tossed the question to Natsuhiko, but not without a sly sense of mischief—an attempt to unsettle him just slightly.
The rivalry between the Uchiha and the Senju had faded with time, and few remembered the details now. But Natsuhiko, as a member of the Senju clan, knew better.
By handing him the question, Hiruzen subtly signaled his intentions: he wanted Natsuhiko to steer the matter, to subtly refuse or manage it.
He trusted Natsuhiko, the one stationed close to Minato, to influence the situation—so Hiruzen wouldn't have to confront Minato directly.
Natsuhiko understood exactly what Hiruzen meant—but he gave a different answer.
"I think… it's worth trying to let some of them in."
"Hm?" Hiruzen froze at the response, then furrowed his brow. "Why? Explain."
"Hokage-sama," Natsuhiko said, his smile brightening, "there are two voices within the Uchiha, aren't there?
"Then why can't we let the one favorable to us take the lead?"
"You mean…" Hiruzen's eyes narrowed as understanding dawned. "Harness that voice… and let them fight among themselves?"
"No. That is the Hokage's idea, not mine."
"Is that so? Well… that does sound interesting."
...
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