The giant bull glared at Rasa with pure defiance. Not a flicker of fear in those glowing red eyes.
Rasa narrowed his gaze. "Magnet Release: Gold Dust Spear!"
A gleaming spear of gold dust formed in the air and shot forward like a missile. It stopped an inch from the bull's face with a sharp whoosh.
The bull didn't even blink.
"Why aren't you flinching?" Rasa muttered. "Because you're not scared of dying, huh?"
He could read it plain as day in those stubborn eyes. This wasn't some enemy he could just crush. This was a summoning beast—tame it and he'd have a loyal powerhouse for Sunagakure. One that could haul massive loads across the desert without breaking a sweat. He'd already planned exactly how to use it.
"Guess I'm just gonna have to wear you down," Rasa said with a sigh. "Let's see who breaks first—you or my patience."
---
In Konoha the dust had finally settled on Rin Nohara's death.
Danzo had dropped the full investigation report on the Uchiha clan's involvement, and just like that the whole village moved on. No one was digging deeper. Hiruzen filed it away in the secret archives and closed the book.
Kakashi stared toward the Uchiha compound, jaw tight.
"Uchiha… why Rin? Was it because of Obito? Did they think she got him killed by the Rock ninja? Or was it payback against Sensei Minato?"
He knew Obito had never been close with the main clan. Just a fringe guy. Shisui was the real prodigy. Itachi was the future leader. The rebels had even killed Uchiha Sangaku, so they sure as hell didn't give a damn about Obito.
"Obito and Sensei Minato talked a lot before the rebellion. Probably hoped Minato could fix things between the clan and the village. But he couldn't. So now they hate him for it."
Kakashi's gut told him that was the real reason.
Fugaku shook his head slowly in the clan compound.
"My father made the wrong call back then. The Uchiha can only count on themselves. Once you lose that and lean on others, there's no fairness left. The ones still in Konoha… they've got no future. I just hope they find their own path before it's too late. Before they end up like the Uzumaki clan."
His eyes went distant. Where the hell was the future for any ninja clan these days?
Shisui appeared in front of Minato without warning.
"Lord Minato."
Minato blinked out of his thoughts. Rin's death still sat heavy, but Hiruzen and Danzo had shut it down with ironclad proof. He had bigger things to worry about anyway—Kushina's belly was huge now. Their kid was coming any day. Nothing else came close.
"Shisui… what's on your mind?"
Shisui didn't waste time. "Lord Minato, can you teach me how to save the Uchiha?"
Minato went quiet for a long moment, then let out a heavy breath.
"Shisui, things aren't that bad yet. The village won't lump you in with the rebels. Hiruzen-sama won't let that happen. You've got to believe in him the way I do. Give the village time. Show them you're still one of us. Contribute. I know it's not fair—you got dragged into this mess—but that's the hand you were dealt."
He paused, studying the young Uchiha's face.
"If you trust me, I can give you a real chance to prove yourself. Something big."
Shisui's eyes lit up. "What kind of chance, Lord Minato?"
Minato's voice dropped. "Intelligence says Grass Village pulled some dirty moves against Konoha during the war. The village is gearing up to hit them hard—payback for every Leaf ninja they hurt. I can get you on that strike team."
Shisui blinked, confused for a second. Grass Village had gone after Sunagakure, sure… but Konoha too? That tiny village had that much nerve?