The eighth floor of the Infinite City Shogunate Building.
Information from across the ninja world flowed without rest.
Like an endless tide, it poured in from all directions—
Turning into scrolls, reports, and secret letters that piled layer upon layer across the intelligence department's desks and sorting tables, nearly swallowing the workspace whole.
The air carried the faint scent of ink and paper, mixed with the warmth of gathered bodies.
Occasionally, quiet, rapid conversations and the soft scratching of pens could be heard.
Following the general's orders, Uchiha Hazuki—who had marked Nohara Rin with the "Return Seal" and resumed her duties—gently set down the analysis scroll regarding unusual movements in Amegakure.
The edge of the scroll tapped lightly against the desk.
She leaned back in her chair.
The stiffness from prolonged concentration spread from her shoulders down her spine.
She inhaled softly.
Then exhaled slowly.
Easing her breathing.
Raising a hand, Hazuki rubbed her slightly aching temples.
Her gaze swept across the now-expanded workspace—
Twice its previous size.
New clan members had joined.
Some sharp young minds.
Some experienced hands transferred from other roles.
Each focused on their tasks.
Some frowned as they scanned newly arrived intelligence.
Others compared maps and past data, whispering analysis.
Some wrote rapidly, compiling reports for submission.
Still busy.
Even more intense due to the surge of information.
Yet—
The entire department now moved with rhythm.
Orderly.
Efficient.
Alive.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Hazuki's lips.
The Uchiha clan—
A vast machine—
Now absorbing the world's information at unprecedented speed.
And she—
And her colleagues—
Were its nerve endings.
Every piece of intelligence—
A potential advantage on the battlefield.
A bargaining chip in strategy.
'Let's get some air.'
She pushed herself up.
The chair scraped softly against the floor.
Walking through the crowded aisle—
She stepped onto the small balcony outside.
Late autumn sunlight bathed the city.
No longer harsh—
But warm.
Like melted honey spilling across rooftops, streets, and the flowing crowds below.
The entire Infinite City shimmered with vitality.
In contrast to the silent room behind her—
Where the world's turbulence was quietly processed.
A gentle breeze brushed her face.
Carrying warmth—
And distant city noise.
Hazuki closed her eyes.
Letting her tense nerves slowly unwind.
Her heartbeat—
And the city's pulse—
Seemed to synchronize.
Then—
Footsteps.
Quick.
Urgent.
They stopped at the balcony entrance.
Without turning, Hazuki already sensed it.
That familiar chakra signature—
Tense.
Uchiha Kengo.
"Vice Minister Hazuki."
His voice was low.
In his hand—
A dark-colored scroll.
Marked with an urgent delivery seal.
"Emergency report from the northwest front."
"Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato's forces have clashed with Kumogakure again."
Hazuki frowned slightly.
She understood immediately.
No questions.
She simply extended her hand.
"Give it to me."
Then added—
"Notify your team."
"Prepare cross-analysis—before and after the battle."
"Understood."
As Kengo left—
Hazuki cast a brief glance downward.
At the bustling city below.
A trace of a smile lingered in her eyes.
Then she turned—
And returned inside.
Sixth floor.
A bright, spacious classroom.
Sunlight poured through wide windows onto polished wooden floors.
More than fifty Uchiha children sat upright.
Led by Uchiha Izumi.
Their backs straight.
Their usual mischief gone.
Big dark eyes fixed forward.
For safety and future planning—
These children, not yet old enough for the academy—
Had been relocated here.
Forming a temporary "Uchiha Children's Class."
Today—
They were learning clan history.
At the podium stood—
Uchiha Setsuna.
White-haired.
Stern.
Unyielding.
His voice calm—
Yet impossible to ignore.
He spoke of the Uchiha's glory.
Of battles against the Senju.
Of blood and pride.
He needed no shouting.
No discipline rod.
Just his gaze—
Sweeping across the room—
Was enough to silence even the most mischievous child.
"…Pride and power must rest upon discipline."
"Negligence will tarnish the Sharingan's honor."
The children only half understood.
But fear?
They understood perfectly.
Even in the back corner—
Koromon and Big Orange Cat sat unnaturally still.
Koromon tried to sit upright.
Eyes wide.
Struggling to understand.
("Iron-blooded… tarnish… sounds not tasty…")
Big Orange Cat curled tightly.
Not daring to look at Setsuna.
'This old man is terrifying…'
'Why did I come here…'
Time dragged.
Then—
Knock knock.
"Theory class ends."
Setsuna closed the book.
"Next—activity class."
Relief spread across the children's faces.
Though they dared not cheer.
Soon—
They arrived at an outdoor training ground.
Small hills.
Trees.
Obstacle structures.
"Alright, kids!"
"Today—capture the flag!"
Excitement exploded.
Groups formed quickly.
Izumi naturally became a leader.
Koromon and Big Orange joined her team.
"Koromon, can you breathe fire?"
"I can jump really high!"
Boing—
He bounced.
"Big Orange! Can you use ninjutsu?"
"Of course! I can cook fish!"
The game began.
Shouts filled the field.
Koromon dashed everywhere.
Scouting.
Distracting.
Laughing.
Big Orange hesitated at first.
Guarding the flag.
But—
Seeing Koromon having fun—
Hearing cheers—
Something stirred inside him.
When an enemy tried to sneak in—
"Meow!"
He pounced.
Cheers erupted.
"Big Orange is amazing!"
His eyes lit up.
Warmth filled his chest.
Maybe—
This wasn't so bad.
The battle intensified.
Izumi's team gained the advantage.
Final charge—
Victory within reach—
Then—
"PUYO—!!!"
Koromon—
Exploded in light.
Brilliant.
Pure.
Overwhelming.
Children froze.
"Koromon?!"
"Again?!"
Big Orange leapt.
"MEOW!! EVOLVING AGAIN?!"
The light expanded.
Koromon's body—
Changing.
Growing.
Teacher Kenjiro rushed forward.
Keeping children back.
"Stay calm."
"This is… growth."
The light pulsed—
Then shifted—
White—
To golden-yellow—
With flickers of orange-red.
Crack.
Crack.
Like an egg breaking.
BOOM!
Light shattered into particles.
And from it—
A new form emerged.
Taller.
Stronger.
Covered in yellow skin with blue stripes.
Green eyes.
Sharp teeth.
Clawed limbs.
A powerful tail.
A small dinosaur.
It looked around.
At stunned children.
At the teacher.
At Big Orange.
Then—
It grinned.
Brighter.
Wilder.
"I am—"
Agumon X!