"Clan Head… I-I'm out of strength…"
Mikoto clutched her kunai tightly, her small frame trembling slightly as she struggled to steady her breathing. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, each inhale shallow, each exhale uneven. Fine beads of sweat gathered along her pale forehead, tracing faint lines down her face as her body reached its limit—both stamina and chakra completely drained.
Ryujin closed the guild interface and lifted his gaze toward her, observing her state for a brief moment before giving a faint nod.
"You did well," he said calmly. "Your talent is good. If you continue training like this, one day you'll be able to stand on your own as a capable ninja."
"Mm!"
Mikoto nodded immediately, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten as her eyes lit up with happiness.
But deep within her heart…
That wasn't what she truly wanted.
Strength didn't matter to her.
Standing alone didn't matter.
What she wanted—
Was simply to stay by his side.
Still, she kept those thoughts buried. If becoming stronger was what he expected, then she would become stronger. That alone was enough reason.
She lowered her gaze slightly before speaking again, her voice softer now. "Then… I'll head back first. I still have laundry to do tonight."
"Alright. Go on."
As she turned to leave, Ryujin reached out and gently patted her head.
The moment his hand rested there, all her fatigue seemed to vanish. A bright smile bloomed across her face, pure and unguarded, as if everything she had endured that day had been worth it for this single, fleeting moment.
"Clan Head… see you tomorrow!"
"Mm. Tomorrow."
He watched quietly as her small figure disappeared down the path, gradually fading into the distance.
The faint warmth in his expression vanished just as quickly.
Replaced—
By cold indifference.
At that exact moment, the air behind him distorted slightly, as if something invisible had shifted.
A masked shinobi clad in ANBU attire appeared soundlessly.
"Uchiha Clan Head," the man said, his voice steady, "the Hokage requests your presence. There are important matters to discuss."
Ryujin's gaze sharpened instantly.
"Next time… don't let me catch you watching me," he said coldly.
"Or you'll bear the consequences."
The ANBU ninja stiffened, a thin layer of cold sweat forming across his forehead.
He noticed me…?
What he didn't realize—
Was that those words weren't meant for him.
They were meant for someone else entirely.
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, clad in the robes of the Third Hokage. The crimson character for "Fire" adorned his hat, a symbol of the will he carried.
Before him, a crystal ball shimmered faintly.
Through it—
He had seen everything.
"…Uchiha Ryujin…"
His expression shifted subtly.
"To think his perception has reached this level… even detecting it."
With a low breath, he waved his hand, dispelling the jutsu. The surface of the crystal ball faded, returning to stillness.
Yet what lingered in his mind was not Ryujin's awareness.
But something else.
According to the intelligence reports, Uchiha Ryujin was cold, ruthless, and dangerously ambitious—a man who would not hesitate to act if it benefited him.
And yet, what he had just witnessed did not fully align with that image.
The way Ryujin had guided the young girl.
His patience.
His tone.
That faint, almost gentle smile.
For a brief moment, Hiruzen found himself questioning his own conclusions.
Was he truly as dangerous as they claimed?
Silence settled within the office.
Hiruzen raised his pipe slowly, taking a long drag before exhaling a thick cloud of smoke. It spread through the room, curling and drifting as his thoughts sank deeper into calculation.
Even at his age, the habit had never left him.
And with each breath—
His mind grew heavier.
Back in the Uchiha district, Ryujin returned home briefly, changing into a clean set of clothes before making his way toward the Hokage Tower.
So—
Hiruzen wanted to see him.
That alone meant something had shifted.
Ordinarily, the Hokage rarely summoned him directly. The relationship between the Sarutobi and Uchiha clans had never been harmonious. Beneath the surface, tension had always existed.
Since assuming the position of Hokage, many of Hiruzen's policies had subtly targeted not only the Uchiha, but even the Senju.
The reason was simple.
They were too strong.
Especially the Uchiha.
And with Ryujin now leading them, their influence had grown to the point where even the Senju could no longer suppress them.
For the sake of balance—
For the stability of the village—
Hiruzen had chosen to restrain them.
From his perspective, it was the correct decision.
Sacrifice one faction…
To preserve peace for the many.
That was the duty of a Hokage.
But from the Uchiha's perspective—
It was unacceptable.
They fought for the village.
And in return—
They were suppressed.
What kind of justice was that?
Ryujin's expression turned colder.
In his previous life, he had observed everything from afar, able to remain neutral.
But now—
He stood at the center of it all.
As the Clan Head of the Uchiha—
He was the one being targeted.
And he had no intention of enduring it.
That was why rebellion had become inevitable.
It wasn't just ambition.
It was inevitability.
Because if the Uchiha endured everything silently—
Then they wouldn't be the Uchiha.
They wouldn't possess that pride.
That arrogance.
That fire.
By the time Ryujin arrived at the Hokage Tower, his expression had already returned to its usual state—calm, composed, completely unreadable.
He stepped into the office.
Five figures were already present.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, seated at the center.
Beside him stood two advisors—Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.
Nearby, a senior elder of the Senju Clan remained silent, observing.
And finally—
The one Ryujin disliked the most.
Danzo Shimura.
At this point in time, Danzo still possessed both eyes. His presence was sharp, heavy, suffocating. The moment Ryujin entered, Danzo's gaze locked onto him without hesitation.
There was no attempt to hide it.
Hostility.
Cold.
Unyielding.
And beneath it—
Killing intent.
The air grew tense.
Invisible pressure filled the room, colliding silently between them.
And in that moment—
Without a single word spoken—
The game had already begun.