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The final struggle of the opposition clan's patriarch marked the collapse of the resistance once and for all.
Mei Terumi seized the moment to officially declare the outcome.
The Uchiha clan was now part of the Hidden Mist Village. The village would establish a Security Department, and its first appointed head would be Uchiha Haru of the Uchiha clan.
Another major event was settled.
Following the meeting, Uchiha Haru used Wood Release: Wood Clone Technique to send a clone by boat to inform the rest of the Uchiha clan of their successful integration and call them to the Hidden Mist Village.
As for himself, he remained in the village to "assist" Mei Terumi in stabilizing the situation.
At least, that was the official story.
In reality?
He was enjoying himself.
Yes, enjoying it — unapologetically.
After all the effort he'd expended to ensure the Uchiha clan's successful entry into the Hidden Mist Village, wasn't it only fair for him to indulge a little?
Besides, he didn't really have anything pressing to do.
The Security Department of the Hidden Mist was modeled after the Konoha Military Police Force — the same one the Uchiha had once overseen back in Konoha.
By all logic, with the establishment of a new department and him at its helm, he should have been drowning in responsibilities.
But strangely enough, that wasn't the case at all.
There was truly nothing that required his attention.
Why? Because the department was to be composed primarily of Uchiha clan members — and they hadn't arrived yet. Until they did, no personnel assignments could be made.
Furthermore, before he could even lift a finger, Chief Kaguya had already taken the initiative to handle all the menial administrative tasks for him.
As for the avalanche of matters that Mei Terumi, newly appointed as the Fifth Mizukage, had to deal with — Haru couldn't care less.
Mei was no novice. She was a seasoned kunoichi with the ability to govern independently.
And besides, she had Chief Kaguya by her side to support her, reducing the likelihood of any major missteps.
Haru was perfectly at ease.
This was exactly why he had backed Mei Terumi on April 20th.
Because she was capable — plain and simple.
Initially, Mei had been somewhat on edge. Even though she had ascended to the role of Mizukage, she feared Uchiha Haru might use his influence to sideline her, turning her into a mere figurehead.
But she soon realized she'd been overthinking things.
Her concerns were entirely unwarranted.
For over ten days, Haru did nothing but drink, relax, and enjoy himself, frequently seen watching women dance at the customs hall.
The very man who'd helped her ascend to power had now become the most hands-off "supervisor" in all of Kirigakure.
It was infuriating.
And yet, the days rolled by peacefully.
Uchiha Haru spent his time in luxury and comfort.
Compared to the relentless training and bloodshed of the past, his current life felt like paradise.
Of course, that didn't mean he had become lazy or complacent.
But with his current level of power, further progress wasn't something that could be achieved through sheer grind anymore.
Basic training still benefited lower-level shinobi, but for someone like Haru, the returns were negligible.
To improve further, he had only three paths forward.
The first was time — enduring the passage of it.
Only with long-term accumulation could he eventually experience a qualitative shift in power.
The second was the spark of combat — the insights found only in life-and-death battles.
It was often in those moments that one's latent potential surged and barriers were broken. But for Haru, finding an opponent who could truly threaten him was becoming increasingly difficult.
The third path was through opportunity.
These so-called "opportunities" were elusive and unique to each person. No one could define them exactly.
Haru didn't know what his opportunity might be, but he suspected it wouldn't come while sitting still. That's why he kept wandering through the village and attending events.
It wasn't just about pleasure-seeking.
On this particular day, Haru sat within the private residence of Chief Kaguya, sipping sake while watching a lineup of dancers and performers in the customs hall.
He'd done the same thing nearly every day since the Uchiha had joined the village.
Then, Chief Kaguya entered.
Accompanying him was a young boy, maybe ten years old.
He had white hair, jade-green eyes, and striking red eyeliner beneath his lids, with two crimson dots painted between his brows. His complexion was pale, almost sickly.
His features bore a faint resemblance to Chief Kaguya — yet more refined, even handsome.
Slender and fragile-looking, the boy gave off a strange, ghostly vibe.
"Mr. Haru," Chief Kaguya greeted, bowing respectfully.
Though Uchiha Haru now held a prestigious title as the head of the Security Department, the clan leader still referred to him as "Mr." when alone — a sign of continued reverence.
He nudged the boy beside him.
"Kimimaro, go ahead and greet Mr. Haru."
"…Mr. Haru."
The boy, Kimimaro, bowed politely.
Kimimaro?
Haru's brows lifted slightly as the name echoed in his mind. His eyes narrowed as he studied the young shinobi more closely.
"You're Kimimaro?" he asked.
"Yes. I'm Kimimaro of the Kaguya clan," the boy replied in a soft, delicate voice.
The head of the Kaguya clan smiled and said, "Mr. Haru, Kimimaro is my son."
"I've heard you mention his name before, so I thought I'd bring him to see you."
"Yes."
Uchiha Haru nodded slightly.
He still remembered the mention. It hadn't been long ago.
"Kimimaro, come here."
He waved at the boy.
Kimimaro glanced up at Haru, took a few tentative steps forward, then turned back to look at his father.
"Mr. Haru is calling you. What are you waiting for?" said the Kaguya clan leader.
Only then did Kimimaro quicken his pace. He trotted forward, small steps landing softly on the wooden floor. Once in front of Haru, he bowed deeply and said, "Mr. Haru."
Haru nodded.
His eyes scanned Kimimaro.
Just one glance, and Haru could tell this child wasn't ordinary.
There are very few people in this world born to draw the eye—born with brilliance in their bones, a presence that makes them shine like a beacon among the crowd. Uchiha Itachi had that quality. Now, so did Kimimaro.
But despite the undeniable talent, something was clearly wrong.
His emaciated frame and sickly complexion were not the marks of a healthy shinobi.
"Mr. Haru, I assume you've noticed… my son's condition isn't normal."
The Kaguya clan leader's expression darkened, shadowed by worry.
It was a rare shift from the ruthless warrior known across the battlefield. Even the most hardened shinobi, when faced with their child's suffering, can't help but reveal their humanity.
"Kimimaro is ill. A strange illness."
"I summoned the most renowned medical-nin in the Hidden Mist Village. Even she couldn't identify the disease, let alone treat it."
"Since then, I've tried everything. No method worked…"
At this, the Kaguya leader sighed. A heavy, helpless sound.
"I brought Kimimaro today for two reasons. First, Mr. Haru, since you once spoke of him, I thought it only right to let you meet him."
"Second…" His voice faltered slightly. "I was hoping—perhaps foolishly—that you might know of some way to treat this strange illness."
His gaze, heavy with paternal hope, fell upon Haru.
To him, Uchiha Haru was nothing short of a miracle worker. If anyone in this world could offer even a sliver of hope, it would be this man.
But fate wasn't kind.
Haru may have mastered countless extraordinary abilities—war techniques capable of annihilation, illusions that twisted reality, chakra control that defied common logic—but none of them were meant to save lives.
"I don't know medical ninjutsu."
Haru's tone was regretful, his voice quiet.
Unless he wielded the powers of the Sage of Six Paths, he had no way to help.
"I see. Thank you."
The Kaguya chief gave a bitter smile and shook his head. He had prepared himself for this answer, but hearing it aloud still struck like a kunai to the gut.
Of course… Haru wasn't a healer. He was a warrior. How could he be expected to save a dying child?
It had all been a fantasy.
It seemed his son… was doomed.
The cruelest pain in this world is for a parent to bury their child. Though both father and son had white hair, the sorrow in the thought was the same.
The Kaguya leader sighed again, his expression grim.
Haru looked from the father to the son, an unusual weight pressing on his chest.
He knew Kimimaro's fate. In the original Naruto world, Kimimaro had fallen into the hands of Orochimaru—a scientific genius, twisted and brilliant. Even with all his intellect, Orochimaru failed to cure the boy.
Kimimaro still died.
That alone said everything about the difficulty of the disease.
If Orochimaru couldn't do it, what chance did others have?
Leave it to the ordinary medical-nin? Impossible.
But then—medical-nin…
A name flickered through Haru's mind. A woman whose skill with healing surpassed anyone else in the shinobi world.
If she was second-best, no one could claim the top.
If anyone could save Kimimaro, it was her.
"Chief Kaguya," Haru said slowly, his voice calm but serious, "don't despair just yet. While I can't help, there may be someone who can."
The clan leader's eyes lit up instantly.
He knew Haru wouldn't speak lightly. If he said there was a chance, then it wasn't hollow hope.
"Mr. Haru, who is it?"
"I'm only saying there's a possibility—not a promise."
"Chief Kaguya, I need you to prepare yourself."
Haru's expression turned grim.
The greater the hope, the deeper the despair. He wouldn't offer blind optimism—not in this world. Not to a man about to watch his son slip away.
Better to speak harsh truths now, than break someone completely later.
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