Inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade sat in silence, watching the scene unfold before her. Her heart ached everyone in the village already knew about the defection, and that was hardly something to be proud of.
The other four Great Ninja Villages, however, couldn't hide their delight. After all, who wouldn't relish seeing another village weaken when one of its own turns traitor? Especially when that traitor was Sasuke Uchiha, the sole surviving heir of the Uchiha clan.
But who among the Uchiha could possibly know the answer to the System's question? Konoha's information blackout was imperfect; details like Sasuke's early life remained hidden even from Leaf insiders. As an Uchiha, young Sasuke had grown up in the blazing shadow of his brother's achievements. Though talented, he was not even a tenth of Itachi's caliber. Itachi had soloed the Chūnin Exams at age ten, while Sasuke had barely registered on anyone's radar during the reign of Shisui and Itachi. An ostracized Uchiha child who would pay him much mind?
This dilemma tormented Konoha's leadership. Only a handful of peers had glimpsed Sasuke's childhood, and even parents, despite knowing certain clan secrets, could not fathom what lay in his heart.
Shikaku Nara hurried to contact his son, Shikamaru, for insight only to find him still out on the mission to retrieve Sasuke. The only channel left was the group chat.
[Shikaku Nara]: Shikamaru, have you learned anything about Sasuke?[Shikamaru Nara]: I'm not entirely sure, but it must be before the Uchiha massacre.[Shikaku Nara]: You idiot, thanks for stating the obvious.[Yoshino Nara]: Who do you think you're calling a...?[Shikaku Nara]: …wrong![Yoshino Nara]: What's wrong?[Shikaku Nara]: Everything.[Yoshino Nara]: Watch your tone.[Shikamaru Nara]: …what a shame.[Choji Akimichi]: Shikaku, your family's dynamic is rock-solid.[Ino Yamanaka]: I have nothing to add.[Shikaku Nara]: Ahem, zip it, everyone! What I meant: Sasuke's dream was to live with his parents. That's a promising insight.[Ino Yamanaka]: But that's not what you just said…
At that moment, Choji collapsed from exhaustion. He had mistaken his last ration pill for a lethal dose, unaware it was the Akimichi Butterfly Expansion Technique. In the Pig-Deer-Butterfly trio, he was the butterfly, not Ino.
[Shikaku Nara]: Ahem… Ino, dear, rest a moment while I get back to business.
The other Kage and every eavesdropping shinobi were stunned by Konoha's candid family drama.
[Fourth Raikage Darui]: Hah, Konoha really breeds talent. First Shisui vanishes, then Itachi defects, and now his brother joins the runaways.[Ōnoki]: Raikage makes a fair point. Konoha has slipped into decline.[Mizukage Mei Terumi]: If the Mist were in a position, we'd have taken Konoha by now.[Fourth Raikage Darui]: Water Shadow, spare me. How many deadwood does your village still harbor?[Ōnoki]: If we're ranking strength, I say the Hidden Stone is strongest. Agreed?[Tsunade]: Though Konoha is in a low period, you have no right to judge so casually.[Chiyo]: With the Kazekage seat vacant, let me speak. Despite past misunderstandings, the Sand remains Konoha's ally. I urge the other Kage to reconsider.[Fourth Raikage Darui]: Enough politics. How do we resolve today's crisis?[Ōnoki]: Since Konoha says Sasuke's dream was before the massacre, the answer must be his time with his parents.System: Judging Ōnoki's answer: Sasuke's dream was to live with his parents.System: Incorrect! Punishment: Send a voice message in a loli voice saying "I bought a little pinwheel, tee-hee whoosh ah-aba…"
Ōnoki balked at the absurd punishment, sure the System couldn't enforce it.
System: Due to Ōnoki's resistance, the System will take control and execute the punishment.
Moments later, a high-pitched voice crackled through everyone's speakers:
Fourth Raikage Darui clicked play and instantly froze in place. The same fate swept the Water Shadow, Sand and Leaf shinobi, and every ordinary ninja who dared to listen. Ōnoki felt his dignity collapse. Even his granddaughter looked at him in disbelief.
[Fourth Raikage Darui]: Sorry old man had urgent business, absolutely not because I was laughing![Mizukage Mei Terumi]: Likewise urgent documents arrived, not because I was laughing![Tsunade]: Ahem, my team found an ally safe so I got busy, definitely not because I was laughing![Chiyo]: At my age impossible to laugh unless forced. I was just told Gaara and Rock Lee completed their mission, not that I was chuckling!
Ōnoki fell silent, face in ruins.
[Kakashi Hatake]: Ahem, are we off topic here?[Shikaku Nara]: Ahem, perhaps… you're right, we've strayed.[Tsunade]: Kakashi, as Sasuke's mentor you should know best…
Kakashi, en route to Naruto and Sasuke with Pakura, slipped and plummeted into a thicket.
[Tsunade]: @Kakashi Hatake? Kakashi? If Jiraiya's new book sells out, I'll hijack all copies so you can't buy it![Kakashi Hatake]: Sasuke's childhood dream, if not his parents, then it must be his brother. His dream was to stay with his brother forever!System: Judging Kakashi's answer: Sasuke's dream was to stay with his brother.System: Correct! Reward: one-time Tsukuyomi Illusion Card.
[Tsunade]: Wow, I never expected you to get it right…[Kakashi Hatake]: ???
Even Kakashi was stunned he had just guessed. That Sasuke kid…