Uchiha Ang's words sent a chill down everyone's spine.
As the leader of the Dove Faction, he had always treated his clansmen with a gentle and amiable demeanor.
No one expected someone with his thick eyebrows and honest face to propose such a plan.
But after thinking it through, they had to admit—it was a good one.
According to Uchiha Ang, the Sharingan could only be awakened through intense emotional upheaval.
And what could trigger stronger emotions than the sudden death of a parent one lived with every day?
Having one parent pretend would make the tragedy feel real, making it harder to detect any deception.
Moreover, this trick wouldn't wear thin even if used repeatedly—and the reason was simple:
Those who've been soaked by rain want to kick over someone else's umbrella, too.
That's exactly how the Sorting Ceremony at Hogwarts was preserved.
So even though the method sounded questionable, it was still worth trying—after all, it could only benefit their children.
The Uchiha were known for being swift and decisive. They didn't drag their feet.
The moment the meeting ended, they began selecting people to carry out the plan.
Careful selection was necessary, considering the existence of kekkei genkai and related genetic disorders.
Too young, and their underdeveloped bodies might not be ready—the early awakening of the Sharingan could become a burden.
So children who were too young were ruled out, just to be safe.
After much sifting, they picked out a dozen "lucky ones."
After being properly scolded by their conscience, the elders joined the fun.
They exchanged glances—and grinned mischievously.
Later on, some parents even bought cameras to record their children's socially devastating moments.
From then on, every child who awakened their Sharingan gained a traumatic black mark on their past they'd rather forget.
Uchiha Hikaru, who was eating at the time, suddenly sneezed—drawing a concerned look from Mito Uzumaki.
He waved it off and said:
"It's nothing, just a tickle in my nose."
Though he said that, for some reason, a chill crept up his spine.
Something in the air told him... he was being made a scapegoat for something big.
Turning to Orochimaru, Uchiha Hikaru said:
"It's already late. Why not spend the night here? We can go to school together tomorrow."
Orochimaru, still chewing, could only nod in agreement.
At that moment, Tsunade scooted closer, cupping her cheeks in both hands and blinking her large eyes as she playfully asked:
"Hikaru~ what's the surprise you promised me a few days ago?"
Since she was little, Tsunade had trouble making friends. Her status and temperament isolated her—even from other Senju kids.
In truth, Uchiha Hikaru was her first real friend.
Outside of her parents and grandmother, no one had ever promised her a surprise.
Ever since she heard the word "surprise," her impatient heart had been crawling with curiosity like bugs under her skin.
She was dying to know what Hikaru had in store.
Seeing that he was in a good mood tonight, she decided to make her move.
Though her attempt at acting cute was honestly adorable, Uchiha Hikaru just chuckled and resumed eating.
But Tsunade wasn't giving up so easily.
She picked up her chopsticks, snatched a drumstick, and dropped it into Hikaru's bowl with a smile.
"Hikaru-nii, tell me~ please?"
Her sudden move made Hikaru's skin crawl.
He was about to refuse again when he caught a glimpse of her reddened eyes and that look of quiet anticipation.
That pitiful expression made him freeze.
Mito Uzumaki had considered most of the effects of adopting Uchiha Hikaru…
But she'd overlooked how Tsunade felt.
Tsunade was happy to have gained a new friend. But she also resented Hikaru a little.
She hated that he had taken some of her grandmother's love, and diverted the attention of their family.
Especially the contrast in how Mito treated the two—it left a sting.
As a child, Tsunade didn't think about why Mito acted differently. She only cared about the outcome.
The pressure from school, plus the emotional blow she took that afternoon, became the last straw that broke the camel's back.
Tsunade—who might've never stooped to acting cute before—was now doing exactly that.
All she wanted was a bit of comfort from Hikaru.
Hikaru didn't know exactly what she was thinking, but he could tell something was off.
And so, as if guided by instinct, he changed his mind and said:
"Alright. Since you want to know so badly, come with me."
As he said that, he looked apologetically at Orochimaru.
"Sorry. It's a surprise for Tsunade, so I can't take you along."
Orochimaru shook his head.
"Don't worry. I've already troubled you enough today. I'm happy as is."
Tsunade wiped her eyes upon hearing that the plan was changing—and responded with a bright smile.
As soon as Orochimaru finished speaking, she eagerly dragged Hikaru out of the room.
The adults in the dining hall exchanged silent glances, and Senju Yosuke quietly followed behind the two.
After leaving the dining room, Tsunade stopped and turned around, waiting for Hikaru to make his move.
He smiled at her, then glanced at the trailing Senju Yosuke, saying nothing.
Two kids wandering off at night—it made sense for an adult to tail them.
Especially when one was the heiress of the Senju, and the other, a budding village prodigy.
If I were a spy and saw those two, I'd take the risk too.
"Tsunade, have you ever seen fireworks?"
She looked a bit disappointed.
Fireworks weren't exactly rare—she'd seen plenty at Konoha festivals.
But she still forced a smile and replied:
"Yeah. During festivals, Konoha always puts on a fireworks show. They're really pretty."
Hikaru caught the flicker of disappointment on her face but didn't explain. He simply said:
"Good. Then I'll take you to where the fireworks are."
With that, he picked her up and Body Flickered away.
As the world blurred past her, Tsunade clung to Hikaru, awed by the speed and power he possessed.
That strength—and the time they'd spent together—made her feel safe. She instinctively rested her cheek against his back.
Before long, they stopped.
She opened her eyes and found that they had arrived at the highest point in Konoha: the Hokage Rock.
"We're here. You can hop down now."
Hearing his slightly muffled voice near her ear, Tsunade blushed.
She quickly jumped off his back, pretending nothing had happened.
In that moment, she was cutely flustered.
Hikaru chuckled softly. But unlike before, he didn't tease her. Instead, he gently said:
"Tsunade, have you ever seen fireworks… shaped like yourself?"
As the words left his mouth, a massive blaze shot into the sky.
In the next instant, a giant firework exploded high above Konoha—forming a smiling image of Tsunade's face.
And it lit up her heart.