Uchiha Yama, dressed in a black trench coat, sat upright in his study. Even in his early forties, streaks of white already showed in his hair, and the spark he once had seemed diminished compared to a few years ago.
As head of Konoha's foremost clan, he should have seemed in command, but the past two years had been far from smooth — one problem after another.
"You saw it with your own eyes?" Yama asked, lifting his teacup and blowing on the tea leaves.
"Yes, everything I reported is true. At that moment, I was less than five hundred meters from the Third Kazekage," Uchiha Han responded earnestly.
Yama nodded slowly, considering the information, then asked, "What did Hayashi do today?"
"He was strolling through the clan grounds with a child from the Uzumaki family."
Yama let out a faint smile. "He's quite at ease. Were the clan members welcoming?"
"Yes."
Uchiha Han stood abruptly and added, "On our way back, I ordered the monitoring shinobi not to spread any details about what happened. I don't know who leaked it, but I'll investigate as soon as I return."
Yama shook his head and smiled. "No investigation is necessary. The more you ban it, the more it will spread. It's better to guide the narrative than try to suppress it. Our strength comes from the support of our clan members.
"Why couldn't Madara recruit a single clan member back then? Why was I able to become clan head even without being the strongest? It was all because the clan stood with me."
"Sir, I fear that—"
"Afraid his merit will grow too great and his stature among the clan will overshadow us?" Yama didn't respond aloud, but his silence said enough.
"It doesn't matter. How strong was Kagami back then? Didn't he still fall?"
Though Yama's voice was calm, regret tugged at him beneath the surface.
Years ago, he had used his influence to place Hayashi on Orochimaru's team — a strategic move intended to keep a close eye on the future Hokage candidate. Even if it didn't work, having Kagami's orphan status in Orochimaru's faction could be useful. He even planned to engineer Hayashi's transfer into Anbu as a double agent. The Third Hokage would never refuse such a proposal.
He never expected the Fourth Shinobi World War to break out just days later.
What stunned him even more was how a ten-year-old like Hayashi — barely out of the Academy — could rise to Jonin in only a few months.
Yama did not believe in sudden power spikes. In his mind, Hayashi had hidden his strength the whole time — deceiving the Academy, the Third Hokage, and even him.
But the situation had long passed anything he could control. The battlefield was beyond his reach, and even if he sent shinobi to eliminate him, who could guarantee success? Hayashi had even subdued the One-Tailed beast, Shukaku.
Yama exhaled slowly. "Withdraw the clan members assigned to monitor him. Someone with his strength would have long since detected them."
"Yes, but are we just going to let him continue like this?" Uchiha Han asked, bowing slightly. "At twelve, with this level of strength, who knows if he could become the next Madara?"
"We still need to restrain him," Yama replied. "Now that the war is over and he's a Jonin, according to clan rules, reassign him back to the Police Force after some time. Mikoto as well."
"What about the Third Hokage's position?" Han asked.
"I'll speak with him myself," Yama said with a sneer. "I want to ask the Third Hokage if the Police Force isn't part of Konoha's administrative system."
Han fell silent. "Let's first see if Hayashi can still be of use. If he can, then everyone benefits. I can offer him any post in the clan except for clan head."
Yama rose and looked out the window.
"If he can't be useful, then he'll end up like Kagami. I don't believe that, no matter how gifted he is, a Sharingan with just three tomoe can withstand a Mangekyō Sharingan."
Han watched the clan head's back, unsettled. "Could it be that you have already awakened—"
"At any time I wish," Yama cut in, voice firm.
There was no point in continuing this conversation, especially not everyone could handle such heavy burdens.
"By the way, how is Fugaku progressing?" Yama asked.
"The young clan leader trains diligently. With his current skill, he's nearly qualified to apply for Jonin," Han answered.
To most shinobi, a seventeen-year-old Jonin was a prodigy. In a large clan like theirs, Fugaku's growth was commendable, yet next to an eleven-year-old Jonin like Hayashi, he seemed average at best.
Yama frowned. "Why didn't the strongest bloodline pass down? Is talent something that skips generations?"
"How is he using his Sharingan now?"
"He's already very adept," Han replied.
Yama nodded with mild relief. "Speaking of which, the most valuable outcome from our visit to the Daimyo's mansion was Fugaku's Sharingan. It was only one tomoe before, but now it has reached two."
"Not just him," added Han. "Many clan members who hadn't awakened their Sharingan have now done so."
"The clan doesn't understand your efforts," Han went on. "They don't see the sacrifices. Could they have awakened without fighting and dying?"
"Even the fiercest tiger in a cage without claws is just a pet," Yama murmured, staring out the window, wishing others could see what he saw.
Meanwhile, at Konoha Hospital…
After a long day of mischief and concern, Hayashi still brought Mikoto back to her hospital room.
Although she hadn't used any ninjutsu in the recent battle and her right arm was well protected, he couldn't shake the worry. If something truly went wrong, it would only get worse — better to heal her quickly.
Stepping into the room made Hayashi unexpectedly emotional. The familiar space, the familiar scent — so far only he, Kushina, and Mikoto had stayed here. Who would be next?
He cast a sidelong glance at Minato and Nawaki, who stood nearby energetically discussing redecorating the room, oblivious to the danger lingering around them.
"The hospital staff said they can only stabilize her chakra pathways for now," Hayashi explained. "They're not sure they can fully heal her. I plan to go find Tsunade-sensei tomorrow."
Compared to the hospital med-nins, Hayashi trusted Tsunade's medical skills far more. If Tsunade couldn't help, then he would prepare to take Mikoto to Orochimaru — after all, Snake-Uncle's forbidden techniques were unmatched in the ninja world.
He shivered at the thought of what waiting in Orochimaru's lab might mean for her.
"By the way, Hayashi," Nawaki said suddenly, "I don't think my sister's been home."
"What? But she just returned to the village a few days ago. She's already missing?"
"She didn't come home all last night," Nawaki confirmed.
Kushina tilted her head, thinking. "Come to think of it… I didn't see her either."
"Well, I think I know where she is."
"Where?"
"The casino."
Hayashi's jaw tightened.
___
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