Seeds of Alliance
From now on, they would no longer be part of the same team.
That much was certain.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, had personally issued the transfer orders, then this team's dissolution was final.
Still, since they would be going their separate ways, there was no longer any conflict of interest between them.
And after everything they'd been through together—blood, death, and survival—they had at least built a small sense of camaraderie.
Not enough to die for one another, perhaps, but enough to drink together without distrust.
Uchiha Jin didn't mind that.
He had no problem making friends, so long as it didn't endanger his interests.
---
"That's fine," Nara Kazama said with a lazy grin, picking up his cup.
"I'm free anyway. Let's drink—and I'm not leaving until I'm drunk."
His words were light, but his tone was thoughtful.
After a brief moment of reflection, Kazama realized that Uchiha Jin's assumptions were spot-on.
Under normal circumstances, a team that had just endured a brutal battle would be granted time to rest.
They had been living on the edge of life and death for days—every step could have been their last.
Now that the war had paused for them, why not use this chance to unwind?
Besides… drinking was a good way to build trust.
Kudo Nobu didn't object. He smiled faintly, raised his cup, and joined in.
The three clinked their glasses, the dull sound echoing softly through the tent.
They drank, laughed, and spoke freely—about missions, near-deaths, and stupid mistakes that somehow didn't get them killed.
For the first time in a long while, they felt human again.
---
After several rounds, Kudo Nobu's expression turned more serious. His gaze lingered on Uchiha Jin.
He knew it well—if Jin hadn't intervened, he would've been a corpse two days ago.
He took another deep gulp of sake, wiped his mouth, and suddenly spoke.
"Uchiha Jin," he said, voice thick with sincerity.
"If you hadn't saved me back then, I'd be dead."
"We're both smart men—I know you had your reasons. Maybe you were thinking about survival or strategy. Doesn't matter."
He set his cup down with a quiet thud.
"The fact is, you saved my life. I'm just a civilian-born shinobi. My life isn't worth much—but it's yours if you ever need it. Just send word."
---
Uchiha Jin narrowed his eyes slightly, studying Nobu's earnest face.
He didn't take it too seriously.
Dinner-table promises—especially ones made under the influence—were rarely worth much in the morning.
Gratitude born of sake was fleeting. Once the hangover faded, reality always took its place.
Still, Jin wasn't cruel enough to say that aloud.
He simply laughed, clinked glasses once more, and let the moment pass.
An hour later, Kudo Nobu—whose tolerance was the worst—slumped under the table, completely gone.
Jin and Kazama hauled him onto a cot, covered him with a blanket, and returned to their seats.
---
After another few drinks, Nara Kazama spoke again, eyes glinting with clarity despite the alcohol.
"Jin-kun," he said quietly, "Kudo Nobu is worth recruiting."
Jin raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Kazama leaned forward. "He's a civilian ninja. That means he has no clan backing and very little political protection. He's invisible in the village—easy to recruit, easy to guide."
"Give him a few solid jutsu, teach him the basics of survival, and he'll follow you out of gratitude. Plus, he's survived two wars already—his instincts and mental resilience are exceptional."
"As long as you bind him with loyalty—whatever form that takes—he won't betray you. And more importantly…"
Kazama paused, his sharp mind fully awake now.
"…as a civilian ninja, he has influence among others like him. If he grows strong under your guidance, you'll gain natural support from that entire group."
---
Uchiha Jin blinked, half amused, half puzzled.
"What's going on with you?" he asked dryly.
"We've been through a lot together, sure, but you and I both know people don't just hand out free advice."
He smirked slightly.
"You've got an angle here, don't you? Until I know what it is, I'm not buying into your grand strategy talk."
He wasn't wrong.
In the ninja world, every alliance carried intent.
Even within Konoha, friendship was rarely without purpose.
---
Nara Kazama smiled bitterly, swirling the liquid in his cup.
"Big brother, don't laugh at second brother. We're the same kind of people."
His eyes darkened, voice turning cold and sharp.
"You see it too, don't you? The Uchiha clan—it's a mess. And your recent actions? You're clearly trying to distance yourself from them."
He sighed softly.
"But the truth is… Konoha won't let you go that easily. Because your surname alone—'Uchiha'—is already a curse in their eyes."
Kazama's words cut through the haze of alcohol like a blade.
He wasn't mocking—he was being brutally honest.
---
"I believe in your talent, Jin," Kazama continued. "You'll grow stronger—strong enough that even Konoha won't dare to provoke you."
"But strength alone won't save you forever. Look at Hashirama Senju—the God of Shinobi himself. After his death, even the Senju clan faded into history."
He leaned back, gaze thoughtful.
"The only way to survive—truly survive—is to build your own power. Your own network. Allies who owe you, not the village."
"Because no matter how strong you become, you won't be able to stand alone forever."
His tone softened.
"One day, you'll want a family. Children. People to protect. And when that day comes…"
He looked Jin dead in the eyes.
"…you'll realize that power built on personal loyalty is worth more than all the chakra in the world."
---
Uchiha Jin didn't answer immediately.
For once, he simply stared into his cup—silent, contemplative.
The firelight flickered against his Sharingan, reflecting something unreadable.
Outside, the wind swept through the tents, carrying the faint scent of salt from the sea.
War was far from over—but perhaps, for the first time, something else had begun.
A seed had been planted.
One that might grow into something far greater than any of them could imagine.