"Although my Nara Clan is stable, my own status within it is… embarrassing," Nara Kazama said, voice calm but eyes sharp. "I have to think about the future. What's the point of staying quiet my whole life? Even if I become stronger, there will never be a place for me in the Nara Clan of Konoha. Nara Shikaku won't give me that chance."
He took a sip of sake, then leaned forward, his tone steady but firm.
"But now, I've discovered you."
He smiled faintly. "After spending this time together, I'm sure of it — you can make a name for yourself. You have the strength of Senju Hashirama and the cunning of Senju Tobirama."
Uchiha Jin froze, blinking.
Good grief.
He had only been thinking about how to survive the inevitable Uchiha massacre, but this Nara was already planning for the safety of his future descendants. As expected of the Nara Clan, Jin thought, they really do think long-term.
But after a moment's thought, Jin couldn't help but fall silent.
Nara Kazama's words made sense — his own plans had been too narrow.
Right now, all his focus was on surviving. But what about the years to come? Would he live his entire life without a wife or children?
Ridiculous.
Even in his past life, he hadn't been against marriage — it was just that reality, and the high cost of living, made it impossible. Now, reborn into a world of shinobi, would he really choose to be alone forever?
No way.
He wanted to live, to thrive — and eventually, to have a family. But in a world as brutal as this one, where danger could come at any moment, how could he protect them forever?
Even if he survived every battle, he couldn't stay home every hour of the day.
Enemies existed. Missions were endless.
And when he was gone, who would protect his wife and children?
The answer was obvious — power.
Not just personal strength, but a power that lasted beyond the individual. A force.
Just like the great clans of the Warring States Era and the hidden villages today — their strength lay in unity.
Having understood that, Jin looked at Nara Kazama again. His expression softened, eyes filled with newfound respect.
Smart, cautious, and forward-thinking… this Nara was definitely someone worth having on his side.
He exhaled lightly and nodded.
"You make a good point," he said. "Although I still don't fully understand why you trust an Uchiha like me so much…"
He smirked slightly. "But it doesn't matter. You've convinced me. Let's hear your plan."
They were only twelve — far too young to be plotting like this — yet, Jin agreed with him: it was never too early to plan ahead.
Nara Kazama's gaze grew sharp. The drunken haze was gone from his eyes, replaced by sober determination.
"First of all," he began, "the Uchiha are strong. For all their internal problems, it's undeniable that they are a powerful clan. The reason the current Uchiha are faltering is because their clan head, Fugaku, is too cautious — he has leadership, but no decisiveness."
He folded his hands, continuing with methodical clarity.
"As for your clan, I can't say too much — my knowledge is limited. But I believe in your ability, Jin-kun. You should focus on building a loyal faction within the Uchiha — people who will follow you completely."
He paused, then added:
"As for the Ino–Shika–Cho alliance — the Pig, Deer, and Butterfly clans — I know them well. Many within them have been silenced, oppressed, or quietly removed because they didn't toe the political line. I can reach out to them. If I win them over, they'll join our cause."
"For the civilians, Kudo Nobuyuki is key. His character and loyalty are solid — he just needs time and power. Once he grows stronger, he'll become our bridge to the common ninja."
He spoke faster now, more animated.
"And it's not just those groups. The Aburame, the Inuzuka — every clan has dissenters. People like us, who feel trapped in their own systems. As long as we approach carefully, we can unite them under one banner."
"We're still young," Kazama continued, "so time is on our side. We can build this network slowly. And if one day, you intend to challenge Sarutobi Hiruzen's rule — to take the Hokage's seat for yourself — we can also rally those who resent the Third's faction. Danzo has alienated many of them already."
He leaned back, eyes narrowing.
"Even if some refuse to join us, we can make them neutral. And if things ever get dangerous, we'll move our people out of Konoha — quietly, under the guise of missions, revenge killings, or fake deaths."
"During wartime, that'll be easy. Step by step, we'll relocate our true allies."
He poured himself another drink and concluded calmly,
"As long as our base is strong enough, Konoha won't dare to move against us. Even if they could destroy us, the other great villages would smell blood and tear them apart. Hiruzen is not a fool — he wouldn't take that risk."
He paused, smiling faintly.
"Of course, this is only a rough outline. The details will need refinement. But overall… it's possible."
Uchiha Jin sat silently for a long while, eyes closed in thought.
He had to admit — if executed properly, this plan could work.
But the danger… the risk was immense.
They would be tearing up Konoha's roots. If this were ever exposed, both he and Kazama would die without question.
He opened his eyes and looked at Nara Kazama again, his expression complicated.
The Nara boy's words were dangerous — but they also carried truth.
And that made them all the more compelling.