"Raizen, get ready. We're going on a mission."
Kagen's voice carried through the courtyard. He didn't raise it.
He didn't need to.
Raizen turned instantly, excitement flashing across his face.
Nearby, Shinka paused mid-practice, watching.
"Really?" Raizen grinned.
"Great, Dad. I'll show you how strong I've become."
Kagen looked at his son.
For a moment, his gaze lingered—longer than usual.
Then he turned and walked inside without saying a word.
Raizen frowned slightly, then shrugged it off.
Fuyuna stood a few steps away.
She opened her mouth, as if to call Raizen back… then stopped. Her hand clenched at her side instead.
"Dad, I want to go too."
Shinka had already moved, standing in front of Renzo with hopeful eyes.
If Raizen was going on a mission, she didn't want to be left behind.
Renzo sighed and knelt before her, resting his hands on her shoulders.
"Not this time," he said gently. "Next time, I promise."
Shinka crossed her arms.
"That's what you always say."
Renzo hesitated, then reached up and brushed her hair aside.
"There's a chance we might get hurt," he said carefully.
"So when we come back… someone needs to be here. Someone reliable."
He smiled faintly.
"You're perfect for that."
Shinka puffed her cheeks, clearly unconvinced.
"That's not fair."
"I know," Renzo replied quietly.
Kagen stepped out again, fully geared now.
"Let's go."
The finality in his voice left no room for discussion.
As they prepared to leave, Raizen ran ahead, stopping in front of Shinka. His confidence was effortless, almost careless.
"Don't worry," he said. "I'll be back before you even miss me. I'll tell you how easy this mission was."
Shinka forced a smile.
Fuyuna paused beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Her grip lingered just a second too long.
"Be good," she whispered with a smile.
"And don't tell anyone. This mission… stays a secret."
Shinka nodded.
She watched them walk away—their figures growing smaller, their voices fading into the distance.
Something tight settled in her chest, though she couldn't explain why.
The house felt too quiet after that.
Shinka went inside.
She didn't cry.
She didn't hesitate.
She gathered weapons with practised movements, checking each one twice.
"If it's a secret mission…" she murmured, tying the strap tightly, "…then I can do one too."
When she slipped out of the house, no one noticed.
And Renzo—walking ahead, focused on the road—never realised that the sound behind him wasn't the wind.
Near the exit of the Uchiha clan compound, Kohaku finally spoke.
"Elder… is this really a good idea?" he asked carefully.
"Why don't we wait? When Kagami returns, we can send him to seek an explanation from the Second Hokage."
Setsuna stopped.
He looked at Kohaku as he heard him speak, and a flicker of anger crossed his face.
"Kohaku," Setsuna said coldly, "don't you think we have waited long enough? If we wait any more, do you believe there will be any strong men left in the clan?"
Kohaku heard him but said nothing.
He had no answer.
"Elder," Kohaku said at last, "I will not join this. If something goes wrong, the entire clan will suffer."
"Can't you see?" Setsuna snapped.
"We have no other option left. Do you think only you care about the clan, and I do not?"
Kohaku remained silent, looking at Setsuna.
"Elder," he said quietly, "you are angry. You are not thinking clearly because of Shien."
The moment those words left his mouth, Setsuna's anger sharpened.
"I am thinking clearly," Setsuna replied harshly.
"It is you who is not, Kohaku."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Kohaku watched his back and let out a long sigh.
He did not want to push further.
Mentioning Setsuna's son again—
After his death—would only deepen the wound.
"Forgive me, Elder," Kohaku muttered softly. "Someone has to think about the clan."
Setsuna did not turn back.
Kohaku did not know it then—
But that moment marked the beginning of the clash of ideologies within the Uchiha clan.
Present — Uchiha
"Grandpa… Grandpa."
Toyoma's voice called out again and again, but the Grand Elder remained lost in his thoughts.
When there was still no response, Toyoma stepped closer and gently grabbed his shoulder.
"Huh—yes?" the Grand Elder said, finally coming back to himself as he looked at Toyoma.
"Grandpa," Toyoma asked softly, "what were you thinking about?"
The Grand Elder did not answer immediately.
"Nothing," the Grand Elder said after a moment, looking at Toyoma.
"I was just thinking… if the Uchiha had possessed abilities like this in the past, how much easier things might have been."
Toyoma nodded thoughtfully.
"Well, the Treasury of the King is like that," he said.
"It had a separate space dimension and is enormous."
As he spoke, a small part of him felt regret.
If only it contained powerful weapons as well—then there would truly be nothing left to fear in this world.
"In a battlefield," the Grand Elder continued, "your ability—combined with its summoning style—could be incredibly useful. It's more than just a space to store things."
His thoughts returned briefly to the sight of kunai erupting from rippling space.
Toyoma nodded as he heard this.
At the very least, he could summon a large number of weapons and launch them at once in a projectile attack and recover them like the original.
A technique like that would be effective in battle—useful, reliable.
The thought eased him a little.
He felt a quiet sense of satisfaction knowing that something like this was possible.
"Grandpa, what about the shops?" Toyoma asked, suddenly remembering.
"Today, many clans are supposed to come to collect their allotted supplies."
The Grand Elder nodded.
"When you were unconscious, Kohaku and Kazuto went to handle it. Now that you're awake, we can go and take a look."
He stood up slowly.
Toyoma followed, getting off the bed.
"Water."
Kageha approached, holding a cup in her hands as she saw them preparing to leave.
"Leave it, Sister Kageha," Toyoma said with a small smile.
"We're just going to check the shops."
At the shop, Shinka stood silently as Tsunade read through the document in her hand.
Tsunade's brows knit together.
"What is this supposed to mean?" she asked, her voice firm—
not raised, but carrying enough weight to demand an answer.
"Is this some kind of game to you? Why would the Uchiha do something like this?"
Shinka didn't answer immediately.
Around them, the atmosphere had shifted.
The Uchiha no longer introduced themselves as a ninja clan here.
Instead, they spoke calmly, deliberately—as merchants of the Fire Nation.
According to them, the pills and medicines were no longer ninja clan assets, but private goods, legally owned by Fire Nation merchants.
Everything, they insisted, was being done by the procedure.
If Tsunade wanted a large quantity, she would have to wait.
Just like everyone else.
Shinka watched Tsunade closely.
"Lady Tsunade," Shinka said calmly, meeting her gaze, "if you want answers, it would be better to ask the village's higher-ups. And as for why the Uchiha have done this—"
She paused briefly.
"—That reason is already known within the village."
Her tone remained even.
The answer only seemed to irritate Tsunade further.
Shinka's expression did not change.
If anything, her composure made it worse—like salt pressed gently into an open wound.
Tsunade crossed her arms.
"So that's it?" she said coolly.
"You want profit, and you don't want to contribute to the village anymore. Why go around in circles?"
A faint edge crept into her voice.
"I never thought the Uchiha would become a clan known for chasing profit like merchants."
Shinka didn't look away.
On her side, Raizen snapped.
"You evil Senju—"
Before he could finish, Shinka looked at him.
Just a glance.
Raizen stopped mid-word.
Tsunade had already heard enough.
She turned toward him, a mocking smile tugging at her lips.
"What?" she said lightly. "Can't take the truth?"
Then she froze.
"Well," Shinka said calmly, her voice steady, "it's better to be a profit-seeking merchant than to follow in the footsteps of the Senju."
"And becoming a name only to be remembered."
She offered Tsunade a polite smile—
"Am I correct, Lady Tsunade?"
Tsunade's expression shifted as she looked at Shinka.
The mockery was no longer hidden.
For a moment, she said nothing—
just held Shinka's gaze in silence.
Then she spoke.
"I don't care," Tsunade said flatly.
"I'm taking these supplies for the village. You can tell your clan elders that they're needed more at the border than being sold."
She turned slightly and looked at the shinobi behind her.
"Take them."
One of them stepped forward.
Steel rang softly as Raizen drew his sword and pointed it at the man.
"Security here is under my responsibility."
Raizen said, his voice tight.
"If you're thinking of robbing this store in my presence, it won't be easy."
One by one, Uchiha shinobi moved into place around him.
No one rushed.
They didn't need to.
Shinka looked back at Tsunade, her voice calm but firm.
"Lady Tsunade," she said, "it would be better if you didn't make things difficult for everyone."
Tsunade didn't answer.
She stepped forward instead—
Her fist was cutting through the air toward Raizen.
Raizen reacted instantly.
He planted his feet, lowered his centre of gravity, and exhaled sharply.
Fourth Form — Iron Cliff Guard.
Stone-like chakra surged around his forearms as he crossed them in front of his chest.
The impact was brutal.
The floor cracked beneath Raizen's boots as he slid back a half step, teeth clenched, but he held.
The shockwave rattled shelves and sent jars trembling.
For a brief moment, neither moved.
Then Raizen straightened—still standing.
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