Konoha still felt wounded.
Three days had passed since the Nine Tails ripped through the village, its fury leveling buildings and shaking the land itself. Two-thirds of Konoha lay scarred. The Fourth Hokage and his wife had given their lives to end the catastrophe, along with countless shinobi.
The Third Great Ninja War had just closed its curtains, and before the village could even breathe, disaster struck again. Borders were unsettled, morale shaken. It was no wonder the Third Hokage reclaimed authority so quickly. Under normal conditions, a Fifth Hokage would already be chosen—but nothing about this moment was normal.
And because the Nine Tails' eyes had reflected the Sharingan, suspicion fell sharply on the Uchiha. The leadership masked their distrust behind "village restructuring," pushing the clan to the far edge of the settlement, away from the central districts.
The Uchiha were furious, but they swallowed it. They knew the stain placed on their name wasn't fading anytime soon.
The rift between clan and village widened another step.
…
"Yoru… what do you think? How can the clan regain the village's trust? Konoha's losses were enormous."
Shisui's voice was small as they stepped out of the Naka Shrine, his expression creased with worry. Yoru couldn't help sighing inwardly. Only Shisui could be an Uchiha yet fret more for the village than for his own clan.
Yoru responded with a solemn shake of the head. "You're asking the wrong question. It's not about what the clan can do to be trusted. It's about whether the village is willing to trust us at all."
Shisui blinked, genuinely confused.
Yoru watched him for a moment, weighing his next steps. If he didn't nudge Shisui now—before the boy spiraled into a hopeless loyalty trap—then history would repeat itself. And Yoru had no intention of letting Shisui drift toward the Hokage's faction without a fight.
Originally, three Mangekyō appeared in the clan… and two of them sided with outsiders. The third died in silence. No wonder the clan was doomed; their strongest weapons didn't point inward.
Yoru exhaled quietly. He had work to do.
"Think about it, Shisui," he said. "The clan agreed to move to the outskirts without protest. We're accepting constant surveillance. That alone shows we've lowered our pride as far as it can reasonably go. If the village wants evidence of goodwill, they already have it."
The frustration in Yoru's eyes wasn't exaggerated. It looked real enough that Shisui froze mid-step.
He murmured, "When you put it that way… the clan really has sacrificed its dignity to prove innocence."
Yoru nodded inwardly. A small victory. Shisui wasn't stubborn—just inexperienced. No shinobi was born with a political compass; the Hidden Leaf hadn't even existed long enough to produce true statesmen.
Shisui hesitated, then asked with quiet hope, "If we settle into the new district… do you think the village will eventually trust us again?"
Yoru took his time, letting silence stretch. Only when Shisui leaned closer, waiting for an answer, did he speak—softly.
"Shisui… if the Fourth Hokage were still alive, things would be different. Even if any one of the Sannin became the Fifth Hokage, the clan would gain more trust than we have now."
Shisui frowned. "Why them? Why would any Sannin treat us better than Lord Third?"
Yoru almost smiled. Shisui wasn't noticing his own slip—calling him "Yoru-nii" a moment ago. Good. A bond forming meant influence forming.
Yoru gestured toward the forest path, guiding them toward a quiet waterfall. "Before anything else… do you know what Advisor Setsuna lived through?"
Shisui stiffened at once. His voice dropped. "Everyone knows. He served in the Konoha Police during the Second Hokage's era. He inherited Madara's hardline philosophy. He was arrested for inciting revolt and spent years imprisoned until Lord Third released him."
"And that," Yoru murmured, "is what matters."
Shisui blinked again, unsure.
"Think it through," Yoru continued. "The Second Hokage built his entire security doctrine around containing the Uchiha. Natural, given the era. But what about his students? How do you think they view us?"
Shisui stopped walking.
His expression slowly tightened, recognition dawning like a cold sunrise. He had never asked himself that question. Not once.
Yoru saw the shift and smiled faintly. "Don't get discouraged. The Third Hokage won't be in power forever. And the one likely to become the next Hokage—Orochimaru-sama—isn't tied to those old fears."
Shisui's prior tension faded instantly at the mention of Orochimaru. Yoru didn't have to insult the Third; shifting the perspective was enough.
"Orochimaru-sama?" Shisui asked. "You really think he'd treat us fairly?"
Yoru shrugged with effortless confidence. "He's not from that era. He didn't inherit that paranoia. And the Sannin were barely teenagers when the Uchiha–Senju tensions peaked. No prejudice takes root that fast."
Shisui let out a slow breath.
Hope crept into his voice. "If that's true… then maybe the future really isn't set against us."
Yoru's smile sharpened, almost hidden. Good. Plant the seed. Water it. Let it grow tall enough to block the path Shisui was meant to walk in another timeline.
"Yoru-nii," Shisui said suddenly, "what kind of person is Orochimaru-sama, exactly?"
Yoru answered without missing a beat. "Cold, brilliant, maybe unsettling… but absolutely trustworthy when it comes to the village's future. Remember, he was one of the top candidates for Fourth Hokage."
Shisui's eyes brightened. "Of course. His decisiveness in the war—they said it's the kind of resolve a Hokage needs."
Yoru almost chuckled. Shisui's idealism was so polished you could see your reflection in it. But that innocence would make his reaction to Orochimaru's future betrayal… unforgettable.
He smoothed his expression, stepping forward as if seeing a distant horizon.
"Whatever happens," Yoru said quietly, "aligning ourselves with the next Hokage is the only path to restoring trust."
Shisui nodded firmly, the picture of earnest determination.
Yoru, inside, was already planning the next several moves.