"No, Arashi, who said you guys are useless? I'm counting on you to back me up later! Right now… you're all I've got!" Sogen glanced at Shisui, who looked utterly defeated. That stubborn idealist still clung to his impossible dreams, refusing to admit defeat.
Even after awakening *Betsutenjin*, a technique that could rewrite someone's will, it was clear Shisui knew deep down that talk of the village and clan understanding each other and turning swords into plowshares… it was pure fantasy.
But that's just who Shisui was—a bullheaded idealist. He knew it was impossible but still clung to the inherited Will of Fire with unwavering resolve.
At this moment, Shisui, shaken by the Root's attack on Sogen, was useless.
Or rather, the best they could hope for was that he didn't switch sides.
"Sogen, what's going on…?"
Uchiha Arashi scanned their surroundings, his gaze lingering on the mangled corpses for a few seconds. His expression grew even graver. "Who attacked you?"
"Who else?"
"Danzo? That old bastard!"
Danzo's reputation among the Uchiha was abysmal, especially with Arashi and the others, Sogen's close companions. They despised him.
"Alright, Arashi, cool it. We've got no proof it was Danzo. And honestly, even if we did, there's a good chance we couldn't touch a Hokage advisor like him. It'd just make things harder for our clan leader."
"Sogen, the plan… when do we move?"
Uchiha Chihaya spoke up. Fifteen years old, two months younger than Sogen, she was his childhood friend. She'd been promoted to jonin late last year, not even six months ago. But even a fresh Uchiha jonin required at least two seasoned jonin to take down—unless they could counter the Sharingan's genjutsu.
"Hey, Chihaya, Shisui's right there!"
Arashi shot her a look, trying to signal her.
Unfortunately, the Uchiha's airheaded beauty completely missed it. Instead, she asked, "Arashi, got sand in your eyes or something?"
"Pfft!"
Uchiha Akutaro, always one for a spectacle, doubled over laughing.
"Alright, you lot, cut it out. Arashi, don't worry. I already talked to Shisui earlier today and filled him in on the plan." Sogen quickly put the brakes on the chaos before it spiraled. "Chihaya, be patient. You don't scarf down freshly grilled takoyaki right away—you'll burn your mouth. I'll let you know when the time's right."
"Got it."
Chihaya nodded and stood quietly, no longer speaking.
"Shisui… yo, Sogen, you sure about this?"
Arashi sidled up to Sogen, sneaking a glance at the still-dazed Shisui. He whispered, "His branch has always been cozy with the village. He might not back our plan. If he tips off the clan leader early, we could be screwed."
"No worries. Shisui's still loyal to the clan at heart. Even if he doesn't help, he won't sabotage us."
Little did they know, the clan leader's eldest son would one day become the butcher of their entire clan.
"If you're sure, that's enough for me."
Arashi didn't press further. As the oldest in their little group, he'd naturally taken on the role of looking after this band of problem children. Half willingly, half forced, he'd tempered his genius pride and sharp edges, gradually developing a steady, dependable demeanor.
"Alright, everyone, enough chatter. The big shots are here. Get it together—don't let anyone look down on us Uchiha."
Sogen pushed himself up, leaning on his knee, and looked southwest.
Flames still roared in the distance. But in an instant, a wave of clear water surged over, dousing the fire. The surroundings dimmed abruptly, and the ground beneath their feet trembled lightly. The waterlogged earth rose and split apart, forming a wide, clear path.
"Whoa! That kind of earth-style jutsu… we're dealing with an elite!"
Uchiha Akutaro, ever the loudmouth, couldn't help himself, as usual.
Along that clear path, a group of figures dashed forward. Leading them was none other than the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, clad in a black combat outfit. Once hailed as the *Hero of the Ninja World*, the sixty-something-year-old charged at the front like an arrow loosed from a bow. Even from dozens of meters away, his sharp, commanding presence was palpable.
"They're coming in hot, Sogen."
"Shut it, Akutaro. Nobody thinks you're mute if you don't talk."
"I'm just stating facts! Why's big bro Arashi always on my case?"
"Less whining, more silence, or I'll shut you up myself."
Akutaro pouted, clearly unhappy, but wisely held his tongue. He'd sparred with Arashi twenty-two times and lost every single one. Seeing the glint in Arashi's eyes, he shrank back.
Sogen ignored his friends' banter and stepped forward to meet the Hokage and the two elders.
"Lord Hokage."
"Sogen-kun."
The Third stopped in front of Sogen, greeting him briefly. With a wave of his hand, he directed his subordinates to spring into action. Medical ninjas immediately surrounded Naruto, carefully examining the Nine-Tails jinchuriki. A group of masked Anbu vanished into the darkness, likely to investigate.
Once his team was efficiently at work, the elderly Hokage, his face marked with age spots, finally turned his full attention to Sogen.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Sogen-kun."
"No trouble at all."
"So, care to explain what happened here?" The Third asked, as if he had no clue about the situation.
"While escorting my sister's classmate home, I was ambushed here by unknown enemies. There were twelve of them, all highly skilled. They attacked without a word, so to protect Naruto—my sister's classmate—I had no choice but to take them out."
"Any idea who they were?"
"No clue. They had powerful self-destructing sealing jutsu on them. I tried investigating, but got nothing. Maybe the Anbu elites can dig something up. That's why I stayed to secure the scene. Didn't expect you to come in person, Lord Hokage."
Sogen answered the Third's questions methodically, his tone respectful but almost robotic, like a puppet without emotion.
At that moment, one of the Anbu examining the corpses seemed to find something. He approached quickly, glancing at Sogen standing close to the Hokage. Before he could speak, the Third waved a hand. "Whatever you found, just say it. No need to hold back."
"Yes, sir."
The Anbu from the corpse disposal unit responded respectfully and reported swiftly, "Lord Hokage, we've examined the bodies. No items identify them, but their undergarments are made of a highly water-permeable material. It's rarely used in the Land of Fire but in high demand in the Lands of Water and Rain."
**(End of Chapter)**