After being rebuffed by Hiruzen Sarutobi, the two advisors did not go their separate ways after leaving the Hokage's office. Instead, they went together to a secret room in the Mitokado family, plotting their next move.
"Homura, Hiruzen is still too indecisive. Even if we want to raise the Jinchuriki normally, we shouldn't let people with ulterior motives get close to him," Koharu Utatane couldn't help but say.
"That's right. From the last mission, it wasn't hard to see that Kakashi has already connected with that inherently evil Uchiha brat. He's no longer trustworthy," Homura Mitokado said seriously. "If Kakashi brings the Jinchuriki over to the Uchiha, all of our teacher's arrangements over the years will be ruined."
"Exactly. The Jinchuriki must remain in the hands of our faction," Koharu nodded. "Let's do what we did back then. Although Danzo was the one who acted, replicating those methods isn't difficult for us."
"You mean the methods used against White Fang back then? Isn't that a bit much?" Homura frowned.
"Hmph, it's Kakashi's own fault for coveting things he shouldn't touch, just like his father," Koharu replied coldly. "What, are you becoming soft in your old age, just like Hiruzen?"
"If we do this, won't it affect the village's peace..." Homura mused.
"We're doing this for the village's peace! Only by utterly crushing the Uchiha's ambitions can the village truly be at peace!" Koharu declared.
"I understand," Homura nodded. "Then we'll do as you suggest. I'll notify my clan to follow your lead."
…
While the two advisors were scheming, Seiryu, who was already off work, was practicing Sage Mode in his home's courtyard.
Having memorized the perfect ratio for senjutsu chakra, Seiryu meditated under the night sky. Once his body was full of senjutsu chakra, he snapped his eyes open, vertical pupils appearing in his eyes and purple eye-shadow forming at the corners.
Seiryu clenched his fists, feeling the power surging within him. He thought, "This state is much stronger than before. However, I still need to practice drawing in senjutsu chakra faster. Otherwise, it'll be hard to use it in battle."
He closed his eyes again, relaxing and feeling the flow of natural energy, starting the secret technique from Ryuchi Cave.
Even on his first try, his sensory range covered the entire Uchiha district. Before long, he noticed bursts of lightning chakra from the backyard of Fugaku's house nearby. Seiryu smirked.
That kid Sasuke was practicing the lightning technique Seiryu had taught him. Sasuke's talent for lightning release was indeed impressive; it had only been about a week since Seiryu taught him, and Sasuke could already compress his lightning ball and circle it around his body twice.
However, Sasuke still needed to work on the stability of his ninjutsu. Within a few minutes, he managed to blow himself up twice with his own lightning ball.
After watching for a bit, Seiryu decided to retract his sensory range—after all, it wouldn't be polite to see something he shouldn't on a late night.
But just before he did, he suddenly sensed a figure moving rapidly within the district, heading straight for his house.
"This chakra? Kakashi?" Seiryu raised an eyebrow. Why was Kakashi coming to see him at this hour?
In moments, Kakashi appeared in Seiryu's courtyard. As soon as he entered, he saw Seiryu meditating under the eaves.
The aura Seiryu exuded now left Kakashi inwardly shocked. If Seiryu in battle was like a raging thunderstorm, now he was like ominous storm clouds—calm on the surface, but hiding tremendous power.
"What's this?" Kakashi asked.
"Sage Mode," Seiryu smiled at Kakashi, who had removed his mask. He didn't intend to hide it. "A trophy from battling Orochimaru last time."
"Sage Mode, huh?" Kakashi thought to himself. As the Fourth Hokage's student, he wasn't unfamiliar. The Fourth could enter this state before he died, though he hadn't had enough time to master its use in battle.
If only Sensei could have used this form that night, things might have ended differently, Kakashi thought.
"So, what brings you here so late?" Seiryu asked.
"There's a favor I'd like to ask," Kakashi replied, regaining his composure.
"Want a drink? Talk while we shoot?" Seiryu looked at the archery targets fifty paces away.
"Sure," Kakashi nodded.
At Seiryu's order, the caretaker soon brought two longbows and two quivers.
Seiryu warmed up his bow, nocked an arrow, and fired.
With a whoosh, the arrow hit the bullseye fifty paces away.
After shooting, Seiryu looked at Kakashi. "You've been practicing since that day, right?"
Kakashi nodded, wordlessly nocking and shooting an arrow, which landed right next to Seiryu's.
"Haha, looks like you really practiced." Seiryu smiled. "You're here because of Naruto, right? Zaito already told me what happened today."
"That's right," Kakashi nodded. "I'd like to ask the Police Force to look after Naruto a bit."
"No problem. The Uchiha respect the Fourth Hokage too. But you know, that child's identity is sensitive. If the Police Force approaches rashly, some people won't like it."
Kakashi fell silent at that.
The two kept shooting arrows; soon, the bullseyes were filled.
Finally, Seiryu fired the last arrow and put down his bow. "I'll give the orders after work tomorrow. The village may not be peaceful for a while."
Then, looking at the unmasked Kakashi, he smiled. "But it looks like you're ready."