"The time for action is now. It's never too late to do something."
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
--
And Danzo… Danzo would stand with them. He always had. He always would. That was why I could not act without proof. One wrong strike, and they would cut off Konoha's funding.
I read the report from Kibana. The words bled anger into me. The nobles had turned the people of Kibana and the surrounding villages into a trafficking ring. Human lives, stolen and sold. Worse—there were whispers of sex slavery, of people discarded like trash once the nobles grew bored. The "discarded" didn't return home. Their bodies were harvested for experiments, their organs sold. All of it under the Daimyo's watch.
And yet, when the nobles grew careless, when too many vanished, the blame would not fall on them. No—the Daimyo would bury the crimes beneath a mountain of fabricated deaths, each pinned on Otis. A convenient monster. A scapegoat. And behind the curtain, he would use the chaos to tighten his grip over Konoha.
We were a hidden village, yes, but still independent in our decisions. Now the Daimyo's greed pressed heavier with each passing year. He wanted Konoha bent beneath his will.
I knew he would move first. He would send his dogs to capture Otis before I could intervene, painting the boy as the root of Kibana's tragedy. But it was never his crime to bear. It was the Daimyo's responsibility—his nobles' duty—to protect those villages. And they forsook them.
But not this time.
I will not let them.
They won't know what hit them. I may be the weakest of the Hokage, but I am the oldest—and only I know what it took to survive this long on this seat.
My gaze shifted to the window.
"Send Guy. Maruboshi. And the team we have available," I ordered, voice sharp enough to cut stone. "Find Otis. Alive. Before too many hands reach for him."
Because this was no longer just about the boy. It was about the balance of power.
And I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, would not watch it tip under my rule. I may not possess the raw strength of Hashirama, Tobirama, or Minato—but I would not let the village fall to these cockroaches.
That, I swore, I would never allow.
***
The market was buzzing, but not with its usual life. No, this wasn't the chatter of bargaining merchants or the clatter of pans from food stalls. This was panic. Whispers. Sayuri caught enough pieces of the talk to realize something was wrong—seriously wrong.
Hinata tugged at her sleeve.
"Sayuri… something's wrong."
Sayuri didn't reply. Without another word, she broke into a run, leaving Hinata to chase after her.
By the time they reached the Uchiha compound, the air was thick with urgency. Shinobi moved in and out of the main office in hurried waves. Orders snapped back and forth. The Uchiha crest of the clan flashing on every back.
Sayuri shoved the door open and found her mother at the center of the storm. Mikoto stood behind her desk, voice firm, hand gesturing sharply as she directed the police force.
"Mom!" Sayuri's voice cracked with urgency as she pushed her way into the room. "What's going on?"
Mikoto's dark eyes flicked up, locking on her daughter.
"You already know what happened," she said. "The rumors. The civilian killings. Otis is missing."
Sayuri's heart dropped.
"Otis… is it true, Mother? About what they're saying?"
Mikoto's gaze sharpened. "No its not"
Sayuri took a step forward, determination bright in her eyes.
"I can find him. I have an idea."
The room quieted for a moment, shinobi pausing at her words. Mikoto studied her daughter, weighing her seriousness.
"Explain," she said finally.
Sayuri explained in quick, sharp words, her mind racing faster than her tongue. She half expected her mother to cut her down immediately—but instead, Mikoto leaned back, considering.
"If you're wrong," Mikoto finally said, voice tight, "it wastes time we don't have. If you're right…" She exhaled slowly. "You will not go alone. Shisui will accompany you."
Sayuri groaned, half in protest—but one sharp glance from Mikoto shut her down.
"…Fine."
She didn't waste time. Sprinting back outside, Shisui was already beside her, and Sasuke—stubborn as always—had silently followed despite her glare. Hinata waited near the gates, nervous but ready.
Sayuri quickly outlined the plan.
The group made their way to the riverside clearing, the place Otis often called home. Sayuri cupped her hands and called, her voice echoing through the trees.
"YUKI-CHAN!"
Silence.
Only the gentle rustle of leaves.
Sayuri scowled, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Tch. Stupid overgrown carpet. Hinata, you try."
Hinata then stepped forward,
"Yuki-chan…"
The sound was barely louder than a whisper
Sayuri pinched the bridge of her nose. "Oh, for—he's a bear, Hinata, not a classmate you're asking for a pencil."
But then, the ground shifted.
A faint tremor rippled through the clearing. Then another. And another. Birds burst from the treetops in a panic as the tremors grew, heavier, and closer.
The trees parted, and something massive emerged.
A towering polar bear—fifteen feet tall, snow-white fur streaked with dirt and earth—lumbered forward. Each step sent ripples through the ground. Its breath steamed in the warm air, hot and wet as it exhaled through massive nostrils.
The bear leaned down, lowering its massive head toward the group. The hot gust of air it blew out ruffled their hair and clothes. Sayuri and Sasuke both recoiled, scrunching their noses.
"Ugh! Disgusting!" Sayuri gagged, swiping at the drool flecked on her cheek.
Sasuke grimaced.
Shisui chuckled under his breath, though his sharp gaze didn't leave the beast. He could feel the raw strength radiating off it. This was no ordinary animal.
Sayuri planted her hands on her hips, tilting her chin up. "Alright, listen here, fluff-ball. We need to find Otis. Now lead the way—"
The bear turned its head away, as if she were background noise, and began sniffing elsewhere.
Sayuri's jaw dropped.
"Did… did this walking rug just ignore me?"
But Hinata, quiet as always, stepped past her. She lifted her small hands slightly and spoke softly, almost as if she were addressing a friend. "Yuki-chan…"
The bear paused. Then lowered its head toward her,
Sayuri's eyes twitched. "This freaking bear…"
Shisui let out a low whistle. "Looks like it's got a favorite."
Sayuri spun on him, pointing furiously. "Don't you dare encourage this betrayal. My idea, my mission, and the damn bear listens to her?!"
Hinata flushed, fidgeting. "I-I didn't mean—"
"Don't apologize!" Sayuri snapped.
The bear didn't wait. It lifted its massive head, nostrils flaring as it sniffed the wind. Then it began to move, heavy paws thudding against the ground as it strode toward the forest's edge.
Shisui smirked. "Looks like it's got a trail."
Sayuri stomped after it, muttering curses under her breath. "Dumb bear. Stupid fluffy traitor. I'll skin it and make a rug if it keeps this up."
Sasuke trailed behind, deadpan. "Sure you will."
"Oh shut up, Sasuke."
--
(A/N)
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