While Hashirama was still active in the group chat, Shinomiya Yuyue couldn't hold back his curiosity:
Shinomiya Yuyue: "Hashirama, how are things on your end lately?"
Senju Hashirama: "Not bad. Madara and I are planning to hunt down Black Zetsu and seal him off—cut off future trouble at the source."
—Two Years into Konoha's Timeline—
"Brother, what's the emergency?"
Senju Tobirama entered the room, eyes sharp as always.
"Pass this document along for me," Hashirama said, handing him a scroll after finishing a message in the chat.
Tobirama opened it and skimmed quickly—then his expression twisted.
"…You're kidding."
It was an official notice branding Uchiha Madara as a wanted criminal. Effective immediately, all Konoha shinobi were to apprehend him on sight.
Tobirama slapped the scroll back on the table.
"Brother, what the hell is this? You expect our people to go after Madara? Who can even touch him besides you?! This'll just embarrass the whole village!"
Then he narrowed his eyes.
"…What happened between you two? I thought you were tight."
Though Tobirama didn't like Madara personally, he respected what his presence represented. Madara's mere existence was a deterrent across the entire shinobi world.
Hashirama sighed. "It's complicated. Just do it for now. I'll explain later."
Tobirama grunted, snatched up the scroll again, and vanished.
Hashirama didn't want to keep secrets—but if word got out, their entire strategy could unravel. After all, Black Zetsu wasn't just any threat. It could possess people and vanish into the earth. One wrong move, and everything would be exposed.
Right now, Madara was en route to the Land of Whirlpools to learn high-level sealing jutsu. That was their trump card—only sealing techniques could trap something like Black Zetsu.
To lure it in, they had to pretend they were enemies.
If Black Zetsu thought Madara and Hashirama were at odds, it might risk approaching Madara… and walk straight into the trap.
[Group Chat – Ongoing]
Senju Hashirama: "All that's left is to wait. Let's see if Black Zetsu takes the bait."
Shinomiya Yuyue: "That's a sharp move, Hashirama."
"Have you thought about going further, though? If you seal Black Zetsu, why not chase victory and go for Kaguya next?"
Senju Hashirama: "Kaguya…? I don't think we're strong enough. Even my Wood Golem can't withstand that level of power."
Shinomiya Yuyue: "Then become Ten Tails Jinchūriki. You or Madara can awaken the Rinnegan and summon the Gedo Statue."
"Catching tailed beasts for you guys is like picking candy with a claw machine."
"And Kaguya—she's strong, yes, but she's all instinct and power. Barely any real battle sense."
"Oh—and she's a beauty~✨"
Uchiha Obito: "…Was that last part necessary?"
Shinomiya Yuyue: "Details. Minor details."
"Anyway, Kaguya's motives were never evil. She just wanted to protect Earth from future Ōtsutsuki invaders. If you talk to her—really talk—you could even recruit her."
"Just imagine: you, Madara, and Kaguya fighting side by side. The Ōtsutsuki wouldn't know whether to run or kneel."
Senju Hashirama: "Haha… it sounds good. But first, we need to finish what we started."
Yuyue smiled and closed the group chat.
The lunch that followed was anything but ordinary.
They ate from noon until moonrise, piling the table with dish after dish.
But the real shocker?
Hinata, who looked delicate and demure, ended up eating more than everyone else combined.
Naruto and Ino stared at her in awe as she continued to eat quietly, bowl after bowl.
When it finally ended, Youyue came back from the register and glanced at Naruto and Hinata—now walking closer, talking softly.
He smiled.
Looks like it was worth it.
While the world's heavyweights rewrote fate from the shadows, Shinomiya Yuyue, the group's youngest member, wouldn't sit idle.
Compared to names like Senju Hashirama and Namikaze Minato, he was still just a side character.
But that would change.
Today's Hyuga scuffle? That was just the prologue.
"Thanks for the food, Youyue!" Naruto beamed. "You're awesome!"
Hinata also whispered quietly, cheeks glowing red:
"…Thank you, Yuyue-kun."
Yuyue nodded back with a warm grin.
Then he looked at Ino.
"Hey. Don't you have something to say?"
Ino picked her teeth, completely casual.
"Yeah, yeah… Thanks a lot. Really grateful," she said—completely unconvincingly.
"…Too fake. Whatever. Let's call it a night."
They stepped out of the restaurant—only for a shadow to fall across the path.
A masked ninja appeared, silent as a phantom.
"Shinomiya Yuyue. Come with me."
The voice was low and cold.
Standard ANBU outfit—but Youyue noticed immediately.
Wrong mask. Too old.
Root.
Danzo had made his move.
"Yuyue?" Ino asked, confused. "Why would ANBU want you? Don't tell me… is it about earlier? Did the Hyuga report you?"
"I knew it! This is bad! Danzo's guys don't play fair!"
But Youyue calmly walked right past the Root agent.
"Don't mind him. Let's go."
He didn't look back, didn't slow down.
The others hesitated, but ultimately followed.
The Root ninja stood frozen, watching them disappear into the distance.
Later that night, with everyone safely home, Youyue made his way to the Forest of Death—alone.
Under the moonlight, the silver-drenched forest was eerily quiet.
Yuyue stopped beneath a tree, arms folded, and smirked.
"Well, well. Such a big welcome for little ol' me?"
Twelve Root shinobi emerged from the shadows—blades gleaming, chakra humming.
"You're surrounded. Don't resist."
Youyue yawned.
"I was gonna go home and get some beauty sleep. But sure, we can play."
One of them stepped forward. "You dare defy a Hokage order?"
Yuyue suddenly burst out laughing—a sharp, unrestrained laugh that echoed through the forest.
"Hokage? You think Danzo's the Hokage now? That's rich!"