"Uchiha Yorin… so it's him—engineered the coup in Kirigakure, pitched Konoha's economic reforms, took down Danzō, beat the Fourth Mizukage Yagura, opened factories, founded a newspaper, sold 'health products,' sheltered Scorch Release Pakura, and brought Tsunade-hime back…
tsk, tsk—what a handful.
Does the man never get tired?"
…
At that exact time—while Yorin was back in Konoha reporting to the Hokage—the Cloud delegation was talking about him too.
In a grand suite at the Konoha Grand, a few Kumogakure envoys sat around, picking apart Konoha's newest rising star with equal parts praise and envy.
They didn't know he'd also hijacked the shinobi world's premier villain org, Akatsuki. Those bandit raids making daimyō and magnates lose sleep? Yorin's little side hustle. If they had known, it wouldn't be admiration—it'd be fear.
"A talent, no doubt."
"Only Konoha seems to grow them like weeds… shame someone like that isn't ours."
"Wasn't the Uchiha originally a Lightning Country clan?"
Another envoy chimed in, "If Hashirama hadn't invited them, the Uchiha should've joined us in the first place."
"Really? News to me," said the third.
Not long ago they could still fantasize a betrayal route: Uchiha falling out with Konoha, defecting to Kumo—classic. But right now Uchiha and Konoha are on honeymoon terms.
Not only does the Fourth and Yorin get on like brothers, Yorin drags everyone along on every venture, building an absurd network: shinobi clans, civilian ninja, outside tycoons and upstart capital—they all like him.
If he has a "flaw," it's that he seems uninterested in currying favor with the daimyo and aristos. In a world technically ruled by daimyō, that's odd—politically, most think buttering them up is the skill. Remember: when the "Pot Kage" tried to depose Tsunade in canon, he ran straight to the daimyo.
…
"Enough about him," the head envoy finally said. "Do we actually have a shot?"
Silence.
Konoha was strong now, with no obvious seams. This wasn't the canon timeline's bluff-and-bluster—they were solid. No one wanted to square up against that; even Cloud's bruisers knew better.
"Let's head back," the lead envoy concluded. "We report, and Raikage-sama decides."
More silence.
…
And so, the Hinata-kidnapping incident never happened in this line. After confirming Konoha was airtight, the Cloud delegation simply renewed agreements, paid polite calls to the leadership, and prepared to go home.
Leadership included Uchiha Yorin—Head of Anbu, People's Safety Committee chairman, Gestapo director, and ton ton macoute archmagus. Word that he'd soon be appointed Hokage's aide was not just rumor.
Minato had broached it with him. Swallowing Mist in one bite bought Yorin enormous prestige. Konoha's a military outfit at heart; merit is the coin. Mist might be the weakest of the Five, but it's still a Great Village. Other than Hashirama, name a Second/Third/Fourth who took a whole village in one campaign.
If Minato suddenly dropped dead, Yorin would win a Hokage election before the Third's faction finished gasping—he'd already shared the war spoils (even that jaw-dropping super-Water Giant technique) with everyone. Even the Sarutobi would have to pinch their noses and admit: "Yorin's a menace, but this time? He did right."
If that's the Hokage chair, how much more the Hokage's aide seat?
The elders grumbled, but who cares. Yes, Konoha would go through its "democratic" ritual—jōnin balloting—but even a roadside fool or baby Naruto could tell you: the "public will" isn't what moves the boulder.
…
As for meeting the Cloud envoys: if not for the crowd, Yorin would've slapped a genjutsu on them and made them walk out on their hands to learn that "the world is dangerous." Alas—public venue—so it was platitudes and quick goodbyes.
"So you still think Kumo will declare war?" Minato asked afterward. He'd read the envoys' tone.
"The world," Yorin said, calm as glass, "is a single system in motion. Whether Kumo chooses war depends on three variables."
"Kumo, Konoha, and… the others, right?" Minato caught on fast.
"You're maturing," Yorin nodded. "So—how do you rate Kazekage Rasa and Ōnoki's posture?"
"Rasa… but Suna's our ally," Minato said, surprised.
"Not reliable," Yorin said. "Plan for the worst. Assume Sand, Cloud, and Stone strike together. When it starts, I'll lead Mist to pin one front. Konoha needs to be ready to fight two villages at once."
~~~
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