Wind and snow slashed like razor blades across this rundown border town in the Land of Water.
Houses on both sides of the street were straight-up dilapidated; doors hangin' crooked, roofs groanin' under thick snow like they were one gust away from caving in.
Bone-chillin' cold wrapped everything; every breath puffed out white fog that vanished in the howlin' north wind.
In this gray-white dead zone, two figures trudged one behind the other; silent as ghosts.
The kid in the back? Name's Haku.
Head dipped low, but eyes locked dead on the tall back ahead.
Snow was deep; each step sank with a crunch. Haku carefully planted his feet in the prints left by the guy up front; like that'd pull him closer to the warmth radiatin' off him.
They'd only known each other a hot minute, but Haku could feel this dude was different; raw power, swagger for days, eyes on the prize. Plus, he treated Haku gentle; sparked some gut-level closeness the kid couldn't explain.
If this was a game world, only players would see the floatin' purple tag over Uchiha Makoto's head: [Uchiha Clan Chief (Fake)]
Passive effect; no activation needed. Especially that hidden +100% Affinity buff quietly rewirin' Haku's brain and heart.
After driftin' so long, he finally found a reason to exist.
Haku's fingers clenched his thin sleeve. Quick sleeve-wipe across his eyes to kill the warm wet streak, then he hustened up; stickin' tighter to the leader.
Up front, Makoto had faint blue lightning arcs dancin' across his skin; tiny crackles that pushed out cozy heat against the freeze.
Haku trailed like a shadow; that back lit the path ahead and the kid's pitch-black life.
Snowstorm raged, but a tiny, stubborn flame sparked in Haku's chest.
He didn't know when this "weapon" would get tossed aside, but right now? He wasn't alone.
Makoto's brain was half in Lightning Body Forging mode, half already plannin' the next hustle.
Land of Water start? Smoother than butter.
"Bloody Mist" policy turned the place into chaos; bloodline clans purged, talented ninjas scattered or buried. Straight-up untapped goldmine talent market.
Snaggin' Haku this easy? Killer omen.
Next: cruise this "market," scoop more bargains. Makoto schemed.
Oh, and hunt that newbie gift pack named Kado. If he's made bank yet; rob him blind. If not… rob somebody else.
Makoto's lip curled. Motto: Get paid!
Recruit potential goons worth trainin', grind real combat through kill-or-be-killed scraps, keep Lightning Forging 24/7, use near-death terror to master Lightning Chakra Mode faster.
And stack cash.
Perfect.
One stone, four birds… nah, add tourism; scopin' Water Country sights and grub. Five birds.
Makoto Uchiha; efficiency king. One fish, multiple meals.
He side-eyed the rear. Haku followed quiet, eyes focused; dead stare now flickerin' with real light thanks to a purpose.
Makoto's mouth twitched up. This Water Country trip might be even wilder than planned.
Konoha Village.
Root HQ buried deep underground; no sun, air thick with damp and rust.
Water dripped from ceiling cracks; plink-plink echoin' like a metronome in hell.
Everything gray and oppressive; breathin' felt like suckin' on mold.
Yakushi Nonou dragged heavy steps down the empty tunnel.
Fresh off a high-stress spy gig in thunder-rumble Cloud Village; barely shook the dust.
One damn day at her orphanage; the only place that felt like home.
Even then? Root ninjas watchin' from afar. Couldn't hug a single kid; scared it'd paint targets on 'em.
Then summoned again.
She shoved open the thick iron door; colder air slapped her face.
Deep in the shadows, Shimura Danzo sat like a damn mountain.
Candlelight flickered; half his face dark, one eye glintin' like a predator starin' down prey.
"Mist Village intel lines need reinforcin'," Danzo rasped; flat as a obituary. "Critical spot. You're fillin' it."
Nonou's gut dropped.
Mist Village… "Bloody Mist."
Ninja world's poster child for chaos and brutality. Outsider checks tighter than a bank vault. Long-term infiltration for high-value intel?
Death sentence with extra steps.
Nonou adjusted her glasses; cold frames kept her face steady. Voice fought to stay level; tiny shake slipped.
"Lord Danzo… just wrapped a long op. Body and mind ain't peak. This mission might slip…"
"Root doesn't keep broken tools!"
Danzo cut her off; ice-cold, treatin' her like a rusty kunai.
"Orders and cover ID ready. Leave tonight. No delays."
Exit sealed.
Fingers curled tight in her sleeves; ice-cold tips.
She knew the drill; no hagglin' in Root. Resistance? Painful lesson.
Ever since gettin' drafted years ago, Yakushi Nonou ceased to exist. Just a codename; a disposable piece for "Konoha's benefit"; aka Danzo's ego trip.
She bowed her head; glasses flash hid the bitterness floodin' her eyes.
"…Yes, Lord Danzo."
Voice soft; resigned. Her power level couldn't touch him.
Random thought: all these years runnin'; never lived for herself. Never even dated.
A ghost of a bitter smile flickered; gone in a blink.
Danzo waved her off like swattin' a fly.
Nonou bowed silent, turned, stepped into the swallowin' dark hallway.
Her back looked fragile under the dim light; every steady step heavy like walkin' a thorn-riddled dead end.
If Makoto in Water Country saw this? Danzo's gettin' strung up on the tallest lamppost. This ain't regular capitalism; this is bloodsuckin' evil. Time for a hostile takeover.
After tossin' Nonou back into the meat grinder, Danzo's pent-up rage over Uchiha and Hyuga didn't ease; worse.
He gripped his cane hard, stood slow, shuffled outta Root toward the Hokage Tower.
Dead Uchiha brat? Leverage with his old pal. Trade for budget, manpower.
Dead of night; Hokage Tower loomed like a sleepin' beast. Most windows dark; top floor glowed stubborn yellow.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sank deep in the oversized Hokage chair; symbol of ultimate power swallowin' his hunched frame.
Pipe between fingers; red ember pulsed. Harsh smoke curled, blurrin' his wrinkled, beat-down face.
He savored the midnight quiet; and the fat power rush of runnin' the whole damn Leaf.
Desk corner: faded old photo. Young Second Hokage Tobirama with his students.
Photo-Hiruzen? Eyes sharp, full of fire.
Now? Just exhaustion and sunken sockets.
Starin' at his teacher, Hiruzen muttered: "Ain't about clingin' to power… just…"
"Just Leaf's in a talent drought. No decent successor… sigh."
For stability, he had to keep grindin' in the big chair.
BAM!
Door slammed open; no knock. Peace shredded.
Danzo barged in cane-first; straight to business, voice low and hard:
"Hiruzen; fresh intel from Cloud."
One eye glowed in the dim; locked on his buddy. Dropped the bomb word by word.
"Uchiha Makoto; that evil-born Uchiha punk snatched by Cloud over a year ago; pretty much dead."
Hiruzen's pipe hand froze a micro-second.
Head up; eyes flashed relief for a split; one massive, uncontrollable headache; gone.
But he buried it fast. Face shifted to complex grief; brows knit, eyes "mournin'" a village kid.
Makoto saw this? Oscar ballot; Best Actor in a Ninja World.
Veteran Hokage; emotion control god-tier.
Hiruzen sucked deep, blew a thick smoke ring; voice perfectly mournful.
"Details?"
"My secret Cloud channels confirmed," Danzo recited flat like a casualty report.
Dead? Zero value. If alive, maybe recruit. Oh well.
"Uchiha Shisui and Itachi; those evil Uchiha brats; bold enough to sneak into Cloud's core and try a snatch-back."
"Clashed hard with the Eight-Tails jinchuriki, Killer Bee. Big ruckus."
"Only Shisui and Itachi made it out. Makoto… didn't. Buried on that battlefield."
Hearin' "big ruckus in Cloud," Hiruzen's eyes went grave.
Instant disgust for Itachi and Shisui; y'all tryin' to spark another Great War?
But seein' Itachi's broken state? Push too hard and flip him enemy. Mental note.
Leaned forward, urgent: "Cloud's stance? Any signs they'll escalate?"
Seein' Hiruzen panic first about Cloud's feelings; classic dodge; Danzo's gut burned with contempt.
One eye flashed sneer. Cold snort:
"Why the hell you worryin' about Cloud's attitude?! They started this shit!"