A light knock came at the door of the Hokage's office.
"Come in."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice carried through the heavy door.
Chiya pushed the door open and entered. His black eyes were calm and still.
Sunlight slanted through the window onto the office floor, casting thin beams in which tiny dust motes drifted.
The Third Hokage sat behind his wide desk. The smoke rising from his pipe blurred his expression.
'As expected of you, old smoker, Third.'
"Hokage-sama."
Chiya gave a slight nod.
"Chiya, sit."
Hiruzen pointed to the chair across from him, a kind smile appearing on his face.
"How has the work at the Military Police Force been going lately?"
Chiya settled into the seat without hurry.
"Thanks to your care, everything is progressing according to plan."
"Good, good."
The Third Hokage nodded with a pleasant smile, his pipe turning slowly between his fingers.
"I have been watching the recent changes within the Uchiha clan. The efficiency of the Military Police Force has improved quite a bit. The villagers speak highly of you all."
"Deeply upholding the Will of Fire. This is what we Uchiha should do."
The corner of Chiya's lips lifted slightly. The Will of Fire came out of his mouth without hesitation. Yet a flicker of alertness passed through his eyes.
Hiruzen's sudden show of warmth made his nerves instinctively tighten.
Hiruzen took a slow draw from his pipe, his gaze moving through the curling smoke to study the young man before him.
"Chiya, I hear you have been visiting the training grounds often lately. I imagine your training has been quite demanding. I did not expect that even after becoming clan head, you have not let your training slip."
Chiya's eyes flashed for a moment.
'Hiruzen knows my movements this well. Clearly the ANBU surveillance has never loosened.'
"Just some basic practice. You flatter me, Hokage-sama."
He answered without any change in expression, while quickly calculating in his mind the true purpose behind this conversation.
Hiruzen suddenly let out a sigh. The wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen slightly.
"Chiya, do you know why I called you here today?"
"Please speak plainly, Hokage-sama."
Chiya leaned forward slightly, putting on the appearance of someone listening carefully.
Hiruzen took a scroll from his drawer and slowly unrolled it.
"This is an urgent commission sent from the Land of Fire's Daimyo's office. In recent times, children have gone missing from seven small towns along the border, almost simultaneously. The total count has already reached twenty-three."
Chiya's gaze swept across the densely packed records on the scroll.
'The method is very professional. This does not look like the work of ordinary traffickers.'
"Correct."
The Third Hokage nodded.
"The Daimyo wants Konoha to send out elites to investigate. After thinking it over, I believe this mission is best suited for your Uchiha clan."
A sharp light flashed through Chiya's eyes and vanished.
'So after going all this way around, it comes to this.'
He made a show of considering.
"The Military Police Force does have enough personnel. However..."
"Is there some difficulty?"
Hiruzen asked with concern.
Chiya raised his head and met the Third's eyes directly.
"Hokage-sama, please forgive me for speaking directly. The Uchiha clan has long been confined to the duties of the Military Police Force. We lack experience handling field missions of this kind. If we could have more... opportunities for exchange and learning, it would be more beneficial to completing the mission."
The office suddenly went quiet. Only the faint sound of the pipe remained.
Hiruzen's gaze grew deep. He was clearly weighing the matter.
"What you mean is..."
"ANBU is where Konoha's finest gather. Every ninja who enters comes out with strength that has grown greatly and experience that runs deep."
"Our senior Kagami had the chance to train in ANBU. It was precisely after entering ANBU that his strength improved."
Chiya spoke without any rush.
"Right now the village is in need of capable people. If the Uchiha's young could also obtain such an opportunity, then in the future, should the village receive commissions like this again, we Uchiha would naturally be able to handle them with ease."
Hiruzen's pupils contracted slightly.
He had not expected Chiya to raise such a request at this critical moment.
But thinking it over, this truly was the best arrangement to balance the interests of both sides.
Also, Chiya had just mentioned an old acquaintance.
'Kagami...'
A look of nostalgia showed on Hiruzen's face.
"He was an outstanding ninja."
He was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
"Fine, I agree. After the mission is complete, I will give the Uchiha three slots to train in ANBU."
Chiya felt a surge of joy inside, but not a trace of it showed on his face.
"Thank you for your trust, Hokage-sama. The Uchiha clan will give everything we have."
"However."
Hiruzen's tone shifted.
"This mission concerns the Daimyo's trust in Konoha. It must be handled without any failure."
"Understood."
Chiya gave a solemn nod.
"I will lead the team personally."
Hiruzen stroked his beard with satisfaction and pushed the mission scroll toward Chiya.
"All the detailed intelligence is in here. If you need anything, simply say so."
Chiya took the scroll, stood, and bowed.
"Then I will go back and prepare."
Walking out of the Hokage Building, Chiya tilted his head back toward the deep blue sky. The corner of his mouth curved into a meaningful smile.
'This negotiation was an exchange that served the interests of both sides.'
Inside the meeting hall of the Uchiha clan grounds.
More than ten elders and elite jonin sat on both sides. The atmosphere was heavy.
Chiya stood at the head of the table and spread the mission scroll flat across the surface.
"This is the situation."
His voice was especially clear in the quiet hall.
"The Hokage has already agreed. After the mission is complete, three of us can enter ANBU."
Low murmuring immediately spread through the meeting hall.
The Third Elder stroked his white beard, deep in thought.
"Entering ANBU. I did not expect that after Kagami, our Uchiha could still enter one of the village's important organizations."
"But the risk is not small."
The Second Elder frowned.
"To commit crimes within the Land of Fire without being caught, whoever they are, they are no ordinary people."
Fugaku sat close to Chiya and asked in a low, steady voice.
"How many people are you planning to bring?"
Chiya's gaze swept across every person present.
"Twenty elites will be enough. I need people skilled in tracking and genjutsu combinations."
"I will go."
Fugaku raised his hand without hesitation.
"My Sharingan has an advantage in tracking."
"Count me in too."
"My medical ninjutsu should be useful."
Quickly, the roster of twenty was confirmed.
Chiya nodded with satisfaction.
"We depart at dawn tomorrow. Rest well tonight. Prepare enough ninja tools and medicine."
After the others had left, Fugaku stayed behind.
"Chiya."
He lowered his voice.
"I keep feeling something is off about this. Why would the Third suddenly show goodwill toward us?"
Chiya let out a quiet laugh, the three tomoe in his eyes slowly spinning.
"Cousin, politics is like playing chess. He makes a move, and we make a move too."
"Do you think he is being this generous just to give us ANBU slots? There is a condition. We have to complete the commission from the Land of Fire first."
Fugaku's brow furrowed.
"Will the village try to trip us up after we complete the mission?"
Chiya smiled.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi certainly would not. He plays the role of someone standing in the light. As for the others..."
Fugaku nodded, deep in thought.
He suddenly realized that this cousin who had grown up alongside him had already become a skilled player in this game.
The night grew deep. Chiya walked alone on the path back to his residence.
The moonlight stretched his shadow long behind him. He looked up at the starry sky.
'Danzo. Could this be your doing?'