The next day.
Morning sunlight slipped through the gaps in the curtains and spread across the room. Chiya slowly opened his eyes and, out of habit, gave the system a command.
"Open the system."
[Name: Uchiha Chiya]
[Age: 19]
[Chakra: 26 Kaka]
[Kekkei Genkai: Sharingan (Mangekyō), Ice Release, Lava Release]
[Skills:
Mangekyō Dōjutsu: The Far Shore of the Yellow Springs, Cycle of Cause and Effect.
Forbidden Jutsu: Izanagi, Izanami.
Susano'o, Medical Ninjutsu Mastery, Fire Style Mastery, Genjutsu Mastery, Body Flicker Technique, Shadow Clone Technique, Three-Body Technique, and others.]
Hmm. Age, normal. Chakra...
Hmm? Why is there one extra unit? Could it be that last night, during the second half of the evening with Tsunade, the forbidden combination of Uchiha and Senju had triggered something?
Chiya snapped fully awake and sat up in bed.
He had been quite busy last night.
The first half of the evening had been with Yakushi Nono, and as far as Chiya knew, she had no special bloodline whatsoever.
The only possibility was the second half of the evening with Tsunade.
Uchiha plus Senju. That was an unprecedented achievement in the making.
A gain in chakra was barely explainable under those circumstances.
After all, two becoming one, inseparable...
Chiya suddenly froze.
'Wait. That makes no sense. Why had none of the many times before triggered anything like this?'
[Ding! In response to the host's question, it is because it is the host's birthday. The system is gifting one unit of chakra as a present.]
Chiya let out a breath of relief, and the pieces finally fell into place.
"So it was you, you wretched system. I actually thought I had discovered some incredible bug."
[Host, the system is only executing according to its programmed parameters.]
"Tch."
Chiya gave a quiet laugh and felt the shift in the chakra within him. It was only one unit, but it was better than nothing.
He was going to be the chakra-monster Uchiha someday.
He climbed out of bed, walked to the window, and pulled open the curtains. Sunlight instantly flooded the entire room.
He casually picked up the mirror on the desk and looked. His brow immediately furrowed.
"These dark circles..."
The face looking back at him had faint shadows under both eyes, clearly the aftermath of fighting through two rounds of meetings last night.
'It is true. Indulgence takes its toll.'
He rubbed his temples and thought back over yesterday.
The first half of the night had been Yakushi Nono's birthday party for him. The second half had been drinking with Tsunade.
That woman's alcohol tolerance had been getting more and more terrifying lately.
"I was undone by wine and women yesterday."
"Starting today, I am giving up drinking."
He said this with a completely straight face at the mirror, then added quietly under his breath.
"At least for three days."
"Consider it a health regimen."
Chiya set down the mirror, ducked into the next room, and finished washing up.
He had just finished changing when the sound of footsteps came from the doorway.
"Clan Head, are you in?"
Chiya recognized the voice. It was Uchiha Yashiro.
"Come in."
Chiya straightened his collar and turned toward the door.
Yashiro pushed the door open and stepped in, his expression slightly grave.
He spoke respectfully.
"Clan Head, there is important intelligence."
Chiya raised an eyebrow slightly.
"What is it?"
Yashiro reached into his clothing and produced a scroll, holding it out with both hands.
"This is a document transmitted through Root from the Land of Fire. The Anbu have already received a copy. Hokage-sama called in senior Anbu leadership this morning and appears to be dissatisfied with Captain Sakumo."
Chiya took the scroll and read through it quickly. His brow gradually tightened.
The document was essentially a formal complaint from the Land of Fire's senior officials regarding Sakumo's recent operations.
During his recent activities along the border, Sakumo had not only disrupted certain transactions between the Land of Fire and various underground factions, he had also delayed the progress of several important projects.
The Land of Fire's position was that the Anbu had overstepped and interfered in internal affairs, and they were demanding an explanation from Konoha.
"That is all?"
Chiya closed the scroll, somewhat at a loss.
"The Hokage is making such a fuss over something this minor?"
Yashiro shook his head.
"I cannot say for certain either, but Hokage-sama's demeanor appeared to be quite serious."
Chiya narrowed his eyes.
"A document sent through Root... That is almost certainly Danzo's doing."
He thought for a moment, then gave a cold laugh.
"I see it now."
Yashiro looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"Clan Head, what do you mean?"
Chiya stood, walked to the window, and fixed his gaze on the distant Hokage Building.
"Sakumo's reputation has grown too high. High enough to make certain people restless."
"Are you suspecting... Hokage-sama?"
"No. The Hokage will not act directly. But others will."
Chiya turned around, his gaze sharp.
"Yashiro, go back to the Anbu."
"Remember, no matter what happens, do not act rashly. First make sure your footing in the Anbu is secure."
Yashiro gave a grave nod.
"Understood."
After Yashiro left, Chiya set out for Security Force headquarters.
On the way, his mind churned with thoughts.
On the surface, Sakumo's situation looked like nothing more than a complaint from the Land of Fire. But in reality, it was almost certainly the first net Danzo had cast.
Knowing Danzo's character, he would never stop at a move this small.
Security Force headquarters.
Chiya had barely arrived when Mikoto came to meet him.
"Chiya-nii."
Chiya gave her a smile.
He picked up a document from his desk that he had not finished reading yesterday and looked over at Mikoto.
"Follow me."
Mikoto followed close behind Chiya as he walked out of the office.
The Uchiha in the main hall saw Chiya stop and quickly assembled in front of him.
Chiya swept his gaze across them.
"Notify all patrol units. Starting today, increase patrols inside the village."
"Pay special attention to merchant caravans and envoys arriving from the Land of Fire. The moment any are spotted, report it immediately."
"People from the Land of Fire, Clan Head? Has something happened?"
Chiya gave a calm smile.
"Simply preparing before trouble arrives."
"Move out."
"Yes, Clan Head."
Chiya watched the group disperse, then walked to the window on his own.
Mikoto stood quietly to one side, watching his back.
A hint of something distant crept into her eyes.
'Chiya-nii looked so serious and impressive just now.'
"Sakumo, you had better not be brought down so easily..."
Chiya looked in the direction of the Hokage Rock, his gaze resting on the carved faces above.
...
At the same time, inside the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen sat at his desk, holding the document from the Land of Fire, his expression calm.
Koharu and Homura stood to one side. The atmosphere was tense.
"Hiruzen, the Land of Fire's position is clear. Sakumo's conduct has caused displeasure. If we do not offer an explanation, it may damage relations between us."
Koharu said in a grave voice.
Hiruzen slowly exhaled a breath of smoke, his eyes deep and unreadable.
"And Danzo?"
Homura adjusted his glasses.
"He went to the Root base this morning. He said he would be here shortly."
Hiruzen gave a cold laugh.
"No sign of movement? I suspect there has been so much movement he can no longer keep it hidden."
Koharu frowned.
"Hiruzen, are you saying..."
"The document the Land of Fire submitted this time likely has his fingerprints on it."
Hiruzen said evenly.
The two advisors exchanged a glance, each reading the other's thoughts.
They were seasoned players of politics, and they still had the sensitivity for this sort of thing.
They already knew this was Danzo's handiwork, but at the moment it did present an opportunity.
Homura said hesitantly.
"Should we step in then?"
Hiruzen was silent for a moment, then finally shook his head.
A flicker of confusion passed through both of their eyes.
The opportunity was right in front of them. Why was he still holding back?
"Because of Sakumo's actions lately, quite a number of important figures from the Land of Fire have come to the village."
Hiruzen drew a long breath and let it out slowly.
The drifting smoke obscured whatever worry might have been on his face.
"Their safety must be taken seriously. Root's suggestion is to have the Anbu escort them out. It would also give us a chance to let them clarify the misunderstanding."
Just then, the door to the office was pushed open from outside.
"Hiruzen, you are still this indecisive."
The low voice came together with the steady rhythm of a cane striking the floor, as Danzo walked in without expression.