Infinite City.
Ginza Building.
Morning light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the spacious office in soft gold.
"Young Master, news has arrived from the clan."
The silver-spotted cat leapt lightly onto the desk, then curled into Anlan's arms with practiced familiarity. Its moonlit fur shimmered faintly under the sunlight.
Lifting its small head, emerald eyes reflecting his face, it let out a soft meow.
"Today, Hokage Advisor Koharu Utatane paid an official visit to the clan compound on behalf of Hiruzen Sarutobi. Her tone was… unusually friendly. It was clearly an attempt to win us over."
Ayan's tail curled lazily.
"However, the elders unanimously judged it to be nothing more than a delaying tactic forced by the Hokage faction. Their goal is simply to stabilize us temporarily. There is no sincerity behind it."
"Additionally—"
It paused slightly.
"Koharu Utatane has already departed Konoha this morning under the pretext of 'the Hokage visiting the front lines.'"
"She is expected to arrive at Infinite City by tomorrow evening at the latest."
"The clan requests that we prepare accordingly."
Anlan gently stroked the cat's smooth fur, his expression calm.
"Prepare?"
"The clan means… I should keep Koharu here?"
Ayan let out a soft, satisfied purr, stretching slightly under his touch.
"Meow~ The elders said that whatever decision the Young Master makes, the clan will fully support it."
It rubbed its head against his wrist.
"As for whether to keep her, how long to keep her, and how to keep her…"
"That is entirely up to you."
Anlan chuckled faintly.
"Looks like the clan has finally grown a backbone."
His gaze drifted beyond the glass, toward the distant sky.
In the past—
Even the slightest gesture of goodwill from the Hokage Tower would send certain clan members scrambling forward eagerly.
But now—
Faced with "kindness" personally delivered by the Hokage's advisor—
The elders were not flattered.
They were thinking about how to take advantage of it.
Their mindset had changed completely.
After a moment of thought, Anlan rose.
He headed toward the Kirigakure prison camp.
After once again applying Kyōka Suigetsu to the two Kage-level captives, he gave Fugaku several quiet instructions—
Then waited.
For tonight's performance.
Fugaku stood at the center of the open ground.
Straight as a pine.
His gaze swept across the rows of containers.
"Open containers three, seven, and eleven."
"Bring those on the list."
Metal latches were pulled open one after another with harsh scraping sounds.
The doors swung wide.
Light flooded into the darkness.
Faces appeared—
Blank at first.
Then quickly filling with suspicion.
Fear.
The selected Kirigakure prisoners were dragged out in chains.
There were few visible injuries.
Those struck by the lightning dragon had died instantly.
The rest—
Only felt the emptiness of sealed chakra.
But their instincts remained.
Their eyes were still sharp.
Still afraid.
Ninja like Hoshigaki Kisame—
Who treated their village as their very soul—
Were rare.
Fugaku's gaze swept over them like a blade.
Eighty to ninety people.
Chūnin.
Jōnin.
Elites.
"Remove their chakra seals."
"Yes!"
Chains were released.
The moment chakra flowed again—
Many trembled.
Instinctively clenching their fists.
Excitement flickered—
But was quickly buried beneath caution.
Surrounded by Uchiha—
Recklessness meant death.
The memory of that battle still lingered.
"Don't overthink it."
Fugaku's voice was calm.
"And don't act rashly."
"The Uchiha do not kill prisoners without reason."
"We are giving you a chance."
"To survive."
"And to prove your value."
He pointed forward.
The Red Armor Army stood in formation.
Eyes burning.
Killing intent rising like heat.
"Your opponents—are them."
Then, the rules:
"One of ours will face two or three of you."
"Fight with the intent to kill."
"Use everything—ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu."
"The longer you endure…"
"The better your treatment."
"You may even earn the chance to leave."
Shock spread among the prisoners.
Training?
Or torture?
But—
The return of chakra.
The word leave.
Hope crept in like poison.
They had no choice.
Weapons were thrown before them.
"Begin."
The Red Armor soldiers moved first.
Like arrows.
The battlefield ignited instantly.
Fire met water.
Steel clashed.
Taijutsu struck with dull force.
At first—
The Mist ninja hesitated.
But survival instinct quickly took over.
They adapted.
Coordinated.
Using assassination techniques and Water Release.
Despite being outnumbered—
The Uchiha controlled the rhythm.
Wind Release swordsmanship.
Sharingan prediction.
Precision.
It wasn't a battle.
It was a lesson.
A brutal one.
Fugaku stood at the edge, arms crossed.
His Sharingan rotated slowly.
Analyzing.
Recording.
Every flaw.
Every hesitation.
Wind stirred.
Carrying heat, sweat, and faint blood.
The sounds of combat echoed endlessly.
—
By sunset—
The first group was returned.
Exhausted.
Shaken.
But—
Their chakra was not sealed again.
"They don't need it."
"Feed them."
"We continue tomorrow."
Fugaku's words echoed in their minds.
Arrogance.
Absolute confidence.
Yet—
A faint spark lit in their eyes.
Fugaku's gaze shifted.
To two containers.
"Bring them out."
Soon—
Suikazan Fuguki.
Hoshigaki Kisame.
Both stepped into the light.
Their chakra seals were removed.
And instantly—
Their presence returned.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Kage-level.
Fuguki straightened slightly.
Kisame remained silent.
But both—
Had the same thought.
Run.
Fugaku stepped forward.
Drawing his blade.
The steel reflected the sunset.
He did not release killing intent.
But the Sharingan—
Was pressure enough.
"Gentlemen."
His voice was steady.
"Uchiha Fugaku requests guidance."
"To continue our unfinished battle."
Fuguki and Kisame exchanged a glance.
No words.
But complete understanding.
They couldn't go all out.
But they couldn't look useless either.
Everything—
Had to be controlled.
"Heh… heh…"
Fuguki laughed hoarsely.
"It's an honor."
His stance lowered.
But unstable.
Mostly acting.
Kisame stepped forward silently.
Taking a taijutsu stance.
Eyes fixed—
On Fugaku's shoulder.
Avoiding eye contact.
"Please."
Fugaku spoke calmly.
Kisame moved first.
Fast.
But controlled.
A straight punch.
Fuguki followed—
Sweeping attack.
Cutting escape routes.
Fugaku shifted.
Minimal movement.
Perfect precision.
His blade hilt tapped Kisame's wrist—
Redirecting the strike.
His body slipped past Fuguki's swing.
Like flowing water.
The exchange ended instantly.
Kisame stepped back.
His wrist numb.
Troublesome Sharingan.
Fuguki's attack failed.
A chill crept in.
Fugaku stood still.
As if he hadn't moved.
"Is that all?"
Fuguki's eyes flickered.
But he suppressed it.
"My injuries aren't healed."
"If I had Samehada…"
A subtle probe.
At the same time—
His footing shifted.
Chakra circulated quietly.
Kisame formed seals.
"Water Release: Water Whip."
High-pressure streams lashed out.
Fuguki added—
"Hidden Mist Technique."
Vision blurred.
Perfect cover.
Fugaku swung.
Wind chakra wrapped his blade.
A low hum.
The water whips—
Shredded instantly.
His figure flickered through the mist.
Red eyes cutting through everything.
The battle intensified.
But remained controlled.
Fuguki and Kisame hovered at the edge.
Strike.
Retreat.
Avoiding real risk.
Avoiding real exposure.
Fugaku—
Adjusted.
Sometimes overwhelming.
Sometimes passive.
Observing.
Learning.
Recording.
When satisfied—
He withdrew.
Stepping back.
The mist faded.
Silence returned.
Both sides stopped.
Breathing steady.
Eyes deeper.
"He's seen through us."
They both understood.
"That's enough."
Fugaku sheathed his blade.
"Return them."
They were taken back.
Food delivered.
—
Inside the container—
Kisame ate silently.
Warm food.
A strange sense of reality.
But beneath it—
Killing intent.
Growing.
It must be Fuguki.
That coward.
He must have betrayed the village.
Otherwise—
Why unseal their chakra?
I'll survive.
Gain trust.
Find the truth.
And then—
Kill him.
The thought rooted deep.
—
Across from him—
Fuguki devoured his meal.
Greedy.
Messy.
Eyes shifting constantly.
A wise man doesn't suffer immediate loss…
I'll play along.
Pretend to submit.
Then—
Recover.
Reclaim Samehada.
And repay everything.
A hundredfold.
He bit down hard.
As if crushing his future revenge between his teeth.