"Clan Head… I-I'm out of strength…"
Mikoto clutched her kunai tightly, her small chest rising and falling as she struggled to catch her breath. Fine beads of sweat dotted her pale forehead, her body pushed to its absolute limit after exhausting both stamina and chakra.
Ryujin closed the guild interface and looked up at her, giving a faint nod.
"You did well. Your talent is good. Keep training like this, and one day you'll become a ninja capable of standing on your own."
"Mm!"
Mikoto nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with joy.
But deep down…
That wasn't what she truly wanted.
She didn't care about becoming strong.
Didn't care about standing alone.
She only wanted to stay by his side.
Still—
She buried those thoughts, believing that becoming stronger was what he expected of her.
"Then… Clan Head, I'll head back first. I still have laundry to do tonight."
"Alright. Go on."
Ryujin reached out and gently patted her head.
In an instant, Mikoto's fatigue seemed to vanish. A bright, satisfied smile bloomed across her face, as though everything she had endured today was worth it for that single gesture.
"Clan Head… see you tomorrow!"
"Mm. Tomorrow."
He watched as her small figure gradually disappeared into the distance.
The smile on his face faded.
Replaced by cold indifference.
At that exact moment—
The air distorted slightly.
A masked shinobi in ANBU attire appeared silently before him.
"Uchiha Clan Head. The Hokage requests your presence. There are important matters to discuss."
Ryujin's gaze sharpened.
"Next time… don't let me catch you watching me," he said coldly.
"Or you'll bear the consequences."
The ANBU ninja stiffened instantly, a trace of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
He noticed me…?
What he didn't realize—
Was that those words weren't meant for him.
They were meant for someone else.
…
Inside the Hokage's office—
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, clad in the Hokage's robes, the crimson "Fire" kanji emblazoned upon his hat.
Before him, a crystal ball shimmered faintly.
He had heard everything.
"…That Uchiha Ryujin…"
His expression shifted slightly.
"To think his perception is this sharp… even detecting it."
With a low breath, he dismissed the jutsu.
But what unsettled him more—
Was something else entirely.
According to every intelligence report, Ryujin was cold, ruthless, and dangerously ambitious.
Yet what he had just witnessed told a different story.
The way he patiently guided that young girl.
His calm tone.
That faint, almost gentle smile.
For a brief moment—
Even Hiruzen questioned the accuracy of his own information.
Is he really as dangerous as they claim?
Silence filled the room.
Hiruzen slowly took a drag from his pipe, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke that soon spread through the air.
Within that haze—
He sank into deep thought.
Even in his youth, the habit of smoking had long taken root.
And with each breath—
His mind delved further into calculation.
…
Back in the Uchiha district—
Ryujin returned home briefly, changed into a clean set of clothes, and then set out toward the Hokage Tower.
So—
Hiruzen wanted to see him.
That meant something had happened.
Normally, the Hokage rarely summoned him directly. The relationship between the Sarutobi and Uchiha clans had never been harmonious.
In fact—
There was a long history of tension.
Since taking the position of Hokage, many of Hiruzen's policies had subtly targeted the Uchiha… and even the Senju.
The reason was simple.
Both clans were too strong.
Especially the Uchiha.
And with Ryujin now leading them, their influence had begun to surpass even the Senju.
For the sake of balance—
For the stability of the village—
Hiruzen had no choice but to suppress them.
From his perspective—
It was justified.
Sacrifice one faction…
To preserve peace for the many.
As Hokage—
That was the correct decision.
But from the Uchiha's perspective?
It was unacceptable.
Fight for the village—
Only to be suppressed in return?
What kind of logic was that?
Ryujin's expression grew colder.
In his previous life, he could observe everything from the outside.
Remain neutral.
But now—
He stood at the center of it all.
As the Uchiha Clan Head—
He was the one being targeted.
And he was no saint.
That was why—
Rebellion had become inevitable.
No wonder the Uchiha in the original timeline had never truly coexisted peacefully with Konoha.
If they endured everything silently—
They wouldn't be the Uchiha.
They wouldn't possess that pride.
That arrogance.
That fire.
By the time Ryujin arrived at the Hokage Tower, his expression had already returned to its usual calm—cold and unreadable.
He stepped into the office.
Five figures were already present.
Hiruzen Sarutobi—the Third Hokage.
Two advisors—
Homura Mitokado.
Koharu Utatane.
A senior elder of the Senju Clan.
And finally—
The man Ryujin disliked the most.
Danzo Shimura.
At this point in time, Danzo still possessed both of his eyes, his presence sharp and oppressive. The moment Ryujin entered, Danzo's gaze locked onto him.
Hostile.
Unhidden.
Filled with killing intent.
And just like that—
The real game began.