1-5

**Chapter 1: Knights Don't Die Empty-Handed**

 In April, the weather in Konoha Village is the most pleasant. It’s neither too cold nor too hot. The gentle spring breeze sways the cherry blossom branches, sending pink and white petals fluttering down like rain, catching the attention of passersby.

 It's the perfect time for flower viewing.

 However, not everyone has the leisure to enjoy the spring scenery. The Konoha Ninja Academy is also entering its annual enrollment season. The influx of admission forms, like falling snowflakes, has exhausted the entire staff. March is for graduation, and April brings the new students. These two months are always the busiest.

 "Hey, did you hear? That demon fox is enrolling this year."

 "Really? Letting that monster into the ninja academy? My son is starting this year too... Damn it, what are those people up top thinking?"

 "Shh!"

 "Keep your voice down. The Hokage must have his reasons for this decision. Just make sure your kid stays away from that demon fox."

 At the entrance of the Ninja Academy, groups of parents and relatives gathered to drop off their children. Word quickly spread about a boy, rumored to be the incarnation of the demon fox, enrolling in the academy. When a blonde-haired boy appeared on the street in front of the school gate, the atmosphere grew strange.

 Disgusted and hateful glances were followed by clear whispers.

 The boy lowered his head, dragging his heavy steps toward the school.

 "Hurry up, big brother! We're going to be late!"

 "How could we be late? Look, that kid up ahead just got here too. Stop pulling, Fujika! You're going to tear my sleeve!"

 At the end of the street, a little girl tugged on her brother’s sleeve, charging forward like a missile.

 The boy, lost in his dark thoughts, didn’t notice the approaching danger and was suddenly knocked down by the girl. He landed flat on the ground in an embarrassing position, with his backside sticking up in the air. 

"See? I told you not to run, Fujika! Now what if you hurt someone?"

 "How could I hurt anyone? Stop scaring me!"

 The girl kicked her brother’s leg in annoyance.

 "Alright, alright! I surrender, Fujika! Stop kicking me, or you’ll break my leg!" Uchiha Sōgen raised his hands in defeat, hopping around to dodge his little sister's attacks.

 "Hey, are you okay?"

 Ignoring her brother, Uchiha Fujika turned her attention to the boy she had knocked over.

 "…I'm fine."

 The boy got up, dusted himself off, and made no attempt to blame her. He turned to leave.

 "Why are you running? Are you a new student today too?" Uchiha Fujika called after him.

 "…You're not afraid of me?"

 The boy scratched his messy blonde hair, surprised by the girl's reaction. 

Her response, completely out of place, irritated the girl. She glared at the blonde boy, "Why would I be afraid of you? You're a boy, and you're shorter than me! You look like someone easy to bully… How about this? As an apology for knocking you over, I'll look out for you at the academy. If anyone bothers you, just let me know, and I'll beat them up for you."

 "Eh?"

 The boy stood there, dumbfounded, as if he couldn't comprehend what had just happened.

 "Why are you just standing there? If you don’t hurry, you’ll be late."

 The girl, Uchiha Fujika, sighed, holding her head. Her first new "underling" at the academy seemed a bit slow and not very smart!

 "Wow, Fujika! Already recruiting underlings, huh?"

 Uchiha Sōgen looked the boy up and down.

 Messy blonde hair like a bird's nest, bright blue eyes, three whisker-like marks on his face, wearing a black short-sleeved shirt and white shorts… If you looked closely, you’d see a powerful seal on him.

 This boy was Uzumaki Naruto, the Third Nine-Tails Jinchūriki of Konoha.

 "Big brother, you're so annoying! Get going already! I don't need you here." Uchiha Fujika angrily shoved her mischievous brother aside. "Go on, you have a mission, right? Don't forget my entrance gift!"

 "You still remember that? I was just joking at the time. And what does a five-year-old need a little sword for? I’ll make you a wooden one instead." 

"I don’t care. You promised, so you have to do it. If you lie to me, I’ll tell Mom you’re bullying me." 

"…Fujika." 

Sōgen’s voice dropped, and he placed his hand on his sister's shoulder, pretending to be serious. "Remember, tattling is a privilege for little kids. Now that you’re a trainee ninja, if your classmates find out, they'll make fun of you." 

"Promises must be kept! Grandpa always says so. You can’t fool me, big brother!" 

After being tricked too many times, the little girl had built up some resistance. 

She stuck out her tongue and, dragging her new "underling," rushed into the school.

 "Don’t run so fast! You’ll bump into someone… She never learns!" Sōgen stood at the gate, watching his sister and the blonde boy disappear into the school building.

 Today was the first day of school. Parents weren’t allowed inside the academy, so this was as far as he could go.

 "Big brother Sōgen."

 "Sōgen-nii." 

He heard familiar voices behind him.

 Turning around, Sōgen saw two familiar figures—one tall and one short. "Oh, Itachi! Are you dropping Sasuke off for school?" Standing before him were Uchiha Itachi and his younger brother, Sasuke.

 "Yes, Sōgen-nii, I was just about to—" Itachi began but was cut off.

 "Fujika and Sasuke are the same age! Sasuke, you’re in Class A, right?"

 "Yeah, I'm in Class A."

 "Perfect! I have a mission for you. Do you dare accept it?" Sōgen crouched down, looking Sasuke in the eyes.

 "What mission? I’ll take it! I promise to complete it."

 Little Sasuke was excited. Boys his age loved playing ninja games, and this was a mission from the famous Sōgen-nii! Without even asking for details, he eagerly accepted.

 What a good kid!

 At this age, Sasuke was still a proper Uchiha, free from the burden of responsibility that would later weigh on him. Much more endearing than his brother, who was always thinking about sacrificing the small for the greater good!

 "This is a long-term mission." 

Sōgen cleared his throat. "This year, only you and Fujika from the Uchiha clan are entering the academy. You two carry the honor of the Uchiha name at the school. Fujika’s a girl, so, Sasuke, don’t hold back. Show everyone at the academy that the Uchiha are the strongest in Konoha!"

 "Mm-hmm!!!"

 Sasuke’s little face flushed with excitement. He nodded vigorously, standing tall and proud as he made his promise. "Don’t worry, Sōgen-nii! I won’t tarnish the Uchiha name!"

 However, standing beside him, Uchiha Itachi frowned slightly.

 "That's the spirit!"

 Uchiha Sōgen patted Sasuke on the shoulder and encouraged, "Sasuke, if you can get first place in all the exams at the ninja academy this year, I’ll give you a chakra weapon!"

 "Really?"

 "I never lie."

 Chakra weapons refer to those made with special metals, capable of absorbing, conducting, extending, enhancing, and conserving chakra. Because of their high difficulty in forging and great demand, a good chakra weapon is incredibly valuable—something even an average Jonin can’t afford.

 Though only five years old, Uchiha Sasuke understood the value of a chakra weapon due to his family background.

 First place, huh?
No way he’d lose to those dumb classmates.

 Excited, Sasuke ran into the academy.

 Only Uchiha Sōgen and Uchiha Itachi remained standing outside the school gates.

 "Brother Sōgen."

 "What is it?"

 "The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki’s identity is sensitive. Our clan... it’s best not to get too involved."

 "Hmm... Itachi, you’ve grown up! You’re even advising me on what to do now!"

 "Brother Sōgen, that’s not what I meant. I just..." Uchiha Itachi tried to explain.

 "Haha! Just kidding." Uchiha Sōgen laughed. "Don’t worry. I’m not interested in the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but I won’t stop Toka from making friends either. Since Lord Hokage allowed the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to attend the ninja academy, there’s no harm in kids interacting, right?" 

"… Brother Sōgen, I spoke out of turn."

 "It’s fine, it’s fine. You’re just thinking about the clan!"

 Uchiha Sōgen waved his hand with a fake smile.

 "Itachi, if you have things to do, go handle them! There’s no need to waste time here with an idle person like me."

 "Then… please excuse me." Uchiha Itachi politely bid farewell and left, heading toward the Hokage building... As the small figure faded from view, the smile on Uchiha Sōgen’s face gradually disappeared, leaving only a cold, bone-chilling look in his eyes.

 Uchiha Itachi!
In his memory, this was the cold-blooded monster who, for the sake of his brother and the village, didn’t hesitate to massacre his entire clan!

 It’s important to remember that not all members of the Uchiha clan were the haughty, arrogant types. There were also elderly people and children in the clan! Many of them lived their whole lives without even awakening the Sharingan or becoming ninjas. Yet, regardless of age or gender, whether it was a seventy-year-old man or a babbling child, they were all slaughtered cleanly.

 Towards this cold-blooded junior, Uchiha Sōgen felt nothing but wary disgust… No way he could ever feel anything positive towards him.

 If only he’d started as an orphan, oppressed by the clan—it wouldn’t have been so bad. With his "golden finger" (a powerful advantage), he could fake his death and avoid Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Itachi, those cold-blooded demons who killed their teachers and parents. He could lay low in another place, slowly bide his time, and eventually avenge his fallen clan members once his power was fully developed. 

But the problem was that his parents were alive, he had many close friends, his family was warm and harmonious, and he even had an adorable little sister...

 He couldn’t escape.
There was nowhere to hide.
And he didn’t have much time left to resist the tragic fate of his clan.

 The Leaf’s "Rookies" were already officially enrolled, and the night of the Uchiha massacre... wasn’t far off. History had indeed changed somewhat because of Uchiha Sōgen, but the changes weren’t significant. Uchiha Obito still "died heroically" in the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, and the Fourth Hokage and his wife still perished on the night of Naruto’s birth...

 During the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, nine-year-old Uchiha Sōgen was just a newly promoted Chunin, fighting Mist ninjas on the eastern front and had no chance to influence the events of the northern battlefield.

 On the night of the Nine-Tails’ attack, not a single Uchiha ninja, including ten-year-old Uchiha Sōgen, was allowed to leave the Uchiha compound to support the Fourth Hokage. They were heavily surrounded by ninjas from the Anbu and Root divisions.

 Five years had passed since that night.

 In those five years, through tireless effort and with the help of his golden finger, he had become one of the strongest in the Uchiha clan, on par with Uchiha Shisui.

 Oh right,

 Uchiha Sōgen’s golden finger consisted of an inherent skill called **[Mana Burst (Flame)]** and a Noble Phantasm called **[A Knight Does Not Die with Bare Hands]**.

 It sounded a bit strange, and to be honest, it was. It seemed like he had two "golden fingers," but compared to other transmigrators who had nearly omnipotent systems, his golden finger… well, it wasn’t bad, just a bit challenging to develop. 

At least it was better than starting with nothing!
He had been on the battlefield since he was seven, fighting for eight years now. Through countless life-or-death battles, he had managed to raise the power of **[Mana Burst (Flame)]** quite a bit. However, without a system screen or anything like that, it was hard to gauge its exact level.

 As for **[A Knight Does Not Die with Bare Hands]**…

 This invisible Noble Phantasm was quite handy. It allowed him to imbue any weapon he held with the properties of a D-ranked Noble Phantasm, which he could wield. The activation limit was anything he could recognize and identify as a "weapon." In other words, kunai, shuriken, small swords… even rocks and trees could be turned into D-ranked Noble Phantasms.

 Of course, large trees weren’t exactly practical as weapons, unlike shuriken, which were much more effective.

 When imbued with the D-ranked Noble Phantasm attribute, a thrown shuriken had enough destructive power to break through the average Chunin’s hardening techniques. Combined with his Sharingan and the Uchiha clan’s shuriken techniques, to be honest, as long as he didn’t encounter any monsters or get surrounded, this shuriken skill alone was enough to survive on the battlefield.

 But—

 It still wasn’t enough!

 Not even close!

 No matter how much others praised his strength, Uchiha Sōgen, still stuck with only the three-tomoe Sharingan, had little confidence in dealing with the future threats of Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito—those cold-blooded monsters. The unique Mangekyou Sharingan abilities and the so-called "God-like power" of Susano'o…

 They weren’t something he could easily overcome, even with his two golden fingers.

 He needed more power!

 ---

 (End of Chapter)

Chapter 2: How Can a Coup Succeed with a Divided Heart?

"Maybe i should just assassinate that brat Itachi in advance…"

Uchiha Sōgen silently hardened his resolve.

With Danzo as the scapegoat, throwing the blame on him wouldn’t raise suspicions within the clan. And as for killing Uchiha Itachi and preventing Sasuke from evolving his Eternal Mangekyō later… that could be dealt with after overcoming the immediate crisis. If they couldn't survive the Night of the Massacre, the future wouldn’t matter anyway.

As he walked through the streets of the Uchiha clan’s district, Uchiha Sōgen let out a quiet sigh.

The idea of assassinating Uchiha Itachi was just a fleeting thought.

Assassination wasn’t his style of fighting, and eliminating Itachi, who had already awakened his two-tomoe Sharingan, then framing Danzo… too many uncertainties surrounded the plan. It wasn’t guaranteed that he could kill Itachi, a person with seemingly strong fortune, and even if the assassination succeeded, if it were exposed that he was behind it…

“Sōgen!”

A voice called from above.

Uchiha Sōgen halted his steps.

His unreliable thoughts were interrupted. He looked up toward the source of the voice and saw a man with a rare rounded nose among the Uchiha clan.

“...Shisui, you’re back!”

“I just got back today.”

Uchiha Shisui jumped down from the roof of a pancake shop. The shopkeeper, seated on a small stool reading a newspaper, didn’t even glance up. Ninja antics were a common sight—these guys never walked on the streets and loved to hop around rooftops. In a village as large as Konoha, it was probably impossible to find a single roof tile that hadn’t been stepped on by a ninja.

“Sōgen, you look troubled. What’s going on?”

Uchiha Shisui naturally approached and began walking alongside Sōgen.

They were close friends who had survived the Third Great Ninja War together, forging their bond on the Eastern battlefield while battling Kirigakure's forces. But…

“What else could it be? You already know what’s happening within the clan!”

At these words, Shisui’s faint smile disappeared, and an unshakable gloom settled over his features.

“You didn’t attend the gathering the night before last, so let me tell you this clearly: the resentment within the clan is only growing. Many neutrals have joined the radicals, and the number of clan members supporting an armed coup has significantly increased. This time, even the clan head didn’t try to calm things down, and even the two elders, who usually oppose the radicals, seem less firm in their stance…”

Sōgen quietly relayed the details of the clan gathering to Shisui.

He, too, didn’t support the idea of a coup. No, to be precise, in his view, an armed coup should only be a last resort—a choice made when there were no other options. It was a move that would harm both sides and could even be seen as suicidal. Even if the coup succeeded, the losses would be severe, and how would they defend themselves against the enemies surrounding the Land of Fire?

Moreover, there was no guarantee the coup would even succeed.

The Uchiha clan wasn’t weak, but they weren’t as powerful as they used to be. They no longer had the overwhelming prestige of the past. While they were still called Konoha’s most prominent clan, how much of that was sincere praise and how much was mockery was up for interpretation.

The clan had many Jonin, but no matter how many they had, it was still fewer than the combined forces of other clans and the village’s civilian ninja.

The biggest problem was that the only known member of the clan with a fully awakened Mangekyō Sharingan, Uchiha Shisui, had transcended the clan's narrow worldview and embraced the Will of Fire passed down from his elders. He would never betray the village. At best, he was better than Obito and Itachi, preferring suicide over turning his hand against his clan.

And Uchiha Fugaku, the clan head, who also supposedly had a Mangekyō Sharingan, chose not to resist when his own son raised a blade against him to avoid killing his child. Perhaps he had found peace with his decision, but it left the rest of the clan to suffer the consequences.

With the clan so divided, how could they possibly stage a successful coup?

Sōgen saw no hope for its success.

"Ugh, if only I were stronger…"

Sōgen clenched his fist.

But then, he helplessly released it.

Becoming stronger wasn’t something that happened overnight. During the Third Great Ninja War, he had fought tooth and nail just to survive, and soon after the war ended, the Nine-Tails’ attack pushed the Uchiha clan to the edge of a cliff.

In this stormy environment, merely staying alive was exhausting enough.

“Has it really gotten that bad…?” Shisui furrowed his brow in pain. He deeply cared for his clan, but he also loved the village. When the two came into irreconcilable conflict, heading toward a path of mutual destruction, he would inevitably be crushed by the burden.

Later on, Shisui would throw himself into a river, leaving behind a note saying: "I’m tired of my missions. If this continues, there’s no future for the Uchiha, and I don’t want to keep going on like this."

At that point, Shisui had likely been overwhelmed by a deep despair with no end in sight.

Suicide was a choice made only by those utterly consumed by hopelessness.

Especially for someone like Shisui, who was always gentle and cheerful—there was no way he would choose such a tragic end unless he had reached the absolute limit.

“Sōgen, is there… really no way to stop… the clan’s actions?”

“There is, but only if the village leadership stops deliberately suppressing and harassing us. At the very least, that would prevent the radicals from gaining full control. There are actually many clan members who oppose a coup, but… the endless harassment is just… unbearable!”

“Lord Third Hokage, he’s also…”

Shisui tried to defend the Third Hokage.

“Shisui, I understand that the Nine-Tails’ attack left behind some lingering effects. If I were the Hokage, I’d also be wary of the Uchiha. But the problem is that the attack had nothing to do with us! You’re the only one in the clan with a Mangekyō, and you only awakened it after the Nine-Tails incident.”

“The clan won’t sympathize with how hard the Hokage works to keep the peace in the village. We… no, we’ve only felt the endless malice from the village. Even though you’re in the Anbu, you should be aware of the terrible reputation the clan members in the police force have, right?”

Ignoring Shisui’s attempt to speak, Sōgen glanced around and pointed to a small three-story building not far away. “Shisui, let’s head over there. You’ve just returned from a mission, and if you have time, let’s have a proper talk.”

“Alright.”

Shisui nodded.

He had no reason to refuse.

He, too, needed someone to talk to. Despite being one of the Uchiha’s top fighters, he didn’t have many friends. Too many people saw him as an idol rather than as a peer.

If it weren’t for Uchiha Sōgen, the only other person he could hang out with would be the much younger Uchiha Itachi.

But Itachi was still too young to be a good listener for his complaints. In the original timeline, with no like-minded friends to confide in, Shisui had bottled everything up inside, forcing a smile in front of Itachi. Perhaps that was how the pressure and despair slowly built up.

Fortunately,

History had changed, and now he had Uchiha Sōgen as a friend. Shisui had someone to share his burdens with.

Although the two of them didn’t entirely agree on everything.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 3: The Unqualified Clan Leader*

The rooftop was open and spacious, with no places to hide. As long as they were careful of their footing, there was no need to worry about eavesdropping, making it a perfect place for a private conversation. To Sougen, this spot was far more reliable than any dark, hidden room.

"Oolong tea flavor or natto flavor? Which one do you want?" Sougen asked, holding up two popsicles.

It was only April, but the weather in Konoha was already warming up. The uncle in the clan who made popsicles had eagerly started experimenting with new flavors, like oolong tea and natto. The former was acceptable, but the latter... a natto-flavored popsicle was, to say the least, confusing.

"Isn't there anything else?" Shisui asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"These are the only two options today. I remember you like natto, so here, have the natto-flavored one," Sougen said, thrusting the natto popsicle into Shisui's hand without giving him a choice.

"I don't hate natto, but do we really need a natto-flavored popsicle...?" Shisui muttered, staring at the popsicle with a look of utter bewilderment. If he had known this would happen, he would've gone with Sougen to buy the popsicles. Was this guy doing this on purpose?

With mixed emotions, Shisui took a bite of the natto popsicle... Surprisingly, the taste wasn't as bad as he feared. At least it went down smoothly.

"So, where were we?" Sougen asked, licking his popsicle as he returned to the topic at hand.

"The reputation of the Police Force... it's terrible," Shisui replied.

"That's right. The Police Force's reputation is awful," Sougen nodded. "But do you think the members of the Police Force have really done anything so heinous to deserve being hated this much? The Police Force's name reeks for miles, and even kids spit behind our backs, imitating the adults."

Shisui fell silent. Had the members of the Police Force committed any unforgivable crimes? Probably not. They were arrogant, prideful, and looked down on others, for sure. But precisely because of that deeply ingrained pride, they wouldn't stoop to breaking the law.

Everything was done by the book. If anything, they could be accused of enforcing the law too harshly. Even if they weren't well-liked by the villagers, they certainly didn't deserve such disdain.

"Shisui, you're not a fool, and I don't think I could talk you into anything. So, I'll be blunt. The Police Force's terrible reputation is because someone's been stirring the pot, making the villagers hostile toward the Police Force and the Uchiha," Sougen said firmly.

"Our clan's downfall isn't solely our fault, but in the end, I think the bigger problem lies with the Third Hokage and the pressure he's put on us."

"To be honest, no one really wants a coup. There's no glory in spilling the blood of our own. But I believe the village is pushing us onto this path of rebellion."

"Sougen, the Third Hokage isn't the one targeting our clan... it's Danzo..." Shisui muttered, attempting a weak defense.

Shisui wasn't blind. Even though he strongly believed in the Will of Fire, he could still see the village's suppression of their clan. His upbringing had conditioned him to see things from the village's perspective, to consider the bigger picture. However, he still cared for his clan, and he hoped for peaceful coexistence between the two.

He believed the clan was part of the village and should not be divided from it, but rather integrated. Yet, despite his hopes, he had no idea how to achieve such a future.

Ideals alone weren't enough to solve problems.

Before he could find a solution, the tension had already escalated. Unable to bear the village's oppression any longer, the clan began to plan a coup, a desperate and hopeless move. That was where Shisui’s deep sense of despair came from. Even Kotoamatsukami couldn’t change the minds of so many people!

"This isn't just one person's fault," Sougen continued. "The Third Hokage, the two elders, and that old bastard Danzo... They've inherited the Second Hokage's mistrust of our clan, but they lack the wisdom to accept the Uchiha as disciples."

Sougen didn't criticize the Second Hokage too harshly. After all, Shisui's ancestor, Uchiha Kagami, had been his student. Criticizing a dead man wouldn't change anything anyway.

Looking directly into Shisui's eyes, Sougen said, "Shisui, no matter how you see it, I believe it's their actions that have pushed our clan to this point."

"Sougen!!!" Shisui’s popsicle was slowly melting as he furrowed his brows.

"Why are you saying all this? Are you trying to convince me to support the coup? It's a path to certain death. Whether it succeeds or fails, our clan will face ruin."

"Do you think we can survive by enduring this humiliation? What did we do to deserve this? Is it because of Madara? Or that unknown Uchiha who caused the Nine-Tails incident? Why should we suffer for their mistakes?" Sougen’s voice grew louder.

The two friends locked eyes for a moment before Sougen calmed down. He coughed and said, "As I said before, if I were Hokage, I’d probably treat the Uchiha with suspicion too. But I'm not the Hokage. I'm Uchiha. Before thinking about the village, I have to consider my parents and my sister."

The village viewed the Uchiha as a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode. The Uchiha, in turn, felt the village was squeezing them too tightly, leaving them no choice but to rebel.

This was the current state of affairs between Konoha and the Uchiha.

"Sougen, what exactly are you trying to do?" Shisui asked, struggling to remain calm as his popsicle melted in his hand. "Tell me, what do you plan to do? You've clearly thought this through. The problems between the village and the clan can't be solved with a few words. Just tell me what you're planning!"

Impressed by Shisui’s sharpness, Sougen smiled. "Shisui, I want you to help me change the Uchiha."

"What?" Shisui frowned.

Change the Uchiha? How? Shisui wanted to change the clan too, but he had no idea how to go about it. He felt like a traveler lost in the darkness, searching for the faint light of hope.

"What do you think of Fugaku as clan leader?" Sougen asked suddenly.

"Clan leader?" Shisui was confused. The topic had shifted too quickly. Weren't they talking about changing the Uchiha? How did it turn to the clan leader?

"I want you to help me become the next Uchiha clan leader!" Sougen declared.

Shisui’s eyes widened in shock. The popsicle stick fell from his hand. "Sougen, you..."

Shisui was completely thrown off. Was Sougen planning a coup within the clan before even thinking about the village?

"If we want to change the Uchiha, we need power. No one will listen to us otherwise," Sougen explained.

"But... but we can convince the current clan leader..." Shisui stammered.

"I don’t trust him."

Sougen sneered. "Our clan leader, Fugaku, is indecisive. During the Nine-Tails incident, he followed the Third Hokage's orders to stay in the clan compound, even though helping the Fourth Hokage was the right thing to do.

"Then, when the village moved our clan, instead of standing up for us, he suppressed the opposition within the clan for the 'greater good.' But the village doesn’t care about how we feel.

"And now, as the village’s pressure mounts, he seems ready to support the coup. He’s like a weathervane, swaying whichever way the wind blows. I don’t know what he’s thinking anymore."

Sougen paused, reflecting silently. "If Uchiha Itachi starts his massacre in the future, Fugaku won’t resist; he’ll surrender to his fate. And when it’s all over, only his youngest son will survive."

"Sougen, you..." Shisui struggled to process it all. Was this truly the solution? Could changing the clan leader change their fate?

*Chapter 4: The Seed (Please Favorite! Please Support!)*

"Do you think you can do better than Chief Fugaku?"

"At the very least, it won't be worse than now."

"You really dare to say that!"

"I'm already doing it."

Shisui was stunned, his eyes widened as he looked at Uchiha Sōgen, as if he were seeing his friend in a new light.

Uchiha Sōgen calmly met Shisui's scrutinizing gaze.

"Shisui, you're not the only one who sees the family's crisis. There are many smart people in the clan! But the situation is what it is; it can't be reversed by just a few people. We've all been working to keep the family from falling into the worst possible outcome."

"We?"

Shisui suddenly felt an unexpected sense of loneliness.

When did he stop being part of that "we"?

Was he being excluded?

He must be, right?

"Don't think that everyone is excluding you. Don’t forget, you're the only Uchiha currently in the Anbu. You've been too close to the Third Hokage and his people. It's not that anyone thinks you'd betray the family, but they don’t believe you’d support our ideas. So..."

"Then why are you telling me this now?"

"The situation has changed."

Sōgen turned and looked toward the Ninja Academy. The enrollment of Seikyū Hashira was a clear signal. According to the original timeline, in about two years, the bloody night of the Uchiha massacre would occur.

Even though his arrival might have disrupted the original timeline, who’s to say the massacre would be delayed, accelerated, or erased altogether?

One thing he knew for sure: under Chief Fugaku's leadership, the Uchiha were on the verge of planning a coup. If left unchecked, even without the massacre, the Uchiha clan would fall into an inescapable abyss.

The urgency had never felt stronger.

It wasn’t just the Third Hokage and the village’s leadership that wanted the Uchiha to fail; there was also Uchiha Obito, a man who had already gone mad...

"We no longer have time to prepare fully. Once Chief Fugaku publicly supports the radicals and gains the majority’s backing... it will be beyond our ability to stop. The coup will become inevitable. We need to act and show results before that happens."

Sōgen's words were decisive, filled with unwavering determination.

Shisui was silent for about two minutes before finally speaking. "If, and I'm just saying if—if you really replace Chief Fugaku, what would you do?"

"This question... I can’t remember where I read it, but a great man once said: 'If you seek peace through struggle, peace will last. If you seek peace through compromise, peace will perish. Peace isn’t begged for; it's fought for.' I wholeheartedly agree with that."

"The only way for the Third Hokage and Danzo to stop oppressing us is if they realize that the Uchiha are not a toothless tiger. If we show them we have both the will and the strength to fight to the end, they’ll stop pushing us around."

"But doing this will completely sever the Uchiha's relationship with the village."

Shisui remained calm, raising his concerns.

"I know."

Sōgen didn’t deny it. "But even if we don’t act this way, do you think the Third Hokage would truly embrace the Uchiha into the village? From my perspective, they want to eliminate us as soon as possible. I have no illusions about getting along peacefully with those old fossils. Our chance for rebirth will come when the Fifth Hokage takes over."

"The Fifth Hokage?"

Shisui worked hard to follow Sōgen’s line of thinking.

"The Third Hokage, Danzo, Elder Koharu, Elder Homura... those old people’s views on our clan have long been set in stone. The only way to change their attitude is for you to use Kotoamatsukami to alter their minds. But your Sharingan can’t affect that many people, and I know you’re not the type who would want to do that."

Sōgen shrugged.

"Since we can’t rely on them, our only option is to look to the Fifth Hokage. In my view, the most likely candidates for that role are Jiraiya or Tsunade from the Sannin."

"But they’re both disciples of the Third Hokage."

"Yes, but from what I know, their views are different from those of the older generation. At the very least, they shouldn’t be as hostile toward the Uchiha. Of course, pinning our hopes on others is never a good strategy. The Uchiha need to evolve with the times."

"For that, I need your help."

"Shisui, for the survival of the clan, I hope you’ll stand with me."

Sōgen extended a sincere invitation.

"...I can’t give you an answer right now. I need to see the situation in the clan for myself." Shisui hesitated. No matter how compelling Sōgen's words were, hearing only one side of the story still left him doubtful. He needed to learn more before making a decision.

"Just don’t keep me waiting too long."

Sōgen wasn’t disappointed.

As his friend, Sōgen knew Shisui’s cautious nature. He never expected to win him over so easily.

For now, planting a seed was enough.

With time, as it was watered and nourished, that seed would naturally sprout, blossom, and bear fruit.

"Enough about that. Shisui, do you have any other plans today?" Sōgen changed the subject.

"Not really. I just finished a mission, and Anbu gave me two days off. I haven’t figured out what to do with the time." Shisui smoothly transitioned topics. He was already under enough pressure, and a bit of relaxation was necessary. Even a strong person would break under constant strain.

"Then come over to my place! Spar with me for a bit. I haven’t been on a mission recently, and I feel like I’m getting rusty."

"Don’t give me that nonsense."

Shisui scoffed.

He would never believe such a ridiculous lie. Sōgen had always been a crafty guy. Back on the battlefield, he once claimed he was out of ninja tools, only to throw a shuriken a moment later that took out a hidden Mist ninja. He also shouted that he was out of chakra and couldn’t fight, only to unleash a fire jutsu the next second, turning a pursuing Mist ninja to ash...

Examples like this were countless. But at least Sōgen had never used those tricks on his allies; they were reserved for enemies.

On the battlefield, Sōgen had a way of making people feel an indescribable sense of safety.

Perhaps that was why, despite being a Uchiha genius himself, Shisui had few friends, while Sōgen could get along with everyone so easily?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 5: The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki

Uchiha Sougen wasn’t in a hurry to move out like his peers. Instead of living alone, he still lived with his family. After all, despite being reincarnated, and his mindset becoming younger, he wasn't truly a 15-year-old boy. There were still differences.

Unlike others his age who craved independence, he enjoyed having lively meals with his family.

“Your uncle and aunt aren’t home?” Shisui asked as he glanced around after stepping inside.

“They should be at the studio now. They won't be back until evening,” Sougen replied. His parents weren't ninjas—his father was said to be born with a weak constitution and was unsuitable for the ninja life. He was now a novelist, with three bestsellers under his belt, although he was going through a rough patch lately. His mother worked as an editor.

That’s how his parents met—through work.

“Any new works from Uncle Shinshi lately?” Shisui asked.

“His new book last month didn’t do too well, so he’s been a bit troubled lately. He didn’t even see Fujika off on her first day of school. But it’s no big deal, he’ll get over it. This isn’t the first time. With Mom around, everything will be fine.”

Uchiha Shinshi—that was Sougen’s father’s name.

Shisui blinked, ignoring the second half of the conversation, and instead asked, “Is Elder Genshi not home either?” Sougen’s family consisted of five members—his parents, his younger sister, and his grandfather, Uchiha Genshi, who was an elder of the clan.

Compared to Shisui, who lived alone, this was a big family.

“He’s probably gone to play chess with Elder Ryuuji. They're old chess buddies. But truth be told, he’s likely upset about Fujika starting ninja school. He’s been sulking lately, thinking Uchiha children shouldn’t need to attend ninja school and should be educated at home.”

While Sougen talked, he prepared tea and snacks for Shisui.

“Weren’t we supposed to spar?” Shisui scratched his head with a wry smile as he looked at the tea and snacks laid out before him.

“We can drink some tea first. There’s no rush. Neither of us has anything urgent to do, so there’s no need to rush,” Sougen replied, sitting on the sofa with his own cup of tea.

Thanks to his father’s tastes, although the house had a traditional Japanese exterior, the interior was more Western in style. Only his grandfather Uchiha Genshi’s room still maintained the traditional tatami style. Sougen didn’t mind. He much preferred the soft sofa that you could sink into over kneeling on a tatami mat.

“You really are something else, Sougen…” Shisui smiled helplessly but relaxed back onto the sofa.

A little break wouldn’t hurt.

...

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

The loud footsteps jolted Shisui awake. Instinctively, his hand reached for his waist. But then he noticed his surroundings and realized the mission was over—he was at Sougen’s house. His brain, sluggish from sleep, kicked back into gear, and the events from earlier flooded back.

He had bumped into Sougen, chatted on the rooftop, and then came to Sougen’s house to spar... but somehow, he’d ended up dozing off on the sofa? The fading sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a soft orange glow. It was already dusk.

Had he slept the entire day away?

“Fujika! I told you not to run on the stairs like that! You woke up Shisui with all that noise,” Sougen scolded, legs crossed, sitting on a single-seater sofa. An open hardcover book rested on his knees, though he wasn't reading it. He was talking to the girl beside him.

“Mom! Brother’s bullying me again!” The energetic girl complained loudly.

A second later, a voice came from the kitchen, where their mother was helping prepare dinner.

“Sougen, stop teasing your sister!” Uchiha Saki yelled.

Sougen shrunk back, unwilling to argue with his mom. He glared at his sister, grumbling under his breath, “Little tattletale.”

“Hmph! Coward!” Fujika proudly stuck out her chin and beckoned to the boy trailing behind her. “Naruto, come on, I’ll show you my pet. We don’t need to hang out with this meanie!” The two kids dashed off like the wind, leaving Shisui wide-eyed, staring at Sougen as if he had seen a ghost.

Shisui pinched his thigh, hard.

The sharp pain made him suck in a breath. This was real—he wasn’t dreaming or under a genjutsu.

“Sougen... that kid playing with Fujika... why is he here?” Shisui asked, incredulous.

“Oh, that's Fujika’s new little buddy from ninja school.”

“But... but… isn’t he…?” Shisui stammered.

“Isn’t he what?” Sougen asked, feigning ignorance.

“Don’t play dumb with me! That’s the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki! Do you realize how dangerous it is to be involved with him? You’re playing with fire, Sougen! The Nine-Tails disaster was caused by an Uchiha manipulating it, and now you’ve brought the Jinchuriki into the Uchiha compound?!”

Shisui was panicking. This was like dancing on a knife’s edge, giving the village the perfect excuse to accuse the Uchiha clan of wrongdoing.

“Do you really think I had Fujika lure the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki here?” Sougen asked calmly.

Shisui didn’t reply, but his expression said it all—he didn’t trust Sougen’s schemes.

“Don’t accuse me of something like that. If I were to do something risky, I wouldn’t involve Fujika. Believe it or not, who Fujika plays with is her business. You don’t have to turn everything into a conspiracy.”

Shisui’s lips twitched. Wasn’t it Sougen who had been talking about replacing Fugaku as clan leader earlier?

He suppressed the urge to retort and asked instead, “Can you promise me you won’t try to use the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki for anything?”

Sougen blinked and shifted his gaze to the book resting on his knees.

To be honest, he hadn’t expected Fujika to bring Naruto back. When he saw the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki trailing behind his sister like a shadow, he was shocked. His first thought was that the Third Hokage had set them up. There were so many Anbu watching Naruto that it was hard to believe Fujika could bring him back without the Third Hokage’s approval.

At first, Sougen was bracing himself for whatever trouble the Hokage might stir up.

But then he reconsidered. Seeing Naruto, still smaller than Fujika, Sougen realized this might be a good opportunity. If the Third Hokage used Naruto as an excuse to attack the Uchiha, Sougen could use the situation to gauge Fugaku’s reaction and maybe even enlighten Shisui, whose head was filled with the Will of Fire.

So yes, he did plan to use the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

(End of chapter)