Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe.
After decades of companionship, he had long since understood the mind of his old friend.
Danzo's intentions were clear: he wanted to expand the Hokage's authority, so that when he finally seized the position, he'd reap even greater benefits.
Unfortunately for him, Hiruzen already had a candidate in mind for the next Hokage.
"Hiruzen!" Shimura Danzo couldn't help but shout.
This opportunity might be one of a kind.
Even during the Second Shinobi World War, there hadn't been such a perfect moment.
The major ninja villages were currently weakened. Kirigakure had lost one of its war assets, and Iwagakure was showing signs of exhaustion, even hinting at signing a treaty.
If they could take down Kirigakure, the remaining Kumogakure and Sunagakure would have no choice but to bow before Konohagakure, ceding benefits to the Hidden Leaf.
"What do you think?" Hiruzen asked, ignoring Danzo and turning to Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
"Attacking Kirigakure is risky," Homura said after a long pause. "Don't forget, they were the ones who sealed a tailed beast into the subordinate of the Yellow Flash. We don't know if they've left any hidden traps or collaborators. It's better to observe for now."
Koharu, after some thought, nodded in agreement with Homura.
"Very well," Hiruzen said. "For now, we'll have Shimizu and Kakashi monitor the situation. They're already part of the same team, so they'll notice anything unusual. We'll also assign another Anbu member to oversee them."
"No!" Danzo interjected sharply. "The Uchiha must not be allowed near tailed beasts again. The Nine-Tails was one thing, but letting the Uchiha repeatedly come into contact with new tailed beasts? Who knows what they'd do in their pursuit of power?"
Danzo's opposition was fierce. That Uchiha Shimizu had humiliated him through Yakushi Nono, showing no respect for someone who protected the village.
When it came to the Uchiha, even if they were right, Danzo would call it wrong.
And if they were wrong, he'd criticize them even more vehemently.
Having discriminated against the Uchiha for decades, Danzo found them increasingly insufferable. He secretly wished he could plant a traitor to wipe out their entire clan.
But that was just a fleeting thought. Who among the Uchiha would be foolish enough to betray their own?
"Enough. The matter is settled," Hiruzen declared with a wave of his hand.
This was a show of trust in Shimizu.
When Shimizu learned of this, his loyalty to the Hokage would likely deepen.
In the future, Shimizu could even serve as a protector for the next Hokage.
The meeting ended with Danzo's displeasure lingering in the air.
Kirigakure
Momochi Zabuza gazed at Terumi Mei, who looked dejected.
He had just learned of her mission's failure.
After all, this mission involved village secrets.
Rumor had it that Kirigakure was conducting an experiment, searching for test subjects to seal some kind of monster into a human body.
Zabuza didn't know the details, only that the mission involved two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen: Biwa Juzo and Kurotsume Raiga.
For such a mission to fail suggested its difficulty was extreme, so Mei's failure was understandable.
But Zabuza flashed a menacing grin. Opportunities to mock the prideful Mei were rare. He chuckled and said, "I heard you went out with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and still failed the mission. You couldn't even beat that slippery 'Shunshin' Shimizu?"
"Shut your mouth," Mei snapped coldly.
"No need to get so heated," Zabuza continued, unfazed. "You even lost the Kubikiribōchō. Where is it now?"
"Hmph. It's with the Uchiha," Mei replied, her brows furrowing. "If you're so capable, go take it back."
Her thoughts drifted to Uchiha Shimizu.
Memories she had tried to suppress resurfaced vividly.
Her hand instinctively reached into the ninja pouch on her thigh, brushing against the cold surface of a test tube.
"Want to… try it?" she muttered to herself.
A mix of hatred and shame flickered across her face.
She desperately wanted to analyze the contents of the tube.
But if she did, the village would never allow her to use it—not something from an enemy's hands.
That meant she'd have to grow stronger at her own pace, and surpassing Shimizu would remain a distant dream.
Seeing Mei's face alternate between pale and flushed, her expression laced with resentment, Zabuza assumed she couldn't handle his teasing.
He promptly left.
The current Zabuza was just a nobody with no backing. Despite his talent, how could he compare to someone with two kekkei genkai?
Mei didn't care about his departure.
Biting her lower lip, she returned home.
In the end, she opened the test tube and drank its contents in one gulp.
Konohagakure
After resting at home for a while, Shimizu was summoned by his clan to the usual meeting place.
Secret gatherings were held in the basement of the Naka Shrine, while regular discussions took place above ground.
Today, the Naka Shrine was bustling with activity, with many clan members gathered.
"Shimizu, have you heard? Lady Mikoto is pregnant! Lord Fugaku is thrilled and wants to treat everyone to a feast," Uchiha Tekka said, approaching with a secretive air.
This was big news.
While the Uchiha clan leader wasn't hereditary, the leader's heirs held a slightly higher status than others.
This child would be the young master.
"Boy or girl?" Shimizu asked casually.
"I heard it's a boy," Tekka replied, leaning back with his hands behind his head. He glanced at Fugaku, who was chatting with others, smiling more than Tekka had ever seen.
"Is that so?" Shimizu said.
Konoha's hospital, with its advanced medical techniques, could determine a baby's gender early on using a combination of ninjutsu and science.
Much like in his previous life, revealing the gender was generally restricted.
But as the clan leader, Fugaku had the connections to make it happen.
"Let's go," Shimizu said, stepping forward.
Uchiha Fugaku noticed Shimizu's arrival.
A rare smile softened his stern face.
"Shimizu, I heard your team achieved great things recently. You didn't disgrace the Uchiha name."
"Just got lucky," Shimizu replied with his usual humility.
His gaze shifted to Mikoto, standing beside Fugaku.
Perhaps due to her pregnancy, she seemed more radiant, her voluminous robes unable to conceal her noticeably fuller figure.
If one looked closely, they might notice a slight tremor.
Of course, with the Uchiha's exceptional eyesight, no one dared stare so brazenly.
Not only was Mikoto highly respected, but she also possessed the three-tomoe Sharingan!
Some clan members couldn't even awaken a single-tomoe Sharingan, living like civilian ninja with only the benefit of the Uchiha's larger chakra reserves.
"Mikoto-nee, it looks like a healthy child. They'll surely inherit your excellent genes and kindness," Shimizu said with a faint smile.
Mikoto's expression shifted slightly.
She felt a hint of mockery in Shimizu's words.
But she knew full well whose child she carried.
Hearing Shimizu's praise, Fugaku let out a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha! My child's name will be Itachi—Uchiha Itachi."
His proud tone prompted a wave of congratulations from the other clan members.
Joyful expressions spread across everyone's faces.
The war had taken too many lives.
The arrival of new life brought hope, and everyone wanted to share in the celebration.
"They say weasels are creatures with keen senses and swift movements—truly remarkable," Shimizu said lightly.
Itachi, huh? Poetically, it's "weasel." Bluntly, it's "yellow rat wolf."
Only Fugaku's refined taste could come up with a name like Uchiha Yellow Rat Wolf.
"Well said, well said!" Fugaku said, clapping Shimizu on the shoulder.
He'd long noticed Shimizu's way with words, and now it was clear he was knowledgeable too.
Fugaku had chosen the name with this symbolism in mind.
Having Shimizu point it out only confirmed his cultured choice.
"Itachi, huh? Great name."
"If only I'd asked Lord Fugaku to name my kid. 'Tekka' sounds so plain," one clansman remarked.
"Hey, my name's way better than Inabi's!" Tekka protested. "You should ask Third Uncle why he named Inabi that."
"What's that supposed to mean, Tekka?" Uchiha Inabi said, playfully smacking Tekka's back while whispering a threat.
If Tekka kept talking, Inabi would tell his father about the copy of Icha Icha Hell hidden under his bed.
Tekka's face was one of disbelief as he demanded to know how Inabi found out.
The adults, noticing the two youths whispering, paid them no mind.
They continued to congratulate Fugaku, looking forward to the upcoming banquet.
Mikoto knelt on the tatami, her hand instinctively resting on her belly.
A trace of sadness flickered in her eyes.
Itachi might never know his true father.
She stole a glance at Shimizu.
He was chatting with a female Uchiha, and Mikoto's grip tightened involuntarily.
A new… love interest?
"No, what am I thinking?" Mikoto shook her head inwardly.
"Is something wrong?" Fugaku asked, noticing her unease.
"Nothing. The baby just moved a little," she replied.
"That's normal," Fugaku said, turning back to converse with the clan.
The child in her womb was starting to take shape, so movement was expected.
Mikoto let out a quiet sigh of relief.
What was wrong with her?
Her head lowered.
Whenever she thought of Shimizu, a trace of fear crept in.
The way he'd spirited her away for days without anyone noticing was terrifying.
Didn't that mean he could just as easily kill her without a trace?
Yet, recalling those days of confinement, Mikoto felt an odd heat.
Since becoming pregnant, her… desires seemed to have intensified.
For the sake of the baby's health, Fugaku hadn't touched her.
"Enough," Mikoto thought, shaking her head sadly.
The one silver lining was that her child was born of two Uchiha—guaranteed to have the Sharingan.
If Shimizu had been a Hyuga and she'd gotten pregnant by him, that would've been a real mess.
Giving birth to a child with Byakugan eyes?
The Uchiha and Hyuga would probably start a war in Konoha…
The gathering passed in lighthearted discussion.
Only Mikoto wore a somber expression, lost in her thoughts.
Kakashi's Home
Hatake Kakashi stood before a mirror, silently staring at his reflection.
His silver hair hung slightly, covering one eye.