Inside the Uchiha clan compound, within the quiet halls of the shrine, the three elders were in discussion.
"Grand Elder," Kohaku said carefully, breaking the silence, "I heard that all Cat Clan shops in Konoha have been closed. Isn't that… dangerous?"
Elder Setsuna, who had been calmly sipping his tea, lifted his gaze toward Kohaku.
"Kohaku," he replied evenly, "I explained this long ago during a previous clan meeting. Both the Cat Clan and our clan lack sufficient funds. We are not in a position to beg."
He set his cup down gently.
"That is why the prices of our goods were increased. But the village refused to allow it. So the Cat Clan has completely halted its war-related business. Instead, they are now selling goods to nobles and commoners—simply to survive."
After a brief pause, he added,
"Our clan's shop owners have joined them in the capital."
Kazuto stiffened.
"Wait, Grand Elder," he said sharply. "Are you saying that the Cat Clan—and people from your faction—have gone to do business in the capital city without informing the village or even the clan elders?"
His voice rose slightly.
"How can you make such a decision on your own?"
Sending Uchiha people to the capital without notifying the village was dangerous. If the village leadership discovered this, it would certainly cause unrest.
Kohaku shared the same concern.
Setsuna observed the tension on their faces and let out a soft chuckle.
"Since when do clan affairs need to be reported to the village?" he said lightly. "As far as I know, there is no such rule."
Kohaku frowned.
"But Grand Elder," he said worriedly, "you didn't even inform the clan. And you sent Uchiha shinobi to the capital—"
"Who said anything about shinobi?" Setsuna interrupted, his expression turning stern.
"I sent Uchiha merchants, Kohaku. Not shinobi."
The room fell silent.
Kohaku and Kazuto understood immediately.
The argument was already over.
There was nothing they could do now.
They exchanged a glance and sighed quietly.
After a moment, Kohaku spoke again.
"Grand Elder… the price of supplies in Konoha has risen to twenty times the normal rate."
Setsuna blinked, then laughed softly.
"Oh my," he said. "Good thing I had all remaining stock recalled and secured for the clan in advance. Otherwise, even we wouldn't be able to afford them now."
His smile faded slightly.
"What is the Hokage thinking?" he continued calmly. "How can something like this happen within the village? Even if we stopped selling, shouldn't he be able to control those profit-hungry merchants?"
Kazuto and Kohaku stared at Setsuna.
Faced with his exaggerated concern—and the faint smile on his lips—they found themselves with nothing left to say.
"Well," the Grand Elder said calmly, "isn't it good that we at least have some supplies prepared for the war? The village will provide the rest once they reach an agreement with the daimyo."
Kohaku and Kazuto both nodded.
The Hokage's decision had already been conveyed to the clan through Kohaku and Fugaku.
The Uchiha now understood the situation clearly—they would be deployed early in the conflict, while village supplies would arrive later.
It was not ideal.
But it was expected.
Suddenly, a presence appeared behind them.
An ANBU knelt respectfully.
"Grand Elder, Elders of the Uchiha," the masked shinobi said, his voice neutral. "Hokage-sama has convened a jōnin meeting. All jōnin are to attend before evening."
The Grand Elder glanced at him and smiled faintly.
"Ah, Shisui," he said, setting his tea aside. "You don't need to speak in such a stern tone with us. At the very least, we are still your elders."
There was a brief pause.
After the previous meeting, no one truly knew what Shisui and Fugaku had discussed with the Hokage—only that Fugaku had allowed Shisui to remain in ANBU. Kohaku had asked many times for Shisui to return to the clan for training, but Fugaku had always given the same answer.
He had spoken with the Hokage.
Danzo and Shisui no longer had contact.
Whatever hatred once influenced Shisui had been Danzo's doing.
"Grand Elder," Shisui said quietly, "I am on ANBU duty at the moment. Please don't address me by name."
The elders were used to this. Whenever Shisui entered the compound wearing an ANBU mask, they still called him by name regardless.
Kazuto snorted softly.
"Normal ANBU aren't even allowed inside the clan compound, Shisui," he said. "Don't worry about your secrecy. Everyone here already knows who you are."
Shisui said nothing.
Kohaku waved a hand dismissively.
"Very well. You've informed us. Go and tell the Hokage that the Uchiha will attend."
His gaze lingered briefly on Shisui—sharp, annoyed, and unreadable.
Shisui bowed deeply, then vanished.
For a moment, the hall was silent again.
"Well," the Grand Elder said as he rose to his feet, "it would be best to take Toyoma with us. He is now a jōnin from our faction. Let him see how these meetings are conducted."
He began walking toward the exit.
"It would be good if the younger generation could bear some of this pressure," he added quietly, almost to himself. "And help us carry it."
Kazuto and Kohaku exchanged a glance.
Both felt the same unease.
This meeting would not be an ordinary one—not for the Uchiha, and perhaps not for the village itself.
They sighed.
"It would be best," Kazuto muttered, "if Toyoma doesn't cause a scene."
At the Uchiha clan's training ground—
As Fugaku guided Minato through the compound, Toyoma noticed them.
Minato had already seen too much.
Toyoma knew Minato possessed space–time ninjutsu. If the Third Hokage had asked him to quietly keep an eye on the Uchiha, this would be the perfect opportunity.
So Toyoma followed.
When they reached the training ground, Minato's brief moment of shock did not escape him.
Toyoma didn't mind.
If Minato saw Rasengan or Chidori here, it would only appear as a coincidence—two sides arriving at the same answer independently. That was why Toyoma allowed the techniques to be used openly.
He stepped forward.
"I'm already here."
Fugaku and Minato both turned sharply.
There had been no chakra fluctuation. No warning. No presence detected.
Minato stared at the boy before him, genuine shock flashing across his face. An elite jōnin—and yet he hadn't sensed Toyoma at all.
If this had been an assassination attempt…
The thought alone sent a chill through him.
He let out a short breath, then smiled.
"Wow," Minato said honestly. "How did you get here? I didn't detect your presence at all."
He glanced at Fugaku, who was just as surprised.
"You weren't exaggerating, Fugaku-senpai. He really is a genius."
Toyoma understood immediately why they hadn't sensed him.
He had been maintaining his breathing technique the entire time—reducing his presence to the absolute minimum.
Fugaku, however, was still staring.
His Sharingan was fully active.
Even so… he hadn't sensed Toyoma.
For a brief moment, a single thought crossed Fugaku's mind.
What kind of monster has my clan created?
Minato's voice snapped him back to reality. Fugaku deactivated his Sharingan and cleared his throat.
"Ah—yes," he said, regaining composure. "Toyoma is indeed one of the clan's greatest geniuses."
Minato turned back to Toyoma.
"I'm Namikaze Minato," he said with a friendly smile. "You've probably heard of me."
Toyoma inclined his head slightly.
Minato continued, curiosity clear in his eyes.
"When I saw Rasengan earlier, I was shocked. I couldn't believe someone had arrived at the same idea I did." He chuckled. "But after seeing you, I understand. Creating it wouldn't be difficult for a genius like you."
Then he added teasingly,
"Though your naming sense could use some work."
Toyoma met his gaze calmly.
"I don't see any problem with my naming."
Minato laughed, unconvinced. Then something else occurred to him.
"Right—there's something else," he said. "I also saw Chidori being used. Kakashi uses it as well."
Toyoma nodded.
"I gave it to Kakashi," he said plainly. "As an apology."
Minato blinked. Fugaku's expression sharpened.
"When Kakashi was trying to create it, I helped him," Toyoma continued. "We developed it together. So we both own the jutsu."
There was more he didn't say.
About the White Fang.About trying to change the future.About two children no one listened to.
Fugaku knew the truth of how Chidori had come to be.
Minato, meanwhile, was surprised for a different reason.
Kakashi… had a friend?And a Uchiha, at that?
Before either could speak further, footsteps approached.
An Uchiha jōnin bowed respectfully.
"Clan Head," he said. "Grand Elder Setsuna has informed us that Hokage-sama has convened a jōnin meeting this evening."
He glanced at Toyoma.
"Toyoma, Grand Elder has instructed that you will attend as well."
Toyoma nodded.
Fugaku turned to the jōnin.
"Inform the other elders," he said. "We'll head there shortly."
"They've already been notified," the jōnin replied.
Fugaku nodded once. The jōnin departed.
Minato looked at Fugaku and smiled.
"Then I suppose I'll see you there," he said. "We'll continue this conversation at the meeting, Clan Head Fugaku."
With that, he turned to leave.
Toyoma watched him go.
The real stage was finally set.