After stirring up trouble inside ANBU, Hikaru returned to his division's station.
But something surprised him.
He'd assumed the chaos he caused would already be common knowledge throughout ANBU.
Instead… when he got back, it was as if nothing had happened.
No whispers.
No strange looks.
No one even hinted at it.
So Hiruzen had suppressed the incident completely.
And that also meant one thing—
His grip over ANBU was absurdly strong.
Something that big, and he could bury it at will.
Even by evening, when Hikaru got off duty, nobody brought it up.
That alone said enough about how deep Hiruzen's control really ran.
"…So taking ANBU isn't going to be simple."
Walking home, Hikaru couldn't help letting out a quiet sigh.
He had just passed the Division Commander assessment, and his official appointment still hadn't been issued—
But his goal was never "Division Commander."
Not even ANBU Director.
Those were stepping stones.
He planned to climb them, one after another, from the shadows into the light.
The Hokage seat was his target.
No… beyond that.
His eyes were on the entire shinobi world.
"Division Commander, Director… they're all just platforms."
Platforms to remove opponents.
Platforms to gather the people he needed.
Platforms to lay foundations for the future.
Hikaru wasn't naive.
A lone wolf couldn't build anything.
To become the true boss of the shinobi world, personal strength had to be overwhelming—
But power alone wasn't enough.
You also needed people.
A faction.
A structure of利益—ties of benefit, ties of loyalty, ties of emotion—whatever worked.
He needed his own interest group.
One that could stabilize Konoha under him…
And expand outward when the time came.
He had no intention of ending up like Minato—ascending to the top without even a hidden base of support.
Though, if Hikaru already had a solid faction, Hiruzen probably wouldn't even be watching him this closely.
People who couldn't be controlled were all the same in the end.
And Hikaru hadn't even tried to install a puppet like Murashima Takumi in ANBU—
That alone proved he still held enough respect and fear for what ANBU represented.
"…Murashima Takumi is going to be hard to deal with too."
Hikaru rubbed at his brow.
He hadn't fought Murashima, so he didn't know the man's exact strength—
But anyone who sat in that chair wouldn't be ordinary.
More importantly, Murashima's temperament was a nightmare to handle.
Unless…
Unless the man could "die reasonably."
Preferably because he disobeyed orders.
Or betrayed the village.
Or violated some moral line.
And even then, Murashima would need to be the one to "make the first move."
Otherwise, if Hikaru assassinated him…
The consequences would be catastrophic.
When all those conditions piled up, the difficulty became ridiculous.
Hikaru exhaled slowly.
But it was too early to drown in that problem.
He liked planning ahead, yes—
But some knots couldn't be untangled by thinking harder.
Thinking too much would only make him miserable.
So he pushed it aside.
Opportunities belonged to the prepared.
If he didn't have an answer now, he'd wait.
Wait for the opening.
"Hikaru?"
A voice called from nearby.
Hikaru paused and looked up.
It was Uesugi Gen.
That felt… strange.
It was already late—why would Gen be looking for him now?
Still, Hikaru instinctively checked the surroundings first.
Then he relaxed into a warm smile and bowed politely.
He had changed out of ANBU gear long ago.
And Gen had taught him many things when he was young.
The respect was genuine.
"Uncle Gen," Hikaru asked softly after the bow, "what brings you out this late?"
"There's something." Gen nodded. "I've been waiting. The Elder wants to see you."
"The Elder…?" Hikaru's eyebrows rose slightly.
He could already guess what this was about.
Back then, the Elder had managed to pull strings and get him placed into ANBU.
So of course the man also had channels inside… enough to hear things.
But the timing felt late.
And it felt… oddly specific.
Hikaru was certain Hiruzen's hand was in it.
A reminder.
And a test—watching how Hikaru would respond.
He didn't know what Hiruzen intended exactly.
But he did know how he would handle it.
Some things were inevitable.
No point acting shocked.
"I understand, Uncle Gen." Hikaru nodded gently. "I'll see the Elder tomorrow morning."
"No." Gen rejected it immediately. "The Elder said you're to go as soon as you return."
Hikaru sighed inwardly.
So the old man really couldn't wait.
What Hikaru wondered was how much the Elder had actually heard.
Only the Division Commander assessment?
Or also the fight at headquarters?
And in a more malicious corner of his mind—
Had Hiruzen even "leaked" that the position was basically decided, and that promises had been made?
Hikaru didn't bother chasing the thought.
It was predictable the Elder would have demands.
Hikaru had already prepared for that long ago.
He smiled at Gen, nodded, and headed straight for the Elder's residence.
It didn't take long.
The house was old, heavy with antique taste—traditional, dignified, suffocating.
Hikaru had never liked it.
To him, it wasn't "heritage."
It was clinging to past glory, unable to let go.
He knocked.
Entered.
The Elder sat alone as always.
But before Hikaru could speak, the Elder's voice came quickly—almost anxiously.
"I heard you used force at ANBU headquarters today. You even confronted the ANBU Director. Are you hurt?"
"Thank you for your concern, Elder. I'm fine."
Hikaru genuinely hadn't expected that.
The first question wasn't probing.
It wasn't demanding hidden details.
It was concern.
And oddly enough… it moved him, just a little.
Hikaru never denied that his heart was dark.
He had even guessed that failing to gain Slug Sage recognition might have something to do with it.
But no matter how dark he was, he still had gratitude.
He was glad he hadn't been sent to the battlefield as a child.
War erased humanity.
ANBU didn't erase it in the same way—
But it dragged you into darkness.
Fifty steps, a hundred steps… not worth laughing at.
"Why did you act at headquarters?" Elder Senju Shōma asked, seeing Hikaru fall silent again. "To the point of confronting the ANBU Director."
"It's complicated." Hikaru shook his head. "It involves too much. I'm sorry, Elder—I can't say more."
"Even to me?" Senju Shōma frowned. He clearly hadn't expected that answer.
"Yes, Elder." Hikaru nodded seriously. "Even you. I have to keep silent."
Hikaru truly couldn't speak.
Was he supposed to tell the Elder he'd suspected the ANBU Director and Owl, so he struck first?
That he'd suspected Danzō—
But then realized the truth was even worse: Murashima and Owl were essentially Hiruzen's puppets?
Saying that would be suicidal.
Not because Hiruzen would pressure him—
But because the Elder might kill him on the spot.
Because what Hikaru had done would look like leaning toward Hiruzen.
And Senju Shōma would never accept that.
Unless Hikaru laid out every plan, every intention, everything he'd done—
And that was impossible.
He had no intention of revealing his full hand.
"…I see." Senju Shōma studied him for a long moment, then sighed. "You've grown. You have your own judgment now, Hikaru."
Hikaru said nothing, sitting calmly with that same gentle expression.
Senju Shōma glanced at him and shook his head slightly.
The "emotional card" had failed.
If he could get information through other channels, he wouldn't want to ask Hikaru directly.
Asking only exposed how weak the clan's intelligence network was.
And Hikaru…
Hikaru was growing stronger at an alarming pace.
Not only because he'd gained a terrifying summon—
According to reports, he had actually learned Flying Thunder God.
Flying Thunder God.
The signature technique of Senju Tobirama.
Back in the Warring States era, Tobirama had used it to kill Uchiha Izuna, a Mangekyō wielder.
Senju Shōma knew too well how terrifying Mangekyō was.
How many Senju had died under those eyes.
And yet Flying Thunder God could overturn that advantage—could even kill a Mangekyō user.
That alone proved how monstrous the technique was.
And its difficulty was infamous.
For decades, only Minato had learned it.
Yet now Hikaru had learned it too.
Which meant Hikaru's talent was frightening.
What chilled Senju Shōma even more—
Was that Hikaru had hidden it from the clan.
Whether it was distrust, or something else—
Either way, Shōma didn't like it.
But he understood something painful:
Hikaru was no longer a child he could direct.
He was a capable shinobi now.
ANBU forged people.
Not as brutally as the battlefield—
But darkness still made you grow quickly.
"Also…" After a long silence, Senju Shōma spoke again. "I heard you participated in the Division Commander assessment. You passed, didn't you?"
"Yes, Elder." Hikaru nodded. "I passed. But I don't know the final result yet."
"I see." Senju Shōma stared at him. "Tell me everything. The entire process."
Hikaru looked at him, and in that moment, he understood.
The Elder was uneasy.
Because Hikaru had reported nothing lately.
Not necessarily because Hikaru made a mistake—
He'd simply been too busy.
Busy with missions.
Busy with his plans.
And he'd also been testing something.
Now he had his answer.
The clan's intelligence channels weren't reliable.
So much time had passed, yet nothing had reached the Elder in detail.
That said enough.
Either Shōma's people weren't truly inside ANBU—
Or they were already under Hiruzen's grip, unable to transmit anything without permission.
It was harsh.
But reality was reality.
And it confirmed Hikaru's earlier choice:
Not relying on the clan's intelligence network had been correct.
Hikaru buried those thoughts and explained everything in full.
How he learned Flying Thunder God.
How he approached Minato to request a slot.
How he entered the assessment and defeated multiple ANBU squads.
How he refused direct appointment and chose to take the written exam.
He didn't omit details.
Senju Shōma listened quietly, expression barely changing.
Hikaru guessed the Elder already knew most of it.
When Hikaru finished, Shōma nodded slowly.
"A correct choice. You couldn't simply take the position—you wouldn't have commanded respect."
Then Shōma's voice cooled slightly.
"But also a wrong choice. A Division Commander has the authority to choose his own team."
He paused, eyes narrowing just a fraction.
"Still… you managed to quietly drive a wedge between the Third and the Fourth."
"That's not a small accomplishment."
Hikaru only smiled faintly and didn't answer.
Senju Shōma didn't seem to mind. He fell silent for a moment, then asked:
"A Division Commander can choose his team. If you're appointed… how many Senju will you bring into it?"
"That isn't something I can decide alone." Hikaru shook his head. "Many things can't be judged by appearances. I believe you understand that, Elder."
Senju Shōma sighed, low and heavy.
But before he could speak, Hikaru continued—voice steady, gentle, unwavering:
"But I can guarantee this: I will do everything I can."
He lifted his gaze slightly.
"Because…"
"I'm a Senju too."
◇ I'll drop one bonus chapter for every 10 reviews (leave a review/comment!)
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon: patreon.com/KageNaruto