Akimichi Goumaru, face full of regret.
Because the Ino–Shika–Chō trio has the Nara Clan—the sharpest minds—internal relations stay remarkably harmonious; money squabbles are almost unheard of.
Reward-and-punishment rules are drafted almost exclusively by the Nara, guaranteeing maximum fairness.
Therefore.
This relaxed atmosphere keeps the three clans from wasting strength on infighting; no one craves power, since the higher you climb, the more exhausting it gets.
The Nara, in particular, take eccentricity to the next level.
Every generation's patriarchal contest is won by the one who wants to laze about; the loser ends up as clan head.
And this generation—
Nara Shikayasu won, earning the right to loaf, while the loser, Nara Shikaku, had to drag himself to the Hokage Building every day.
Unfortunately.
With the Uchiha's sudden rise, even the reclining Shikayasu was forced back into action.
'Enough, stop grumbling!'
'Shikaku and the other two can't sit idle.'
'I suspect Uchiha Jin is planning something huge; otherwise he wouldn't be turning up the heat so slowly, seizing Konoha High Command authority step by step…'
'After all, Inoichi got the real details of the other night's fight.'
'So many Rōnin and Rogue Ninja from every village, fifteen Root squads, and a full Anbu company—Uchiha Jin slaughtered them effortlessly…'
'If Danzo were no longer useful, he'd already be dead.'
'So Jin's goal is clear: he doesn't want to weaken Konoha too much. If he'd wanted, he could have killed Danzo that night and taken out Hiruzen at the first chance.'
'Do you still think Shikaku and the rest will have free time?'
'Once the Uchiha finish their takeover, even if they're only half-trusted, they'll probably be busier than we are.'
Nara Shikayasu spoke in a languid drawl.
Lazier than Shikaku, yet also smarter and a notch stronger.
In truth.
Ever since Inoichi slipped into Intelligence, found the men who'd died that night, and used Yamanaka secret arts to extract the battle records, the Ino–Shika–Chō held an emergency council.
Shikayasu argued they should pledge themselves to the Uchiha outright; in the Ninja World, might makes right.
The Uchiha had already proved their might—
—especially Uchiha Jin!
Even his base strength was frightening; once he opened his Mangekyo he felt like another Uchiha Madara.
All the clans wanted to wipe out the Senju and Uchiha, but timing was everything, and that window had clearly closed.
So to survive, side with the strong.
Alas.
Shikaku was still clan head, and he insisted on waiting for a perfect, risk-free plan.
So Shikayasu let it go.
He'd follow orders; at worst the trio would be slightly less trusted, as long as they weren't purged later.
Still.
He glanced toward the corner of the training ground at the nearly invisible Aburame Clan and sighed to himself.
He knew that once the Uchiha took power the Aburame would inevitably rise.
Unlike Ino–Shika–Chō, they couldn't hedge their bets.
Their secret arts were formidable—defense, offense, sensing—no weak points.
As long as Jin wasn't a fool, he would make heavy use of them.
'Fine by me,'
Akimichi Goumaru said with a grin. 'As long as they're not lazing around, I'm happy.'
Yamanaka Hayato's mouth twitched.
He had no words for his teammate.
Yet.
Thinking that the three of them would fight side-by-side again, he felt a surge of excitement.
Yes!
On paper the strongest Ino–Shika–Chō team was Shikaku, Inoichi and Chōza, but these three were the clans' hidden trump card—the true strongest squad of their generation.
With Shikaku's team in the spotlight, they'd never needed to reveal themselves… Time passed.
By nine-thirty almost everyone had arrived; even Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy sat in a corner of the field.
The Uchiha were here too.
They kept their arrogance in check; after all, the others had come to join them, so they showed polite pride.
They occupied the far left, elders at the front.
Just then, Uchiha Jin arrived.
He strode straight to the top seat; Uchiha Yue knelt behind and to his left. Facing the sea of Ninja, Jin felt a surge of ambition.
Indeed.
Though nominally only a Chunin, he was now a faction leader; with this force he could go toe-to-toe with Hiruzen from this day on.
He even had a claim to interpret the Will of Fire.
'Aburame Shimi, Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy—'
'Stop hiding in the back; come to the front.'
'Someone add three seats!'
Uchiha Jin's eyes glinted.
He pointed to the front row and ordered three more cushions placed.
The Uchiha obeyed at once, though puzzled.
Jin's prestige within the clan had already peaked.
Immediately.
Aburame Shimi and the other two, embarrassed, came forward and sat on the new cushions.
A low table stood between them.
On it: a teapot and three cups.
Everyone's eyes flickered.
They knew the table and cushions weren't mere furniture; they marked these three as first-tier subordinates under the Uchiha.
Jin's expression turned grave.
'My friends…'
'I dislike empty ceremony, so let's be direct.'
'First, the Aburame Clan.'
'I promise full support—funds, industries, whatever it takes—to raise your numbers to three thousand within five years!'