Shikaku fell silent.
For a moment, he genuinely didn't know how to answer.
His heart thudded violently in his chest.
He had personally witnessed Kai's strength.
He had also heard countless absurd rumors about Uchiha Kai from that small courtyard.
He had even seen, with his own eyes, the ridiculous scene of the Uchiha brothers chasing a dog one after another.
But—
He had never imagined that beneath the boy's overwhelming power and seemingly nonsensical behavior lay a mind this sharp, this precise.
At this moment, even the Third Hokage—whom Shikaku had supported for decades—was unconsciously pushed into some forgotten corner of his thoughts.
He wanted to try.
A shift in breathing?
Within Kai's Perception Domain, he clearly sensed the change in Shikaku's rhythm.
Kai stood up and continued calmly,
"Konoha's root has never been Danzō, nor those two advisors—nor even the Third Hokage."
"It's the things that allow this tree to live… and live well."
"Money. Supplies. Missions."
"At the end of the day, it all comes down to people and money—that is the real root."
"After so many Great Ninja Wars, what were they really fighting over?"
"They were fighting over manpower and resources."
His words rang out with force, striking straight into the heart.
Bathed in the morning light, that small figure carried an undeniable authority.
After a long pause, Kai slowly turned to face Shikaku.
"I'll give you two choices."
"First—hand over a clear vein map. Help me dig out every blood-sucking parasite and crush them."
"You, Nara Shikaku, become Konoha's Financial Advisory Head."
He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping over Inoichi and Chōza beside him. His voice dropped, turning icy.
"Second—take that map and those parasites' secrets, and rot together in the graves of the Ino–Shika–Chō clans."
The air froze solid.
Thump.
Thump-thump.
Before Shikaku even responded, Inoichi and Chōza completely lost their composure.
Huge question marks practically popped up over their heads.
Wait—what?!
This is Shikaku's problem—why are we getting dragged in?!
Under the invisible pressure, both men immediately turned toward Shikaku, eyes filled with panic and urgency.
Say yes! Hurry up and say yes!
Yes, it would mean completely severing ties with the old power structure.
But the authority offered—
Konoha's Financial Advisor.
No exaggeration—this was effectively the second most powerful position in the village!
Crunch.
Under the weight of all three gazes, Shikaku's hands clenched white behind his back.
Cold sweat seeped from his temples.
The choices were crystal clear.
There was no middle ground.
Either become the core strategist of Uchiha Kai's new order—
Or be crushed as a dangerous witness.
What should he choose?
Whooo…
A gentle breeze drifted in through the window, carrying a few pine needles with it.
They spun lazily in the air before settling inside the room.
Finally—
Shikaku let out a long breath and nodded.
In that instant, three sets of tense shoulders relaxed at once.
As if a thousand-jin burden had been lifted.
"Whew…"
"So close…"
Inoichi and Chōza patted their chests, silently giving a thumbs-up.
Survived.
Shikaku, however, stepped forward and bowed deeply to the figure shorter than himself.
Deeper than he ever had before.
His posture was one of genuine respect.
"Uchiha Kai-sama."
"Nara Shikaku is willing to serve as Konoha's Financial Advisor."
"Not a single parasite… will escape."
As those words fell, all hesitation vanished from his eyes—
leaving only the calm, cutting clarity of a true Nara.
He turned and retrieved a scroll from the inner room.
It was far thicker than the ledgers on the table.
"This contains all abnormal financial flows in Konoha over the past twenty years—handlers, routes, final destinations… everything."
Holding it with both hands, he said gravely,
"This… is the true vein map."
A scroll?
The real vein map?
Inoichi and Chōza stared, wide-eyed, as if seeing their friend for the first time.
Since when did he have this?!
Kai took the scroll and weighed it in his hand.
It was heavy.
Faint chakra light rippled across its surface—complex sealing techniques were embedded within.
"Very good."
Kai grinned slightly, a trace of approval in his voice.
"From this moment on, Konoha's money pouch—belongs to you."
"I don't mind seeing Konoha drown in blood…"
"But I'd much rather see its granaries filled."
With that, he turned and left.
Only the three men behind him remained, silent for a long time.
The sun was high.
Golden light spilled across the courtyard.
Shikaku held his now-cold tea, watching Kai's retreating figure with a complicated gaze.
He knew—
once this scroll was handed over, the Nara clan was firmly tied to the Uchiha's raging warship.
Would it ride the waves…
or smash against hidden reefs?
He didn't know.
"Chōza. Inoichi."
After a long while, Shikaku spoke hoarsely but firmly.
"Notify all families allied with us."
"From today onward—fully cooperate with the Uchiha."
"Konoha… it's time for the sky to change."
"…Alright." Inoichi nodded slowly, expression complex.
Chōza crushed the last chip in his mouth and grunted,
"Got it. Anyway… following the brain beats following bugs to your death."
The sky brightened.
And overnight—
Konoha changed.
Uchiha clan grounds.
A small figure hurriedly changed clothes while running, panic written all over his face.
"Oh no, oh no—I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!"
"How did I sleep that deeply yesterday?!"
Young Sasuke clearly remembered nothing from the night before.
His only goal—
the Ninja Academy.
Crack.
But just as he reached the clan gate, he saw a familiar figure.
Hands in pockets. Leisurely. Waiting.
Uchiha Kai.
Sasuke's frantic expression vanished instantly.
His sprint slowed to a walk.
One hand slipped into his pocket as he swaggered forward.
As they passed each other, Kai chuckled softly.
"Sasuke, if you don't hurry, you'll really be late."
Sasuke shot him a disdainful glance, chin lifted arrogantly.
"So what if I'm late? If Father didn't force me, I wouldn't even go to that stupid school."
Head held high, nose practically in the air.
Even his steps slowed deliberately.
A hundred meters away—
Once he was sure no one was watching—
His proud little face instantly collapsed.
He bolted.
So fast even Pakkun couldn't keep up.
"…What a classic little tsundere."
Kai lay back atop the courtyard wall, glancing into the distance and shaking his head.
"If Itachi's the first pillar, I'm the second…"
"Then Sasuke becomes… the third pillar?"
"Three-pillar sounds awful. Might as well call him Third Dezi…"
Muttering to himself, Kai rolled onto his back atop the wall.
Arms spread wide, body forming a big "T".
Soaking in the sun.
The exhaustion of the past few days finally crept in.
Just sleep.
Just one nap…
As his consciousness drifted, a strange notification echoed in his mind:
[Detected: Host spent six years altering the fate of clan extermination.
Six cycles complete (Seven-Year Threshold). Trait evolution successful.]
[Congratulations. God-Tier Trait acquired: Sixes All the Way (Rainbow).]
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