Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the disguised Fugaku, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"It's been a long time since you've come to see me."
"Yes."
Fugaku hesitated for a moment and said, "Because I've been busy with work... so, I haven't been able to come and see you."
"I hope we can be honest today. To solve problems, you have to talk about them; keeping them bottled up inside will only lead to disaster."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked and looked out the window, "Isn't that how the problems between the Village and your clan slowly accumulated?"
Fugaku was startled for a moment, then nodded silently.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Sit down. It's been a while since we sat down to chat."
Fugaku sat down as told.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of smoke.
"We have some understanding of your clan's situation, but your clan stays on the periphery, so we don't know much. Could you tell me about it first?"
"Of course!"
Fugaku agreed immediately.
Since he had come this time, he intended to compromise with Konoha to resolve the clan's current predicament.
Only—
Fugaku hadn't yet decided on the specifics of how to do it.
He still harbored a sliver of hope.
After hearing about the situation, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly, but he didn't immediately discuss the follow-up. Instead, he said, "Itachi has a good sense of the big picture, but his personality is a bit extreme and overly rational."
Hearing this, Fugaku couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Calling it rational... that was just a polite way of putting it.
He never expected Itachi's thoughts to be so stubborn and bizarre.
After hearing it yesterday, his whole body was shaking. He didn't sleep that night, suffering from insomnia all night long.
He didn't dare to imagine.
If Shisui's 'death' hadn't happened and then he unexpectedly reappeared, how would things have developed?
Perhaps, as Itachi said, he would have taken up the butcher's knife and personally slaughtered all the clansmen.
That kind of Itachi... Fugaku didn't dare to imagine.
Sitting before Hiruzen Sarutobi, he said, "I will educate him properly."
"Ah, he's still a child. Making mistakes in some things..."
After saying this, even Hiruzen Sarutobi could barely keep a straight face.
Although Ninjas who have killed many people by the age of twelve or thirteen are common in the Ninja World, those like Itachi who want to personally slaughter their own clansmen are probably rare.
He suspected that his old friend's shadow was behind this again.
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent for a moment, composed his emotions, and then said:
"Your clan's situation hasn't reached that point yet. Maybe I didn't make myself clear, or perhaps he's facing other pressures."
"So, I want to communicate with you directly to avoid putting more pressure on him and accidentally making things worse with good intentions."
...Inside the Ninja Academy.
"Goodbye, Teacher."
"Goodbye. Oh, Hinata, wait a moment."
Masahiko raised his hand.
Hinata noticed everyone's gaze, her face flushed red, and she lowered her head shyly.
Fortunately, no one stared at her for too long.
"After going back, did you discuss it?"
"Yes."
Hinata nodded.
"Did you not ask?"
Masahiko asked again.
After hesitating for a moment, Hinata nodded and replied, "I think either way is fine."
"Alright, then I'll arrange things based on the situation when the time comes."
Masahiko nodded.
Hinata bowed slightly: "Thank you, Teacher."
"Go on. Practice hard as usual and don't overthink things."
"Yes."
Hinata left as told.
After saying goodbye to her, Masahiko left the school.
He didn't have classes in the afternoon, so he could go back and work on Genjutsu.
After a meal, returning home, Masahiko entered the Training Space.
"Consume a Salary Card, summon Maruboshi Kosuke."
A moment later, a hunchbacked Ninja who looked about the same age as Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared before him.
"Hello."
"This is the concept for a technique I'm working on, along with my current progress. Take a look, and then start guiding me."
"Okay."
The projected 'Maruboshi Kosuke' took the conjured paper without showing any surprise.
He was just a projection, but he possessed Maruboshi Kosuke's personality and memories.
Then, he looked up.
"I don't understand these theories very well, but I have mastered a technique I've honed for decades. Let's use that as the subject of our exchange."
"Okay."
Masahiko sat down.
With the 'rehearsed' exchange with Kurenai Yuhi, his knowledge of Genjutsu had been temporarily supplemented.
Although he hadn't mastered it all, he at least had a certain foundation in this area and didn't need everything explained... Six hours later.
Konoha, a late-night Izakaya.
"This is the place. It's delicious, and their sake is very good. I come here often."
Kurenai Yuhi skillfully ordered food and two small bottles of sake.
As she spoke, she took a bottle and poured herself a small cup.
Masahiko also used the other flask to pour himself a cup, then said, "Regarding the Genjutsu, I've already made some headway."
"So fast?"
Kurenai Yuhi raised an eyebrow, surprised, but also with an indefinable emotion.
She sighed softly and said gloomily, "Couldn't you have told me later?"
"What's wrong?"
Masahiko asked.
Kurenai Yuhi rested her face on one hand and said, "Eating is supposed to be a happy thing, but your progress makes me, who hasn't progressed at all, really unable to be happy."
"Haha."
Masahiko couldn't help but laugh.
Kurenai Yuhi looked at him resentfully: "Is it funny?"
"Well... I originally felt that you were the type who didn't care much about these things."
Masahiko answered with a laugh.
Kurenai Yuhi sighed silently, "If it weren't for seeing no hope, who wouldn't care?"
She took a sip of sake.
Then, Kurenai Yuhi smiled.
"However, there is indeed some headway now. It's just that your approach isn't quite suitable for me; it needs to be modified a bit more."
She looked at Masahiko.
"What is the method you mentioned?"
"Light, water mist, movements."
Masahiko glanced at the lights above, then snapped his fingers. Chakra erupted from his fingertips, turning into scattered droplets of water.
The 'water droplets' splattered and then turned into a faint water mist.
It was very faint, but—
At that moment, Masahiko's hand became 'displaced.'
It was different in Kurenai Yuhi's eyes... Masahiko's entire person had deviated from his original position.
She said thoughtfully, "Using the light distortion from the hand and the casting movements as a medium to quickly trap someone in a Genjutsu."
"A good plan. In battle, you could also use Water Release Ninjutsu as a starting point. Once perfected, it will only be more covert."
Kurenai Yuhi connected her thoughts and commented unconsciously.
Then, she remembered... with Masahiko's intelligence, since he had already figured out the first step, he must have already planned the follow-up.
She couldn't help but feel envious.
"Truly amazing!"
"Whether it's covert or not isn't actually that important, nor is whether the Genjutsu will be broken. The key is to have enough contingency plans to deal with possible changes..."
Masahiko spoke his thoughts.
Kurenai Yuhi immediately changed from being distracted and envious to listening intently.
Chatting casually, the food was soon served.
Part of it was Spicy Stir-fried Squid and such that Kurenai Yuhi liked, while others were the shop's famous side dishes.
In the past, she would have enjoyed the food happily.
But today... Kurenai Yuhi pondered while drinking. Halfway through the meal, she suddenly said, "You're right. You really can't place your hopes on the technique itself; every scenario should be considered."
"Yes, if you want to become a Jonin, you need to be able to handle more scenarios independently, not just rely on a single specialty."
Masahiko looked at Kurenai Yuhi, "For example, you. The Body Flicker Technique and speed are your specialties in Taijutsu, but you lack strength. It's best not to use close-quarters Taijutsu, but rather Genjutsu combined with Ninja Tools or Ninjutsu."
"Yes."
Kurenai Yuhi nodded in agreement.
If the Ninjutsu or Ninja Tools miss, she can still use the Body Flicker Technique to respond flexibly and avoid falling into a crisis.
She didn't even notice it herself—
As she spent more time with Masahiko, she seemed to unconsciously remember his words and think about whether they were correct and if she could use them.