The next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows of the Hokage residence, illuminating the hallway.
Uchiha Hikari stood outside a guest room.
Someone had already changed her into a simple dark outfit that Chiya had prepared to match the current era, and her long hair was tied back behind her head.
Her complexion remained pale, and her eyes were as cold as ever, carrying an aloofness that kept everyone at a distance.
The Mangekyō Sharingan, which had once contained the power of Yachihoko, was now restrained by the sealing technique Chiya had placed upon it.
Only ordinary black eyes remained, yet the pride and hatred buried within them had not diminished in the slightest.
Chiya appeared at the other end of the hallway, still dressed in his black Hokage robe, his expression calm.
Behind him followed Mei Terumi, who looked thoroughly unwilling yet still maintained a respectful attitude.
"Let's go."
Chiya's voice was completely calm, as though they were simply going for an ordinary walk.
Hikari let out a cold snort and turned her head away, but she still followed.
She knew her current condition made resistance meaningless.
Even so, she had no intention of showing even the slightest weakness or compromise.
Mei Terumi secretly pouted, silently complaining about this latest assignment as "babysitter and tour guide."
She was supposed to be Kirigakure's future star, yet now she had been reduced to explaining everything to this mysterious Uchiha "ancestor," whose personality was as cold as a thousand-year-old glacier.
What a complete waste of talent.
Especially since she also had to deal with Chiya...
She secretly glanced at his tall, composed back, her emotions becoming increasingly complicated.
No matter how dissatisfied she felt...
She couldn't deny that under Chiya's influence, Konoha had undergone earth-shattering changes.
If they hadn't belonged to opposing villages, perhaps she wouldn't have felt so conflicted.
The three walked silently through Konoha's streets.
The village had fully awakened.
Shops were opening one after another, more pedestrians filled the streets, and the air carried both the aroma of breakfast and the fresh scent of trees and grass.
Children ran past laughing while holding ninja toys.
Shinobi hurried about their duties, their forehead protectors shining beneath the morning sun.
Ordinary villagers greeted one another and chatted about everyday life.
To Uchiha Hikari...
Who had come from the brutal age of endless clan warfare...
Everything before her felt unbelievably unfamiliar.
Almost painfully so.
The world she remembered had been filled with endless slaughter, betrayal, walls separating one clan from another, and death lurking everywhere.
Yet the peaceful, orderly, even warm atmosphere before her...
Made her feel deeply uncomfortable.
Her fists unconsciously tightened.
Her breathing became slightly heavier.
"How hypocritical..."
she muttered hoarsely.
"This temporary peace is nothing more than an intermission before the next war."
Walking a short distance ahead, Chiya acted as though he hadn't heard her.
His pace never changed.
Mei Terumi, however, caught every word.
She wanted to argue.
But remembering Chiya's instructions, she forcibly suppressed the impulse.
Instead, she began acting as the tour guide in a relatively neutral tone.
Yet as she spoke, even her own emotions gradually became involved.
"I've learned quite a bit about Konoha's history, even as someone from another village."
"Konoha was founded jointly by the Senju Clan of the Forest and the Uchiha Clan."
Her clear voice tried to sound objective rather than preachy.
Yet even she couldn't help feeling emotional while talking about that history.
The Senju...
And the Uchiha...
Two clans that had once been bitter enemies.
Who would have imagined they could work together to establish the very first hidden village in history?
It was almost unbelievable.
At that same time...
Kirigakure had still been trapped in the brutal era of clan warfare.
Only after recognizing Konoha as a growing threat had Kirigakure been "forced" into establishing its own hidden village.
After learning that history while staying in Konoha, Mei Terumi had finally understood something.
That truly had been reconciliation.
A reconciliation born from growing weary of endless war.
Back then, the two clans had already laid the foundation for a more tolerant future.
"Under the leadership of Clan Head Hashirama Senju and Clan Head Uchiha Madara..."
She paused briefly and cautiously glanced at Chiya.
Only after seeing no reaction did she continue.
"...along with the combined efforts of the other clans, they brought the age of endless clan warfare to an end."
"They united the scattered clans into a single village and worked together to maintain order and peace."
Silently, she added,
'The process must have involved endless political struggles.'
'But accomplishing something like that in the first place...'
'That alone was extraordinary.'
'It was truly a journey from zero to one.'
'Not zero as in nothing existed...'
'But countless ninja clans setting aside generations of bloodshed to build a place they could all call home.'
Hikari listened without changing her expression.
But when she heard the words "the Senju and Uchiha joined forces," her pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.
Her footsteps paused for a brief moment.
Joined forces?
The Senju...
And the Uchiha?
Those two clans had regarded each other as mortal enemies for generations.
Both sides had countless lives stained with the other's blood.
How could they possibly have joined hands?
According to everything she knew before being sealed...
Such a thing was pure fantasy.
Mei Terumi noticed her subtle reaction.
Encouraged, she continued.
"The First Hokage, Lord Hashirama Senju, dreamed of creating a world that protected people."
"He not only established the village, but during the First Five Kage Summit, he distributed the captured Tailed Beasts among the major nations to maintain peace through a balance of power."
As she spoke, admiration unconsciously mixed into her voice.
She respected the First Hokage's grand ideals.
Yet part of her also felt they had been somewhat naive.
Still...
Without someone willing to pursue such an "impossible" dream...
Perhaps the ninja world would never have changed at all.
As for the current Fourth Hokage...
Her eyes drifted toward Chiya's back once more.
His methods were far more realistic...
And far more uncompromising.
Yet the results...
Somehow made people feel even more secure.
"Distributed the Tailed Beasts? Balance?"
Hikari finally spoke again, her voice filled with ridicule.
"Treating Tailed Beasts like gifts to be handed out?"
"How foolishly naive."
"Power attracts nothing but greed and fear."
"This so-called balance is nothing more than a fragile illusion."
Remembering how she herself had once been treated as nothing more than a weapon by her own clan, she despised any peace maintained through overwhelming power.
Mei Terumi nearly choked on her words.
Feeling somewhat annoyed, she finally replied.
"Maybe the method was controversial."
"But the First Hokage's goal was to prevent even greater wars."
"And Konoha's system truly did bring about a relatively long period of stability."
"Especially over the past few years..."
Now that she had started speaking, it became difficult to stop.
"Since Lord Fourth Hokage Chiya took office, he's introduced many new policies."
"He expanded mission types beyond combat to include construction, escort work, and even helping ordinary villagers."
"He reformed the ninja promotion and salary systems so talented shinobi could receive fair opportunities and rewards."
"He encouraged the clans to share parts of their non-core secret techniques to strengthen everyone."
"He also invested heavily in medical ninjutsu and research related to improving civilian life."
As she spoke, Mei Terumi found herself recalling everything she had observed during her stay in Konoha.
When she had first arrived, she had hated every moment of it.
But little by little...
She had been forced to admit something.
Under Chiya's leadership, Konoha possessed a level of vitality and order that Kirigakure simply couldn't match.
The streets were cleaner and more prosperous.
Both villagers and shinobi appeared happier and more energetic.
Public facilities were better maintained.
These visible improvements spoke far louder than any slogan.
Without realizing it, genuine admiration entered her voice.
Not merely for Chiya himself...
But for the effectiveness of the system he had created.
"Just look around."
Mei Terumi gestured toward the village.
"Shinobi from different clans work together on missions."
"Children can safely study at the academy."
"Commerce is thriving."
"This isn't only the continuation of the First Hokage's ideals."
"It's also the result of every Hokage's efforts to improve the village..."
"...especially Lord Fourth."
After finishing, she nervously glanced at Chiya.
Seeing no reaction, she quietly sighed in relief.
Wait...
Wasn't I supposed to be studying Konoha's policies so I could bring useful ideas back to Kirigakure?
Why did I end up praising him instead?
Seriously...
Just then, cheerful laughter drifted from a nearby building.
It was a clean, welcoming courtyard with a sign reading "Konoha Orphanage."
Children of various ages happily played together under the watchful care of the staff.
Without realizing it, they had arrived outside the orphanage.
Hikari's attention was immediately drawn there.
She stopped walking and quietly watched the children through the fence.
Mei Terumi looked at them as well.
Thinking about the fate of many orphans in Kirigakure, her heart grew heavy.
Her voice naturally softened.
"The village raises these children until adulthood."
"I've heard this welfare system dates all the way back to the First Hokage."
"After the Fourth Hokage took office, funding was increased to ensure every orphan receives basic education and medical care."
"And those with ninja talent are given opportunities to develop it."
She wasn't only explaining things to Hikari.
Part of those words reflected her own feelings.
At least in this regard...
Konoha truly surpassed many other villages.
Hikari quietly stared at the lively courtyard for a long time.
The icy coldness in her eyes softened...
If only by the slightest amount.
Afterward, they arrived at the Konoha Ninja Academy.
Looking through the windows, they saw children from many different clans studying together in the same classroom.
"The Ninja Academy was established by the Second Hokage."
Mei Terumi continued her explanation.
"But the current education system has gone through many reforms."
"The curriculum is far more comprehensive."
"In addition to ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, students also learn medical fundamentals, academic subjects, history, basic battlefield tactics, and teamwork."
"Even after graduation, the three-person squad system now places greater emphasis on cooperation and instructors providing guidance based on each student's strengths."
Her eyes flickered thoughtfully.
She remembered the cruel selection process she had endured in Kirigakure.
Then she looked at the peaceful and systematic education before her.
She couldn't help comparing the two.
Perhaps...
Konoha's method truly produced shinobi who were not only capable...
But mentally healthier as well.
Although she still believed Kirigakure's brutality could create powerful ninja...
The price paid had simply been too great.
Chiya finally spoke.
His voice remained calm, yet carried unquestionable conviction.
"The chain of hatred can be broken."
"Former enemies can become comrades protecting the same land."
"Konoha's existence..."
"And what it has become today..."
"Are the greatest proof."
Hikari abruptly turned toward Chiya, searching his face for even the slightest trace of hypocrisy.
She found none.
Once again, she fell silent.
Yet the turmoil inside her heart had grown even stronger.
The laughter of those children...
The sight of students from different clans learning side by side...
And everything Mei Terumi had said about how this village had continued changing and improving...
All of it struck directly at everything she had believed.
Watching the constantly changing emotions on Hikari's face, Mei Terumi herself also became silent.
She had originally accepted this assignment only because she had no choice.
Yet while recounting Konoha's history and its present state, she realized she had begun reevaluating many things herself.
A village founded by sworn enemies...
One that had continued growing...
And now flourished under the leadership of the man who filled her with such complicated emotions...
Truly possessed something unique.
That realization added yet another layer to her opinion of Chiya.
Alongside fear and dissatisfaction...
There was now a faint admiration she was unwilling to admit.
Admiration for overwhelming strength.
Admiration for effective leadership.
Looking at the uncertainty flickering within Hikari's eyes, Chiya knew their morning walk had already achieved its initial purpose.
He said nothing more.
Instead, he spoke casually.
"Come on."
"I'll take you to try Konoha's specialty food."
Mei Terumi quietly let out a sigh of relief.
At last, this exhausting tour guide duty was over.
Yet her feelings were no longer as simple as mere annoyance.
As for Hikari...
This time, she didn't immediately resist.
She silently followed behind them.
Yet her eyes unconsciously drifted back toward the lively village scenes once again.
Her expression remained impossible to read.
The ancient Uchiha Weapon...
And the girl from another village...
Both experienced complicated emotions within their hearts during this peaceful morning in Konoha.
Looking at the two of them, Chiya smiled faintly.
It seemed the plan he had come up with that very morning had worked even better than expected.
Then he remembered something.
He still hadn't claimed the reward for the mission to unseal Uchiha Hikari.
"System."
"My mission reward."