Hizashi personally saw Kawasaki to the gate before turning back. When he saw Neji still waiting for him in the training grounds, his perpetually stern face softened slightly.
"Neji, do you have any questions about your training?"
...
On a whim, Kawasaki had paid a visit to the Hyuga clan. He figured enough time had passed for Tsunade's anger to have cooled. Only then did Kawasaki quietly return to his own clan's territory.
The moment he stepped through the door, a figure emerged from the shadows behind him.
"Kawasaki, you finally decided to come back."
Kawasaki froze, turning his head with a stiff movement. "Lady Tsunade... Still up so late?"
A dangerous glint flashed in Tsunade's eyes. "Aren't you going to explain yourself?" she asked, her hands clenching into tight fists.
Kawasaki forced an awkward smile. "Well, you see, I knew about your hemophobia, so I thought I'd help you with a little treatment."
"And that's your reason for using Naruto!?" The veins on Tsunade's temples bulged, her eyes looking like they could swallow him whole.
Kawasaki sighed. It seemed this beating was unavoidable. "Naruto is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki," he said, resigned to his fate. "The likelihood of him facing danger in the future is immense. You're the strongest medical-nin, but you can't help him. Are we supposed to just stand by and watch Naruto die?"
A powerful gust of wind surged through the air. Tsunade's fist slammed into Kawasaki's abdomen.
"Puh, ghh..." Kawasaki doubled over, gagging.
She had actually held back.
Tsunade let out a cold snort. "Next time, it won't be this easy."
Kawasaki gasped for breath, enduring the pain in his stomach. "Don't worry, there won't be a next time. I was just trying to help Naruto."
"Hmph." Although she accepted his explanation, a knot of unease remained in her heart. "You will apologize to Naruto!" Tsunade demanded, staring him down.
Kawasaki grinned. "Relax, I'll tell him myself tomorrow."
Tsunade turned to leave. "Oura and Rikuto's surgeries are complete. They'll be able to get out of bed after some rest."
Kawasaki paused for a moment. "Thank you, Tsunade."
...
The next day, Naruto opened his eyes to find himself lying in a hospital bed in an empty room. Confused, he walked out the door and realized he was in the Uchiha clan's hospital.
Tsunade was already in her office, organizing teaching materials for the future. Kawasaki had paid a hefty sum to hire her, and with so many students, she couldn't just improvise. She needed to prepare proper lessons.
"Big Sis, how did I fall asleep here?" Naruto asked, still groggy. He couldn't quite remember what had happened the night before.
Tsunade looked up. Seeing that Naruto's color had returned to his face, she sighed inwardly. Truly the Jinchuriki's power. To lose so much blood and be fine after a single night's sleep.
"Naruto, you were injured yesterday, so you rested here."
"Oh, really!" A goofy grin spread across Naruto's face.
He had a reason to be happy. Ever since he could remember, he understood that his old home was like a prison. The Third Hokage's surveillance had never let up. Whatever Naruto did, he had to do it secretly, under the watchful eyes of the Anbu. Only when he was with Kawasaki or Tsunade did he feel like he was truly at home. Although he had stayed here overnight because of an injury, for him, it was the first time he had escaped the Third Hokage's control.
"Whoa! It's almost noon! I'm going to be late for the Academy!" Naruto suddenly noticed the clock on the wall and yelped in alarm.
Tsunade shook her head. "It's a holiday today, did you forget?"
"Oh, right... It is?" Naruto looked dazed, as if just remembering it was indeed a day off.
"Naruto, you're awake." Just then, Kawasaki walked over.
Tsunade watched Kawasaki from the side like a hawk, her gaze demanding that he explain himself.
Kawasaki placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Naruto, I was a bit rough yesterday. I'm sorry."
Naruto quickly waved his hands. "Senior Kawasaki, why are you saying that? It's normal to get a few injuries in a real fight."
Kawasaki shot a look at Tsunade, as if to say, 'See? I told you Naruto wouldn't mind.'
Seeing his smug expression, Tsunade felt a surge of frustration, but she couldn't very well tell Naruto about her fear of blood. "Don't let it happen again," she said with a tone of resignation.
Kawasaki laughed heartily. "Don't worry, it won't." He turned to Naruto. "Don't be so reckless in the future."
"Okay, I got it, Big Sis Tsunade," Naruto said, scratching his head. He thought he had caused trouble for Senior Kawasaki by getting hurt.
As they were talking, Sasuke entered, supported by Itachi. Sasuke had several cuts on his body. Though none were deep, they were still bleeding.
"Whoa, Sasuke, what happened to you?" Kawasaki asked in surprise.
Tsunade frowned. "Itachi, why were you so harsh?"
"It has nothing to do with my brother," Sasuke said weakly. "I was the one who told him not to hold back."
Tsunade turned and shot a fierce glare at Kawasaki.
Kawasaki rubbed his nose. It seemed he had started a rather unpleasant trend.
...
Within the Uchiha territory, preparations were well underway. Fireworks, red carpets, and decorations were all being arranged. The representatives from Sunagakure, the closest village to Konoha, had already arrived.
The envoy was led by Rasa's brother-in-law, Yashamaru, followed by a boy and a girl: Temari and Kankuro. As they were old acquaintances, Kawasaki made a point of personally greeting them at the entrance.
Yashamaru's frame was still slender, but the complexion beneath his blond hair was much healthier than before. Now that Gaara was no longer rampaging, Yashamaru didn't have to live in a constant state of worry. He seemed much more cheerful.
Seeing the three of them, Kawasaki walked up and clapped a hand on Yashamaru's shoulder. "Still as skinny as ever after all these years."
Yashamaru stumbled, surprised that Kawasaki would personally welcome him. After all, Kawasaki was now a clan head.
Beside him, Kankuro, his face painted with purple markings, looked on with curiosity. His uncle had a friend in the Uchiha clan?
"Yashamaru's always been like this," Kankuro chimed in casually. "He never gains weight no matter how much he eats. Who are you, not knowing he has a friend among the Uchiha?"
Temari, who stood nearby with her giant fan on her back, had already blossomed into a graceful young woman. She was more composed, harboring a suspicion but keeping it to herself.
Yashamaru steadied himself, his expression turning serious. "Show some respect, Kankuro! This is Lord Kawasaki, the new head of the Uchiha clan!"
The familiar-acting Kankuro was taken aback. The clan head was this young, and he came to greet them in person? He immediately straightened up and bowed. "My apologies for the disrespect, Lord Kawasaki."
Temari's heart skipped a beat. So this young man in his twenties was indeed the new Uchiha leader, the one who had saved Gaara. "A pleasure to meet you, Lord Kawasaki. I am Temari."
For years, Temari had cared for the lonely Gaara, her face always a mask of indifference that pushed others away. Now, thanks to Kawasaki's intervention, the issue with the Sand's young Jinchuriki's seal had been resolved ahead of schedule. The heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders, and she radiated a newfound vitality.
Kawasaki smiled and nodded. "Please, come in." He draped an arm over Yashamaru's shoulder while greeting Kankuro and Temari.
The Uchiha had already prepared guest rooms, so their arrival was not rushed. After they settled their belongings, Kawasaki had a clan member take the siblings to the snack street, while Yashamaru followed him to his office.
"How has Gaara been all these years?" Kawasaki still cared for the child who had once been toyed with by fate. Now that he had the power, he was determined to prevent unnecessary tragedies.
A gentle smile graced Yashamaru's face. "Thanks to you, my lord, Gaara's seal has been incredibly stable these past few years. He hasn't lost control a single time. He's able to live a normal life now and has even made a few friends."
"Oh?" Kawasaki was pleasantly surprised. Time was a strange thing. In just a few years, some of the children had forgotten how terrifying Gaara used to be and had become his friends.
"Before we left, Gaara asked me to pass on a message," Yashamaru continued. "He said, 'I am deeply grateful for everything Lord Kawasaki has done. I am living very well now. Shukaku is still as ill-tempered as ever, but it no longer dares to influence me. When I grow up, I will definitely come to visit you.'"
Hearing Gaara's message relayed by Yashamaru, Kawasaki felt a great sense of relief. Gaara was an exceptionally talented child; otherwise, he never would have been nominated by Baki and Yura to become the Fifth Kazekage. With Yashamaru still alive and Rasa still in power, Gaara's path to becoming the Fifth Kazekage was virtually guaranteed. Following his current trajectory, he would be a crucial force in the shinobi world war several years from now.
"Also, regarding Gaara's seal," Yashamaru said, voicing his concern, "it's been many years. Does it need to be reinforced?"
Kawasaki stroked his chin. "The Four Symbols Seal is very sturdy. If Shukaku wants to break free, its only option is to wear it down over a long period. The seal won't fail instantly. It will first show signs of weakening, with chakra leaking out. Only then will the seal itself start to crack, releasing large amounts of chakra until it finally shatters. That process is extremely slow. From the first chakra leak to a complete breach would take several years at least."
"In fact, when raising a Jinchuriki, communication with the Tailed Beast is an essential step. If Gaara can communicate with Shukaku, it will be a huge boost to his power. Ultimately, if he can achieve that, whether the seal is there or not becomes irrelevant."
Yashamaru was deeply moved. Sunagakure had always viewed its Jinchuriki as a strategic weapon but was hampered by its inadequate sealing techniques. Their primary concern was always how to control Shukaku. Communication was never even considered. In the past, unleashing Shukaku was a double-edged sword that often resulted in as many friendly casualties as enemy ones. It was a difficult problem: too valuable to not use, but too dangerous to deploy effectively, like an unpredictable bomb.
"The fact that Gaara and Shukaku can coexist peacefully now is an excellent start," Kawasaki said. He wasn't exactly an expert in dealing with Tailed Beasts; Naruto himself was still figuring it out. For real experience, one would have to seek out Killer Bee. "I can only offer suggestions. Every village has headaches when it comes to managing their Tailed Beasts. It's not a simple matter."
Yashamaru strongly agreed. Every village knew how much a perfect Jinchuriki could amplify their military strength, but not every host could have a friendly chat with their Tailed Beast. Sunagakure had failed to communicate in the past because their sealing jutsu was too weak, allowing Shukaku to emerge at will. Now, with Shukaku firmly locked away, a basic platform for communication had been established. How Gaara chose to interact with Shukaku from here on was up to him.
With that topic concluded, Yashamaru asked, "This person you call Obito... is he a member of the organization you mentioned, the one hunting the Tailed Beasts?"
Kawasaki smiled. "The other reason I invited you here concerns Obito. He does indeed covet the Tailed Beast inside Gaara. This information is top secret and must not be leaked. Just ensure Gaara is well protected. After the ceremony, stay behind. I have something else to discuss with you."
Yashamaru nodded without another word.
...
In the village of Konoha, as the date of Kawasaki's inauguration as the Uchiha clan head drew near, many unfamiliar faces began to appear. Most of them were here under the guise of celebrating the change in leadership, but their true purpose was to gather intelligence. The Third Hokage had issued a direct order: anyone without an official invitation from the Uchiha was to be treated as a spy. This drastically raised Konoha's security level, turning away many would-be visitors.
Today, the delegation from Kumogakure also arrived. The group was led by Samui, a beautiful woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. Following her were Karui, a hot-headed, dark-skinned kunoichi with golden eyes and a mask over her face, and Omoi, a white-haired boy who was constantly muttering to himself with a lollipop in his mouth.
Instead of heading straight for the Uchiha compound like the Sand delegation, they checked in and then began to wander around Konoha, ostensibly to test the relationship between the Uchiha and the village. They shopped around for a while before regrouping. They were aware of the Anbu watching them, so they dared not act too conspicuously, but they quietly memorized the contents of the public notice boards.
From conversations with the villagers, they discovered that a significant rift seemed to have formed between the Uchiha clan and Konoha. The Konoha Military Police Force, once managed entirely by the Uchiha, was now under the command of the Hyuga clan. The Uchiha were rarely seen in the village anymore. The villagers mostly spoke of the Uchiha traitor, Obito, and of Danzo Shimura. Most alarmingly, Konoha's decision to exonerate Orochimaru filled the normally calm Samui with a sense of foreboding.
"Let's go check on the Uchiha," she suggested.
Only then did Samui's group learn that the Uchiha had moved far away from the village center.
"Samui, are we being too hasty by leaving? We might have missed some crucial information, and this whole trip could be for nothing," Omoi fretted, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Maybe the Uchiha have already left Konoha. By reporting to Konoha first, we might have already angered them..."
Karui kicked him in the shin. "Can you just shut up? We were invited by the Uchiha. What's wrong with checking in with Konoha first?"
"You two are exhausting," Samui said with a sigh, rubbing her sore shoulders as she led the way towards the Uchiha compound.
...
As Samui's group made their way to the Uchiha territory, the representative from Iwagakure, Kitsuchi, was too conspicuous due to his large size. He had Kurotsuchi gather some basic information before they also headed for the Uchiha compound.
Upon their arrival, the delegations from Kumogakure and Iwagakure were received by Uchiha Akimitsu. Kawasaki didn't appear, partly because he wasn't particularly close with either village, and partly because Kabuto Yakushi and Shisui Uchiha were leading a contingent of over a hundred Uchiha back to the village in a grand procession. Kabuto still had a role to play in front of the Third Hokage, and Kawasaki's presence was indispensable.
The procession of over one hundred Uchiha was a clear and obvious target. Nearly every village had received word of their movements. The newly arrived delegates hastily dropped off their luggage and blended into the crowd gathering at Konoha's main gate. Kitsuchi even used a Transformation Jutsu to avoid drawing attention.
Kawasaki, accompanied by Itachi, appeared openly at the gate.
Once everyone had arrived, the Uchiha clansmen in the Otogakure contingent, led by Shisui, greeted Kawasaki. "Clan Head!" their voices thundered.
Kawasaki almost raised his hand and said, "Thank you for your hard work." Instead, he simply instructed, "Alright, you'll be home soon. For now, tend to your business."
The representatives from the other villages exchanged bewildered glances. Whose side were these Uchiha on? Kawasaki's? Otogakure's? Or were Kawasaki and Otogakure working together?
As the leader of a village, Kabuto's status was now prestigious. He naturally rode in a palanquin carried by the Sound Four. He lifted the curtain and first nodded to Kawasaki. Kawasaki gave a slight nod in return but said nothing; they were, after all, in Konoha. He glanced around but didn't see Orochimaru. He was either delayed or had taken a different route. Officially, Orochimaru wasn't part of Otogakure but rather its hidden backer.
The Otogakure contingent was large and had made no attempt to conceal their movements. The Third Hokage had been informed of their return well in advance. As the Uchiha greeted Kawasaki, the Third Hokage had already quietly approached, surrounded by numerous Anbu disguised as villagers to prevent any incidents. Jiraiya, meanwhile, led another Anbu squad to monitor the perimeter of the Uchiha territory.
Otogakure was the only village to send its highest leader. According to diplomatic protocol, the Third Hokage himself should be the one to receive him. How many people believed the Otogakage's title was an empty one, or that he was simply an arrogant upstart, was anyone's guess.
But the current situation was far from normal. Regardless of the Otogakage's personal strength, he had over a hundred Uchiha clansmen standing behind him. Even the renowned Shisui of the Body Flicker stood among the Otogakure ranks.
The most awkward part was that the Uchiha clan had not yet officially announced its departure from the village. Therefore, these Uchiha were, by rights, still Konoha shinobi.