A clear female voice, carrying a hint of spirited confidence, rang out.
Chiya raised an eyebrow slightly. He recognized that voice...
He looked up toward the courtyard gate.
The first thing that caught his eye was a vivid flash of red, like a burning flame.
A moment later, a figure walked in openly.
She wore a neat ninja outfit that highlighted her fit figure. Her fiery red hair was tied into a high ponytail, making her look energetic and lively.
Her fair skin and delicate features stood out, especially her bright, clear eyes.
At this moment, they carried both curiosity and a trace of nervousness as they looked around the courtyard before finally settling on Chiya.
The newcomer was none other than Uzumaki Kushina.
"Oh? A rare guest."
Chiya looked at her with a meaningful smile.
Ever since Kushina had returned to the village, she had been too embarrassed to show herself.
He had not expected her to come looking for him on her own today.
He casually pointed at the cushion beside him.
"What brings you here today?"
Seeing Chiya seemed to put Kushina at ease, but a faint blush quickly appeared on her face.
She walked over, confirmed that Mikoto was not around, then instead of sitting down immediately, placed her hands on her hips and said in a deliberately fierce tone, "What? Am I not welcome? Is the Uchiha Clan compound somewhere I can't visit?"
However, under Chiya's smiling gaze, her fake bravado quickly fell apart, and her confidence weakened considerably.
"Of course you're welcome."
Chiya laughed softly and poured her a cup of tea.
"It's just that ever since you came back to the village, you've hardly stepped outside. You used to come see Mikoto all the time, but now you don't even do that anymore."
The mention of Mikoto made Kushina's eyes flicker, and the blush on her face deepened.
She sat down as he suggested, accepted the teacup, but did not drink from it. Instead, she gently rubbed the rim with her fingertips as though carefully choosing her words.
The courtyard fell silent, leaving only the rustling of leaves in the breeze.
After a long while, Kushina finally seemed to make up her mind.
She looked straight into Chiya's eyes, reached out to hold his hand, and spoke with unprecedented seriousness mixed with a hint of confusion.
"Big Brother Chiya, recently... everyone in the village has been talking about Minato."
"They say he's a hero, the hope of the future... and some people even say that Lord Third intends to groom him to become... the Fourth Hokage."
She paused and carefully observed Chiya's expression, as if trying to read something from his face.
"What... do you think about it?"
The hand holding Chiya's teacup paused slightly as understanding flashed across his eyes.
So that was why she had come.
Looking at the girl before him, who appeared hot tempered but was actually thoughtful and sensitive, he understood.
The relationship between the two of them was no longer a secret in Konoha, at least not to those who paid attention.
Rather than coming to ask for his opinion, she had really come because she was worried about him.
Kushina had sensed that this sudden campaign to promote Minato likely concealed deeper currents beneath the surface, and that it might bring unknown consequences for him.
Chiya smiled calmly, turned his hand over to gently hold hers, and lightly patted it.
It was as if they were simply chatting about an ordinary matter.
"Minato..."
His tone remained relaxed.
"He's an outstanding ninja. He's strong, has a good personality, and it's true that he earned great achievements during the war."
"The villagers admire him, and the Third Hokage appreciates him. He deserves all of that."
He took a sip of tea before naturally changing the subject.
"As for things like the Hokage position..."
"That's not something that can be decided by reputation and military achievements alone."
"There are many factors to consider. Strength, prestige, experience, and..."
"Whether that person can gain broad recognition from every side within the village."
He looked directly at Kushina, his eyes deep.
"What Konoha needs is a leader who can unite everyone and lead the village toward true strength, not merely a symbol."
He neither criticized the Third Hokage's actions nor revealed any ambition toward the Hokage position.
Yet the meaning hidden within his words made Kushina's heart tremble.
She found herself unable to look away from him.
She understood his unspoken message.
Minato was excellent, but becoming Hokage involved far more than that.
And the one who truly possessed the ability to unite the entire village, along with unmatched strength and prestige...
Her eyes naturally settled on the calm man sitting before her.
He had ended the Third Great Ninja War, captured two Kage, subdued Orochimaru, possessed unfathomable strength, and enjoyed almost godlike prestige among the villagers and ordinary ninja.
Even Konoha's great clans now regarded him with deep respect.
Everything suddenly became clear.
A relaxed smile finally appeared on Kushina's face for the first time in days, though a faint blush still remained.
"So... that's what you really think."
She muttered quietly, her mood instantly brightening.
"I was worried for nothing..."
"Worried about me? Then why have you been avoiding me?"
Chiya raised an eyebrow and deliberately dragged out his words while looking at her teasingly.
Kushina's face instantly turned bright red like a ripe tomato as she stammered, "W... Who was worried about you?! I was... I was worried about the village! That's right, I was worried about the village's future!"
Seeing her panic as she denied it, Chiya could not help laughing.
He stopped teasing her and instead asked gently, "Alright, let's drop that. I haven't seen you these past few days. Have you been busy?"
"Or is something bothering you? Did you and Mikoto have a fight?"
His concerned question warmed Kushina's heart, instantly washing away her embarrassment.
She quickly shook her head.
"No, no. Things are great with Sister Mikoto."
"It's just... I've had a few things to deal with recently..."
She answered vaguely.
She could hardly admit that she had been too embarrassed to come because she was afraid Mikoto would notice her relationship with Chiya and stop talking to her.
After all, she had almost been caught by Sister Mikoto's Sharingan once already.
Chiya smiled knowingly but did not press further.
"It's fine as long as everything's okay."
"If you run into any trouble, come find me anytime."
"And Mikoto isn't nearly as petty as you think she is, so don't worry."
"Mhm!"
Kushina nodded firmly.
She felt as though she were wrapped in warmth, completely at ease.
All the confusion and anxiety she had carried over the past few days completely disappeared under Chiya's calm attitude and gentle concern.
Just then, the courtyard gate opened once more.
Mikoto walked in carrying a basket of groceries.
She had clearly just returned from the market, with tiny beads of sweat still visible on her forehead.
The moment she entered, she spotted Kushina sitting beneath the veranda, and surprise and delight immediately appeared in her eyes.
"Kushina?"
Mikoto smiled.
"I haven't seen you since you came back to the village. Have you been out on missions again?"
Seeing Mikoto's warm smile, unchanged as ever, the last bit of tension in Kushina's heart finally melted away.
She stood up and smiled awkwardly.
"I've... just been busy with a few things."
Mikoto set down the basket, walked over, and naturally took Kushina's hand.
She looked her over before saying with gentle reproach, "No matter how busy you are, you should still come over for meals. Look at you. Have you been skipping meals again? You don't look as healthy as you did a few days ago."
That affectionate concern made Kushina's nose sting slightly with emotion.
She secretly glanced at Chiya and found him watching them with a warm smile.
"No way..."
Kushina protested softly, though her tone sounded more like she was acting spoiled.
"Perfect!"
Mikoto laughed as she pulled Kushina toward the kitchen.
"I bought lots of ingredients today. We even have your favorite fresh tofu and fish."
"Come help me cook. We'll make something delicious for lunch."
"Okay! Okay!"
Kushina immediately agreed with excitement.
The little awkwardness and hesitation in her heart had already been thrown completely out of her mind.
The two women laughed as they entered the kitchen together.
Soon, the sounds of washing vegetables, chopping ingredients, and their cheerful conversation filled the air.
"Sister Mikoto, how do I prepare this fish?"
"I'll handle it. You cut the tofu for me, but be careful not to cut your fingers."
"I know! I'm not a little kid anymore!"
"Hmph. I wonder who almost cut her finger while slicing potatoes last time..."
"Ah! You're not allowed to bring that up!"
"..."
Listening to the lively laughter coming from the kitchen and watching the two of them work together in perfect harmony, Chiya lay back on the reclining chair beneath the veranda and closed his eyes.
The warm sunlight shone over him.
The gentle breeze drifted through the courtyard, carrying with it the aroma of food from the kitchen and the laughter of the women he loved.
The struggles for power and prestige outside suddenly felt like distant, meaningless background noise.
This peaceful, warm, ordinary moment of everyday life was what he truly longed for and wished to protect.
A satisfied and peaceful smile rested on his lips.
Surrounded by the warm sunlight and the gentle voices of his loved ones, Chiya comfortably drifted into a light nap.
...
Deep underground, far away from all sunlight and noise, lay a dark cavern.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path stood silently like a withered giant tree, its ten fingers pointing toward the sky while releasing suffocating silence and overwhelming power.
Countless twisted white tubes extended from the statue before connecting to the figure seated upon a massive Uchiha war fan in the center of the cavern.
Uchiha Madara.
His eyes remained closed.
His aged face resembled dried tree bark, covered with deep wrinkles that reflected the cruelty of time and his silent madness.
He had nearly become one with the darkness underground, relying on the chakra supplied by the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to maintain his neither living nor dead state.
Suddenly, the rock wall before him rippled like water.
A pure white figure wrapped in aloe like leaves slowly emerged from beneath the ground.
White Zetsu.
A twisted, eerie grin covered his face as always.
"Lord Madara!"
White Zetsu spoke in his strange, drifting voice.
"Konoha has been really lively lately. I've brought you some fresh information."
Madara's eyelids twitched slightly, but he did not open his eyes.
He merely let out a nearly inaudible snort in response.
White Zetsu had long grown accustomed to it.
He excitedly gestured with his hands while vividly reporting everything.
"That Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, seems to be in quite a hurry!"
"He's doing everything he can to build up that young fellow named Namikaze Minato!"
"They're spreading stories everywhere that he's the 'Yellow Flash,' Konoha's hero, and the hope of the future!"
"It looks like they're trying to push him onto the Hokage's seat!"
Tilting his head as if thinking, he continued.
"But the Uchiha's reaction is even more interesting."
"The current Uchiha Clan Leader, that guy named Uchiha Chiya, doesn't seem to care at all."
"His clansmen are a little anxious, but he himself... hehe... it feels like he doesn't care in the slightest."
White Zetsu continued rambling, describing the conflict at the village entrance, the Uchiha Clan's indifference, Chiya's calm attitude, and Hiruzen Sarutobi's desperate efforts to pave the way for Minato.
The fragments of information unfolded before Madara like scattered paintings.
As White Zetsu continued speaking, the corner of Madara's stone like face slowly curled upward.
It was not a smile of happiness.
It was one filled with extreme coldness and ridicule.
Finally, he slowly opened his eyes.
The crimson three tomoe Sharingan turned gently.
Within those eyes, there was nothing but mockery and contempt.
"Hmph... Heh..."
A deep, hoarse laugh echoed through the silent cavern, making the entire place feel even more sinister.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi... as expected of the student raised by that cunning fellow Tobirama. He only knows how to play these ridiculous and pitiful political games."
His aged voice carried unquestionable authority and contempt.
"So... he's afraid?"
"He wants to push out some so called 'symbol of light' to fight the fear growing inside himself?"
"To balance the threat that the Uchiha might become?"
"How utterly foolish."
A trace of nostalgia flashed through his eyes before turning into even colder indifference.
"When Konoha was first founded, Hashirama and I never needed such tricks."
"True peace and order come from absolute power that drives enemies into despair."
"Not from these laughable internal balances and schemes."
His gaze seemed to pierce through the countless layers of earth, reaching the prosperous yet hypocritical village in his eyes.
"Namikaze Minato? The 'Yellow Flash?'"
Madara's sneer deepened.
"He sounds like a talented little brat."
"But before true power, he's nothing more than a firefly before the moon."
"The higher they lift him now, the harder he'll fall in the future."
"And when that happens, it will only prove how fragile and powerless both he and the so called Will of Fire truly are."
His thoughts then shifted toward Uchiha Chiya.
"Uchiha Chiya... captured two Kage, ended the war, suppressed the voices within his clan, and remained calm despite this campaign..."
"He's a little more interesting than I expected."
"So the Uchiha Clan has finally produced someone unlike those useless fools who have been domesticated."
"He knows how to hide his edge."
"He knows how to take advantage of the situation."
"He even knows how to let his enemies destroy themselves."
However, the faint ripple in his eyes was immediately swallowed by an even greater indifference.
"But... that's all."
Madara's voice became cold and empty once again.
"Whether he truly possesses great vision or is merely putting on an act..."
"Whether Konoha remains under Hiruzen Sarutobi, passes to Namikaze Minato, or even if this Uchiha Chiya eventually becomes Hokage..."
He slowly closed his eyes again, as though he had completely lost interest in everything outside.
"They're all nothing more than a childish game that is destined to be completely erased before the Infinite Tsukuyomi."
"Before true peace, every conflict, every scheme, every rise and fall... is nothing but meaningless dust."
White Zetsu laughed happily beside him.
"That's right! That's right! Lord Madara's Eye of the Moon Plan is the greatest! When the time comes, everyone will find happiness in beautiful dreams!"
Madara said nothing more.
He once again returned to silence like an ancient stone that had existed since the beginning of time.
The life force flowing from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path continued to sustain his decaying body.
To him, Konoha's struggles were nothing more than the noise of ants.
They were not even worth another glance.
His stage was the entire ninja world.
His goal was to reshape the fate of the whole world.
As for Konoha, no matter who stood upon its stage now, it would ultimately become nothing more than...
A stepping stone toward his ultimate dream.
Or a pile of ruins swept completely into the garbage heap of history.
"Has that child, Uchiha Obito, gone out on a mission recently?"
"Lord Madara, not yet! Ever since Chiya returned to the village, he's been restricted from taking missions."
The cavern was once again swallowed by deathly silence and the dim glow of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
Only Madara's silent sneer seemed to linger in the frozen air, carrying his ultimate contempt for every effort made by the world.