After meeting with Kurenai, Raizen was summoned to the Hokage Building in the early evening.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled as Raizen entered, pulling a stack of cash from his desk drawer and tossing it onto the table. "Raizen, here is the compensation for 'mental distress' from Mitokado Homura."
Raizen eyed the stack. "How much are we talking about?"
"One hundred thousand Ryo," Hiruzen replied calmly.
Raizen picked up the money and grumbled, "Tsk. Mitokado Homura is a Village Consultant, yet he's so stingy."
Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe. "One hundred thousand is not a small sum. Besides, you weren't actually harmed, were you? On the contrary, you were the one who slit Shin'ichi's throat."
Raizen chuckled. "He deserved it for provoking me. But since the Lord Third has spoken, I'll let it slide. I accept their apology."
He knew when to quit while he was ahead. He hadn't lost anything and had gained a free hundred thousand Ryo. "Anything else, Lord Third? If not, I'm heading home."
Hiruzen exhaled a cloud of smoke and looked at Raizen with a grandfatherly warmth. "Work hard, Raizen. Restore the Uchiha population, rebuild the Police Force, and contribute your strength to the village."
Acting? Two can play at that game.
Raizen adopted an expression of pure, burning sincerity. "I will definitely work hard to restore our numbers, rebuild the Force, and serve the village with all my might!"
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction. "Mhm. I believe you can do it."
"Then I'll be going."
Raizen left with the money, appearing full of "youthful vigor." Watching his retreating back, Hiruzen felt quite pleased. As a leader, the most important thing was balancing powers—making sure no one was too strong, and no one too weak.
Now that the Uchiha were diminished, he would support them. Since Danzo's influence had peaked after the massacre, Hiruzen had used the "excessive cruelty" of the incident as an excuse to disband the Root and place Danzo under house arrest. Now, with Homura becoming increasingly disrespectful, he had used this incident to knock the Consultant's ego down a peg.
Hiruzen gazed out at the Hokage Rock with a faint smile.
One Week Later
The Uchiha compound held a grand feast. Kurenai Yuhi officially joined the Uchiha clan. The addition of an active Jōnin slightly bolstered the clan's perceived strength.
Half a month later, Kurenai was confirmed to be pregnant. Under Raizen's "diligent efforts," the other women who had joined the clan were also expecting again.
Looking at the infants being cared for by Haruko and the other maids, Raizen made a decision. He returned to the Hokage Building.
"What brings you here, Raizen?" Hiruzen asked kindly.
"Reiko," Raizen said simply.
Hiruzen's brow furrowed. "Why are you asking about Reiko?"
"The child needs her," Raizen replied. "A child shouldn't grow up without a mother."
Hiruzen was silent for a long time. "Reiko has been sent out of the village on a mission."
"Where?"
"To the Grass Village (Kusagakure) as a spy."
Raizen froze. "Why? Why send her?"
He felt a pang of self-reproach. When Reiko hadn't returned that second day, he should have come to Hiruzen immediately to demand her back.
Hiruzen spoke calmly. "Beautiful women are more easily trusted. They are the most suitable candidates for infiltration."
"I'm going to bring her back," Raizen stated firmly.
After another long silence, Hiruzen reached into his desk and pulled out a letter. "This contains the secret codes for meeting her and the contact location."
"Thank you, Lord Third," Raizen said, taking the envelope.
"What is your plan? How do you intend to bring her back? With your current strength, it would be... insufficient," Hiruzen said, his eyes searching Raizen's face.
"I plan to hire help," Raizen replied.
"Hiring? The village is currently short-handed; there are no Jōnin on standby for private hire."
"I don't need village ninja. I'll post a mission in the black market."
"The black market?" Hiruzen frowned. "Those who take missions there are usually rogue ninja. Are they worth your trust?"
Raizen smiled. "Don't worry, Lord Third. As long as the pay is high enough and the mission doesn't conflict with their interests, even rogue ninja will complete a task faithfully."
Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe. "Spies are a village secret. When you go for Reiko, you must not reveal her identity. Claim her in the name of your 'missing wife' or something similar."
"I understand, Lord Third."
Raizen turned and left. Hiruzen watched him go, his gaze deep and inscrutable.
Raizen... let me see just how much your strength has grown during those years away from the village.
Reiko was a deliberate lure. Hiruzen wanted to measure Raizen's true power. He had told Reiko that if she completed this mission, she would be allowed to leave the Sarutobi clan and join the Uchiha officially. Knowing the danger, Reiko had agreed without hesitation for the sake of her child.
He knew Raizen would come looking for her. Only by knowing the full extent of Raizen's capabilities could Hiruzen truly feel at ease.
Outside the Hokage Building
Raizen opened the letter and scanned the information, his brow furrowing slightly.
With his current power and the Flying Raijin, infiltrating a small village like the Grass was trivial. However, he didn't want to expose his hand so early, which is why he had mentioned hiring mercenaries to Hiruzen.
He was well aware that while Hiruzen played the part of a supportive elder, he was almost certainly being monitored. Though the watchers were well-hidden, Raizen could sense them.
It doesn't matter, Raizen thought. Until I'm finished growing my power, I have no intention of causing trouble. Let them watch.