Chapter 9
"Show yourself."
Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his throbbing temples and spoke to the empty office.
A flicker of afterimage crossed the air. A masked Anbu ninja wearing a red-patterned cat mask and sporting distinctive silver porcupine hair appeared instantly before the desk.
Anbu—Hatake Kakashi.
At this time, the darkness in his heart had not yet fully thawed. His gaze was cold, far removed from the laid-back, porn-reading slacker jonin he would later become.
Looking at this once-genius boy, Hiruzen's heart filled with complex emotions.
The suicide of his father Sakumo Hatake, the sacrifice of his closest comrade Obito, the nightmare of killing Rin with his own hands…
This chain of blows had plunged Kakashi into soul-crushing self-consumption.
To save him, the Fourth Hokage—on Hiruzen's advice—temporarily pulled Kakashi from Anbu duties.
He assigned him to protect the pregnant Kushina, hoping the miracle of new life would rekindle hope in him.
But the result… the Nine-Tails Rampage. Minato and Kushina both dead.
After attending their funeral, darkness swallowed Kakashi once more. For a time, he was swayed by Danzō and joined Root—becoming a spy planted beside the Hokage.
Fortunately, at the last moment he awoke. He exposed Danzō's plan to assassinate the Hokage, indirectly saving Hiruzen.
"Kakashi." Hiruzen's voice was low. "You will soon relay the next set of orders to Anbu."
"Yes, sir!" The young voice came from beneath the mask.
"Kumogakure's delegation arrives soon. Until the treaty is signed, raise Anbu alert to maximum. Screen every suspicious individual."
Hiruzen paused. "Additionally, you have one separate assignment."
"Monitor Root."
Kakashi lifted his head, a flash of surprise in his eye.
"Danzō may try to disrupt this alliance with Kumo."
Hiruzen sighed. "You were once in Root. You know their ways. If any Root ninja shows unusual movement, report directly to me."
"Understood!"
...
Half an hour later, in the Hokage Tower conference room.
Two men in jonin vests entered.
On the left: pineapple-styled hair, facial scars—the Nara clan head and Konoha's top strategist, Shikaku Nara.
On the right: arms crossed, stern and rigid expression, Konoha Military Police Force emblem on his shoulders—the Uchiha clan head and Police Force captain, Fugaku Uchiha.
"Lord Hokage." Both bowed.
"Sit." Hiruzen gestured. "I called you here regarding the alliance ceremony with Kumo in three days."
"That day's village festival will draw huge crowds." He looked at Fugaku. "The Military Police will be under heavy pressure. Maintain public order—no incidents allowed."
Fugaku nodded slightly, tone stiff but cooperative. "The entire Police Force will be on 24-hour standby. We will do our utmost to uphold Konoha's order."
The tactical mind Shikaku stroked his beard and added: "With Kumo involved, watch for their diplomats using 'sightseeing' as cover to gather intel. I recommend the Barrier Team reinforce seals around key facilities."
"As for visible patrols, that falls to Captain Fugaku."
Personnel deployment naturally required input from all three. They coordinated detailed plans for the coming days.
With official business concluded, the atmosphere eased slightly.
Hiruzen tapped out his pipe and shifted topics.
"There's one more matter. I'd like your opinions."
"It concerns Uzumaki Naruto."
The name instantly froze the room.
Fugaku's body tensed reflexively.
Since the night of the Nine-Tails Rampage, when Hiruzen ordered the Police Force to "stay away from the Nine-Tails and focus solely on civilian evacuation," suspicion toward the Uchiha had skyrocketed.
The rebuilt Police Headquarters and new Uchiha compound were relocated to the village outskirts. Every clansman fell under tight Anbu surveillance.
The root cause: higher-ups suspected an Uchiha orchestrated the attack.
Ridiculous. As clan head, Fugaku knew controlling a tailed beast required at least Mangekyō Sharingan power.
Only Shisui and himself possessed it—and neither would ever do such a thing.
He knew better than anyone the Uchiha were not behind the Nine-Tails.
Was this a warning to keep away from the jinchūriki?
Fugaku sneered inwardly.
But Hiruzen's next words stunned everyone present.
"Lately, Naruto's mental state seems… abnormal due to prolonged loneliness and rejection."
He chose his words carefully. "Simply put—he appears to suffer from dissociative identity disorder."
"Split personality?" Shikaku frowned. "You mean… the Nine-Tails' will eroding him?"
"No. Quite the opposite."
Hiruzen recalled the reports. "Uzumaki Naruto has imagined an invisible 'friend' only he can see. From his mutterings, he calls this alter—Fox Sage."
"Fox… Sage?" Fugaku looked baffled.
"Yes. This alter is remarkably gentle, rational… even scholarly." Hiruzen gave a wry smile.
"It calms Naruto's emotions, cooks for him, teaches strange cultivation methods—and even a completely unknown taijutsu style."
Hiruzen briefly described Naruto using "Taiji Bagua Palm" to defeat the bullies.
"That is not Hyūga Gentle Fist. A three-year-old could never self-invent it without a master."
Silence blanketed the room.
Fugaku was the most shocked—not by the split personality, but by the fact that the Third Hokage was sharing this classified intel with him.
The jinchūriki's mental state was top-secret—especially any risk of tailed beast outbreak.
Previously, higher-ups guarded against Uchiha like thieves, fearing Sharingan control over the Nine-Tails.
Now Hiruzen not only revealed it—he spoke as if seeking their help.
"Lord Hokage…" Fugaku probed cautiously. "Are you telling me this so the Police Force can… confine him?"
"No."
Hiruzen shook his head, gaze sincere toward Fugaku. "The Uchiha clan existed long before the Warring States era. In your clan records, are there any mentions of 'spiritual energy manifestation' or kekkei genkai that transmit memories?"
"After all, when it comes to research on spiritual power and long clan heritage, the Uchiha are unmatched."
The high praise visibly softened Fugaku's rigid features.
Being trusted—it was something the Uchiha had craved for a long time.
After a moment's thought, Fugaku replied: "If we rule out possession by the Nine-Tails… then it relates to the jinchūriki's own spiritual energy. I will consult the clan archives."
Shikaku nodded in agreement. "And this 'alter' currently appears benevolent. It's guiding the jinchūriki toward good, even helping him grow stronger. Forcibly treating it could cause mental collapse—or worse, trigger a tailed beast rampage."
"I agree."
Hiruzen sighed. "Danzō came earlier demanding I hand Naruto to Root to be forged into a weapon. I refused."
At Danzō's name, disgust flashed in Fugaku's eyes.
"My decision: slightly relax restrictions on Naruto. Allow clans to interact with him openly."
Hiruzen summarized: "Since this 'Fox Sage' personality is helping raise Naruto properly, we let it continue—for now. We'll study it later."
"As long as Naruto poses no threat to the village, we tacitly permit this 'secret friend.'"
"Captain Fugaku." Hiruzen looked directly at the Uchiha leader. "During Police patrols, if you see Naruto talking to thin air or doing harmless odd things—tell your officers not to overreact or interfere excessively."
"…Understood." Fugaku nodded solemnly. "I will instruct the clan."
Fugaku's emotions were mixed. He had expected another reprimand against the Uchiha. Instead, the Hokage had confided in him about the jinchūriki.
Could the higher-ups' attitude toward the Uchiha finally be shifting?
Watching Fugaku leave, Hiruzen relit his pipe. A sharp glint passed through his eyes.
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