Ran opened the door and saw little Hinata standing nervously at the entrance. He couldn't help but laugh.
"Still up this late? Don't you have academy classes tomorrow?"
"Nope," Hinata replied innocently. "I'm not six yet."
Ran froze for a moment—then remembered.
Right. In Konoha, children didn't enter the Ninja Academy until around the age of six. Naruto had graduated at twelve, which meant enrollment started six years earlier.
Hinata was just over five.
What academy would she be going to?
Ran felt a bit awkward. Fortunately, Shisui stepped in smoothly to change the subject.
"Miss Hinata, does this mean the Ino–Shika–Chō trio has arrived?"
Hinata nodded obediently.
"Uncle Nara, Uncle Akimichi, and Uncle Yamanaka are already at the gate. When I came to call you, Father was just leading them to the main hall."
Ran nodded. "Good. I understand the situation now. Thank you, Hinata."
He gently pinched her cheeks, then glanced at Itachi, who was still sprawled on the bed. He snorted softly and turned to head for the main hall.
Shisui immediately slapped Itachi on the shoulder.
"Wake up. The real show's starting. This is the moment that decides Konoha's future!"
Itachi jolted upright, sitting straight up on the bed—but his eyes were unfocused, clearly still half-asleep.
"Huh? What? Shisui-nii…?" he muttered blankly.
Shisui ground his teeth.
"Get dressed and move. Something big is about to happen!"
He tossed Itachi his clothes. Startled awake by Shisui's sharp tone, Itachi hurriedly dressed and followed him as they rushed toward the main hall.
---
Inside the hall, Nara Shikaku sat in the seat of honor on the right. The seat opposite him was still empty.
He spoke casually, "Brother Hiashi, is that seat taken? If not, I may have to let one of my people sit there."
Hyuga Hiashi smiled.
"Oh, that one? He exhausted himself earlier breathing fire and is still resting. I saw it myself—he opened his mouth once, and an entire mountain range went up in flames."
Shikaku's pupils contracted.
A single breath of fire?
That had to be an S-rank Fire Release at minimum. Otherwise, how could someone burn down a mountain and scare Danzo Shimura and his men into fleeing without a backward glance?
Interesting.
Very interesting.
"Don't worry," Hiashi continued calmly. "I already sent Hinata to notify him. Please be patient. Come—have a drink."
He raised his cup toward Shikaku.
Shikaku studied him for a moment, then drained his wine.
Just then, a voice announced from outside:
"Clan Head, Lord Uchiha Ran has arrived."
Hiashi smiled.
"Shikaku, the person you've been curious about is here. Just don't set your expectations too high."
Shikaku glanced at him. "I know what I'm doing."
He set down his cup, straightened his posture, and looked toward the entrance.
According to everything he'd heard—from Hiashi and from intelligence reports—this Ran was the real core of the Uchiha. And if Hiashi himself was willing to make a move and invite the Ino–Shika–Chō, then this man was no ordinary figure.
Akimichi Chōza paid no attention to any of this and continued eating with gusto. Thinking was Shikaku's job—he just needed to lend his strength when required.
Yamanaka Inoichi swirled his wine thoughtfully, occasionally glancing toward the door. The Uchiha were the only major clan that had never bowed to Danzo.
He was very curious to see what kind of man now stood at their center.
---
Ran stopped in front of the hall.
He adjusted his clothes, then pushed the door open and took his first step inside.
Boom!
A violent surge of azure chakra erupted outward.
Everyone in the hall felt their minds go blank, a crushing sense of suffocation pressing down on them.
> Ding! Mission issued:
Subdue Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Chōza, and Yamanaka Inoichi.
Reward: Five-Element Chakra.
This was the system mission he'd received upon leaving the lounge.
And it was precisely why he had abandoned the idea of keeping a low profile.
If he wanted to win them over—
He would strike first.
"Sorry to keep everyone waiting," Ran said calmly.
Instead of withdrawing his chakra pressure, he intensified it.
Chōza struggled to lift his head, took a massive bite out of the chicken leg in his hand, then lowered himself again and continued chewing.
The world's ending, sure—but that doesn't mean I'm not eating.
If I die, I'm dying full.
Inoichi stared in horror. He couldn't even straighten his back, his entire body pressed flat against the table.
This… this pressure…
It's comparable to the Nine-Tails…!
Shikaku clenched his teeth and forced himself not to bow. The more he resisted, the heavier the pressure became.
Hiashi finally snapped.
"Ran! We're allies! Can you stop suppressing me with your chakra?!"
Ran's chakra pressure faltered for a moment. He scratched his head.
"Ah—sorry. My mistake."
As he spoke, he withdrew the pressure from Hiashi alone, leaving it squarely focused on Shikaku, Chōza, and Inoichi.
Hiashi rolled his eyes inwardly.
Like hell that was an accident.
This brat was clearly showing him just how monstrous his chakra reserves were.
At last, Shikaku sighed.
"Ran, withdraw your power. We already understand your strength. You do have the ability to change Konoha—but brute force alone won't make us submit."
Ran smiled.
"As expected of Konoha's successive commanders. Sharp mind."
He retracted his chakra pressure.
At that moment, Itachi and Shisui arrived.
Ran gave them a subtle signal.
The two immediately understood.
They shut the main doors—
And then, within the hall, they released the second form of Susanoo.
One crimson.
One emerald green.
Though only their upper bodies manifested, the overwhelming chakra and pressure caused everyone present to gasp instinctively.
"Th-this is… Susanoo?" Shikaku's voice trembled.
"The legendary Susanoo… the power said to rival the gods?"
He remembered his father's words clearly.
Back then, when Uchiha Madara's Susanoo appeared, a single slash could wipe out a small nation.
Only the First Hokage's idealism had prevented the unification of the Five Great Nations.
Times had changed.
And Shikaku never imagined that one day, he would see two Susanoo at once.
Then—
Ran activated his own blue Susanoo.
From that moment on—
Silence fell over the hall.