Year 25
Two months had passed since Shinichi entered the Ninja Academy.
The games he introduced had become self-sustaining, each running smoothly under the guidance of appointed 'leaders.' Later, Shinichi introduced a new role: Chief Leader, tasked with overseeing all games and their respective leaders.
The selection process was simple: the leaders would compete across multiple games and disciplines.
There were four Standout leaders:
Senju Akimoto, age 9 – Leader of Capture the Flag, known for his overwhelming stamina and endurance
Uchiha Aoto, age 10 – dominated the Shurikenjutsu Contest with precision and speed.
Hyuga Daisuke, age 10 – Excelled in The Ninja Game, leveraging Byakugan and refined taijutsu.
Hatake Sakumo, age 6 – Rose to prominence in Crossing the Field of Fire, the very first game Shinichi introduced.
While the others were near graduation age, Sakumo was different. He consistently outperformed older students across multiple games. His scores placed him in the top ten across all categories.
Shinichi watched quietly.
'If nothing goes wrong… he will become the Chief leader.'
---
While the children competed, Shinichi often sat alone – on rooftops, tree branches, or quiet corners of the academy, meditating and refining his chakra control.
By now, he could freely manipulate chakra through his tenketsu points, converging it with precision and ease.
But his attention had shifted to something deeper: the yin and yang chakra release organs within his brain.
He studied them cautiously. They released chakra slowly, unless emotionally stimulated. He decided not to tamper with them until his body matured, perhaps at age 12.
'Chakra is a marvelous energy. Capable of supernatural feats… impossible for ordinary people.'
His thoughts turned to civilians.
'They do nothing, but work and pay taxes. They live like livestock, offering coin and labor instead of meat. Easily manipulated and easily replaced.'
And the Daimyos and the nobles?
'Merchants and wealthy figureheads. Sons of gods? Hah. What a joke.'
Shinichi held no reverence for them. Only eternal disdain.
He understood the stakes.
In this era of hidden villages, survival depended on strength. At first, he considered selecting a few exceptional talents and training them rigorously, like the Imperial Knight Orders of his past life.
After witnessing the battle between Hashirama and Madara, he realized the value of high-level combat powerhouses, much like his past life.
But after studying the Land of Fire's history and resources, he changed his mind.
'Why choose between elite forces and mass mobilization? Why not have both?'
The Land of Fire had the potential to become an empire.
With chakra, even commoners could become formidable. Shinichi began to observe the children, not just for talent, but for spirit and potential.
And among them, he saw it.
'A true elite. The brightest star among stars.'
Hatake Sakumo.
Shinichi had already marked him in his mind.
But he didn't approach him.
Not yet.
He let the game continue.
***
Huff… Huff…
Hatake Sakumo straightened his posture, catching his breath. He had just defeated the other game leaders – Senju Akimoto, Uchiha Aoto, and Hyuga Daisuke – in a series of taijutsu matches.
It was the toughest battle he'd ever faced. His opponents were three to four years older, but Sakumo's reflexes and instincts carried him through.
If chakra had been allowed, the results might have been different.
But Uchiha Shinichi had forbidden chakra use. Before the match, he tapped each participant's tenketsu points, suppressing their chakra flow. The technique was so swift and precise that even Hyuga Daisuke was stunned.
Shinichi hadn't blocked every tenketsu like Hyuga would. But, he used a combination of Tenketsu and Keiketsu (nervous system) manipulation to limit muscle and chakra usage subtly.
"Oh? It's over already?"
Shinichi dropped from the tree branch with casual grace, tapping each child to unlock their chakra points
"??!!!!"
The group was awed– and a little unnerved.
Hyuga Daisuke couldn't hold back.
"Shinichi-sama! How do you know about tenketsu points? Do you have the Byakugan?!"
Shinichi tilted his head.
"Are my irises white?"
"…I meant– how did you–"
"Tenketsu points are the same in every human body. If you memorize their locations, you don't need to see them to strike."
"..."
The children were speechless.
'If it's that easy… then why does the Byakugan even exist?!"
They shook their head, humbled. They had thought themselves prodigies, until now.
And Sakumo? He was a monster in his own right.
The older leaders found new resolve to train harder
---
"Now that the Chief Leader is decided," Shinichi announced, "you can return to your games. Chief Leader, you'll oversee all games and can challenge me anytime. Leaders may challenge for Chief position at the end of each month."
He paused. Shinichi did not forget to provide certain 'motivation.'
"At the end of every six months, I'll take you to the top floor of Uchiha Gourmet Restaurant. Leaders can invite three guests. Chief leader can invite ten. Direct family – parents and siblings – are included."
Uchiha Aoto and Hatake Sakumo's eyes gleamed.
""Top floor…. Uchiha Gourmet… cooked by Uchiha Minami herself…""
Minami had earned the title Chef Goddess since the restaurant opened. Her culinary skills were legendary among the Uchiha and the few villagers brave enough to enter the compound.
""Uchiha Gourmet? Top floor?"" Senju Akimoto and Hyuga Daisuek were confused.
Aoto and Sakumo turned to them, eyes shining with greed.
""If you don't want your tickets. GIVE THEM TO US!""
Akimoto and Daisuke instinctively stepped back and exchanged glances.
'Whatever this is… it must be valuable.'
***
When June ended, Akimoto and Daisuke brought their families to Uchiha Gourmet.
The next day, their lives changed.
Their taste buds had been conquered, defeated by Uchiha Minami.
***
Uchiha Gourmet had been open for a year, but few villagers had visited. Only Uchiha clansmen and allied clans who experienced it frequented it.
It had four floors:
First Floor – simple affordable delicacies for all
Second Floor – chakra-enriched ingredients, simply prepared
Third Floor – Extravagant dishes, both chakra-rich and traditional
Top Floor – Custom dishes, personally cooked by Minami; open twice a week by reservation only.
Minami had trained several kunoichi chefs and staffing was no longer an issue.
The elders and Sosuke considered opening a branch in the village – but ultimately declined.
Instead, they opened the compound to villagers, sending a message:
That Uchiha are part of Konoha.
They hoped increased interaction would foster goodwill. And if villagers didn't come?
'Good. More room for us. Let the ignorant suffer in blandness."
But once Shinichi introduced the ticket system, everything changed.
More villagers entered the compound.
The tense atmosphere between the Uchiha and the village began to dissolve.
The shadow of surveillance still lingered – but it was fading.
And all of it began with a child's game.
***
The scroll trembled slightly in his hand.
Not from emotion, Tobirama Senju was far too disciplined for that. But the report he'd just read was… unexpected.
[Civilian traffic into the Uchiha compound has increased by 43% in the last two months.]
[Positive sentiments toward the Uchiha clan has risen among academy students and their families.]
[Uchiha Gourmet Restaurant cited as primary catalyst]
He set the scroll down and leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin.
"Food diplomacy…" he murmured.
It was unexpected and clever… too clever.
The Uchiha had always been powerful, but isolated. Their compound was a fortress, both physically and socially. Tobirama had spent years ensuring that their influence remained contained. Not out of hatred, but caution. The Uchiha were passionate, volatile, and dangerously gifted. Their Sharigan was not just a tool, it was a mirror to their emotions, and emotions were unpredictable.
But now?
Now they were feeding the village.
Literally.
Then–
Sarutobi Hiruzen entered the office, carrying another scroll.
"Sensei, more ticket request from academy students," he said. "Even the Nara and Yamanaka clans are asking for access."
Tobirama didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he asked, "Who initiated the ticket system?"
"Uchiha Shinichi," Hiruzen replied. "He's… unconventional. But the children admire him."
Tobirbama's eyes narrowed and muttered to himself in contemplation.
"Is this Fukashi's move? To cultivate his son into an influential figure in the future? Is he also looking far into the future…?"
Hiruzen hesitated, but still added, "He's also effective. The academy's discipline has improved. And he turned rivalries into cooperation. Even Hatake Sakumo is thriving under his guidance."
Tobirama stood and walked to the window, gazing out at the village.
"Keep watch over the academy," he said. " And the restaurant."
"But–"
"I'm not opposing it," Tobirama interrupted. "Yet. If the Uchiha are truly integrating, that's good. But if this is a façade, if they're building loyalty through taste and novelty, then we must be ready."
He turned back to Hiruzen.
"People forget that power doesn't always come from jutsu or raw strength. Sometimes, it comes in multiple forms; whether it is influence, admiration, or trust."
He picked up the scroll again.
"Uchiha Minami… Chef Goddess…"
Tobirama's lips twitched. Not quite a smile. But close. It was a nickname he'd least expected from Uchiha.
"Let them cook," he said. "Let them charm. But never forget that they are still Uchiha."
---
Just then, the door cracked open.
Senju Hashirama stepped in, his presence calm but commanding.
"I heard you were talking about the Uchiha again," he said, smiling faintly.
Tobirama didn't turn.
"They're gaining influence."
Hashirama walked to the desk and glanced at the scroll.
"Through food. Through kindness. And through children."
Tobirama's jaw tightened.
"You know what they're capable of ."
"I do," Hashirama said softly. "But I also know what they're capable of becoming."
Tobirama turned to face him, his brows creased in doubt.
"You think this is the beginning of unity?"
"I think it's the beginning of possibility."
Hashirama's voice was gentle, but firm.
"You can't change your nature, Tobirama. I know that. You'll always be cautious. Always be calculating. But don't let your fear of what they were blind you to what they could be."
Tobirama said nothing.
Hashirama placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I won't be here forever. And when I'm gone, you'll have to decide what kind of village you want to lead. One that watches its people with suspicion… or one that helps them grow."
He turned to leave.
"Just.. don't forget. Even the Uchiha deserve a chance to be part of something better."
The door closed behind him. Tobirama stared at the scroll.
Then, slowly, he folded it.
And placed it in the drawer while silently dismissing his student.