Inside Uchiha territory.
Silver moonlight poured down like a layer of fine silk had been spread across the ground.
Chiya stood with his hands behind his back. His black hair stirred faintly in the night breeze.
His deep eyes looked toward the far end of the street.
Before long, a figure appeared hazily at the end of the road.
The approaching footsteps were steady and firm.
"Clan Head?"
Uchiha Fugaku, on his way home, happened to look up and saw Chiya standing there alone. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
"What brings you here? Were you waiting for me?"
Chiya smiled at him and said evenly.
"The Sunagakure envoy team, who exactly is in it?"
Fugaku paused slightly, then understood, and lowered his voice.
"According to Anbu intelligence, the main envoys are Suna, Teishi, Pakura."
"Pakura?"
Chiya's eyebrow lifted.
"Scorch Style Pakura?"
Fugaku nodded.
"One of Sunagakure's rising elite, a trusted subordinate of the Third Kazekage. Her Kekkei Genkai, Scorch Style, can instantly evaporate the moisture inside an enemy's body. She is an extremely dangerous individual."
A trace of interest flickered in Chiya's eyes.
In the original story, this kunoichi with the exposed-back design was sold out by Sunagakure and died a miserable death caught in a scheme.
He had not expected her to show up in Konoha now as an envoy.
"Interesting."
Chiya let out a quiet laugh.
"It seems this round of negotiations will not be boring."
Fugaku hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
"Clan Head, the fact that the Third suddenly called for these talks may be an attempt to pressure the major clans and force us to back down and agree to his terms."
"Back down?"
Chiya let out a cold laugh.
He understood the Third's games perfectly well.
This diplomatic situation was being used as a political chip, plain and simple. A way to get the major clans to fall in line again and probe where everyone stood.
"He is dreaming."
"Konoha right now has only just put the Danzo matter to rest. Every major clan is already watching and waiting. Did you not notice today that the Hyuga Clan Head was openly pushing back against the Third? Trying to force the clans to pick sides at a time like this is a foolish move."
Uchiha Fugaku nodded.
Thinking back to the moment when the Hyuga Clan Head had stood up and openly objected, even he had been taken aback.
"The Third at this point can only speak for those within his own circle, for the Hokage's faction. He does not speak for all of Konoha."
Chiya's words left Fugaku standing there in silence.
The Third Hokage could not speak for all of Konoha?
Chiya did not bother to explain further.
He stepped forward and clapped Fugaku on the shoulder.
"The Third's scheme fell apart this time, and it made him look rather awkward on top of it. But for us, for the Uchiha, that is a good thing. With the other clans drawing the Hokage faction's attention, they will not be able to drag us down so easily."
Chiya looked Fugaku over, and the thought of the training grounds came to mind. He felt compelled to mention it.
"By the way."
"You may be an advisor to the Hokage now, but you absolutely cannot let your own training slip. Never forget. The only truth that matters in this world is the range of one's jutsu. Strengthening yourself is the key to us, the Uchiha, being able to hold our place when the tides of the era shift."
Fugaku's expression sharpened. He gave a firm nod.
"Understood."
Chiya finished, patted him on the shoulder, and his tone softened.
"Fugaku, the Uchiha's greatness will not end here."
"One day, the name of the Uchiha will ring out across the entire ninja world again."
Fugaku's pupils contracted slightly. His breathing quickened without him realizing it.
He dropped to one knee, his voice low and resolute.
"I, Uchiha Fugaku, swear to follow the Clan Head with my life."
Chiya nodded with satisfaction and turned to leave.
His figure gradually dissolved into the night.
Fugaku watched the direction he had gone and slowly closed his fist.
"For the future of the Uchiha, I will train twice as hard tomorrow."
The following morning, Chiya had barely stepped into the Military Police Force Headquarters when an Anbu ninja appeared in a flash.
"Uchiha Clan Head, the Hokage requests your presence."
Chiya glanced at him and said casually.
"Another meeting? Did we not just finish one yesterday?"
The Anbu bowed its head.
"The Sunagakure envoy team formally submitted a request for negotiations this morning. The Hokage hopes you will attend."
Something clicked in Chiya's eyes.
'So it is the negotiations.'
"Fine. Lead the way."
He turned to Mikoto and said.
"Handle today's documents for me. If anything urgent comes up, have Tekkai come find me."
Mikoto nodded obediently.
"Do not worry, Chiya-nii."
Chiya followed the Anbu and left.
A few minutes later, the Hokage Building, reception hall.
The moment Chiya pushed open the door and stepped inside, a row of eyes snapped toward him.
On Konoha's side, the Third Hokage sat at the head position. Homura and Koharu flanked him on either side. Hyuga Sakusei, Hatake Sakumo, and the other representatives were already seated.
Across from them, the Sunagakure envoy delegation sat upright and composed.
Chiya's gaze went immediately to the kunoichi with two strands of orange hair framing her forehead protector.
Pakura.
Around sixteen or seventeen, fine-featured, but with a sharp killing edge in her expression.
At that moment she was studying Chiya with a measuring look. Beyond the curiosity in her eyes was a glimmer of barely contained fighting spirit.
"Uchiha Clan Head, please take a seat."
The Third's voice cut through the brief silence.
Chiya pulled his gaze back and walked without ceremony to the Konoha side, sitting directly across from Pakura.
"Everyone, this is the head of the Uchiha Clan, Chiya."
The Third introduced him to the Suna-nin.
"He will also be representing Konoha in today's negotiations."
The lead envoy from Sunagakure, Suna, narrowed his eyes slightly.
"We have long heard that the Uchiha Clan Head is talented beyond his years. Seeing you in person today, the reputation is well earned."
Chiya smiled faintly.
"You can skip the pleasantries. Let's get to the point."
Suna's expression stiffened. He had clearly not expected Chiya to show so little regard for the niceties.
But Pakura cut in abruptly.
"The Uchiha Clan Head is direct. I like that."
Her voice was cool and clear.
"Then we will say it plainly. Sunagakure demands the unconditional release of all prisoners of war."
The room went silent in an instant.
Chiya leaned back in his chair, his expression halfway between a smile and something else entirely.
"Unconditional?"
"That is correct."
Suna picked up the thread.
"The war is over. Continuing to hold Suna-nin captive will only damage the peace between our two nations."
"Peace?"
Chiya let out a cold laugh immediately.
"Did Sunagakure give any thought to peace when they launched a surprise attack on Konoha's borders?"
Suna's expression darkened.
"That was a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding?"
Chiya looked at him with open contempt.
"A misunderstanding that killed over a thousand people?"
The Suna side fell into silence.
Pakura slammed her palm on the table and stood.
"What exactly does Konoha want?!"
Her chakra stirred beneath the surface, and the air around her seemed to grow drier in an instant.
Chiya watched her with an interested expression.
"Scorch Style Pakura. Do not rush. First hear what Konoha is willing to offer."
Pakura paused, clearly not having expected Chiya to know her name.
"Konoha's terms are simple."
Chiya held up three fingers.
"First, Sunagakure must formally submit a letter of defeat to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire."
"Second, Sunagakure must compensate Konoha for its war losses, totaling four hundred million ryo."
"Third, Sunagakure must cede three mining sites along the border of the Land of Wind."
"Impossible!"
Suna roared.
"You are asking for the sky."
Chiya did not move.
"Then we keep your ninja right where they are. But keep this in mind. Prisoners die every day. For every day you wait, several more of your comrades will be dead."
He glanced at Pakura and let the implication settle.
"Or you could always try taking them back by force."
Pakura's pupils contracted sharply.
The atmosphere in the room turned razor-thin in an instant.
The Third cleared his throat lightly, attempting to ease the tension.
"Everyone, let us stay calm."
"Hokage."
Chiya cut him off.
"You know better than anyone how many people Konoha lost in that war."
His Sharingan appeared slowly.
The three tomoe rotated gently, carrying a light that reached into a person's very core.
"If even the victors must bow and scrape, then what exactly did we fight that war for?"
The Third had no answer.
Pakura stared hard at Chiya, then said abruptly.
"Uchiha Clan Head, I have heard you are very strong."
"How about a wager?"
"Oh?"
Chiya raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of wager?"
Fighting spirit ignited in Pakura's eyes.
"One on one. If I win, Konoha releases the prisoners."
"If I lose."
She gritted her teeth.
"Sunagakure accepts one of the conditions."
Suna was alarmed.
"Pakura, are you out of your mind? This man is that Uchiha. There is no reason to take this risk."
Pakura had heard the name Uchiha Chiya plenty of times back in Sunagakure.
But as a kunoichi with a Kekkei Genkai, she had her own confidence.
She ignored him and kept her eyes fixed on Chiya.
"Do you dare?"
The room stirred with noise.
The Third frowned.
"This is not proper procedure."
"These terms are things Sunagakure owes Konoha regardless. Why would I gamble on what is already ours?"
Chiya sat exactly where he was, steady as a mountain, completely unmoved.
"You do not dare. Or are you afraid you will lose?"
Pakura's eyes blazed at him.
"Provocation does not work on me. I am not very good at playing along with children."
Chiya glanced at her.
"Playing along with children??"
Pakura realized what he had just implied, and her face went red with fury.
She glared at Chiya, puffed up with indignation.
"Uchiha Chiya."
"You."
Before she could challenge him again, Chiya shook his head gently and said quietly.
"What noise."
The words had barely left his mouth when Pakura's body stiffened and she froze completely where she stood.
"Pakura?"
Suna noticed something was off with her and looked up sharply.
He saw her blank, glassy stare, and alarm shot through him.
"Genjutsu?!"
Every pair of eyes in the room turned to Uchiha Chiya.