"Was that Senju Natsuhiko just now—the Commander of the ANBU?"
In a quiet corner of the yakiniku restaurant, Nara Shikaku leaned slightly forward and lowered his voice as he asked the question.
Sitting beside him, Yamanaka Inoichi also turned his gaze over, though there was a trace of unease and awkwardness in his expression.
Unlike Shikaku and Akimichi Chōza, who had little direct interaction with Natsuhiko, Inoichi had known him personally.
Back then, Natsuhiko hadn't yet become Commander—he hadn't even risen to the rank of division commander. Because of that, Inoichi's understanding of him had been unusually thorough, and they had even dealt with each other face-to-face.
And it was precisely because of that encounter that Inoichi couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of discomfort.
After all, he had once attempted to probe Natsuhiko's mind, trying to subtly guide him into revealing secrets.
Even if that mission had been ordered by Hiruzen, it didn't change the fact that he himself had crossed a line.
He had shared this matter quietly and discreetly with Shikaku and Chōza. Their solution had been simple: the three clans would collectively send members into the ANBU.
In their eyes, Natsuhiko stood firmly behind Minato. Supporting him was, in essence, supporting Minato—and at the same time, it served as a gesture of goodwill, a way to ease tensions between them and Natsuhiko.
Whether it had actually worked, however—whether Natsuhiko's opinion of them had softened at all—was impossible to say.
Still, it was better than doing nothing, better than sitting idly by and letting others dictate the outcome.
Passivity was never desirable. Even when circumstances forced one into it, there had to be some effort to regain initiative.
And this was their attempt.
Especially since the three clans had acted together—sending personnel as a united front—it also carried a subtle message: they were not divided, and they were not to be taken lightly.
"Yes," Chōza nodded, dropping heavily into his seat. "That was the new Commander. He's here for a meal. Want to guess who invited him?"
"How would I know?" Shikaku shrugged casually, his tone relaxed in the presence of old friends. "I'm not exactly close to him, and I don't have that kind of detailed intel."
"It's the Uchiha," Chōza said, lowering his voice as he leaned in slightly.
"I saw one of their elders earlier. Didn't expect him to bring his granddaughter to meet Commander Natsuhiko. Apparently, she's his classmate—and Natsuhiko himself acknowledged the meeting."
"The Uchiha?"
Both Shikaku and Inoichi froze for a moment. Then, almost instinctively, their gazes sharpened as they scanned their surroundings.
An Uchiha elder meeting with the head of the ANBU—this was anything but ordinary.
The Uchiha clan's position within Konoha had always been… delicate.
Everyone pretended not to notice, but those who had carved out a place for themselves in the murky upper circles of the village were far from blind—or foolish.
They knew exactly what the situation was.
And for the ANBU—directly under the Hokage—to be meeting with the Uchiha like this…
It was difficult to believe this was just a casual encounter. There were almost certainly deeper implications, unseen layers beneath the surface.
Even more so if, as it seemed, this connection had existed for some time already.
At that thought, both men grew even more cautious, their eyes subtly sweeping across the restaurant.
The ANBU were invisible by nature.
Even members from their own clans who had joined the ANBU would remain tight-lipped, never revealing a single detail.
And rightly so—no one dared to ask.
If anything leaked, the consequences wouldn't fall on just one individual. Entire families could be dragged down with them.
They were all intelligent men. They knew exactly where the line was—and why it should never be crossed.
Still, given their positions, they inevitably had dealings with the ANBU. Inoichi, in particular, had more frequent contact than most.
Because of that, they had a rough understanding of how the organization operated.
And it made one unsettling possibility linger in their minds:
What if every seemingly ordinary diner in this restaurant… was actually ANBU?
If that were the case, then even the slightest careless remark could invite disaster.
After all, while the ANBU and Root were not the same, there was very little that Root could do that the ANBU couldn't.
And this Commander… he was no soft-hearted leader.
"You two are being way too cautious," Chōza said, shaking his head with a helpless sigh as he watched them.
"In truth, I think you can relax a little," Chōza said, scratching his cheek before lowering his voice. "I noticed they set up a sealing barrier just now. If nothing else, it means they don't want anyone overhearing them."
"Is that so?" Shikaku nodded slightly, though Inoichi remained tense, his caution clearly not so easily dispelled.
"I see…" Shikaku suddenly smiled, a faint glint of understanding flashing in his eyes. "It seems Commander Natsuhiko isn't worried about being noticed today. After all, he's already had some level of contact with the Uchiha before, hasn't he?"
"That may be true," Inoichi replied slowly, choosing his words with care, "but until now it was only speculation. There was no concrete proof."
Even as he said it, he knew he believed the same thing.
"This time, though, he's made the move openly… and yet, no one really knows what his true objective is."
"I think it's better if we don't try to guess his intentions at all," Shikaku said, his tone calm and measured, the smile still lingering at the corners of his lips. "The moment you overcomplicate things, the outcome rarely turns out well."
He paused briefly before continuing, his voice lowering just enough to remain private.
"And if the ANBU really decided to clear this place out, I doubt they'd let any of us stay—owner or not, Chōza."
Chōza gave a helpless shrug but didn't argue.
"So don't overthink it," Shikaku concluded. "Treat everything as normal. That's enough."
He had already sorted through the matter in his mind.
On the surface, it was undeniably strange—a member of the Senju clan reaching out to the Uchiha. No matter how one looked at it, the optics were unusual.
But when he considered the broader picture, it made a certain kind of sense.
Behind Natsuhiko stood the Fourth Hokage. And from that perspective, reaching out to and attempting to draw in the various clans was nothing more than standard political maneuvering.
Of course, there was one thought Shikaku chose not to voice aloud:
If Natsuhiko's attention was focused on the Uchiha, then that was far better than having it turned toward them.
"…So we proceed as usual?" Inoichi asked after a brief silence, his trust in Shikaku evident despite his lingering unease.
"Of course," Shikaku nodded with a faint chuckle, lifting his cup of sake and taking a slow sip. "Besides, I imagine Commander Natsuhiko has more pressing matters to deal with right now."
"The Uchiha?" Inoichi caught on immediately. Sharp as ever, he didn't need further explanation. "Yes… they are the priority."
"We'll just have to see how capable our Commander really is," Shikaku said as he set his cup down, the trace of a smile fading into something more thoughtful. "If necessary… perhaps we can lend the Fourth Hokage a hand."
His phrasing was deliberately vague.
After all, helping the Fourth Hokage was, for all practical purposes, the same as helping Natsuhiko—at least for now.
As the head of Konoha's administrative department, Shikaku understood the balance of power better than most.
In terms of scale and importance, his department could even rival the ANBU.
But when it came to authority and raw force… there was no comparison.
The ANBU held the upper hand, overwhelmingly so.
And now, with the ANBU undergoing expansion, their strength would only grow further—perhaps even doubling in size.
More importantly, that entire force stood firmly behind the Fourth Hokage.
That alone was a decisive advantage.
Hokage would change over time—that was inevitable.
The real question was how to ensure that, no matter who sat in that seat, one's clan could survive and remain unaffected by the shifting tides of power.
That was what truly mattered.
And from what Shikaku could infer, the Uchiha's situation was far from stable.
The recent developments within the Police Force made that abundantly clear—one division opening its doors while the others distanced themselves. Such division within a clan was never a good sign.
In fact, it was often the beginning of something far worse.
Internal fracture could easily spiral into complete collapse.
Shikaku's thoughts ran deeper still.
When had this decision begun? And more importantly… had the Third Hokage played a role in it?
After all, without his approval, such changes would have been nearly impossible to implement.
And if he had approved it… then the reasoning was likely simple:
Encourage division within the Uchiha, let them weaken themselves from the inside, and in doing so, reduce the threat they posed.
From Konoha's perspective, it was an effective strategy.
But from the perspective of the Fourth Hokage…
That was another matter entirely.
The Fourth and the Third were fundamentally different—something everyone understood, even if no one said it outright.
For the Fourth Hokage, drawing in a unified and intact clan would only strengthen his own position.
And that… was a far more advantageous outcome.
At the very least, they had to ensure that those Uchiha willing to lean toward Konoha would stand on his side.
And so, Natsuhiko had begun reaching out to them—offering support, guiding them step by step, showing them how to move forward.
In Nara Shikaku's mind, it was entirely possible that Natsuhiko had already gone so far as to prepare for helping them complete a shift in power within their own clan.
If that's really the case… then things are about to get interesting, Shikaku thought, setting down his cup of sake as a faint smile touched his lips. Maybe I can find a subtle way to give them a push.
Despite the storm of calculations running through his mind, his expression remained as calm as ever.
This wasn't something to speak of lightly. And even if he were to help, it would have to be done in a way that escaped the Third Hokage's notice, yet was obvious enough for Natsuhiko to recognize.
Or better yet… it would have to come from within the Police Force itself—so that the Uchiha would be the ones conveying that they had received assistance.
That would be more difficult.
But to Shikaku, difficulty was never the problem.
"Tell me," he said suddenly, idly rubbing his chin as if the thought had just occurred to him, "what do you think that Uchiha elder wants with Commander Natsuhiko this time?"
"I'll make a bet," he added with a faint grin. "It's about the Police Force."
"Tch, betting with you is pointless," Akimichi Chōza grumbled, shaking his head in annoyance. "You always win. Ever since we were kids—it's no fun at all."
"Exactly," Yamanaka Inoichi chimed in, a small smile finally breaking through his earlier tension. "So just say it already. Otherwise, I might mention to your wife those little things you've been hiding in your living room—"
"Cough, cough, cough, cough!"
Shikaku nearly choked, cutting him off immediately before glaring at him in irritation.
"You're unbelievable," he muttered. "Fine, I admit it. It's about the Police Force… but not just that."
And he was right.
The troubles Uchiha Shin was facing went far beyond the Police Force alone.
That issue alone was already enough to give him a splitting headache, but the internal conflicts within the clan were just as crippling, binding his hands at every turn.
More importantly, the Fourth Hokage wasn't in Konoha at the moment, which meant Shin lacked any meaningful political backing.
Without that support, recruiting new members into the Police Force had proven extremely difficult.
After all, the Force's reputation among the villagers had long been poor. To most civilians, the Uchiha were a single, unified entity—they had no insight into the divisions within the clan.
Civilian shinobi were hesitant to join.
Clan shinobi were no different—they couldn't tell whether the Uchiha had suddenly lost their minds or if they were acting under some hidden directive.
No one dared to make a move lightly. Everyone understood that choosing the wrong side could be disastrous.
As a result, despite opening recruitment, they had gained very few new members.
And then there was the matter of the clan itself.
After that fateful clan meeting, Uchiha Shin had effectively broken ties with the rest—including the clan head.
Such a split was both shocking and deeply unsettling.
Even those who had once been considered moderates no longer dared to support him unconditionally.
It could be said that Shin's current position was… precarious, to say the least.
He wanted to free himself from reliance on Natsuhiko. He wanted to avoid being controlled.
But reality left him little choice.
Sometimes, compromise wasn't a matter of preference—it was a matter of survival.
Natsuhiko had opened a door for him, planting a seed of possibility and setting him on a path he had never even imagined before.
But that path was anything but easy.
If anything, the dangers and hardships it held far exceeded anything Shin had anticipated.
"Elder Shin," Natsuhiko finally spoke, only after the last of the dishes had been served and the staff had completely withdrawn beyond the soundproof barrier. His tone was calm, almost casual.
"The recent developments within the Uchiha have been… quite interesting."
He picked up his chopsticks, his expression carrying a faint, unreadable smile.
"Opening up a division of the Police Force to civilian shinobi—one could say you've returned to its original purpose. Your awareness and resolve are truly admirable."
"Commander Natsuhiko…"
Shin looked at him carefully, a hint of unease creeping into his gaze.
Outwardly, he had maintained a firm and resolute front these past days—but inwardly, he had been under immense pressure.
Right now, he couldn't help but wonder…
Was this praise genuine?
Or was it mockery?
Because the truth was, things hadn't gone well at all.
"However," Natsuhiko continued, his tone shifting ever so slightly, "I do have a somewhat different perspective on this matter."
Just as Uchiha Shin's thoughts were tangled in anxiety, Natsuhiko spoke again, his tone calm and almost teasing.
"I wonder, Elder Shin… would you be willing to hear a bit of my rambling?"
"How could your words possibly be considered rambling, Commander Natsuhiko?"
The moment he heard that, Shin felt a subtle sense of relief settle in his chest.
Rambling? That was impossible.
If Natsuhiko were truly speaking nonsense, he wouldn't have allowed Shin's granddaughter into the ANBU, nor would he have begun recruiting Uchiha shinobi into its ranks.
To Shin, this phrasing was nothing more than a courtesy—a way of giving him face.
After all, Sora was present, and Natsuhiko clearly held a great deal of trust in her, even if Shin himself didn't know exactly what she did within the ANBU.
"In that case," Natsuhiko nodded lightly, "I'll briefly share my personal thoughts."
He tapped his fingers gently against the table, glancing at Sora and Renge, who had already begun grilling the meat, before continuing at an unhurried pace.
"Elder Shin's approach is indeed forward-thinking. Opening things up like this allows the Uchiha to retain control of the Police Force while also seeking ways to reintegrate into Konoha."
He paused slightly, his gaze steady.
"However… at times, your methods may require a bit more flexibility."
"Flexibility?" Shin repeated, raising a brow as he fell into thought.
Was his approach too aggressive?
Or had he simply failed to consider alternative angles, making his actions appear too rigid?
Before he could reach a conclusion, Renge spoke up, casually turning the meat over on the grill.
"When Natsuhiko says 'flexibility,' he likely means adaptability as well," she said with a faint smile. "I think Sora understands this too."
"Sora?"
Shin turned toward his granddaughter, momentarily puzzled. He hadn't discussed the purpose of this meeting with her beforehand.
Could it be that Natsuhiko had already anticipated everything—and even communicated with her in advance?
But that didn't seem quite right.
At first, Sora looked just as uncertain as he felt. Yet within moments, that confusion gave way to contemplation… and then to quiet confidence.
Shin watched the transformation closely.
The granddaughter who once needed to subtly seek his guidance had changed—far more than he had realized.
"I think I understand," Sora said at last, nodding gently as she met her grandfather's gaze with a calm smile.
"In truth, Natsuhiko's meaning is quite simple… Grandpa, you've been following the rules too strictly."
"Too strictly?" Shin froze, then seemed to grasp something. "You mean—"
"Natsuhiko has said this before," Sora continued, not giving him time to finish. She flipped another piece of meat as she spoke, her voice soft yet steady.
"Following rules is a good thing. It keeps us from becoming reckless or unrestrained."
She paused briefly, then added:
"But there are times when following them too rigidly becomes a cage."
Her words were calm, but each one carried weight.
"In certain situations, we can take advantage of the gaps within the rules—or even break them—if it serves a greater good."
She looked directly at him now.
"What you're trying to do benefits both the clan and the village. It helps the Uchiha reintegrate into Konoha, and it allows Konoha to regain the strength of the Uchiha and the Police Force."
"So if strict adherence to rules only creates obstacles… then that, in itself, becomes a problem."
Shin stared at her, momentarily at a loss.
Even if she was echoing Natsuhiko's ideas, the fact that she could articulate them so clearly spoke volumes about her growth.
She still appeared gentle, composed, and far from the radical tendencies of some within the clan.
But beneath that calm surface, something had changed.
Her perspective had broadened. Her thoughts had deepened.
The ANBU… truly was a place that forged people.
"Then tell me," Shin said at last, his voice quieter now, almost testing. "What would you do?"
If nothing else, he wanted to see just how far she had come.
Sora didn't hesitate.
"Renge," she said, turning slightly, "based on ANBU intelligence… your clan is currently divided, isn't it?"
"And there are quite a few people whose surnames aren't Senju, right?"
Sora turned her head toward Renge. They had worked together for a long time now, long enough to build a quiet understanding between them that needed no explanation.
"Yes," Renge replied calmly. "There are quite a number of such clan members. They're still operating as mission ninjas and haven't taken positions in the ANBU or any other departments."
Sora gave a faint nod. Her voice remained as cool and distant as ever, yet her attitude was unmistakably cooperative.
By this point, Natsuhiko already understood everything.
Put simply, this was a staged performance—one that would also allow him to extend his influence into the Police Force.
They would send in a group of ninjas who appeared to be civilians, but were in fact affiliated with the Senju clan, placing them within the Police Force. To outsiders, it would look as though the Uchiha had begun recruiting civilian shinobi in earnest, giving the impression of reform and openness.
At the same time, these people could quietly form a hidden force within the organization, subtly tightening control from the inside.
And the most troublesome part was that he had no real way to refuse.
Whether this idea had been conceived by Natsuhiko and spoken through Sora, or whether it had always been her intention, didn't matter. The proposal was simply too tempting—and more importantly, it solved his most urgent problem.
"However, these people all have their own duties to attend to."
Natsuhiko suddenly spoke, glancing at the grill as the rich aroma of roasting meat began to fill the air. A faint smile touched his lips.
"So I can't give you too many. If I did, it would look deliberate—unnatural. What we need is just a signal. A single example. With the right amount of publicity, that will be enough."
"I see…"
Uchiha Shin felt a flush of heat creep onto his face. Just moments ago, he had been wondering if Natsuhiko intended to take control of the Police Force outright. Now it seemed that wasn't truly his aim—at least, not for the time being.
Of course, perhaps that was only because the gap between the ANBU and the struggling Police Force was far too great. Maybe in the future, things would be different. But if the current problems couldn't be resolved, there might never even be a future that could attract the Commander's attention.
"I understand."
After a brief pause, Uchiha Shin nodded firmly.
"Then I'll extend sincere invitations to a number of civilian shinobi—especially those recognized by Commander Natsuhiko."
"Besides that," Natsuhiko continued, "you'll need to be a bit ruthless as well."
As he spoke, he picked up his chopsticks and casually served grilled meat to Shin, Sora, and Renge before continuing with an easy smile.
"The voices within your clan can be quite troublesome. But when necessary, silencing them is inevitable. If even your thoughts cannot be unified, you won't be able to accomplish anything significant.
"And once unity of thought is achieved, you'll need a clear plan of action. You must tell your people what you intend to do, why you're doing it, and what they stand to gain in the end.
"Of course, when you act ruthlessly, there are things you must keep in mind. First—never expose yourself. Otherwise, it will bring you trouble in the future.
"That's why I think Elder Shin should handle such matters personally. The fewer people who know, the less risk of exposure.
"At the same time, don't go too far. Your clansmen are your greatest support—and in the future, they'll be our most valuable allies.
"So the ones you should deal with are those who mislead the ignorant, who plant dangerous ideas and stir extremism among your people.
"On the battlefield, decapitating the enemy leadership is often the most effective tactic. It crushes morale and shatters their will. After all, many of them don't even know why they're fighting in the first place.
"And finally," Natsuhiko added, his gaze sharpening slightly, "I imagine there are dissenting voices even among those who stand with you.
"In that case, be decisive. Let them speak—and then deal with them. Whether through pressure or persuasion… that's for you to decide, Elder Shin."
At that point, Natsuhiko fell silent.
His gaze swept over Uchiha Shin, who was visibly trembling now, his face pale as a sheen of cold sweat formed along his brow. Natsuhiko couldn't help but shake his head slightly.
Trying to accomplish anything without unifying one's ideology… acting without even establishing a clear plan—how could that ever lead to results?
And once a decision had been made, hesitation had no place. When the time came to be ruthless, one had to follow through without wavering.
Of course, ruthlessness required discernment. Some people needed to be won over, while others had to be eliminated entirely.
Natsuhiko couldn't help but feel a trace of gratitude for the education he had received in his previous life. He also vividly remembered an event from a nation across the ocean—a so-called land of freedom. The Black civil rights leader who once declared, "I have a dream," had ultimately been assassinated precisely because he could serve as a unifying figure, a leader of thought.
Just imagine it—during moments of unrest, he could calm the masses, urging them to put on suits and pursue change through peaceful means. But viewed from another angle… if peace failed, wouldn't that same man be capable of asking them to cast aside those suits and take up arms instead?
There was another example as well—one that had, over time, become little more than a symbolic mascot in Hollywood: the Black Panther Party.
As Natsuhiko recalled, in its early days, it had been an organization with unified ideology and a clear course of action. But somewhere along the line, something fractured within. Their beliefs splintered, and unity became impossible.
Without that unity, their guiding principles faded. Step by step, they lost their direction, until they became an organization that posed no real threat—eventually reduced to a caricature on the big screen.
Examples like these were countless. Perhaps that was precisely why some countries avoided teaching politics altogether.
After all, such knowledge had another, more evocative name—the art of slaying dragons.
Natsuhiko calmly picked up a slice of grilled meat and placed it into his mouth, the rich, savory flavor instantly spreading across his tongue.
He had to admit, the Akimichi clan's yakiniku restaurant was truly excellent. He had tried it before, and even now, he found himself genuinely enjoying it.
"I understand…" After a long pause, Uchiha Shin finally nodded, his voice low. "I'll… I'll do my best to carry this out."
Natsuhiko let out a faint sigh, lightly tapping the table once more.
"Elder Shin, making such a decision should require resolve," he said, his tone measured. "And yet you say you'll do your best? That leaves room for hesitation… are you keeping a way out for yourself?"
"Of course not!" Shin clenched his teeth, his voice tightening. "I will give it everything I have!"
"Good. Then I'll look forward to hearing good news from you." Natsuhiko smiled again, though there was a sharpness behind it. "After all, everything depends on action. Now that you've taken this step, you must be prepared to change."
Shin nodded silently this time, saying nothing as he sank into thought, carefully turning over every word Natsuhiko had spoken.
Meanwhile, Sora quietly placed some grilled meat onto her grandfather's plate. She wanted to say something, yet found herself unable to speak.
Since joining the ANBU, she had learned far too much—seen far too much.
Especially as Natsuhiko's personal secretary, she and Renge had access to nearly all of the ANBU's secrets. And through that access, she had come to understand just how dark this world truly was.
It hadn't shattered her entirely… but it had changed her.
Now, however, her heart was steady.
Because she understood—her grandfather had made his choice.
And for something like this, if one couldn't harden their resolve… the outcome would never be anything but disastrous.
Although Natsuhiko's words had been harsh, they were, in the end, meant to help her grandfather.
Of course, Sora couldn't be certain whether he had other motives hidden beneath the surface. But one thing she understood clearly—without Natsuhiko's support, the Uchiha clan might truly be headed toward disaster.
After all, from what she had seen within the ANBU, the measures taken against the Uchiha—and the evaluations of them—were overwhelmingly negative.
"By the way, Natsuhiko-kun…"
After a long while, Uchiha Shin seemed to steady himself. He lifted his head and spoke in a low voice, hesitation lingering in his tone.
"If… former comrades who once stood by my side refuse to cooperate for various reasons… if they begin to oppose me, and I find myself unable to act against them easily…"
He paused, his expression tightening.
"More importantly, I don't want to be ruthless toward those who once fought alongside me. In a situation like that… what should I do?"
"That's certainly a difficult situation," Natsuhiko replied, nodding slightly. "In the end, a person who values old bonds is often the kind others are more willing to follow."
There was truth in that.
At times, showing restraint toward those one could eliminate—but chose not to—helped cultivate an image of loyalty and humanity, making subordinates more willing to respect and follow such a leader.
Of course, that was a cold, purely pragmatic way of looking at things.
From a more human perspective, it was simply difficult to raise one's hand against certain people.
Even Natsuhiko himself knew that well. No matter what happened, he could never bring himself to harm Senju Shoma—the man who had once taken care of him. Even if Shoma truly angered him, the most he could do would be to let him go his own way, to grant him his freedom.
With that thought in mind, Natsuhiko was about to offer his answer.
But before he could speak, a sudden commotion broke out within the yakiniku restaurant.
The noise drew the attention of everyone at their table, and they all turned to look.
As Natsuhiko caught sight of what was causing the disturbance, a faint smile slowly formed on his lips.
"In fact, what you need to do is quite simple, Elder Shin. It's not even that difficult."
He tapped the table lightly, his gaze still fixed on the source of the commotion.
"How so, Natsuhiko-kun?" Shin asked, glancing in the same direction, a hint of confusion crossing his face.
"I've been doing something similar myself," Natsuhiko said, the smile on his face growing brighter. "And it seems to be working quite well, so…"
He let the words hang for a moment before continuing softly,
"Watch carefully. Listen closely. You'll understand soon enough."
...
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