Inside a spacious tatami room, the faint fragrance of freshly brewed green tea drifted through the air, mingling with an atmosphere of quiet solemnity.
Uchiha Mikoto knelt at the seat of honor.
She wore a deep-purple Uchiha clan robe, her long hair neatly tied behind her head, revealing a smooth forehead and elegant neck.
Her expression was calm, her eyes clear and focused.
The soft, girlish warmth she had shown before Anlan the night before was gone.
In its place was a composed, capable authority.
Seated on either side of her were the participants of the meeting.
At her left sat her capable assistant, Uchiha Hazuki.
Next to her was Uchiha Yashiro, representing the hawk faction, his posture upright and sharp.
Across from them sat Uchiha Fugaku, the one who had previously controlled the clan head faction's intelligence network, his face serious.
Beside Fugaku sat a young man with a slightly gloomy temperament and piercing eyes—
Uchiha Yakumi.
"Everyone."
Mikoto looked around the room.
Under the respectful gazes of Hazuki and Yashiro, and the steady eyes of Fugaku and Yakumi, she began speaking.
"You all know why you were called here."
"According to the joint decision of the Clan Head and Elders Setsuna and Hokage, starting today…"
"All intelligence networks under the Uchiha clan will be integrated and unified."
"I will take overall command."
At the final sentence, her gaze fell directly on Fugaku.
The meaning was obvious.
The hawk and dove faction leaders had already aligned with each other.
The only "outsiders" in the room were the two members of the clan-head faction.
Fugaku, who had prepared beforehand, met her gaze and nodded calmly.
"The Clan Head has already delivered the order to me."
"The personnel lists, contact methods, and recent intelligence summaries under my control…"
He placed a sealed scroll neatly on the table.
"…are all here."
His movement was decisive and without hesitation.
Though he knew he had fallen behind the dazzling newcomer in shaping the clan's future, and though a trace of unwillingness lingered in his heart—
When executing a clan decision, he displayed the discipline expected of an elite.
"Thank you, Fugaku-nii."
Mikoto nodded slightly.
Hazuki immediately stepped forward and respectfully collected the scroll.
Mikoto continued in a clear, methodical tone.
"Integration is not simply stacking networks together."
"Hazuki, you will coordinate with Fugaku-nii."
"Review the existing structure, remove redundant nodes, and evaluate personnel efficiency."
"I want to see a preliminary integration plan within three days."
"Yes, Lady Mikoto."
Hazuki responded immediately.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Yashiro."
Mikoto turned to the other side.
"I'm here."
"You will reorganize all external communication channels and confirm their security."
"Especially the intelligence routes across border regions and our hidden agents in the towns throughout the Land of Fire."
"Ensure every line remains intact."
"Understood!"
Yashiro nodded firmly.
For this woman—normally dignified and graceful but commanding during work—
the future wife of the clan leader—
he held absolute respect.
Mikoto's gaze swept across the room again.
This time, her expression sharpened.
"Last night, several suspicious ninja appeared around the clan compound."
"I'm sure everyone here knows what that means."
Everyone nodded silently.
They all understood what had happened.
It was both surveillance and warning from Konoha's leadership.
Which meant the clan needed a unified response.
They could not allow one faction to capture the spies while another faction apologized for it.
That would make the clan look schizophrenic.
At this early stage of integration, resolving matters through collective agreement was essential.
Of course—
Everyone still had their own temper.
Mikoto's gaze then moved to Yakumi.
Her voice turned colder.
"Yakumi."
"From now on, you will oversee counter-surveillance of Konoha's leadership."
"Whether it's Mitokado Homura currently in the capital…"
"Or the advisors and the Third Hokage in the Hokage Tower."
"At the very least, we must know their movements."
Yakumi lifted his eyes and looked at Mikoto.
Then he bowed his head.
"As you command, Lady Mikoto."
He understood exactly what such surveillance meant.
At its most extreme outcome—
It would lead to the decapitation strategy Anlan had proposed during the clan meeting.
But if Konoha could spy on the Uchiha…
Yet the Uchiha were not allowed to retaliate—
Was that reasonable?
Of course not.
Was it radical?
No.
It was simply very Uchiha.
With a stronger superior now leading them, Yakumi felt far less suppressed.
He loved the Uchiha clan.
But that didn't mean he wanted to see them treated like dogs.
Fugaku remained silent beside him.
With the arrangements complete, Mikoto's tone softened slightly.
"The clan stands at a critical moment."
"Intelligence will be our eyes and ears in the coming negotiations with the Hokage."
"And on future battlefields."
"You are all indispensable elites of the clan."
"I hope we can work together."
"To make these eyes sharper…"
"And these ears keener."
"For the Uchiha."
Yashiro spoke first, his voice deep.
"For the Uchiha!"
"For the Uchiha!"
Hazuki and Yakumi echoed.
Fugaku looked at Mikoto seated at the head.
In only a few moments, she had organized the complicated intelligence integration into a clear and efficient plan.
The final trace of hesitation in his heart vanished.
She truly was the most suitable person.
And the bridge between the clan's factions.
From now on, I will simply do my part.
Let the clan see that I, too, contribute.
Fugaku reaffirmed silently.
His love for the Uchiha had never wavered.
Not long afterward, the meeting neared its conclusion.
The detailed discussions were handed over to Hazuki and Yashiro to finalize with Fugaku and Yakumi.
Mikoto sat quietly at the head seat, listening.
Occasionally she added a suggestion.
Sunlight illuminated the side of her calm face with a soft glow.
But the sharp light in her eyes was even brighter.
As if they could pierce through the rooftops of Konoha—
And look out across the turbulent ninja world.
Suddenly—
Pop!
A beautiful silver-striped ninja cat appeared midair.
"Mikoto-sama, urgent report!"
The room instantly fell silent.
Yashiro and Hazuki exchanged thoughtful looks.
Yakumi and Fugaku wondered whether they should excuse themselves.
But they waited for Mikoto's decision.
The clever ninja cat landed lightly in Mikoto's arms.
After receiving a small nod from her mistress, it spoke.
"Some of our cats discovered something this morning."
"A large number of Konoha ninja are moving rapidly toward the southwest."
"If nothing unexpected happens…"
"They are likely reserve forces mobilized by Konoha's leadership."
"Their target is Sunagakure."
Everyone's expressions stiffened.
Mikoto immediately realized—
This was an opportunity.
An opportunity to test the limits of Konoha's leadership.
"Ayan," she said.
"Inform Anlan as well. I still have matters here."
"Meow."
After the silver cat disappeared, Mikoto looked toward Fugaku.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Fugaku-nii."
"Now that you've handed over the intelligence responsibilities…"
"You'll likely take on more duties in the Police Force."
She paused slightly.
"Those suspicious individuals lurking around the clan compound…"
"How do you think we should deal with them?"
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