Chapter 57: In Principle, Agreement Means Disagreement
In the early morning, the thing splashing across your face wasn't always sunlight.
Sometimes...
It was tap water from your own house.
Asuka wiped the cold water from his face and slowly opened his eyes.
Standing beside the bed was Uzuki Yugao, expressionless as she held a bucket of cold water. Beyond her, the first rays of dawn were only just beginning to peek through the window.
The sun wasn't even fully up yet.
Yugao was already hard at work.
After changing into fresh clothes, Asuka stifled a yawn and walked over to the calendar hanging on the wall.
Today's schedule was packed.
Morning: Renovate the storefront he'd recently taken over and disguise a certain tanuki as the mascot for the Uchiha Fried Chicken shop.
Afternoon: Attend the clan meeting to discuss the incident where Fugaku had nearly gotten himself killed on the battlefield.
"..."
Staring at the day's itinerary, Asuka picked up his toothbrush.
"Sensei!"
Yugao leaned out from the kitchen and curiously asked,
"You've been home these past two days. Aren't you supposed to report to the ANBU?"
"Nope."
After spitting out the toothpaste foam, Asuka looked at his reflection in the mirror.
"Apparently Lord Third found retirement unbearably boring and suddenly decided he wanted grandchildren, so Captain took maternity leave."
"And I just got back from a mission, so he gave me some time off instead of assigning another one."
He sighed.
Whether someone got pregnant depended on fate.
It wasn't something you could simply arrange.
Besides...
Shinnosuke was still in the hospital.
At this rate, his vacation would probably last another month.
Just then, the lid of the teapot on the table lifted, and Shukaku poked his head out.
"I spent the whole night thinking about it," he said in his shrill voice. "But I still don't understand what you meant by 'working twelve hours and resting twelve hours.'"
"What's so difficult about that?"
Asuka turned toward him with complete seriousness.
"Look at your fellow tailed beasts. They've been trapped in the same place for decades."
"But you're different."
"You're family."
"How could I possibly restrict my family's freedom?"
"You work for me twelve hours during the day."
"The other twelve belong entirely to you."
Seeing Shukaku wearing a half-understanding expression, Asuka rinsed his mouth and continued.
"In this era, freedom is as valuable as an explosive tag."
"It's precious."
"It's within your reach."
"If you want to lie on a sand dune and spend the night watching the stars, then work twelve hours during the day."
"Think about your mortal enemy—that stinking fox."
"It's locked in darkness every single day."
"But you..."
"You can stretch out on the sand, cross your legs, and count the stars."
"Isn't that freedom?"
"Oh, and I'll even take pictures of you enjoying yourself."
"When they're developed, you can show them to the fox just to annoy him."
Steam suddenly began rising from Shukaku's head.
At that moment, Yugao put down the spatula and hurried over to the table.
Her eyes sparkled the instant she saw the little tanuki.
"Sensei!"
"Is this your summon?"
Asuka casually picked his nose and pointed at the increasingly bewildered Shukaku.
"He's both family..."
"...and the future shareholder and employee of my fried chicken shop."
"Family?"
Yugao hugged the tiny tanuki, gently squishing his cheeks as stars practically shone in her eyes.
He was unbelievably adorable.
"Mm."
Asuka nodded seriously.
Then, in a voice too soft for anyone else to hear, he muttered,
"Family doesn't need wages."
---
That afternoon.
Shukaku sat on Asuka's shoulder as they walked through the bustling Uchiha compound.
His mind was still occupied by the same question.
Twelve hours of work... in exchange for twelve hours of freedom.
It sounded...
Reasonable.
Yet somehow...
Also wrong.
He simply couldn't explain why.
Looking down at the black cloak embroidered with red clouds covering his body, he nodded in satisfaction.
Except for his head, every part of him was hidden beneath the oversized cloak.
Perfect camouflage.
"Oh my!"
A familiar female voice interrupted his thoughts.
Looking up, Shukaku saw a woman with long red hair approaching.
A grin immediately spread across his face.
His eyes narrowed into crescents.
The stinking fox is here again!
"Walk a little closer," he whispered into Asuka's ear.
"I want to talk to her."
Following the direction Shukaku pointed, Asuka spotted Kushina nearby.
"So this is your summon?"
Kushina stopped in front of him, looking at the tiny tanuki sitting on his shoulder with lingering concern.
"This little guy secretly followed me all the way home yesterday."
"I was about to play with him..."
"...when he suddenly went crazy and scared me half to death."
"I kicked him away without thinking."
"He wasn't hurt, was he?"
"Hmph."
Shukaku snorted disdainfully.
His gaze dropped to Kushina's stomach as he began speaking directly to the Nine-Tails.
Stinking fox.
Even if you ignore me, I know you can hear me.
Do you know what's just as precious as explosive tags?
Without waiting for an answer, he continued smugly.
Freedom.
Before coming to Konoha, I always imagined you were living a wonderful life.
Unable to suppress himself any longer, Shukaku burst into wild laughter.
"Ya-ha-ha!"
I know you're angry.
But don't be.
You don't even know what freedom smells like...
Before he could finish, Asuka clamped a hand over his mouth and hurried away.
Watching them disappear into the distance, Kushina blinked in confusion before turning back to Mikoto.
"...Are all ninja cats this strange and sharp-tongued?"
"Not really."
Mikoto smiled softly as she watched Asuka leave.
"Birds of a feather flock together."
"Oh!"
Kushina suddenly remembered something.
Looking at Mikoto's noticeably swollen belly, her expression softened with maternal warmth.
"It's already June."
"Shouldn't the baby be due soon?"
Gently stroking her stomach, Mikoto nodded.
"The Medical Department estimates about another month."
Kushina's eyes lit up.
"Have you picked a name yet?"
Without hesitation, Mikoto looked toward the Sarutobi compound in the distance and answered quietly.
"Sasuke."
---
Summer had arrived in Konoha.
Although nowhere near as scorching as Sunagakure, the June heat was already becoming oppressive.
Inside a poorly ventilated meeting room, Asuka glanced at the empty seat reserved for the clan head before turning toward Uchiha Ryoichi.
"...Did the clan head die somewhere?"
Ryoichi's face twitched.
He glared at Asuka.
"If you have something to say, say it properly."
Asuka rubbed his chin in confusion.
"I heard the clan head almost got himself killed."
"I thought we were replacing him."
Ryoichi shook his head.
"He did run into some trouble."
"But nothing serious."
"This meeting is about something else."
"Now that the Fourth Hokage's position has gradually stabilized..."
"...we need to decide how much support the Uchiha clan should offer him."
"...?"
Asuka looked puzzled.
"What kind of support?"
Ryoichi cleared his throat and glanced around the room, lingering especially on the clan elders.
"Strong support."
"The Fourth Hokage is easier to communicate with than previous administrations."
"I'd also like to use this opportunity to improve the Uchiha clan's public image."
"Considering our support..."
"...I believe the Fourth Hokage won't object."
"So..."
Asuka nodded thoughtfully.
"You want to persuade the clan head to give up control of the Police Force?"
"What nonsense!"
Ryoichi laughed helplessly.
"Improving the clan's image and abandoning the Police Force are completely different matters."
"I simply wanted everyone to contribute ideas."
"That's all."
"Oh."
"I thought this was something serious."
Asuka sighed before speaking calmly.
"Then it's actually very simple."
"We improve the family's reputation from the outside."
"We rehabilitate Madara Uchiha's historical image."
"And we subtly reshape how Konoha's younger generation views the Uchiha."
"The older generation's opinion of our clan hasn't changed in decades."
"So don't bother trying to change them."
"If we want results..."
"We have to start with the children."
The room fell silent.
Seeing Ryoichi's puzzled expression, Asuka elaborated.
"We beautify the story of how the Uchiha and Senju founded Konoha together."
"We also soften the narrative surrounding Madara's rebellion."
"Yes, history will inevitably become somewhat distorted."
"But Shimura Danzō has spent years demonizing and slandering us."
"Compared to his version..."
"...our version would probably be closer to the truth."
"I see..."
Ryoichi nodded slowly, only half convinced.
Then he asked the real question.
"Asuka..."
"What if Konoha's leadership refuses to let us promote that version of history?"
A smile finally appeared on Asuka's face.
"Second Grandpa..."
"Now you're asking the right question."
His gaze drifted once more toward the empty clan head's seat.
"Which is exactly why the clan head getting divorced is so important."
"..."
"..."
"If he divorced..."
"...and married Tsunade of the Senju..."
"...everything would change."
"The Senju and Uchiha fought one another for nearly a thousand years."
"If even the two founding clans could intermarry..."
"...wouldn't that explain a great deal?"
"From then on, we'd be one family."
"And once we're family..."
"We can openly elevate Hashirama Senju's status."
"And the moment Hashirama's reputation rises..."
"...Madara's inevitably rises with it."
He looked directly at Ryoichi.
"If Konoha's higher-ups refuse to let us praise Hashirama..."
"...wouldn't they be contradicting themselves?"
The room became deathly quiet.
Then Asuka fixed his eyes on the elder and asked evenly,
"Second Grandpa..."
"If you're truly determined to improve the clan's public image..."
"...will you support my proposal?"
Ryoichi inhaled sharply.
This again...
His gaze drifted into the distance as he answered after a long pause.
"In principle..."
"...I agree."
"Your reasoning is theoretically sound."
"But this is an important matter."
"It can't be rushed."
"Let's think it over carefully."
"Very carefully."