After parting ways with Sarutobi Hiruzen, Senju Haruto immediately set out for Sunagakure alongside Kakashi and Yamato.
Hiruzen had already sent word to the Kazekage about the upcoming meeting, informing him that the Hidden Leaf would be dispatching a representative to Sunagakure — and requesting that the Kazekage treat the envoy with proper courtesy.
Unlike the previous joint Kage meeting, however, Hiruzen would not be going in person this time. There was a reason for that.
That earlier meeting, held in the Land of Iron, had been a direct result of the conflict between Konoha and the Hidden Cloud over the Hyūga clan's Byakugan — a situation that could easily have escalated into all-out war.
Given the severity of that crisis, Hiruzen had agreed to meet personally with the Raikage, A, to negotiate peace.
But the results had been… less than ideal.
By contrast, Konoha and Sunagakure had enjoyed a long stretch of peace.
So this time, sending Haruto was less about diplomacy and more about sending a message — a show of strength, to discourage the Kazekage from entertaining any dangerous ideas during this volatile period.
There was another factor…
Konoha itself was far from stable at the moment.
The Uchiha clan, while never entirely obedient, had at least been kept in check by Danzō's presence in the village.
Now, Danzō was dead — and the Uchiha situation had only just been resolved.
On top of that, the perfect Jinchūriki, Yugito Nii, was currently in the village as well.
Internally, Konoha's political situation was still unsettled. Externally, the Hidden Cloud and the Hidden Mist had recently formed an alliance.
More than ever, the village needed the Hokage to remain in place.
And for these reasons, Haruto had become, in Hiruzen's eyes, the perfect candidate for this mission.
"You're Senju Haruto, aren't you?"
Just as Haruto stepped out of the Hokage's office to depart for Sunagakure, a voice suddenly called out to him.
The speaker was a girl who looked to be about his own age.
Haruto turned to glance at her — and recognized the face.
"Kakashi, Yamato — let's meet at the village gates," Haruto said after a moment.
In this three-man squad, both Kakashi and Yamato were older than Haruto, but they served under his command.
Hearing his order, they gave a brisk acknowledgment and left without question.
Only once they had disappeared down the street did Haruto turn fully to face the girl.
She had long, glossy black hair, a small beauty mark beneath her right eye, and wore a violet outer robe. Her expression held a trace of shyness.
Haruto quickly placed her identity.
Uchiha Izumi.
She had once been close to Itachi — gentle, kind, and understanding, one of his rare true friends.
In the original timeline, when Tobi revealed the truth about Itachi to Sasuke, he mentioned that on the night of the Uchiha massacre, Itachi had slain his clan — including his parents — and even his lover, to protect the peace of the village.
Whether Izumi had truly been Itachi's lover, or whether Tobi had merely assumed so, was unclear.
What Haruto did know was that Izumi had feelings for Itachi — and had confessed them to him directly.
"Um…"
Izumi clasped her hands behind her back, her movements betraying her nerves.
After all, Haruto was now celebrated as the hero who had saved Konoha.
The Uchiha, on the other hand, were in an extremely awkward position within the village after their failed coup.
It had taken all her courage just to approach him — but now that she was here, the words were hard to get out.
"You're from the Uchiha clan, aren't you?" Haruto said, studying her.
She was still only a genin, but had already awakened her Sharingan.
Now that the coup had been averted, Itachi would not have to slaughter his clan.
Given time, Izumi might grow into an exceptional shinobi.
In fact… with her deep feelings for Itachi, there was even a chance she could awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"You… know me?" Izumi blinked in surprise. She had always assumed that someone as unimportant as herself would never be noticed.
"I've been to the Uchiha compound," Haruto replied.
At the mention of the compound, Izumi immediately thought of the coup — the night that could have destroyed them all.
It was that memory that firmed her resolve.
"My name is Uchiha Izumi. I want to ask… about Itachi." Her voice was quiet, but unwavering.
The truth was, Itachi had taken the blame for the coup in order to infiltrate the Akatsuki, becoming a rogue ninja of the Leaf.
This information had not been made public, but the Uchiha clan knew the truth.
Hiruzen, for his part, had placed all coup participants under indefinite detention using Itachi's genjutsu as the official reason — claiming it was still in effect and could not yet be lifted.
Now, only non-combatants — women and children — remained in the Uchiha district, overseen by Uchiha Fugaku, who had recovered from his injuries.
To further ensure stability, Hiruzen had disbanded the Konoha Police Force entirely, transferring all its former authority to the ANBU Root division.
In other words, the Uchiha had been stripped of both their power and their political standing.
Whether Fugaku liked it or not, they would have to live under these new conditions.
From Haruto's perspective, it was the best possible resolution.
When war broke out between Konoha and the Hidden Cloud, those Uchiha still capable of fighting could be sent to the front — removing any internal threat to the village's stability.
"Itachi… did he really want to stage a coup and become Hokage?" Izumi's voice drew Haruto back to the present.
"In my eyes, Itachi isn't that kind of person. He's—" She stopped abruptly.
To her, Itachi was the most exceptional shinobi she had ever met — and the one who loved the village the most.
"This matter is over," Haruto said in a low voice. "I advise you not to hold on to any illusions about Itachi. But… if you can become an outstanding shinobi, you might have the chance to see him again someday."
Haruto offered no comfort, no truth — nothing more than those few words.
If she hadn't awakened her Sharingan, he probably wouldn't have spoken to her at all.
And with that, he turned and walked away without a backward glance.
"An… outstanding shinobi…"
Izumi stood there, staring at the empty space where Haruto had been, her mind echoing with those words.
If she became strong enough… perhaps she really could see Itachi again.
Meanwhile, Haruto reached the village gates, where Kakashi and Yamato had been waiting.
"Alright. Let's go."