Several of the Hyuga elders flushed with unconcealed embarrassment.
Even though the words had come from the man sitting before them.
To be spoken to in such a manner by someone decades younger—no matter how rationally they understood the situation—the sting of humiliation still burned across their aged faces.
Hiashi, however, remained far more composed.
His expression showed little change. After briefly glancing at the elders beside him and confirming that none of them intended to object further, he lowered his head.
"The Hyuga Clan understands."
The moment Hiashi stated his position, the faint chill surrounding Roshi quietly dissipated.
"The Venue District outside the village is fundamentally different," Roshi continued.
"At present, the main stadium alone can accommodate more than ten thousand spectators. And that number doesn't even include the permanent merchants or the constant flow of travelers that will inevitably gather around it."
He paused briefly.
"Expansion plans are already underway."
"In the future, the people gathering there—spectators, participants, traders—will come from countless backgrounds. It will become a true crossroads."
His voice remained calm, analytical.
"From a security standpoint alone, it is inevitable that the scale of the Police Force branch stationed in the Venue District will eventually surpass that of the Police Force headquarters within the village."
He allowed the room a moment of silence so his words could settle.
"More importantly," Roshi continued, "as the flow of people increases, merchants, craftsmen seeking opportunities, and countless service providers will gather there like vines climbing a wall."
"The capital circulating through that district in the future will be… astronomical."
He shifted the comparison slightly.
"In contrast, the Police Force headquarters within the village is located in Konoha's core district—surrounded by clan residential areas, ANBU strongholds, and critical hospitals."
"The room for expansion there is actually quite limited."
The irritation that had lingered on the Hyuga elders' faces quietly faded.
In its place appeared thoughtful silence.
If the Police Force branch truly held such prospects, then the village's proposed allocation could hardly be called discarding the Hyuga after using them.
"It is precisely because the Venue District holds such potential," Roshi said calmly, "that I chose to play the villain first and draw the boundaries early."
His voice softened slightly, though the weight behind it grew heavier.
"At the very least… compared to a few years from now, when the village might be forced to use far harsher measures to clean things up—"
"This outcome will be far better."
Hiashi nodded again, this time bowing with greater solemnity.
"Lord Roshi, you are correct. The Hyuga Clan has been enlightened."
Roshi glanced at him briefly.
As the clan head, Hiashi still spoke proudly of the Hyuga as one of Konoha's great clans. Yet compared to Uchiha Fugaku, he understood far better when to yield and when to compromise.
Working with someone like that was far easier.
With Roshi's explanation, the tension in the room finally dissolved.
The discussion shifted to several smaller matters, and Roshi remained in the Hyuga main residence for a while longer before the meeting concluded.
When it was time for him to leave, Hiashi personally escorted him out—accompanied by several elders of the Main Family.
Just like when he had arrived.
Outside the main gate of the mansion, near a quiet corner of the corridor, Roshi noticed a boy.
The child wore simple clothes, and a bandage wrapped around his forehead.
There was no curiosity in the boy's expression.
Nor fear.
When he saw the members of the Main Family approaching, he merely stepped silently to the side of the corridor and lowered his gaze.
Roshi did not slow his steps.
His eyes merely passed over the boy briefly before continuing forward.
Behind him, Hiashi and the elders bowed respectfully as they saw him off.
Only after Roshi had walked more than a dozen steps away did Hiashi's voice sound out.
"Neji."
"Go inside now."
—-
For Chiyo, becoming Kazekage was nothing extraordinary.
If anything, it simply meant she now carried even more worries than she had as an elder.
The most troublesome matter, however, was raising children.
Gaara's power itself was never the problem.
His taijutsu was weak, yes—but even if his physical strength and movements were lacking, he could still wield a variety of weapons with surprising proficiency.
After years of surviving Rasa's relentless assassination attempts, his mastery of Sand Manipulation had already reached an exceptional level.
Even if his learning ability did not quite match the terrifying efficiency of his sand techniques, he could still be considered a natural prodigy.
Aside from his cold ruthlessness and frightening cruelty…
He was precisely the kind of person Sunagakure would need over the next ten years.
Chiyo looked down at the ground.
Fragments of puppets were scattered everywhere—wooden limbs, broken joints, and delicate mechanical parts lying in disarray.
For a moment, her thoughts drifted.
Her mind felt strangely blank.
If she had decided to take responsibility for this child, then she had to at least try. Drawing upon the faint and scattered memories she still had of raising children long ago, she had to find some way to guide him.
"Boring."
The child with vibrant red hair—so similar to her grandson Sasori, yet carrying an even colder indifference than Sasori had ever shown—spoke only that one word.
Without even glancing at the broken puppets, Gaara turned and walked out of the room.
After he left, Temari cautiously approached.
Rasa's eldest daughter already carried herself with a maturity far beyond her years, her movements careful and restrained.
"Lady Kazekage… I'm sorry," she said softly, trying to defend her brother. "Gaara, he…"
Nearby, Kankuro crouched beside the scattered fragments, picking up larger pieces and attempting to reassemble them.
It was hopeless.
"They were really good puppets," he muttered with regret. "That Gaara…"
Chiyo, whose temper was famously sharp, did not grow angry with the two children.
Instead, she sighed.
Her voice sounded rough and tired.
"What 'Lady Kazekage'?" she said. "Children shouldn't imitate adults like that."
She reached out and gently ruffled Temari's golden hair.
The movement was a little stiff—awkward, even—but there was a rare warmth behind it.
Then she turned to Kankuro.
From her sleeve, she produced a small puppet doll and handed it to him.
"This is a good puppet, Kankuro."
After comforting Temari—who had been forced to grow up too quickly after losing her parents—and sending off Kankuro, who was already completely absorbed in studying his new puppet, Chiyo slowly left the children's home.
Her body felt heavier than usual.
When she returned to the Kazekage's Office, Ebizo was already waiting inside.
"Sister."
Chiyo sat down at her desk.
"What happened this time?"
Ebizo spoke immediately.
"The naval fleet responsible for deployment and logistical support of the Flying Forces has been targeted."
"An unknown force has been tracking their movements. There are clear signs of continuous surveillance."
Chiyo's brows furrowed deeply.
"I've already ordered the fleet to dive into deeper waters and lie low for the time being," Ebizo continued.
"At the same time, reconnaissance units have been dispatched to determine who is following them."
Chiyo leaned back slightly in her chair.
"In that case," she said slowly, "our maritime income will decrease."
"Yes."
Ebizo did not hesitate.
"This year's additional revenue will have to rely mainly on our share from the Joint Combat Exercise."
"Yes," he confirmed again.
Chiyo tapped her fingers lightly against the table.
"How are the special plants obtained from Konoha progressing?"
"According to the experimental site's reports, the growth rate is promising," Ebizo replied.
"However, it will take at least two more years before we can harvest seeds independently."
"Land transformation…"
Chiyo's gaze drifted toward the Kazekage hat resting beside her desk.
"That brat wants to consume Sunagakure's manpower and resources."
And yet—
Given the current situation in the ninja world…
What other options did Sunagakure really have?
Chiyo finally looked back at Ebizo.
"What response did the Daimyo give?"
Ebizo considered the question carefully before answering.
"The Daimyo has expressed considerable interest in the oasis maintenance and national land transformation plan."
He paused briefly.
"However…"
"He wants a clearer commitment."
Chiyo narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Regarding Sunagakure's future development direction," Ebizo continued, "the Daimyo hopes that once additional funds are granted…"
"…Sunagakure will truly invest those resources into this plan."
Chiyo remained silent for a moment.
"…I see."
—
In recent days, more and more visitors had been coming to the house.
Their faces were never as calm as they used to be.
My older brother was currently on leave, yet he rarely stayed home. Most of the time he was out helping others with training. Apparently, that too counted as a mission assigned by the village.
Father had told me not to disturb him.
Sasuke felt a surge of frustration at the thought.
How could watching someone train be considered a disturbance?
Besides, in just a few years, he himself would represent the Uchiha on the battlefield and return with honor.
"After I finish teaching Izumi, I'll help you train too, Sasuke," his brother had said. "This is a mission given to me by a senpai. It's very important to the village."
It was always senpai's mission.
What a troublesome guy.
Sasuke kicked the pebble at his feet irritably. It skittered across the ground and splashed into the Naka River.
He lingered there for a long while, dragging his feet, unwilling to go home.
But eventually the sun dipped below the horizon, leaving only a dark red glow staining the sky.
Reluctantly, Sasuke turned back and pushed open the heavy gate of the Uchiha estate.
The mansion looked imposing as ever.
And somehow… a little gloomy.
At the entrance, many pairs of sandals were neatly lined up in the genkan.
Sasuke immediately looked away.
He had no interest in the things adults discussed.
After changing his sandals, he quickly crossed the courtyard.
But when he reached the corridor, his steps slowed.
He stopped.
Then quietly turned back.
The light from a nearby tatami room spilled into the hallway.
Sasuke crept closer on silent feet.
Inside, voices were raised.
"Clan Head, we cannot allow Hyuga Hiashi to get away with the outside branch issue!"
"Captain, today they only want authority over that branch. If this continues, tomorrow they'll demand the position of Police Force Chief!"
"The Uchiha must show the power of the Sharingan! The Hyuga Clan needs to understand that the Police Force is not their place!"
"Clan Head—"
The voices were loud enough to be heard clearly even from outside.
Sasuke clenched his fists.
For a moment, he considered pushing open the door and storming inside.
Then Fugaku's voice cut through the noise.
"Enough."
The room immediately quieted.
"The establishment of the branch office and Hyuga Hiashi's appointment as its leader are already decided."
"This is the will of the village."
The voices inside were suppressed for a moment.
But soon they rose again.
"The branch office cannot be stopped," someone argued, "but Clan Head… it is necessary to prove that the Hyuga lack the ability to control it."
"At the very least—"
Just as Sasuke's patience reached its limit—
A gentle hand tapped his shoulder.
He spun around.
"Bro—"
Itachi stood behind him, smiling faintly.
Without a word, Itachi slid open the door and entered the room.
The moment he stepped inside, the heated arguments immediately softened, turning into low, restrained murmurs.
From the hallway, Sasuke could no longer hear anything.
He lowered his head and slowly walked away.
The Hyuga Clan…
Are they challenging the authority of the Uchiha?
That thought lingered stubbornly in his mind.
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