Days passed one after another, and people—inevitably—grew up. A single year could change everything. People change; ambition, once someone plants a seed of it in your heart, begins to sprout and take root.
A great deal had happened over the past year. For example, Hatake Sakumo now wore the short-sleeved uniform that symbolized the heir to the next Hokage. Some of the smaller clans, ever adept at gauging the wind, began docking their ships in the safe harbor of the Hatake clan.
Meanwhile, the Uchiha clan had been anything but quiet in the Land of Fire. First, the Hirahara clan launched a poultry and meat processing industry—then came the founding of what soon became the largest restaurant chain in the country: KFC Fast Food, the one and only officially designated fast-food brand of the Land of Fire.
Next, together with the Higashino clan, the Uchiha purchased vast tracts of land between Konoha and the rest of the country to establish a grand sake brewery—the birthplace of the now wildly popular ninja-world liquor, Crimson Flame Sake.
Finally, they founded the Royal Chamber of Commerce in the Land of Fire. The Daimyō himself held shares, hence the "Royal" name. Apart from his portion, the rest of the shares were divided among the forces behind the Twelve Guardian Ninja, including the Fire Temple, which received a monthly share of the incense profits.
Through the Royal Chamber, they opened the Royal Hospital—bringing quality medical care within reach of both nobles and commoners, who no longer had to travel far for treatment. The hospital was under the Chamber's control: Royal Chamber of Commerce held 60%, the Uzumaki clan 15%, the Konoha Hospital 15%, and Konoha Village itself 10%. Most of the doctors came from the Uzumaki, with the rest being medical-nin from Konoha.
There was also a special institution: the Royal Investment Association, spearheaded by the Uchiha. Its members included the Daimyō, Konoha, and several noble houses loyal to the village. The Daimyō and Konoha held the majority stake; the Uchiha and other nobles shared the remaining profits.
Its influence extended far and wide—touching every corner of daily life. For the common folk: firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea. For the nobles: music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and flowers. Every pleasure and necessity was within its reach.
Uchiha Kairen had his own reasons for orchestrating all this. Through the Royal Chamber, he tightly bound the interests of the Twelve Guardian Ninja to those of the Daimyō. In any world, words alone were useless; everything had to be grounded in reality. The most effective way to maintain unity in an organization was through shared interest. Talk was cheap—these clans had endured for centuries; who could you possibly fool?
Even though the Uchiha profited immensely within the Land of Fire, they hadn't monopolized it. They left ample room for others—especially Konoha—and the village's finances were better than ever before. Naturally, no one in Konoha would object.
Moreover, even if things ever soured between the Uchiha and Konoha, having the Daimyō involved would provide a soft landing. The Hokage might not fear the Daimyō, but on the surface, at least, they still had to show respect.
Sometimes, when two sides clash, a third party is needed to mediate—to offer both a way down from the ledge. This arrangement served as a kind of insurance for the clan. Not a foolproof one, but still—something. Because when it truly came down to life and death... well, let's just say no one would be "mediating your mother" then.
As the saying went: "If you take a man's coin, you share his burdens." The Daimyō had opened countless green lights for them, and together they improved the nation's prosperity. If the Daimyō ever had personal troubles, shouldn't they help ease them?
Konoha couldn't be relied upon—not interfering was the best one could hope for. After all, that valley black market was practically someone's private money pit. But after several months of infiltration, Uchiha Kairen had firmly seized control of the black-market valley's intelligence network and bought off many insiders as informants.
He then gathered the Twelve Guardian Ninja to discuss the purge of the valley. Only the Hyūga clan, after some hesitation, finally nodded in agreement.
Even the Fire Temple readily approved. Their response was full of righteous zeal:
"These men's hands are drenched in blood. They've committed countless sins. To cleanse this defiled land is our solemn duty."
You could practically hear the moral conviction in that statement.
And so, the eradication plan began, unfolding in perfect order. With so many "big brothers" plotting against a bunch of small fry—how long could the latter possibly last?
A few minutes later—they were gone.
---
"Danzō-sama, our base in the valley has been wiped out by the Guardian Ninja."
A Root agent knelt on the ground, reporting.
"...I see. You may go."
Danzō's voice remained unnervingly calm, betraying none of the anger one might have expected—as if he'd already foreseen it.
He rose to his feet, approaching a hanging scroll bearing a single character: "Nin"—with the signature Senju Tobirama beneath.
Slowly exhaling, he murmured,
"Heh... Did you think I wouldn't see through you, White Fang?
All for Konoha, huh..."
---
"Sakumo, I'm entrusting this mission to you. It's urgent. Once Orochimaru and Jiraiya return, I'll send them to reinforce you," said the Third Hokage, handing him a mission scroll.
"Understood, Hokage-sama. I will devote myself fully."
The White Fang bowed and departed.
The Third turned to the sunset beyond the window and sighed softly.
"For Konoha's sake... I'm counting on you, White Fang."
---
"Have you heard? The White Fang's mission failed."
"They say he abandoned the mission to save a comrade, and because of that, it failed—costing the lives of many other shinobi."
"No way... Not White Fang-sama! How do you even know that?"
"I saw it myself. The very ninja he saved went to his house and cursed him to his face—almost killed himself right there! The ANBU had to step in. Tons of people saw it."
"But... aren't ninjas supposed to prioritize the mission above all else? This... doesn't look good for him."
"Not good? He's unfit to be a ninja, that's what! A shinobi who doesn't put the mission first—what's the point of being one?"
"Exactly! Such a man isn't worthy of being a ninja! And that kind of person was supposed to be our next Hokage? Tch."
"Hey, keep your voice down—he's the head of ANBU, you'll get yourself arrested!"
Just then, a patrolling Uchiha officer approached, glaring.
"You there—spreading rumors, inciting others, defaming Konoha's leadership. That's a serious crime. I suspect you're spies sent by enemy villages. You're coming with us."
"W-what?! You can't just arrest me for talking! My family's served Konoha for generations—!"
Before he could finish, a punch sent him sprawling to the ground.
"Why? Because I'm Uchiha, that's why! Watch your mouth, civilian."
Another villager shouted, "I get it now! You Uchiha are in on this! You're working with the Hatake clan!"
He didn't get another word out before being knocked unconscious.
"Oh, you know so much, do you? Sure, we're 'in on it'—we're Konoha shinobi. Take him away."
They dragged the man off toward the Police Force headquarters.
Watching teams of his clansmen march back with villagers in tow, Uchiha Nobunaga sighed deeply. This couldn't go on. Arrests weren't solving anything—the more people they detained, the faster the rumors spread.
Thankfully, he hadn't intended to "help" seriously in the first place; this was all for show. To make it clear that the Uchiha didn't kick others when they were down—that they were loyal and righteous allies.
Surely that much loyalty would count for something. Surely, that would make them seem... reliable.