Night settled over the Uchiha compound.
Inside a modest wooden house, a warm lantern cast soft light across the room.
Uchiha Chiri sat at the low table, swinging her legs slightly.
"Chiri," her older brother asked while pouring tea, "how was your first day at the academy? Did you make any friends?"
A white-haired boy immediately surfaced in her mind.
"Yes," Chiri said. "His name is Amakaze Kaede. He's the head of the Amakaze Clan. Brother, have you heard of them?"
Uchiha Kei paused.
He thought for a moment.
"I've seen the name in some old records. Not many details. But they were described as a small clan with extremely dangerous techniques."
"Dangerous?" Chiri blinked.
"Mm." Kei nodded. "Their clan's hidden art, Tenpūton, was said to erase people completely. No body. No remains."
Chiri felt a small chill.
"But Kaede said he's the only one left."
Kei's expression grew more serious.
"That just means the clan declined. It doesn't mean the bloodline vanished."
Chiri hesitated, then told Kei everything that happened at school.
About Uchiha Kyō.
About the argument.
About Kaede stepping in.
About what she herself said.
Kei listened quietly the entire time.
When she finished, he spoke.
"You handled it well."
Chiri relaxed a little.
"Kyō has been influenced by Grandfather's faction since he was little," Kei continued. "They still worship Madara and believe the clan should leave Konoha someday."
Chiri nodded.
She already knew.
Kei tapped the table lightly.
"What Kaede said… 'The Uchiha of Konoha.'"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I like that."
Chiri tilted her head.
"You do?"
"Our generation doesn't want endless war," Kei said calmly. "We want to belong here. Kagami becoming the Second Hokage's disciple gave people hope."
More and more young Uchiha were quietly starting to think the same way.
Kei looked thoughtful.
"Kaede is sharp. Not loud. Not reckless."
"He'll go far."
Chiri was surprised.
"You think that highly of him?"
Kei nodded.
"He understands something many adults still don't."
After a moment, he added,
"Try to stay close to him."
Chiri blinked.
"Why?"
"I have a feeling," Kei said slowly, "that he may become important to the future of both the village… and the Uchiha."
Chiri smiled softly.
"I was planning to anyway."
Kei stood up.
"Sleep early. You've got class tomorrow."
"You too, brother."
At the same time, inside the Amakaze estate…
Kaede lay on his bed, staring at a translucent panel.
[Name]Amakaze Kaede[Age]6[Rank-Level]Chunin[Chakra]One Card[Bloodline]Shōton (Crystal Release)[Bloodline]Tenpūton (55%)[Talent]All-Attribute Chakra, Genius[Calmness]3100[Chaos]5
[Time Until Chaos Event: Uchiha Madara's Rebellion – 365 Days]
Kaede let out a slow breath.
"One year…"
Madara versus Hashirama.
Two walking natural disasters.
Even if Kaede trained like a maniac…
At best, he'd reach jōnin level.
Which meant nothing in that battlefield.
"If this event fails…"
"Chaos jumps past seventy."
"System locks."
"Game over."
Kaede rolled onto his side.
"…Great."
Then he remembered something.
When he'd browsed the shop last month, there was one absurd item.
So expensive it made him laugh.
But also…
Potentially the only thing that could change the future.
"Sixty thousand Calmness Points…"
Kaede covered his face with a pillow.
"That price is criminal."
Still.
If he wanted even a tiny chance to interfere in Madara's rebellion…
There was no alternative.
He stared at the ceiling.
"I really wish Konoha had more enemy spies."
One per day would be perfect.
He could farm Calmness like a full-time job.
Sigh.
"Tomorrow I start paying attention to suspicious people."
With that extremely irresponsible plan, Kaede drifted off to sleep.
In his dream…
Even the First Hokage was secretly a foreign spy.
Kaede exposed everyone.
Became a hero.
Then immediately went back to bed.
Late at night, the Hokage Building was still lit.
Sarutobi Mizuya stood before Hashirama Senju and reported what happened in class.
Including Kaede's words.
Hashirama listened quietly.
Then smiled.
"So that's what the boy said."
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Mizuya replied. "He's young, but very clear-headed."
Hashirama nodded.
"Impulsive children can be taught."
"But a calm heart…"
"That's rare."
Mizuya continued.
"Many students in this class have good potential."
Hashirama leaned back in his chair.
"Good. They are Konoha's future."
After dismissing Mizuya, Hashirama looked out the window.
The village slept beneath scattered lights.
A warm feeling filled his chest.
"For everyone who believes in me…"
"I will create peace with my own hands."
Power stirred.
The wall cracked.
Hashirama froze.
"…Ah."
He scratched his head sheepishly.
"Mito's going to yell at me again."
The God of Shinobi stood up.
And went home.