The iatioween Konoha and Kiri had dragged on for a full month, with both sides wrag their brains to secure maximum bes for themselves.

  However, from the sed round of talks onward, the Uchiha was excluded entirely.

  Masashi didn't care about this exclusion. The fact that they were even allowed to participate initially was entirely due to Shikaku's influence. And even that robably just for show.

  The Hokage's office was determio prevent the Uchiha from having any involvement in Konoha's major deaking processes.

  The principle of 'exge' established by Tobirama, further reinforced during the era of the Third Hokage, had created a powerful iia.

  The practice had bee so deeply rooted that even the Uchiha themselves, alongside the rest of the vilge, had e to accept this status quo as normal.

  This only reinforced Masashi's perspective: the Uchiha couldn't ge their political situation in Konoha by relying on the Fourth Hokage's 'closeness' alone.

  Closeness was merely a gesture.

  Minato was ily aligned with the Third Hokage's fa, which was posed of the same old faces. The fual policies were not going to ge.

  It wasn't about personal views on the Uchiha but rather a matter of ingrained habits.

  Minato was used to it. The Uchiha were used to it too.

  After the first round of iations, a few high-ranking individuals sought out Masashi to inquire about the meeting's tents.

  For the Uchiha, this was far from satisfying.

  They had been the main for the front lines in the war against Kiri, yet they weren't even grahe right to listen in on the official iations.

  They had only mao attend the first round thanks to Shikaku's st-minute decision. Being upset about this erfectly natural.

  Not attendi bei in the dark about the real outes of the iations. sequently, they couldn't advocate for their is and could at best protect what they were already entitled to.

  The Uchiha had extensive resources, and no one in the would object to expanding them. Greater wealth meant supp a rger popution and nurturing more shinobi.

  In the past, among the ninja s of Konoha, the Senju and the Uchiha had the rgest poputions and the most shinobi.

  Now, however, the Sarutobi was number one, followed by the Hyūga , with the Uchiha only in third pce.

  The Hyūga were ohing, but how the Sarutobi had expanded so mu ret years was to those in the know.

  That said, the Uchiha had matured a bit i times. Even upon hearing that Kiri's reparations might total around 2 billion, they refrained from making a fuss.

  Otherwise, the Hokage's office would only have to say, "There are needs all over the vilge, and it's not just the Uchiha who have lost people," to sp the Uchiha with the bel of greedy.

  This kind of sario had pyed out tless times in the past.

  Masashi leased to see that the 's leadership was finally growing. Otherwise, as a teenager, it would have been awkward for him to keep lecturing a buniddle-aged men and elders about staying calm and posed.

  Back to his daily routine, he tinued his training regimen, unbroken for over a decade. The key to surpassing Indra y in sistenot just raw power.

  By employing new methods, he had overany of his previous challenges, proving that his dedus based on Indra and Asura's chakra were correct, with minimal deviation.

  From a geic standpoint, the Sage of Six Paths had given Indra the best of everything. Unfortunately, Indra hadn't persevered.

  His desdants, the Uchiha, had only amplified his gifts.

  Thanks to the 2nd reination, Masashi had the ce to walk the correct path once more.

  However, his good mood sted only until the leader summoned him for another meeting.

  After a month without seeing him, Fugaku, now the father of another child, seemed to be in an unusually good mood.

  His expression was much less stiff than usual.

  But the moment he spoke, Masashi's face darkened.

  "Have you met with Danzō? He's asked the for permission to have you join Root."

  "He must be out of his mind." Masashi was baffled. "Why would I leave a stable job at the Police Force to work for Root?"

  While Root's sary might be the highest among Konoha's official positions, no amount of money could make him want to take on a job that involved endless dangerous missions in the wilderness.

  There was no way he'd leave the bustling, prosperous streets of Konoha.

  He was a man of spiritual pursuits, and no amount of money could fill a void in his soul.

  "Are you sure he hasn't approached you, Masashi? Think carefully."

  "Of course not. That former advisor is a textbook anti-Uchiha figure. Why would he e looking for me?"

  Masashi thought for a moment.

  "Besides, wouldn't it make more sense for him to approach you, as the leader?"

  "I'd prefer he didn't." Fugaku sighed. "Danzō is formidable. In intelligenalysis, he's the best iire shinobi world. Even a brief versation with him easily lead to you spilling something."

  "Fugaku-sama, are you speaking from experience?" Masashi's eyes narrowed slightly. What the fuck did I miss?

  "This isn't the time for jokes." Fugaku waved his hand dismissively. "Root is incredibly secretive. For years, they've recruited talent from ninja s through the Hokage's office. The has always refused, given Danzō's ruthless methods and ero one wants their family members serving under him."

  "How do the other s agree to it?" Masashi uzzled.

  Shinobi were never in surplus, and Root specifically targeted elites. Even with the dee of ninja s, it was entirely reasoo refuse Danzō's requests.

  Though the Uchiha was officially employed by Konoha, their trol of the Police Fave them enough authority to push back. After all, Root was merely a subordinate division of the ANBU and not on par with the Police Force.

  "That's where Danzō's skill lies. He personally approaches the people he wants and often vihem with his ideology. Ohey're persuaded, the s 't do much."

  "Persuasion? You mean physical force?"

  "ly. Although Danzō isn't oo py by the rules, he's fident in his ability to win people over. His ideology appeals to many young shinobi with a strong sense of loyalty to the vilge." Fugaku sighed again. "That's why I'm asking if he's reached out to you."

  "He hasn't. I've been at the training grounds every day."

  "Stay alert. If he's formally requested you, he'll definitely approach you."

  "Wait a minute…" Masashi was annoyed. "Why would he target me? If anyone, he should go after Shisui."

  "He already tried. The Third Hokage wouldn't allow it, so now he's set his sights on you."

  So I'm the sotion prize? How fttering.

  "Fugaku-sama, how has the family hahis in the past?"

  "Previously? With our strained retionship, we simply refused ht. But now the situation is different. You know he's approag us through the Fourth Hokage."

  Fugaku gave Masashi a teasing look. "Didn't you always say not to burn bridges? So the is holding back this time."

  "Don't joke with me, Fugaku-sama. Seriously, I'm not letting a a mark on me. I've got my limits. If he tries, I might just beat him to a pulp."

  "As long as you're unwilling, no one force you." Fugaku nodded. "Not even the Hokage force the Uchiha to surrender one of our own."

  "Not while I am leader."

  What the hell? Getting a sed child gave Fugaku balls of steel?

  With that thought, Masashi left Fugaku's house.

  He wasn't afraid of Root res to force either.

  Konoha's military strength was divided into three parts: the ANBU, the Police Force, and the regur army. Among these, the weakest wasn't the Police Force—it was the ANBU.

  The so-called special missions were essentially non-ventional military operations. These as didn't require strong frontal bat capabilities.

  As a result, there weren't many jonin in the ANBU; their elite bat strength was made up of special jonin.

  Even though the ANBU has more people than the Police Force, if it came down to a head-to-head battle, the Police Force wouldn't lose.

  The jonin of Konoha, aside from the Uchiha , were mostly trated in the regur army, which was managed by a special unit called the Jonin Unit.

  The previous captain of this unit was Minato.

  In the inal timelihe annihition of the Uchiha one night was a twist of fate. No matter how bad the Uchiha 's reputation was, it wouldn't have led to the Konur army seeing them as enemies.

  If the Hokage's office wao carry out such a thing, they could only rely on the ANBU—but the ANBU simply didn't have the strength to elimihe Uchiha.

  Root cause was internal strife.

  Bae, already in a bad mood, Masashi grew ahe more he thought about it, so much so that he almost couldn't sleep.

  Just before falling asleep, he decided that if anyone from Root came to bother him, he'd give them a beating.

  With that, Masashi fell asleep.

  He even had a dream where he beat up some Root members until they were half-dead, hung them at the entrance of the Hokage Tower, and stuffed bananas in their mouths with a bahat read, "A banana a day keeps Root away!"

  "What a strange dream..." Masashi muttered, rubbing his eyes as he sat up in bed. His stomach growled softly. "Maybe I am craving some bananas?"

  After getting up and washing himself, Masashi walked into the kit.

  Remembering his dream, he grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl and ate it with a smirk. Delicious, he thought. Hard to believe some people hate these.

  Then he headed out.

  Perhaps Fugaku also knew he was in a terrible mood and was worried he'd actually go pick a fight with Root members.

  As a result, he gave Masashi special permission to take some time off work.

  So, he headed straight to the training grounds as usual.

  The fact that Root had taken an i in him hadn't spread among the yet; otherwise, there'd have been a huge uproar.

  Danzō had never said anything good about the Uchiha public. Simirly, his reputation among the Uchiha was terrible.

  So much so that Danzō had long stopped trying to recruit from the Uchiha. As a Hokage's advisor and the sed-in-and of Konoha's ninja forces, he still cared about his reputation.

  Who knew what came over him to suddenly try again now?

  Maybe it was because he was no longer an advisor? So, he didn't care about reputation?

  Masashi didn't know and didn't want to know.

  He only wanted certain people to uand that he didn't lose his temper because it wasn't worth it. But once he thought it was worth it, he wouldn't stop until he felt satisfied.

  A feassed peacefully, and the iatioween Konoha and Kiri finally drew to a close.

  Masashi also started stepping out of the 's territory.

  Busy with training during the day, he went out at night, with a clear goal in mind: Konoha's ercial street.

  He'd already made pns with his friends for a night of drinking—no one could back out. Anyone who did would be ridiculed mercilessly.

  At night, the ercial street became its busiest and most lively. Bright lights and bustling crowds filled the area, the air alive with the sounds of ughter and versation.

  Young people moved in groups, ughing and chatting.

  Street food stalls were set up with pots and stoves, cooking up all kinds of dishes. The rising steam was filled with entig aromas.

  ers chose their favorite spots, ordered a mix of dishes, and eheir food while chatting loudly.

  "You seem teetsuka observed as they walked. "Root still b you?"

  "Let's not spoil the evening with politics," Masashi replied, his eyes sing the crowd.

  "Too te for that..." Inoka muttered.

  For Masashi, the beauty of life y in these nights iy. Arying to take this from him—he'd make sure to scatter their ashes.

  But people's joys and sorrows were ruly ected. There were always those whose natural talent y in spoiling others' happiness.

  Masashi had imagined many ways Danzō might bother him, but he never expected this...

  In front of a bar, Tanaka was visibly trembling. His friends wore expressions of disfort.

  Danzō, dressed in casual clothes, didn't seem to think he was out of pce at all. He seriously ied the shop's signboard.

  "These are… passable."

  "Thank you for your praise!"

  "How long have you been in Konoha?"

  "Not long, just this year."

  "Hmm, not bad. Doing business in Konoha shows you have good judgment."

  "Yes, yes, that's exactly what I thought."

  "Hmm, am I that frightening?"

  "No, no, it's an honor for our humble shop to have you, Danzō-sama."

  "Don't call me Danzō-sama anymore. Just call me Danzō."

  Watg this se, Masashi's face was expressionless. Seeing his friends' faces turning awkward, he decided to intervene.

  "Boss," he said, "is this how you run your business? Letting Danzō-sama stand out here in the cold?"

  Before Tanaka could respond, Masashi waved his hand.

  "Didn't I book a private room? Hurry up and show us the way. Bring out your best—Danzō-sama isn't someone you treat casually."

  Danzō, I bet you won't drink with the dies.

  "Hm, I'd also like to experie," Danzō replied calmly. "It's been a while since I drank. Getting drunk for once doesn't sound bad."

  With that, he walked in without hesitation.

  Tanaka was stunned but didn't dare dawdle, quickly following him inside.

  Tetsuka stared at Danzō's back, mumbling, "What's there to even py now…"

  "Enough pints," Masashi said. "You guys head to another pd use my name. I'll eain him properly tonight." He paused, then added, "Not in a sexual way, obviously."

  "Why would you even—" Tetsuka's face sched up in fusion.

  "Look, I just wao avoid any weird misuandings, alright?" Masashi crossed his arms defensively.

  "Sometimes I fet how strange you be, Masashi-nii." Tetsuka shook his head, then his expression turned serious. "But really, why is Danzō after you?"

  "He wants me to work for Root."

  "Is he crazy?" Tetsuka's eyes went wide. He grabbed Masashi's sleeve, pulling him closer.

  "That hellhole? Even the regur ANBU avoid talking about that pce. I heard they do more than just work you to death—they brand your tongue like cattle and mess with your head until you fet your own name."

  "Show some culture, will you?" Inoka retorted. "It's called the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal."

  "Big deal! Is this about the name? When have any of us joined Root? Doesn't everyone know our retionship with them?"

  "Alright, lower your voices," Masashi said, patting both of them. "He's on the same level as the Hokage; don't gossip behind his back."

  After sending them off, he walked into the shop. Tanaka was waiting nervously, wringing his hands.

  "He really went in?"

  "Yes, he really went in…" Tanaka looked distressed. "Masashi-sama, nothing bad will happen, right?"

  "o worry. He won't trouble a business owner like you." Masashi casually reassured him. "Who knows? Maybe he will get lucky tonight."

  Tanaka nearly tripped over his ow, his face turning pale. "Masashi-sama! Please don't even joke about such things!"

  Masashi chuckled at his rea. "Rex, I'm just messing with you. Let's go. Lead the way."

  "Of course..." Tanaka hurried forward, trying not to think about what Masashi had just suggested.