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Resets Weekly! [Monday]
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The candlelight flickered softly in the tea room.
In the traditional, antique-styled room, Rinjin and Kagami Uchiha sat across from each other in silence.
Kagami fidgeted awkwardly, unsure of where to place his hands, while Rinjin's lips curled into a playful smile, clearly enjoying the moment.
"Next time, let's use a different code phrase," Rinjin suggested, his tone teasing. "How about, 'Your bed broke last time'?"
At these words, Kagami's face darkened considerably.
Clearing his throat twice, Kagami interrupted Rinjin before he could continue, swiftly steering the conversation elsewhere.
"Rinjin-kun, so you've been in the Land of Lightning recently? How's it been?"
Rinjin nodded casually. "Not bad. The girls in Kumogakure are just too enthusiastic, though. They keep clinging to me."
"Heh, you little brat. Do you even have what it takes?" Kagami smirked, clearly skeptical.
Rinjin gave a faint smile and winked. "I didn't before, but Lord Raikage gave me the training scroll for Lightning Release Chakra Mode. I think I'm getting there."
Hearing this, Kagami couldn't help but burst into laughter, dismissing Rinjin's claim as sheer bravado.
Watching Kagami's amused disbelief, Rinjin rolled his eyes.
Heh, laugh while you can. I'll leave a Flying Raijin seal on your bed later—then we'll see who's laughing.
The two old friends, reunited after a long time apart, exchanged a few more lighthearted remarks.
"Rinjin-kun, are you here as part of Kumogakure's negotiation delegation this time?" Kagami asked.
Rinjin nodded in confirmation.
"Then…"
For some reason, Kagami's expression suddenly grew serious.
"Do you have any intel on the delegation?"
Even though Kagami had stepped down from Konoha's leadership, his concern for the village remained unwavering.
Hearing this, Rinjin sighed inwardly and shook his head. "I do, but I've already written everything I know to Lord Hokage."
Hearing this, Kagami visibly relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief. He then pulled out a scroll from his sleeve.
"Rinjin, then what does this mean? Why did you warn me to be cautious of Danzo?"
As Kagami spoke, he pushed the scroll toward Rinjin.
Seeing the familiar scroll on the table, Rinjin immediately recognized it as the letter he had once written to Kagami.
In the letter, he had used a cipher that only he and Kagami could understand to send a warning—be wary of Danzo.
Taking the scroll, Rinjin didn't open it. Instead, he toyed with it in his hand for a moment before speaking.
"Kagami, has Lord Danzo taken power now?" he asked, his tone casual.
Hearing this, Kagami hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly.
"Hiruzen has handed over the training of the Anbu to him. He's renamed the department 'Root,' symbolizing the darkness beneath the tree.
I don't know what Hiruzen is thinking, dividing his authority so quickly. Maybe it's because he's been busy with his three new disciples."
"Hiruzen-uncle took on disciples??" Rinjin's eyes widened in exaggerated curiosity.
"He did—Orochimaru the prodigy, Princess Tsunade, and your friend, Jiraiya!"
Hearing this, Rinjin's expression shifted subtly as he brought the conversation back on track.
"Has Danzo's attitude toward you changed? Was he hostile at first but became much friendlier after establishing Root?"
Kagami furrowed his brow in thought. After a moment, a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
"Y-Yes. Earlier, we even had a fight over the Konoha Police Force. But after that, he uncharacteristically sought me out to apologize!"
"How did you know that?"
Kagami's voice trembled slightly. If Rinjin had learned this directly from him, it wouldn't have been surprising. But the unsettling part was that Rinjin had been outside the village all this time. He didn't even know about Hiruzen taking on disciples, something everyone in Konoha knew.
How could he possibly know about this private matter with Danzo?
Is he… spying on me?
At this thought, Kagami shook his head, dismissing the notion. Even if someone were spying, he would be the least valuable target.
He wasn't part of Konoha's leadership, stayed far from the center of power, and was even subtly ostracized by the elders within the Uchiha clan.
Watching Kagami's face shift through a range of emotions like a slideshow, Rinjin couldn't help but chuckle.
"Kagami, stop overthinking. Let me analyze it for you."
In truth, Rinjin had no direct intel from Konoha. His analysis was based on the assumption that Danzo would eventually kill Kagami. But even without this foresight, Rinjin's deep understanding of both Kagami and Danzo allowed him to piece things together.
The position of Hokage doesn't just require pure power; it also demands authority and prestige.
Danzo's options are limited. All he can do is trade friendship for power and then trade power for strength.
Hearing this, Kagami nodded slowly, as if returning to his carefree self. He leaned closer to Rinjin with a grin.
"Danzo Shimura, huh? He's not a bad guy. He doesn't have any evil intentions…"
Rinjin carefully observed Kagami's expression as he spoke.
He knew that if he outright claimed Danzo was evil, Kagami, who had worked closely with Danzo on many missions, would instinctively resist the idea.
And that little resistance would undermine everything Rinjin said next.
After all, Danzo hadn't even started causing trouble yet!
Seeing Kagami nod in agreement, Rinjin continued.
"But, Lord Danzo is ambitious. And he likely desires to become Hokage."
Hearing this, Kagami gave Rinjin a strange look, thinking, Weren't you the one who publicly humiliated Danzo in front of our teacher?
But he said nothing and continued listening to Rinjin's analysis.
"An ambitious person, with the help of old friends, begins to touch power, starts enjoying the thrill of commanding others, and gets used to controlling lives. Kagami, do you think someone like that wouldn't crave more power?"
"I… I don't know." Kagami stammered. He knew the answer in his heart but didn't want to admit it.
Seeing this, Rinjin didn't press him. Instead, he gave a simple example.
"Kagami, you want the Uchiha to integrate into the village, right? If—just if—some of your actions proved effective, wouldn't you be even more determined to continue?"
Hearing this, Kagami's eyes lit up, and he nodded resolutely.
To integrate the Uchiha into the village, to eliminate all barriers and divisions—this was his ultimate dream.
If there was even a glimmer of hope, he wouldn't give up.
Realizing this, he suddenly understood.
Danzo was just like him, except his dream was to become Hokage.
Seeing Kagami deep in thought, Rinjin smiled, a genuinely happy smile.
"Kagami, you must understand that for Lord Danzo, power is not just a sweet fruit but also a stepping stone to becoming Hokage.
He lends you power, lends it to the Uchiha clan, showing you the dawn of harmony with the village.
Would you take the chance? Of course, you would!
But is it free? No, there's always a price."
As he spoke, Rinjin slowly raised his hand and pointed to his own eye. In a deep voice, he said:
"This might be your payment."
Hearing this, Kagami's face turned pale, and he instinctively retreated, shaking his head violently.
"No, that's impossible! He's not an Uchiha. He can't use the Sharingan!"
Watching Kagami's Sharingan unconsciously manifest into its three-tomoe form, Rinjin's expression turned serious. He slowly stood up.
"Kagami, ore wa omae ni itteiru—only by relying on yourself can you secure a bright future for the Uchiha clan."
With that, Rinjin patted Kagami on the shoulder and walked toward the wooden door.
At that moment, Kagami grabbed Rinjin's arm.
Looking at Rinjin, Kagami suddenly remembered the first time they met, back in Tobirama-sensei's office.
Back then, Rinjin was just a weak but incredibly clever kid.
It was then, upon meeting Danzo for the first time, that Rinjin had pointed out Danzo's greatest weakness: arrogance.
Because of that, Danzo completely lost his chance to compete for the Hokage position.
Even when they were being pursued by Kinkaku and Ginkaku, Danzo had stepped forward after Hiruzen, offering to stay behind as bait.
Rinjin-kun had a gift for seeing through people, a gift Kagami deeply envied.
Thinking this, Kagami stared at Rinjin and slowly asked:
"Rinjin-kun, can I trust you?"
This was the same question he had asked the first time he met Rinjin privately. Now, he asked it again.
And Rinjin's answer was the same as before, delivered with a bright, sunny smile.
"You can always trust Rinjin Sakuho!"
Staring at Rinjin, Kagami smiled, a smile as bright as Rinjin's.
"My friend! Please… lend me your wisdom once more!"
Hearing this, Rinjin sighed and then spoke.
"Kagami, you're lucky. You still have time."
Unlike those two poor kids in the future.
"Believe in your own strength, Kagami!
Feign death. Erase your existence. Hide in the shadows.
Time will reveal Danzo's true intentions.
Control the Uchiha. Eliminate the stubborn ones who stand in your way.
Cultivate the next clan leader. Change him. Pass on your Will of Fire.
Let him go on to change one Uchiha after another!"
At the end, Rinjin paused, then suddenly grinned, silently adding in his heart:
As for the village's reaction? Watch and see. When you're utterly disillusioned, come find me.
Leaving those final words, Rinjin patted Kagami on the shoulder and walked away without looking back.
Standing on the wall, Rinjin looked at the tea room, its faint light still glowing, and let out a quiet sigh.
My friend, live on.