"Is Hui going to act?"
As a clone of the original, with shared memories, Uchiha Kiyo naturally understood Hui's plans intimately.
Regarding Hui's decision, Uchiha Kiyo was fully in support. Although shadow clones and their original may develop subtle differences in personality due to their experiences, there is virtually no deviation in their core judgment and decision-making process.
To put it simply—he was still walking alone.
Uchiha Kiyo had never held a clear stance regarding the broader ninja world.
From the time he hid himself while weak, to his low-key development, to the eventual faked death and departure from Konoha—Uchiha Kiyo had only ever been focused on his own path forward, investing all efforts into cultivation.
The events and direction of the ninja world barely influenced his thoughts. Rarely did he intervene, and even rarer was the occasion he attempted to guide or influence outcomes.
The most he had done was attempt to alter the fates of a few friends—but even those efforts were driven more by personal sentiment and practical needs than by any grand vision.
Uchiha Kiyo had never entertained the notion that he could—or should—change the world.
Not seriously, anyway.
To put it bluntly, he simply hadn't been strong enough to do so.
Like when they failed to save Nawaki Senju—strength was the issue. All talk of "fate" or "the flow of events" were mere platitudes to comfort the powerless.
There is no such thing as a predetermined destiny.
There is only the refusal to surrender, the resolve to defy, and the will to grasp fate with one's own hands.
Nothing is truly unchangeable.
If it seems so, then it only means one hasn't tried hard enough—or more accurately, isn't strong enough.
This realization truly struck Uchiha Kiyo after he succeeded in saving Sakumo Hatake.
Compared to the helpless failure with Nawaki, rescuing Sakumo had been relatively smooth, and it made Uchiha Kiyo understand—
Destiny is malleable. It can be changed, but it comes with inertia.
Only when one is powerful enough to overcome that inertia can change be effected.
Moreover, the method of change is crucial.
Back then, Uchiha Kiyo didn't simply try to stop Sakumo's suicide. Instead, he faked Sakumo's death and "resurrected" him later.
This approach minimized the deviation from the original course of events. The fates of Kakashi and others remained nearly untouched, and so the operation succeeded with minimal resistance.
As for how Sakumo's death—or survival—would affect Kakashi's future, that was no longer Kiyo's concern; that was Sakumo's burden to bear.
The overall power level of the ninja world wasn't particularly high—especially after the deaths of Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara.
Following two great wars, super shadow-level individuals had become more legend than reality.
Shadow-level ninja could still be overwhelmed by numbers.
The death of the Third Raikage was proof enough. Though it was said he had faced 10,000 Iwa-nin, it wasn't that he defeated 10,000—it was that he fought them until he fell.
Eventually, even a fortress crumbles.
That alone proved it—being a Kage-level ninja didn't mean one had the power to shape the future of the shinobi world.
Only those who reached the level of Madara or Hashirama had the right to speak of peace—or to enact a true transformation.
Even now, Uchiha Kiyo hadn't reached that height.
But the development of his Immortal Cultivation System—the progress of four major bloodline limits—the looming breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment Stage… all of it gave him a glimpse of the Super Shadow realm.
And with that glimpse, he finally started looking at the ninja world from a broader perspective.
For the first time, Uchiha Kiyo was forming genuine thoughts on the world order—and entertaining the notion of reshaping it.
"This is a world where the strong devour the weak. Strength is everything."
Without strength, ideals are meaningless, peace is an illusion, and survival itself is uncertain.
Who could even think of changing the world when staying alive was a struggle?
That's why Uchiha Kiyo never considered the big picture. He focused solely on his cultivation, rarely touching upon matters that concerned the fate of the ninja world.
He simply didn't have the qualification to consider them.
The poor focus on themselves. The rich can care for the world.
Was Uchiha Kiyo blind to the darkness? Unaware of the world's cruelty?
Of course not.
He was perhaps more deeply aware than anyone in this world.
In his past life, he had known peace—true peace.
A world of order and civility, without war, without chaos. Threats were minimal, death was distant.
It was a life where one could live without ever seeing the shadows.
After twenty-some years in such a world, waking up in the Naruto world—steeped in violence, death, and trauma—was jarring.
He understood the pain and the darkness more vividly than the natives did.
How could he not want to change things?
Even in his past life, watching anime, reading manga and fan fiction, he had entertained thoughts of changing the ninja world.
Bringing peace. Healing trauma.
Let alone the past life—this life, too, had moments that sparked that desire.
His first kill. The separation of ranks. The death of Nawaki.
Every one of these moments stirred something inside him—a wish to fix things.
A fleeting dream of altering the course.
But back then, the strength just wasn't there. He had no right to think such thoughts.
After faking his death and vanishing from the world stage, Uchiha Kiyo focused entirely on growth.
There was no room left for idealism.
But today—this day—was the first time he genuinely reflected on the ninja world's state.
"What can I bring to this world?"
What legacy does a man leave behind?
What mark justifies his existence?
Living a life in the ninja world without influencing it in some way… that felt hollow.
"My personal pursuit is longevity. I aim to cultivate immortality, remain detached, live eternally—but that feels empty."
Doing something for the world, then departing… that felt more fulfilling.
Immortal cultivation may bring freedom, but it lacks heart.
So, what can I do for the ninja world?
What could be more meaningful than achieving peace?
Sometimes, Uchiha Kiyo thought—
The ninja world seemed doomed to oscillate between war and peace, never staying in one or the other for long.
Any powerful ninja—given enough time—would eventually face the question: War or Peace?
"War and peace are the dual themes of this world."
In game terms, war and peace were the main questline of the shinobi world.
Perhaps achieving true peace was the final mission—clearing the game.
But what defines peace?
That's up for interpretation.
Hashirama's vision… Uchiha Kiyo couldn't fully understand.
Madara's version meant unification, evolving into illusionary utopia.
Nagato's peace came through overwhelming force—a deterrence of fear.
But in truth, all peace is relative.
Absolute peace doesn't exist.
"Relative peace is the only achievable stability."
Uchiha Kiyo dismissed Madara's and Nagato's ideologies.
There will always be conflict.
From petty disputes to blood feuds, it's inevitable.
True peace is not about erasing all conflict.
It's about constructing a system—an order—within which conflicts can be resolved without descending into war.
This was Uchiha Kiyo's insight—his embryonic view of peace.
It wasn't complete yet. It still needed refining.
But the seed had been planted.
"The Fourth Great Ninja War may be our opportunity…"
Hui's arrangements alone wouldn't suffice.
Ma Jia, Tushi, Yun, Zhen—all had to be mobilized.
Even Kiyo himself needed to begin laying groundwork for the peace he envisioned.
Of course, none of this should hinder his cultivation.
Cultivation remained the cornerstone.
Strength was the root. Without it, nothing else could be realized.
Even now, though Kiyo had purpose and vision, his power was insufficient to bulldoze obstacles.
Subtlety was still required.
Strategy, deception, foresight—all tools of the trade.
Preparation was key.
"Ma Jia has been embedded in Sunagakure for years. He's integrated with the upper echelon. Let him monitor the Third Kazekage.
Also, Jisheng's reincarnation cycle must be accelerated. Even if incomplete, it must take shape soon.
Tushi must intervene in the battle surrounding the Third Raikage during the war.
Yun is still active in Akatsuki. Whether it's during Nagato's fall into darkness or the later phase of the Tailed Beast collection, he must be present.
I can't wield the Rinnegan myself, but studying its techniques—Shinra Tensei, Chibaku Tensei—may help enhance the Gravity Pupil.
As for Kirigakure, Zhen is embedded there. She can provide intel, act in critical moments.
Finally, Hui remains the key. The others support. Hui is the spearhead. Through Konoha, he'll participate in the Third Great War, and he'll be our blade in every major event."
Without realizing it, Uchiha Kiyo's clones were already positioned.
All that remained was persistence and timing.
Through the next war, Uchiha Kiyo could begin shaping the shinobi world toward peace.
Sometimes he wondered—should he form an organization like Akatsuki?
But every time he considered it, he dismissed the thought.
Any group he formed would be… well, clones of himself.
"Still, it could serve as a smokescreen… a phantom group to confuse enemies. Now I just need a good name…"
Konoha
After confirming his objective and setting his sights on Nohara Rin, Hui began the preliminary preparations.
Rin, set to graduate next year, would soon be assigned to Namikaze Minato's squad alongside Obito and Kakashi.
For now, she was still in the Academy—a civilian-born kunoichi, without political shielding…