After Mito's funeral, the village of Konoha gradually returned to its rhythm, though the shadow of the Second Ninja War still loomed.
The war was still in its early stages. For now, it was Konoha on the offensive, launching preemptive strikes into neighboring nations. This gave them enough breathing room to recall select forces to attend Mito's burial.
Inside a dimly lit bar, the same one Orochimaru had brought Kadoya to when they first met, a group had gathered once again.
"So, you're all heading to the battlefield tomorrow," Kadoya said quietly, sipping his drink as he leaned back against the wall.
"This sucks!" Tsunade groaned, slamming down her sake cup. "How am I supposed to gamble when I'm neck-deep in war!?"
"You know this war is important, Tsunade. You can't just wander off to hit the tables," Jiraiya replied with a grin, only to be silenced by the murderous glare she threw his way.
The white-haired shinobi quickly turned his head, pretending to cough to hide his retreat.
Orochimaru, unbothered by their antics, calmly lifted a piece of roasted chicken with his chopsticks and placed it in his mouth, savoring the rich, smoky flavor. His golden snake-like eyes flicked toward the other side of the table, where three young students sat.
Kadoya, Minato, and Saiguu.
The students of the gambling, drugs, and smut trio.
Each represented the future, each had trained under one of the Future Legendary Sannin for the past two years.
Saiguu quietly studied the sake cup in front of her, curious. She'd seen adults drink it often, but had never tried it herself.
Minato, ever composed, took a small sip of orange juice before wrapping a piece of grilled meat in lettuce and happily biting into it.
Then there was Kadoya, silently enjoying the meal.
"So," Orochimaru said, his voice hoarse, "do you have any plans after graduation, Kadoya?"
The question hung in the air.
"Not really, I want to see what the future has for me first." Kadoya simply replies with a casual shrug.
As Kadoya's Jonin instructor, Orochimaru knew the tides of war would soon turn fierce. If the situation worsened, it wouldn't be surprising for the Third Hokage to send even freshly graduated genin into battle.
If that happened, Kadoya's team might reunite only to be thrust directly into the fire.
Because of Kadoya, the original story changed in many ways due to the butterfly effect his existence created.
According to his memory, the Second Great Ninja War only lasted two years; right now, the Second Great Ninja War has already started. But currently, Nawaki was only 9 close to 10 even.
If his destiny is to step on an explosive tag and die at the age of 12.
Doesn't that mean Nawaki would die a few months before the war ended?
Talk about bad luck.
Seeing that Tsunade was about to pummel Jiraiya for teasing her, Kadoya decided to interject.
"Tsunade-sensei, what are your thoughts on Nawaki?"
Everyone at the table: "???"
Tsunade blinked in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"
Kadoya took a calm sip of sake before replying, "Right now, I don't see much hope for Nawaki on the path of a ninja."
The room fell silent.
The cup in Tsunade's hand cracked slightly under the pressure of her grip. The air around her seemed to drop in temperature.
"Oi… And why's that?" she asked, voice low and dangerous.
"Don't get me wrong, he still has the basic qualities of a ninja. But in terms of potential… I doubt he'll reach beyond Chunin level."
He looked straight into her now furious eyes, his tone steady, unaffected.
Tsunade loved Nawaki dearly. Sure, she teased him relentlessly and pulled pranks on him, took his money, but it was all to toughen him up, to sharpen his instincts. Deep down, she wanted nothing more than for her little brother to grow up strong, to become a great shinobi like their grandfather, and perhaps even achieve his dream of becoming Hokage.
So for someone to casually dismiss Nawaki's potential, it was like telling her she sucked at gambling.
…Which, while true, was still a punch-worthy offense.
"Wake up to reality, Sensei," Kadoya said, pouring himself another cup. "You think the higher-ups will ever allow the Senju clan to regain its former glory?"
He took a sip. "Some of them already discarded Kushina's name the moment she became the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki. Do you really think they'd sit back and let Nawaki rise up and revive the Senju?"
His words hit like a kunai to the chest.
None of the others spoke, but his point was clear. Even Minato frowned, remembering how Danzo had referred to Kushina not by name, but as "the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."
Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru, who had spent years training under the Third, had all encountered Danzo more than enough times to see the darkness lurking in his ambitions.
"You know," Kadoya continued, voice calm but dripping with disdain, "Grandma Mito had just passed, yet some of the higher-ups have already started scheming to divide the Uzumaki's inheritance. All under the name of 'protecting Konoha.'"
Tsunade's voice dropped into a growl. "They're trying to do what?"
The cup in her hand crumbled into dust.
"You heard me," Kadoya said flatly, unfazed.
After sealing the Hana Hana no Mi within himself, Kadoya could spy on just about anyone in the village without getting caught. An ear under a table, an eye in a dark corner, that was all he needed.
"If Mito-sama hadn't named me as the Uzumaki clan head, I guarantee one of them would've gone to Kushina already. They'd smile, talk about the Will of Fire and the 'greater good of the village,' then ask her to 'entrust' all the Uzumaki's techniques to the village for safekeeping."
He adjusted his posture and messed with his hair, ruffling it until it turned a vibrant red, mimicking Kushina's style.
Then, in a bubbly voice, he mocked, "Yes! For Konoha! Here's all of our ancient jutsu! I trust you!"
Everyone at the table: "…"
Jiraiya burst into laughter.
Saiguu quickly covered her mouth to hide a chuckle.
Minato looked conflicted.
Even Orochimaru cracked a rare smirk, clearly impressed by Kadoya's method of hair color change.
Tsunade, meanwhile, was too stunned to decide whether she should laugh… or punch someone.
Because the worst part was: he wasn't wrong.
Kushina wasn't the sharpest kunai in the pouch. Everyone knew it.
Still, Tsunade's emotions hit a breaking point. Her brother had just been mocked. Her student had roasted Kushina. And now she learned that her clan's legacy was being picked apart like scraps.
She turned and punched Jiraiya straight through the wall.
Jiraiya: "!!?"
Everyone: "!!?"
Tsunade sat back down, unbothered, then pointed at Kadoya and addressed the bar owner. "He's paying for it."
Kadoya: "Heh!?"
He had agreed to cover the tab for food and drinks… property damage wasn't part of the deal.
Tsunade let out a long sigh, grabbed the bottle of sake, and began drinking directly from it.
Kadoya didn't say anything and just calmly ordered more food and drink as Jiraiya limped back to their seat.
Part of the reason for Kadoya not inviting Kushina here was because of the alcohol, and part that if she were here, the ANBU and ROOT would most likely follow and would overhear their conversation.
That wasn't something he wanted, he wanted to warn those close to him about the hidden threat in the village first before they would eventually discover this darkness by themselves.
By doing this, they would at least be able to prepare themselves for what may come.
The group continued to eat, and after a few bottles, both Tsunade and Saiguu had become drunk.
"DAMN THEM!" Tsunade shouted, her face flushing red, slamming the table with her fist, one arm wrapped around Orochimaru's neck while her foot kicked Jiraiya's back.
"Tch... Those old fossils..." Saiguu whispers in disgust, her face also flushed red like Tsunade's, she leans on Kadoya while using Minato as a footrest.
The scene looks somewhat comical with the resemblance between the six of them.
"Uh, I think you should never let Saiguu drink again." Minato leaned toward his best friend and whispered in a low tone.
"No one asks you!" Saiguu, who was still drunk and obviously heard him, gave Minato a swift uppercut as his body crashed into the wall, leaving a large crack.
"Not bad kid!" Tsunade compliments and also kicks Jiraiya away, creating another hole in the wall.
They both turned toward the worried owner, then pointed toward Kadoya. "He'll cover it."
The two said in perfect unison.
Kadoya: "..."
He didn't bother complaining anymore, money isn't an issue for him after all. He will just make a mental note not to order alcohol next time when these two are out.
Ororchimaru reached over and placed a hand on Kadoya's shoulder, giving him a reassuring look. "Stay strong."
Snake Uncle said in his hoarse voice, giving what little encouragement he could, after all, he doesn't want to pick up that long bill. Tsunade has took his and Jiraiya's mission pay and probably gamble it all.
The three of them are somewhat broke.
Minato isn't rich.
Saiguu is too drunk to care, and the Hyuga probably would only pay for her share.
So currently, the only one who could pay right now could only be Kadoya.
The owner was happy to see that Kadoya managed to pay it all, and he won't have to leave the tap on the Hokage Office like before.
The group of six walks out, with Jiraiya and Orochimaru helping Tsunade walk back to the Senju Compound.
Snake Uncle and Pervy Sage turn back to say goodbye to the kids before leaving with the drunken Princess.
Minato laughed awkwardly, turning to see Kadoya carrying Saiguu on his back.
"Well, today was unexpected." He said, and Kadoya just simply nodded.
They really didn't expect Saiguu and Tsunade to suddenly become drinking buddies, before turning into a copy of each other while drunk. Cursing the elders while doing whatever they want.
"Say, Kadoya..." Minato began, looking a bit awkward. "Your red hair looks great."
He said, recalling how beautiful his best friend's red hair was, turning back, Minato didn't see Kadoya or Saiguu anywhere.
After Minato said those words, Kadoya felt a cold chill running up his spine, so he used Clock Up to quickly leave. Carrying the sleeping Hyuga girl on his back as he moved through the empty streets of Konoha.
Stopping in front of the Hyuga Compound, Kadoya quickly stopped in front of the gate before knocking on the door.
After some time, the door was open, and a Hyuga servant quickly noticed the sleeping Hyuga girl on his back.
"Lady Saiguu!?"
The guard quickly opened the door, but before he could ask what had happened, Kadoya simply said.
"Our Jonin Teacher takes us for a meal, and she gets to taste alcohol. Just help her back into her room."
Listening to Kadoya's words, the guard could only give a respectful bow before taking Saiguu off his back and bringing her back into her room.
Kadoya quickly leaves, returning to the Uchiha Clan.
The moment he set foot into the Uchiha Clan land, he could feel it, the hostile gaze and killing intent directed toward him.
In the dark night, multiple crimson red eyes locked onto him from a distance, seeing this, Kadoya didn't panic, he didn't even flinch.
Even with so many Sharingan staring at him, Danzo would even feel intimidated by it, but Kadoya still had nothing to be scared of.
They are just Sharingans, not even the Mangekyou, simple genjutsu are unaffected on him with his Psychic Plate. They don't use Water Release, and they don't know Senjutsu, so there is nothing they can do against his flame body.
Even with the number advantage, they couldn't harm him.
Kadoya's calm gaze moved toward the thirty- or forty-year-old man approaching him.
"Kadoya Uchiha..." The old man began looking down at him with his three-tomoe Sharingan. "Or should I say Kadoya Uzumaki? The Current Clan Head of the Uzumaki."
"You are..." Kadoya tilted his head, not recognizing who this old guy was.
"Setsuna Uchiha." He finished Kadoya's questions before his expression hardened.
"Care to explain why you have forsaken the honor of the Uchiha. And taken on that cursed woman's name?" Setsuna didn't beat around the bush and went right to the matter.
"Honor? Can the current Uchiha Clan still carry the honor you are speaking of?"
Instead of directly answering, he counter with his own questions which only make the other Uchiha's hatred toward him intensified.
In a swift motion, Kadoya quickly found himself surrounded by Uchiha shinobi, their blade drawn, crimson eyes glowing in the dark night, trying their best to intimidate him.
"Oh, I see." Kadoya suddenly began, a sinister smirk forming on the corner of his lips. "This is the current honor of the Uchiha, gathering thirty-seven shinobi to gang up on an Academy Student."
Kadoya let out a mocking chuckle, which caused the surrounding ninjas to tense up, feeling a bit uneasy. After all, the act of bullying the weak is looked down upon in the Uchiha Clan, yet, here they are.
Thirty-seven shinobi are circling around an Academy Student.
If words got out, the Uchiha would become a laughing stock in the entire village.
Tension grew, and no one dared to make the first move despite the massive numerical advantage.
Seeing that they are just standing around and staring, Kadoya decides that he will be the first to make a move.
Reaching for his scarf, Kadoya simply replaced it with a red fur cape that looked more like a royal cloak due to his size, the cape billowed in the night wind, before a smile appeared on his lips.
"Let's dance."