Konoha Village.
The rain stopped the next morning. Sunshine poured through the clouds, washing the village in gold.
A faint rainbow arched across the sky — and in its glow, the laughter of children and the easy smiles of villagers returned to the streets.
Even the shinobi hurrying along the rooftops paused for a moment, their expressions softening beneath the rare light.
"Congratulations, Mikoto-senpai. You're about to become a tokubetsu jōnin."
Ye's voice carried warmth as the two of them walked side by side through the busy avenue.
But Mikoto's eyes, though gentle, held a trace of heaviness.
"My grandfather's health is failing. My Sharingan may only have two tomoe, but… someone has to shoulder the clan's responsibilities."
A simple line — yet the meaning behind it spoke volumes.
Uchiha Setsuna, the hawkish elder, was dying.
And as his only grandchild, Mikoto would inevitably inherit his remaining influence and factional ties.
"Elder Setsuna…?" Ye asked, feigning concern while quietly processing what it meant.
Inside, however, he couldn't help a tiny smile.
A dying elder meant a shifting clan structure — and Mikoto, the new successor, was the perfect "connection."
Mikoto caught his look and smiled wryly.
"It's fine. That old man passing sooner might actually be a blessing — one less person the clan has to worry about."
Ye chuckled lightly, but his mind raced.
Tokubetsu jōnin, two-tomoe Sharingan, heir to the elder's faction… yes, that's a thigh worth holding on to.
Suddenly, Mikoto stopped walking.
She turned, her eyes locking with his. Her hands gently rose, cupping his face as she spoke quietly but firmly.
"Ye."
Her tone was serious, carrying the weight of something unspoken.
"Time isn't on our side. Your chūnin promotion will come soon, but you must awaken your eyes as soon as possible. I'll need your strength."
Ye's expression hardened, his voice resolute.
"Don't worry, Mikoto-senpai. I'll help you — no matter what."
He said it with conviction, but inside he added silently: I'd be an idiot to waste a chance like this.
With Setsuna on his last legs and Mikoto set to inherit his power, helping her meant helping himself.
It was no wonder she had been so desperate to push him toward awakening his Sharingan.
When they reached the Uchiha compound, a commotion rippled through the streets.
"Did you hear? The First Hokage's grandson — Nawaki — he's dead!"
The words struck like a bell through the air.
Mikoto froze, shock clouding her face.
"That can't be… he was the First's only living descendant."
Ye's stomach dropped, though for an entirely different reason.
Tsunade already knew. She was warned. And still— it happened?
Something was off. Terribly off.
At the Memorial Stone.
Rows of names gleamed under the morning light.
In front of a newly carved stone stood Tsunade, draped in a blue battle cloak, her golden hair darkened by shadow.
In her hand, the First Hokage's necklace glimmered faintly. Tears streamed freely down her cheeks.
Her expression was one of grief — but beneath that grief, burned cold fury.
"Nawaki…" she whispered.
Footsteps approached softly through the grass.
"Commander Tsunade!"
Ye appeared at the edge of the clearing, clothes still stained with dirt and ash from his recent mission.
He carried a small bouquet of white chrysanthemums.
He stepped forward and placed the flowers quietly before the stone.
"I… just returned to the village this morning," he said softly. "When I heard about it, I couldn't believe—"
Crack!
Before he could finish, Tsunade's arm lashed out — a backhand strike laced with raw chakra.
Ye flew backward, crashing into the ground several meters away.
White petals scattered through the air like snow.
Her eyes burned as she glared at him.
Ye slowly pushed himself up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
He said nothing — only gathered the fallen flowers one by one.
"Commander Tsunade," he said at last, his voice steady but low. "This must be a setup. Someone's trying to drive a wedge between you and the village."
His tone was pained, his eyes filled with confusion and conviction — perfectly playing the part of the naïve, loyal Uchiha.
Even Tsunade faltered for a heartbeat. He doesn't know… does he?
"Shut up!" she snapped suddenly. "You… damned Uchiha brat!"
She had already guessed he was only a pawn in someone else's game — but she couldn't let her reaction betray anything. The enemy's eyes might still be watching.
Her voice trembled with fury.
"This intel came from your clan's elder — Uchiha Setsuna!"
Each word landed like a hammer.
Ye froze, his expression turning pale.
"Commander Tsunade!" he cried, eyes burning with desperate resolve.
Tsunade blinked in surprise — the fire in his gaze almost too real. Don't tell me… he actually believes it?
And then —
"Commander!" Ye shouted. "If Elder Setsuna has betrayed Konoha, I'll deal with him myself!"
"Silence!"
Tsunade's killing intent flared. The air trembled.
Even for her, this was too much.
"Don't speak such nonsense!" she barked.
Ye clenched his fists, his teeth gritting hard enough to draw blood.
To Tsunade, it looked like a loyal fool's heartbreak — a boy torn between his clan and the village.
To Ye, it was simply keeping the performance airtight.
Her voice grew quieter but sharper. "Remember the confidentiality code. Whatever you think you know — forget it."
The words were both warning and mercy.
Ye bowed his head, shadows falling over his eyes.
The wind rustled.
Tsunade turned away, staring at her brother's name on the stone.
Ye stepped closer, setting the white chrysanthemums neatly in front of the grave.
Silence stretched between them — two people, standing over a grave, both mourning for entirely different reasons.
Finally, Tsunade's voice broke the stillness.
"This intelligence… It's been confirmed as an act of foreign espionage," she said hoarsely. "The matter ends here."
Ye's fingers tightened slightly, but he nodded.
"Because of the war…" he murmured.
The words carried a bitter understanding — because of the war, some truths must be buried.
Tsunade didn't answer. Her silence was as good as confirmation.
For a long while, neither spoke.
Then Ye turned his back to her, fists clenched, voice trembling with resolve.
"Commander Tsunade… Uchiha Ye formally requests deployment to the Rain Country frontlines!"
Her eyes widened in shock.
For a brief instant, the mask of the stoic commander slipped.
This stupid Uchiha brat…! she thought bitterly. He's really going to throw his life away just to prove his loyalty?
Before she could respond, Ye's expression twisted. His body shuddered violently.
"Ye?!"
Tsunade's instincts screamed — something was wrong.
In a flash, she was at his side, her hand already glowing with green chakra.
But as her palm hovered over his shoulder, she felt it — his chakra flow was chaotic, wildly unstable, as though something foreign was moving beneath his skin.
Her eyes narrowed.
"…What the hell is happening to you?"
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