"Honestly, we should just leave Konoha. Walk away for good and establish our own hidden village."
"Exactly! The Uchiha are the strongest clan in the entire Leaf — no, even among the Five Great Nations! If we build our own village, we'll definitely survive in this chaotic era."
"If we'd known things would end up like this, we should've followed Madara back then…"
The Uchiha clansmen were restless and loud with complaints.
Even after returning home from the execution grounds, their anger hadn't cooled in the slightest.
There were many reasons, of course.
As the clan with the strongest combat abilities and the authority of the Konoha Military Police Force, the Uchiha had accumulated plenty of enemies over daily disputes. Other villagers often viewed them with suspicion — even outright hostility.
Add to that their own pride and refusal to bow or socialize like other clans, and living in Konoha had always been suffocating.
Now the newly appointed Fourth Hokage — Senju Homelander — had staged a public execution, using an unrelated criminal as a warning against rebellion.
The message targeted at the Uchiha was loud and clear.
And that only fueled their already-growing resentment.
"Clan Head, we should revolt!"
"Yeah! Let's rebel!"
"I can't stand a single day more in this village!"
"Clan Head! Clan Head!"
Hearing the boiling dissatisfaction of his people, even the normally composed Uchiha Fugaku felt a surge of impulsive anger.
But that anger dissipated the moment his eyes landed on his eldest son — still young — Uchiha Itachi.
"…Call Shisui."
Fugaku ordered calmly.
Before long, the Uchiha's shining young prodigy — Uchiha Shisui — arrived.
He was already recognized as an elite jōnin of Konoha, and in the Third Great Ninja War he earned the fearsome title "Shisui of the Body Flicker."
It wouldn't be long before he entered the Anbu and became part of the village's most elite combat force.
Fugaku summoned him to gauge his stance.
But Shisui's answer was not encouraging.
"I believe the Uchiha and the village can still find a way to coexist in balance, Clan Head. Please… I hope you reconsider."
Shisui's voice was sincere, but Fugaku only responded with a silent shake of the head.
Without Shisui, a coup would be almost certain to fail.
However, Shisui did not reject the clan outright.
"If I get the chance to approach the village leadership, I won't let them destroy the Uchiha easily. Clan Head, please trust me — I will handle this properly. We can still live in peace."
With that, Shisui took his leave.
As he walked out, a faint green glow flickered in his eyes.
The new Fourth Hokage was someone he'd never heard of before, and Shisui had no idea who this "Senju Homelander" even was.
He didn't know why the village elders rejected the famed Namikaze Minato and chose this unknown man instead — he felt only mild curiosity.
But the execution that publicly shamed the Uchiha had spread through the clan with explosive speed.
As a member of the Uchiha and out of concern for his kin, Shisui felt compelled to act.
At the very least, he needed to understand the Fourth Hokage's true attitude toward the Uchiha.
If there really was danger, he could still mediate before things spiraled out of control.
Therefore, as soon as he passed the Anbu trials, Shisui went straight to Homelander and expressed clearly:
"I will dedicate myself fully to protecting you, Lord Fourth!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, Koharu, and the other elders exchanged troubled looks.
"Shisui… You're certainly capable enough for the Hokage Guard Platoon," the Third Hokage said, pipe in hand. "But you understand our concern."
Danzo cut in sharply:
"Kotoamatsukami allows you to manipulate a person's will without them ever realizing it. You think we'd let you get near the Hokage?!"
He said what everyone else was thinking.
In truth, he feared Shisui might control Homelander and lead the Uchiha in slaughtering the entire village.
After all, he had tasted firsthand the terrifying power of this new Hokage.
If the elders were already so wary, Shisui could only remain silent.
Kotoamatsukami truly was an overwhelming technique — but Shisui would never use it for evil.
"I don't see any harm in giving a newcomer a fair chance."
Homelander suddenly spoke.
As a transmigrator, he naturally understood Shisui's character — and the sheer absurd might of Kotoamatsukami.
If they rejected Shisui outright, Danzo would almost certainly take advantage of it. He might even corner Shisui until he had no choice but to flee — giving Danzo the opportunity to strike.
No way was Homelander going to let that old fossil profit.
If anything, he wanted this powerful talent — or more accurately, these powerful eyes — under his own control.
So he smiled warmly.
It was a smile Shisui had never seen from anyone outside the Uchiha.
In that moment, he felt a warmth melt through the ice in his heart.
"T-thank you, Lord Fourth…"
Shisui blushed slightly.
Seeing Homelander's attitude, the elders had nothing left to say.
Danzo didn't dare argue, and even Hiruzen and Koharu held their tongues.
"Very well, Shisui," the Third Hokage said. "From now on, follow Lord Fourth and carry out your duties loyally."
He couldn't understand what Homelander was thinking.
Accepting an Uchiha into the Hokage Guard?
Was this man pro-Uchiha?
The thought made Hiruzen momentarily regret choosing him as Hokage…
But then he remembered Homelander's earlier speech — and realized this young man's political depth might run far deeper than expected.
At the very least, Danzo didn't even dare speak loudly in his presence.
"I will, Lord Third. Please rest assured."
Shisui said, then vanished with the Body Flicker.
Homelander smiled as he watched him go, then casually flipped two pages of a desk calendar.
Later that very evening—
A man dressed in black, wearing an orange spiral mask, stood perched atop Konoha's highest power pole, overlooking the entire village.
At the edge of his vision, he noticed a red-haired woman gently touching her belly, speaking joyfully to someone beside her.
"So Kushina is already pregnant… Then I must bring my plan forward."
He lowered his gaze to his hands.
The red Sharingan spun rapidly, shifting into Mangekyō.
"As long as I summon the Nine-Tails… these hypocrites will finally get what they deserve!"
He hissed with hatred—
Completely unaware that someone was floating behind him.
"Hellooo~!"
Homelander cheerfully patted the masked man on the shoulder.
Nearly scared him to death.