"A group of ninjas with abundant martial virtue, but brains... hmm, perhaps a bit offensive, but rather straight-forward."
Such a blunt and unadorned evaluation made Weaver-Moon Uchiha frown slightly, but she didn't lash out.
She could tell Night wasn't speaking with malice; it sounded more like an objective statement.
"Konoha needs the Uchiha's power."
Night continued, gazing into the distance. "But some people seem to prefer this power to be fenced within a certain range. Ideally, it should cause some trouble from time to time to make it easier to manage."
Weaver-Moon's pupils constricted slightly, and her fingers tightened unconsciously.
Night's words nearly pierced through the tacit barrier between the Uchiha and the village's high command.
"You're just saying it out loud?" Her voice lowered involuntarily, laced with disbelief.
"It's just the two of us here."
Night shrugged indifferently, his posture exceptionally relaxed.
"Besides, isn't it obvious? I'm just a division captain who wants a peaceful life. I don't want my subordinates getting into trouble over avoidable conflicts and increasing my workload for no reason."
His words were half-true, positioning himself as someone "afraid of trouble," which actually dissolved some of the probing intent.
Weaver-Moon looked at him deeply, seemingly trying to find a flaw in his calm face, but found nothing.
She fell silent, but her heart was far less calm than her exterior.
A brief silence flowed between them, with only the rustling of leaves overhead in the breeze.
Weaver-Moon Uchiha wasn't an ordinary member. She was one of the few in the younger generation who had a clear understanding of the current situation and felt anxious about it.
The arrogance of her clansmen and the alienation of the village were like a tightening noose, often making her feel suffocated.
Until Night's appearance. His efficient, articulate way of handling affairs, so different from the Uchiha.
And his current attitude of frankly pointing out the predicament felt like a lifeline thrown to a drowning person. She couldn't help but want to grab it and trace it to its source.
"So..."
She took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and looked at Night with burning eyes. "Under your 'don't want trouble' stance, what is your true attitude toward us Uchiha?
Konoha high command shoved you in here. Are you content to just be a bystander, or... a tool to be used?"
She leaned her upper body forward, her posture aggressive. The distance between them shortened until Night could clearly see the complex emotions churning in her eyes.
Night was slightly surprised by her directness and proximity.
He had originally just wanted to deal with things perfunctorily, maintain superficial peace, and facilitate his slacking off and secret planning.
Unexpectedly, her personality was so straightforward, revealing a somewhat cute stubbornness.
"My attitude?"
Night leaned back slightly, creating a bit of distance, his tone remaining flat. "I told you, I'm afraid of trouble. At least for now, a Police Force that is internally stable and causes fewer external problems fits my interests best.
As for being used..."
The corner of his mouth curled into a slightly mocking arc. "That depends on whether the person using me can afford the price."
He paused, looking at Weaver-Moon's eyes brightening at his words, and decided to add fuel to the fire. "The Uchiha clan possesses strength but is trapped by reputation and the high command's suspicion. To break this situation, unless you have power that crushes all rules like the First Hokage or Madara Uchiha...
Otherwise, all head-on collisions are futile. What you truly need is to change the rules from within the framework, or find someone who can change the rules."
"Change the rules? Easier said than done..." Weaver-Moon murmured, her eyes a bit dazed.
"If you haven't tried, how do you know it won't work?"
Night's tone was relaxed, as if talking about something simple.
"At least, starting from when I took over the Fourth Division, I don't want 'my people' to suffer from groundless accusations.
Of course, this is just a beginning. But over time, some things will always change."
His words were like a clear spring falling onto the parched land of Weaver-Moon's heart.
She had never heard such thinking. The elders in the clan either advocated for tougher stances or helpless endurance.
This method of analyzing and breaking the deadlock with near-cold rationality felt novel to her, even exhilarating.
In her excitement, she unconsciously leaned even closer.
This time, they were almost touching. She looked up, her warm breath brushing past Night's cheek.
A faint, elegant fragrance unique to women wafted over.
Night was slightly stunned. Only then did he belatedly realize that this Uchiha elite had inherited the clan's fine tradition of good looks.
A fair face, exquisite features, and especially those black eyes, exceptionally bright right now due to emotional agitation.
A faint blush quietly appeared on her cheeks due to her excitement.
The atmosphere became subtle and somewhat ambiguous at this moment.
Weaver-Moon also instantly realized the overly close distance. The blush on her face deepened, and she instinctively moved to retreat.
However, having never been this close to the opposite sex before, her heart inexplicably skipped a beat, and her movements unconsciously slowed down.
"Am I interrupting something?"
A female voice carrying shock and a trace of imperceptible anger sounded nearby. It wasn't loud, but it exploded like thunder not far away.
Night and Weaver-Moon were startled simultaneously, separating quickly and looking toward the sound.
Tsunade stood on the path beside the hospital, arms crossed, brow furrowed tight.
Her gaze swept between the two almost tangibly, finally settling on Night's face. Her cold eyes seemed about to emit frost.
She had obviously finished work early and was passing by, only to stumble upon this highly misunderstandable scene.
The blush on Weaver-Moon's face hadn't faded; instead, it intensified.
Forcing down the panic and embarrassment in her heart, she bowed slightly in Tsunade's direction. "Lady Tsunade."
Then, daring not to look at Night again, she activated the Body Flicker Technique. Her figure vanished in a flash, leaving only a lingering faint fragrance.
Night looked at the empty space beside him, then at the unkind-looking Tsunade walking toward him step by step. He sighed helplessly in his heart.
Well... trouble really came knocking on the door this time.
He rubbed his nose, looking at Tsunade's expression that clearly read "You owe me an explanation."
His mind began racing on how to deal with this sudden storm.
Meanwhile, Weaver-Moon Uchiha, the cause of this misunderstanding, was walking away hurriedly, her hand unconsciously pressing against her still-pounding heart.
While recalling Night's words, her thoughts strangely lingered on his phrase "my people."