The Hokage office was quiet long after sunset.
Most war briefings had ended. Messengers had left. The village finally rested — or at least pretended to.
But one meeting remained.
Private.
Restricted.
And very deliberate.
Senju Tobirama stood near the large window overlooking Konoha. His posture was relaxed, yet every detail of his presence carried authority.
Behind him gathered four of his most trusted disciples:
Sarutobi Hiruzen — calm, perceptive, already showing leadership maturity.
Shimura Danzo — intense, calculating, ambition barely hidden.
Mitokado Homura — analytical, cautious.
Utatane Koharu — sharp-minded, politically aware.
They sensed immediately:
This was not routine war strategy.
Tobirama spoke without turning.
"You've all heard reports about Uchiha Kaen."
Silence settled.
Each of them had, in fact, heard something.
Rumors spread fast in wartime.
Especially about unusually strong shinobi.
Especially Uchiha.
Hiruzen answered first.
"Yes. Sakumo's report was… impressive."
Measured response.
Typical Hiruzen.
Danzo spoke next.
More direct.
"Too impressive."
His tone held clear suspicion.
"An Uchiha child with jōnin-level ability, possibly higher, hiding his strength? That's not coincidence."
Koharu frowned slightly.
"Suspicion alone isn't evidence."
Homura nodded.
"But it's still worth monitoring."
Tobirama finally turned.
Calm expression. No visible bias.
Just assessment.
"I met him personally."
That immediately caught everyone's attention.
Even Danzo went quiet.
"And?" Hiruzen asked.
Tobirama's answer was precise:
"He's not unstable."
Pause.
"He's cautious. Self-controlled. Independent thinker."
Another pause.
"And emotionally detached from both clan and village expectations."
That last statement lingered.
Because it was unusual.
Most shinobi tied identity strongly to one or the other.
Danzo's eyes narrowed.
"That detachment could become disloyalty."
"Or stability," Hiruzen countered.
"Someone not driven by clan pride or blind patriotism might make more rational decisions."
Homura spoke thoughtfully.
"He sounds… pragmatic."
Koharu added:
"And shaped by neglect."
Tobirama didn't deny it.
"War orphan upbringing. Minimal clan support. Observational personality developed early."
He folded his arms.
"His strength didn't create his mindset. His environment did."
Danzo wasn't convinced.
"Strength plus independence plus Uchiha lineage equals potential risk."
Classic Danzo reasoning.
Security-first.
Trust-last.
Tobirama responded calmly:
"Which is why understanding him matters more than alienating him."
That statement carried subtle weight.
Even Danzo didn't argue immediately.
Hiruzen spoke again.
"Do you see him as a future asset?"
Tobirama answered without hesitation:
"Yes."
Pause.
"But only if he chooses to be."
That distinction mattered.
Forced loyalty often fractured.
Chosen loyalty endured.
Tobirama knew that well.
Koharu asked quietly:
"Does he resent the village?"
"Not exactly," Tobirama replied.
"He simply doesn't depend on it emotionally."
Homura exhaled.
"That's… rare."
Danzo finally said what he'd clearly been thinking:
"If he ever turns hostile—"
Tobirama interrupted calmly.
"He won't. Not without cause."
Then added:
"And if we give him cause… that's on us."
Silence returned.
Because that wasn't just about Kaen.
It was about how the village treated exceptional individuals.
Especially Uchiha.
Tobirama concluded simply:
"Observe him. Don't antagonize him. Don't recruit him aggressively either."
Another pause.
"Let him choose his relationship with Konoha."
Meeting dismissed shortly after.
But none of the disciples left unchanged.
Hiruzen thoughtful.
Koharu analytical.
Homura cautious.
Danzo…
Still watching.
Always watching.
Elsewhere in the village, unaware of the exact conversation but sensing subtle attention shifts, Uchiha Kaen sat quietly on his rooftop.
Observation Haki extended lightly.
Village calm.
Intentions neutral.
For now.
He exhaled slowly.
War continued.
Politics moved quietly.
And somewhere behind the scenes…
Decisions about his future were already being considered.
Kaen didn't mind.
Because ultimately…
His path would still be his own.