Threaded Lies

(5 days later: Akari's POV)

The crisp autumn air carried the scent of damp earth and fallen leaves, mingling with the faint aroma of roasted chestnuts from a nearby vendor. The sky was overcast, a pale gray stretched over Konoha, but the air was cool and pleasant, making the midday sun bearable.

The park was quiet today. A handful of children played near the swings, their laughter ringing through the open space. Shinobi passed by along the stone pathways, blending seamlessly into the civilian crowd, their movements effortless and unnoticed. This park was familiar to us—secluded enough to speak freely, yet public enough that no one could eavesdrop too closely.

It was the perfect place.

Naruto was mid-way through one of his usual exaggerated stories, his hands waving wildly as he animatedly described something he read in book. Shiina sat beside me, her legs tucked under her as she listened with an amused smile. I wasn't really paying attention to Naruto's words, more so letting the rhythm of his voice fill the silence as I kept my senses open.

That's when I felt her presence.

Hinata.

She approached cautiously, as was her nature, each step light and uncertain. Her fingers clutched the sleeves of her pale lavender yukata, the fabric slightly wrinkled, as if she'd been holding onto it for comfort. Her movements were hesitant, but there was something different this time—something heavier in the way she carried herself. Her eyes, normally filled with quiet nervousness, held something deeper now.

A weight.

The moment she stepped into view, the conversation stilled.

Shiina was the first to react.

"Hinata-chan!" Her voice was warm, breaking through the lingering tension in the air. She stood quickly, moving forward to take Hinata's hands in her own. A gentle, firm grasp. "You're okay…" Relief softened the edges of her words.

Hinata's face flushed faintly, and she gave a small nod. "Y-Yes… I'm fine." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but steady. Then, her grip on Shiina's hands tightened slightly. "I… wanted to thank you. All of you."

Naruto puffed out his chest instantly, his usual bravado kicking in. "Tch, of course you're okay! If I was there, I totally would've saved you in a flash!" He struck a dramatic pose, arms crossed, exuding confidence like an overexcited puppy.

Hinata blinked at him, then quickly ducked her head, her cheeks darkening. "O-Oh…"

I felt my lips twitch. A perfect opening.

Tilting my head slightly, I kept my tone light, but teasing. "You sure about that, Naruto? Sounds like you're awfully worried about Hinata. Maybe a little too worried."

Naruto blinked, his face scrunching in confusion. "Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"

Shiina immediately caught on, her eyes sparkling mischievously as she covered her mouth with her sleeve.

I smirked. "I mean, you're acting like a knight in shining armor. Always looking out for her, always making sure she's safe…" I let the words stretch, dragging out the moment just enough before delivering the final push. "Do you have a crush on her or something?"

Silence.

Then—

"W-WHAAAAAAT?!"

Naruto practically exploded, flailing his arms wildly. "No way! That's not—! I mean—! You—! SHUT UP, AKARI!" His face was quickly turning an impressive shade of red, his entire body shaking with indignant fury.

Across from him, Hinata had gone completely still. If I thought her face was red before, it was nothing compared to now. Her entire skin tone had changed, her fingers fidgeting violently with the hem of her sleeves as if willing herself to disappear.

Shiina burst into laughter, muffling her giggles behind her sleeve. "Awww, Naruto, you're so obvious."

"I—I AM NOT!"

The moment stretched, the playful atmosphere washing away the tension that had been weighing on Hinata. That was the goal. To pull her away from the fear and anxiety of what had happened. To redirect her thoughts toward something familiar—something that made her heart race for an entirely different reason.

And it worked.

After several more rounds of Naruto's flustered protests and Shiina's relentless teasing, the conversation naturally shifted.

Hinata, still visibly flustered, cleared her throat. "Um… a-about the other night…"

I turned my head slightly, watching her carefully.

"It was an Uchiha who saved me."

The words were placed perfectly. Just as I had intended.

For a moment, the group went silent.

I could feel my own words echoing back at me, the story I had carefully planted now taking root. A well-crafted lie, spoken by another, solidified as truth.

Shiina tilted her head. "An Uchiha?"

Hinata nodded, her fingers gripping the fabric of her sleeves again. "T-The ANBU said so. I d-don't know who, but… they protected me." She hesitated before adding, "I just… I wanted to thank them."

Naruto huffed, crossing his arms. "Man, I really wish I could've been there. I wouldn't have let some random Uchiha get all the credit!"

I smirked. "Oh? You sound jealous."

"Wha—?! I'm not jealous! I just—!!"

Shiina, who had been watching me closely, suddenly leaned in slightly, lowering her voice so only I could hear. "You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"

I hummed, tilting my head in feigned innocence. "I have no idea what you mean."

She studied me a moment longer. And then, something changed.

Her amusement dimmed—just slightly.

A flicker of something deeper crossed her expression, something quieter and more calculating.

Suspicion.

I felt my body still instinctively. It was subtle, nearly imperceptible, but I knew the look. I had seen it before. Shiina had known me her entire life, longer than Naruto, longer than Hinata. She had watched me grow, trained beside me, learned how to read me better than most ever could.

And now, she was trying to read me.

Right now, she was questioning something.

Her gaze lingered, sharp and searching.

I held her stare, my expression unreadable.

She didn't ask—not yet.

Instead, she just smiled. "Well," she said lightly, breaking the moment, "since we're all here, why don't we train a little?"

I let the tension slip away, nodding slowly. "Sounds good."

The others agreed, and soon we moved away from the benches, heading toward our usual training clearing.

Naruto was already grumbling about how he was definitely going to be Hokage one day and that no Uchiha could ever outshine him.

Hinata laughed softly at his energy.

Shiina walked a step behind me, but I could still feel her gaze on the back of my head. I could tell she was thinking about something, but ignored it in favour of the light-hearted atmosphere so far.

I recalled back to the moment I had changed fate.

(5 days ago)

The air inside the Hokage's office was still, heavy with the scent of parchment and ink. The large windows behind his desk let in the dim glow of lanterns from the village below, casting long shadows along the walls.

After our chat, Hiruzen decided it was best if we were discuss more inside his own office. I watched as the aged man took to his desk, moving the papers around, looking directly at me.

"What now?" He asked, calmly. Assuming I had a plan in mind.

The air in the Hokage's office was heavy—stagnant, thick with ink, parchment, and the faint embers of a dying pipe. It smelled like old decisions, the kind that weighed on a man long after they were made.

Hiruzen took his seat behind the desk, shifting the scattered reports into something resembling order. His expression was calm, but I could see the calculation in his eyes.

He exhaled slowly, the creases on his forehead deepening. "What now?"

He assumed I had a plan.

He was right.

I folded my hands in my lap, schooling my face into something neutral. "We have to control the narrative."

Hiruzen's brows furrowed slightly, but he gestured for me to continue.

"The Uchiha saved Hinata."

A pause. A slow, careful blink. Then, he leaned forward slightly. "Explain."

I took a measured breath. "We have to hide my existence, and if we tell them a Hyūga was the one to kill their shinobi, they'll demand recompense. We both know what that means."

Hiruzen's lips pressed into a firm line. Blood for blood. A corpse for a corpse.

I continued, my voice steady. "But if an Uchiha was the one to intervene, there's no political weight behind the demand. The Uchiha aren't bound to the Hyūga's internal dealings. No war. No body exchange. No forced diplomacy."

Hiruzen's fingers tapped against the desk, considering.

"The Uchiha," I pressed on, "already have a tense relationship with the village. This is a chance to shift the perspective. If an Uchiha protected the Hyūga heir, it reinforces their loyalty to Konoha. It reminds everyone that they're still allies." I tilted my head slightly. "You're always saying Konoha is stronger together, aren't you, Hokage-sama?"

His eyes flickered, a mix of contemplation and scrutiny. "And where," he said carefully, "did you come across this insight?"

I gave him a small, almost sheepish smile. "I listen. People talk when they think people aren't paying attention."

A deliberate half-truth. Enough to be plausible.

Hiruzen exhaled through his nose. "Even so, fabricating an event of this scale—"

"It's not fabrication," I interrupted. "It's redirection."

He gave me a long, searching look. I held his gaze, unwavering.

"…You've thought this through."

Of course I had.

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, studying me for a moment longer before sighing. "Very well." He turned to the side, speaking a quiet command to the shadows. Within moments, an ANBU flickered into existence, kneeling.

"Bring me Shisui Uchiha."

The air shifted. A silent acknowledgment.

And then, the ANBU was gone.

Initially I was going to leave, but Hiruzen made this all the better to me. I already planned to use Shisui in the future. And now Hiruzen here was handing me the opportunity to manipulate the boy.

(Third-Person POV)

The room was still for several long minutes. The lanterns cast elongated shadows along the walls, flickering against the old wood. Akari sat patiently, her expression unreadable, while Hiruzen sifted through the implications of their decision.

It wasn't long before the door slid open again.

Shisui Uchiha stepped inside, his ANBU gear pristine, his headband slightly askew as if he'd just come from a mission. His dark eyes flicked between the aged Hokage and the small child seated before him, sharp with curiosity.

"Hokage-sama," he greeted, bowing slightly before glancing toward Akari. "…And?"

"She's the reason you're here."

Shisui raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Hiruzen exhaled. "There was an incident tonight."

Akari finally spoke, her voice light, almost casual. "Hinata Hyūga was nearly kidnapped by Kumo."

Something in Shisui's expression shifted—his stance stiffened slightly, but he waited for her to continue.

"She was saved by an Uchiha."

Shisui frowned. "I don't recall—"

"Because it wasn't you," Akari spoke up, her tone manipulative, focusing on the boys duty to the village. "But it will be."

Silence.

Shisui turned his full attention to her now, his gaze dark and unreadable. "…Go on."

Akari leaned forward slightly, her hands resting in her lap. "You were close by. You could've saved her. The ANBU report will confirm it. It's just a matter of adjusting the details."

Hiruzen watched the exchange carefully but said nothing.

Shisui crossed his arms. "And why," he asked slowly, "do you want me to take credit for something you did?"

Akari smiled. "Because it's necessary."

"You killed a trained Kumo jōnin." His voice was level, but his eyes searched hers for something deeper. "You're six."

Akari met his gaze evenly. "And you're quick to accept a lie when it's convenient."

A beat of silence. Then—Shisui chuckled, shaking his head. "You're dangerous, you know that?"

Hiruzen's expression twitched slightly.

Akari tilted her head, feigning innocence. "I have no idea what you mean."

Shisui studied her for another moment before sighing, rubbing the back of his head. "…Fine. I'll play along."

Akari's expression remained neutral, but inwardly, she smirked.

(Akari's POV)

Hiruzen thought this was a political manoeuvre. A way to secure peace. A way to protect the village.

Shisui thought this was a convenient adjustment, a necessary redirection to avoid conflict.

Neither of them realized the real reason I wanted this.

Danzo had already decided to take Shisui's Sharingan—but now, he would feel the urgency. Now, he would act sooner, more recklessly. Something I planned to exploit when it came time to... root out the weed that was Danzo.

Huh, I never expected I'd make a pun, but I guess I did.

And of course, the person this move would effect the most is Neji's, the boys father would never die. But that was not the main goal here.

It was all for the grand plan to get Danzo arrested and if possible... executed by the same village he so dearly loved and cared for.

Shisui's role? I only needed a bit of evidence that Danzo had killed him but I needed to wait, I wanted full exposure of Danzo after all.

All in all, my plan will come to full fruition 4 years from now.

(Back to the present: Current time: 22:30)

I hadn't seen Shiina since training ended.

I hadn't seen Shiina since training ended. She was always with her other friends if she wasn't with me, and even then I would see her around. Shiina wasn't the type for solitude. Or at least she wasn't the type to avoid people. Which was why it was concerning when I couldn't find her at all. 

That was enough to make me search for her.

The orphanage was quiet at this hour, the faint glow of dimmed lightbulbs flickering through the windows as most of the children had already gone to sleep. I moved through the halls without a sound, checking the usual places. The small common area where she sometimes reads? Empty. The garden behind the building where we trained? Not there. She wasn't in the library, either.

I grew increasingly more concerned when I realised my natural socialite of a friend and the girl I loved more than anything else wasn't even talking to someone in any of the locations.

Shiina, you never act this way. Where are you?

I paused for a moment, listening. The usual hum of the orphanage at night—the creak of old wooden beams, the distant rustling of blankets as children shifted in their sleep—felt eerily hollow without her presence. My fingers curled slightly as unease settled in my chest. It wasn't like Shiina to vanish like this. If something was wrong, why hadn't she come to me?

I couldn't stop the small frown from forming on my face. I couldn't find her inside so that meant she was outside… sighing, I walked up to the door opening it.

The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and the faint traces of wood smoke from distant homes. The orphanage grounds stretched before me, bathed in pale moonlight. The grass, kissed by evening frost, crunched softly underfoot as I stepped forward. A gentle breeze whispered through the trees, rustling the few stubborn leaves that clung to their branches. The world felt still, hushed, as if holding its breath. In the distance, the faint glow of lanterns flickered in windows, casting golden halos against the dark. And there, in the open field, was Shiina—silent, unmoving, illuminated in silver.

I had found her, sitting down on the grass in the cold night, gazing up at the moon, its silvery glow cascading on the field before me. Her eyes were closed, trying to act like nothing was wrong. But I knew something was bothering her.

It wasn't just today–though I suspected that played a part. No, this was something deeper. I had seen it in the way her gaze lingered on me for longer periods of time, how she sometimes hesitated before speaking to me, and how she watched my reactions.

Normally I wouldn't have cared, if Shiina was just a stranger to me, I'd have reacted coldly. Dismissive of the emotions they had, but no, this was Shiina. The one person or girl couldn't leave alone.

I had to do something, not because it was necessary, but because I wanted to.

I simply sat down next to her, watching the way the moonlight framed her face. Her platinum gold hair and peridot eyes glowed under the light of the moon, making her look more angelic than she normally did. I couldn't help but feel my heart skip a beat from it.

 "Something on your mind?" I asked calmly, taking her hand in mine suddenly. It wasn't like me to try this myself… but just for tonight, I was willing to try and comfort her.

Shiina flinched slightly at the contact but didn't pull away. Her fingers were cold, and I could feel the faint tremor in them. She kept her gaze fixed on the sky, the moonlight reflecting in her eyes.

"I know you," Shiina murmured, hesitating slightly but managing to articulate what she meant, "And I can tell when you're hiding something." 

I didn't react.

Shiina had always been sharp—sharper than most gave her credit for. It wasn't just her instincts honed by training, nor was it simple intuition. It was something deeper, an understanding she had of me that no one else did.

I squeezed her hand lightly. "You'll have to be more specific," I said, voice even. "I hide a lot of things."

The wind carried a sharp chill, threading through the grass and rustling the leaves above. I barely felt it. But Shiina… her fingers trembled slightly in my grasp, whether from the cold or something else, I couldn't be sure. Maybe she had to think about it for a second, but she did speak.

She turned to look at me then, her brows drawn together. "About Hinata's kidnapping."

I met her gaze, unreadable.

"What makes you think that?"

She placed her hand to her chin, piecing things together. I could see it in her eyes. "I saw the way you acted today. You were steering the conversation away from Hinata's kidnapping like it was nothing." Her eyes searched mine. "Like you already knew what happened before she told us."

I wasn't sure what to say. I had prepared for questions. I had prepared for suspicion. But Shiina wasn't accusing me of anything yet right now… she was closer to the truth than anyone else was. She wasn't trying to uncover a secret for the sake of knowing but she was close to it.

Words from a long time ago flashing into my head. My own actually. Shiina was beginning to understand I was not natural to this world, even if she couldn't place a finger on it.

The people of this world weren't stupid, I knew that. It was why I knew keeping the fact I had memories of my past life for an indefinite period of time was impossible, someone would figure out I was able to remember a past life.

But she was also wrong this time.

"I had an inkling Kumo would try something, not what they were doing. As for steering the conversation? I was doing that for Hinata's sake." I spoke softly, speaking only the truth, with only 1 half truth mixed in. Mixing lies with truths was the best way to get away with lying after all. "How do you think Hinata felt? She was kidnapped. She was about to be taken out of the Village, out of her home, to be used to study her eyes by what could have been our allies. I didn't want her mind to focus on that, but something else." 

The way her gaze softened at hearing my logic made my chest clench at having lied to her. Even partly.

Why was love so complicated? I had to ask myself, because I needed to lie to others and I did it without an ounce of guilt. But with Shiina… there was guilt–deep seeded guilt that ate at me. Even the fact that I once considered her as nothing more than a slightly more valuable tool at one point caused my chest to heart to clench harder.

Lies had never felt heavy before. I spun them like threads in a web, each one weaved tightly, and carefully. But here, with Shiina's gaze searching mine, this lie wasn't weightless. It became a burden, one I would carry with me. Yet the deed was done, I could go back to rectify even if I wished too.

Although my emotions were all over the place, I was still as stoic as I was… just more likely to show emotion thus I didn't let a single ounce of what I felt out in the open.

That much was relieving to know.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The night air whispered through the grass, carrying the distant sound of crickets. The moon hung overhead, casting pale silver light across Shiina's face, and I forced myself to look away before I could get caught staring.

I should have ended the conversation. I had said enough to satisfy her curiosity, and drawing this out would only increase the risk of slipping. But I stayed. I didn't move, didn't let go of her hand. And maybe, deep down, I was hoping she wouldn't let go either.

"…I believe you," Shiina finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her fingers curled slightly around mine, holding onto my hand with quiet certainty. I should have let go then. I should have pulled away, given her one of my usual unreadable looks, and changed the subject. Instead, I squeezed her hand just a fraction tighter, grounding myself in the warmth of her palm.

For the first time in a long while, I let the silence linger. 

I had already figured she believed me, and that was the issue. My heart was clenching from the guilt.

Then Shiina exhaled softly and leaned her head against my shoulder.

I froze, I felt heat rush to my cheeks at the suddeness of it.

It wasn't the first time we'd been this close but this was different. This wasn't a movement where she was making me feel more human. Seeking comfort. And trusting that she'd find it in me.

My heart raced… but also clenched.

"Shiina," I said, barely above a murmur.

"Hm?"

She didn't move, and I could feel the warmth of her breath against my sleeve. Her body was still slightly cold, but her presence alone was enough to make the night feel a little less so.

"…You're going to catch a cold," I said, worried for her health.

She laughed softly against my shoulder. "You're the one who came looking for me, you know."

She wasn't wrong.

I exhaled slowly, my gaze drifting upward toward the moon. It hung high in the sky, distant and unchanging. I had always liked the moon. It was quiet. Steady.

But right now, it didn't hold my attention for long.

I was far more aware of the girl leaning against me, the way her presence settled something in my chest even as it sent everything else into disarray.

I had spent my life calculating, controlling, ensuring that nothing could tip the balance of my carefully woven plans. But Shiina had a way of slipping past my defenses before I even noticed. Of making me feel things I didn't have time for.

I should have pulled away.

I didn't.

Instead, I found myself speaking before I could stop myself. "…Why were you out here alone?"

Shiina hesitated for a moment before answering. "…I just needed to think."

That was an evasive answer. I knew that because it was exactly the kind of thing I would say.

I turned my head slightly, just enough to glance down at her. "…About what?"

Shiina was silent for a moment. Then, finally, she pulled away—just enough to sit upright and look at me properly.

Her emerald green eyes reflected the moonlight, searching mine for something I wasn't sure I was ready to give.

"You," she said simply.

I blinked. My grip on her hand instinctively tightened.

"…Me?"

Shiina smiled, but there was something unreadable beneath it. "I told you before, Akari. I know when you're hiding something."

I felt my throat tighten. This wasn't good. She was getting too close, closer than anyone else had ever dared.

"Shiina," I began carefully, but she shook her head.

"I'm not asking you to tell me," she said, and for some reason, that made my chest ache worse. "I just… I guess I wanted to understand you better."

I turned my gaze back toward the darkened sky, exhaling slowly. "There's nothing to understand."

I lied once but Shiina… Shiina didn't argue. She didn't push. She just… stayed there, sitting beside me, her fingers still intertwined with mine.

That was the worst part. She knew I had lied, I could see it in the flicker of hurt in her eyes. It stung, knowing I had even faintly made her upset, and she probably felt that I considered her to be untrustworthy.

But what truly hurt was the way she reacted.

She didn't demand an answer. Didn't try to force me into a corner. She simply waited. She simply sat there, waiting for answers to her questions that may never come.

The wind whispered through the grass again, colder now. Shiina shivered slightly, and I felt something twist inside me. Without thinking, I moved. 

I let go of her hand—but only so I could shrug my parka off, and then drape it over her shoulders. I was wearing a hoodie beneath it anyways.

Shiina blinked in surprise, staring at me. "Akari…"

"You're cold," I said simply looking into her eyes. "If you're gonna stay out here, at least wear something that'll keep you warm." I sternly told her.

Shiina blinked in surprise, staring at me. "Akari…"

"You're cold," I said simply, looking into her eyes. "If you're gonna stay out here, at least wear something that'll keep you warm."

She hesitated for a moment before pulling the parka tighter around herself. The fabric was too big for her, the sleeves hanging past her hands. It almost made me want to smile—almost. Instead, I exhaled slowly and turned my gaze back to the sky.

For a while, neither of us spoke. The quiet stretched between us, comfortable but fragile, as if the wrong word could shatter whatever was holding us here.

"…You're always like this," Shiina said at last, her voice barely above a whisper.

I glanced at her. "Like what?"

She gave a small, tired smile. "Distant."

I stiffened. She wasn't wrong.

"…I don't mean that in a bad way," she added quickly. "I just… wish you wouldn't carry everything alone."

I looked away. "I don't."

Shiina huffed a soft laugh. "See? You're doing it again."

I didn't respond. Because what was I supposed to say? That I had to be this way? That if I let my guard down for even a moment, I could lose everything? That I couldn't afford to be vulnerable?

Shiina sighed, shifting slightly so she could rest her chin on her knees. "I don't know what you're hiding," she murmured. "And I know you won't tell me. But… it's okay."

I frowned, turning to her. "What?"

She looked at me then, her green eyes searching mine, and for a moment, I felt like she could see straight through me. Like she knew—even if she didn't have all the answers, she understood enough.

"I just wanted you to know," she said, voice softer now, "that when you do want to talk… I'll be here."

Something in my chest clenched painfully.

This was worse than if she had pressed me for answers. Worse than if she had been angry or accused me outright. Because Shiina believed in me—even when she knew I was lying to her. Even when I didn't deserve it.

I forced myself to hold her gaze, but it was difficult. I had spent so long learning how to deceive people, how to control my emotions, but right now… I felt something. Something I couldn't quite place.

"…You're an idiot," I murmured.

Shiina smiled, tilting her head slightly. "Maybe. But I don't think that's a bad thing."

I exhaled, shaking my head. "It is."

"No," she said, her voice quieter now. "It's not."

I didn't know how to respond to that.

The silence stretched between us again, but this time, it felt different. Heavier.

Then, after a long moment, Shiina reached out.

Slowly, hesitantly, she placed her hand over mine, her fingers curling slightly. Her touch was warm despite the cold.

I didn't move.

I should have pulled away.

I didn't.

Instead, I let my fingers curl back, just slightly. Just enough to acknowledge what this was—what we were.

Shiina's grip tightened, just for a second. Then, just as gently, she let go.

"…We should go back inside," she said softly. "It's late."

I nodded. "Yeah."

Neither of us moved.

For a moment, just a fleeting moment, I thought she might say something else. That she might confess whatever had been lingering in the air between us for so long.

But she didn't.

Instead, she smiled again—small, quiet, but real.

Then she turned and started walking toward the orphanage, my parka still draped over her shoulders.

I stayed behind for just a second longer, staring at the place where her hand had been.

Something about this moment felt… different. A shift. Like the thread connecting us had pulled tighter.

I closed my eyes, taking a slow breath.

And then, I followed her inside.

[The Star has reached ★★★★★★★☆☆☆]

(Time: 23:45 – ROOT Headquarters Third Person POV *The next scene might come as a shock*)

The underground chamber was silent, save for the faint hum of the ventilation system. The air was cold, sterile—devoid of warmth, much like the man seated in the center of the dimly lit room.

Danzo Shimura sat behind a simple, unadorned desk, his singular visible eye scanning the document before him. His expression, as always, was unreadable.

Across from him, kneeling on one knee, was a masked operative. ROOT's insignia—plain, unmarked, devoid of identity—was etched into the forehead protector he wore. His voice was as devoid of emotion as the room itself.

"The acquisition was successful."

Danzo turned the page, glancing over the report with measured precision. Shino Aburame. Young. Impressionable. Still malleable.

"The clan is unaware?"

"Not entirely." A pause. "But they have no evidence. The elders assume a rival faction was responsible."

Danzo's fingers tapped lightly against the table. A necessary action. The Aburame were a valuable clan—intelligent, disciplined, and wielding a unique combat style that was both elusive and deadly. Losing Yoji had been an inconvenience, but this…

This was an opportunity.

"Begin his indoctrination immediately," Danzo said. "Standard procedure. If he resists, break him."

"Yes, Danzo-sama."

The operative vanished, slipping back into the shadows from which he came.

Danzo remained still, the cold glow of the overhead lights casting harsh shadows across his face. His eye flickered to the documents once more.

There were always ripples.

A single action could create unforeseen consequences.

And right now, one consequence had become painfully clear.

The Uchiha.

Danzo's grip on his cane tightened. The village had spent years watching them from the shadows, waiting for the inevitable coup to form—and yet, in mere days, public sentiment had shifted.

Not entirely, of course. There was still distrust. The scars of past betrayals did not fade so easily.

But perception mattered. And right now, the Uchiha were being seen as heroes.

It was unacceptable.

It had started with one action. A single Uchiha intervening in an otherwise predictable kidnapping attempt. A Hyuuga child, no less. Danzo had been expecting some level of response—Hiashi Hyuga would demand consequences, the village would tighten its security, the usual cycle.

But this? This was dangerous.

The Uchiha had been growing restless. They had been gathering power, sharpening their blades, waiting for the right moment to strike. He had anticipated that. Planned for it. But if the village suddenly saw them in a different light, if the people began to believe in them again…

Hiruzen would hesitate. He would have already hesitated seeking a peaceful solution in the plan he had already built.

Danzo could not, and would not allow that.

He reached for another document.

If the Uchiha wanted to be seen as heroes, then so be it. He would give them their moment in the sun.

And then he would ensure their downfall was all the more devastating.

His visible eye narrowed.

"Accelerate our operations. Begin pushing the necessary narratives."

"Yes, Danzo-sama."

The operative was gone as quickly as he had arrived, leaving only silence in his wake.

Danzo exhaled slowly, gaze flickering toward the dimly lit room beyond.

There was always a balance to be maintained.

And soon, the Uchiha would learn what it meant to disrupt it.