CHAPTER 37

I Alone Can Prevent a Coup

A few days later, during lunch break, Shikamaru approached Naruto, carrying a shogi board, and invited him to play.

Naruto glanced at the unfamiliar board and joked, "Why shogi, Shikamaru? I don't know the rules. You should ask Choji instead."

"Choji doesn't want to use his brain. He's lost to me too many times," Shikamaru replied, smirking slightly. "Besides, if you don't know the rules, you can learn. Growth requires learning, right?"

Naruto wasn't sure why Shikamaru had approached him, but his curiosity about shogi got the better of him.

Half an hour later.

As Naruto's last piece was captured, Shikamaru smiled with satisfaction. "Naruto, that's five losses in a row."

Scratching his head, Naruto stared at the board. "I'm really bad at this."

"You're doing well for a beginner," Shikamaru encouraged. "But you're still not calculating moves. Strategy is what makes shogi so fascinating."

Shikamaru's words were earnest, but Naruto couldn't help thinking: Shogi is about strategy, sure, but the battles I dream of fighting are on a different level. I'd rather be piloting a Gundam than moving pieces around.

After winning yet another round, Shikamaru packed the board and returned to class, looking content. Naruto, now sitting alone in the shade, turned to his medical-nin handbook, glancing briefly at Shikamaru's retreating back.

"Shikamaru always approaches things indirectly," Naruto mused, probably trying to tell me to follow the rules.

Nearby, a group of senior students stood under a tree, loudly discussing something. Their words drifted to Naruto's ears.

"You heard? The Uchiha police force got into another fight."

"That's nothing new. They're always violent during arrests. If it's a minor issue, they overreact, detain people, and fine them. People can't stand it."

"Yeah, they're strict with villagers but go easy on their own. The double standards are unbearable."

"No, this time, they clashed with another ninja group. Things escalated until Hokage-sama intervened."

"I've heard of several similar incidents recently."

"Konoha has its own problems: the 'three evils'—the demon fox, the caged bird, and the police force. Maybe the police force needs to be dealt with like the others."

Naruto didn't react, brushing off the gossip. The 'three evils of Konoha'? What nonsense. There are only three legendary Sannin: Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru. Still, the Uchiha's growing tension was undeniable.

Sasuke, overhearing the same conversation, couldn't contain his irritation. His sharp glare silenced the group instantly. Though they whispered among themselves, none dared challenge him.

Instead of confronting them further, Sasuke sat beside Naruto and muttered, "Naruto, people call you a demon fox behind your back. Why don't you put them in their place?"

Naruto turned a page in his book, replying calmly, "They're not wrong. Grandpa Hokage himself confirmed it. Their parents might have died because of me. It makes sense they'd hate me."

Sasuke froze. "You're… really the demon fox? You killed all those people?"

Naruto chuckled, closing his book. "You're so gullible, Sasuke. But yeah, the demon fox and I are connected. It lives in me. As for the rumors? Chasing after idiots is a waste of time."

"Whatever. I'm here because I thought you'd be lonely sitting here alone," Sasuke retorted.

Naruto smirked. "Lonely? Not really. I've got friends—Hinata, Shikamaru, Choji. What about you?"

Sasuke was momentarily taken aback but masked his unease. He wouldn't admit he had fewer friends than Naruto.

Before Sasuke could reply, a voice echoed in Naruto's mind: "Naruto, this brat likes you. Too bad you're both kids, or this would be a love story."

"Kyuubi, shut up," Naruto mentally snapped. "Not everything is a joke."

The Nine-Tails chuckled, amused. "Sure, sure. Anyway, I'm getting bored of this village. When are we leaving?"

Ignoring the fox, Naruto returned to Sasuke's question. "What's up, Sasuke? Need something?"

"My parents want you to visit our house," Sasuke replied, trying to sound casual.

Naruto hesitated. "I'm not sure Grandpa Hokage would allow me to visit the Uchiha compound right now. Maybe later."

Naruto wasn't naive. Fugaku's invitation was likely an attempt to recruit him as a pawn to pressure Konoha's leadership.

Sasuke, disappointed but hiding it, changed the subject. "Fine. Let's train after school. I've learned some new ninjutsu."

---

Inside Hokage's Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, exhaled a cloud of smoke as he studied the portraits of previous Hokage. His mind wandered to the escalating tensions between the Uchiha and Konoha's leadership.

Since Naruto's refusal to align with the Uchiha, the police force had become increasingly aggressive—violently enforcing laws, stockpiling weapons, and alienating both villagers and other ninja clans.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Shisui Uchiha entered, his expression weary yet resolute.

"Shisui," Hiruzen greeted, "you're here about the police force, I presume?"

Shisui nodded, his tone serious. "Not just that. I fear the Uchiha clan is planning a coup."

"A coup?" The Hokage's face darkened. "Why are you telling me this? You're risking a lot by coming here."

Shisui lowered his gaze. "Because I don't want bloodshed. I can stop this coup alone, but I need your word—you won't punish my clan afterward."

"Stop it alone?" Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "Even with Anbu's help, suppressing a coup would be near impossible. What makes you think you can handle this?"

Shisui's voice dropped to a whisper. "Because I possess the Mangekyo Sharingan and the Kotoamatsukami. I can rewrite my clan leader's will. If I control Fugaku, the coup ends without a fight."

Hiruzen stared at Shisui for a long moment. He had always admired the young Uchiha's commitment to peace. Now, he saw that Shisui was prepared to sacrifice everything—even his clan's trust—for the village.

"Very well," Hiruzen finally said. "But remember, Shisui, this will weigh heavily on you."

Shisui nodded solemnly. "For the sake of the village, and for peace, I will bear this burden."