Konoha.
The bright sunlight bathed the earth, giving the village a vibrant appearance. It seemed that the events of last year's Nine-Tails attack had been left behind.
Inside a three-story wooden house, Uchiha Yoru smiled at Sarutobi Tsuki, whose middle-aged face now wore a serious expression.
"Uchiha Yoru, I don't understand what you're getting at."
In front of them was the deed to a shop, and Sarutobi Tsuki's stern expression remained unwavering.
Uchiha Yoru, who had come in person, adopted a serious tone. "Umino Itsuki was arrested by the police for causing a disturbance while drunk. However, his slip of the tongue revealed that he had betrayed the village's interests. This is also the reason why you, Sarutobi Tsuki, failed the mission in the Land of Grass as a Jōnin."
"Umino Itsuki has admitted his guilt, but he has an innocent nephew, Umino Iruka. I hope that you, as the former captain and a current Jōnin, can forgive him."
Uchiha Yoru spoke with a sense of righteousness, presenting the facts. Meanwhile, Shisu, kneeling behind him with lowered head, concealed his emotions, afraid that his disgust might become apparent to the other party.
Sarutobi Tsuki was momentarily taken aback upon hearing these words. However, his experienced face showed a hint of unpleasantness as he hesitated, eventually making a decision that reflected in his eyes.
"So, are you representing the Uchiha or Orochimaru?"
After all, Uchiha Yoru's identity was complex. He was not only an Uchiha but also a disciple of Orochimaru. Similarly, Sarutobi Tsuki belonged to the prominent Sarutobi clan in Konoha.
He needed to know which identity Uchiha Yoru was representing.
As Sarutobi Tsuki asked, Uchiha Yoru forced a smile. "Whether Uchiha or Hyūga, aren't we all part of the village?"
His tone implied that Orochimaru might become the future Hokage and that both Uchiha and Hyūga were integral to the village.
Sarutobi Tsuki fell into silence upon hearing these words. He understood that Uchiha Yoru was extending an olive branch, seeking reconciliation with the village. Regardless of whether it was on behalf of Uchiha or Hyūga, the distinction mattered little—they had both sided with Orochimaru.
What mattered even more was that no one could anticipate Orochimaru's eventual betrayal. Despite being a Sarutobi clan Jōnin and aware of the plotting within the family, Sarutobi Tsuki knew one thing for certain. Orochimaru held significant influence and prestige, overshadowing the potential of Sarutobi Shinzo as the future Fifth Hokage.
"Ah, I never expected that he was the one who leaked the information during that mission."
At this moment, Sarutobi Tsuki wore a sorrowful and sympathetic expression, immersed in the memories of that failure. Shaking his head and sighing, he said, "So many lives were lost due to the leaked information."
Sarutobi Tsuki seemed deeply affected by the past, while Uchiha Yoru smiled, as if the other party had accepted his goodwill. However, Shisu, in his heart, was disgusted by this political transaction.
In Sarutobi Tsuki's life, there was a stain—a failed secret mission in the Land of Grass resulting in the sacrifice of seventy-three ninjas.
The exact reason for the mission's failure couldn't be investigated anymore, but both Sarutobi Tsuki and Shisu knew one thing—Umino Itsuki was merely a scapegoat.
Perhaps this was the nature of dirty political transactions. Uchiha sought personal gain and carried out Orochimaru's tasks, while trying to show goodwill toward Sarutobi.
Did Uchiha Yoru come up with this on his own? Did anyone actually believe that? Moreover, by doing this, Uchiha represented Orochimaru.
"Ah, forgive me for embarrassing you." Sarutobi Tsuki, emerging from his sorrowful memories, wore a bitter smile. It seemed genuinely sincere as he reached out and touched the deeds to the three shops.
In Shisu's eyes, the other party was clearly involved in a dirty transaction. Yet, he neither flinched nor revealed his disgust, instead adopting a sorrowful and sympathetic appearance. He said, "Consider this as compensation for the sacrifice of those seventy-three ninjas during the mission in the Land of Grass."
Whether they would truly compensate the descendants of those sacrificed ninjas remained uncertain. However, it was evident that the other party had gained control of the three shops.
At this moment, Sarutobi Tsuki couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy. He felt that the stain in his heart had finally been washed away.
Both of them wore false smiles, engaging in a political exchange disguised as a tea party. Finally, as they gazed at each other silently, smiling, Sarutobi Tsuki inwardly sighed. It seemed that this person was not a simple ninja. No wonder he had become Orochimaru's right-hand man.
"I wonder what Orochimaru-sama's intentions are?"
Now that they had obtained the benefits, Sarutobi Tsuki couldn't simply let them go for free. In response to his inquiry, Uchiha Yoru shook his head and sighed, "Orochimaru-sama is devoted to the development of ninjutsu. As you know, it requires considerable resources."
In other words, now that the shop was in their possession, it wouldn't be entirely theirs. It was a collaboration between both parties.
Sarutobi Tsuki fell silent at this moment. Within their clan, there were calls for the next clan head to become the Hokage, but some felt that Orochimaru's influence was too great.
Uchiha's sincerity was apparent. Moreover, even if another Hokage emerged from the Sarutobi family, Orochimaru would still hold significant power.
The other party not only provided wealth but, more importantly, reputation. It completely eradicated the stain in Sarutobi Tsuki's life. This sincerity had stirred something within him.
After a while, Sarutobi Tsuki looked at the young man in front of him and sighed softly. Then, he lightly sipped the hot tea in his hand, his eyebrows lowered, and softly said, "I understand."
The deal was made!
He was already forty years old, and one could say that he had begun to decline. He had worked meticulously and painstakingly to reach where he was today. How could he resist the opportunity to remove the stain from his life?
The two parties reached a political agreement. Uchiha Yoru would remove his stain, and in return, Sarutobi Tsuki would provide reliable information.
...
"...Recently, there has been a growing voice in the clan calling for the young clan head to become the Hokage. However, some people feel that Orochimaru's influence is too great."
As a gentle breeze wafted by, the two of them finished their last cup of tea. Uchiha Yoru smiled and respectfully nodded. "Sarutobi Tsuki-sama, I will take my leave first."
"Be careful outside." It wasn't just a concern or a courtesy from Sarutobi Tsuki, but rather a subconscious warning to avoid being detected.
Uchiha Yoru smiled and nodded. "Rest assured, the ninja accompanying me is known as 'Shisui of the Body Flicker.' Trust me, when they arrived, nobody noticed, and when they leave, nobody will notice either."
After Uchiha Yoru and Shisu left, a complex expression appeared on Sarutobi Tsuki's silent face. He murmured to himself, "Umino Itsuki, rest assured. I will take care of your nephew."
~~~
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