Sasuke had seriously considered accepting Hatsuka as an underling.
It wasn't about appearance. Sasuke admitted to himself that he liked the idea of mature women and luxury, but when it came to Hatsuka's figure and looks—well, let's just say she was rather plain, even by the standards of a world filled with beautiful anime-like faces. And besides, Sasuke was only seven years old. His body wasn't mature enough to feel anything in that regard. Even if he were seventeen or twenty-seven, he doubted he'd have any interest in her.
The real reason he chose Hatsuka as his first recruit was because he admired her as a person.
Her talent was average by ninja world standards. In all likelihood, she'd only rise to the level of a special jounin in her lifetime. But her foundation was solid—almost too solid, to the point of being rigid. It was clear that she had no formal inheritance, no advanced jutsu passed down to her. Instead, she had simply practiced the techniques she knew over and over, polishing them with hard work.
Sasuke knew that, eventually, he'd need manpower. He couldn't conquer the world on his own. However, the ninja in the villages could only be hired temporarily—they'd never truly become his loyal subordinates.
And as for rogue ninjas, their numbers were too small, and their quality often lacking. Most would rather give up if they couldn't see a bright future ahead.
But Hatsuka was different. Her future was predictable and unremarkable, yet she still harbored an ambitious heart and was willing to pay the price for it.
Through his observations, Sasuke could see how serious and responsible Hatsuka was when performing tasks—far more than the other members of her team.
For example, Asuma hadn't returned since he left. Another guard came back briefly, just to check that everything was fine, but then disappeared. Ishiki, meanwhile, was there every day, but his commitment wavered after confirming Konoha's safety. He became lazy, spending the money Sasuke had given him on drinks and gambling, barely paying attention to his duties.
Sasuke had given money to both Ishiki and Hatsuka. But while Ishiki squandered it, Hatsuka saved hers, spent her days guarding Chika, and practiced ninjutsu alone at night.
To Sasuke, talent wasn't everything—attitude was more important. And Hatsuka had the right attitude: serious, consistent, and hardworking.
That's why Sasuke was willing to bet on her.
That night, Sasuke returned to the roof.
This time, Hatsuka didn't hesitate. She walked up to him and knelt on one knee, swearing her loyalty.
Sasuke pulled a scroll from his robes and handed it to her.
"Here, take this. Study it carefully. If there's anything you don't understand, come to me, and I'll explain it."
"Thank you, Sasuke-sama!" Hatsuka accepted the scroll with both hands. She unrolled it, her eyes widening as she scanned the contents.
The scroll contained various lightning-style ninjutsu, along with tips and training experiences written by members of the Uchiha clan. Just a brief glance at the text was enough to make Hatsuka's heart race with excitement. She nearly fainted from the overwhelming potential she held in her hands.
This wasn't some ordinary, mass-produced ninjutsu scroll. It was a treasure of knowledge, the kind that could spark bloody battles over in the shinobi world.
It was exactly what Hatsuka had been lacking.
But to Sasuke, this scroll wasn't anything particularly special.
"I'll fulfill what I promised you, step by step. If there's anything you need, let me know, including the exclusive guidance of a jounin. You've heard of Kakashi, right? The Copy Ninja of Konoha? He's known to have mastered a thousand jutsu, and he's especially proficient with lightning-style techniques. If you want, I can arrange for him to train you."
"No need for now. I'll try to learn on my own. If I run into any real challenges, I'll come to you," Hatsuka replied.
"That's fine. You can make that call. Stand up. You don't have to be so formal with me."
Sasuke smiled, offering her a hand. Hatsuka obediently stood up and positioned herself behind him.
Sasuke wasn't worried about Hatsuka's loyalty.
He believed she was smart enough to understand what she could and couldn't do. In the shinobi world, sincerity was often repaid with sincerity. Sometimes ninja could be cunning and deceitful, but at other times, they could be astonishingly straightforward.
Even someone as seasoned as Hatsuka had one thought in her mind at this moment: I'm willing to die for Sasuke-sama!
"Relax," Sasuke said, glancing at her. "There's no need to be so intense. We have a long road ahead of us. You'll get to know me better over time. I just hope you won't regret it."
"I'll never regret it, Sasuke-sama!" Hatsuka replied with determination.
"Good. Next, I'll teach you a special breathing technique I developed. It will help you increase your lung capacity and physical endurance, which will be valuable in battle. Listen carefully."
Sasuke proceeded to teach Hatsuka the "Breath of Thunder." To help her understand the breathing rhythm better, he placed his hand on the outside of her lungs, monitoring her breathing as he made adjustments.
Hatsuka felt a bit embarrassed at first, but then she remembered Sasuke was only seven years old. Her embarrassment quickly turned into self-reproach.
What on earth am I thinking? How shameless! she scolded herself inwardly.
With the help of three skilled craftsmen, the transformation of the Uchiha clan's land progressed rapidly.
Each craftsman had their own area of expertise, and even the captain of the construction team had useful skills. Together, they shared knowledge and ideas, benefiting from each other's experience.
With Sasuke sparing no expense, the transformation of the Uchiha district was completed in less than half a month.
During that time, Sasuke also had Hatsuka recruit a group of young women—bright, cheerful, and good-looking.
Sasuke personally trained them, teaching them how to be tour guides.
Yes, tour guides.
The ultimate goal of the Uchiha district transformation was to turn it into a giant museum.
As part of the renovation plan, Sasuke had many Uchiha buildings labeled as "historical monuments." He invented stories and names, giving ordinary buildings a legendary status.
As the month drew to a close, a rumor began circulating throughout Konoha Village.
"Hey, did you hear? The Uchiha are holding some kind of press conference."
"Yeah, I heard about that. But what's it about?"
"No idea, but it sounds interesting."
"How do you know it's interesting if you don't even know what it is?"
"Come on, I know news, and I know what a press conference is. But the two together? That's gotta be something!"
"Ugh, if you don't get it, you don't get it. Whatever these ninja are up to, it probably has nothing to do with us."
"Well, when you put it like that... yeah, makes sense."
"Wait, let me tell you something. This press conference? It's not just some random thing. My uncle's wife's brother's friend's neighbor's sister-in-law's son works in construction. He was part of the team that remodeled the Uchiha compound, and he said he's never seen anything like what they've done there!"
"So... what did the Uchiha do, exactly?"
"Uh... well, I'm not sure either..."
The rumors spread like wildfire.
Even Konoha's higher-ups were puzzled.
However, unlike the civilians, they had received formal invitations from Sasuke and, out of courtesy, planned to attend the so-called press conference in person.
(End of this chapter).