"Unknown Place"
The room was wide, made of expensive wood. Clan symbols were visible on the walls — a red spiral, and the floor was covered with tatami mats. The room exuded an atmosphere of luxury and tension. On the sides of the room stood shelves with scrolls, and in the center was a low table piled with documents.
Behind the table sat a man around 40, with red hair that didn't quite match his true age. Wearing clothes typical of the Sengoku era (a time of clan wars), he exuded an aura of a powerful, experienced, and wise leader. He was reviewing the documents on his desk when he suddenly felt a burning sensation on his palm. His gaze dropped to his hand, and understanding flashed in his eyes.
— "Ah, I haven't heard from him in a while. I even thought he'd been exposed." He directed chakra into his hand, where seals similar to those drawn by the unknown traitor began to glow. He received a scroll and a small letter, accompanied by smoke. "Still, someday I'll figure out how to teleport people using seals. So far, I've only devised a prototype, but it tore apart humans, animals, and even other objects. Yet this seal has a future, though the project was canceled due to its cost, and the focus was shifted to you. I know you can only transport small objects — you have no future." He spoke with disdain. He withdrew his chakra, causing the seal to dim and then shrink. "But let's get back to the letter. You say there's no significant rise in clan power and no new trade agreements have been signed. Now I understand why you didn't report — because there was nothing to tell… Hmm, what's this letter?" He opened the envelope and unfolded the letter, his frown deepening as he read. "Hmm… So, three sons. If they possess even three-quarters of Takeshi Masabori's power, they'll shake the balance of the so-called Great Four, which doesn't sit well with me." Frowning, he sent chakra into another seal on his shoulder, summoning his secretary with a stack of new documents.
— "I sorted them as you requested," she said, bowing her head.
— "Good. Place them on the table and inform the elders and elites that a meeting will start soon." Without waiting for her reply, she disappeared using the body flicker technique.
— "Well, I won't tolerate three more Takeshi Masabori." He spoke with hatred. "I'll have to speed up the plans." Looking at the new pile of documents, he sighed and shrugged, taking the first one.
"Point of View from Another Unknown Place"
You could see a cat sneaking under the windows, but upon approaching a particular house, it stopped and closed its eyes, seemingly pondering but actually scanning the building. As it came up to one of the large windows, it began to wait. Inside, a man sat on a bed, clearly tired, with a woman (his wife) lying beside him. After a moment of thought, the man's expression darkened, but after another minute, understanding appeared in his eyes.
Getting out of bed despite the sleepy protests of the woman, he approached the window, and now his face could be seen more clearly. A handsome, stern face marred by a scar running across his eye. His eyes were red with three tomoe in the middle, indicating the activation of his Sharingan; his black hair fell onto his shoulders.
Looking down, he relaxed upon seeing the cat, known for its greed.
— "A thousand ryo," the cat said greedily.
— "We agreed only one party would pay for the correspondence, right?" the man threatened. "Am I wrong? Correct me if you can."
— "But the other party didn't pay," the cat responded fearfully.
— "Shall I pay you with your destruction?" The Sharingan in his eyes began spinning faster.
— "We'll terminate the contract!!!" the cat shouted in terror, handing over the letter.
Taking the letter, the man quickly read it and smiled. "So, three sons. You're too late, Takeshi. Madara will become the clan leader in fifteen years, and your sons will just be learning to throw kunai," he thought. But frowning, he stepped back from the window, holding the letter and some bills. The sight of the money made the cat's eyes sparkle. Takeshi handed over the letter and the money, saying:
— "You have a day to deliver this to him." The cat, seizing the moment the man gave, vanished in a puff of smoke.
Touching the scar on his face, the man scowled and said:
— "I won't allow this world to get more bastards like Takeshi." In his eyes, the tomoe began to spin faster and faster until a strange pattern appeared. Looking up at the moon, he exhaled and deactivated his Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Third Unknown Perspective"
Looking up at the sky, one could see a hawk flying very quickly, clearly in a hurry. As it flew past one of many villages, it suddenly dived but controlled its speed with the occasional flap of its wings. Entering through the window of a clearly special house, it barely retained any speed. What made this building different? Everything: size, luxury, even the larger-than-usual windows. Inside the room, a tall man stood talking to a boy around 4 or 5. The man's face was stern and serious, with many battle scars; his slightly disheveled brown hair fell to his shoulders. The boy was almost a copy of his father, but only in face and aura.
His face was also stern, though without scars, and did not show any naivety. His hair was white and unruly (sticking out in all directions). The man barely reacted to the hawk's arrival, but the boy's expression almost cracked in surprise. Taking the letter, the man quickly read it but continued speaking to his son:
— "Any clan that doesn't support the Senju Clan is its enemy. But if it doesn't support the Uchiha Clan…" At the word "Uchiha," his frown deepened, though it seemed impossible, but he continued: "it's a potential future ally. And anyone fighting the Uchiha who doesn't support the Senju Clan is either strong or foolish. Remember that." Relaxing slightly, he added: "And never forget who killed your brothers. Did I make myself clear?"
— "Yes," the boy said, trying to process everything in his head.
— "And bring your brother here." With these words, the man turned and sat at the table, contemplating the letter. The boy immediately ran out of the room, but we won't know where.
— "Three sons… three Takeshi," looking at the door through which the boy had left, he said: "But those who refuse an alliance with the Senju Clan always meet a tragic end. Well, the plans will have to speed up." But as he turned to the pile of documents, his mask almost cracked from despair, while in the Masabori Clan, there was a celebration.
***
Three Years Later
"Point of View from the Masuraboshi Clan"
In the largest building, three beautiful but outraged and disappointed women could be seen looking at their exhausted husband. Raising his tired and weary gaze to them, he said:
— "I know I shouldn't send you before Sora, Haru, and Yuki's birthday, but this mission is simple — just to deliver a letter." He lowered his gaze to the pile of papers and frowned, thinking: "Damn, every year there's more and more of them, but what's the reason?" He almost tore his hair out, grabbed the top document, and continued: "And it won't be a long trip — seven days there and back, and there are still three weeks left before the birthday." The women, understanding that the person sitting before them was not just their husband, but the head of the clan, gave in and went to pack.
A few minutes later, three little "devils," as one of the clan's elders referred to them, ran into the room. Resting, Sora, who recovered a bit faster, asked:
— "Where are Mama Miyuki, Aunt Ayako, and Aunt Anko going?"
— "Miyuki, Ayako, and Anko are going on a mission," he replied in a tired voice.
— "But Mama Ayako said she wouldn't give you anything until the end of the month, although she didn't say what. But Aunt Miyuki agreed, and so did Aunt Anko," said Haru, already fully recovered, with an innocent expression.
A heavy thud could be heard as something hit the table. The three women only smiled, happy that their plan had worked. And what had hit the table? It was the head of one of the strongest shinobi of his time — Takeshi Masuraboshi Kuu Mono, a man now in even more despair than when he lost the battle against the Nine-Tails or faced piles of documents.
— "But why are all three going?" Yuki asked. "I don't want to stay with you. You can't cook. We'll die from trying your food," he declared with horror.
Another arrow pierced his heart.
***
Next chapter will be tomorrow or on Wednesday