Uchiha Hikaru sat at his desk, deep in thought about how to use the new information.
"Itachi, good timing. Come help me with these documents. I'm taking a break."
Itachi froze, clearly stunned. His expression turned stiff.
All that could be said was—this was typical of Uchiha Hikaru. But it was just paperwork, nothing major. So, without complaint, he moved a large stack of documents to the desk beside Hikaru and began processing them.
At this point, Itachi hadn't realized the trap he had walked into. He thought it was just a few documents… unaware that he'd be stuck working until evening.
Hikaru leaned back in his chair, reclining fully. He figured he'd rest a bit and think things through later.
When he dispelled his Shadow Clone, a rush of information flooded his mind—too much all at once. He drifted off to sleep.
When he opened his eyes again, moonlight was streaming through the window and onto the desk. Hikaru adjusted his chair and sat up. Across from him, Itachi was still buried in paperwork. Such an honest kid. So young, yet already carrying burdens no child should have to bear.
Right now, Itachi looked numb, his eyes blank and lifeless—as if the soul had been drained from him. Was this what Hikaru looked like every afternoon? The amount he endured for the sake of the clan… truly too much.
Hikaru watched Itachi for a moment and felt a twinge of guilt. For a thirteen-year-old, this workload was brutal.
But then he remembered that he'd been slacking off all afternoon, napping in peace. Itachi, hang in there! You're the clan's hope. Me? I'll just play the support role in your story.
Conscience? Toss it aside. What's a conscience good for—can you eat it?
That moment of sympathy vanished as quickly as it came. He shook off the guilt.
Once fully awake, he sat upright and began thinking about Obito. He was concerned that Obito might have sensed something—but at least he didn't seem to realize that Hikaru had already awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan.
That gap in knowledge was something Hikaru could exploit. He could use it to take Obito by surprise.
About ten minutes passed. It was nearly time to clock out.
Hikaru stood up and walked over to Itachi's desk.
"That's enough for today."
At those words, the light returned to Itachi's eyes. Dealing with paperwork was far more exhausting than missions—but thankfully, it was finally over.
Itachi stood up and stretched out his stiff limbs.
"Hikaru, have you figured out how to handle the masked man?"
Walking over to the window, Hikaru gazed at the moonlight outside and replied:
"He's secretly joined forces with Danzo. In that case… why not take advantage of it?"
Itachi lowered his head, deep in thought. He wasn't sure what to make of this just yet.
Hikaru continued:
"Hiruzen seems satisfied with the Uchiha's current conduct. But Danzo? He's never trusted us."
"It won't be long before he tries to move against the Uchiha Clan. That's when we stir things up—create friction between the Hokage and his advisor."
"As for the masked man, he won't act recklessly—not yet. When the time is right, someone will naturally step forward to deal with him."
"You just keep lying low. Stir things up a bit when you're with Danzo. Make him believe the Uchiha are planning a coup."
Itachi understood, though not completely. Hikaru was always cryptic, speaking in riddles. Still, he had never led him astray. Things would unfold properly if he followed Hikaru's lead.
Having made up his mind, Itachi prepared to leave.
"Itachi, next time when you are free after a mission, come help with the paperwork again. After all, this position will eventually be yours anyway."
He stumbled slightly as he left.
"Right. Next time—for sure!"
Leaving the Konoha Police Department, he made his way home. He hadn't seen Sasuke all day. Thinking of his little brother… would Sasuke help with the paperwork someday? Forget it. Better to just spend time with him now. Office work just wasn't for him.
Hikaru also headed home, looking forward to a late-night snack.
In the Land of Rain, inside Akatsuki's base, the masked man and Nagato stood within a dim underground cave.
"Madara, where were you yesterday? There weren't any missions that required you to leave."
"Just tying up a deal with Danzo in Konoha. It concerned the Uchiha Clan."
Nagato's expression darkened slightly.
"Madara, remember—I'm the leader of Akatsuki. We're still understaffed. Don't waste time on irrelevant matters."
Through the swirling mask, Madara's expression was unreadable.
"Nagato, weakening Konoha also serves your long-term goal of collecting the Tailed Beasts. Don't be so impatient. The time for action hasn't come yet."
"The Akatsuki still needs more members. I've found the whereabouts of a bounty hunter. He's at the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Earth. Be ready to move."
With that, "Uchiha Madara" vanished in an instant, using his space-time ninjutsu.
Later, in the forests of the Land of Fire...
"Uchiha Madara" reappeared among the trees.
The earth beside him bulged, and a strange figure with a half-black, half-white face emerged from underground.
"Obito, a new deputy clan leader has suddenly risen in the Uchiha Clan. His name is Uchiha Hikaru. He seems to be interfering with our plans."
But Obito didn't seem concerned.
"Hmph. What can a loser who hasn't even awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan possibly do? I'll find a chance to kill him."
"Hello~ Obito! Long time no see. I've been meaning to ask—why do you poop? I've studied this for so long. Come on, tell me!"
Obito froze. When White Zetsu spoke nonsense like this—his brain full of shit—Obito snapped. He slammed a fist into the nearby tree, splitting it in two.
"Enough! Black Zetsu, next time make White Zetsu possess someone else. His idiocy is a liability to the plan."
White Zetsu pouted.
"Obito! I completed the mission perfectly and brought back all the intel. But you still won't tell me why you poop! You're so selfish! Always pooping behind our backs!"
Even Black Zetsu, while possessing White Zetsu, couldn't endure his nonsense any longer. White Zetsu had always been strange, but this one had truly gone off the rails.
In a flash, Obito appeared in front of the Zetsu duo and cleaved them in half with a swing of his blade. Only then did his rage subside.
Black Zetsu liquefied into a puddle of thick black ooze.
"Obito, we don't have that many White Zetsu left. You keep wasting them to blow off steam. Are you really following Lord Madara's plan?"
"I don't need a lecture. I can complete the mission without them. Return to the base and find another one. Zetsu should be ready by now. When we get back, he and I will move together."
Obito turned toward Konoha, ready to eliminate the meddlesome deputy clan leader.
"Uchiha Hikaru…"
_________
Power Stones 🪨 Please