Though it was said they would fight until dawn, they ultimately couldn't.
Swelling and broken skin could be healed with Medical Ninjutsu, but stamina was another matter entirely.
Anko's endurance was, after all, a far cry from Uchiha Gen's in this world.
One could only say that a senior brother was still a senior brother; a junior sister trying to defy him was still too green.
However, Anko was not one to admit defeat easily. The next morning, after regaining her strength, she challenged him again, determined to turn the tables.
Her will was admirable—but she underestimated her senior brother once again, and was thoroughly and mercilessly defeated.
After their "morning exercise," the two showered together, dressed, and headed out.
Because they were running late, there was no time for breakfast, so they grabbed something to eat on their way to work.
That morning, Anko relayed Uchiha Gen's intentions to Kurenai and Yugao, and both women readily agreed.
At noon, when Uchiha Gen returned home for lunch, he also spoke with Mikoto.
Mikoto had already been mentally prepared for this development. Naturally, she didn't object—she even offered to personally arrange the best living conditions for the three women.
Of course, in truth, Mikoto had no real power to object.
Uchiha Gen, however, didn't ignore her show of goodwill and instead stated that he would leave all the arrangements to her discretion.
Under Mikoto's management, Itachi's residence was relocated from the backyard to the middle courtyard.
At his age, Itachi was expected to begin living more independently.
Not only Itachi—when Sasuke grew older, he would follow the same pattern.
Now, Itachi had moved from the backyard to the middle courtyard; later, from the middle to the front. When the time came for marriage, he would move out entirely.
Sasuke, being younger, still lived in a small side room connected to the main house in the backyard.
As for Kurenai, Anko, and Yugao, Mikoto arranged their new homes around the main house in the backyard—left, right, and rear—each equidistant from the central building.
Every residence was furnished with identical amenities and comforts, showing no favoritism.
Three days later, Kurenai, Yugao, and Anko officially moved in.
That evening, Uchiha Gen hosted an extravagant housewarming banquet for the three women—both as a gesture of welcome and to help them settle into their new life.
The three women's arrival was, of course, a wonderful thing for Uchiha Gen; he could now enjoy the blessings of a household filled with affection and variety.
It was also good for the three women themselves; beyond improved living conditions, they could now spend each day beside the man they loved.
But for Mikoto, Itachi, and Sasuke—it was not such a joyous event.
For Mikoto, the new additions would inevitably dilute Uchiha Gen's affection and disrupt the calm rhythm of their family.
The same held true for Itachi and Sasuke; their father's attention would now be divided, and the warmth of their home slightly dimmed.
However, none of them could change Uchiha Gen's decision.
The sensible Mikoto and Itachi masked their disappointment behind composed smiles, extending a polite welcome.
Little Sasuke, on the other hand, threw a tantrum in private—only to be swiftly subdued by Mikoto and Itachi.
And so, Uchiha Gen's domestic life entered a new chapter.
He was a man who loved novelty but didn't neglect the old. Though he gave extra care to the three newly moved-in women, he did not disregard Mikoto.
Likewise, his attitude toward Itachi and Sasuke remained unchanged. Gradually, the family's unease eased, and things settled into a strange new normal.
Uchiha Gen's life grew steadily more pleasurable—he walked with a spring in his step every day.
But in contrast, Hiruzen Sarutobi's mood had grown increasingly troubled.
Because Danzo had not returned, even though the time he'd promised for his mission had long passed.
At first, that might have been tolerable—but two days later, when Root attempted to contact him, they received no response.
He was completely out of contact.
This filled Hiruzen with a gnawing dread. Could something truly have happened to his old friend?
He immediately ordered Root to dedicate all resources to finding him, even dispatching Anbu alongside them.
However, the mission Danzo had recorded in Root before leaving was one he had already completed. No matter how they retraced his steps, there was nothing to find.
After much investigation, Root and Anbu finally traced his last movements to a ninja serving the Land of Fire's Daimyo.
The trail went cold there. The team's leader, Kakashi, reported this to Hiruzen without delay.
Hiruzen was dumbfounded.
Could Danzo's disappearance have anything to do with the Daimyo himself?
If that were the case, things would become very complicated.
Still, since this concerned his friend's safety, Hiruzen couldn't just let it go.
He composed a careful letter to the Daimyo's Mansion.
The Daimyo replied courteously, filled with polite phrasing and sympathy. He explained that he had summoned Danzo to the capital to train his personal ninja guards.
According to his attendants, Danzo had accepted the request but had never arrived.
This narrative, of course, was one Uchiha Gen had subtly implanted into the Daimyo's mind through genjutsu.
He knew that with Konoha's investigative power, anything tied to the Daimyo would inevitably be uncovered—it was nearly impossible to hide.
So rather than conceal it and risk exposure, it was far safer to control the story from the start.
If he laid out a plausible explanation, Konoha would hesitate to dig deeper.
First, the Daimyo's words carried weight and were naturally believable.
Second, even if Konoha had doubts, they could hardly investigate the Daimyo directly—doing so would risk political disaster.
And even if they conducted indirect investigations, all roads would lead back to the same conclusion the Daimyo had already given.
Danzo's letter from the Daimyo, of course, had been destroyed—burned by Danzo himself, as anyone so steeped in secrecy would do.
Even if it hadn't been, it wouldn't have mattered; with the Daimyo taking the blame, nothing could touch Uchiha Gen.
To implicate him, three conditions would have to be met.
First, Konoha's leadership would have to believe that someone had the audacity to manipulate the Daimyo himself.
Second, they would have to dare use secret Ninjutsu to investigate the Daimyo's mind—without alerting the Daimyo, his guards, or the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
If word got out that they used genjutsu on the Daimyo, the Land of Fire and Konoha would turn against each other overnight.
Third, they would have to actually find proof or evidence directly tying the manipulation to Uchiha Gen.
And that was impossible.
Because even if they detected Uchiha influence, he could easily push the blame onto Obito and that explanation would fit perfectly.
After all, wasn't it Obito who had summoned the Nine-Tails and caused the Fourth Hokage's death? Killing a Hokage's advisor would hardly seem out of character.
The first two conditions might be possible—but the third? Never.
No one in Konoha matched Uchiha Gen's mastery of Yin Release or Genjutsu.
Without equivalent skill, they couldn't even perceive a trace of his influence.
And so, Uchiha Xuan waited calmly, certain of his safety.
Upon receiving the news, Hiruzen met with Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu. Together, they decided to send Anbu and Root to scour every route from Konoha to the Daimyo's Mansion.
None of them doubted the Daimyo's account. None imagined that someone would dare manipulate the ruler of the Land of Fire himself.
Such audacity was simply beyond their comprehension.
Even the Hidden Sand's leaders wouldn't dare suspect their own Daimyo; how could Konoha's elders think any differently?
Had Danzo taken a normal route, they might have eventually found some clue. But he hadn't.
Danzo had chosen an unorthodox path, remote, dangerous, yet no obstacle for shinobi of his caliber.
Thus, despite tremendous effort, manpower, and resources, both Root and Anbu came up empty-handed.
Danzo and his escorts had vanished—utterly and completely.
Which was, in fact, quite literal. Their bodies had long since been devoured by sharks, leaving not even a trace behind.
The results devastated Hiruzen and his comrades. Deep down, they had accepted the truth but they still clung to a faint, foolish hope.
Half a month later, during Konoha's regular meeting of Captains and Department Heads, Danzo was once again absent.
Three consecutive absences.
For someone as power-hungry as Danzo, that alone was suspicious enough to stir whispers.
After the meeting ended, before the crowd dispersed, Uchiha Gen spoke up.
"Hokage-sama," he said, his tone calm yet clear, "Elder Danzo has missed three consecutive meetings. Has something happened to him?"
"If so, please tell us. Though Elder Danzo and I have had our differences, we are still of the same village. If he's in danger, we can't let outsiders trample him."
"If there's trouble, I'm willing to lend my strength. After all, there's power in unity."
His words drew every eye in the room. Those unaware of the truth turned to Hiruzen curiously.
By now, Hiruzen knew there was no hiding it any longer.
He exhaled a plume of smoke and said gravely, "Something has indeed happened to Elder Danzo."
"According to the investigations of Anbu and Root, Elder Danzo disappeared mysteriously on his way to the Daimyo's Mansion. Since then, he's been missing without a trace."
The revelation caused an uproar, shock, whispers, and disbelief.
Uchiha Gen's surprise, of course, was feigned. The others' was genuine.
"You all understand Elder Danzo's importance," Hiruzen continued. "If he has fallen into enemy hands, it would be a grave threat to Konoha."
"Therefore, our village defenses will undergo reorganization. The Anbu, Police Force, and Barrier Team must adjust their patrols accordingly."
"Yes!" the three department heads responded in unison.
"Also," Hiruzen added, "all of you have your own networks. Mobilize your connections and seek information."
The meeting seemed ready to conclude until Uchiha Gen spoke again.
"Hokage-sama, one more thing."
Hiruzen's brows twitched slightly. "Head of the Police Force, Gen, what is it?"
"Hokage-sama, I will naturally mobilize my forces to assist in Elder Danzo's search," Uchiha Gen said evenly. "But I wish to ask—if Elder Danzo is truly gone, what will happen to Root?"
A subtle murmur rippled through the hall.
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly. So he wants Root's authority, does he?
But outwardly, he only replied, "What do you mean?"
Uchiha Gen smiled faintly. "I mean to abolish Root's special status and officially turn it into a legitimate second-tier Anbu training division."
"Root was a product of an older era. That era has passed—so Root should have, too."
"I believe this sentiment is shared by many among the Uchiha, the Hyuga, and the other clans."
"Konoha, bathed in sunlight, needs only one shadow...Anbu. It doesn't need another, darker Root."
His smile faded as he spoke the final words, his tone steady, serious, and clear.
By proposing such reform, Uchiha Gen immediately won the favor of many clans who had long suffered under Root's tyranny.
Root was feared, yes but also despised.
Even within the original story, after the Fourth Great Ninja War, Root was officially dissolved due to public pressure.
But that had been done crudely. Root's members were killers shaped by decades of darkness; letting them roam freely would only bring disaster.
A gradual transformation was the wiser path.
Upon hearing his proposal, the reactions were immediate.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Hiruzen's son and current Anbu Captain, looked thrilled. If his father approved, Anbu's power would expand dramatically.
The other clan heads exchanged glances, their eyes brightening. Nara Shikaku, usually cautious, even nodded approvingly.
Although he was part of the Hokage faction, he too loathed Root's methods.
Now that someone else had spoken up, he was more than willing to add his voice.
Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu, however, were visibly displeased.
Though Danzo's fate remained unconfirmed, this talk of dismantling his life's work so soon after his disappearance felt almost disrespectful.
Yet, faced with overwhelming support and Uchiha Gen's growing prestige, they dared not openly object.
Hiruzen, meanwhile, was surprised.
He had expected Uchiha Gen to demand control over Root or to argue for its disbandment to weaken the Hokage's power.
But instead, Uchiha Gen proposed to fold Root into the Anbu hierarchy, strengthening the Hokage's structure rather than tearing it down.
It was a move both shrewd and magnanimous.
Uchiha Gen watched the change in Hiruzen's face and smirked inwardly.
He didn't actually care about Root's power. All he wanted was the political momentum, the prestige of being the one who "reformed" it.
Weighing the mood of the room and the inevitable stance of the clans, Hiruzen finally spoke.
"If Elder Danzo is truly gone," he said solemnly, "then Root shall be reorganized into a legitimate Anbu training division."
Homura and Koharu froze in disbelief, while smiles bloomed across the faces of everyone else—Sarutobi Shinnosuke included.
Word would spread fast.
And tonight, throughout Konoha, many cups would be raised in silent celebration.
What does it mean to die a death that everyone welcomes?
This—this was it.