In May, Konoha was steeped in the full charm of spring.
The entire village was wrapped in the breath of the season, brimming with life and vitality.
Red, pink, and violet peonies intertwined in bloom, forming a dazzling tapestry of color. Irises stood proudly throughout the village, their petals shaped like elegant tails, displaying soft purples and gentle blues that lent Konoha a mysterious, refined air.
Pansies—red, pink, and violet—clustered into small, delicate blossoms, scattered among the greenery at the village's edges like radiant gems.
And then there were the lilies of the valley—the unmistakable symbol of Konoha's spring. They bloomed quietly in shaded corners, releasing a fresh, faint fragrance. Small and pristine, their white petals were flawless.
With peonies, irises, pansies, and lilies woven together, the village looked almost like a fairyland—so beautiful it left one intoxicated, as though gazing upon a dreamlike painting.
Meanwhile, the Konoha Hero Card Game continued to ferment throughout the village.
Time passed like a fleeting shadow. Through the combined efforts of Uchiha Ran and Inabi, public opinion toward the Uchiha clan had begun—ever so subtly—to shift.
As spring grew richer by the day, one afternoon arrived that was perfect for an outing.
On this day, Yūhi Kurenai naturally invited Uchiha Ran to go enjoy the scenery.
Neither of them spoke much as they walked side by side along a stream.
It was a small tributary of the Naka River, flowing through southern Konoha.
The stream ran gently, its water crystal clear—like a mirror. A light breeze stirred faint ripples across the surface, reflecting the vast blue sky above.
On both banks, dense fields of irises stretched as far as the eye could see, their petals swaying softly when the wind brushed past.
Dragonflies danced in the air, circling gracefully among the flowers, as though admiring their beauty. Tall trees lined the stream, casting cool shade over the irises, while birds sang cheerfully from their branches.
Near the water lay a flat stone carpeted with moss. Further north, green hills rolled beneath the blue sky, mountains and earth blending harmoniously.
Kurenai stood quietly by the stream, gazing at the sea of irises before her—as if the scenery itself were cheering on her courage and resolve.
She wore a red-and-white dress, her right hand wrapped in a clean white bandage.
Over this period of time, she had come to realize that she liked this boy—the Uchiha who wore glasses, always carried a gentle smile, and handled matters with calm competence.
At this moment, her heart was both light and tense.
She was preparing to confess.
She felt that she had liked Uchiha Ran for a long time now. Konoha's kunoichi were decisive when it came to love and hate—even if she was still young.
Today, she had resolved to be brave.
"Ran," Kurenai suddenly spoke.
"Hm? What is it, Kurenai?" Ran asked, surprised by her sudden call, yet responding immediately.
With the stream as witness, amid the sea of irises, Kurenai took a deep breath and was just about to speak—
When suddenly, an ANBU messenger dressed in black appeared before them.
"Uchiha Ran. The Hokage requests your presence immediately," the ANBU said briskly.
Kurenai's heart skipped. But she knew that for a ninja, a summons from the Hokage took absolute priority—anytime, anywhere.
Though reluctance filled her chest—she hadn't even confessed yet—she still spoke softly:
"Ran… you should go to the Hokage Tower right away. The Hokage is waiting for you."
"Let's go," Ran said.
One glance at her was enough for him to understand what she had wanted to say. Yet he did not linger. After acknowledging the ANBU messenger, he immediately dashed toward the Hokage Tower.
In Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, had always been a capable politician.
He firmly believed himself to be the true inheritor of the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama's will.
In his early years, he had worked tirelessly to ease tensions between different ninja clans. Under the influence of his Will of Fire, the Senju clan had gradually integrated into the civilian population, becoming part of Konoha as a whole.
Later, he attempted the same with the Uchiha—hoping they might follow the Senju's path.
But Hiruzen was keenly aware of the Uchiha clan's unique status and influence within the village. He also understood that some aspects of the Uchiha, rooted in their special bloodline and abilities, made them fundamentally different from most of the Senju.
The Sharingan.
Unlike the Wood Release kekkei genkai, the Sharingan required no rare genetics alone—only intense emotional stimulation.
No matter how thoroughly Uchiha blood mixed with civilians, as long as the stimulus was strong enough, the Sharingan could still awaken.
And in Hiruzen's eyes, the awakening of the Sharingan itself symbolized the failure of integration.
At that point, he abandoned the idea of fully assimilating the Uchiha into Konoha, instead choosing to influence them through the Will of Fire.
Yet the Uchiha's pride made them resistant. The Will of Fire found little purchase among them.
That was… until Uchiha Ran appeared.
Hiruzen realized that this different kind of Uchiha might be the key to improving relations between the village and the clan.
Ran was known for his gentle temperament, strong communication skills, and bright disposition. In Hiruzen's eyes, Ran could offer the Uchiha a new perspective—while helping other clans better understand the Uchiha's value and contributions.
Compared to Uchiha Fugaku—who desired reconciliation with the village but lacked the ability to truly change the clan's mindset—Ran's actions and efforts seemed far more promising in breaking long-held prejudices.
Hiruzen had observed Ran's recent work closely.
Using publicity to improve the Uchiha's image among outsiders—Ran had done very well.
Based on Hiruzen's experience, the next step would be internal reform—changing the Uchiha from within to further elevate their reputation.
If the clan's defiant temperament could be softened, the Uchiha might yet become a force fully usable by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
If their clan-centric identity could be weakened—through politics and war—so that the Uchiha were no longer Konoha's most powerful clan…
Then Hiruzen would have succeeded.
Now, as the Third Hokage, he had made his decision.
He would push Uchiha Ran further upward within the clan hierarchy—until Ran became one of the Uchiha's true decision-makers.
Creak.
The door opened.
Along with it came Ran's calm voice.
"Hokage-sama. I'm here."
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