The Ino-Shika-Chō trio left the room, leaving only the three members of the reception team in the Hokage's office.

  In truth, Link would have left with his mentor Shikaku if Kakashi hadn’t held him back.

  "Hiashi, I’m entrusting Kakashi and Link to you," the Third Hokage said to the Hyūga leader, his tone rexed and cordial.

  "You t on me, Lord Third," Hiashi Hyūga replied with a bow.

  As the three stepped outside, Hiashi turo them and said, "The delegation from the Land of Wind is expected to reach the border the day after tomorrow. If you’re free, please visit the Hyūga pound tomorrow."

  His speech olished, and his words carefully chosen. After extending the invitation with a polite bow, he didn’t wait for a response before leaving.

  Hiashi’s demeanor was a refle of the Hyūga ’s pride. Even after the Konoha Crush, while the entire vilge celebrated the victory, the Hyūga had stayed home to celebrate the birthday of their three-year-old heir.

  Such aloofness said it all.

  Kakashi patted Link’s shoulder and said, "See you tomorrow," before wandering off toward the Jonin ready room, engrossed in his newly acquired Icha Icha book.

  Representing Konoha to wele an allied delegation? Link thought, p the significe of his task.

  Rather thaurn to the Jonin ready room for idle chatter, he decided to resume training at the practice field. After all, Sasuke was waiting for him there.

  The only downside was that, with Naruto gone, Sakura had started frequenting the training ground too.

  Maybe it’s time to find a new spot.

  He suddenly sensed someog him and spun around.

  Leaning against the wall at the er of the hallway was her than Danzo Shimura, the bandaged old man who had been smiling at him earlier in the Hokage's office.

  "I am Danzo Shimura," the man introduced himself, standing upright and l his arms from their crossed position.

  So it is him, Link thought, his expression remainiral.

  "What I do for you?" he asked calmly.

  "There’s a matter I’d like to crify," Danzo said, skipping any unnecessary preamble. "My subordinates were n to attack Uchiha Sasuke. They believed he shared our willio sacrifice for the vilge, so they sought to invite him to join us."

  Danzo’s words were steeped in righteousness, pg himself on a moral high ground.

  Still, Link held his to wasn’t wise tue against someone framing their as as being "for the vilge."

  "As an apology," Danzo said, pulling a scroll from his sleeve, "this tains some teiques and insights on developing the Sharingan, passed down within the Uchiha ."

  For someone who preaches that emotioo hatred and war, he sure knows how to use seo his advantage.

  Link took the scroll without hesitation. If he po take Danzo dowually, there was no reason to refuse any bes offered along the way.

  "Thank you, Lord Danzo," he said, his polite words betraying none of the disdain he had voiced about Danzo in private.

  "If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave," Link added, turning and walking away.

  Danzo watched his retreating figure a a strange sense of déjà vu.

  Didn’t that fool Mizuki get taken advantage of in a simir way by this kid?

  Yet Danzo wasn’t angry. Instead, he chuckled. From his perspective, Link posed hreat. They were from entirely different geions, and there was no sario where a ten-year-old would pete with him for the Hokage title.

  By the time Link matured into a viable didate, Danzo would either already be Hokage or long dead.

  In fact, Danzo weled Link’s ambition. The more ambitious he was, the easier it would be to recruit him.

  His earlier attempt to approach Sasuke was simply a means to ily influence Link. Though Sasuke’s rea had been harsher than expected, Danzo wasn’t ed. Misuandings could be smoothed over in time.

  And then there was that rejuvenation teique Link had used...

  Danzo left the Hokage’s office with a light heart. The Konoha Crush had provided him with an opportunity to reassert his influehis time, he wouldn’t squa.

  …

  Land of Fire, Eastern Border

  In a forest he border, a crow perched on Uchiha Itachi’s arm, preening its feathers.

  That kid’s influen Sasuke is growing stronger by the day, Itachi thought, his usually calm demeanor hiding a storm of emotions.

  Seeing his father—whom he had killed—had shaken him to his core.

  Sasuke, who was supposed to follow the path Itachi had id out for him, was drifting further away from it.

  Meanwhile, Itachi’s health and eyesight were deteriorating. He knew his time was running out. If Sasuke couldn’t gain enough strength before then...

  The Sharingan in Itachi’s eyes spun as he resolved himself. The vilge was important, but certain individuals could be sacrificed.

  To ensure Sasuke bees the strong shinobi I envisioned, I have to elimihat boy.

  His decision was made. Even if Akatsuki's leader valued Link’s abilities and Konoha prioritized his development, sacrifices were sometimes necessary—just as they had been with the Uchiha .

  Sasuke…

  Bleam