The candles in the tea room flickered to life.
In the antique-style room, Reiji and Kagami Uchiha sat across from each other in silence.
Seeing Kagami Uchiha so awkward he didn't know where to put his hands, Reiji smirked.
"Next time, let's switch the code. Just say your bed collapsed once."
Kagami Uchiha's face darkened further at that.
He gave a couple of light coughs to cut Reiji off and steered the conversation elsewhere.
"Reiji, so you've been in the Land of Lightning lately? How's it been?"
Reiji nodded. "Not bad. The girls in Kumogakure are a little too passionate, though. They won't leave me alone."
"Heh, you brat. You think you can handle that?"
Reiji grinned and winked.
"Maybe not before, but Raikage-sama gave me a scroll to train in the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. I think I'm getting close."
Kagami Uchiha chuckled, clearly not taking him seriously.
He looked skeptical, and Reiji rolled his eyes.
Heh, laugh while you can. I'll leave a Flying Thunder God seal on your bed later.
The two, reunited after so long, chatted a bit more.
"Reiji, are you here with the Kumogakure negotiation team?"
Reiji nodded.
"Then..."
For some reason, Kagami Uchiha's expression turned serious.
"Do you have any intel on the delegation?"
Even though he was no longer among Konoha's upper ranks, Kagami Uchiha still had the village in mind.
Hearing that, Reiji sighed lightly and shook his head.
"I do, but I already reported everything I know to Hokage-sama."
Relieved, Kagami Uchiha let out a breath and pulled a scroll from his sleeve.
"Reiji, then take a look at this. What does it mean? Why did you tell me to watch out for Danzō?"
He slid the scroll over to Reiji as he spoke.
Seeing the all-too-familiar scroll on the table, Reiji instantly recognized it as the letter he'd written to Kagami Uchiha.
In it, he had used a cipher only the two of them understood to send a warning about Danzō.
Instead of opening it, Reiji toyed with the scroll in his hands.
Then he asked an unrelated question.
"Kagami, has Danzō already taken power?"
Kagami Uchiha hesitated, then nodded slowly.
"Hiruzen handed over the ANBU training operations to him. He named the unit Root—meant to signify the darkness hidden beneath the tree.
I don't know what Hiruzen was thinking, giving away authority so soon.
Though, it might be because he recently took on three disciples and is getting overwhelmed."
"Old men Hiruzen took on disciples??" Reiji's eyes widened in surprise.
"He did. The genius Orochimaru, Princess Tsunade, and your pal, Jiraiya!"
Hearing that, Reiji immediately understood and shifted the topic back.
"Didn't Danzō treat you pretty harshly at first? But ever since he started Root, he's been really friendly, hasn't he?"
Kagami Uchiha paused, then a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
"Y-Yeah. We had a big argument before about the Konoha Police Force.
But after that, he actually came to me and apologized—totally out of character!
How'd you know that?"
He blurted out the question. If he'd brought it up himself, it would've been no big deal.
What was unsettling was that Reiji had been away from the village for so long, he didn't even know about Hiruzen's apprentices.
So how could he possibly know what had happened privately between him and Danzō?
Was he spying on me?
The thought flashed through Kagami Uchiha's mind, but he shook it off.
Even if someone were spying, he'd be the least worthwhile target.
He wasn't high up in Konoha and had no ties to the power center. Even within the Uchiha Clan, the elders subtly pushed him aside.
Watching Kagami Uchiha's expression shift like a slide show, Reiji chuckled.
"Kagami, stop overthinking it. Let me break it down for you."
In truth, without access to Konoha intel, everything Reiji deduced was based on the assumption that Danzō would eventually kill Kagami Uchiha.
Still, even without foreknowledge, his time spent with Kagami and his understanding of Danzō gave him some clues.
The Hokage position requires more than just raw power—it needs strength and authority.
Danzō's only play was trading friendship for influence, then using that power to gain strength.
Hearing that, Kagami Uchiha nodded repeatedly, sliding back into his old, less serious self as he leaned closer.
"Danzō Shimura's a good guy. He doesn't have any evil intentions."
As he spoke, Reiji carefully watched his expression.
He knew that if he'd opened with "Danzō is a monster," Kagami Uchiha—who'd worked closely with him on countless missions—would've instinctively resisted.
And even a small amount of resistance would weaken everything he said after.
After all, Danzō hadn't even started showing his true colors yet.
Seeing Kagami Uchiha nod slowly, Reiji continued.
"But Danzō is ambitious. He definitely wants to become Hokage."
At those words, Kagami shot Reiji a strange look, thinking to himself, You're the one who knocked Danzō out cold in front of sensei back then.
But he didn't say anything, choosing instead to listen to Reiji's analysis.
"When someone ambitious starts getting help from old classmates, gets closer to power bit by bit, starts to enjoy the thrill of giving orders, and grows used to holding others' lives in his hands...
Kagami, don't you think once Danzō tasted that kind of sweetness, he'd want even more?"
"I… I don't know." Kagami stammered. Deep down, he did know—but he didn't want to admit it.
Reiji didn't press further. He just offered an example.
"Kagami, you want the Uchiha to integrate with the village like the Senju did.
If—just if—your actions actually brought results, wouldn't that drive you to keep going even harder?"
Kagami's eyes lit up. He nodded without hesitation.
To see the Uchiha fully integrated, no longer divided or estranged from the village—that was his ultimate dream.
As long as there was the slightest hope, he would never give up.
That realization struck him.
Danzō was the same as him—except his dream was to become Hokage.
Noticing Kagami lost in thought, Reiji smiled, a genuinely pleased smile.
"Kagami, you have to understand—power isn't just a sweet reward to Danzō. It's a stepping stone to becoming Hokage.
He lends you power. He lends it to the Uchiha Clan. He lets you glimpse the dawn of peace with the village.
Would you try it? Of course you would—you absolutely would.
But is it free? No. There's always a price."
As he spoke, Reiji slowly reached out and tapped his own eye.
"This might be the price you'll pay."
Kagami recoiled in shock, backing away with a frantic shake of his head.
"No, that's impossible! He's not Uchiha—he can't use the Sharingan!"
As Kagami's eyes involuntarily turned into the three-tomoe Sharingan, Reiji's expression grew solemn. He stood up slowly.
"Kagami, we're friends, right?
Let go of your expectations for others. Only by relying on yourself can you secure a future for the Uchiha."
With that, Reiji patted Kagami on the shoulder and walked past him toward the wooden door.
Just then, Kagami grabbed his arm.
Looking at Reiji, Kagami suddenly remembered the first time they met—in Tobirama-sama's office.
Back then, Reiji was still just a weak little kid, but his eyes shone with intelligence.
And even then, when he first met Danzō, he had called out Danzō's biggest flaw: arrogance.
That comment had cost Danzō his shot at becoming Hokage.
Even later, when they were being chased by the Gold and Silver Brothers, Danzō had stepped forward, right after Hiruzen, volunteering to stay behind as bait.
Reiji had a gift—he could see through people. And that was the one thing Kagami desired more than anything.
Lost in thought, Kagami stared at Reiji and slowly asked,
"Reiji, can I trust you?"
The same question he'd asked during their first private conversation—and now, once again.
Reiji gave the same answer as before, with that same warm smile.
"You can always trust Reiji Sakuhō!"
Kagami stared at him silently for a long time.
Then, suddenly, he smiled—just as brightly as Reiji.
"My friend! Please, lend me your wisdom again!"
At those words, Reiji sighed and spoke.
"Kagami, you're lucky. You still have time."
Unlike those two pitiful kids in the future...
"Believe in your own strength, Kagami!
Fake your death. Erase yourself. Hide in the shadows.
Time will reveal Danzō's true intentions.
Take control of the Uchiha. Eliminate every stubborn obstacle.
Raise the next Clan Head. Shape him. Pass down your Will of Fire.
Let him be the one who changes the Uchiha, one person at a time."
Reiji paused, then suddenly grinned and added silently in his heart—
And as for how the village elders will react? Just wait. When the time comes, when you're completely disillusioned... come find me.
Leaving that final thought unspoken, Reiji patted Kagami on the shoulder and walked away without looking back.
...
Standing atop the wall, Reiji looked toward the tea room, where the candlelight still glowed faintly, and let out a quiet sigh.
My friend—stay alive.