After hearing this, Ibiki carefully wrote down every key point in his notebook, afraid he might forget sothing. This was his first assignnt outside the interrogation division. Since he had earned the trust of both the Hokage and the Assistant, he absolutely could not afford to disappoint them—or allow himself to make a single mistake.
Uchiha Hikaru listened to the soft scratch, scratch of Ibiki’s pen against paper. Only when the sound finally stopped did he close the docunt in his hands.
"Regarding Kumogakure’s request to increase profits and expand the scale of trade..."
"Konoha will keep tariffs unchanged and maintain the current baseline. The size of each caravan may be increased by no more than fifteen percent. That is the limit."
"However, for the newly added caravans, Konoha will export as many books, novels, comics, and local specialties as possible. Let the people of the Land of Lightning learn more about Konoha’s customs and culture."
"As for luxury goods, inform Hyūga Hiashi. The Hyūga Clan has always been adept in this field. Let them use it to compete directly with Kumogakure’s luxury market."
"In addition, the daily-use items developed by Orochimaru can be mass-produced. Tell him to get started imdiately. Accelerate production of communication devices and computing tools."
"At the sa ti, have Uchiha Izumi begin composing music and choreography. The Uchiha boy and girl performance groups should begin training as soon as possible."
Uchiha Hikaru spoke steadily, one instruction after another. Ibiki’s pen flew across the page, recording every word without pause.
Although much of it went beyond his understanding, this was Uchiha Hikaru—the Hokage’s Assistant. Trusting him was enough.
It was more than an hour later when their discussion finally ended and Uchiha Hikaru departed.
Ibiki sorted the information onto separate scrolls, applied specialized sealing jutsu to each, and handed them to his summoned ssenger beasts to be delivered back to Konoha and distributed to the appropriate people.
There were simply too many scrolls.
By the ti Ibiki finished everything, it was already deep into the night. He collapsed onto the hotel bed, utterly exhausted, and fell asleep almost instantly.
Far from the village, atop a high mountain outside Kumogakure, Uchiha Hikaru lay alone in the withered grass. He stared at the vast star-filled sky, his expression distant, his thoughts unreadable.
A wisp of black mist slipped from his wrist and flowed out from his sleeve. It took shape beside him, forming into a graceful woman clad in black, her body adorned with faintly glowing, silver-white chains.
She bent one knee, supporting herself on the grass with one hand. With the other, she gently brushed Uchiha Hikaru’s cheek, lifting his chin with her fingertips until their eyes t.
"What’s wrong?" she asked softly. "This is the first ti I’ve seen you like this."
"Thinking about that little kitty again?"
Uchiha Hikaru remained silent, gazing into Sword’s eyes—deep and brilliant, like the Milky Way itself. After a long pause, he sighed quietly.
Sword shifted closer, resting against his chest. Her ear pressed to his body, listening to the steady, powerful rhythm of his heartbeat. Her fingers traced idle circles against his clothing.
"With soone like lying in your arms," she murmured teasingly, "you’re still thinking about another woman?"
"If you keep this up, I’ll get jealous, you know~"
Faced with her deliberate provocation, Uchiha Hikaru finally spoke, his tone weary.
"Alright, stop teasing . Why didn’t you co out and stop back then?"
Sword planted her hands on the ground and pushed herself upright, straddling him with her legs crossed. Their bodies aligned, close enough to feel each other’s warmth. A flicker of confusion crossed her eyes.
"Why would I stop you?"
"Desire and greed are human instincts. Why should I suppress your nature?"
"If you wanted her, then you took her. Just like you said—you’re not scum. You’re simply... overly generous."
Uchiha Hikaru fell silent, stunned. He hadn’t expected to hear his own twisted justification echoed back at him so calmly.
"Didn’t you like that little kitty?" Sword continued. "The first ti you lost control, fine. But what about the second?"
"From where I stand, she’s exactly your type."
Uchiha Hikaru smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"It’s not the sa."
"Back then, I only liked her appearance. I wasn’t in love."
"Don’t you like her now?" Sword asked.
Once again, silence fell.
"...Ah."
"It’s different. It feels like getting married first, and falling in love afterward."
Sword tilted her head, studying him with clear confusion.
"When did you start caring about things like this?" she asked. "I rember you sleeping with won far more dangerous than her before. I never saw you this troubled back then."
Her words dragged Uchiha Hikaru back into mories of his previous life.
"...Yeah. Why didn’t I care back then, but now I do?"
Looking back on his twenty-one years in the shinobi world—sixteen years spent hiding behind a mask, surviving in the shadows—then slowly awakening to mories of who he once was.
Compared to his past, living alone with nothing but power and obsession, this world had wrapped invisible threads around him before he ever noticed.
At first, everything was about利益—利益,利益.
And yet, without realizing it, so many people had gathered around him.
Itachi. Fugaku. Hiashi. Shikaku. Jiraiya. Naruto. Sasuke. Gekkō Hayate. Shino. Neji. Hinata. Hanabi. Tsunade. Kurenai. Anko. Shizune. Saya. i Terumi. Yugito...
And beyond them, countless followers.
Promises. Interests. Admiration. Emotion.
So stayed because they owed him.
So because they gained from him.
So because they respected him.
So because they cared.
And through it all, he had always acted according to his own inner rules.
Suddenly, Uchiha Hikaru sat upright.
In that instant, sothing clicked into place. He exhaled and spoke softly, as if reciting to himself:
"The thunder rages across the world, day and night,
Lives burn out beneath its endless roar."
"Seventy years of fleeting peace—
Yet my heart remains unmoved."
"My first steps into this shinobi world are still vivid,
The past fading like smoke, like dreams."
"Now I stand at the highest point,
With countless moons beside , forging my heart."
Sword understood imdiately—especially the final line. Her face flushed red, and she nearly wanted to disappear back into the mist.
"What do you an by ’countless moons forging your heart’?" she snapped. "You’re being ridiculous. Why are you suddenly reciting poetry?"
"You sound like so self-proclaid Sage of Love..."
Uchiha Hikaru laughed and pulled her into his arms.
"Haha."
"It was just a mont of inspiration. What’s wrong with being a little immature?"
"I’ve always lived however I wanted. Isn’t that right?"
Sword wrapped her arms around his neck, turned her head aside, and puffed out her cheeks.
"Oh? Then who was the one brooding just now, looking like the world was ending?
(￣△￣)"
"I don’t know," Uchiha Hikaru replied calmly. "I only know one thing."
"Tonight, we settle this."
"This ti—you’re going to lose."
...
...
...
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