The news of Uchiha Itachi's return and appointnt as an Anbu Captain spread swiftly through Konoha. This ti, the village accepted it without resistance. After all, the current Hokage was an Uchiha—what was so unusual about another rising to Anbu leadership?
As for Kisa, Itachi had initially hoped to make him an Anbu Captain as well. However, Kisa flatly refused. "How can soone like , once a prisoner, hold such a position?" he said, his tone steady and final.
With no other choice, Itachi allowed him to remain by his side, acting as a personal bodyguard. But Kisa's distinctive appearance—a shark-like face and the massive sword, Sahada—was hard to miss. Word of his presence in Konoha quickly reached the Hidden Mist Village.
The Fifth Mizukage, i Terumi, issued a ssage promptly. While she expressed no interest in Kisa's return, she demanded the return of Sahada, claiming it belonged to the Hidden Mist.
When Yūgao Uzuki delivered this ssage to Uchiha Chiga, he smiled faintly and said, "Since when did Sahada beco the property of the Hidden Mist? If they want it back, they're welco to co retrieve it themselves."
The response shocked many, not least i Terumi. She was furious at first—but also intrigued.
During the later years of the Third Hokage's reign, Konoha had developed a reputation for being overly diplomatic, even submissive. For example, during the Hyuga incident, despite the Hidden Cloud's aggression, Konoha ultimately handed over Hizashi Hyuga in the na of peace.
Tsunade's ti as Hokage saw improvents, but she remained largely conciliatory. Chiga's bold defiance was a level of resolve Konoha hadn't shown in years.
And that resolve intrigued i Terumi. She beca curious about this Sixth Hokage who had risen suddenly, seemingly from nowhere.
"Uchiha Chiga, hmm?" she mused, noting the na with thinly veiled interest. The Uchiha were known for their striking appearance, after all. As a single woman of a certain age, she filed his na away—for professional and slightly personal reasons.
anwhile, other Kage reacted in their own ways. Kazekage Gaara and Raikage A remained calm in response to Konoha's change in leadership. But in Iwagakure, the aged Tsuchikage Onoki was far less composed.
When he first heard that Konoha had nad a new Hokage, he was mildly surprised. But when he learned the man's na—Uchiha Chiga—he shot up from his seat.
The na "Uchiha" sent chills down his spine.
As the oldest of the current Kage, Onoki had witnessed far more than most. Among the countless powerful figures he had faced or heard of, one haunted him above all others—Uchiha Madara. Those crimson eyes, that devastating power… before them, even Onoki and his master had been nothing but insects.
Though he had grown much stronger with age, Onoki knew deep down: if he were to face Madara again, the result would be unchanged. That kind of power surpassed what any shinobi should wield.
When he had heard the Uchiha Clan was wiped out, Onoki had felt a quiet, selfish relief. But now, another Uchiha had erged from the ashes.
It wasn't just the na. The intelligence reports described Chiga summoning a hundred-ter-tall giant in the middle of Konoha—a form no one could counter.
Imdiately, one word ca to Onoki's mind: Susanoo.
As he brooded, his granddaughter Kurotsuchi entered the room and noticed his grim expression.
"Grandpa, you look terrible. Did sothing happen?"
Onoki nodded slowly. "Konoha has a new Hokage… Uchiha Chiga."
"Uchiha? Didn't they all die off? I thought only Sasuke was left. Who is this Chiga?"
"I don't know much about him, but according to our reports, he's awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"The Mangekyō Sharingan? Is that really powerful?"
Onoki didn't answer. Instead, he floated silently to the window, muttering under his breath:
"Is the shinobi world about to fall into chaos again?"
He knew all too well… when the Uchiha move, the world trembles.
Elsewhere, in the shadows of Konoha, space twisted unnaturally. A figure in an orange spiral mask erged from the distortion.
Uchiha Obito stood before a small tombstone. His masked face was unreadable, but his posture sagged with sorrow.
He placed a bouquet of white flowers at the grave.
"Rin… it's been a while. I'm sorry. But once my plan is complete… we'll be together again."
A voice interrupted him from behind.
"Actually, I could send you to et her right now."
Obito froze, his body phasing instinctively. He turned, ready to attack, but what he saw made his blood run cold.
A face he knew. One that should have aged—but hadn't.
"…Uchiha Chiga?"
Obito stared in disbelief. The years had passed, yet Chiga's appearance remained youthful, save for his white hair. Even Madara, powerful as he was, could not escape the ravages of ti. Only the Statue of the Outer Path had kept him alive.
How was Chiga still this strong, this young?
Obito quickly masked his shock, voice steady. "You must be another promising Uchiha to have sensed so easily."
Chiga raised an eyebrow, amused. "Still pretending, Obito?"
A heavy silence fell. Obito's heart pounded.
How does he know? Was it the grave? Is he bluffing?
Chiga strolled forward, eyes locked on the grave. "Rushing back to visit Rin so soon? I should call Kakashi over. I'm sure he'd be delighted to see an old friend."
Obito tensed beneath the mask. Chiga was right—his expression at this mont must've been priceless.
Obito remained silent for several seconds before finally speaking:
"I am Uchiha Madara."
"Tch. Still going with that?"
Chiga walked through Obito's intangible form and stood before the tombstone. He placed one hand on the stone.
Obito's voice rose sharply, "What are you doing?!"
"Relax," Chiga said softly. "I just think this tombstone ruins the view."
He squeezed the stone, the pressure building.
"No!" Obito shouted, unable to hold back.
______
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