In a hot pot restaurant in Konoha's comrcial district, a sweet-looking girl of about fifteen sat alone, idly flipping through the nu. Her na was Uchiha Cho, a genin of the Uchiha clan. Her talent was average, and she had only just passed the clan's assessnt this year, finally being allowed to go on missions.
Having successfully completed her first mission, she had wanted to celebrate with a big al, but the person she had invited was late. She sat pouting, her cheeks puffed out in annoyance.
Ting-a-ling.
Just as her patience was wearing thin, the bell on the door chid. She looked up expectantly and saw a boy with a shy smile walk in.
"Hmph."
A smile flickered across her face, but she quickly suppressed it, putting on a stern expression and letting out a loud huff to show her displeasure.
"Sorry, I'm late," the boy said, hurrying to the table.
Seeing his sincere apology, Cho's resolve wavered, and after a mont's internal struggle, she forgave him. She motioned for him to sit, handed the nu to the waiter, and then said, a teasing lilt in her voice, "Well, well, Young Master Hiroshi. It's so hard to get a al with you. As expected of that person's cousin. So important."
At her words, the boy's face darkened. He forced a smile and muttered a few words in response, then sat in silence.
Seeing his expression, the girl knew she had said the wrong thing. She stuck out her tongue playfully and quickly changed the subject, chattering on about her mission as they waited for their food.
The boy was Uchiha Hiroshi, Kyosuke's cousin.
Years of war had stripped him of his youthful arrogance, replacing it with a quiet, mature deanor. It was hard to imagine that he had once been so brash and overbearing. Of course, Kyosuke had played a role in that transformation.
After being thoroughly humbled by Kyosuke, Hiroshi had beco much more reserved. But it was only a superficial change. Deep down, he still resented his younger cousin. As ti went on, that resentnt had festered into a bitter jealousy.
He was jealous that Kyosuke had been taught by Fugaku himself, that he had been taken as a student by Orochimaru, that he was close with the Second Elder's granddaughter, while he himself was left to languish in obscurity.
But as the gap in their strength and status had widened, he had been forced to bury that jealousy deep within his heart, never daring to let it show. The long-suppressed negative emotions had made the already introverted boy even more silent and withdrawn.
The only thing that had brought him any joy in recent years was the news of the Second Elder's capture and Nagisa's "death." When he had heard that Kyosuke had locked himself away in his grief, he had secretly procured so sake and gotten drunk in celebration.
But when Kyosuke had re-erged, stronger than ever, Hiroshi's despair had returned. The chasm between them seed insurmountable. He had been on the verge of giving up on his dreams of revenge.
But then, soone had appeared and rekindled the embers of his ambition.
That soone was his teacher, Uchiha Genbo, a middle-aged man who, while not particularly strong himself, held a position of considerable influence within the Uchiha clan.
Under his tutelage, Hiroshi's fortunes had changed. Not only had his strength improved rapidly, but his status within the clan had also risen. He and his teacher had been the hidden hand behind the recent attempt by several clan mbers to challenge Fugaku's authority.
Hiroshi had made up his mind. Even if he could never surpass Kyosuke in strength, he would not let him do as he pleased within the Uchiha clan.
And in addition to his newfound power and status, Hiroshi had also found love. The girl currently stuffing her face with hot pot was Uchiha Cho.
They had t during the war with Iwa. Hiroshi, a newly promoted Chunin, had been assigned to guard the logistics departnt. Cho, who was weaker, had been forced to join the war effort due to the high council's mandatory mobilization order.
One night, an Iwa squad had launched a surprise attack on their camp. In the chaos, their unit had been scattered, and the two of them had ended up in the sa retreating group. They had bonded during their escape, and now, years later, they were a couple.
This was the first ti they had seen each other since her return from her mission. He had been so worried about being late, but he was relieved that she wasn't too angry.
The pleasant dinner ca to an end, and the two of them walked back to the Uchiha compound, laughing and talking.
Not long after they had parted ways, Hiroshi slipped away to his teacher's residence.
Knock, knock, knock.
After receiving a reply, he entered the study.
"Sensei," he said, bowing respectfully to the imposing figure before him.
"You're back," Uchiha Genbo said without looking up, continuing to write on the scroll before him.
After a long while, he finally put down his brush, examined his work with a satisfied nod, and handed it to his student.
Hiroshi took the scroll and saw that it was a list of nas, all of whom were influential mbers of the Uchiha clan.
"Sensei, this is..."
"In the coming days, I need you to secretly contact them. See if you can win them over to our side."
"I understand."
"Good. You may go. I need to rest."
"Yes, sir."
After his student had left, Uchiha Genbo sat in silence for a mont, then spoke to the empty room. "Is everything proceeding smoothly?"
"...For the most part."
A cool, female voice echoed through the room.
And from the shadows, a beautiful young woman erged.
It was Uchiha Cho.
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