After sending off the hawk, Seiryu left work early and returned home.
That night, he arranged tea in the sitting room, placing the special kunai where guests usually sat.
He did not light the fire under the kettle, but sat in meditation, feeling the natural energy in the air.
Time passed. The clock in the room ticked past midnight, then a little further. At that moment, the kunai in front of him rippled with space-time energy.
Seiryu's eyes snapped open, purple Sage lines appearing at the corners. As Kakashi, Genma, Raido, and Iwashi appeared around him, the natural energy around the house fluctuated abnormally.
At the same time, the charcoal in the brazier lit up.
"You're here," Seiryu nodded at the four.
They each took a seat.
"You've read the letter, right?" Seiryu said. "I can maintain this state for thirty minutes. During that time, I can guarantee the Hokage's detection jutsu can't see us."
"How have things been on the border?" Seiryu asked.
"Don't worry. We've cleared almost all the missing-nin—except one who escaped with the Executioner's Blade. Other than that, all dealt with," Genma said. "Now, on the border with Land of Water, Kakashi calls the shots."
"Is that so?" Seiryu glanced at Kakashi, then smiled, "Looks like you're doing well."
"Let's get to business. Seiryu, did the Third really send the nomination for Fifth Hokage to the Daimyo?" Kakashi asked.
"Probably. There's no way rumors about Jiraiya becoming Hokage would spread otherwise," Seiryu replied.
"That's not by the book," Genma said.
When the Fourth was chosen, there was a process—jonin voted, and then the Daimyo rubber-stamped it. The Third wasn't even pretending this time.
"So, Seiryu, what do you want to do?" Kakashi asked directly.
Just then, the kettle boiled. Seiryu calmly poured four cups of tea, and then produced a file.
"I found something interesting in Orochimaru's lab. Take a look."
Kakashi opened the file to find records of the three Rain orphans the Sannin met during the Second Ninja War. Jiraiya had left the team to teach those kids, and one had the Rinnegan, the same eye as the Sage of Six Paths.
"Isn't it odd? Why did Jiraiya train enemy children, and not bring them back to Konoha? I also heard a rumor recently—there's a group called Akatsuki led by someone with the Rinnegan. Jiraiya's actions could be considered aiding the enemy. Can such a man be Hokage?"
After Kakashi finished, he passed the file to the others and sipped his tea in silence.
"Thinking about it that way, Jiraiya really is suspicious," the three exchanged glances.
"For someone who could be a threat to the village, isn't it reasonable for the police to detain him for investigation?" Seiryu said lightly.
"But Jiraiya is still an advisor—higher rank than police or ANBU," Genma frowned.
"If the Hokage signs off, there's no problem, right?" Seiryu said. "Surely the Hokage's Will of Fire won't permit such a threat to the village, right?"
As Seiryu spoke, his Mangekyo Sharingan spun. The others realized his plan and swallowed nervously.
"This… this counts as a coup, right?" Genma said.
At that moment, Kakashi set down his teacup. "Just tell us what you want us to do."
"During the arrest, Jiraiya may rally some ninja to resist. The police may be stretched thin, and I may need to apprehend Jiraiya myself. So, I need you to bring back part of the border force to control the situation."
"The border force? What if the Mist invades?" Raido said, hesitating.
"They won't dare," Seiryu replied, turning to Kakashi, "My sword came in handy, right?"
Kakashi grinned. When Seiryu gave him Kiburi before he left, he hadn't understood why. But once he brandished it against Mist missing-nin, he understood. The older Mist nin who survived the last war recognized the blue lightning and fled instantly. To them, that sword was a nightmare.
That was the terror Seiryu had earned on the Mist battlefield.
"I understand. When do we move?" Kakashi asked.
"Tomorrow—December 12th. It's a good day, isn't it?" Seiryu said.
"So casual?" Kakashi laughed.
"When you're ready, it's just a matter of mood," Seiryu smiled.
"Alright. The force will arrive by tomorrow night." Kakashi said.
With the decision made, Genma and the others gathered around Kakashi and used Flying Thunder God to teleport away.
After they left, Seiryu exited Sage Mode and left the room.
"Keiko!" Seiryu called out.
"Yes, clan head?" Uchiha Keiko came from the courtyard.
"Send an invitation to everyone on this list—invite them all here tonight," Seiryu said, handing over a list.
"Yes." Keiko nodded and left to prepare.
Afterward, Seiryu stretched in the yard and went to bed. He'd be busy tonight and tomorrow.
…
While Seiryu and Kakashi had settled the plan with a slap on the head, Itachi had just gotten off work.
After his public rupture with the clan, Itachi's ANBU work had become much harder. Official ANBU finished missions, if not enthusiastically, at least reliably. But the clerical staff—aside from a few from the Sarutobi clan—mostly slacked off, so Itachi had to handle many things himself, leaving the 13-year-old exhausted after only a few days.
On his way home, in the silent streets, Itachi sighed:
'I hope Lord Jiraiya becomes Hokage soon—maybe then Brother Seiryu's ambitions will calm down.'
"Young man, you look lost," a voice sounded behind Itachi.
"Who's there?" Itachi reacted instantly, kunai ready, Sharingan spinning.
He saw a figure cloaked in a robe, face hidden by a special mask, only one eye exposed.
"No need for hostility. We're clanmates," the man said, his eye flashing red with three tomoe.
"Sharingan? Are you here to kill me on the clan's orders?" Itachi frowned.
"I have nothing to do with those traitors. I'm here to help you."
"You think I'll believe you?" Itachi shot several shuriken.
But the shuriken passed through the man's body.
"Not corporeal?" Itachi tightened his grip.
"Are Uchiha youth always this rude?" The masked man looked at the shuriken embedded in the wall.
"Who are you? Why do you have the Sharingan?" Itachi demanded.
"I'll introduce myself—my name is Uchiha Madara." In the exposed Sharingan, the three tomoe spun into a pinwheel pattern.
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