Chapter 90: December 11th, Konoha Year 56 — Before Dawn
After sending off his messenger hawk, Uchiha Douguang ended his day early and returned home.
That night, he arranged a tea set in his guest room. Where visitors would normally sit, he planted the special kunai with the Flying Thunder God seal.
Once everything was ready, Douguang didn't light the brazier beneath the kettle. Instead, he simply sat cross-legged, entering Sage Mode, quietly absorbing the natural energy in the air.
Time passed.
The clock ticked past midnight. A few more minutes passed.
Then, spatial ripples burst from the Flying Thunder God kunai.
Douguang's eyes snapped open. The violet Sage markings around his eyes surfaced. As Kakashi, Genma, Raido, and Iwashi appeared in a flash, the nature energy around the Douguang estate began to shift.
The brazier beside them lit itself.
"You're here," Douguang nodded to them.
The four nodded in return and each found a seat.
"You've read the letter, I assume," Douguang said. "I can maintain this state for thirty minutes. During that time, no scouting jutsu—not even the Hokage's—can detect us."
"How was it on the border?" he asked.
"You don't have to worry," Genma replied. "We cleared out almost all of the rogue Mist-nin. Only one escaped—a guy wielding the Executioner's Blade. But aside from that, the border's clean."
"Right now, Kakashi practically commands the eastern front," Genma added.
"Is that so?" Douguang glanced at Kakashi, smiling. "Sounds like you're thriving."
"Let's stay on topic," Kakashi cut in. "Has the Third already submitted the nomination for Jiraiya to the daimyo?"
"Most likely," Douguang said. "There's no way rumors about Jiraiya becoming the Fifth Hokage would spread like wildfire otherwise."
"He's skipping the Jonin vote?" Genma frowned. "That's completely out of line."
Everyone had seen how the Fourth was chosen—first through a Jonin vote, then a formal approval by the daimyo. Skipping that process meant the Third wasn't even pretending anymore.
"So, Douguang," Kakashi said directly, "what do you want to do?"
The kettle began to whistle. Douguang calmly poured tea into five cups and placed one in front of each person.
Then he took out a folder.
"While searching Orochimaru's lab, I found something interesting. Take a look."
Kakashi opened the file and skimmed through the contents.
Inside were records of a trio of children from the Rain Village—encountered during the Second Shinobi War by the Sannin. Jiraiya had stayed behind to train them. One of the children, it turned out, possessed the fabled Rinnegan.
"…So he taught enemy children. Never brought them back to the village. And now a rogue group called 'Akatsuki' is active in the underworld—their leader rumored to possess the Rinnegan," Kakashi muttered.
"This is aiding the enemy," Douguang said. "Can someone who armed our enemies be trusted to lead the village?"
Kakashi passed the file around. Genma and the others read it with grim expressions.
"If that's true, then Jiraiya-sama's judgment is… questionable," Raido murmured.
"For someone potentially so dangerous, wouldn't it be reasonable for the Police Force to detain him and investigate?" Douguang asked with a faint smile.
"But Jiraiya is Hokage Advisor," Genma noted. "He outranks both the Police and ANBU."
"If we get the Hokage's signature," Douguang said, "then everything is legitimate. I'm sure the Third's commitment to the Will of Fire won't allow such a threat to go unchecked… right?"
As Douguang activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, spinning calmly, the three jonin visibly gulped.
"…This is basically a coup," Genma said.
At that moment, Kakashi placed his empty teacup down. "Just tell me what you need me to do."
"If Jiraiya resists, others in the village may rise with him. I may be tied up personally handling the arrest, so I'll need you to bring back part of the border force to stabilize the situation," Douguang said.
"Won't that leave us vulnerable to a Mist invasion?" Raido asked, concerned.
"They won't dare," Douguang replied confidently. He turned to Kakashi. "That blade I gave you—Jirai—was useful, wasn't it?"
Kakashi smirked. "Now I get it. When the Mist-nin saw it, they ran like hell."
For those who had survived the last war, Jirai wasn't just a sword—it was a nightmare.
"I'll handle it. Tomorrow night, I'll have the squad back in Konoha," Kakashi said.
"Good," Douguang nodded. "December 12th sounds like a fine date, don't you think?"
"So casual," Kakashi chuckled.
"As long as we're prepared, all that's left is timing," Douguang said.
The four shinobi nodded. They surrounded Kakashi again and vanished in a flash of Flying Thunder God teleportation.
Douguang deactivated Sage Mode and left the guest room.
"Heiko!" he called.
"Yes, Clan Head?" Uchiha Heiko appeared in the courtyard.
"Deliver these invitations to everyone on the list. I'm hosting a gathering here tonight."
"Understood." She took the guest list and went off to make arrangements.
Douguang stretched, then turned in for a nap. He'd need the rest—tonight and tomorrow would be busy.
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While Douguang and Kakashi were planning revolution over tea, Itachi was just finishing another exhausting day.
Ever since his very public break with the Uchiha, Itachi had been overwhelmed. Regular ANBU agents completed missions begrudgingly. But support staff, except those from the Sarutobi clan, openly slacked off. What should've been a commanding role had become a glorified errand boy.
Walking home through quiet streets, Itachi sighed.
Let's hope Jiraiya-sama becomes Hokage soon. Maybe then Douguang's ambition will settle.
"Boy. You look lost."
The voice came from behind.
"Who's there?!" Itachi instantly reacted, kunai in hand. His Sharingan flared.
A figure in a wide cloak and a strange mask stepped out of the darkness. Only one eye was visible—and it glowed red with a rotating Sharingan.
"I'm not your enemy," the man said. "We're kin."
"You're Uchiha?" Itachi narrowed his eyes. "Did the clan send you to kill me?"
"I have nothing to do with those traitors. I came… to help you."
"Help me?" Itachi scoffed, flinging shuriken. They passed through the man's body.
Not solid?!
Itachi's grip tightened.
"So rude," the man said casually, glancing at the shuriken now embedded in the wall.
"Who are you? Why do you have the Sharingan?"
"I am… Uchiha Madara."
As he spoke, the man's Sharingan morphed—three tomoe spinning rapidly into a pinwheel.
Itachi's eyes widened.
[To be continued…]
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