[send power stones please]
"Mom!"
"Lianhua…"
Inside Hikaru's residence, he tilted his head slightly as he watched Senju Lianhua collapse into her mother's arms, both of them crying without restraint.
After a brief glance, Hikaru quietly stepped outside, leaving the reunion to them.
When he exited, he saw Senju Shōma waiting silently nearby.
This ti, Lianhua's mother hadn't co alone — Shōma himself had accompanied them. At dawn, Hikaru had woken him and brought him along to confront Senju Ryōta.
And that visit… had shown Shōma exactly how far the boy he raised had grown.
Even now, Ryōta still looked shaken. The way he stared at Hikaru was layered with awe, fear, and the relief of survival — but notably absent was hatred.
That alone said everything about what had transpired.
"Elder," Hikaru greeted calmly. "Thank you for helping. This matter is settled."
"…Yes," Shōma sighed. "Settled. But Hikaru… your thods…"
"Extraordinary tis call for extraordinary asures," Hikaru interrupted gently. "And I went as Senju Hikaru, not as an ANBU commander. I was restrained."
Restrained?
Shōma's lips twitched.
Dragging a man's entire family into the sa room and forcing him to choose between wife and child… restrained?
Still — Hikaru had kept his word. He acted as a clan mber, not as the ANBU Nightingale. Had it been the latter…
Ryōta would already be dead, branded a traitor, his case neatly closed.
Shōma exhaled.
"Let's not dwell on it. I never imagined things would co to this."
"Even Sarutobi Hiruzen was the Second Hokage's disciple," Hikaru replied lightly. "Yet look where we are now. People are… complicated."
Then Shōma looked at him carefully.
"And you? Do I truly understand you?"
Hikaru didn't hesitate.
"No. You never have."
He smiled calmly.
"At first, I had no grand ambitions. War had already begun. I just wanted to survive it — maybe work in administration or teach at the Academy.
But you sent to ANBU."
Shōma nodded. "A Senju cannot hide."
"And now there are barely any Senju left," Hikaru said softly, a faint edge of irony in his voice. "Policies… choices… consequences."
He walked slowly as he spoke, senses extended outward, ensuring privacy.
"ANBU taught sothing important: if I don't control my fate, soone else will. I saw too much death to remain a pawn.
So I asked myself — how do I repay the Senju, elevate the clan… and stop being pushed around?
The answer was simple: power and authority together."
He paused.
His gaze lifted toward the horizon.
Morning light washed over the Hokage Rock, its stone faces towering in silent judgnt.
Shōma followed his gaze — and understood.
"My goal," Hikaru said quietly, "is to beco Hokage.
Only then can I lead instead of being moved. Only then can I truly change the Senju's future."
His voice was warm, steady — and utterly chilling in its certainty.
"To get there, my rear must be stable. I'll rise from squad leader to division commander… from shadows to the spotlight. That ans control. Discipline. Unity.
I will take command of the Senju — truly command it.
Now… do you understand ?"
Their confrontation ended without open conflict.
Shōma didn't fully endorse Hikaru — but he didn't reject him either.
That was enough.
For now.
Walking through Konoha's streets later, Hikaru reflected.
He still needed to remove one obstacle: Murashima Takumi. Without that, the ANBU Director seat remained out of reach.
Worst case…
He could let the Nine-Tails incident take care of it.
A cold solution — but effective.
At least things at ho were quiet now. Lianhua's loyalty was secured. Ryōta was neutralized. The clan had been warned.
For the first ti, Hikaru had shown his fangs.
And the ssage was clear.
He continued walking until a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Mr. Hikaru. Fancy seeing you here."
Uchiha Shin approached — with a young boy at his side.
Hikaru raised an eyebrow. Grandson? Possibly.
"Let's talk sowhere quieter," Hikaru said calmly. "This is… conspicuous."
They moved to a tea house.
Once seated, Hikaru tapped the table lightly.
"So. What brings you here?"
Shin hesitated.
"The ANBU slot…"
Hikaru smiled faintly.
"You may have one position — under my authority."
He leaned forward slightly.
"And understand this…"
"The decision rests with ."
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