For Andrew, confronting Obito was still a deeply frustrating challenge. The main problem wasn't strength, but that ridiculously slippery Mangekyō ability of his. Kamui let Obito phase through nearly everything, and worse, he could vanish into his personal dimension the moment things turned dangerous.
"Even if I trap him, he can just phase out or disappear entirely."
That said, Andrew had already considered a solution—Kakashi, who also possessed Kamui. With perfect timing, a coordinated strike from both Kamui users could theoretically lock Obito down. But right now, Kakashi was part of Hokage's Anbu unit, and dragging him into a Uchiha operation would be political suicide.
Uchiha's preparations weren't yet complete. They couldn't afford to be impulsive—not unless absolutely necessary.
Still, Obito wasn't untouchable.
Under the power of Kotoamatsukami—all beings were equal.
Sure, the jutsu had its risks. It required time to activate, and if it missed the mark, there were no do-overs. But just knowing that threat existed could serve as a powerful deterrent. Obito wouldn't want to risk having his very will rewritten.
With diplomacy progressing, Andrew handed over the signed letter of credence from the Land of Water's daimyo to Fugaku, asking him to forward it to Itachi. Once the port was established, Shisui would lead half of the Uchiha clan to garrison the dock.
"With the daimyo's signature backing us, even if Konoha complains, it's all bark and no bite. The pier is under the Fire Nation's jurisdiction. Assigning Uchiha to guard it is well within their rights—just like having ninja stationed at the border."
Upon receiving his orders, Shisui stepped down from the Konoha Police Department. He had been filling in as acting commander during Andrew's absence, but now that the real captain had returned, it was time to leave.
What irritated Andrew was what Shisui left behind.
"When I was gone, this guy punched his timecard and called it a day. But now? He dumped all this paperwork on me like a truckload of bricks."
Apparently, Shisui had matured in many ways—but his avoidance of admin work remained exactly the same.
With a tired sigh, Andrew divided the enormous stack of documents on his desk and passed them out to various ninja contacts.
"If Shisui wanted to handle your nonsense, fine. But now that I'm back? Clean up your own clan's messes."
The other officers, now face-to-face with Andrew's intimidating presence, didn't dare argue. Unlike the diplomatic and soft-spoken Shisui, Andrew was... less forgiving.
They took the files and left in silence.
Fortunately, there was no immediate trouble from Danzo, and even the Third Hokage maintained a surprisingly respectful attitude toward Uchiha lately. Perhaps due to Obito's paranoia, he hadn't shown his face near the Uchiha district at all. Shisui had even been observing stealthily for days without catching so much as a glimpse.
Konoha entered a temporary period of eerie peace.
Andrew was finally beginning to enjoy the relative calm—until a message arrived, sealed with the Fire Nation daimyo's personal crest.
Just as Andrew had expected, the Daimyo's Mansion had fully approved the new maritime trade initiative, not only giving the greenlight for the route with the Land of Water but also endorsing Andrew's entire Ninja Shipping Plan.
While the trade between the two nations would certainly boost the daimyos' wealth, Uchiha wouldn't profit directly from the cargo itself—but they would from something even more valuable: logistics.
"You want to ship goods through our port? Pay up. Pirates raiding your ship? We offer protection—but it'll cost you. Want safe passage to other nations? There's a route fee for that, too."
Uchiha wouldn't be the supplier or the buyer—they would become the gatekeepers, the intermediaries controlling the lifeline of international trade.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Third Hokage had already summoned the two elder advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, to discuss the contents of the Daimyo's missive.
"What's the meaning of this?" Koharu snapped. "Uchiha is being assigned to guard the pier? What about the rest of the village's ninjas?"
The issue wasn't just political. In Konoha, job positions were finite.
While some clans—like Uchiha—had businesses and influence to support themselves, many others didn't. The Sarutobi, Shimura, Mitokado, and other smaller clans lacked industrial backing. They relied heavily on village-assigned jobs for income.
"These ninja rely on guard assignments, border patrols, and public jobs just to put food on the table," Homura said, echoing Koharu's concerns. "If the daimyo only hires Uchiha, how are the rest supposed to survive?"
The Fire Nation had another source of ninja income too—serving directly under the Daimyo. Many were assigned to defend critical points throughout the country, similar to border defense. These jobs were well-paying and prestigious.
So when the pier—now one of the most valuable assignments—was handed exclusively to the Uchiha, frustration boiled over.
"Hiruzen," Homura said gravely, "this relationship between Uchiha and the daimyo is getting... too cozy. It's dangerous."
Third Hokage sighed. "I understand. But the daimyo's reasoning is ironclad."
He unfolded the letter and read aloud the key points.
"During the Third Great Ninja War, Danzo proposed the Uchiha lead the resistance against Mist Shinobi. They held their ground with the strength of their clan alone."
"Now that Mist Shinobi is the most likely adversary in any maritime conflict, the daimyo insists that Uchiha are the only ones fit for the job."
It was hard to argue. Uchiha had battle-tested power. If Mist Shinobi struck from sea, few could repel them better.
"But why only Uchiha?" Koharu pressed. "There are dozens of powerful clans! We could form a joint battalion!"
Hiruzen leaned forward, rubbing his temples.
"That's exactly why I called this meeting. The daimyo is surrounded—almost exclusively—by Uchiha now. Our intelligence from Anbu confirms this. Nearly all his personal guards are from that clan."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Yes, the Daimyo was just a civilian—but he was also the financial lifeline of the entire Hidden Leaf Village. Without his funding, there'd be no missions, no salaries, no future.
"Konoha might be the military power of the Fire Nation," Hiruzen muttered, "but we can't survive without the Daimyo's coin."
Koharu hesitated. "Then... what's your plan?"
Hiruzen finally looked up.
"We need to repair our relationship with the Daimyo. I propose we revive his old plan—the Guardian Twelve Ninja."
The advisors blinked, taken aback.
Ah yes... That request.
Years ago, the Daimyo had suggested the formation of a twelve-man elite bodyguard unit drawn from Konoha's Jōnin. But the idea had been swiftly shot down by Konoha's elders—including Danzo—who deemed it unnecessary.
"We told him no. Said it was a waste of resources."
The result? The Daimyo stopped communicating directly with Konoha's leadership and slowly grew distant—only maintaining ties through his financial allocations.
And now?
Uchiha had created their own private guard agency—and the Daimyo had quietly hired over 30 elite Uchiha Jōnin, even assigning Mangekyō Itachi to personally protect him.
Uchiha wasn't just close to the Daimyo—they were his new favorites.
"Is it even useful to agree to the Guardian Twelve now?" Koharu asked bitterly. "The Daimyo already has more than twelve Jōnin. And none of ours can compare to Itachi."
Hiruzen nodded slowly. "It may not be ideal. But if Uchiha agrees to advocate for us—if they suggest forming a joint unit—perhaps we can still mend the relationship."
It was humiliating. Konoha's leadership, once the guiding hand of the entire village, now had to grovel to a clan they once sought to sideline.
But it was better than being left out altogether.
And Hiruzen knew—if Uchiha ever decided to walk away completely, Konoha would crumble within months.
___________________________________
Get membership in patreon to read more chapters
Extra chapters available in patreon
patreon.com/Dragonscribe31