Naruto: How to Be an Undercover Shinobi

Shaking his head, Reiji cleared the chaotic thoughts from his mind and refocused on the Uchiha situation.

Kagami Uchiha did a great job splitting the clan—but what came next was even more telling. Danzō clearly grasped the method to perfection.

That proved my earlier setup wasn't wasted.

Danzō wasn't just thirsting for power—he craved authority. So I taught him, right to his face, how to manipulate people and play dirty.

Then he fell into the pit he dug for himself. Only those who get hurt know the importance of digging a good pit.

Once he'd learned that lesson, he used simple tactics—flatter, undermine, and use other people's weapons—to deflect blame, push Hiruzen to the front, and expose the Uchiha's internal strife.

Now the clan was beset by internal and external foes.

Add to that the brat Fugaku smearing the Clan Head.

What will a wounded, distrusted Clan Head do? It's obvious—shift attention elsewhere.

He can't target the villagers of Konoha directly, so he'll secretly steer his clan's anger toward the village's leadership.

Danzō already publicly said he won't take the fall, so all eyes fall on Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The outcome is clear.

Some will become disillusioned with both village and clan—because the heads of both represent their collective will. And that disappointment? Exactly what I want.

I don't want them grateful or enraged—just disappointed. Disappointment leads to despair.

Once they're disheartened, they'll fall right into my arms.

Why cling to the Uchiha name? Doesn't freedom feel better? Or being a parent in Amegakure feel better?

When the time comes, no one will still be Uchiha, Senju, or Uzumaki—everyone will be one family.

We'll raise children together, and whoever has the strongest bloodline can come mix with ours in Amegakure.

Let's ditch bloodline supremacy. Who says nobility is inherited?

By then, any snot-nosed kid running around the village will be a powerhouse—pants or no pants. Who needs a savior?

Isn't it better if everyone's like a dragon?

And me? I'll just be a happy salty fish—opening the Eight Inner Gates to help widows at the village gates carry water.

A slow, wicked smile played at Reiji's lips.

Seeing this, Rie, who had just entered the tea room, broke into a cold sweat and complained,

"Brother, why are you smiling so sinisterly—like a story's big bad villain?"

Reiji's face darkened as he rolled his eyes.

…

Meanwhile, far off along the Rain–Wind border, the Shapeshifting Salamander God, Jinchūriki Kandachi, stood awkwardly not far from several Sunagakure shinobi.

"Don't go any further!" snapped one Suna ninja.

At that, Kandachi froze, trembling.

His bodyguards behind him were no braver.

But it wasn't really their cowardice—they were simply worn down. Amegakure had suffered greatly these last years.

It started around three, almost four years ago, when the Daimyō of the Land of Rain abandoned them. No funds—only accusations against Lord Hanzō as a bandit.

Then Iwagakure led the charge, with many villages invading under the banner of justice—openly laying siege to Amegakure.

And in the Wind, Sunagakure took advantage. They kidnapped entire populations during the chaos of war.

The conflict dragged on for over a year. Iwagakure and smaller nations eventually pulled out, leaving a wasteland behind.

They thought they could rebuild—but then came the real crisis.

Amegakure was broke. Not a coin, not a civilian to tax or conscript.

Their ninjutsu and chakra? Pointless. Chakra won't feed you—and using it drains your strength.

In the past? Sure, they'd gone raiding.

Now?

Where would they even raid?

With no civilians left, where were they supposed to raid?

Steal people from neighboring countries? And then what—hand them a hoe and leave them to fend for themselves?

Absurd.

Fighting to the death and still starving in the end—what a joke.

With no better option, Hanzō of the Salamander came up with a plan. He sent Kandachi as an envoy to the Land of Wind to negotiate the return of the Rain Country's people.

But unfortunately, Amegakure's name held no weight here.

The Daimyō of the Land of Rain had long declared Amegakure's ninja to be nothing more than mountain bandits.

What once seemed like a meaningless title now became a five-layer Rashōmon blocking their every step.

Without official recognition from their own Daimyō, they couldn't even cross the Wind Country's border. To the outside world, they were nothing more than dangerous vagrants—immediately rejected.

Facing the cold and menacing Sunagakure shinobi ahead, Kandachi no longer had any of his usual confidence. Trembling, he said,

"Sir, we are emissaries from Amegakure. We wish to enter your country and request an audience with the Kazekage."

At his words, the Suna shinobi burst into laughter.

"Amegakure? What kind of village is that? Never heard of it!"

"Emissaries? A gang of bandits sending emissaries? That's rich!"

"Exactly—just a bunch of worthless wandering ninja. And you want to meet our Kazekage? You must be dreaming!"

The mockery and jeers echoed endlessly.

Kandachi and his two guards clenched their fists tightly, teeth grinding in anger.

They were staunch loyalists to Lord Hanzō and couldn't stand hearing others insult the village he had built with such effort.

But they were helpless.

Beneath someone else's roof, you have to lower your head.

Suppressing his fury, Kandachi spoke again.

"Lord Hanzō only wishes to express gratitude for the Land of Wind's support during the previous war!

Now that the war in our nation has ended, we hope the Kazekage will allow the citizens of the Land of Rain to return to their homeland!"

At those words, the laughter from the Sunagakure shinobi gradually faded.

Thud.

The leading Suna ninja dropped the puppet from his back to the ground with a dull sound. His face was as expressionless as frozen stone.

"I'll give you ten seconds to get out of my sight. Stay any longer, and I'll kill you all."

Kandachi bit down hard on his lower lip, humiliation surging through him like never before.

Bastards!

Just wait until we rise again—I'll poison your rivers every single day!

Fuming inside, Kandachi turned and left the Wind-Rain border with his two equally furious guards.