Uchiha Kairen launched a flurry of rapid strikes — a storm of blows that came so suddenly the Third Hokage barely reacted in time. When Sarutobi Hiruzen finally realized what was happening, it was already too late to stop it.
To be fair, it wasn't entirely Hiruzen's fault. At the moment, manpower was scarce — even Orochimaru and Jiraiya were out searching for tailed beasts. If he wanted to find more people, he'd have to turn to the Ninja Academy… except many of the students there had already joined something called "Project Sunflower."
Under Uchiha Kairen's careful planning, the Project Sunflower had spread through the academy like wildfire — resembling the "Young Pioneers" of a bygone world.
"How many Sunflowers does your class have?" became a point of pride among the children. Everyone scrambled to join, treating it as an honor. Wearing the sunflower badge on the left chest became a new symbol of status, something to boast about among peers.
"Look at me — I've got the sunflower on my chest! Helping old ladies cross the street? I do that dozens of times a day! Do I brag about it? No! I'm just a humble, hardworking Sunflower!"
When the first "Sunflower Exemplars" were selected that week, Kairen made sure the ceremony was unforgettable. He had ninja hounds carry the winning group through the village — each child wearing a bright red flower, their leader holding a huge banner emblazoned with the words 'For Everyone'.
They paraded proudly through the streets while others followed behind, handing out flowers, candy, and little snacks to bystanders.
The other teams were so envious they nearly gnashed their teeth — all determined to win next week's title.
It was then that Sarutobi Hiruzen realized the gravity of the situation.
"This boy… he's digging up my ancestral foundation."
The Uchiha were striking at the roots of his power — not through force, but through hearts and minds.
Orphans saw hope for the first time — hope of becoming shinobi, or at least skilled craftsmen. "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach him to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."
They remembered this kindness deeply. Compared to their former hopeless lives, their current situation was a total upheaval — like heaven and earth exchanging places.
The elderly, too, felt the warmth of genuine compassion from the Uchiha. Once ignored and disliked, they were now surrounded by laughter and affection.
Children clung to them, begging for stories, helping with chores, filling their lonely days with lively joy. The gray world they once lived in was now filled with color — a new, radiant life stretching before them.
Even the disabled veterans, at first suspicious of Uchiha motives, were moved.
Many had once been openly hostile toward the clan. But as days passed, they realized they'd been wrong — they had underestimated the Uchiha's generosity and dignity as a great clan.
By the weekend, staff from the Uchiha Veterans' Assistance Fund began visiting door-to-door, distributing weekly stipends. Yes — weekly.
It allowed the veterans to buy daily necessities more conveniently. Moreover, at any Uchiha-owned shop, they enjoyed a 10% discount.
In just one week, the Uchiha had turned the tide completely. The civilian population's perception of them flipped from resentment to admiration.
People used to curse the Uchiha — yet besides catching criminals or clashing with ANBU and Root families, the clan had never harmed ordinary citizens. Most hatred, in truth, came from herd mentality.
But now, the Uchiha's actions were visible, tangible, and open to participation — a fully transparent system of service and outreach.
"Are these really the same Uchiha we used to despise?"
"Could it be… we were the ones being manipulated?"
That thought began to spread among civilians.
Human minds, after all, are easily confined — by time, space, experience, and habit. Most people are simple; they rarely pause to question whether what they've heard is true. They follow the crowd, repeating what others say.
This time, as with his previous maneuvers, Uchiha Kairen's real goal wasn't just charity — it was teaching people to think for themselves.
He wanted them to ask the crucial question:
"Why do I hate the Uchiha?"
That single question was like opening a window in a locked room.
Once they saw what lay outside — once they understood the real Uchiha — they'd open the door themselves and step forward to meet them.
"You listened to others," Kairen thought, smirking. "Now try standing where I stand."
"Heh… Sarutobi Hiruzen, I'm digging up your ancestors. Let's see whose will spreads faster — your 'Will of Fire,' or our Uchiha's wealth."
"Let's see what people prefer — words from your mouth, or money in their hands."
---
The Uchiha Guild rapidly spread across Konoha, setting up small retail shops on every street. Most sold daily necessities — nothing fancy, but affordable and well-run.
Civilians loved these stores, because every coin they spent there also supported a cause: helping the elderly, educating children, aiding veterans.
The result? The money circulated.
Within a single week, the Veterans' Guild reached financial balance — no longer needing subsidies from the main clan.
The Uchiha elders were astonished by Kairen's marketing genius.
"Buy something, get coupons! Collect points, redeem gifts! Membership lotteries! Recharge bonuses! Home delivery by Sunflower volunteers — with a smile!"
Wave after wave of clever schemes left the elders dumbfounded.
At first, none of them understood.
"How does this even work? We're giving discounts, handing out freebies, printing flyers, offering delivery… How does this make profit?"
But before long, they stopped questioning it.
"Let the young ones handle it," they said. "We'll stay home and count the money."
Kairen sipped his tea as Meimei peeled fruit for him, smiling to himself.
"Marketing? You old folks don't know a thing. I could make billions with just a few moves.
This kind of emotional, compassion-driven marketing doesn't lose money — it creates value. Ever heard of Ant Forest? Ant Farm? No? Figures."
"I'm spending money, sure — but part of it's for good deeds. Isn't that money well spent?"
"No matter who you buy from, it's the same item.
But when you buy from the Uchiha, your purchase plants trees, supports the elderly, raises orphans, and aids veterans.
Can others offer that? No. And we even invite customers to participate personally!"
"I've fostered two children, planted four trees — what about you?"
"Oh, you're training, huh?"
"My son's a Sunflower. Today he's visiting lonely elders. I even baked him cookies to share with others. What's your son doing?"
"What, he's learning ninjutsu? So he'll be a 'ninja lord' someday? A ninja who doesn't care about his village or comrades? You're raising him to be someone's disposable tool, then. How heartless."
"One day a week doing good deeds won't ruin his ninja career — stop making excuses."
The power of grandmas and aunties was terrifying.
Kairen finally understood why White Fang had been crushed by public opinion — those polite, wordless looks of judgment from every direction… the pressure was immense.
"Is this… moral coercion?" he thought wryly.
He chuckled. "Ninjas have blind spots — and the Hokage's no exception."
Once, Hiruzen had advisors like Mitokado Homura, a man with some business sense. Now, even if others knew a bit about economics, Hiruzen simply didn't trust them.
There was no way he could come up with a proper countermeasure quickly. The only option left to him was the most direct — and the most despicable.
"When something happens — call Danzō."
"If I want to cause trouble — call Danzō."
"Owl, summon Elder Danzō back to the village.
Put the tailed beast matter aside for now — and bring Orochimaru back too," Hiruzen ordered, rubbing his temples. His head was pounding. He needed someone to handle the chaos… and someone else to share the blame.
Uchiha Kairen, of course, had already foreseen this move.
"Decades later, and they still have no new tricks," he thought with a smirk.
"When in doubt — release Danzō."