Gen glanced down at Itachi, who stood below the branch, looking up with an almost solemn anticipation. A faint smile curved his lips.
"I've got an idea," he said, "but it's not an easy one to carry out."
Turning slightly, he called over his shoulder, "Shisui, why don't you bring him up here? It's uncomfortable craning your neck like that."
Shisui chuckled. "No need. Itachi's a prodigy and already knows how to tree-walk."
"Itachi, come up."
The boy nodded, placed one small sandal on the trunk, then the other, and began walking upward with deliberate, steady steps. His movements were neat and measured — not a trace of wasted effort.
Tree-walking wasn't as difficult as water-walking, but even most genin struggled with it.
Itachi wasn't even five yet.
When he reached the branch, Shisui leaned over, offered a hand, and helped him across, settling the boy just behind him.
Itachi, as always, lowered himself into a formal kneel, his back straight and his expression disciplined.
Gen shook his head with mild amusement. "Looks like the clan head's raising you under some strict rules. Loosen up a little, sit how you like."
"This posture is out of respect for you, Brother Gen," Itachi replied seriously. "And for the question I asked."
Gen almost laughed. This kid really knows how to talk.
"Fine," he said, waving it off. "If you're comfortable, that's what matters. Let's get to it."
"My method isn't new," Gen continued, "I'm borrowing it from someone who came before."
"Who?" Shisui asked, brows drawing together.
"Uchiha Madara."
Shisui's expression froze. The name was practically taboo within the clan, even in Konoha as a whole.
Itachi's dark eyes held a flicker of confusion. "Who's Uchiha Madara?"
"He once had his own ideas about ending war and creating peace," Gen said.
Shisui tilted his head. "I've never seen anything like that in the clan records. Did I miss it?"
"No," Gen replied. "There's barely anything about him in Uchiha archives. I had to ask Orochimaru to help me dig up information."
That explanation was easier than giving the real origin and it wasn't something Shisui or Itachi could verify. Even if they did, Orochimaru would likely cover for him.
"In fact," Gen added, "the only person in the clan who knows Madara well is probably Elder Setsuna, your imprisoned grandfather, Itachi."
Itachi blinked. "I… have a grandfather?"
"Never heard your parents mention him?"
Itachi shook his head.
"Why is he in prison?"
Gen gave a shrug. "I don't know. Ask the clan head or your mother. If they can't tell you, then someday… ask your grandfather yourself."
Of course, Gen knew the truth but letting Itachi hear it from Setsuna would have a stronger effect.
A grandfather faced with his grandson's eyes would either confess or spin the story in his favor. Either way, it planted seeds that would grow in unpredictable ways.
"I see," Itachi murmured.
"Alright," Gen said, "let's talk about Madara."
He leaned back slightly against the trunk, his voice steady and unhurried.
"During the Warring States Period, countless ninja clans fought endlessly — for survival, for expansion, for revenge, and for resources. War was everywhere.
At that time, two clans towered above all others; the Senju and the Uchiha. And they were bitter enemies.
For peace, the two leaders Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had very different visions. Hashirama believed in uniting the land under a system of one village per country, where people could learn to understand and support one another, ending war through cooperation.
Madara's idea was to unify the entire ninja world under a single ruler, a single system, one voice controlling all, using that unity to enforce peace."
Shisui listened intently, Itachi unmoving behind him.
"Because their philosophies clashed, their rivalry stretched on and on, until Madara was defeated in single combat.
Originally, Madara planned to die by Hashirama's hand. But Hashirama offered to sacrifice his own life instead to erase the hatred between their clans.
That sincerity made Madara pause. In the end, he decided to give Hashirama's path a try."
Gen didn't mention the Uchiha Shrine's stone tablet or Izuna's dying words but they were part of the truth.
"In the end, both men wanted the same thing, to keep their children off the battlefield. In those days, even kids fought and died in war. Both the Senju and Uchiha had lost brothers that way. Madara's brother, Izuna, fell to Tobirama Senju. And Hashirama's brothers, Itama and Kawarama, were killed by Uchiha shinobi.
Their shared grief was what led them and their clans to found the Hidden Leaf. The original purpose of Konoha was simple, so children wouldn't have to die in war."
Gen paused. Both Shisui and Itachi leaned forward slightly, eyes reflecting the same unspoken question.
"Did you know," Gen said with a faint smile, "that the village was named thanks to the Uchiha? That the first person Hashirama wanted as Hokage… was Madara?"
"What?!" Shisui and Itachi blurted in unison.
"I had the same reaction when I first learned it," Gen chuckled.
"But… how?" Shisui asked immediately. "How could Hokage have anything to do with us?"
"Why not?" Gen replied. "We were co-founders. Our clan's contribution and sacrifices were second only to the Senju, unmatched by any other clan.
The Senju were known for Wood Release, Water, and Earth. We Uchiha were feared across the ninja world for our Fire Release and our Sharingan. Naming the position 'Hokage' wasn't strange at all.
But in the end… it didn't happen."
"Why not?" Shisui pressed.
"Madara was strong, but cold and domineering, except with Hashirama. Hashirama, by contrast, was easygoing, gentle, tolerant, and sincere. People liked him. And when someone threatened Konoha, he could be terrifyingly ruthless.
At the time, Hashirama was called the God of Shinobi. Madara was known as the Shura of the Ninja World. The nicknames alone tell you the difference in how they were seen."
Gen's tone hardened slightly. "The Hokage is chosen through the support of both the Fire Daimyō and the village's people. The Daimyō already distrusted someone like Madara. The villagers admired Hashirama far more. In the end, that decided it."
Shisui nodded, understanding. Itachi looked puzzled and quietly asked Shisui about the Hokage election system.
When it was explained, he finally nodded as well.
Gen smiled faintly. "Unless Hashirama himself had refused the post and forced the choice on Madara… there was no chance."
Gen quickly added, "Do you think this is possible?"