On the way back to the Uchiha clan compound, Nakamaro and Snow spoke like this:
"I really want to go back to Kirigakure right now and start organizing the clan to run…"
"Endure it. Just three more months! Hold on a bit longer, and from then on, generation after generation, we'll all be people of Konoha…"
Meanwhile, inside the Uchiha clan compound, there was another pair having a similar conversation in front of a notice board.
"This Sarutobi Hiruzen has done a pretty good job! It's much better than how things were back in the Warring States era!"
"…Pensions, free education…"
The one speaking was none other than Uchiha Izuna, currently residing within Seisui's body and chattering away inside.
After being mocked to his face by Isshin, Tobirama, in order to avoid the two of them arguing, had tossed Izuna back into the Pure Land again…
Of course, avoiding arguments was the main reason, but it was also to demonstrate his control over Izuna!
This was his dōjutsu!
And after a few days, Tobirama was surprised to discover that the ocular power of Yata Spirit Invocation had slowly recovered a bit!
He consulted Uchiha records but found no similar cases…
In the end, Tobirama concluded that it might be related to his cells…
Previously, when he had been molding figurines, he had already noticed a peculiar positive correlation between Uchiha and Senju cells…
The exact conclusion still required further research.
Because of this, Tobirama decisively summoned Izuna again, bringing him out to see what the village looked like now…
At present, Izuna was controlling Seisui's body, briefly "coming back to life."
"Seisui, I can understand your pursuit of a perfect village, but I have to tell you…"
"Extremes are the worst choice."
"Identify problems, solve problems, and make progress step by step—that's the right path. You must not always think about destroying everything and starting over. That's just an escape from reality and a fantasy…"
Izuna spoke earnestly.
After personally experiencing all aspects of Konoha, Izuna had grown to like it more and more.
Using Tobirama's body, he had walked through the entire village.
He had looked at all kinds of notice boards, gone to the Ninja Academy and eaten in the cafeteria, and even taken a stroll through the Military Police Force.
There, he had seen the smiles on the faces of the Uchiha clansmen.
For Izuna, that alone was worth protecting.
But when Tobirama heard those words, he couldn't help but find them a little amusing…
He was being advised not to be extreme by an Uchiha? And that Uchiha was Izuna…
What a complete reversal of heaven and earth!
"If we're talking about extremes, I wouldn't go that far…"
"I've said it before—the village is my father, and the clan is my mother. Who would do something extreme to their own parents?" Tobirama said faintly: "Although I respect the Great Clan Head, and I acknowledge that his will has value…"
"If we're talking about extremity, he's the most extreme of all…"
"At the slightest disagreement, he left Konoha, took the Nine-Tails with him, and fought the First Hokage to the death. If it weren't for his great contributions in founding the village and capturing the tailed beasts, the Uchiha would never have been able to hold their heads up in the village…"
Tobirama slipped in some personal bias.
Criticizing Uchiha Madara in front of Izuna felt like a cool summer breeze—refreshing to the core.
"Ah…"
"Let's not talk about that, let's not talk about that!"
Izuna felt very awkward and could only make up a reason to save face for Madara: "My brother must love the clan. For him to do something like that, there must have been a villain scheming behind the scenes!"
But in truth, Izuna knew very well—there was no such villain.
"I don't accept that answer. What do you think the Great Clan Head was thinking back then?"
Tobirama said in a low voice, "Aren't you his younger brother? Analyze it for me…"
Izuna let out a sigh: "At that time, my brother was probably on the verge of collapse…"
"Without me acting as a bridge between him and the clan, there was no one to mediate between them…"
"When the clansmen refused to leave Konoha, he likely saw it as a betrayal. And even if he later came to understand, with his personality, without someone giving him a way out, it would have been difficult for him to turn back!"
As Izuna simulated Madara's mindset at the time, the more he thought about it, the worse he felt.
"And then there was my death, plus Senju Tobirama fanning the flames from the side. My brother probably thought that if he could defeat Senju Hashirama in one decisive battle, seize control of Konoha, and then conquer the ninja world…"
"He's always been that impatient…"
"In fact, there was no need to do that at all. As long as my brother and Hashirama were both in Konoha, if the two of them cooperated even a little, and with Senju Tobirama's scheming on top of that, they could have achieved victory without even fighting."
Tobirama raised an eyebrow.
Just as he had thought…
If Hashirama and Madara had both remained in Konoha, war would have been completely out of the picture for the village.
With the reputations of the "God of Shinobi" and the "Shura of the Ninja World," the other hidden villages—initially loose alliances—would have found it extremely difficult to resist being absorbed.
This model was just like how Konoha now affected people like Nakamaro…
Given enough time, Konoha would have become a behemoth far beyond the other hidden villages, even without counting Hashirama and Madara.
And if war had been forced, even setting aside the war-weariness on their own side after recent peace, and the enemy's morale, the casualties would still have been significant.
On the frontal battlefield, the combination of Hashirama and Madara was naturally invincible…
But a battlefield was not only about the front line.
The other First Kage, along with the Second Kage and elite forces of the various hidden villages, would still have posed a deadly threat to Konoha's other ninja. Forcing a situation of one against four was simply unnecessary…
If only back then…
Tobirama let out a sigh, then suddenly froze slightly.
'I'm actually thinking… if I had been more tolerant toward Madara back then, would things have turned out better?'
Izuna quickly skipped past this topic.
In his view, if they went any deeper, it might damage his brother's image in Seisui's mind…
After all, he was the inheritor of Madara's will!
"The clansmen now get along very well with the other ninja in the village…"
Izuna recalled what he had seen in the Military Police Force and said with genuine emotion, "They're not as arrogant as they were in the Warring States era. It seems Konoha has changed them a lot."
Tobirama chuckled. "Not necessarily. A big reason is the patrol units."
"Patrol units? What are those?" Izuna asked curiously.
"The Hokage selects experienced ninja from the Uchiha, the other clans, and civilian ninja—those who, due to physical reasons, can no longer serve on the front lines. The village supports them financially, and they are paired with inexperienced young people to form a security force."
Tobirama said softly: "You know as well as I do, the tradition of a clan respecting strength above all has always existed. Not being able to fight on the front lines might not draw ridicule, but it certainly means having no presence within the clan."
"For the Uchiha, that's hard to accept."
"But within the patrol units, their experience and seniority are respected…"
"These Uchiha have regained a sense of purpose, so naturally their attitude toward others improves a lot."
"And in turn, the ninja who receive guidance from the Uchiha help build the clan's reputation. So when other ninja enter the Military Police Force, their impression of the Uchiha is already positively biased…"
"Some even carry a trace of guilt."
"You know the Uchiha temperament well—they yield to softness but not to force…"
Hearing this, Izuna fell silent for a long time.
He had been wondering how the Uchiha could so easily get along so well with others…
So this was the root of it!
"This Hokage… his name is Sarutobi Hiruzen, right?"
"He's really put a lot of thought into dealing with the Uchiha. Not at all like Senju Tobirama's disciple."
"To have such a broad and inclusive heart despite being taught by that guy…"
"Hashirama really was an extraordinary man… I think I'm starting to understand my brother…" Izuna let out a long breath and said sincerely.
In Izuna's eyes, the concept of the patrol units was extremely ingenious.
If not for a Hokage who truly believed in equality and wanted every ninja clan to integrate into Konoha, there was no way he would implement such a subtle, gradual reform for a historically problematic clan like the Uchiha…
Tobirama let out a chuckle.
He noted that this was already the seventh time in the past few days that Izuna had belittled him while praising his elder brother…
He would definitely use this later to strike back at Isshin for calling Izuna a liar!
A playboy from the Warring States era?
More like a sexually repressed brat who bragged inside the clan compound!
"Seisui! What are you doing here…?"
Isshin appeared from who knew where, slung an arm around Tobirama's shoulders, and paused slightly as he looked at the commendation notice about Root.
"Anonymous heroes? Which department in Konoha is this…"
"The Hokage really doesn't forget anyone. Could it be the Anbu?"
Isshin didn't guess Root.
Because of Danzō's past reputation, everything associated with Root had been stigmatized.
Many people believed that Root ninja were nothing more than killing machines…
'It should be Root. Hiruzen is laying the groundwork in advance.'
Tobirama thought to himself: 'Not revealing names while still making a high-profile announcement—first, to protect Root members; second, to signal to me that I can act more freely. Even if things escalate, the situation can still be controlled.'
At that moment, master and student were perfectly in sync.
Tobirama knew that Asuma had already reported the matter to Hiruzen.
But Hiruzen had only nodded noncommittally, made no clear stance, and simply emphasized that everything should follow procedure.
Interestingly, reporting directly to the Hokage now actually did conform to Konoha's process…
The cost, however, was that false accusations would be punished severely.
"Seisui, you're still young…"
"Don't always stare at things like this. Go out, ask classmates or girls to eat together, build some relationships…"
"What do you think of Tomie? She's one of the few women in our clan with a three-tomoe Sharingan. She's a few years older than you, but you know what they say—an older woman is a treasure!"
Isshin enthusiastically tried to play matchmaker for Tobirama, hoping he would quickly have a few little Seisuis to revitalize the clan.
"Tomie?"
"The name's not bad. I might meet her sometime…" Tobirama's interest wasn't in Uchiha girls themselves.
Rather, Izuna had nearly been cut down by an Uchiha woman…
If he could handle it easily, wouldn't that prove he surpassed Izuna in every aspect?
"That name gives me a bad feeling. Don't go, Seisui…"
As if recalling something unpleasant, Izuna said with a grim expression: "You'd be better off with Uzumaki Shio. She seems like someone suited for a stable life. If the Senju can marry into the Uzumaki, there's no reason the Uchiha can't!"
"If Isshin objects, just say I said it. Don't be so old-fashioned!"
As for Shio, Tobirama had already made his stance clear to her.
She came from Kusagakure, and to avoid any risk of exposing his identity, he couldn't have too much contact with her.
Too much interaction would inevitably bring up matters related to Kusagakure.
So he had been upfront—what they had was a bond forged through shared hardship, nothing more.
In a sense, it was also a typical outcome between the Uzumaki and the Uchiha.
But the more Izuna said this, the more Tobirama wanted to meet Uchiha Tomie.
Because he was a scientist—and scientists were naturally drawn to difficult problems.
"Kid, don't mess around with too many women. It won't do you any good!" Izuna continued advising: "Doesn't the Hokage only have one woman?"
After getting confirmation, Izuna went on: "Then one is enough for you! This isn't the Warring States era anymore. In Konoha, you need to mind your image. Don't be like me…"
Tobirama rolled his eyes.
Be like you? Like hell!
Putting aside the fact that he was merely curious about what kind of Uchiha woman could frighten Izuna…
Even if he ever wanted to experience something he had never felt before—he would only ever choose one woman!
Otherwise, Hiruzen would laugh him to death and think he had vulgar tastes…
"No, I think Clan Head Isshin has a point. One should marry within the clan!"
Tobirama sneered, "Izuna, stop pretending you know what you're talking about… Clan Head Isshin already said it—you were just making things up!"
Izuna's face instantly turned red.
This was like cutting him open to see how many bowls of noodles he had eaten!
All those confidantes of his had been dead for who knew how many years…
Was he supposed to resurrect them with Impure World Reincarnation just to ask if they had really been involved with him?
"Isshin has ruined me!" Izuna covered his face.
"Then go tell him yourself. Let's see what really happens…"
Tobirama's eyes gleamed as he handed control of the body over to Izuna. Just before doing so, he added: "Clan Head Isshin, when it comes to relationships, we don't need to listen to Young Clan Head Izuna's advice, right?"
"No need! I already said it—the Young Clan Head just makes things up!"
Isshin laughed loudly: "You should marry within the clan! The other day I even ran into Mito-sama—she said Uzumaki Shio only sees you as a younger brother. If it turns into romance, it would just feel wrong…"
"I was making it all up?" Izuna, using Tobirama's body, slung an arm around Isshin's neck.
Isshin hadn't reacted yet. "What do you mean you were making it up… It was the Young Clan Head making it up!"
The two locked eyes.
Isshin saw a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan slowly spinning within "Seisui's" eyes, and his mouth opened involuntarily.
In the next instant, he was dragged into a genjutsu space!
"Young Clan Head… you… you're not dead… Why are you here?!"
"Seisui is highly compatible with my dōjutsu, so I can come out quite often…"
Izuna said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "While I was gone, you've been pretty bold, haven't you…"
"So all my stories were made up…"
"At this rate, in a few more years, are you going to start saying I liked men?"
"You really are a master at rewriting history!"
A few seconds later, Isshin staggered out with spiraling eyes, his lips trembling as if he had suffered inhuman torment.
"Clan Head Isshin, are you alright?" Tobirama, having sealed Izuna back into the Pure Land once more, hurriedly supported him and asked with concern.
Damn that Izuna!
How could he treat an elder of the Uchiha like that?
Where was the bearing of a Young Clan Head in such behavior?!
This was the beloved comrade who had given him his Mangekyō dōjutsu!
"I'm fine…"
"It's just that Young Clan Head Izuna made me recite his love stories three thousand times…"
"To be able to see him again… it's really wonderful…" Isshin retched as he asked, "Has the Young Clan Head left?"
"He has…"
Isshin wiped the corner of his mouth and stubbornly said: "Seisui, the Young Clan Head was just lashing out in embarrassment!"
Tobirama nodded in full agreement.
And on the other side of the ninja world, in contrast to the slightly cheerful atmosphere within the clan compound, Madara was making preparations for a plot against the Uchiha…
...
Seven days later.
The Ninja Academy's graduation ceremony was held as scheduled…
A grand competition, eagerly anticipated by all of Konoha, officially began!
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