Year 24
The world was stunned.
The Ghost of Uchiha
The Ninja Shura
The first Rogue shinobi
Uchiha clan head – Uchiha Madara – was dead!
And the very next day, another shockwave rippled across the nations.
Senju Hashirama had captured all the tailed beasts.
All – except the One-Tail, already sealed within the temple of the Land of Wind.
***
Suna-gakure, Kazekage's Office
"Kazekage-sama, what should we do?"
"Do you think Konoha wants to use them for war?"
"Reto-sama–"
"Reto-dono–"
" Shodai-sama–"
Reto, the Shodai Kazekage, raised his hand.
Silence followed.
A testament to the authority he had built since the founding of Sunagakure.
He turned to his adjutant, Shamon.
"Shamon, what are your thoughts?"
Shamon, a bald looking middle-aged man with a lock of brown hair trailing down his neck and a green dragon shaped tattoo around his scalp, understood immediately.
This was a test.
"I don't believe Senju Hashirama is the type of person to start war. If it were Uchiha Madara, we'd need to prepare for conflict.
Reto nodded. His stern smile signaling approval, but his eyes urged Shamon to continue.
"… We already have the One-Tail. We know firsthand how difficult and dangerous it is to seal and contain a tailed beast. Hashirama may have subdued them – but can anyone else replicate his feat?"
"I doubt Konoha can. And Senju Tobirama surely knows that."
"They'll likely use the beats as bargaining chips for treaties or territorial concessions."
Reto's eyes gleamed.
'Next Kazekage… will be you, Shamon.'
"Excellent! I believe Hashirama will propose peace treaties in exchange for the beasts. We won't accept any of them. Instead, we'll demand arable land from the Land of Fire."
Murmurs spread through the room, with both excitement, concern, and calculation.
But none dared oppose Reto
He was a great leader.
And a ruthless one.
***
Iwagakure, Tsuchikage office.
Kamizuru Ishikawa, the first/Shodai Tsuchikage, floated silently, gazing out over the growing village.
"Shodaime-sama"
"Tsuchikage-sama"
Two voices, one young and one middle-aged, entered the room.
It was Mu and Onoki.
"Mu. Onoki. It is good to see you both so lively."
"Tsuchikage-sama, did you hear the news?"
"….."
"Madara is dead. And Hashirama captured all the tailed beasts!"
"You are not surprised? Shodaime-sama?"
"Ha. Mu, Onoki. I am surprised. But not panicked."
"If Hashirama hadn't captured them, others, including myself, might have ordered it soon."
""!!!!!""
Onoki exclaimed with concern.
"But capturing them is no easy feat, we will lose many good Shinobi!"
Ishikawa gently smiled at his grandson and explained.
"Onoki, this is natural evolution. Until now, the world only had vague ideas about the tailed beasts' power. But now? We've seen Madara injure Hashirama while controlling one.
Every village will covet such power."
Ishikawa turned and headed towards the window facing southeast.
"Hashirama's action is both a demonstration and a warning. He remains the Ninja God.
But what happens after he dies?"
Ishikawa turned back towards his disciple and his grandson. His eyes gleamed with calculation and determination..
"Mu! Onoki!"
""Yes! Tsuchikage-sama!""
"Konoha will propose a treaty. Most likely peace. Prepare a village council. I want to hear what terms would best serve Iwagakure."
""Yes! Tsuchikage-sama!""
Ishikawa already had ideas.
But he wanted to test his council.
And if they failed to meet his expectations….
***
Kumogakure, RaiKage office.
"What do you think? A -yo?"
The Shodai Raikage, a dark-skinned, shaggy-haired man in a yellow robe, turned to his brother.
"Hah~~I am still not used to that name, brother."
A, the future Second Raikage, wore his signature white forehead protector, a black Y-shaped hat, and a gold nose mark. His straight hair fell to his shoulders, and his armor gleamed with Kumogakure pride.
"Haha. What's the matter, yo? You know I don't have much time left…"
Shodai Raikage commented as he massaged his left chest.
"The wounds form the Warring Clans era… and the Land of Lightning's unification war… they're catching up."
His head tilted up, facing his brother.
"It's only natural that you are now A, my successor, the future Second Raikage."
"….Okay, brother."
"So.. what are your thoughts, Nidaime-yo?"
"What can we do? We've long aware of the power of the tailed beasts. Kinkaku and Ginkaku are living proof... and that is only a fraction of Nine-Tails' power.
I still don't understand how they're still alive…."
"You're right, -yo. The power of Tailed Beasts…. Is nothing to underestimate." Shodai A, nodded his head in agreement. "For now, let's watch how Senju Hashirama plays his hand. We can't risk angering Konoha. Not while the Ninja God still walks this world…. -yo."
"…Are you sure you are not adding '-yo' on purpose?"
"...."
***
Kirigakure Mizukage Office.
"..."
An old man stood imposingly before two kneeling shinobi. His long grey hair and beard framed a scar that ran from his forehead to his left cheek, blinding his left eye.
"Reporting, Mizukage-sama. We've successfully subjugated the clans that rejected our invitation to join the village."
The speaker was Hozuki Gengetsu with long blond hair combed back and wearing a high-collared grey kimono. One of Kirigakure's strongest shinobi.
"Reporting, Mizukage-sama. The western islands have surrendered and abolished their hidden villages."
This was Yuki Shuto in early twenties with long black hair adorned with pearls, wearing a white poncho scarf and sleeveless haori. The third strongest shinobi in Kirigakure, just behind Byakuren and Gengetsu.
"Excellent. With this, Kirigakure's future is secured. If nothing goes wrong…
Gengetsu, you will be the next Mizukage."
"!!!"
"…"
"Hai! Mizukage-sama!"
"Good!" Byakuren tossed a scroll to Gengetsu as he spoke, "With Hokage's capture of the tailed beasts, something big is coming."
"Is it war?" Hozuki Gengetsu asked, his eyes fierce.
"It shouldn't be war…. Gengetsu senpai. Perhaps… a treaty? Or transaction?" Shuto replied, little uncertain.
"Shuto is right on this one. Hashirama isn't the type to provoke conflict. Among nations, five stand above the rest, each with a powerful hidden village: Konoha, Suna, Iwa, Kumo, and Kirigakure."
"Hashirama will likely summon the Kage of these villages to discuss the future of the Shinobi world and the captured tailed beasts."
"A Meeting?"
"Tailed beasts?"
"That's right. Tailed Beasts. Under the right shinobi, a tailed beast can injure even the Ninja God. Their potential is undeniable. Konoha can't keep them all. Maybe while Hashirama lives, but after?"
"But don't Konoha also have Uchiha clan? It's said that their dojutsu can control the tailed beasts."
"That is also precisely why they won't keep too many. Uchiha's strongest shinobi, Uchiha Madara controlled the Nine-Tails and nearly killed the Hokage. Do you think the Senju will let any Uchiha near the beasts? Impossible. Especially not Tobirama – that cunning bastard."
Gengetsu and Shuto exchanged glances. The politic between Senju and Uchiha were deeper than they'd realized.
"Hmph! Konoha was basically founded by Senju. The Uchiha were used as a tool and a symbol of unity. Also, by 'vassalizing' them, Senju prevented rise of another powerful, rivaling hidden village under Uchiha's control. If it were truly a joint effort, would Madara have left and attacked the village? Ridiculous. The Uchiha are defeated dogs of Senju, a vassal and tools for Senju Hashirama's vision."
Byakuren took a break before he announced his decision.
"If there's a summit, I'll take Shuto with me."
""??!!""
"We've just subjugated the surrounding clans. The meeting will involve all five Kage. We can't afford to leave the village leaderless. Gengetsu, you'll manage things while I'm gone. Get used to managing Kirigakure."
"!!! Yes! Mizukage-sama!"
***
While the other hidden villages scrambled to form agendas in response to Hashirama's actions, Konoha was busy celebrating.
The villagers rejoiced , cheering the subjugation of the tailed beasts and the downfall of Uchiha Madara. To them, it was a triumph. A Rogue Shinobi defeated and peace secured.
But not everyone celebrated.
The Uchiha clan remained silent, cloaked in grief. Madara's name carried too much weight; especially for the elders. There was no funeral. Nor rites. Nor closure.
---
Uchiha Sosuke once again visited the Hokage's office, requesting the return of their clan-head's body.
Before Hashirama could speak, Tobirama intervened.
"Uchiha Madara is a rogue-nin of Konoha. His remains will be dealt with accordingly."
Sosuke argued, but left empty-handed. His frustration and sorrow etched into his face, as he exited the Hokage building.
Many villagers and ninja clans gloated. The Uchiha's decline meant opportunity. Power and authority once held by the clan were now up for grabs.
***
Uchiha clan compound, Fukashi Household Courtyard.
After returning home from his sensei's death, Uchiha Fukashi began carving a two-meter marble block.
Day by day, hour by hour, the stone took shape until a life-sized figure of Uchiha Madara stood with arms crossed, clad in his high-collared mantle. His wild, spiky hair fluttered behind him, partially covering his right eye. His stern gaze captured the spirit of a warrior who lived for battle.
This Madara wore no armor.
Fukashi placed his sensei's weapons beside the statue in an X formation.
Shinichi stood silently, staring at the sculpture. His thoughts drifted.
'What is a village? What is a clan?'
In his past life, noble families produced officers and generals, but never entire families as soldiers. Here, ninja clans trained every member in warfare. Chakra and Kekkei Genkai shaped this world's culture and history.
'Chakra… it's easier to train than Ki. And ninja offspring seem to inherit better control. Maybe Ki and Chakra are fundamentally different… or maybe our understanding of Ki was shallow.'
He couldn't apply his past life's logic to this world. The societal structures here were too alien.
'The formation of villages… it reminds me of when ten Counts united to form a Dukedom, electing a Duke every generation. But eventually, the most powerful family – Figurland – became one of twenty Archduke of the empire. The rest became vassals.'
'For us, the Uchiha.. it feels like we were annexed. Defeated before agreeing to form Konoha. This village is Senju territory. We're just subordinates.'
But Shinichi knew he lacked the full picture.
'I need more knowledge. I'll ask Father for access to historical scrolls.'
Then there was the Mangekyo Sharingan.
'To summon the spirits of the dead… such power.. it's divine.'
He had been stunned when Fukashi summoned Madara's spirit. That their Kekkei Genkai could achieve such feats made Shinichi wonder if they were descendants of gods.
He began to dream of returning to his past life, of summoning his lost family.
But those dreams faded when he learned the cost: blindness.
He chose instead to protect what he had now.
From that day, Shinichi devoted himself to mastering chakra. He studied the clan's history, visited library, and trained relentlessly.