Inside the main camp, Tobirama Senju called Uchiha Isamu into his room alone.
Looking at Isamu—who resembled Madara Uchiha so closely—Tobirama's thoughts drifted back to the Warring States Period.
Back then, Madara Uchiha had stood at the pinnacle of the ninja world, looking down on everyone. The only person who could truly oppose him had been Tobirama's older brother, Hashirama Senju.
It would be a lie to say Tobirama had never envied Madara's power.
"Tian—Isamu," Tobirama began slowly, "do you know something?"
"Because I fought against the Uchiha clan since childhood, many of my relatives died at their hands."
"So it's inevitable that I hold some prejudice toward the Uchiha."
"You understand that, right?"
Isamu said nothing.
He simply watched Tobirama, waiting to see what he truly intended to say.
Seeing that Isamu didn't respond, Tobirama surprisingly didn't get angry and continued speaking.
"I have always disliked Madara Uchiha from the bottom of my heart."
"And because you are his son, that hatred was naturally transferred to you."
"Konoha was founded by my older brother and your father—you know that."
"In the beginning, when Madara was willing to put aside the hatred between our clans and create Konoha with my brother… my opinion of him changed a little."
"I still didn't like him, but I acknowledged what he had done."
Tobirama's voice grew heavier.
"You might not realize how hard-won this peace truly is."
"We came from an era of endless slaughter."
"Clans killing clans."
"Bloodshed everywhere."
"And finally, we reached a point where people could live together and help one another."
"But that bastard Madara… wanted to destroy that peace."
"I could never allow that."
He paused before continuing.
"Madara may be gone, but my hatred for him has never disappeared."
"And you… Isamu… are still here."
"The biological son of Madara Uchiha."
"When my brother was alive, he could suppress Madara's power."
"But now that my brother has passed away…"
"If you were to become another Madara…"
"No one in this world could stop you."
Tobirama looked directly into Isamu's eyes.
"So when I first saw you, I wanted to eliminate the problem before it could grow."
"I was afraid you would become the next Madara."
"Even though my brother and sister-in-law stopped me, I still couldn't feel at ease."
"That's why I confiscated the ninjutsu and funds in your home that could improve your strength."
"I had people monitor you."
"I even forbade you from attending the Ninja Academy."
"You could say I used every possible method."
---
Hearing this, Isamu felt slightly surprised.
So Tobirama feared Madara this much…
Tobirama continued.
"But later, I realized something."
"You are you."
"And Madara is Madara."
"You are not him."
"So I removed the restrictions on you."
"I wanted to see how far you could go."
"But today…"
"When I saw the Mangekyō Sharingan in your eyes…"
"I became uncertain again."
Tobirama's gaze sharpened.
"So tell me honestly, Isamu."
"What do you truly think about Konoha?"
"Don't flatter me."
"I want your real answer."
---
"Flattery?" Isamu scoffed.
"You're overthinking it."
"I, Uchiha Isamu, have never spoken flattering words to you."
This time, he didn't address Tobirama as Second Hokage-sama or Hokage-sama.
He simply used his name.
"Didn't you want to hear my true thoughts about Konoha?"
"Fine. I'll tell you."
"I have never had any designs on Konoha."
"Who becomes Hokage has absolutely nothing to do with me."
Isamu's voice was calm but firm.
"I live by one principle."
"If others don't provoke me, I won't provoke them."
"But if someone does provoke me…"
"I will definitely strike back."
"In everything I do, I only care about having a clear conscience."
He looked directly at Tobirama.
"As for your fear that I might become like my father…"
"I can tell you this very clearly."
"I am not Madara Uchiha."
"I like the peaceful atmosphere of this village."
"And in the future, I hope to keep living in that peace."
Isamu turned toward the door.
"That's all."
"You can think about it as much as you want."
"I'm tired."
"I'm leaving."
Without looking back, he walked out of the room.
---
Tobirama remained seated, stunned.
His mind replayed Isamu's words over and over.
Was I overthinking things?
Was I forcing Madara's shadow onto Isamu?
Was all of this just my own assumption?
That night—
Tobirama couldn't sleep at all.
---
Meanwhile, Isamu was drinking in the military camp with his friends.
Technically, alcohol wasn't allowed in camp.
But since both sides had already ceased hostilities and were only waiting to sign the treaty before withdrawing, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to make an exception.
"Hahaha!"
"Isamu, I never expected you to become this strong!"
"You've even awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan!"
"I'm really happy for you, brother!"
Hiruzen drunkenly slung an arm over Isamu's shoulder.
"Yeah!" said Torifu Akimichi happily.
"You even defeated the Raikage's successor!"
"You're the person I admire the most right now!"
"It was just luck," Isamu said modestly.
"Don't praise me so much—it's embarrassing."
Although he said that, he was secretly delighted.
Now he feared nothing and worried about nothing.
It felt good to relax and release some pressure.
---
Meanwhile, Danzo Shimura sat nearby drinking silently.
His expression looked sour.
He had lost the duel earlier, so he didn't feel comfortable joining the conversation.
Originally, Isamu hadn't wanted to associate with Danzo at all.
But since Hiruzen had a good relationship with him, Isamu tolerated it.
However, in Danzo's eyes—
Isamu's modesty looked like pure showing off.
Isn't it just the Sharingan?
What's there to be proud of?
One day… I'll get a pair too.
Even if I'm not an Uchiha…
I'll still obtain the Sharingan.
And then I'll show you.
Isamu had no idea that this small drinking party had planted the first seed of obsession in Danzo's mind.
---
Three days passed.
Finally, the time came to sign the alliance treaty.
Tobirama set out for the capital of the Land of Iron, where the signing ceremony would take place under the witness of the country's leader.
He brought four disciples with him.
They were:
Hiruzen Sarutobi
Danzo Shimura
Koharu Utatane
Homura Mitokado
At the entrance of the camp, Isamu watched them leave.
"Goodbye… Tobirama Senju."
This is probably the last time I'll see him.
For a moment, he felt a bit melancholic.
But the feeling quickly vanished.
From now on, no one will suppress me or order me around.
Isamu grinned.
"Hahaha…"
"From now on, I can do whatever I want."
"If anyone dares talk back to me…"
"I'll slap them to death."
Then he suddenly remembered something.
Right… the system mission still needs a few more kills.
When Hiruzen and the others escape back… I'll just pick up a few kills along the way.
He recalled the original storyline.
It went something like this:
During the negotiations between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, the brothers Kinkaku and Ginkaku launched a coup.
They assassinated both the Raikage and the Hokage.
Tobirama eventually exhausted all his strength protecting his subordinates, sacrificing himself to buy time for them to escape.
He later became revered as a hero of Konoha.
But the enemy also paid a heavy price.
Ginkaku died.
And Kinkaku was nearly beaten to death by Tobirama, left barely alive.
Standing over Tobirama's corpse, Kinkaku laughed wildly, shouting that the two brothers had killed both the Raikage and the Hokage.
He declared themselves the strongest warriors in the world.
---
Meanwhile, in Kumogakure, after hearing the news of his master's assassination, Ay—the disciple of the Second Raikage—successfully succeeded him as the Third Raikage.
At the funeral, he stood before his master's portrait, filled with grief.
To avenge his teacher, the new Raikage decided to hunt down Kinkaku and Ginkaku before even finishing the funeral rites.
Leading elite Kumogakure ninja, he confronted Kinkaku directly.
Activating Lightning Release Chakra Mode, he delivered a devastating blow.
Kinkaku died.
The Third Raikage then took the Amber Purifying Pot back to Kumogakure.
---
"Yeah… that's roughly how it happened," Isamu muttered.
"Tobirama probably never imagined those two guys would betray them…"
"Or that they were that strong."
---
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