"Lord Tobirama, I'm your disciple. You'd rather believe a stranger's one-sided claims than trust me?" Homura Mitokado made one last attempt to defend himself.
"This isn't just my word," Hyuga Asana retorted. "Lord Second can investigate the village himself. If I lied even the slightest bit, you may kill me where I stand—I will not resist."
Tobirama's expression darkened further at her words, his gaze toward Homura growing ever colder.
He had already sensed the presence of Nine-Tails chakra outside and had long harbored suspicions toward Homura. Now, after hearing Asana's testimony, he knew exactly what kind of disciples he'd left behind.
But having watched Homura grow up, Tobirama didn't raise his hand against him. Instead, he sighed, formed hand seals, and ended the Edo Tensei himself.
A white light glowed over his body, and his soul began to separate from the physical shell.
Uchiha Yuan was a bit surprised by Tobirama's decision—he had half-expected to fight the Second Hokage.
"Uchiha youth," Tobirama asked, "I can tell you're different from the rest of your clan. Tell me—what do you plan to do in the future?"
"Of course. I will become Hokage, and from Konoha and the Land of Fire, I will unify the ninja world."
"Why seek unification?"
"Because the First Hokage's way has failed. Giving out the Tailed Beasts and hoping for mutual understanding won't bring peace.
I'll use my own method—by unifying the world and destroying the current shinobi order, I'll create a new one."
Tobirama fell silent for a moment, then replied, "I once had a similar thought. When Konoha was just founded, both my brother and Madara were at their peaks. They could have easily unified the shinobi world—not just built a single village.
But they grew apart. And I realized that even if we did unify the world briefly, we lacked the means to maintain it. After my brother and Madara died, everything would fall apart again.
So I abandoned the idea. Do you, young Uchiha, have a method to sustain this long-term unification?"
"Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn't do it."
"Then I wish you success. Bring true peace to the ninja world."
"Didn't you want to eliminate me earlier just because I had Uchiha blood?"
"Haha! Don't be so petty, boy! I hold no prejudice against your clan—just that your people tend to... produce 'maniacs'. I simply had to be cautious for the sake of the village."[1]
Yuan chuckled and said no more. His opinion of Tobirama had changed somewhat—especially after uncovering the truth behind the Senju clan's disappearance.
Tobirama was intelligent and decisive, but too cautious and conservative in governing. Yuan would never truly like him.
But he had to admit—Tobirama knew his limits. He didn't pass the Hokage mantle to Danzo, who followed his ideology, but to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who resembled Hashirama in philosophy.
Most importantly, Sarutobi wasn't of the Senju clan. Tobirama's ability to entrust the title outside his bloodline proved he could prioritize the village over family—a trait Yuan doubted he could emulate.
As Tobirama's soul ascended, Yuan called out, "Lord Second, when I build the world I envision, I'll use Edo Tensei to revive you. I want you to see it."
Tobirama smiled faintly as his spirit faded away.
Meanwhile, at the Uchiha clan's refuge near Naka Shrine in the Konoha forest, the civilians—women, elders, and children—had all gathered safely.
Among them was a child with black short hair and long lashes framing his black pupils. His refined features closely resembled the woman beside him. He gazed anxiously toward the village.
This child was none other than Uchiha Itachi, son of Uchiha Fugaku, and the woman next to him is naturally his mother, Uchiha Mikoto.
"Mother... will Father be okay?" Itachi asked.
"He'll be fine. Your father is very strong."
"But isn't the Nine-Tails even stronger? Didn't the First Hokage say it had power that could shake the entire shinobi world?"
Mikoto didn't reply. The baby in her arms began wailing, seemingly affected by the anxiety around him.
"Don't cry, Sasuke... Everything will be okay," she gently soothed the infant.
Fwoosh— Suddenly, a figure appeared in the shelter.
All the chakra-capable Uchiha instinctively reached for weapons.
"Everyone, don't panic! It's me—Uchiha Shisui."
At the sound of Shisui's voice, the crowd let out a collective sigh of relief.
"Shisui, how's the situation outside?" Mikoto asked as she approached, still holding baby Sasuke.
"Lady Mikoto, please rest assured—Lord Yuan and the Fourth Hokage have resealed the Nine-Tails. The crisis is basically over.
However, there are still a few security issues in the village. Please remain here for a bit longer—I'll come notify you when it's safe."
With that, Shisui vanished.
Cheers erupted within the shelter. The Nine-Tails had been resealed—they were safe.
But Itachi didn't join in the celebration.
Earlier, he'd noticed how the village's ANBU had stopped Uchiha from aiding in the defense against the Nine-Tails.
All night, he kept wondering: Has the village already lost its trust in the Uchiha?
Back with Uchiha Yuan, after Tobirama ended the Edo Tensei, Homura Mitokado was nothing more than a fish on the chopping board.
Yuan was about to kill him when Asana stopped him.
"Asana?"
"Yuan, you can't kill Homura here. With all these Root ninja watching, it'll cause trouble."
"Then we'll just—"
"No," Asana interrupted, pointing to some of the Root shinobi.
"She's Hyuga Sei, my cousin. He's Yamanaka Kaze, Kagetsu's cousin. That's Aburame Shikoku, nephew of Shibi-sensei. That one is—"
Yuan listened silently, then sheathed his sword.
These people... couldn't all be killed.
He activated his Mangekyo Sharingan and swept his gaze over the Root members—instantly putting dozens of them, including Homura, under genjutsu.
Then, together with Asana, he began looting the Root base.
Over the years, Root had hoarded countless forbidden materials with Sarutobi Hiruzen's silent approval.
They found clan jutsu, secret techniques, First Hokage cells, Wood Release techniques, corpses of those with kekkei genkai, and over a dozen Sharingan—though the three-tomoe ones were likely all grafted onto Danzo.
Yuan copied everything he could with his Sharingan. Asana took what was useful to her, and the rest they brought to deliver to Minato.
Afterward, they teleported back to the battlefield. Yuan retrieved Danzo and Root's corpses and, using Stage Two Susano'o, fabricated the scene so it appeared they had died to the Nine-Tails.
"That should do it," Yuan said, looking at the devastated battlefield.
"Mhm, this should be a proper explanation for the Third Hokage as well," Hyuga Asana responded.
"Asana, I'll leave the rest to you." With that, Yuan collapsed on the ground. The milk's side effects had kicked in—his entire body felt weak, and even lifting his arms was a struggle.
Asana also deactivated her Sage Mode. Even without it, her condition was far better than Yuan's.
She helped him up and returned to the Uchiha district.
The next day, in the ruined village of Konoha, ravaged by the Nine-Tails and the Wood Human Technique, the Hokage's ANBU and the Uchiha Police Force began rescue operations for surviving civilians.
The Third Hokage's ANBU focused primarily on treating injured shinobi.
At this time, Homura Mitokado arrived at the residence of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Lord Hiruzen, Danzo was killed by Uchiha Yuan in collusion with Minato Namikaze!" Homura exclaimed with a grief-stricken expression.
Hiruzen's face changed dramatically. "What are you talking about, Homura? Danzo never even left Root yesterday!"
"He did. Yesterday, Danzo received a report in Root that the Nine-Tails had tomoe in its eyes—he was sure the beast was under Sharingan control. So he went to the Uchiha district to demand answers.
Soon after, the curses on the Root members' tongues were lifted. Then Uchiha Yuan and Hyuga Asana came to Root, used genjutsu to knock me out, and took everything. Hiruzen, you must avenge Danzo!"
Hiruzen's expression turned grim. He hadn't expected Danzo to be killed during last night's events.
But he didn't take Homura's claims at face value—nor did he believe Minato was involved.
The village had just suffered a devastating Nine-Tails attack. As Hokage, he needed to focus on rebuilding and couldn't afford to be distracted.
"Calm down, Homura. First, we must locate Danzo's body. Only then can we confirm how he died."
He then ordered his ANBU to begin a full search for Danzo's remains.
Meanwhile, back in the Uchiha district, the clan had returned to their homes.
But today was busier than ever. The Nine-Tails' rampage had resulted in massive civilian casualties.
Uchiha Yuan had ordered the clan to assist the police force in rescue efforts. This was a rare opportunity to reshape the Uchiha's image in the village—and not one to be missed.
By the waterfall beside the Naka Shrine, Uchiha Shisui was conversing with a boy half a head shorter than him.
"Shisui, remember when you asked me what a clan and a village meant? I finally have an answer," said Uchiha Itachi.
"Oh? Then let's hear it."
"I think the Uchiha clan is our home—and the village is a home for all clans."
"Interesting take. So... if one day there's a conflict between the Uchiha and the village, which side would you choose?"
Itachi's face showed confusion.
He thought for a long time before shaking his head. "I don't know. What about you, Shisui—what would you choose?"
Staring at him seriously, Shisui replied, "If the village turned against the Uchiha, I'd never side with the village."
"So... you choose the clan?"
"Not exactly. I said if the village becomes hostile."
"But some villagers were already stopping our clan from acting yesterday. My father said some in the village don't like us... Sometimes we have no choice."
"That's fine. If it were the old me, I might have run away from that choice, entrust the choice and responsibility to a trusted person, and then leave this world. But now, I won't do that.
Whether it's the village or the Uchiha, I want to change them—using these eyes." As he spoke, Shisui revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Feeling the overwhelming ocular power and seeing the windmill-shaped pattern, Itachi was shocked—he hadn't known Shisui, like Uchiha Yuan, had already awakened the clan's ultimate dōjutsu.
After a moment of silence, Itachi asked, "Shisui, how do you plan to do that? Can the Mangekyō really change everything?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure. But with these eyes, I at least have a voice. And with Lord Yuan, I believe it's possible."
"Lord Uchiha Yuan... He's amazing," Itachi said with clear admiration.
"Which is why, Itachi, all we can do now is strengthen ourselves. Only with power can we earn the right to speak—then, together with Lord Yuan, we can change everything."
Shisui's words dispelled the fog in Itachi's heart. In him, Itachi saw the Uchiha's new future.
"Speaking of which, it's been a while since we sparred. Let's see how much stronger you've gotten."
"Okay!" Itachi readily agreed. The two smiled at each other and began their match in the forest.
(To Be Continued...)
[1] hard to believe, but well... lest just say that this in alternative universe of naruto....