"Toshiro, is that the Uchiha Gunbai? Wasn't it thought to be lost after the Valley of the End incident? And… your clone just now, did it come from—"
Uchiha Nako's eyes fixated on the legendary weapon in Toshiro's hand, while Uchiha Izuna's expression darkened with nostalgia.
Especially Izuna—his gaze flickered coldly toward the First and Second Hokage standing across from them.
He knew this gunbai well. His elder brother had wielded it countless times in battle against Hashirama.
"This..."
It wasn't just Nako who was intrigued—Izuna, too, couldn't help but ask. Toshiro glanced around, noting how even the First and Second Hokage had subtly perked their ears, clearly interested in his answer.
With a knowing smirk, he replied cryptically, "It has something to do with Madara-sama."
He left it at that. There was no need to reveal too much—especially when it involved the Tsuki no me Plan. Some things were better left unsaid.
Revealing Madara's plan at this moment was out of the question. If he did, not only the Third Hokage but also the First and Second Hokage would be absolutely furious.
"More importantly, let's deal with the people arriving first," Toshiro said, shifting his focus toward the figures appearing one after another at the entrance of the barrier.
—
"Sh-Shodaime-sama?!"
Hyuga Hiashi, the first to step forward, froze in shock as his gaze landed on a familiar face in the crowd.
For a moment, he suspected he was trapped in a genjutsu. His voice faltered, his usually composed demeanor shaken.
"A-And... Nidaime-sama?!"
Every day, he saw their faces carved into the mountainside, but now—standing before the real Hashirama and Tobirama Senju—his self-control wavered.
The other clan heads behind him were no different. All of them stared, eyes wide with astonishment, at the legendary Hokage reborn before them.
"Hahaha!"
"You're Sousuke's son? You look just like your father!"
The moment Hashirama laid eyes on Hiashi, he greeted him with the warmth of an old friend, as if they had met many times before.
Hiashi, however, couldn't help but twitch at the corners of his mouth. Keeping his tone polite yet firm, he corrected the misunderstanding.
"Apologies, Shodaime-sama, but my grandfather passed away long ago. I am the son of Sousuke's son."
"Ah... hahaha! Right, I completely forgot I've been dead for fifty or sixty years!"
Scratching the back of his head, Hashirama let out a carefree laugh, brushing off his blunder without concern.
"But still, it's wonderful to see the village's younger generations thriving!"
After exchanging a few words with Hiashi, Hashirama's gaze shifted, his expression softening with familiarity.
"Tsunade! You—"
Having lived through his own experiences, the Shodaime didn't even need a closer look. A single glance at Tsunade was enough for him to understand her situation.
"Sigh… I knew it. I never should've taught you how to gamble," he muttered, suddenly sinking into melancholy after his lighthearted conversation with Hiashi.
"At your age, I was already a father… As I suspected, gambling is truly a terrible hobby!"
His expression turned regretful as he let out a deep sigh.
If only he hadn't spoiled Tsunade so much back then—if only he hadn't introduced her to gambling—perhaps things would have turned out differently.
After all, there was no doubt about Tsunade's beauty, yet here she was, still unmarried well into her years. And in his mind, there was only one culprit: her insatiable love for gambling.
"Grandfather!"
Tsunade couldn't hold back any longer.
She had been basking in the warmth of their reunion, but now that tender atmosphere had completely vanished. Her expression twitched.
And what did he mean by "so old"? Tsunade was eternally eighteen—forever young and beautiful. Whether and when she married was entirely her own decision!
Meanwhile, unlike the Shodaime, who was preoccupied with his granddaughter's personal life, the Nidaime had turned his attention to Sarutobi Hiruzen, his expression dark and serious.
"Saru, how did things come to this?"
His voice carried an unmistakable weight. He had entrusted Danzo with monitoring certain Uchiha members, not orchestrating their extermination. Even if wiping out the clan had been the goal, it should never have been handled so recklessly—so disastrously—that it led to their own downfall instead.
"Sensei… I'm so sorry," Hiruzen murmured, his head bowed in shame.
What could the Sandaime say? If they had succeeded, they would have retained control over the Hokage position. If they failed, the outcome would be exactly as it was now. In the end, did it really make a difference?
The only thing he hadn't anticipated was Uchiha Toshiro's ruthlessness—his swift and decisive move to completely dismantle their grip on Konoha in an instant.
"The only thing left to do now is to fight for what we can," he thought grimly.
His current situation was dire. With the Uchiha brat holding all the power, he was nothing more than a pawn, unable to resist.
"Now that almost everyone is here, let's begin the meeting."
After scanning the gathered crowd, Toshiro took command, assuming the role of host with ease.
"The setting may be simple, but I assure you—the content of this meeting will not disappoint."
With a measured step, he lightly stomped the ground. In response, a massive, polished stone table emerged from beneath, along with a matching chair, rising smoothly into place.
Seated at the head of the table, Toshiro cast a glance at the grim-faced Sandaime and his allies across from him. His gaze then shifted to the family representatives and the civilian ninjas flanking both sides of the room. A knowing smile played at his lips.
For years, Konoha's key departments had been dominated by the factions loyal to the Sandaime. They controlled over sixty percent of all high-ranking positions, embedding themselves deep within the village's power structure.
The frontline command center, the Anbu, the Hokage Building—each of these institutions was filled with their people.
Were they truly the most capable?
No. They were simply the chosen insiders, handpicked to maintain control.
If Konoha's leadership were a massive organism, then the Sandaime and his advisors formed the brain, while these officials served as its nerves, blood vessels, and muscles.
But now that he had ascended to the position of Hokage, Toshiro had no intention of allowing these remnants of the old regime to linger in his presence.
"This time," he thought with quiet amusement, "those guys are getting off easy."
Watching the eager faces on either side of him, Toshiro felt no resentment toward those who had reaped rewards without much effort.
Given the current state of the Uchiha clan, if he failed to leverage the power of these positions, his position as Hokage would be nothing more than a hollow title—a puppet with no real authority.
Time passed slowly.
The rising sun, like a bashful maiden, gently peeked over the horizon, casting a soft, radiant glow across the sky.
Its warm, golden light gradually dispersed the remnants of the night, rousing the village from its slumber. As dawn unfolded, Konoha seemed to shimmer under its embrace. Sunlight touched every rooftop, every leaf, and every droplet of morning dew, turning them into glistening symbols of renewal.
A new day had begun—a new chapter, filled with both opportunity and uncertainty.
At the entrance of the Uchiha compound, groups of ninjas gathered, engaged in quiet conversations, their expressions bright with anticipation.
Despite the long night of heated debates and power struggles, most had walked away with something to show for it. Only those who had staunchly stood by the Sandaime found themselves empty-handed, left to grapple with an uncertain future.
Each of their faces was dark with frustration, their expressions so tense it seemed as if blood might drip from them.
"Saru, sometimes letting go isn't such a bad thing," the First Hokage said cheerfully, glancing at the rising sun with a bright, carefree smile.
He had initially feared that the Uchiha, upon seizing power, would impose their dominance or transform the village into a militarized state. However, after witnessing the deliberations of the previous night, his concerns had eased.
Uchiha Toshiro's leadership, while assertive, did not seem reckless. Besides, in a way, this was a debt long owed to the Uchiha.
"Tsunade, did you remember what I told you?"
Unlike his elder brother's relaxed demeanor, the Second Hokage's expression remained stern. His sharp gaze locked onto Tsunade, awaiting her response with an intensity that allowed no room for evasion.
"...I know," she muttered.
Her mouth twitched slightly as she replied, looking listless and conflicted. With a heavy sigh, she slumped back in her seat, staring off in a daze.
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