Two consecutive days passed.
Konoha could be said to be surprisingly calm.
The Uchiha Clan did something no one expected: they took the initiative to retreat. Not only did the public opinion propaganda about Uchiha Madara come to an abrupt halt, but they even actively sent signals of goodwill to the Senju Clan.
The originally tense and hostile contradictions within the village, caused by the competition for Hokage between the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan, quietly eased a lot.
There was no helping it.
Uchiha Madara, as the hottest candidate for Hokage, suddenly went crazy and wanted to take the entire family away from Konoha. This meant that all the previous preparations made by the Uchiha Clan were wasted, and they also had to bear the infamy of the Clan Leader betraying the family.
Even the Uchiha Clan couldn't accept such a shock.
Sigh... Lord Madara has gone crazy... can we reconcile temporarily for now?
.......
Hokage's Office.
"Can't figure it out, can't figure it out, can't figure it out..."
"What exactly does the Uchiha want to do? Things definitely won't be this simple. They are absolutely plotting something in secret, wanting to launch a surprise attack on me."
Senju Tobirama sat in his chair, his brain unable to comprehend what exactly had happened.
This feeling was very strange.
How could the Uchiha Clan retreat at this critical juncture, and even express goodwill to him in an open meeting?
His intuition instinctively told him there must be a trick.
The Uchiha Clan suddenly made a move that even he couldn't understand.... Ah, I understand!
Uchiha Makoto, it must be you again, right!
Now there really wasn't much time left before the Six Kage Summit.
At this critical juncture, it was very possible that Uchiha Makoto suddenly wanted to cause trouble for him.
Senju Tobirama never minded speculating on Uchiha Makoto's thoughts with the most malicious ideas.
Presumably, Uchiha Makoto, this naturally evil Uchiha brat, wanted to force him to do some shady and shameful things for him at the Six Kage Summit again.
.....The waiting process was truly unbearable.
The intelligence spies sent out by Senju Tobirama ultimately failed to find out any news about Uchiha Madara summoning clansmen to hold a clan meeting in the Naka Shrine that night.
Not even the slightest trace was transmitted back.
And now, the more amiable the Uchiha Clan behaved, the more afraid Senju Tobirama felt in his heart.
He knew this was the effect Uchiha Makoto wanted.
Uchiha Makoto was probably sitting in his Hikarikage office, waiting for him to come to the door and compromise!
But not much time had passed since the last time Senju Tobirama was forced to cooperate with Uchiha Makoto. It was still vivid in his memory; he was almost pitted by Uchiha Makoto until not even his underwear was left.
In the matter of assassinating the Land of Fire's Cabinet Elder, he was confusingly dragged onto Uchiha Makoto's pirate ship, completely offending the Land of Fire's Daimyō, and the relationship between the two sides hadn't improved at all until now.
Now he had finally managed to temporarily cut ties with Uchiha Makoto and not get involved in these messy things.
If he went to the door again, he would probably be used as a gun by him again.
Also, the Konoha Anbu had been infiltrated by Uchiha Makoto, and even part of the roster recording all the information of Anbu ninjas had to be made public to him.
To deal with this mess, Senju Tobirama even had to expend energy and resources again to form a secret department—Root!
Shimura Danzō was the person in charge of Root he had already selected.
In the future, for Konoha's dirty work, as long as it involved cooperation with Uchiha Makoto, they must draw a clear line with the Konoha Anbu and hand it all over to Root for execution.
Only in this way, when a critical moment really came, could he decisively cut off his arm to save himself and preserve the core strength.
....
Hokage's Office.
Uchiha Kagami now entered and left here daily. He handled many matters of Konoha's reform together with Senju Tobirama.
The two got along reasonably well.
Although once they entered this door, they had to address each other respectfully by title, in private, they were still master and disciple.
And Uchiha Kagami grew very fast. He could make good use of his Uchiha identity to help Senju Tobirama solve complex problems involving the Uchiha Clan.
Uchiha Makoto also provided assistance to Uchiha Kagami from behind.
Considering Konoha's reform, Senju Tobirama really didn't have anyone available around him.
So Senju Tobirama was indeed teaching him real things on the one hand, but on the other hand, he was also guarding against him, preventing himself from really being hollowed out by Uchiha Makoto behind Uchiha Kagami in the future.
"Kagami, has anything happened in your Uchiha Clan recently?"
Since the Anbu ninjas really couldn't find intelligence, Senju Tobirama could only decide to take action personally.
Facing Uchiha Kagami, who was busy working beside him.
He began to beat around the bush, wanting to get something out of his former disciple's mouth.
"...Nothing, what could happen recently? Our Uchiha Clan is loyal to Konoha! We will absolutely not do anything to betray Konoha!"
"Everyone is very satisfied with life now."
Senju Tobirama's thoughts were known to any Uchiha clansman; he wanted to become the Second Hokage of Konoha.
And Uchiha Kagami naturally guessed what Senju Tobirama wanted to ask.
But the key was...
He really couldn't say, and couldn't say, the news that Uchiha Madara wanted to take the Uchiha Clan away from Konoha.
To ensure nothing went wrong.
The Uchiha clansmen who participated in that night's clan meeting were all placed under corresponding curse seals.
So Uchiha Kagami could only express his attitude and the attitude of the Uchiha Clan in another way.
Everyone is very satisfied with life now!
To Konoha, the Uchiha Clan is loyal and will absolutely not leave Konoha or betray Konoha!
It was just a pity that these words in Senju Tobirama's ears... were not like that!
Loyal, never betray?
Everyone is very satisfied with life?
This is actually speaking in reverse, right!
Translated, it means the Uchiha Clan is very dissatisfied with the current life and can't wait to launch a rebellion against Konoha to seize the position of Hokage!
"Hmph... then what about Uchiha Makoto... he must have also gotten involved."
"Lord Tobirama, what are you saying? This has nothing to do with Lord Hikarikage."
"Don't trust him, you are my disciple..."
"Please don't be like this. Lord Hikarikage has emphasized to me many times that I must address people by their position when working. Please call me Hokage Assistant."
Senju Tobirama wanted to play the emotional card, but in the end, he gained nothing.
Actually, he was destined to gain nothing.
From beginning to end, the two were not on the same channel, talking past each other, not hitting the point at all.
Naturally, Senju Tobirama thought his negotiation failed.
After watching Uchiha Kagami leave his office, after a fierce ideological struggle, Senju Tobirama finally contacted Uchiha Makoto.
—As long as there is a first time, there is a second time!
This is a very simple truth.
......
"What do you want with me?"
" The Uchiha Clan has behaved so abnormally in the past few days; what exactly are you plotting in secret!"
"Uchiha Makoto, you naturally evil Uchiha brat, I know it must be you playing tricks behind the scenes!"
"Damn bastard, do you have to ruin Konoha before you stop!"
"....."
"Senju Tobirama, what kind of fit are you throwing here? Don't just start cursing indiscriminately as soon as you come up. I don't have time to play with you right now."
As soon as the communication was established.
Senju Tobirama instantly became agitated and started a vicious verbal greeting.
And because of the Six Kage Summit, Uchiha Makoto had been extremely busy recently. Being scolded inexplicably now, his mood was naturally very unhappy.
"If you have something urgent, say it quickly!"
"Otherwise, I will cut off the communication right now."
"Uchiha Makoto, you win!"
"As long as you can stop your actions in Konoha, I am willing to cooperate with your actions, provided that it doesn't harm Konoha's interests."
"I know you have always wanted to make an issue out of the Tailed Beasts..."
Senju Tobirama still compromised.
He was willing to cooperate with Uchiha Makoto's actions, as long as these things didn't harm Konoha's interests.
Even... Senju Tobirama allowed Uchiha Makoto to use the Tailed Beasts in Konoha's hands to achieve his goals.
Uchiha Makoto's brain froze for a moment.
But he reacted quickly. Associating it with Senju Tobirama's abnormal behavior just now, it was probably that the Uchiha Clan had done something extraordinary recently, and then this pot fell on his head.
But it seemed... not a bad thing.
"Alright, you saw through it. I did it."
"I knew it, it really was you!"
"You guy, what exactly did you plot with Uchiha Madara? He recently convened a clan meeting and summoned all Uchiha clansmen with awakened eyes in the family... If you want to seize the position of Hokage by force, I advise you to give up this idea!"
Senju Tobirama said through gritted teeth.
After the last conversation with his big brother, Senju Tobirama already understood his big brother Senju Hashirama's attitude.
Senju Hashirama knew very well that Senju Tobirama's talent was most suitable to become the Second Hokage.
But out of his own feelings for Uchiha Madara, he also hoped Uchiha Madara could make changes, completely reconcile with Senju Tobirama, and become the next Hokage.
This should have been something worthy of making Senju Tobirama happy.
But now...
The thing Senju Tobirama had always worried about most still happened.
If Uchiha Madara and the Uchiha Clan had Uchiha Makoto giving them advice, the situation would be very different.
In this delicate situation, if Uchiha Madara listened to Uchiha Makoto's suggestion and intended to coerce the entire Uchiha Clan to exert pressure, forcing his big brother to hand over the position of Hokage to the Uchiha, nine times out of ten, it would succeed.
"Ha, no wonder you are anxious like this."
"So it was this matter."
Uchiha Makoto's slightly frowned brows relaxed.
He could probably guess the Uchiha Clan's recent actions. It must be that Uchiha Madara summoned all the family clansmen and then announced his decision to take the family away from Konoha at the Naka Shrine.
The result was self-evident.
There must be very few clansmen willing to follow Uchiha Madara away from Konoha, maybe not even a single person, making a joke exactly like the original plot.
For such a big matter, the Uchiha definitely used means to keep it secret.
And Senju Tobirama certainly had his own intelligence channels, but only knew that Uchiha Madara summoned all clansmen with awakened eyes in the clan to hold a clan meeting in the Naka Shrine. As for the content of the meeting, he knew nothing.
Heaven knows how much Senju Tobirama imagined on this basis. Being scared like this was excusable.
"Hmph, speak directly, what do you want to do?"
"There are indeed some tricky matters recently. You know, I am preparing to integrate the agricultural industry of the Land of Fire. This involves many people, among whom are big shots with connections to the heavens. It would be very troublesome for Akatsuki Village to take action repeatedly."
"I understand... I will send people to assist you then."
"Also regarding the Land of Rice Fields, the Land of Grass, and the Land of Rivers... these are several important grain-producing countries in the ninja world. To ensure the grain security of the Land of Fire, I think it is necessary to make them stand on our side as well."
"What do you want to do again... Isn't the domestic matter enough for you to toss about?"
Senju Tobirama knew Uchiha Makoto had great ambitions.
But he didn't expect that this time Uchiha Makoto actually began to target several countries surrounding the Land of Fire.
Uchiha Makoto actually didn't want to be so hasty.
The main reason was that the plan simply couldn't keep up with the changes. Since Uchiha Madara had publicly announced within the clan that he intended to lead the family away from Konoha.
This meant that the time for him to truly break away from Konoha was not far off. Next would be the Battle of the Valley of the End, where two supreme beings capable of suppressing the ninja world would both fall, and Konoha's situation would usher in a complete change.
And regarding the Land of Fire, a large part of the reason Uchiha Makoto could run rampant in the Land of Fire so arrogantly was thanks to Konoha.
Otherwise, the Daimyō of the Land of Fire would probably have started taking action long ago.
The First Great Ninja War broke out shortly after Senju Hashirama's death. As for how much the Daimyōs of various countries played a role behind the scenes... Uchiha Makoto obviously had his own views on this.
"Don't ask so much. I just ask you one sentence: will you help me or not?"
"And regarding the Tailed Beasts, honestly, I don't want to distribute them anymore, but what's done is done..... When blackmailing the four major ninja villages, I also want to use the Tailed Beasts to make an issue."
Uchiha Makoto didn't want to explain so much to Senju Tobirama.
Wait until this naturally evil old Senju ghost became the Second Hokage. When the critical moment came, he absolutely wouldn't mind pitting Akatsuki Village from behind.
Uchiha Makoto had always kept the account of the Kumogakure war in his heart.
Konoha fought one against four major ninja villages and got itself severely injured.
Akatsuki Village's situation in the future would only be worse; maybe it would have to fight one against five major ninja villages.
Making preparations a few years in advance now was definitely not a bad thing.
"You are looting a burning house!"
"Senju Tobirama, you can also refuse. Then I can't guarantee what will happen next in Konoha."
"Fine... you are ruthless enough!"
"Now let this matter in Konoha stop here for me. I must follow Big Brother to participate in the Six Kage Summit. You know what I want.... You must help me solve this matter."
"The Uchiha Clan also wants Lord Madara to participate in the Six Kage Summit. This is a bit difficult to handle."
"However, I can try my best."