Tobirama Senju... is he really crippled?
Aoi's eyes widened in shock, but Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a long breath and smirked coldly.
"Of course not. That is merely the official story we've released to the public."
"An official story?" Aoi was thoroughly confused now. "So... is the old man crippled or not?"
"Of course I'm not!" Tobirama scoffed disdainfully.
"Do you really think that clumsy raccoon-dog, the One-Tail, could ever lay a hand on me? Not with my speed."
---
Five minutes later, Aoi finally understood the whole truth...
Tobirama and the others were fishing.
Ever since the war began, the Uchiha clan had experienced rapid growth.
Grief and sorrow from the conflict had awakened countless Sharingan eyes, and their power had skyrocketed.
On top of that, they had accumulated more and more merit and achievements on the battlefield...
Naturally, this caused the clan's arrogance to swell beyond measure.
Before, they used to look down on people from high above; now, ordinary people had to stand on tiptoes just to reach the level of their chins.
What was worse, because of Aoi's actions and influence, the Uchiha's rise to power had accelerated drastically — jumping ahead by two full generations compared to the original timeline!
"If this continues, the moment I am gone, the Uchiha will undoubtedly seize the position of Hokage by force." Tobirama frowned deeply.
"Knowing their nature, if they ever rule this village, it will lead only to its destruction."
"That is exactly why I decided to test them." Tobirama shook his head with a cold smirk.
"So I pretended to be crippled and announced that I was looking for my successor, the next Hokage."
And sure enough... the moment that news spread, the Uchiha clan went completely mad.
They believed themselves superior to everyone else, yet they had been suppressed for decades by the First and Second Hokage.
All that repressed frustration and resentment finally erupted like a volcano...
"They will stop at nothing!"
Tobirama pounded angrily on the armrest of his wheelchair. "These past few days, they have used every dirty trick in the book just to climb onto the Hokage's seat!"
"Smearing your reputation was just one step, because you were too popular. I even tried appeasing them, giving them authority over the Security Force to satisfy their desires."
Tobirama shook his head coldly. "But eventually, I realized... their hunger is absolutely bottomless."
"So old man, what do you plan to do?" Aoi asked, frowning. These Uchiha are really impatient.
It's not even time for Itachi to be born yet, and they are already rushing toward their own doom.
They really are making things far more complicated...
"Wait."
Tobirama narrowed his eyes, his expression icy. "I wait until they make the slightest move that harms or endangers the village. And then... I will wipe out the entire Uchiha clan, root and branch."
True to Tobirama's character... Aoi thought. He was far more decisive than Hiruzen.
When he said he would kill your whole family, he meant it. No long-winded speeches or sentimental hesitation.
Just then, the guard stationed outside the corridor shouted in alarm, "Lady Tsunade! The Lord Hokage is inside discussing important matters right now — you cannot go in!"
The next second...
"BAM!"
The office door was kicked violently open. Standing there was five-year-old Tsunade.
She looked small and delicate, yet her eyes were locked firmly onto Aoi, and before she knew it, tears were streaming down her cheeks.
Tsunade!
But what left Aoi stunned was the person standing right beside her — a very conspicuous figure: Dan Kato.
What is this guy doing here? Aoi scratched his head, suddenly feeling a strange sensation as if his head were turning green. Don't tell me...
Just then, Hiruzen leaned close and whispered into his ear.
"Ever since you disappeared, Dan Kato has stayed by Tsunade's side constantly. But... she has never once smiled at him."
And right on the heels of those words...
"Pfft!"
Tsunade suddenly broke into a radiant smile, bright as a blooming flower, laughing through her tears.
"Aoi... you're finally back..."
__________________
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