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"Grandpa, you may not have fought on the front lines, but you built everything those armies stood on."
Tajima was the first to speak, his respect obvious. "You founded the village, brought the clans together, secured our supply lines, established our laws, and planned Konoha's future. None of us can compare with what you've accomplished."
He stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"You are Konoha's true architect. The rest of us are just soldiers who swing our blades where you point them. The title of First Hokage belongs to you."
Hashirama immediately joined him. "Uncle Tajima is right! No one deserves the position more than the First Elder."
He faced Manji with open admiration. "Maybe Konoha would have been founded someday... But without you, it would never have become what it is today. Everything this village stands for began with you."
Tobirama nodded. "Konoha needs more than just a strong fighter as its leader. It needs someone who understands politics, administration, economics, military strategy, and how to balance the clans. No one else fits that role."
There was a trace of admiration in Tobirama's eyes.
As far as Tobirama was concerned, Manji hardly seemed like an Uchiha. He was calm and methodical, never letting pride or anger guide his choices. He avoided pointless fights and liked to solve problems before they turned into battles.
Sometimes, Tobirama even wondered if the old man was really an Uchiha.
Madara and Izuna exchanged a glance. Neither offered an objection. In their minds, Great-Grandfather becoming the First Hokage was the most natural outcome imaginable.
"Great-Grandfather, governing Konoha is what you do best." Izuna walked over and wrapped both hands around Manji's arm. "We'll be the swords in your hands. Point us at anyone who threatens the village, and we'll deal with them."
Everyone had reached the same decision.
Manji looked around the office, then smiled.
"In that case, I won't refuse." Manji was never the type to refuse a promotion just to seem modest.
The others straightened and bowed together.
"WE PAY OUR RESPECTS TO THE FIRST HOKAGE!" Their voices shook the wooden pillars of the office.
"There's no need for ceremony." Manji waved them upright, looking pleased with himself.
The doors opened before anyone could say more.
Several ANBU came in, bringing Senju Butsuma tied up from shoulder to ankle. The ropes dug into his arms, but he stood tall as they pushed him forward.
Butsuma glared at Hashirama and Tobirama first. The hatred in his eyes was intense. Then he turned to Manji, now sitting in the Hokage's chair.
"Do whatever you want with me, you old bastard!" he shouted. "Kill me if that's what you brought me here for!"
"At least you still have some backbone," Manji said.
Butsuma lifted his chin. "Of course I do. I'm not like those spineless sons of mine, groveling before outsiders after betraying their own clan!"
Manji stayed silent. He tapped his finger on the desk, showing no anger or surprise.
Then Hashirama dropped to his knees.
"First Elder—no, LORD HOKAGE. PLEASE SPARE MY FATHER." He pressed his forehead to the floor. When he looked up, his eyes were red. "I know I have no right to ask this after everything he's done, but I can't stand by and watch him die. Send him to prison. Make him work for the rest of his sentence. Punish him however you see fit—just don't execute him."
The room fell quiet.
Madara's lips moved in the faintest smile.
Hashirama was always this way. No matter how badly Butsuma treated him, he couldn't turn his back on his father.
Tobirama's expression tightened.
He had thought about asking for mercy too, but Butsuma wasn't just any prisoner. He led the Senju, organized the anti-Konoha coalition, and helped plan Tajima's supposed assassination. Killing him would send a strong message to the clans that had just surrendered.
If it were up to Tobirama, Butsuma would already be dead.
But Manji had expected Hashirama to beg for his father. If Hashirama had stayed silent while his father faced execution, he wouldn't have been himself.
"What do the rest of you think?" Manji asked.
Madara stepped beside Hashirama and knelt as well.
"Lord Hokage, my father is alive. Since Butsuma's assassination attempt failed, I see no need to take his life in return."
Tobirama followed. "I agree. I ask that his sentence be reduced."
Manji turned to Tajima. "And you?"
Tajima laughed. "I don't care if he lives or dies. Honestly, killing the old fool would be too easy on him."
He looked straight at Butsuma. "I want him to live long enough to see the Senju join Konoha. Let him watch his clan let go of old grudges, live with the Uchiha, and become part of the village he tried to destroy."
That was exactly what Manji had in mind.
If Butsuma were executed, the leaders of the surrendered clans would be scared. They might wonder if Konoha planned to kill them next, and that fear would make it much harder to bring them into the village.
Letting him live sent a stronger message.
Konoha would punish rebellion, but surrender did not mean extermination. Butsuma would spend the coming years watching the Senju lose their isolation, their old hierarchy, and the authority he had fought so hard to preserve.
For someone like him, that would be more painful than death.
"Senju Butsuma," Manji said, his voice filling the office. "Since those most affected by your actions have asked for mercy, I will spare your life."
Butsuma's eyes widened.
"You will be imprisoned and sentenced to hard labor under Konoha law. Your crimes will be entered into the public record, and you will serve the full sentence handed down by the court."
"..." Butsuma's chest rose and fell as he realized what this meant.
This wasn't mercy...
He would have rather died as the head of the Senju Clan, defiant until the end. Instead, he would stay alive as his clan joined Konoha and everything he fought for faded away.
The ANBU dragged him out of the room as he cursed Manji, Konoha, and his own sons.
Once the doors closed, Madara turned back to the new Hokage.
"Great-Grandfather, the Land of Fire is unified—but threats remain across the sea. The Uzumaki are distant relatives of the Senju, and the Land of Whirlpools could shelter anyone who escaped our campaign." His eyes lit up with a familiar eagerness. "Should we cross the sea and eliminate the problem now?"
Izuna went further. "Why stop there? Konoha is already stronger than any other power. We might as well unify the whole Shinobi world."
"NO!" Manji turned down the idea before either brother could argue further.
"We took in dozens of clans in just a few days. Their forces have surrendered, but their loyalty isn't certain yet. Konoha needs time to reorganize, divide up land, set up local governments, and bring their shinobi into our ranks."
"If we start another war now and send our main forces away, some of those clans might see it as a chance to rebel."
Izuna's enthusiasm faded. After thinking it over, he nodded.
Manji went on, "Uzushiogakure isn't like the other clans we defeated. The Uzumaki already have a village system like ours, even if it's still centered on one clan."
"There's no reason to fight them. We'll send someone to make peace. The Uzumaki know how things stand. They won't go to war with Konoha just to protect the old Senju leaders."
Tobirama considered the matter. "Who should we send?"
Manji looked straight at Hashirama.
"Hashirama, you're related to the Uzumaki and better suited to diplomacy than anyone else here."
He pointed at him.
"You're going."
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