After hearing this, Uchiha Izuna instantly saw the figures of several disciples clearly appear in his mind...
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, Uchiha Kagami, and Akimichi Torifu...
One young face after another flashed through his mind, each still immature yet sharp in their own way. He could not help falling into thought.
After a moment, Uchiha Izuna put away his thoughts and slowly spoke after careful consideration, "Among the disciples, I think Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo can still shoulder important responsibilities."
Hearing this, Senju Hashirama subconsciously muttered in a low voice, "Children from the Shimura and Sarutobi clans... those two juniors do have decent character and talent."
There was some approval for the younger generation in his tone.
Hashirama had heard about the two of them during the First Shinobi War.
But as soon as he finished speaking, Uchiha Izuna lightly shook his head, and a trace of hidden worry gathered between his brows.
"In my heart, I actually think more highly of Danzo, but I always feel that this child's personality and methods may one day cause him to repeat the mistakes my older brother and Tobirama made."
Uchiha Izuna raised a hand and lightly pressed his swollen forehead, his tone filled with worry and helplessness toward the future.
Senju Hashirama's expression instantly became extremely serious.
The atmosphere around him sank as he said word by word, "We absolutely must prevent militarism in Konoha from reviving!"
"We absolutely cannot walk down that old road filled with war and mistakes again!"
"I understand the seriousness of it."
Uchiha Izuna raised his eyes. His gaze suddenly became extremely firm as he nodded solemnly to Senju Hashirama without the slightest hint of carelessness.
Looking at him, Hashirama immediately asked, "If you succeed as Hokage, what do you plan to do next?"
"Calmly develop Konoha's foundation, keep a low profile and build strength quietly, avoid taking the initiative to start conflicts, and stabilize peace within the village."
Uchiha Izuna's tone was firm and without hesitation.
Hearing this steady answer, the worry hanging in Senju Hashirama's heart finally eased somewhat.
He had always trusted Izuna deeply. Back when the village was first founded, Izuna had strongly opposed endless war and wholeheartedly hoped for peace in Konoha. That original intention had never changed.
"Izuna, from now on, Konoha is completely in your hands."
Senju Hashirama stretched out his trembling hands and tightly grabbed Uchiha Izuna's hands.
"Hashirama, you..."
Uchiha Izuna suddenly froze. He stared blankly at the emotional Senju Hashirama before him, and his heart was deeply stirred by this strong feeling of trust.
As if completely infected by those sincere emotions...
Uchiha Izuna tightly gripped Senju Hashirama's hands back, his voice choking slightly, "I definitely will! Definitely! Definitely!"
"Take care, Izuna!"
———
Deep inside the secret room, Uchiha Madara lay on the bed with his eyes closed, covered with a thin blanket.
To avoid blindness from the Sharingan over the years, he had long stopped using his eye power.
Even if he was unwilling, there was nothing he could do about it.
At that moment, a figure silently entered the secret room.
Uchiha Madara's perception was extremely sharp. Even with his eyes closed and without using them, he instantly sensed the disturbance around him.
"It's Tobirama, right.", Uchiha Madara spoke calmly.
The figure in the darkness slowly appeared. It was Senju Tobirama wearing a black robe.
"You came. Made your decision?" Uchiha Madara asked indifferently.
Senju Tobirama nodded slightly. "Yeah. Let's go."
Hearing this, Uchiha Madara lifted the blanket. He was already fully dressed and casually picked up the gunbai fan.
The next moment, the figures of the two disappeared from the secret room.
———
Senju Hashirama died.
Konoha prepared a grand funeral for him.
Uchiha Izuna became the Fourth Hokage.
———
[Inside The Hokage Office]
Izuna, now Hokage, sat in the main seat.
Standing on both sides were Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and others.
Izuna had already clearly realized that as fewer and fewer of Konoha's old generation remained, the village needed to cultivate a new generation.
So after becoming Hokage, Izuna directly appointed Danzo and Hiruzen as Hokage assistants, creating the dual assistant system for the first time.
He also established the Hokage advisor position and had Homura and Koharu study at the side.
"Lord Hokage..."
An Anbu member hurried inside and whispered something into Izuna's ear.
"What?! How are you people doing your jobs?! Are Konoha's barriers and seals just decorations?!", Uchiha Izuna's expression changed slightly as he asked.
The Anbu lowered his head in shame. "With the strength of those two, we couldn't detect them at all..."
"Take me there."
Izuna quickly stood up.
Afterward, he ordered Danzo and Hiruzen to temporarily handle Konoha's affairs.
Hearing this, Hiruzen and Danzo exchanged a glance, joy appearing in their eyes.
Izuna arrived at the secret room.
Looking at the empty room, deep worry rose in his heart, 'My older brother and Tobirama left without saying goodbye... why...'
Uchiha Izuna tightly frowned and paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back.
Then Izuna closed his eyes.
After thinking it over in his heart, he ultimately decided to let it go.
Izuna helplessly ordered, "This matter cannot be made public. Announce to the outside that my older brother and Tobirama have died!"
"Yes, sir!"
The masked Anbu all knelt on one knee and nodded.
———
At the center of Konoha, in front of a courtyard gate, the five-year-old Orochimaru and Jiraiya were already fully dressed.
"Today is your first day at the ninja academy. Study properly," Arisu looked at the two and instructed.
"Got it, old man!", Jiraiya replied carelessly.
"I understand, Grandpa.", Orochimaru obediently nodded.
Jiraiya grinned and moved closer. "Old man, give me and Orochimaru some spending money. After school we'll go buy some snacks."
Hearing this, Arisu laughed lightly twice, "The money's all with your Uncle Kakuzu. Just ask him for it."
Kakuzu's expression changed slightly at the side, but in the end he helplessly took out several bills, "Spend carefully. Making money isn't easy."
"Awesome!"
"Come on, Uncle Kakuzu, everyone knows you made a huge profit recently buying Land of Fire stocks."
Jiraiya happily grabbed the money and skipped toward the ninja academy.
"Grandpa, Uncle Kakuzu, I'm leaving."
Orochimaru quietly put the money into his pocket and followed after Jiraiya.
"Too many things have happened recently. I didn't expect that Izuna, who never fought for power, would actually become Hokage.", Kakuzu sighed.
Hearing this, Arisu nodded. "Good fate."
According to the original plot, Senju Hashirama should already have died by now.
But because of his interference, Senju Hashirama had lived a while longer.
Almost until the time Senju Tobirama died.
Arisu fell into thought. Recently, he had received news that Madara and Tobirama had left, and he sent White Zetsu to follow them.
He still didn't know what those two were trying to do...
"Still, how should the competition between this generation's Indra and Asura be counted..."
Arisu hesitated slightly. Because he interfered, the two never fought.
In this generation, the two also never reconciled like Sasuke and Naruto did, so their obsession still remained. Indra and Asura would still reincarnate as usual.