"Tobirama-sama, you never wanted an Uchiha clansman to become Hokage in the first place, did you?"
Haru laid bare Tobirama's true thoughts. From the very beginning, Haru had never held any unrealistic expectations toward him. If becoming Hokage through Tobirama's approval had ever been possible, then Haru would have accepted his offer back then and become his disciple.
"You're right. That was exactly my intention."
Tobirama admitted it openly and directly. Haru had already dragged everything into the light, so there was no point in continuing to hide behind layers of words.
At the same time, the last trace of contempt Tobirama had held toward Haru disappeared. This brat was even smarter than he had imagined.
He had actually seen through the fact that the Uchiha Police Force was a poisonous bait from the start. Back then, Tobirama had calculated that even if the Uchiha understood everything, they still would not give up such a tempting lure.
More likely, the Uchiha clan would take the Police Force he had granted them as a symbol of glory, as the Uchiha's own private domain, and happily serve as Konoha's watchdogs right up until the very end.
"So, brat, you've already seen through everything and achieved your wish, breaking all my arrangements and becoming Konoha's Hokage."
"Then after going to all this trouble to reanimate me, what exactly do you want?"
"Surely you didn't summon me out just to show off your success and mock a dead man."
Tobirama looked at Haru as he asked, watching Haru's expression at the same time.
He wanted to use this to figure out Haru's real purpose and judge whether he was lying.
"Hahaha, how did you know?"
"That's exactly what I wanted. I wanted to see the regret and frustration on the face of you, the dead Second Hokage. Do you know how entertaining that is for me?"
"Hahahahaha!!!"
Haru laughed wildly in triumph.
Watching Haru's arrogant grin, Tobirama very badly wanted to take his head off with a Flying Thunder God Slash.
Unfortunately, Haru controlled his body, so all he could do was glare at him with hatred.
"Did you believe that?"
"No way, right? I was joking."
"I'm not that bored."
Haru studied Tobirama's expression. Sure enough, Tobirama had nearly gone red with rage again just now. Teasing him like this really was surprisingly enjoyable.
Tobirama had put far too much pressure on Haru in the past. Now that he had a chance, Haru naturally wanted to claw back a little at a time.
The evil Uchiha brat really did have a nasty personality.
In his mind, Tobirama added another label to Haru.
"I came today to tell you one thing. You were wrong. I, Haru, will become the greatest Hokage of all, surpassing both you and Hashirama Senju!"
Haru's voice was full of confidence, while Tobirama looked at him with a measuring gaze.
Arrogant by nature. Just like the Uchiha always were. That was normal enough. For me, that counts as an advantage.
Haru ignored Tobirama's gaze and continued.
"Tobirama-sama, your eyes have been covered by prejudice and obsession. The Uchiha already chose to become part of Konoha."
"When Madara-sama left Konoha, he gave the Uchiha clan a choice. We could have followed him and left Konoha with him, starting a new life elsewhere."
"I believe that under Madara-sama's protection, this vast ninja world would still have had a place for the Uchiha clan. Our clan has flourished for over a thousand years, after all."
"But the Uchiha clan rejected Madara. We chose to trust Hashirama-sama. We believed Konoha was our home, the place we could protect and entrust everything to."
"Since the Uchiha clan already made that choice on its own, why did you still keep treating the Uchiha differently, Tobirama-sama? Why were you unwilling to give the Uchiha even a single chance to try?"
"Isn't that itself a betrayal of the First Hokage's Will of Fire?"
Haru stared straight at Tobirama.
For one rare moment, Tobirama looked away.
He could not answer that question.
So he chose silence.
Because the truth really was as Haru had said. The Uchiha clan had made the first concession. They had even abandoned Madara Uchiha, a man whose strength could almost be called godlike.
Since the Uchiha had already taken that step, then by both emotion and reason, they should have received Konoha's trust and respect, not fear and calculation.
But none of that moved Tobirama.
When it came to the Uchiha clan, he carried something like an inborn prejudice, or perhaps he truly believed he had seen through the clan's essence.
A clan that understood love more deeply than any other could erupt with limitless courage to protect what it cherished most.
But because of that same love, it could also give birth to hatred capable of destroying everything, hatred enough to drag Konoha itself into ruin.
And what Konoha needed was stability.
"But none of that matters anymore."
Haru waved a hand.
He had won. He had broken the arrangements Tobirama left behind and changed the tragic future that had awaited the Uchiha.
"I'll make you watch what I do. I will bring Konoha to a height neither of you ever reached while serving as Hokage."
"Hmph."
"Arrogant."
Tobirama snorted coldly. He clearly did not believe Haru's words.
Surpass him and Hashirama?
What a huge claim.
"I'll make you see that day, Tobirama-sama. Why don't we make a bet?"
"While I'm still alive, you will witness Konoha flourishing under my rule. And when that day comes, you will obediently admit defeat and acknowledge me as the Third Hokage!"
Now Haru finally showed his real aim.
Words alone would never convince Tobirama. Haru did not have Naruto's talent for talking people into surrender.
Only future facts could force Tobirama to acknowledge him from the bottom of his heart.
"Fine. I would very much like to see what ability you have that could make me acknowledge you as the Third Hokage."
Tobirama was secretly delighted and accepted the wager without hesitation. The bet had no downside for him at all.
He had actually been worried that Haru might release Reanimation Jutsu right away and send his soul back to the Pure Land. If that happened, he would have no chance at all.
Then he really would be forced to let Haru do whatever he pleased in Konoha.
"But if I'm going to achieve all that, I can't do it without your help, Tobirama-sama."
Haru looked at Tobirama with a somewhat greedy gaze.
Those long-term tasks of his were impossible to complete without Tobirama.
Whether it was making money or advancing technology, Tobirama was an ideal workhorse.
(End of Chapter)
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