Chapter 336: The Heart of Konoha
Hiruzen Sarutobi froze, his mind struggling to follow Senju Hashirama's sudden shift in logic.
Seeing the Third Hokage's blank stare, Hashirama's own anxiety only deepened. Memories of his granddaughter flooded his mind—specifically, her utterly spectacular record of losing every single bet she placed since she was a toddler. It was a tragic history, one that brought tears to the eyes of anyone who witnessed her at a gambling table.
"Let her be Hokage...?" A single bead of cold sweat slid down Hashirama's forehead. "She... she wouldn't gamble away the entire village, would she?!"
Senju Tobirama's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
The righteous indignation that had just fueled Hiruzen's passionate speech vanished, replaced by a deep, highly visible flush of embarrassment. The First Hokage's concern was entirely too reasonable. For a long moment, Hiruzen stood there, completely devoid of any counterargument. Given Tsunade's infamous reputation across the ninja world as the Legendary Sucker, handing her the financial and political reins of Konoha was a terrifying prospect.
Hiruzen cleared his throat with a heavy, forced cough, desperately dragging the conversation back from the brink.
"First Hokage, you... you are overthinking the matter." Hiruzen forced a strained smile. "Tsunade... well, although she might have been a bit reckless with money in the past, she is still your flesh and blood. She is the Princess of Konoha, and one of the Sannin renowned throughout the entire ninja world!"
His voice steadied, drawing on his decades of political polish. "I believe she absolutely possesses the potential to bear the title of Kage. In this critical hour, as we seek to set things right and pull Konoha back from the brink of ruin, she will rise to the occasion!"
Tobirama crossed his arms, his crimson eyes narrowing as he analyzed the situation. "Potential does not equal strength, Monkey." His voice was cold, cutting straight to the core of the issue. "That Uchiha Akira brat has the power to suppress the entire ninja world single-handedly. His strength has likely surpassed even what my brother and I possessed at our absolute peak. What exactly can Tsunade do against a monster like that?"
The Second Hokage's words hit Hiruzen like a bucket of freezing water. He gritted his teeth. Strength. That was the impossible wall standing in their way.
"We still have a chance." Hiruzen lowered his voice, leaning in with the gravity of a desperate man. "Tsunade's strength alone is indeed insufficient. But what if..." He looked between the two reanimated legends. "What if you, First Hokage, and you, Second Hokage, fully support her from the shadows?"
Tobirama blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sheer audacity of the proposal. Hashirama finally stopped scratching the back of his head, the goofy demeanor fading into the solemn gravity of the God of Shinobi.
Hiruzen pressed his advantage. "The three of us—three generations of Hokage—will jointly assist Tsunade! Once she is firmly established in the seat of power and has guided the village back onto the correct path, we can step down. With our final mission accomplished, we will peacefully return to the Pure Land. Sensei, First Hokage... this is all for the sake of saving Konoha!"
Those were the noble words that left his lips.
Inside, however, Hiruzen's soul was roaring with a venomous, maddening fury.
'Saving Konoha? No! This is for revenge!'His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.'Uchiha Akira... you slaughtered the Sarutobi clan! You stripped me of my hat, dragged my legacy through the mud, and nailed my name to the pillar of historical shame! This blood debt can never be washed away!'The darkness festering in his heart screamed for blood.'Revenge! I will have my revenge! Uchiha Akira must die!'Yet, Hiruzen was a seasoned politician. He knew perfectly well that this selfish, burning hatred could never be exposed to the founding fathers of the village.'I cannot kill him alone. I must drag the First and my sensei into this war. It is the only way to ensure his death. For Konoha... yes. That is the only banner righteous enough to command their power.'
Tobirama fell into a heavy silence. He had to admit that his student's plan, while incredibly audacious, was the most logical strategy available.
In truth, the Second Hokage was sharp enough to see the underlying malice in Hiruzen's eyes. He knew Monkey had his own selfish motives. However, those motives did not conflict with Tobirama's ultimate goal. To eradicate an evil Uchiha and secure the future of the village, he was willing to be used as a blade.
Tobirama's sharp gaze locked onto Hiruzen. "Monkey, you seem to be overlooking a fatal flaw in your logic. Even if my brother and I join forces, we are likely no match for this Uchiha Akira. The last time you pulled us from the grave using Edo Tensei, you saw the outcome with your own eyes."
The memory of that previous battle hung heavily in the air. Hiruzen had summoned the First and Second Hokage to fight, and the result had been an absolute, humiliating defeat.
Hiruzen's expression darkened for a fraction of a second before he hurriedly offered an explanation. "Sensei, First Hokage! The circumstances this time are vastly different!"
He gestured to their newly formed bodies. "The Edo Tensei I performed previously was flawed. The vessels I used restricted your power, allowing you to access barely half of your true strength. But this time..." Hiruzen's eyes gleamed with a dark, calculating light. "Orochimaru perfected the jutsu. I do not know the exact depths of his twisted research, but he used vessels heavily modified with the First Hokage's cells. The chakra capacity and physical limits of your current bodies..."
He took a deep breath. "They are nearly identical to your peak strength while you were alive! With the God of Shinobi fighting at full capacity, alongside your unmatched jutsu arsenal, Sensei... I am certain we have a genuine chance to execute Uchiha Akira!"
Tobirama slowly nodded, acknowledging the immense chakra coursing through his paper-ash veins. He turned his gaze toward his elder brother, waiting for the final verdict.
Hashirama stood with his arms crossed, his thick brows furrowed in deep contemplation. The silence stretched on, heavy with the weight of a legendary decision.
Finally, Hashirama released a long, weary sigh.
"Little Tsunade... yes, carrying the weight of the village alone is far too heavy a burden for her." He looked up, his dark eyes hardening with resolve. "In that case... we will help her one last time. We will pave the way for her to take the Hokage seat. Once she is secure, we will sever our ties to the living and completely disappear from this world."
Hearing the First Hokage's absolute agreement, a surge of wild ecstasy flooded Hiruzen's chest.
'It is done.'His heart pounded against his ribs.'Uchiha Akira... your doomsday is finally at hand!'
"Very well." Tobirama straightened his posture, his aura shifting into that of a wartime commander. "Since the strategy is set, we move immediately. The first and most crucial step is locating Tsunade and convincing her to take the mantle."
Hiruzen nodded in agreement. "Understood. However, before we seek her out..." He turned his gaze toward the distant lights of the village. "We must first investigate the current state of the Uchiha clan. We need to measure their true strength."
Shortly after, three dark silhouettes blurred across the rooftops of Konoha, moving as silently as ghosts in the night.
Tobirama took the lead. His peerless sensory abilities mapped out the village's security grid, allowing them to effortlessly weave through the blind spots of the patrolling Anbu and police squads. Hiruzen followed closely on his heels, his movements practiced and precise.
Bringing up the rear was Hashirama, who was completely failing to maintain a stealthy demeanor. He kept swiveling his head, marveling at the modernized architecture as he sprinted.
"Oh, ho! Konoha is so incredibly lively at night now!" Hashirama pointed at a neon storefront in the distance. "Tobirama, what does that glowing sign over there say?"
"Shut up, Elder Brother!" Tobirama hissed viciously, not even bothering to look back. "Are you actively trying to summon every patrol team in the sector?!"
Hashirama immediately snapped his mouth shut, offering a sheepish, apologetic grimace to the empty air.
Moments later, the trio touched down on the curved tiles of a towering pagoda. From this vantage point, they had a perfect, unobstructed view of the brightly lit district below.
Hiruzen looked down, and his pupils violently constricted. A suffocating pressure seized his lungs.
The Uchiha clan compound—once a segregated, heavily monitored sector pushed to the edge of the village—had expanded exponentially. It had devoured the surrounding land, smoothly merging with Konoha's most prosperous commercial districts. The architecture was pristine, the streets bustling with life and commerce.
The Uchiha territory had become the absolute, beating heart of Konoha.
Down on the illuminated streets, figures wearing the high-collared shirts emblazoned with the red-and-white fan crest walked freely, their heads held high. They moved with an unshakeable confidence, radiating the absolute authority that belonged only to true victors.
Tobirama stared down at the sprawling domain, his expression twisting into a mask of grim realization.
"What a terrifyingly grand gesture," the Second Hokage murmured, his voice laced with a mixture of disgust and grudging respect. "This Uchiha Akira... he hasn't just taken power. He has physically transformed the Uchiha clan into the very core of the village!"
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