Chapter 3: Senju Tobirama's Little Scheme
That evening, Stelle was sequestered in her room, a scroll of advanced medical ninjutsu unfurled before her as she diligently practiced on her own injuries. The system's 'Golden Legend' ability was a godsend, allowing her to grasp the complex chakra control required for healing at an astonishing rate, even enabling her to innovate on existing techniques.
A sudden rap on the door broke her concentration. Stelle slid it open, her brows lifting in surprise to find Senju Tobirama standing in the hallway.
He held out a small, plainly wrapped box. "Big Brother asked me to bring you some medicine."
"Lord Hashirama did?"
Stelle's gaze drifted past him, landing on an identical box of wound salve already sitting on the table in her room—a gift Hashirama had delivered himself not long ago.
Tobirama's eyes followed hers, and he saw the duplicate medicine. The realization that his casual lie had been so effortlessly exposed sent a flush of heat creeping up his neck. For a boy of eight, the embarrassment was acute.
But this was Senju Tobirama. After a barely perceptible stammer, he recovered, shoving the medicine into her hands with renewed determination. He had regained his composure in an instant.
"Learning medical ninjutsu isn't easy," he stated, his tone all business. "It requires precise chakra control. I know some rudimentary healing arts myself. How about I treat your wounds first?"
Stelle's internal alarms began to chime. This was… odd.
They weren't close. Not really. For Hashirama to be this enthusiastic would be perfectly in character, but for Tobirama? It was a clear deviation from the norm. As the old saying went, 'unusual courtesy suggests ulterior motives.' He was definitely up to something.
A notification pinged in her mind, announcing an influx of five hundred emotional value points. A standard, gentle smile bloomed on Stelle's face, as warm and welcoming as a spring breeze. Lately, the Senju brothers had become her primary source of income. This was half of Tobirama's life savings he was offering her; of course, she would help him if he needed it.
"Then I'll be in your care, Lord Tobirama."
She settled onto a chair, presenting her arm and waiting for him to begin.
Tobirama had described his medical ninjutsu as rudimentary, and it was. The green glow of his chakra was faint and unsteady, but he applied himself with a fierce, focused effort.
Only after the treatment was complete did he finally broach the real subject. "I heard what you said to Big Brother at the training grounds today."
He paused, letting the words hang in the air before continuing. "I hope you can speak with him about that topic more often. Say more of it."
"Why is that?" Stelle asked, feigning simple curiosity.
A shadow fell over Tobirama's expression. His jaw tightened, the words coming out through clenched teeth as if dragged from some bitter memory. "Big Brother is under a great deal of pressure. As the future clan head, he has to learn to manage clan affairs, constantly improve his own strength, and serve as the face of our entire generation. He rarely has the chance to consider his own feelings."
His gaze was intense, pleading. "He truly loves to talk about peace. Since you're so good at it, please… talk to him more about these things during your training every day."
Tobirama's private thoughts were a frantic scramble. As long as someone within the clan talks about peace with Big Brother, someone who shares his ideals and can become his confidant, it will displace that vile Uchiha's position in his heart. Big Brother won't always be thinking about finding him then. I have to prevent any chance of them meeting again.
"It's no problem at all," Stelle replied, her voice smooth as silk. "I also enjoy discussing peace with Lord Hashirama. Having a like-minded friend is a rare treasure, and it's even better when they're a member of your own clan."
"Then I'm counting on you," Tobirama said, his expression grave and solemn, as if he were entrusting her with a mission of the highest importance.
The sheer seriousness on his eight-year-old face, framed by that shock of spiky, silver-white hair, was almost too much to bear. It was incredibly cute. An itch started in Stelle's fingers, an irresistible urge taking hold. She reached out and ruffled his hair.
The effect was instantaneous. Tobirama bristled like a startled cat, his hand shooting out to grab her wrist.
"What are you doing?" he demanded, his face flushed with indignation.
Stelle couldn't hold back a laugh. "I'm sorry, Lord Tobirama. Your expression was just too adorable. I couldn't resist. I promise, I won't do it again next time."
Next time, she thought with an inward smirk.
Tobirama released her hand with a grumpy huff. "Just don't forget what you promised me. Starting tomorrow, you'd better talk to Big Brother every single day."
"Mission accepted, and guaranteed to be accomplished!" Stelle tilted her head, her smile unwavering.
[Ding! Emotional Value from Senju Tobirama +1000]
Hearing the system's broadcast, Stelle's smile grew even brighter. So, the Second Hokage in his youth was a fountain of emotional value when he got flustered. She would have to find more ways to make him bristle in the future.
The next day, while chatting with Senju Hashirama, Stelle naturally steered the conversation toward ending the war and forging a path to peace, just as Tobirama had asked. The younger Senju's little scheme was clattering away in his mind, a plan he thought foolproof.
He had no idea, however, that the words Stelle was actually feeding his brother were these:
"Peace isn't something that can be achieved on a whim, Lord Hashirama, just by speaking it into existence. We should seek out more like-minded friends, work together, and move forward as one. Otherwise, the two of us alone can't possibly accomplish such a monumental task."
"More like-minded friends?" Hashirama's head turned, his gaze drifting toward the distant lands of a certain rival clan.
Yes, yes, yes, Stelle cheered internally. Go find Uchiha Madara. Go on! Whether I can earn enough points to extend my life depends entirely on you!
Recently, besides her training with Hashirama, Stelle spent her free time wandering the Senju clan compound, trying to accumulate more emotional value. The major ninja clans had engaged in a massive battle on the day she first arrived, but the heavy casualties seemed to have forced a period of recuperation. The front lines had been quiet, sparing her the fate of being thrown onto a battlefield immediately after transmigration.
She carefully cultivated a persona of being gentle and kind, helping adults with their chores and comforting crying children. Whenever someone needed a hand, she was there in a flash, faster than a rabbit, never once complaining. This personality was difficult for anyone, adult or child, to dislike. She was particularly successful with the Senju brothers, from whom she extracted emotional value in a variety of creative ways.
Soon, however, Stelle discovered a problem.
When she performed the same helpful actions for others, she earned only a few, or perhaps a few dozen, points. Yet from Hashirama and Tobirama, she could reap hundreds or even thousands. The most insulting instance was a single point, which felt more like a consolation prize than a reward.
'How can this be?'she grumbled to the system.'Why do so many people only give a few points? And that one person gave only one! Is the system cheating me?'
The system's chipper, synthesized voice replied.
[Host, please don't get excited. Emotional value is provided based on a character's strength and status within the world's timeline. I'm sure a clever Host like you can guess the reason just by looking at the panel.]
Stelle pulled up her emotional value records. It was true. The entries for the Senju brothers, and even their father, Senju Butsuma—a man whose name was recorded in the history of the Warring States Period—all yielded far higher values than others.
As for the rest… their low values were one thing, but no matter their actual names, the system panel collectively labeled them 'Passerby A'.
In other words, farming points wasn't about finding just anyone; she needed specific, high-value targets. And in this era, the number of people who would leave their mark on the world's timeline was pitifully small. Senju Butsuma, being more of a background character, was only slightly better than a Passerby A. The real jackpots were Hashirama and Uchiha Madara. As their younger brothers, Tobirama and Uchiha Izuna would also provide higher returns than the average shinobi.
The moment she understood this, a cold panic set in. Simply developing her influence within the Senju clan wasn't enough. She had to get involved with the Uchiha. If she couldn't earn enough emotional value to exchange for longevity, she would simply die of old age.
Why… why couldn't I have transmigrated to the era of the Konoha 12? she lamented. If I were there, when the main plot was just beginning, there would be powerful, named characters everywhere! They'd be like a field of sheep ready for shearing. I wouldn't have to worry about this at all!
And so, after grasping the system's rules, Stelle immediately doubled down on her efforts to coax Hashirama. Her subtext was practically screaming: 'Go find your Madara, and let me meet him so I can earn some points to extend my life!'Hashirama fell silent for a long time before finally nodding. "You're right, Stelle. The word'peace' is so heavy. We need to find more friends to accomplish it together."
That very night, Senju Hashirama slipped out of the clan compound and made his way toward the river he remembered so well.
It had been a year since he and Madara had been discovered by their fathers at this very spot, a year since they learned each other's true identities. They hadn't met privately since. But Hashirama had never forgotten their shared dream.
Lately, while teaching Stelle ninjutsu, she had often spoken to him of peace, offering insights that connected deeply. Even she believed that to achieve true peace, one must look beyond the confines of a single clan. Her words had only strengthened his resolve to change this chaotic era.
Lost in thought, he arrived at the small river. To his astonishment, his best friend, Uchiha Madara, was already there.
A hearty, open smile spread across Hashirama's face. He walked over, standing beside Madara as if no time had passed at all.
"Madara! I knew you'd come. You're just like me, still thinking about how to end this chaotic era, aren't you?"
Madara's eyes, however, had grown sharper. Time on the battlefield had hardened him. Even as he looked at Hashirama, his gaze was filled with scrutiny and wariness. He didn't answer the question, merely staring silently at the flowing water.
The atmosphere was heavy, thick with unspoken history. It was Hashirama who broke the silence.
"Madara… another one of my brothers died on the battlefield. I'm so sad. He was still so young, he didn't even get a chance to grow up."
Uchiha Madara raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with mockery. "You always say that people can understand each other. But he died at the hands of the Uchiha. Can you truly let that go?"
The image of his brother's tragic death flashed through Hashirama's mind. Pain contorted his features, and his breathing grew ragged. One breath… two… Just as Madara thought he wouldn't answer, Hashirama spoke again, his voice slow but firm.
"I can. For peace… for the sake of future children not having to go to war… I am willing to let it go."
His honest face radiated an unmatched determination. He extended his hand toward Uchiha Madara.
"This era is too terrible. If no one is willing to change it, things will only get worse. We will lose our loved ones, our friends, until we ourselves die, all because of this terrible world. So, Madara, let's do this together. Let's work hard, find a way, and lead everyone out of this nightmare."
Uchiha Madara was visibly moved by his friend's magnanimity and spirit. His own emotions surged, a storm behind his stoic mask.
"Hashirama!"
"Madara!"
They called out each other's names, and finally, their hands clasped together once more.
They fell back into old patterns, talking animatedly about how to achieve peace. Hashirama, especially, couldn't seem to stop talking now that he had reconciled with his best friend.
As they spoke, the conversation somehow veered off-topic, devolving into a competition to see who could pee the farthest across the river.
Stelle, hidden in the branches of a large, leafy tree overhead, had been listening intently. She was trying to plan the perfect moment to reveal herself and make her introduction. The sudden, bizarre turn of events made her mouth twitch violently.
Why? she thought, bewildered. Why were they discussing something as serious as world peace one second, only to run off and compete in a peeing contest the next? Is there some deep, inherent connection between the two that I'm missing?
She shifted in irritation, and her elbow bumped a nearby branch with a sharp crack.
"Who's there?!"
The two boys by the river instantly tensed. Madara whipped several shuriken from his ninja tool pouch and flung them with deadly accuracy toward her hiding spot.
Clang! Clang!
Stelle drew a kunai, deflecting the projectiles with practiced ease. She flipped down from the tree, landing gracefully by the river with her back to them.
"If you're going to chat, then just chat properly," she said, her voice laced with exasperation. "Don't just randomly start doing… other things."
"Oh, it's you, Stelle!"
Hashirama scratched his head awkwardly, a rare blush coloring his cheeks. "Sorry, I didn't know you were here."
He turned her around to face Uchiha Madara and introduced her with his usual boundless enthusiasm. "This is my clanswoman, Senju Stelle. She's very powerful, and she also awakened Wood Release!"
Awakened Wood Release?
Madara's expression turned solemn, but his tactical mind quickly took over. "Idiot," he snapped at Hashirama. "Shouldn't you be asking her why she's here?"
"Oh, right. Stelle, why aren't you sleeping? It's dangerous to leave the compound alone so late." Hashirama, ever generous with his kin, immediately focused on her safety.
Stelle offered a simple explanation. "I couldn't sleep tonight. When I saw the Young Clan Head sneaking out of the compound, I followed you."
Hashirama just grinned, showing no embarrassment at being caught meeting with his clan's sworn enemy. Instead, he proudly introduced his best friend. They had already clashed fiercely on the battlefield, and their identities were well-known, so there was little point in hiding it anymore.
Stelle's sudden appearance made Madara extremely wary. He didn't show any of the relaxation he had with Hashirama, keeping his right hand hovering near his tool pouch, ready for combat at a moment's notice.
Hashirama clearly noticed the tension and tried to bridge the gap. "Madara, Stelle is really amazing. We often discuss how to bring peace to this world. She brought up many issues I hadn't even thought of. She said we shouldn't be confined to a single clan—that peace should be for everyone, not just the Senju. That's why I gathered the courage to come find you."
Not confined to a single clan?
The statement made Madara look at Stelle with a flicker of newfound respect.
Stelle seized the opportunity, giving them both a gentle, warm smile. "Although this world is tattered and broken, someone has to be the one to mend it. I just want to make this world a little better. I hope that in the future, when people open their eyes, they won't have to see war."
Her voice was soft, but her words carried immense weight. "It should be the strong protecting the weak, adults protecting children. Everyone should have food to eat, every family surplus grain. Even the commoners should no longer be displaced by conflict."
"That's incredible!" Hashirama exclaimed in admiration. While he and Madara were still focused on their clans, Stelle was already thinking about the common people.
Madara was astonished by her speech, seemingly unable to believe that anyone besides him and Hashirama would even consider such things.
"Then starting today," Hashirama declared, "the three of us will work together to figure out how to bring peace to this world."
Stelle's gaze fell upon Uchiha Madara. The boy lifted his head arrogantly and remained silent. A shinobi's vigilance prevented him from easily trusting a stranger.
Still, her words had clearly had an effect.
[Ding! Emotional Value from Senju Hashirama +1000]
[Ding! Emotional Value from Uchiha Madara +1000]
Excellent, Stelle thought, a triumphant smile playing on her lips. This is the correct approach. As long as I talk about peace with these two, I can farm emotional value. My life has been extended again. Congratulations to me!
After that day, Stelle officially became the third member of the two-man peace group. After she shamelessly followed Hashirama out to the riverbank every night, Uchiha Madara finally lowered his guard, and the three-person team was grudgingly established.
They always discussed the current situation, trying to find a way for everyone to stop fighting. Of course, most of the time the two boys spoke while Stelle listened, occasionally offering a hint or two from her perspective as a person from the future. Whenever she did, she would gain a satisfactory amount of emotional value.
However, before the peace trio could come up with a viable solution, the ninja world descended into chaos once again. This was only three months after the last major outbreak of war.
There was no helping it. Resources were limited, territory was scarce, and the daimyo still controlled the vast majority of the land's wealth. The ninja clans were little more than mercenaries, led around by the nose by their feudal lords. Today you fight me, tomorrow I fight you—it was an utter mess. Otherwise, it wouldn't be called the Warring States Period.
Thus, after a few months of quiet, a new round of fighting began. The Uchiha and Senju clans, whose lands bordered each other, bore the brunt of the conflict.
Although Senju Hashirama, the young clan head, truly did not want to draw his blade against his best friend, neither he nor Madara yet had the power to convince their clansmen to stop fighting. They could only proceed cautiously in battle, doing their best to minimize casualties on both sides.
Stelle, with her Wood Release and healing abilities, was also sent to the battlefield alongside Senju Tobirama. However, as neither of them had fully matured, their roles were confined to logistics, transporting supplies, and providing support from the rear.
After another brutal battle concluded, Hashirama dragged Stelle from her tent and rushed to find Uchiha Madara.
"Madara, we can't keep going like this," he said, his voice strained. "The more we fight, the deeper the hatred between our clans grows. At that point, even if we want peace, our people won't agree."
"You don't need to tell me that. I know," Madara retorted, crossing his arms. His expression was dark, a mixture of anger for his fallen clansmen and helplessness at his inability to change the status quo.
The two went back and forth, but couldn't find a good solution. Suddenly, they both turned to look at the drowsy Stelle, who was struggling to stay awake.
"Stelle, you always have the best ideas. Quick, think of something. What should we do?"
Stelle rubbed her eyes, looking utterly defeated. Being dragged out in the middle of the night to discuss peace was absolutely killing her. When would this miserable life finally end?
But her persona was the 'spring breeze' type, and she couldn't let it slip. So, even though she desperately wanted to pin the infuriating Senju Hashirama to the ground and beat him senseless, she maintained a smile on the surface.
"I told you last time," she began, her voice tight with forced patience. "Why does everyone fight? It's because of resource contention, and because opposing daimyo hire you, forcing you into conflict. Fight too much, and you become generational enemies."
She gestured vaguely. "Most resources are held by the daimyo and the nobles. The small amount that trickles down from their hands is just enough for all of you to fight to the death over."
"We already know that. So what?"
The two boys cocked their heads in unison, blinking at her with wide eyes full of a thirst for knowledge. For some reason, she found the synchronized movement a little cute.
Stelle cleared her throat. "The problem lies with the system. If you can change this system, take control of the resources, and distribute them as evenly as possible, everyone will be fed, secure, and settled. Who would want to fight then?"
A systemic problem?
The Warring States Period was utter chaos. No one knew whether tomorrow or death would arrive first. People celebrating together one day might be dead the next. Survival was paramount; developing any kind of complex societal structure was a distant dream.
The two boys, who had grown up amidst war and received only a rudimentary education at their clan schools, were stunned by the concept. They felt that Stelle made perfect sense, but they had no idea where to even begin.
"How do we apply it?" Uchiha Madara asked, speaking before Hashirama could.
"I can't explain this clearly right now. I'll put together some materials for you to study later," she said, waving a dismissive hand. "In short, get stronger, quickly. Become the heads of your respective clans. Then, use the power of your clans to establish a village first."
Her voice took on a sharp edge. "Only when you possess absolute power can you gain everyone's trust. Those who don't submit can be forced to submit. At that point, whatever village you want to build or whatever system you want to apply will be entirely up to you."
For the first time, the two boys felt such an intense, burning desire to become clan heads. But their curiosity was overwhelming.
"Could you just explain a little bit about that systemic change?" Hashirama pleaded. "We'll go back and process it."
Stelle's smile finally cracked. She was so, so sleepy.
"You two are the ones building the village! Why do you expect me to figure everything out for you? I've given you the answer; can't you think for yourselves for once?!"
She jumped to her feet, pointing an accusing finger at them, her gentle persona shattering in an instant. The sheer force of her aura made the two future legends of the ninja world curl up like failing students facing the dean of students.
A few seconds later, Hashirama was squatting on the ground, a dejected expression on his face as shadowy lines of depression manifested all over his body.
"It's all my fault… I'm too stupid, and I didn't understand Stelle's words. I even made gentle Stelle angry. I'm so sorry…"
Stelle, who was by now completely immune to his self-flagellating personality, simply turned her head and walked away.
"I'm thirsty. I'm going to find some fruit to eat. You two discuss it first. Let me clear my head before I even consider how to talk to you again."
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