Who Exactly Was He?

Yuansheng walked in at that moment.

Hideki heard footsteps and turned around.

He was carrying a small bundle, looking relaxed and in a good mood.

"What's wrong?" Yuansheng looked at him. "You've been half-dead ever since you came here, and now you're even more depressed."

"Nothing," Hideki asked. "Where did you just go?"

Yuansheng plopped down on the bed and shook the small bag in his hand.

"Where else can we go? Let's wander around the streets. We've come all this way to the Land of Fire, we should bring back some spoils."

"Spoils of war?"

"That's right, the quality of Konoha's Kunai and Shuriken is much better than that of the Land of Whirlpools," Yuansheng, taking a Kunai out of his bag and casually twirling it. "Look at the sharpness and the craftsmanship. Great countries are indeed good; even their Ninjas can use such high-quality iron."

Hideki didn't reply, but just watched as Yuansheng showed off the Kunai in his hand.

"But this is truly unexpected, Konoha," Yuansheng suddenly said.

"What?"

"The atmosphere, oh the atmosphere," Yuansheng remarked. "It's so much better here than when I came before."

Hideki blinked.

What was Konoha like before?

Yuansheng thought for a moment.

"Ah, exactly, it's so lifeless," he said. "There aren't this many people on the streets, and the shops aren't this lively. It's only been a month, and it's already like this. I have to admit, Hashirama Senju's management skills are quite good."

A month ago, Hideki, the envoy from the Land of Whirlpools, learned that only Yuansheng had been selected as one of the younger generation to come to Konoha.

The reason is that he was completely loyal to the Land of Whirlpools, had no admiration for Hashirama Senju, and even disliked him quite a bit.

"It's probably because Mito sister married into the family," Hideki thought.

He regarded Mito as his own sister.

A marriage alliance with the Senju would be beneficial to both sides. After all, it was the turbulent Warring States Period, and the union of the Senju and Uzumaki, who had been on good terms for generations, was something both sides would welcome.

Their descendants usually become powerful Ninjas in the future, because their Chakra extraction capacity is so high that they will be strong no matter what.

Moreover, Mito was a princess and Hashirama was the Young Clan Head Hashirama leader; it was a marriage between equals, and no one thought it was wrong.

Only Yuansheng felt that Mito was going to the Land of Fire to suffer.

He didn't dislike Hashirama as much after Konoha was established.

Hideki thought for a moment and said, "Actually, I heard that it was Uchiha Izuna who made this place like this."

Yuansheng looked like he had heard something bad, and his whole face scrunched up.

"Huh?" His tone was clearly disgusted. "That Tengu?"

Hideki was stunned.

"Tengu?"

"That's right." Yuansheng switched the Kunai his left hand to his right and then back again. "That arrogant look with his nose in the air, it's like that long-nosed Tengu. Don't you think so?"

Hideki's first reaction was: Ah, the person Yuansheng hated the most has changed.

My second thought was of Uchiha Izuna.

Uchiha Izuna in the Meeting Room.

The man smiled, speaking lazily as he leaned back in his chair. His eyes were sharp, his tone arrogant, and every word he uttered hit the nail on the head, leaving no room for rebuttal.

But the Tengu...

"Well."

"And that guy is really annoying," he said. "Even though Lord Quhai is just an envoy to him, what he said was awful. Doesn't he know how to save face for both sides?"

"We just want to make things easier for Konoha."

Yuansheng tossed the Kunai into the bag and tied it up. "It's one thing that Hashirama Senju didn't appreciate it, but who does he think he is? Jumping out and being so rude to our Elders, it's infuriating."

"Yuansheng," Hideki began, "Uchiha Izuna is part of Konoha's decision-making body. And Lord Hashirama hasn't officially become Hokage yet..."

"But he can't just speak so arbitrarily!" Yuansheng interrupted him, raising his voice slightly. "Speaking of which, Hashirama Senju was far too lenient. He actually allowed a member of the Uchiha Clan to speak without his permission."

"While that guy is indeed eloquent, it's still a case of a subordinate stealing the limelight from a superior, especially in front of a foreign Envoy."

He snorted. "If it were me, I would absolutely not allow such a thing."

Hideki nodded.

That's certainly true...

But Hideki could still picture the scene from that time.

In the Meeting Room, as Uchiha Izuna was speaking, he secretly glanced at Hashirama Senju.

He looked at Izuna, his eyebrows raised, his eyes crescent-shaped, and the corners of his mouth turned up, looking very proud.

It wasn't just Hashirama Senju. Tobirama Senju, who always had a cold expression, didn't react at all when Izuna spoke; he just listened quietly.

And then there's the legendary, arrogant Madara Uchiha.

The person sat by the window, quietly observing everything in the Office.

They had long heard of Madara Uchiha's ferocity and egotistical nature.

Just as Izuna said, Madara Uchiha was a high-ranking official in Konoha. If he didn't visit Hashirama through Mito in a private capacity, he would inevitably have to speak with Madara Uchiha.

However, if we really have to face it, there are ways to deal with it.

At that time, Quhai tilted his head to that side several times and said some very radical things. In fact, he was trying to win over Madara Uchiha, who was a hawk.

Those who possess power tend to use power to solve problems, and Madara Uchiha's past deeds certainly exemplify this.

Hashirama would give Quhai face no matter what, and Tobirama would listen to Hashirama. So, as long as Madara Uchiha agreed with their words, then this dialogue would be a success.

Aside from shutting up Hang's comment, Ban hadn't said a word, and his expression remained indifferent until...

His younger brother, supposedly the Second-in-Command -in-command of the Uchiha clan who faked his death and returned, spoke until he did.

A smile instantly appeared on that person's face.

Then, Quhai's tactics were thwarted by Uchiha Izuna, and he was driven out in an extremely brutal manner.

And it wasn't just those three.

Sōsuke is the same; whenever Izuna is mentioned, a proud expression appears on his face.

Hideki didn't know the three high- Hideki in Konoha, but he knew what kind of person Sōsuke was.

Although he appears gentle and kind to everyone, his attitude towards friends and elders is impeccable, balancing interpersonal relationships like a scale.

He has never admired or favored anyone as much as he does now.

He completely changed when he mentioned Uchiha Izuna.

Who exactly is this Uchiha Izuna?

This person had no idea that he was feeling incredibly exhausted because of his group members.

The rehearsal was held in an open area in the east of the village. The area had been cleared and surrounded by curtains like a camp, with several temporary sheds standing on the side, filled with props and costumes.

When Izuna arrived, most of the performers had already arrived.

Elder Naoaki is not here; he went to the nearly completed Amusement Park to set up the Genjutsu Formation, and all those in charge of logistics have also left.

There were only the actors who needed to perform and the members of his makeshift band.

Uchiha Shinya was in charge of the Accompaniment, and Senju Hideki was in charge of the drums.

As Izuna approached, he heard a familiar sound coming from the other side.

"You're playing it wrong! That's the wrong beat!"

"I didn't do anything wrong! You just played it too fast!"

"I've been playing the Biwa for twenty years, do you think I'd learn how to count beats from your teaching?"

"Then why don't you just follow the beat!"

Izuna stopped and looked at the two people.

Shinya held the Biwa, his face flushed red. Hideki stood beside him, still holding a drumstick, looking like he was saying, "Say it again."

Two grown men in their early twenties argue like little kids Tenten.

One of them was a social expert who used to be adept at navigating the world of entertainment, and the other was seen by others as a generous and likable young man. Yet, whenever they were together, they would argue.

They were arguing, and I don't know why.

Izuna adopted a detached, Zen-like expression, listening to their pointless chatter without any means or energy to retaliate.

The people around them were used to it. The two of them argued fiercely, but they never actually hit each other, so after being wary at first, they just let them be.

Izuna was left alone to face the two guys.

Tetsuya stood behind Izuna, his lips twitching slightly, and quietly pulled Izuna and his family aside.

When Izuna realized there was no one behind him, he felt even more desolate.