Side story: Nasu no Yoichi

--Sharpshooter.

Two young Ninjas are facing off from the shadows.

Ten minutes have passed since the start of the match, yet no winner has emerged, demonstrating that the two are evenly Strength.

Two other people watched the competition quietly from the sidelines.

One of them was Uchiha Izuna, the son of the Clan Head, and the other was Uchiha Hikaku, the son of the Elder.

Izuna sat on the edge of the corridor, swinging her legs, while Hikaku stared intently at the scene.

This is something he, as the eldest, must do.

Sunlight streamed down from afar, illuminating the beads of sweat that trickled down their faces and necks.

Just as Izuna was about to say something, a hidden arrow appeared out of nowhere and grazed past one of them's ears.

That's enough!

Tadayo covered her burning ears, exclaiming in amazement, "How did you do that? I've been watching you the whole time!"

The boy who fired the arrow Setsuna leaped into the courtyard from outside and pulled the arrow without an arrowhead from the tree where Tadayo had just hidden.

Meanwhile, the one hiding in the bushes turned into a cloud of white smoke.

The four of them went to the edge of the corridor to review the battle that had just taken place.

"How on earth did you manage to shoot me through the fence?" Tadayo asked, bewildered. "And when did you get outside?"

"Intuition."

Hikaku debunked, "When you turned around earlier, he created a clone, and he deliberately forced you there, blocking off other hiding places, so you could only hide in the tree."

Izuna swung his toes and said, "We've all climbed before, Setsuna definitely knows where you're going to hide."

"But there's a fence in between," Tadayo said with a bewildered expression. "How is he supposed to aim so that the arrow hits my hiding place perfectly?"

He chuckled smugly for Setsuna, "Hehehe, want to know?"

You definitely won't tell me.

"You guessed right."

"You stingy person!"

"Setsuna is a sharpshooter," Izuna said. "You're the Ninja version of Nasu no Yoichi!"

"No way..."

"Oh! That's a great description!" Tadayo said excitedly. "Although you didn't shoot through the fan from a thousand miles away, you were able to jump over the fence and take me down! That's amazing!"

Hikaku, however, was filled with worry. "But Kyudo is ultimately a side path, and you... in Setsuna..."

"I think it's amazing," Izuna interrupted him. "Being able to kill is a good skill, and Nasu no Yoichi cool, isn't he?"

"If I hung a fan at the end of the road for you, I think you could shoot it through!" Tadayo said enthusiastically.

He felt extremely embarrassed for Setsuna, but his friends' affirmation made him very happy.

The sunlight had shifted to the low-lying Camellias in the corner of the courtyard, and the stones that had been bathed in sunlight were now gleaming.

For Setsuna, I thought, maybe one day I really will be able to shoot through a fan that's far away in the sky with a bow.

--funeral.

There was a loud noise, as if the door had fallen over, followed by unusual shouts.

That was the sound of the Hikaku.

The entrance wasn't the Genkan for guests, but a side door.

"How could this be!"

The sound of the Hikaku reached Uchiha Setsuna's ears.

Three years ago, the old Clan Head Uchiha Tajima was seriously injured in a battle with Butsuma Senju, the Clan Head of the Senju Clan. He stepped down from his position as Clan Head, handed over the family business to his eldest son Madara, and passed away shortly afterward.

After Madara became the Clan Head, his younger brother Uchiha Izuna, naturally became the second-in-command.

The status of these young key members also rose accordingly.

If Izuna is the Minister of the Left, then Hikaku is the so-called Minister of the Right.

The Second Elder's job was taken over by Liang, who was skilled at deceiving others to obtain information.

The Third Elder's disciple, Tamagiku, the current top courtesan in the Capital City, controls the lives of nobles and Samurai.

Tadayo took over his father's work handling household affairs.

And I, an orphan, actually won the favor of the Fifth Elder and became his successor.

But no matter what, he felt he wasn't qualified.

He still believes that way now.

The commotion at the side gate grew louder. In Setsuna, he knew what had happened there; he had just returned from outside and knew exactly what was going on.

It was also he who informed the Hikaku, Tadayo and the medical-nin were waiting there in advance.

It seems we did something unnecessary...

The sound of Hikaku came from the side door, as if he were reprimanding someone.

A series of light, hurried footsteps approached down the corridor.

The footsteps stopped outside the paper screen. It was Tadayo. He hurriedly pulled the paper screen open, his face pale.

"Izuna..."

"I know."

"..."

He fought Tobirama and was seriously injured.

"But... he... there's so much blood..."

Ignoring the speechless Tadayo, he Setsuna appeared in the corridor.

It was around 5 a. m. The pale blue-white dawn light of that hour floated in the corridor.

With Setsuna step, Tadayo, standing in the corridor, seemed to exhale all the pent-up silence, and said to his back, "Why didn't you tell me it was Izuna who needed treatment?"

"He won't allow it."

"What?"

He fell silent for Setsuna, and less than two minutes later, he saw the furious Hikaku at the corner of the corridor.

He rushed over and grabbed Setsuna by the collar, "You bastard! You knew about this, didn't you!"

"Know."

"Hikaku! Let's talk this out!"

Izuna is dead!

A terrifying sound, like being hacked or chopped with a knife or axe.

Tadayo froze, while Hikaku stared at him without moving, his hair disheveled, his gaze burning, looking almost like a madman.

Tadayo said, "How could this be... He was just now..."

Setsuna voice was much calmer than I had imagined. He said, "He's made up his mind to die; I can't stop him."

Tadayo looked at the Hikaku.

Hikaku He swayed and let go of the door, then leaned against it, remaining motionless for a long time.

Izuna's body was carried into the hall. Hikaku knelt silently beside him, Tadayo sat motionless in the corridor, tears streaming down his face.

A large crowd gathered around the body, all staring silently at him with blank expressions.

The maids had to remove the blood-soaked clothes from the body; the knots in the belts had hardened, and it took them a great deal of effort.

Where is the Clan Head?

She's fainted.

Hikaku looked up at him. "You did this?"

He remained silent for Setsuna.

Hikaku sighed.

It doesn't matter anymore.

Soon, Izuna's clothes were removed, revealing numerous old wounds on his body— Ninja's body is always like this.

The most serious injury was the horrific knife wound on his waist and abdomen.

The wound was as deep as half a palm's width, the flesh was split open, and the pink intestines inside could be vaguely seen.

The wound was left unbandaged.

The blood seeping from the cut had soaked the surrounding area and was beginning to dry. It was clear that most of the blood had been lost from the body on the way home.

This was also the cause of his death.

He bled to death.

At that time, Setsuna was also on the battlefield.

After Izuna lay down on the stretcher, he used Genjutsu to make the people who came to check on him think that they had been bandaged.

Then he summoned Madara and, before Madara could even begin to question him, delivered his final words.

"Big Brother, with my eyes, bring victory to the Uchiha Clan!"

Then, using Genjutsu, they knocked him down as well.

Because of his Genjutsu, none of the tribespeople felt anything was wrong; they simply assumed that the Clan Head was too tired.

This scene was witnessed by Setsuna, who came to catch Madara.

Setsuna wanted to dispel the Genjutsu that Izuna had cast on his clansmen so that they could treat Izuna's wounds.

But he refused.

"I'm beyond saving."

"No Doctor in our tribe can completely cure this kind of penetrating wound. If I survive, I'll only be barely clinging to life, and I'll probably be bedridden at home for the rest of my life."

"Hashirama Senju's plan is quite clever. If Madara understands this, he will definitely beg Hashirama to heal me."

"But this is the only thing..." Izuna gazed calmly at the sky, "I will not allow it."

"But..." She opened her mouth in Setsuna, but couldn't utter a word.

"..."

"I understand, Lord Izuna," Setsuna muttered, his voice barely audible, as if phlegm was in his throat. "But I probably can't convey it accurately. Let the Hikaku speak to you."

"Alright," Izuna's face grew even paler, "I'll hold on until then."

"So, Lord Izuna still insists... on forming an alliance?"

Hikaku lowered his eyes. "This is what he hoped for."

I can't accept it.

"Tadayo."

Tadayo's voice held a sticky, clinging quality to it, "He's dead."

Setsuna silently stood up and left.

As he entered the corridor, a fragrant aroma filled the air. It was incense used to mask the stench of corpses. He followed the path and left the clan's territory.

When Clan Head Ban woke up, it was too late; his biggest mistake was not taking precautions against his younger brother.

On the day of the funeral, the sky was dark and gloomy, but it only drizzled for a short while before the sun came out.

Izuna's remains were buried in the Cemetery.

A white cloth was tied over his eyes, revealing his shriveled skin underneath.

The Clan Head standing before the tomb seemed to have his soul ripped away; his usually arrogant face now looked as if covered in frost, fixing his expression firmly in place.

The Tomoe of the Sharingan slowly rotated, as if trying to etch this scene deep into the depths of its soul.

Hikaku's birthday was right after the funeral.

"What bad luck, you."

"..."

"I know. Let's go grab a drink."

Madara had made up his mind and transplanted Izuna's eyes. Izuna was being cared for by the medical-nin dispatched by Tadayo in the Clan Head's courtyard.

Eye transplantation seemed like a very complicated matter, but fortunately, there was no sign of the Senju Clan attacking at that time.

And so, they tacitly agreed to this arrangement for some time.

The final battle has arrived.

The earth-shattering pressure was terrifying, and this battle completely confirmed that the two were the strongest people in the world at present.

This also proves that even in defeat, the Uchiha Clan is not weak.

--Intermission

Tobirama Senju.

The white-haired man turned his head and looked at the person who had called out to him.

"You know why I'm here, right?"

"Hmm," Tobirama responded with a nasal tone, "Here to seek revenge? You can't beat me. Get lost if you don't want to die."

"I didn't come here for that," Setsuna said. "I didn't come for revenge; that's too stupid, I wouldn't do it. And unless absolutely necessary, I don't want to see your face."

"Oh," the man remained unmoved, staring at him with indifferent eyes, "And then what is it?"

"You should thank Lord Izuna."

"What's the meaning?"

"If he hadn't done that, your plan would have failed," Setsuna said calmly. "Your goal from the beginning was to weaken the Uchiha; otherwise, you wouldn't have acted so ruthlessly."

Tobirama chuckled coldly, "Hmph, swords have no eyes. On the battlefield, it's either you die or I live. Seizing an opening and striking fatally is the only way. If he weren't still useful, my slash would have cut open his neck instead of his abdomen."

"Then you should be even more grateful, shouldn't you?" He forced a smile, his damaged half of his face looking quite ferocious. "Setsuna that you've gotten rid of a major threat, our clan Clan Head won't interfere too much, and you can control everything as you please."

"If you have any complaints, just say so," Tobirama said, his expression unchanged. "Because you're Uchiha, I can give you a chance to offend me."

I heard you're going to establish Guard Corps.

"That's the idea."

"Managing multiple groups must be a hassle. I understand you want a leader, but where are you going to get that person? If you dare to rely entirely on the Senju, no one will listen to you."

"Oh, so now you, an Uchiha, are concerned about this?" Tobirama narrowed his eyes. "So what?"

"The first Hokage should have been Hashirama Senju. Without Lord Izuna, and with Clan Head losing in that battle, his prestige wasn't enough for him to become the first Hokage."

Setsuna stared intently at him, "But those who serve under the Hokage absolutely cannot use members of their original clans anymore, otherwise many clans will protest. After all, Konoha is not a place where you can make your own decisions."

Tobirama sneered, "So what if it's a one-man show? If I really want to do that, no one will dare to object."

"A thankless task."

"It's none of your business."

"What if I said the Uchiha Clan is willing to do this thankless and arduous work?"

Tobirama paused, as if a lot had suddenly come to mind, "... Are you serious?"

Setsuna's face remained calm. "Our Uchiha Clan is one of only two clans to have founded Konoha, so we can handle this kind of thing."

Do you know what the consequences of doing this will be?

"Of course I know."

"The Uchiha Clan will be destroyed."

"That only proves that the Konoha you established is incompetent," Setsuna proudly, puffing out his chest. "It also shows that my Uchiha Clan has indeed declined; we can't even manage a mere Konoha."

Tobirama stared Setsuna at Tobirama, a look of appreciation slowly spreading across his face. He chuckled softly.

"You Uchiha are truly a clan that acts on emotions."

You flatter me.

"Alright then, once the Hokage takes office, this Guard Troops will be from the Uchiha Clan."

"And you," Tobirama proudly raised his head, "Will be the Minister of Konoha Military Police Force."

Setsuna raised an eyebrow. "So they're going to start using their boss to pressure me now. Watch out for the backlash, Tobirama Senju."

Uchiha Takuma wandered the streets. The ruthless executioner, who lost his chance to go on missions because of the village's ideology.

Having completed his cultivation long ago and with no missions to complete, he decided to take a good stroll around the new clan's territory.

I'll also buy some glutinous rice balls to share with my friends.

"How about this one?"

"Isn't it too flashy?"

"Hmm... that makes sense. How about this one?"

The man stood in front of the stall, fiddling with the paintings hanging on the wall. His clothes slipped off his arms as he moved, and his thin skin shimmered with an ethereal white in the rising sun.

Takuma stopped, staring blankly at the person. Realizing he was witnessing something he shouldn't have, he stood still.

"This! I didn't expect to find it for sale!" The man exclaimed excitedly, holding up the painting in his hand. "Look! It's Nasu no Yoichi arrow! If it weren't for the Eight-Boat Leap being such a classic, I would have chosen this one."

"Then why not buy them all?"

"Because it's no longer needed; one volume per theme is enough. Let's go, there's more to come..."

Takuma stared blankly, then suddenly sensed something and turned around.

He stood there for Setsuna, not knowing how long he had been watching.