Adoption

Uchiha Clan Compound.

Hashirama Senju arrived at the Uchiha Clan Compound with Tobirama Senju, his head hanging low.

The Uchiha Elder, upon learning of this, hurriedly led the clan members out to greet them.

After Clan Head Madara Uchiha defected, the Uchiha were left leaderless, and the Elder handled clan affairs in his stead.

"Hokage-sama, what brings you here?"

The Uchiha Elder trembled nervously, fearing he had come to interrogate them over the clan head's actions.

After all, Lord Madara had defected from Konoha!

What if Hashirama Senju took advantage of Lord Madara's absence to strike at the Uchiha?

Fortunately, the Elder was overthinking it—Hashirama Senju had no such intentions.

"Haha, Elder, don't be tense. I'm here to discuss something with you. I wonder if you'd be willing?" Hashirama Senju said with a cheerful laugh.

"May I ask what matter brings Hokage-sama here?" the Elder probed cautiously.

"It's like this—my younger brother wants to adopt an orphan of the Uchiha. I wonder if the Elder would agree?"

At these words, every Uchiha present was stunned!

They turned to look at Tobirama Senju in disbelief, their expressions as if to say, Are you kidding me?

If there was one person in Konoha Village who hated the Uchiha the most, it was none other than Tobirama Senju.

Of course, the Uchiha Clan had no fondness for Tobirama Senju either.

It was hard to imagine him wanting to adopt a member of the Uchiha.

After the shock passed, the Uchiha glared at Tobirama Senju with hostile looks, wondering if he had some hidden agenda in adopting one of their own.

Tobirama Senju, stared down by a crowd of red-eyed men, felt veins bulge on his forehead. He lowered his head in shame and anger, saying nothing.

If not for his elder brother's threats, why would he ever come here?

Hashirama Senju ignored Tobirama and turned back to the Elder with a smile. "Elder, would you be willing?"

Hearing this, cold sweat broke out on the Elder's forehead.

To be honest, he didn't want to agree. If word got out that an Uchiha was adopted by a Senju, what would become of the Uchiha's standing in Konoha?

But the man before him was the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju! Refusing wouldn't be easy either.

Now that Lord Madara had defected, no one in the Uchiha Clan could match Hashirama Senju. The Elder secretly regretted not leaving with Lord Madara.

Of course, that was just wishful thinking.

Having endured years of war, the Uchiha had finally found peace—why would they give up this hard-won tranquility?

The Elder sighed and relented. "Hokage-sama, this old man will take you to the orphanage now."

The Uchiha watched with complicated expressions as the three left.

They all knew this was the Elder's compromise with Konoha.

If Lord Madara hadn't left, perhaps this wouldn't have happened...

Uchiha Orphanage.

The orphanage's Director was a bearded Uncle. Upon learning the purpose of Hashirama Senju's visit, he quickly gathered the children and had them line up.

There were over fifty children, their faces curious, unsure of what was happening.

Having lived in the orphanage for years, they didn't recognize Hashirama Senju.

The Director introduced him. "Children, this is Hokage-sama!"

At that, gasps erupted from the crowd.

A man's reputation casts a long shadow—Hashirama Senju's fame had long spread across the shinobi world.

In Konoha Village, almost everyone respected and admired him!

Even the proud Uchiha Clan was no exception—worshiping the strong was human nature.

Especially when that strong man had their best interests at heart.

Hashirama Senju greeted the children warmly and told them why he had come.

Hearing this, the children froze.

Though they admired Hashirama Senju, that didn't mean they wanted to be adopted by a Senju.

An Uchiha being adopted by a Senju was an utter disgrace!

If word got out, they'd be nailed to a pillar of shame, scorned by all, unable to hold their heads up for life!

Especially these orphans—their suffering was the Senju's doing.

At his elder brother's orders, Tobirama Senju walked toward the children with a grim face, his expression uglier than if he'd lost his own mother.

He glanced around casually, then shook his head. "Elder Brother, I don't like any of these children."

Hearing this, the group of children couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

As long as they weren't chosen...

Hashirama Senju frowned and scolded, "Tobirama, don't play tricks!"

Tobirama Senju crossed his arms and muttered, "What can I do about it? None of these children caught my eye..."

"You—" Hashirama was about to speak again when the Orphanage Director stepped forward and said, "Hokage-sama, actually, there's one more child at the orphanage, but he moved out a while ago."

Hashirama's eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "Then please, Director, take us to find this child!"

With that, he turned to Tobirama with a stern expression, bringing out the rarely seen authority of an elder brother.

"Since you don't like any of these children, then this last one... whether you like it or not, you will like it!"

Hearing this, Tobirama gritted his teeth in fury.

He glared at the Director with obvious displeasure—if looks could kill, the Director would have been sliced to pieces.

His earlier words had only been meant to make his brother drop the matter, but then this Director had to step in, and now he had no choice but to take in that child.

Thinking about it made him furious. The Uchiha really were an inherently evil clan!

The Director, leading the way ahead, felt the killing intent behind him and instinctively shuddered.

"Tobirama!"

A sharp rebuke, and the killing intent vanished.

At Renye's residence.

"Renye, open the door! It's me, the Director!"

Renye was inside extracting Chakra when he heard the commotion. He quickly got up and opened the gate.

As soon as the door opened, Renye noticed three people standing behind the Director.

One of them, an old man, he recognized—the Elder of the Uchiha.

As for the other two, Renye's gaze flickered.

One wore a green haori with black hair; the other wore blue armor with white hair.

He easily guessed their identities—Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju.

Renye's heart raced with panic. Why were these two coming to see him?

Had his identity as a transmigrator been exposed?!

No, that couldn't be. He had never mentioned it to anyone.

Forcing himself to calm down, he pretended to know nothing. "Elder, Director, why are you here?"

The Director explained, "Renye, someone wants to adopt a child, so I brought them to you."

Renye's pupils shrank sharply, and he looked as if he'd seen a ghost.

What was going on? Hashirama Senju wanted to take him in?

His mind went completely blank as he stood there dumbfounded.

"What do you think, Hokage-sama?" the Elder asked.

Hashirama studied Renye and nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. This child knows independence at such a young age. He's the one!"

He made the decision without even asking for Tobirama's opinion.

"Elder Brother!" Tobirama was furious. "Are you really making me adopt an Uchiha?!"

Only now did he realize his brother wasn't joking.

Hashirama patted Tobirama on the shoulder and said gently, "I hope that in your time with this child, you can let go of your hatred for the Uchiha!"

With that, he turned to the stunned Renye and said, "Little Renye, from now on, he'll take care of you! If he bullies you, come find me, and I'll teach him a lesson!"

Hearing this, Renye finally snapped out of it.

He stared blankly at Tobirama Senju. So the one adopting him was Tobirama Senju?!

This was just too absurd!

Tobirama also looked at Renye. The two stared at each other, eyes wide.

Both of them were completely at a loss.

In the end, Tobirama, his face dark, grabbed the bewildered Renye and strode off.

Renye never dreamed that Tobirama Senju would adopt him. After all, that Old Man was famously hostile to the Uchiha...

The Elder watched this scene and sighed helplessly. "I hope Tobirama doesn't mistreat the child."