Adoption

Uchiha Clan Compound.

Hashirama Senju brought Tobirama Senju, who was hanging his head, to the Uchiha Clan Compound.

After learning of their arrival, the Uchiha Elder hurriedly led the clan members out to welcome them.

After Clan Head Madara Uchiha defected, the Uchiha were left without a leader, so the Grand Elder handled the clan's affairs in his stead.

"Hokage-sama, what brings you here?"

The Uchiha Elder trembled with fear, worried that the other party had come to hold them accountable for the clan head's actions.

After all, Lord Madara had defected from Konoha!

What if Hashirama Senju wanted to take advantage of Lord Madara's absence and attack the Uchiha?

Fortunately, the Grand Elder was overthinking things. Hashirama Senju had no such intention.

"Hahaha, Grand Elder, don't be nervous. I came to discuss something with you. I wonder if you'd be willing?" Hashirama Senju said with a broad smile.

"What might that be, Hokage-sama?" the Grand Elder asked tentatively.

"It's like this. My younger brother wants to adopt an orphan from the Uchiha Clan. I wonder if you'd be willing?"

The moment he said this, every Uchiha present was stunned!

They turned toward Tobirama Senju in disbelief, their expressions seeming to say, Are you kidding me?

If one asked who hated the Uchiha most in Konoha Village, it would undoubtedly be Tobirama Senju.

Of course, the Uchiha Clan didn't have any fondness for Tobirama Senju either.

It was hard to imagine that he wanted to adopt an Uchiha Clan Member.

After their shock faded, the Uchiha all looked at Tobirama Senju with unfriendly expressions, wondering whether he had some ulterior motive for adopting an Uchiha Clan Member.

With a group of Red Eyes staring at him, Tobirama Senju's forehead bulged with veins. He lowered his head angrily and said nothing.

If Elder Brother hadn't threatened him, why would he have come?

Hashirama Senju ignored Tobirama and continued smiling at the Grand Elder. "Grand Elder, are you willing?"

At those words, fine beads of sweat appeared on the Grand Elder's forehead.

To be honest, he didn't want to agree. If an Uchiha Clan Member were adopted by the Senju, and word got out, how could the Uchiha continue to establish themselves in Konoha?

But the person standing before him was the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju! Refusing would be difficult.

Lord Madara had defected, and no one in the Uchiha Clan could match Hashirama Senju. The Grand Elder regretted not leaving with Lord Madara back then.

Of course, that was only a thought.

The Uchiha had endured years of war and had finally welcomed peace. How could they give up this hard-won peace?

The Grand Elder sighed and agreed. "Hokage-sama, I will take you to the orphanage."

The Uchiha watched the three of them leave in silence, their expressions complicated.

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

If Lord Madara hadn't left, perhaps this would never have happened...

Uchiha Orphanage.

The orphanage director was a bearded middle-aged man. After learning why Hashirama Senju had come, he quickly gathered the children and had them line up.

There were more than fifty children. They wore curious expressions, unaware of what had happened.

These children had spent years in the orphanage and did not recognize Hashirama Senju.

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

The moment he said this, a wave of surprised exclamations erupted from the crowd.

A person's reputation preceded him. Hashirama Senju's name had long since resounded throughout the Shinobi World.

In Konoha Village, there was hardly anyone who did not respect and revere him!

Even the proud Uchiha Clan Members were no exception. Admiring the strong was human nature.

Especially when that strong person had their interests at heart.

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

Upon hearing this, the children were immediately stunned.

Although they admired Hashirama Senju, that did not mean they were willing to be adopted by the Senju.

An Uchiha being adopted by the Senju would be an absolute humiliation!

If word got out, they would be nailed to the pillar of shame, mocked behind their backs, and never be able to hold their heads up again!

Especially since they were orphans—all of this was the Senju's fault.

At Elder Brother's command, Tobirama Senju walked toward the children with a gloomy expression. He looked worse than if his mother had died.

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

At those words, the children couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

Good. At least I wasn't chosen...

Hashirama Senju frowned and scolded him. "Tobirama, stop playing tricks!"

Tobirama Senju folded his arms and muttered, "What else can I do? None of these children appeal to me..."

"You..." Hashirama Senju was about to continue when the orphanage director stepped forward. "Hokage-sama, there is actually one more child in the orphanage. It's just that he moved out some time ago."

Hashirama Senju's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said, "Then I'll trouble you to take us to find this child!"

As he spoke, he turned toward Tobirama, his expression stern, and brought out the rarely seen authority of an elder brother.

"Since you don't like any of these children, you have to like the last one, whether you want to or not!!"

At those words, Tobirama Senju ground his teeth in fury.

He glared unhappily at the director. If looks could kill, the director would already have been hacked into a thousand pieces.

His earlier words had merely been intended to make Elder Brother give up. But then the director had stepped forward, leaving him no choice but to adopt that child.

At the thought, he became even more furious. The Uchiha really were an inherently evil clan!

The director leading the way sensed the killing intent behind him and shuddered instinctively.

"Tobirama!"

After a soft reprimand, the killing intent vanished.

Renye's Residence.

"Renye, open the door! It's the director!"

Renye had been extracting Chakra inside the house. Hearing the commotion, he quickly got up and opened the door.

As soon as he opened it, Renye noticed that three people were standing behind the director.

He recognized one of the elders: the Uchiha Elder.

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

One wore a green kimono and had black hair, while the other wore blue armor and had white hair.

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

Renye felt somewhat flustered. Why had these two come looking for him?

Could my identity as a transmigrator have been exposed?!

That shouldn't be possible. He had never mentioned it to anyone.

He struggled to calm himself and pretended not to know anything. "Grand Elder, Director, what brings you here?"

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

Renye's pupils shrank, and he wore an expression as if he had seen a ghost.

What is going on? Hashirama Senju wants to adopt me?

His mind completely shut down, and he stood rooted to the spot.

"What does Hokage-sama think?" the Grand Elder asked.

Hashirama Senju sized up Renye and nodded with satisfaction. "Not bad. This child knows how to be independent at such a young age. It's him!"

He did not even ask Tobirama's opinion before making the decision himself.

"Elder Brother!" Tobirama Senju roared furiously. "You really want me to adopt an Uchiha?"

Only at this moment did he realize that Elder Brother had not been joking with him.

Hashirama Senju patted Tobirama's shoulder and earnestly advised him, "I hope that, while living with this child, you'll be able to let go of your hatred for the Uchiha!"

After saying that, he turned to the bewildered Renye. "Little Renye, he will be taking care of you from now on! If he bullies you, come find me. I'll teach him a lesson!"

Only then did Renye come back to his senses.

He stared blankly at Tobirama Senju. So Tobirama Senju is the one adopting me!

This is freaking absurd!

Tobirama Senju also looked at Renye, and the two stared wide-eyed at each other.

Both of them were completely dumbfounded.

In the end, Tobirama Senju's face turned livid as he picked up the bewildered Renye and strode away.

Renye had never dreamed that Tobirama Senju would adopt him. After all, that old man was infamous for his hatred of the Uchiha...

Watching this, the Grand Elder sighed helplessly. "I hope Tobirama Senju doesn't mistreat the child."