Konoha's Twin Cores, One Bright, One Dark, Shimura Danzō Wants to Stand at the Forefront

"What are you talking about, Tobirama..."

Seisui stood smiling atop the mountain peak, breathing in the crisp, refreshing air of the heights as he gazed at the distant Hokage Rock.

"Didn't you hear what I said to him?"

"I already told Asuma not to blindly follow my words. I'm just an ordinary Ninja Academy student."

"Letting Asuma learn to see with his own eyes and think with his own heart—what's wrong with that?"

"Or do you want to see me, an Uchiha, teaching the Son of the Hokage how to be a Konoha ninja?"

Seisui chuckled mockingly, and Tobirama Senju fell silent.

What Seisui said wasn't wrong, and that was exactly how he'd acted.

From the start to the end of the conversation, Seisui had used rhetorical questions to make Asuma think for himself, then let him answer his own doubts.

Asuma's answers were all the results of his own thinking...

But.

If Seisui had been manipulating Asuma into developing a bias against Hiruzen Sarutobi or Konoha, Tobirama wouldn't have felt so uneasy.

Tricks and schemes that toyed with people's hearts would always leave traces...

But an open and honest stratagem wielded an irresistible power. Asuma, supposedly thinking for himself, had already developed an attitude of unwavering trust in Seisui!

What's more, Asuma had even started using his own identity and resources to subtly help Seisui.

In Konoha, how many people coveted the status of the Hokage lineage? How many in the Uchiha Clan had longed for years for a ticket into the upper echelons?

Seisui had obtained it so effortlessly.

He hadn't even actively done anything—just let his Will of Fire shine, and the Son of the Hokage had come to him on his own, even speaking with a shy and pleading tone, asking Seisui to agree to become his comrade!

With such an outcome, no one could see anything wrong with Seisui, not even Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had governed Konoha for years.

Because Asuma was acting from the bottom of his heart, doing what he truly wanted to do...

Tobirama Senju took a deep breath. Whether it was because of Seisui's extraordinary charisma or the darkness of Konoha that Asuma had revealed, the feelings in his heart were incredibly complex.

Following Seisui's gaze, Tobirama saw his own statue on the Hokage Rock, and the scene before his eyes blurred.

Back when he first took charge of Konoha, he had won over the various clans in the same way...

By embodying the Will of Fire through his actions. Even for the Uchiha Clan, when Kagami Uchiha became his disciple, the clan's joy outweighed their worry.

Was this a kind of cycle?

As he pondered, Seisui's voice slowly rang out: "Tobirama, no need to be so anxious..."

"I've never lied to you. I told you before—my goal is simple: let good people live better lives, let those who err receive their due punishment, and make the village and the ninja world a better place."

"You've seen everything I've done. I'll only ask you one thing: does my Will of Fire still meet your standards?"

Tobirama snorted coldly, a retort on his lips, but he couldn't find the words.

He felt something was off, but he couldn't even pinpoint what, let alone articulate it...

But if that were the case, didn't it mean Seisui was in the right?

Impossible. That wicked Uchiha brat definitely had something wrong!

"Seisui, you little brat, I'll be watching you!"

"Trapping me inside your body was the biggest mistake you ever made... I'll see your true face clearly!"

Seisui laughed.

This old man—had he confused even himself?

"Tobirama, can I take it that you're actually okay with being sealed inside me now?"

Seisui's eyes turned sly, and he took a subtle step back: "I feel like we should keep a bit of distance. You're starting to interfere with my life, and I'm beginning to doubt your motives..."

Tobirama's mouth twitched. Hearing Seisui say that, even he felt like there might be something off about himself.

"Brat, don't get slick-tongued with me! What you said to Asuma—you're just magnifying the village's darkness!"

Tobirama forcibly changed the subject, keeping his face stern as he said in a low voice:

"Remember our bet? You said that within two years, the Will of Fire would burn the innocent. If you lose, you have to agree to one of my demands!"

"I'll tell you now: my demand is that you're not allowed to do anything that harms Konoha's interests!"

Tobirama's tone was heavy, but his eyes were a little shifty.

Seisui, who was so similar to him, probably had just as flexible a moral baseline...

A ninja's oath was about as reliable as toilet paper.

But to Tobirama's surprise, Seisui slowly nodded and answered seriously:

"I won't go back on what I promised you, Tobirama."

"Just like you once said—even an Uchiha ninja, you wouldn't hand over to the enemy as a bargaining chip for a truce."

"I'm the same. I'm a Konoha ninja. Konoha's interests are my interests. Why would I harm them?"

After saying this, Seisui silently muttered in his heart:

"The future of Konoha is mine. I'm not about to damage my own stuff, unlike you with your senile dementia..."

Tobirama Senju stared into Seisui's honest eyes and nodded quietly.

"By the way, Tobirama, I still want to ask you something."

Seisui smiled and patted his shoulder: "If one day, for the sake of Konoha, would you be willing to lend me your strength?"

Tobirama Senju paused, narrowing his eyes: "For Konoha's sake, yes."

Only, Tobirama Senju had no idea how he could possibly lend his strength to Seisui?

"This brat must be coveting my wisdom. Not a bad judge of value."

Hearing Tobirama Senju's affirmative answer, Seisui smiled and nodded:

"If that's the case..."

"Don't worry, Tobirama. When the day comes that you lose, I won't make you prostrate yourself. I'd really feel for you. You were, and still are, something of an idol to me..."

From target Tobirama Senju: You have acquired the jutsu · Mutual Multiplication Explosive Tag Technique!

"Arrogant brat. I trust Konoha, I trust my students. I don't need your mercy!"

Tobirama Senju waved his hand dismissively, his posture scornful of Seisui's words, but the electronic sound of the reward honestly betrayed his seemingly pleased inner state.

A few days later.

In the dark recesses of the village.

The student trusted by Tobirama Senju, bearing the titles "Ninja's Darkness" and "The Root of Konoha," Shimura Danzō, was reviewing intelligence on Seisui within Root. A cruel, satisfied smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"I already have Wood Release. If I can get the Sharingan too..."

"The seat of Hokage—who else but me!"

And in the most radiant part of the village.

Inside the Hokage building, the rebellious Asuma knelt before the astonished Hiruzen Sarutobi, his eyes full of regret and pleading.

One in shadow, one in light—the two core figures of Konoha.

At this moment, because of Seisui's existence, they had both begun to stir up a storm of thoughts...

Sorry, everyone... I'm a bit late...

Bowing to all you esteemed readers... Orz...

Recording the chapter count for going on-shelf: 20 + 5 owed chapters... 25!