Rising Power

After signing the Truce Agreement with the Senju and taking up the positions of Clan Leader and Vice Clan Leader, Madara and Izuna led the Uchiha Clan into a brief period of recovery.

But with Madara's personality, if he didn't make a show of force after taking office, it would be hard to keep the elders in line.

Even after he defeated Uchiha Gakugyo with the power of his Mangekyō Sharingan, that was still the case.

Since they couldn't go to war, Izuna decided to act.

After becoming Vice Clan Leader, he had also received a certain number of Skill Points. It wasn't much, but it was enough to exchange for a few C-rank or two B-rank ninjutsu.

He used them to expand the Uchiha Clan's collection of scrolls, claiming that he and Madara had developed the techniques together.

It wasn't as useful as crushing their enemies, but at least it would keep Uchiha Gakugyo's die-hard supporters quiet for the time being.

As for Izuna's claim that he had "developed them together with Madara," the clan members knew the truth, but kept it to themselves.

They knew what kind of ninja Madara Uchiha was. Learning ninjutsu was no problem for him.

Developing ninjutsu was another matter entirely. It required a unique understanding of Chakra and considerable experience.

Only a genius like Izuna, who had developed Chidori to work in tandem with the Sharingan, could come up with such techniques.

But since Izuna himself had put it that way, they didn't dare slight either of their Clan Leaders.

Once they had risen to high positions, they naturally became busy.

Even though Izuna had been an ordinary person in his previous life, now he had no choice but to shoulder some of the responsibilities.

Finances, mission assignments, border defense... A mountain of problems needed handling.

Every morning, the moment he woke up, there was already a mountain of work waiting for him.

In all the transmigration novels he'd read, the protagonists always had a capable wife or a devoted follower to handle this sort of thing. Why couldn't he be that lucky?

Time passed, and word of the temporary truce between the Uchiha and Senju gradually spread throughout Sengoku.

The news naturally caused an uproar across the Shinobi World.

It was only temporary, but it was still unprecedented in the history of the ninja.

News traveled far more slowly in Sengoku than it would in the later era of the Five Great Nations.

It was only half a month after news of the Uchiha-Senju truce spread throughout Sengoku that the other ninja clans heard about the new Clan Leaders.

Senju Takeuma had become the new Clan Leader of the Senju Clan, with Hashirama Senju as his Vice Clan Leader.

Well, that wasn't strange. Everyone had expected it.

But the Uchiha's news left everyone dumbfounded.

Madara Uchiha had become Clan Leader, and Izuna Uchiha was Vice Clan Leader, while Uchiha Gakugyo, whom everyone had assumed would take over, had been transferred to the Mount Kumogakure camp to guard it.

What the hell?!

What was going on?

Uchiha Gakugyo wasn't dead. How had Madara Uchiha succeeded him?

The clan most concerned about the matter was naturally the Senju, the Uchiha's greatest enemy.

Hashirama Senju wasn't particularly bothered that his rival, Madara Uchiha, had become Clan Leader before him. He was simply curious.

"Big Brother, what do you think happened?"

Tobirama Senju sat cross-legged opposite Hashirama and asked.

Hashirama took a sip of tea, folded his arms over his chest, and pursed his lips. "Well... the simplest explanation is that Madara's already stronger than Uchiha Gakugyo..."

It sounded like the most far-fetched answer, but after a moment's thought, it seemed the most likely.

The Senju had plenty of matters to deal with as well. After talking for a while longer, Tobirama returned to his residence.

A withered leaf drifted in through the window and landed on the windowsill in Hashirama's room.

Glancing to the side at the potted plant decorating the sill, Hashirama sighed. "Autumn's coming. But at least not having to fight should make things a lot better."

As he spoke, Hashirama gently brought his hands together. A faint green light began to envelop the withered plant.

New buds began to sprout from its yellowing branches!

At Izuna's residence.

At dinnertime, he listened to the sound of water dripping in the courtyard beyond the hallway.

A breeze blew into the room. Sitting across from Izuna, Madara took a couple of sips of sake and, in a rare moment, smiled. "When was the last time we had a chance to sit and drink together like this?"

Izuna popped a roll of sushi into his mouth, the corner of his own lips lifting slightly. "I don't remember."

He did remember. It had been before Tajima Uchiha passed away.

He had been Vice Clan Leader for nearly four months, and only tonight had the brothers finally found time to sit down and have a drink together.

That showed just how much work they had.

"I stopped by the Third Elder's place today. Your new teaching method is pretty interesting."

Madara raised his cup and took another sip. "The Uchiha will grow stronger because of it."

No matter how many times it happened, whenever Madara said something like that, Izuna couldn't help feeling a little surprised.

Hashirama Senju, when brought back through Impure World Reincarnation, often said that Madara had once been a man who longed for peace and was full of hope.

Izuna had never believed him. But after hearing Madara say things like this with his own ears, he began to think Hashirama might have been telling the truth.

In the original story, it was Izuna Uchiha's death, the opposition from people like Tobirama Senju, and Black Zetsu's secret schemes that had driven Madara completely into darkness.

"Speaking of which, now that you're Clan Leader, shouldn't you start thinking about settling down? The Third Elder seems to have a niece..."

During this rare moment of leisure, Izuna couldn't resist teasing Madara. "You know, Sashu's kid is already five."

Madara's perpetually expressionless face showed a hint of awkwardness. "That... there's no rush. What about you?"

As he spoke, Madara tossed the question right back at Izuna.

Izuna rested his cheek on one hand. By his standards, getting married at thirty wasn't too late. The main reason people married and had children in this era was to carry on the family line.

But Izuna wanted to find someone he actually liked.

Of course, it would be even better if she was beautiful.

Just as the brothers were chatting about one trivial topic after another,

Uchiha Sashu, whom they had just been talking about, suddenly appeared in the hallway with the Body Flicker Technique.

"Clan Leader, Vice Clan Leader!"

Uchiha Sashu dropped to one knee.

"Oh, Sashu. Want to join us?"

Izuna glanced over and asked jokingly.

"This is bad. We've received word from Lord Kong at the western garrison."

Uchiha Sashu wasn't in the mood to joke. He looked up, his face tense, and gritted out the words. "The Hagoromo Clan is leading the Northwest Four Clans. They're advancing on our northwestern border!"

Even Madara stopped in the middle of reaching for a dish.

After five seconds of silence, Madara swept his sleeve aside and stood up, his voice cold. "Gather every clan member of jōnin rank or above and bring them to the council hall!"

"Yes!"

Uchiha Sashu vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.

"Hmph, the Hagoromo Clan... They've got a lot of nerve!"

Madara's expression turned vicious as he muttered to himself.

He glanced at Izuna behind him and saw him hurriedly stuffing the remaining sushi into his mouth. A dark line appeared on Madara's forehead. "What are you doing?"

Izuna swallowed the last bite. "We won't get to eat something this good at the next meal."

Madara's eyes widened. He suddenly snatched up the plate and wolfed down all the remaining sushi in one go. "Those rats think they can take advantage of the Uchiha while we're in trouble? I'll tear the flesh from their bones!"