Reactions of the Village Department Ministers
Uchiha Kō fell into a deep sleep due to exhaustion, while Uchiha Rou, despite recovering physically from the excessive exertion, was still unable to get up due to mental fatigue.
Only Uchiha Itachi and Tsunade remained in the house, and they were responsible for taking care of the father and daughter. During this time, Uchiha Fugaku visited the Hokage Villa.
Because Uchiha Itachi didn't come home all day yesterday, Fugaku and Mikoto were very worried. After making inquiries, they learned that Uchiha Itachi had gone to the Hokage Villa.
He wanted to go to the Hokage Villa to check on the situation. When Uchiha Itachi saw him arrive, Body Flicker Technique in front of him and pulled him into the Tsukuyomi Space before he could even speak.
This left Fugaku completely bewildered. In the Tsukuyomi Space, Uchiha Itachi explained his reasons for doing so. Fugaku, who was initially angry at Uchiha Itachi's rude behavior, relaxed and sighed after hearing his explanation.
Within the Tsukuyomi Space, Uchiha Fugaku looked at him and slowly said, "From now on, you must treat Uchiha Rou well, understand? If I find out you've let her down, forget about the teacher, I'll beat you to a pulp!"
Uchiha Itachi nodded as he listened to his father's words. Then his father walked up to him and hugged him tightly, saying, "Actually, I would have preferred that you not be hurt, but I'm not surprised that you made that decision."
"Because if your mother were in danger, your father would push her away and die himself!" A smile appeared on Uchiha Fugaku's cold face.
It's understandable that parents prioritize their children before their children's partners, but when danger strikes, no one has the right or the authority to judge whether their child should save the woman they love.
Uchiha Itachi's eyes were a little red. He nodded, then deactivated the Tsukuyomi Space and jumped onto the roof once more, almost silently observing his surroundings.
Seeing his son's expression, Fugaku could only sigh and head home. However, he wasn't disappointed, because at that moment he saw a sense of responsibility in Itachi!
A man's sense of responsibility!
After returning home, Uchiha Fugaku told his wife, Uchiha Mikoto, about the incident. At first Uchiha Mikoto felt sorry for Uchiha Itachi, but later she felt even more sorry for Uchiha Rou.
"Honey, I think we should go see Rou Rou!" Uchiha Mikoto looked at Uchiha Fugaku with tender eyes.
Uchiha Fugaku nodded. "We should go see her, but not now, at least until Uchiha Rou wakes up. Otherwise, it would be bad if we disturbed our teacher while healed Rou Rou!"
When faced with matters of great importance, Uchiha Fugaku always knew what was important and what was not. He was not the original Fugaku. There were Dove Faction and Hawk Faction, but he sat in the neutral camp!
This is truly the most speechless thing. He offended both sides at once, and his indecisiveness is outrageous! If he had sided with the Dove Faction and shown absolute loyalty, even if the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, was wary of him, he would not have tacitly approved of Shimura Danzō.
It would be even better if he joined the Hawk Faction. With the power of his Mangekyō Sharingan and the Hawk Faction' tough style, the elderly Sarutobi Hiruzen would have no choice but to back down, and the Uchiha Clan wouldn't have been wiped out.
The most interesting thing is that he sent his young son to the Anbu for training, where he was completely misled by the Third Hokage and ended up siding with the village and slaughtering the Uchiha Clan.
The current Uchiha Fugaku is the Fugaku trained by Uchiha Kō. I remember when we were kids, if he hesitated even a little, Uchiha Kō would hang him up and beat him.
This made him no longer dare to hesitate. No matter how bad things were or how unclear the situation was, he would firmly stand his ground, choose a direction, and persevere even if it was wrong.
Because there's always a way out; as long as you're willing to walk, the path is right beneath your feet.
Uchiha Mikoto nodded, then made an appointment with her best friend Uzumaki Kushina to go to town the next day to buy some delicious food and hairpins for girls, which she would then give to Uchiha Rou.
Although Uchiha Itachi willingly sacrificed himself to give Uchiha Rou a chance to live, Uchiha Rou not only awakened the Mangekyo because of Uchiha Itachi, but also forcibly activated it when it first awakened, activating the Perfect Susanoo and the Mangekyo Sharingan techniques.
She was willing to harm her own body to avenge Uchiha Itachi; such determination and willpower are not something an ordinary young girl could achieve.
So naturally, she wanted to buy some things for Uchiha Rou way of thanking her.
Moreover, judging from this situation, Uchiha Rou might become her daughter-in-law in the future, so of course she would be willing to give up her own daughter-in-law!
Midnight
Upon hearing that Uchiha Rou was injured, Uchiha left a clone with 90% of his own strength in Iwagakure to handle the special situation. After resting for half a day, he set off for Konoha under the cover of night.
This is his great-great-granddaughter. If something happens to her, how can he possibly care about the mess in Iwagakure? Besides, with his Shadow Clone there, nothing will happen to her!
The Kumogakure was playing a game of power struggles, sowing discord among the various ninja clans and ninjas, and exacerbating the conflict between the original Kumogakure ninja clans and the original noble class. At this moment, Uchiha Izuna frowned. After receiving news from his elder brother, he left behind a clone with half of his chakra to continue arranging affairs.
He then instructed Pakura to guard his clone while he himself set off for Konoha. Kumogakure was relatively close to Konoha, and if he set off now, he could return to Konoha tomorrow.
Senju Hashirama frowned. This guy was even more ruthless. He directly told Lin and Chiyo, "I'm going back to Konoha. I'll be back soon. Don't look for me during this time unless something major happens."
"Just inform my staff if anything happens. If it's urgent, you can call me. That's all!" Senju Hashirama's face was serious and urgent at this moment.
This prompted Lin and Chiyo to exchange a glance before speaking in unison, "Does the First Hokage need any provisions for his return to Konoha? We'll prepare them right away!"
Chiyo chuckled and said, "I have to say that although Sunagakure has changed from a village to Konoha Sand Division, it has gained tremendous benefits. The desert in the Land of Wind, which was originally short of water and food due to desertification, has now been transformed into forest."
With trees to stabilize the shifting sands and lock in water, the Land of Wind will become a plain in just ten or twenty years. At that time, we can store water and cultivate the land for agriculture!
If one could live a peaceful life, who would want to live a life of constant danger? The First Hokage, Reto Kazekage, chose this place initially with the aim of giving the ninja clans of the Land of Wind a home.
A place where one could find shelter from the wind and rain, and have enough to eat and wear, but he never achieved that, even after a lifetime of effort, including the later Kazekage, the Second Kazekage, Third Kazekage.
They did consider avoiding war and being self-sufficient, but no matter how hard they tried, planting trees and creating forests, it was a miracle if even one tree survived in a year!
This outcome made them realize that the only way for Sunagakure to survive was through plunder and war; this was the harsh environment that shaped their way of life!
But things are different now. With a simple clap of his Senju Hashirama can turn a vast desert into a forest—something that is impossible for humans, but which he can do with ease.
This weakened the villagers and ninjas' resistance to Sunagakure 'Konoha occupation of their Sunagakure, and they even began to accept it. Many people even praised the First Hokage Senju Hashirama, for his benevolence and righteousness at home.
"Forget it, Sunagakure is only just starting to improve, and resources are still scarce. It's just a matter of traveling. I can get from Sunagakure to Konoha in half a day, and I can eat there then!" With that, Senju Hashirama activated the Body Flicker Technique and left Sunagakure.
Lin looked at Chiyo: "Mother, should we?" Lin raised his hand and then slashed downwards. His intention was to kill the ninjas that Sunagakure Senju had brought to Senju Hashirama while Senju Hashirama was away!
Chiyo glared at him. "Isn't it better to live a good life? Besides, Sunagakure is slowly getting better, and soon everyone won't have to live that life of licking blood off the edge anymore!"
"Don't forget, what was your father's purpose in establishing Sunagakure? It was to provide the ninjas of the Land of Wind with a safe and resource-rich home!" With that, Chiyo turned and left.
Ebizo gestured with his chin toward Hayashi, signaling him to apologize quickly and not make Chiyo angry.
Having understood Chiyo's intentions, Lin immediately apologized to his mother, admitting his mistake. Chiyo stopped in her tracks, then sighed, turned around, and said, "I know you want Sunagakure to return to our lineage's control."
"However, I hope you remember that the purpose of establishing Sunagakure was never war, but peace and life. If you only think about power and control, then the Third Kazekage and Rasa are the examples of what not to do!" Chiyo couldn't bear to see her son suffer in the end.
So Chiyo told Hayashi what she was thinking and the purpose of establishing the village. After listening, Hayashi nodded and said, "I will definitely live up to my mother's expectations and my father's will!"
Chiyo smiled and said, "Let's go, take Sasori with us. The three of us, grandmother and grandson, will go see that forest, the forest that holds the future hopes of our Sunagakure!"
With that, she walked outside, ready to see the forest created by Senju Hashirama!
Kirigakure
Senju Tobirama sat on the Mizukage throne with a grim expression. He looked at his two disciples, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō, and said, "Hiruzen, Danzo, what do you say we should do about the matter of Yugakure in the Land of Rivers?"
He already had a plan in mind, but looking at his two disciples, he felt a desire to test them and see if his initial judgment had been correct. He first looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, his eyes filled with expectation.
Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered. He was now over fifty, transitioning from youth to old age. Uchiha Kō had not granted him the right to Immortality because he disliked the Third, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Meanwhile, Shimura Danzō to the side, was in his prime, a handsome young man in his twenties. Senju Tobirama had no complaints about this; it was originally Uchiha Kō's ninjutsu, and he could give it to whomever he wanted!