Madara in the Hokage Building

The world of a ninja is not just about killing and fighting; it is, more often than not, about human relationships and worldly wisdom.

Rikusei desperately wanted to tell Madara, "These things you can't handle, leave them to your disciple," but after glancing at his own small, frail frame, he didn't dare.

The morning sun was not yet scorching, and a slightly cool Summer Wind chased away the heat. Rikusei wove through the bustling crowds, heading toward the orange-red building at the center of the village.

During the taijutsu lesson, Kaku had pulled Rikusei aside to complain that Madara hadn't returned to the clan grounds for several days. The implication was clear: he wanted Rikusei to find Madara, who was currently captivated by Hashirama, and urge him to return before the Clan Tournament.

Rikusei understood his teacher's intentions all too well.

The trivial, tedious daily affairs of the clan grounds were enough to give anyone a headache. Perhaps Madara found it more pleasant to simply vanish and watch the new Hokage deal with the annoyance.

A ninja born for battle would never be content being shackled by such trifles.

Rikusei had gazed at the building from afar before, but this was his first time seeing the layout inside. The first floor was the Mission Request Hall, its furnishings reflecting the distinct characteristics of the Warring States period.

Clan emblems carved from wood hung neatly on the wooden walls, and ninjas wearing various types of plate armor were visible everywhere. The crisp sound of clattering armor plates was audible, and the scars on the faces of passing ninjas, along with the various weapons on their backs and waists, left Rikusei feeling overwhelmed.

The lonely little figure suddenly appearing in this environment of hardened killers seemed quite out of place. The reason was simple: he wasn't wearing a forehead protector, making him instantly recognizable.

The front desk staff had seen it all before; he was surely just a child from some clan, driven by curiosity to see the Mission Hall.

The pattern on the boy's back confirmed her suspicion: the red and white Flame Gunbai on his black clothing was unmistakable. He was from the Uchiha Clan.

"What is a little ninja doing here?"

The female ninja crouched down, her green eyes slightly sleepy as she looked at that delicate, handsome little face. With such strong features, he would surely grow up to be a charming man.

Beauty lies not in the skin but in the bone, and beauty, after all, transcends gender.

Rikusei looked puzzled at the blonde big sister crouching before him. Seeing her emerald-like eyes gradually soften, he spoke up: "I am looking for our clan leader."

"Ah~ so it's Lord Madara. Come with me, then." The more the female ninja looked at him, the more delighted she became. She reached out to ruffle the boy's black hair, then stood up, feeling quite satisfied.

Rikusei looked up at the kind big sister leading the way. The clan emblem printed on the armband of her slender arm revealed her surname.

She was a member of the Yamanaka Clan, the only clan in Konoha now known for their signature blonde hair. Their recognizability was on par with the Nara Clan's pineapple-heads or the Hyuga Clan's white eyes.

On the top floor of the building, Rikusei watched the reluctant big sister depart. Even before knocking, he could feel the lively atmosphere inside. He tilted his head to listen; it sounded like Madara was the primary aggressor, constantly roasting Hashirama about his work.

No, he had to interrupt them.

A wretched knocking sound echoed, cutting off the argument between the two inside.

As expected, it was Madara who opened the door.

Rikusei, shrouded in shadow, looked up at Madara, whose face showed utter disbelief. He held a finger to his lips, signaling him to stay quiet.

"He is here for me. You carry on."

Madara placed a palm on Rikusei's shoulder, pushing him back slightly, then looked back at Hashirama, who was sitting behind the desk, and spoke softly.

The moment the wooden door closed, Hashirama's booming voice came through: "We'll continue discussing how to seal the Tailed Beast later. And that word you used—calling them 'beasts'—that's not very nice!"

Madara let Hashirama's words go in one ear and out the other. Right now, he only cared about keeping Hashirama from seeing his disciple; he still remembered how Hashirama had tried to poach his student on the cliffside.

On the balcony, Madara rested his hands on the railing, his toe-exposed ninja shoes planted firmly on the wooden floor. From the highest building in Konoha, he overlooked the flourishing village.

His long black hair fluttered gracefully in the wind, and the High-Collar Robe only served to accentuate his temperament—powerful and cold. He spoke: "It's about the Clan Tournament, isn't it? Don't worry about that little girl Naori; I will lend you the Flame Gunbai."

"..."

Rikusei turned his head, feeling a bit ashamed. On second thought, copies of all documents regarding clan events were sent to the Hokage's office, so Madara, being in the office, must have noticed.

The sun rose higher, and the crowds on the streets began to thin. Rikusei said softly: "Teacher, I want to use the Clan Tournament as an opportunity to completely dismantle the Clan Academy."

"Is that so? Tell me your thoughts."

Madara turned around and leaned against the railing, arms crossed, watching the boy before him. The wind grew stronger, making his robes flap loudly.

"Isn't there talk in the clan that the Ninja Academy is just a school for the Senju faction? If we send all our children of age to the school, wouldn't it then become our Uchiha school?" Rikusei looked straight at Madara as he voiced his idea.

What a brilliant move to seize the initiative. Madara was momentarily stunned. Looking at the family affiliations of the first batch of students, they were indeed all closely tied to the Senju.

Seeing Madara hesitate, Rikusei continued: "The Senju have already begun to fade into Konoha; the Uchiha should also be doing something."

"Did that guy Kaku do something again?"

The sensitive Madara immediately spotted the blind spot. He stepped forward, tidied the boy's slightly messy hair, and leaned down with a smile to ask.

"!"

Rikusei looked at him in surprise, his small face full of grievance.

His pure heart, which only wanted the Uchiha Clan to have a better life, had suffered a heavy blow. The hot blood that had surged from his heart began to turn cold.

He thought, somewhat despondently, I should just jump off the building and end this life of being suspected!

Besides, I know ninjutsu; I won't die from the fall anyway.

"I guessed right, didn't I? This is actually Kaku's idea, isn't it?" Madara said to the boy, whose expression was shifting, his eyes filled with amusement.

Rikusei couldn't have made such a big decision on his own, and he certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to risk offending the majority of the clan just to make a proposal.

After spending a few months at the Ninja Academy, Kaku had been frightened by the immense energy contained within the new Hidden Village. He realized that they could no longer treat Konoha with the old, clan-centric mindset.

The first class of the Ninja Academy had already ignited people's enthusiasm. The scale would surely grow larger in the future, and it would not only include students from various clans but also the descendants of ordinary ninjas in the village—a force that could not be underestimated.

Adding flowers to a brocade is not as good as sending charcoal in snowy weather. Just like when the first village in the ninja world was founded, it was the Senju and the Uchiha who proposed the idea!

"What are your thoughts for what comes next?" Madara continued to ask.

"We intend to invite members of other clans to the Clan Hall to watch the Clan Tournament, and then announce the news upon the conclusion of the event through the victories of Naori, Kagami, and myself." Rikusei truthfully relayed the plan he had discussed with Kaku to the clan leader before him.

"Handle the specifics yourselves; I have more important matters to attend to." Madara's deep gaze drifted past the corridor, fixating on the office bearing the Hokage plaque as he spoke: "Given your chakra reserves, feel free to take and use the Uchiha Gunbai from the Clan Hall if you wish."

Rikusei shook his head to decline; using a clan artifact to beat up children would be far too brutal, and he had other questions he wanted to ask: "Why was there no inauguration ceremony for the Hokage?"

"?"

Madara looked at him with curiosity. He hadn't held a ceremony when he became clan leader either; if one had to be named, the mountains of blades and forests of swords on the battlefield, along with the rivers of blood, should have counted as the celebration.

"Did Tobirama—did Tobirama Senju not remind you?" Sensing the sharpening of Madara's gaze, Rikusei adjusted his tone.

"He said the budget was insufficient, and that the expenses for the newly established departments and the sealing of those 'beasts'—" The wooden door in the corridor opened, and Madara paused as he looked at the familiar figure before continuing: "—the tools for the Tailed Beasts require a significant amount of money. Everything that can be saved must be saved."

"Just greeting everyone from the rooftop wouldn't cost much, and after all, a sense of ceremony is still necessary." Rikusei remained completely oblivious to the fact that Hashirama, dressed in his white robes, was watching him with a smile from the corridor behind him.

With his excellent eyesight, Rikusei caught the silhouette of the person behind him reflected in Madara's pupils, so he turned around and said softly: "Lord Hokage."

"It's Rikusei, isn't it?" Hashirama crouched down to look him in the eye, speaking in a gentle voice: "I heard about you from Tobirama; you really are quite impressive."

"Thank you for your undeserved praise, Lord Hokage."

After bowing to both him and Madara, Rikusei headed downstairs.

Madara withdrew his gaze from the stairwell and spoke to the figure beside him who was leaning against the wooden railing: "Has the Uzumaki Clan already set out?"

"The advance party has already arrived in the village and has begun developing ninja tools with the Artisan Ninja; we are just waiting for the delegation led by Clan Leader Ashina."

The cool Summer Wind could not soothe the boiling blood in his veins as Hashirama gazed into the distance at the thriving village and spoke in a low voice.