The New Konoha Hidden Village

The warm sun pierced the drifting clouds and fell across the treetops, while dappled shadows swayed gently over the earth.

Standing on a stool within the Uchiha Clan Grounds, Uchiha Rikusei stretched out his small arms, rising onto his toes as he worked a brush over a gunbai already painted on the wall.

White paint spread evenly over the handle of the Flame Gunbai. Uchiha Rikusei couldn't help sighing at the seemingly endless wall.

The Great Elder, Kaku, was so strict. Rikusei had only beaten Rai, Baru, and Naka soundly in the Clan Tournament, yet he'd been punished by having to paint every Flame Gunbai handle on the newly built western courtyard wall of the clan grounds all by himself.

Standing on the stool gave him a great view. In the distance, smoke billowed as other clans worked on major construction projects, shouting their spirited slogans.

Rikusei thought back to his conversation with Naori, when they'd discussed the new clans joining the village.

It should be the Sarutobi Clan and the Shimura Clan.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō should both have been born by now.

No, Kagami was the same age as him.

Rikusei thought hard, counting on his fingers. They were all from the same generation.

He looked over in high spirits. Monkey, King of Pots, don't you dare disappoint me.

Unaware that he'd smeared paint on his waist while standing with his hands on his hips, Rikusei proudly admired the handle he'd finished painting on his left. Then he hopped down from the stool, took the small stool in his left hand and the bucket of white paint in his right, and walked along the wall.

He'd been in this world for five years. Once, when he was alone, he'd shouted, "System, are you there?"

His body hadn't reacted in the slightest.

No matter. I'm a member of the Uchiha Clan. My fate is in my own hands—cough! Better to keep a low profile. The world is in chaos, and I should be cautious until I awaken the Mangekyo.

Especially considering Tobirama of the Senju Clan, whose Water Style techniques seemed designed entirely to counter the Uchiha.

The way he'd awakened his eyes seemed different from that of the other Uchiha.

He didn't seem to need an intense emotional shock to produce special chakra that would stimulate his optic nerves and awaken the Sharingan. By chance, he'd naturally awakened the Single Tomoe within five years.

A sudden sound of footsteps startled the birds perched on the wall and sent them scattering. Rikusei stopped working and looked at the man approaching with a bucket of red paint. He wore a high-collared robe, a style distinct to the Uchiha.

"Clan Head," Rikusei greeted him respectfully.

Uchiha Madara's left eye, visible beneath his long hair, seemed displeased. "Call me Teacher."

"Of course, Clan Head."

Here we go again. Madara sighed and held the bucket of paint as he looked at the boy. This was one of Rikusei's favorite games.

"Did you come to help, Teacher?"

Standing on the stool, Rikusei finished painting the handle in front of him, then asked softly.

"This village has a name now. It's Konoha. I came up with it!" Uchiha Madara said in a good mood as he painted the fan red, a hint of pride in his voice.

"Konoha Hidden Village? It's a lovely name, easy to say." Rikusei answered earnestly. Then, noticing something, he teased, "Teacher, you painted it wrong. The bottom of the separated fan is supposed to be white."

Uchiha Madara was caught off guard. He sighed. "Well, it's done now. It looks pretty good in bright red."

"So, Teacher, are you going to become the village's leader?" Rikusei asked, looking up from his stool.

Uchiha Madara lowered his head to look at his disciple. The boy's resemblance to Izuna made him feel a little dazed. He kept painting the Flame Gunbai as he replied, "Perhaps."

"Have you thought about how to develop the village?"

"Not yet." Uchiha Madara opened his mouth, then paused before answering.

He really hadn't considered what he should do after becoming the leader. He couldn't just keep fighting wars like before, not when all the surrounding ninja clans had gathered together.

"Now that the ninja clans are all together, our Uchiha Clan should set an example. We could propose building a place like a Clan Academy where all the clans can study. And..." Rikusei put down his brush and counted off ideas on his fingers. "A place to treat people's everyday injuries and illnesses, a force to patrol the village and maintain security, and a place to identify spies from other factions."

"Don't tell me that because Kaku punished you, you want to tear down the entire Uchiha Clan Academy."

Having caught the most important point, Uchiha Madara crouched down and prodded the boy's forehead as he stood on the stool, his gaze blazing.

"Ow!" Rikusei rubbed his forehead and protested as if he'd suffered a grave injustice. "What? Teacher should be focusing on the rest!"

"Those suggestions sound familiar."

Uchiha Madara folded his arms and thought it over. During the wars, they'd often come across ideas like these. He hadn't expected little Rikusei to put them together.

"Teacher, Lord Hashirama came to see you."

Rikusei nodded behind Uchiha Madara. Taking the paint bucket from him, he made room for the two men, picked up his stool, and went around to the other side of the wall.

"Madara, want to take a walk through the streets?"

Senju Hashirama, dressed in casual clothes, stood beneath the shade of a tree and made the suggestion.

Madara nodded silently, gave Rikusei an apologetic look, and followed Hashirama toward the edge of the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

"That was the Rikusei you're always talking about, wasn't it?" Hashirama said to his friend, slowing his pace.

"Yeah. He's impressive in every way. He has a real talent for ninjutsu and Taijutsu, and he's even awakened the Sharingan." As they walked through the increasingly bustling streets, Uchiha Madara gave Hashirama an approving look, pleased by the topic.

"You wouldn't happen to like him because he reminds you of Izuna, would you? I'm sorry!" Hashirama, a dark line of embarrassment across his forehead, suddenly sank into dejection and bowed his head.

From the familiar hillside, they had an unobstructed view of the village. Uchiha Madara smiled and teased him. "Have you still not gotten over that habit of falling into despair at the drop of a hat? Do you remember what we talked about here before?"

"Was it the Kage Rock? I know we'll have them make you look more handsome when the time comes!" Hashirama gazed out at the forest and the busy clan grounds scattered among the trees, speaking softly.

"No!" Uchiha Madara shouted. "I meant the Clan Academy!"

"The Clan Academy?" Hashirama looked at him curiously.

"Now that the Sarutobi and Shimura Clans have joined us, other clans will follow. Shouldn't we provide a place where they can all study together? If every clan still teaches at its own Clan Academy, how is that any different from before?" Uchiha Madara explained his thoughts after refining them.

"That's a great idea. I knew you were the best choice for Hokage, Madara! Then the Senju and Uchiha can set an example together."

Hashirama beamed at Madara, glad he hadn't misjudged him. The village would keep growing under their combined efforts.

"And another thing!"

A trace of amusement showed on Uchiha Madara's stern face as he replied.

"Another? You really have been giving this some thought!" Hashirama plopped down on a rock, ready to listen carefully to what his friend had to say.

"Are you making fun of me, saying I'm as stupid as you, Hashirama?"

Hashirama fell into despair again and hung his head, staring at the ground. "I'm sorry."

"Well..."

Used to this by now, Madara sat beside him and gazed up at the blue sky, where white clouds of all shapes drifted by. As Uchiha Clan Head, he was perfectly capable of drawing further conclusions. He added plenty of details to Rikusei's rudimentary ideas.

A place for treating the injured would be a hospital. Security could be divided into internal and external matters. Internal affairs could be further divided into managing the daily duties of the ninja and managing ordinary civilians.

External affairs could include identifying spies from other factions among ninja and civilians, gathering intelligence, and handling assassinations and other things that couldn't be done openly.

"Did you come up with all of that yourself, Madara?"

Senju Hashirama carefully considered the various ideas Madara had described. Some of them coincided with Tobirama's ideas.

"They came from developing Rikusei's ideas." Madara lay on the ground, relaxing as he spoke.

"I've decided to take him on as my disciple." Hashirama suddenly turned toward him.

"?" Shadow fell over Madara's face. His eyes widened, and he immediately refused. "You can't steal my disciple!"

"Once the Ninja Academy is built, we could both teach him. That wouldn't be a problem." Hashirama turned toward Madara and continued with bright enthusiasm. "He's such a talented young man. We have to raise him well!"

Rikusei, carrying an empty paint bucket, had no idea that Hashirama had just picked him out as his disciple.

If he knew, he'd probably beg Hashirama to spare him. He was already suffering enough under Madara.

He'd spent five happy years being raised by Grandmother. Then, while visiting the Uchiha cemetery, he'd awakened the Sharingan and Madara had happened to see him. After that, his happy life was over.

Even when Madara limited his strength to the level of someone their age during training, his instincts, honed through countless battles at his peak, weren't so easy to control.

During their Taijutsu practice—Single Tomoe against Single Tomoe—Rikusei ended up covered in bruises every time.

The Uchiha were wealthy and had special medicine, so Rikusei could recover completely by the next day. But his little body could barely endure the legendary punishment of the Uchiha Clan.

After putting the paint bucket in the Clan Academy's storeroom, Rikusei strolled quietly along the corridor, preparing to head home.

"Wait, Uchiha Rikusei!"

A commotion rose behind him. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor. From the light steps on the wooden floor, he could tell it was a group of children.

Rikusei turned around helplessly and looked at them, a slight smile on his childish face. "What is it?"

"Nothing!"

Uchiha Rai, who was a little shorter, took a small step back and denied it.

Uchiha Baru, his eye bruised purple, shoved him forward. Frustrated by Rai's lack of courage, Baru stepped forward and shouted, "We've come to challenge you again!"

"Yeah, yeah!"

Uchiha Naka leaned against a pillar and nodded in agreement.

"Where's Kagami?" Rikusei took a step toward them and asked softly.

The three of them all flinched. After shoving one another around, Rai was pushed to the front. He shivered and stammered, "Kagami's studying the clan's history with Big Sister Naori."

Rikusei thought of an unpleasant memory. Suppressing the tremble in his right hand, he asked them, "Aren't you afraid of me?"

"No!" Uchiha Baru stood protectively in front of Rai and declared, "It's only physical pain!"

"And now?"

Huddled together for comfort, they clearly saw the eyes quietly watching them beneath the corridor: dark tomoe reflected on the polished wooden floor, like something out of a nightmare. The Sharingan.

"Go train. I'm looking forward to your challenge at the next Clan Tournament." Rikusei deactivated his Sharingan, walked up, and patted their shoulders before turning toward home.

"Hey, Baru, should we go train?" Naka asked, watching the boy walk away.

"Of course!" Baru wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, put an arm around Rai's shoulders, and rallied their spirits. "We'll make Rikusei pay at the next Clan Tournament!"

"But there are two people we can't beat now: Big Sister Naori and Rikusei," Rai murmured, slipping out from under his arm.

"Shut up!!!"

An exasperated shout rang through the corridor.