Winning Over the Great Elder! Forcibly Seizing Power Within the Clan!

Inside the Hokage Office.

"Ahhh! My legs! My arms!"

Danzo writhed continuously on the floor.

Having lost his limbs, he could not even stand now. He could only use his remaining left hand to clutch the floor desperately, his face twisted in agony.

"Tobirama Uchiha! I'll kill him! I'll tear him into ten thousand pieces!"

"I'll skin him alive!"

Danzo's voice was as shrill as a ghost's. There was none of the Ninja World's darkness left in him. He was now merely a mad dog whose teeth had been pulled and legs broken.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood nearby, his expression equally grim.

Seeing his old friend in such a miserable state, rage and fear tangled within him.

It was fear of Uchiha power, and even more so, fury at losing control.

"Enough, Danzo!"

Hiruzen gritted his teeth and ordered the Medical Corps to come in and stop the bleeding.

"What's the use of shouting now?!"

"Your Root is gone! Your body is ruined too!"

"This is all because of your recklessness!"

Though he rebuked him verbally, the killing intent in Hiruzen's eyes was even stronger than Danzo's.

"But... don't worry."

Hiruzen took a deep breath and looked toward the Uchiha Clan District outside the window, malice flickering in his eyes.

"He won't live much longer."

"I had intended to wait a little longer... but since he dared to humiliate the Hokage and Konoha's higher-ups today—"

"Then he must die!"

"Only the dead cannot threaten Konoha!"

Hearing this, Danzo stopped wailing. His one eye fixed viciously on Hiruzen.

"Kumogakure... Iwagakure... move the plan forward!"

"Send him to his death! Let him die on the battlefield!"

"I want to watch his corpse get eaten by wild dogs!"

Two old friends who had once fought side by side reached the most vicious agreement in that blood-reeking office.

They would spare no cost, even if it meant selling out the village's interests.

They would still kill that Uchiha boy!

The streets of Konoha, as the sun set.

Compared to the grim Hokage Building, the outside world was full of everyday warmth.

"Hey! Lord Tobirama is back?"

"Lord Tobirama, these red bean cakes just came out of the oven. Take them for your little apprentice to try!"

"Lord Tobirama is such a fine young man! Come eat at this auntie's place when you have time!"

The villagers were incredibly enthusiastic along the way.

After all, with all that money thrown around, along with the prestige of destroying a nation, Tobirama was practically a living bodhisattva in the civilians' eyes.

Tobirama wore a gentle smile and responded to each of them, even calling several neighbors by name.

That approachable attitude left Konan, who followed behind him, stunned.

Was this really the master who had decisively cut down dozens of people with one blade?

"Master... everyone really likes you."

Konan held a bag of red bean cakes that an auntie had forcefully stuffed into her hands, her orange eyes sparkling.

This was the life she had always longed for.

No war, no hunger—everyone smiling and greeting one another.

"Likes me?"

Tobirama rubbed her head, his gaze profound.

"Konan, remember this."

"What they like isn't me. It's a strong person who can protect them and give them benefits."

"If I lose one day, these people will turn on me faster than flipping a page."

"But..." Tobirama smiled. "As long as I keep winning, that won't be a problem."

After returning home.

Tobirama skillfully reheated Konan's meal and checked her injuries again.

"After you finish eating, write up a summary of today's training."

"I have something to do outside. No matter who knocks, don't open the door unless you hear my voice."

"Mm! I understand, Master!"

Konan nodded obediently. Watching Tobirama's departing back, warmth filled her heart.

This was home.

She had to protect this home!

Deep within the Uchiha Clan District.

The Great Elder's residence stood in the quietest corner, with two elite guards bearing Two-Tomoe Sharingan stationed at its entrance.

"Stop!"

When they saw Tobirama approaching, the guards immediately raised their hands to block him, their faces arrogant.

"Tobirama? This is the Great Elder's residence. You may not enter without a summons!"

"And though you've earned some merit, you're only a junior from a branch family. Do you even understand the rules...?" (This happened because they only knew the Protagonist had earned merits, not how powerful he was. Only a few Konoha higher-ups knew the details, and the information had been sealed off.)

Before they could finish.

Tobirama did not stop walking. He did not even raise a hand.

"Genjutsu, Tsukuyomi."

His scarlet eyes flashed.

Thud! Thud!

The two elite Chunin rolled their eyes and collapsed without even letting out a scream, sleeping like dead pigs.

"Rules?"

Tobirama stepped over their bodies and kicked open the vermilion door.

"My words are the rules."

Inside the residence.

The Uchiha Great Elder was kneeling on a tatami mat, enjoying tea. Hearing the commotion at the entrance, he frowned.

He was the leader of the clan's hardline faction and normally valued hierarchy above all else.

"Insolence!"

The Great Elder set down his teacup and sternly rebuked Tobirama, who swaggered inside.

"Tobirama! Who allowed you to barge in?"

"Though you have some fame now, within the clan, you are still only a junior!"

"You refuse to kneel and greet an elder, and you even dared injure the guards? Are you trying to rebel?"

Faced with the Great Elder's spray of spit.

Tobirama merely pulled over a chair casually and sat down with his legs spread wide, amusement in his eyes.

"Great Elder, don't get so angry."

"You might have a stroke."

"You!" The Great Elder's beard trembled with rage. "Guards! Seize this ignorant—"

"Enough. Stop shouting."

Tobirama yawned, and the aura around him suddenly changed.

A moment ago, he had seemed like the boy next door. Now, he was like a ferocious beast ready to devour anyone in his path.

His black eyes instantly transformed into the pattern of the Mangekyo.

A pressure originating from the depths of his bloodline instantly engulfed the entire room.

The Great Elder's pupils contracted sharply, and the curse on his lips was forcibly swallowed.

He stared fixedly at Tobirama's eyes, his body trembling uncontrollably.

"This... this is..."

"The Mangekyo... Sharingan?"

As an old member of the Uchiha Clan, he knew all too well what those eyes represented.

That was Uchiha Madara's power!

The power of legend—the power of a god!

"The times have changed, old man."

Tobirama pointed at his own eyes, a wild, arrogant smile curling across his lips.

"I used to keep my head down because I still needed time to grow."

"Now I strike hard because..."

"I'm invincible."

"From now on, I call the shots in this clan."

The Great Elder swallowed. His face was pale, but a fire called fervor burned in the depths of his eyes.

The strong were respected!

That was the creed etched into the Uchiha Clan's bones!

"You... what do you want?"

The Great Elder's voice trembled. There was no longer any rebuke in it, only reverence.

"What do I want?"

Tobirama pulled out a scroll from his robes and tossed it before the Great Elder.

"Take a look."

"I just took this from that old monkey Hiruzen Sarutobi."

"Root has been disbanded. Its personnel are mine."

"Half of the Shimura Clan's shops belong to the clan."

"The Konoha Military Police Force's enforcement authority has been expanded. It now has the privilege of acting first and reporting later."

"And... I've already turned that old dog Danzo into a human stump."

Every sentence was like a heavy hammer smashing into the Great Elder's chest.

Especially the last one.

The Great Elder abruptly raised his head, disbelief written all over his face.

"You... you crippled Danzo?"

"And got us so many benefits?"

Heavens!

These old men had fought Konoha's higher-ups for decades and suffered endless indignities. Forget gaining benefits—even keeping their own tiny patch of land had been difficult enough.

Yet this twelve-year-old boy had gone out once, flipped the table, and even brought the dishes back with him?

This was how the Uchiha Clan was supposed to be!

This was the dominance they had dreamed of!

"Tobirama... no, Lord Tobirama!"

The Great Elder rose shakily to his feet, and the way he looked at Tobirama changed completely.

It was the gaze of someone who had seen a savior.

It was the fervor of someone who had seen hope for the clan's revival!

"Good! Good! Good!"

The Great Elder said "good" three times in a row, tears streaming down his aged face.

"The Uchiha Clan... has finally produced a dragon!"

"That Fushan... he handles matters too indecisively. This old man has disliked him for a long time!"

"Only you! Only you, who possess these eyes, are worthy of leading the Uchiha Clan to its peak!"

His attitude had changed completely.

The junior he had just wanted seized had now become "my lord."

That was reality. Those who understood the times were the wise ones.

"But..." The Great Elder wiped away his tears, somewhat hesitant. "Fushan is still the clan head... He still has some prestige within the clan, and he is currently at the front line..."

"You don't need to worry about that."

Tobirama waved a hand, looking unconcerned.

"I'll make Fushan accept it wholeheartedly."

"What you need to do now is gather every Uchiha clansman currently remaining in Konoha at Naka Shrine."

"I'm going to... hold a meeting for them."

Hearing that, the Great Elder immediately straightened his back, as though he had grown twenty years younger.

He bowed deeply to Tobirama, his tone respectful to the extreme.

"Yes! Lord Tobirama!"

"This old man will see to it immediately!"

"Anyone who dares not come, I'll break his legs myself!"

Watching the Great Elder hurry out in a bustle, Tobirama's lips curved slightly.

Done.

The old diehards in the clan were actually the easiest to fool.

As long as you were strong enough, ruthless enough, and could bring them an endless stream of benefits and glory.

They would become your most loyal dogs.

At the entrance.

The two guards who had been knocked out by the genjutsu slowly came to.

The moment they opened their eyes, they saw their usually imposing Great Elder fawning as he escorted Tobirama out.

"Lord Tobirama, take care!"

"If you need anything, just call for me!"

The two guards were dumbfounded.

They exchanged glances and saw the terror in each other's eyes.

The world... had changed.

They hurriedly scrambled to their feet and lowered their heads, wishing they could burrow into the cracks in the ground.

"Lo... Lord Tobirama..."

Tobirama glanced at them without speaking, merely giving a faint snort.

That single snort nearly made the two of them piss themselves again.

Watching Tobirama's receding back.

The Great Elder stood at the entrance with his back straight and roared at the two guards:

"What are you standing around for?"

"Can't you see that's the future clan head of the Uchiha Clan?!"

"Pass down the order!"

"The entire clan will assemble!"