Second Hokage Tobirama Senju died suddenly, and he appointed Sarutobi Hiruzen as Hokage.
Who would have agreed to that at the time?
The Senju were unhappy, and none of the other clans would accept it either.
What made the Sarutobi Clan so special? How could one of them become Hokage?
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You, from the Sarutobi Clan—what made you so special? How could you become Hokage?
It was crude, but true.
When Senju Tobirama was Hokage, he had indeed tried to bring the Senju Clan closer to the common people to appear more approachable.
But as a great clan,
they all had their pride.
The Senju were no exception.
If Senju Tobirama had stepped down normally and appointed Sarutobi Hiruzen as Hokage, no one would have objected.
But at the time, Senju Tobirama had already died.
Therefore, Sarutobi Hiruzen's rise to Hokage and the consolidation of his power must have been incredibly difficult—and undoubtedly bloody.
"Clan Head, do you know when the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha began?"
"Of course!"
Uchiha Fugaku nodded.
"It must have been during the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju's time."
Senju Tobirama had always been wary of the Uchiha.
In his eyes, the Uchiha were dangerous people who could erupt at any moment.
Of course, he hadn't simply despised the Uchiha. After all, he still admired people like Kagami Uchiha.
Whether anyone admitted it or not,
the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha stemmed from Senju Tobirama.
"And the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, inherited Senju Tobirama's will perfectly."
He had even twisted it.
Fugaku furrowed his brow.
"Chiba, do you have any evidence for what you're saying?"
Chiba shook his head.
He had no evidence.
This was simply the conclusion he had reached as someone who had crossed into this world.
Because he knew the story, he could truly understand Sarutobi Hiruzen—and the contradictions that defined his life.
"The Konoha High Command and the Uchiha can't both survive. Only one can remain!"
It was hard to imagine those words coming from a five-year-old child.
Fugaku had no idea what Chiba had been through to reach such a conclusion.
But—
"Your idea has already been proven wrong by Uchiha Madara."
At the Valley of the End,
Uchiha Madara had lost to Senju Hashirama.
"No!"
Chiba shook his head.
"He only lost that battle. If Madara had won back then, things might have turned out very differently!"
"So in the end, the deciding factor is still [power]!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen understood this well.
That was why he constantly gathered talented people around him, especially Uchiha prodigies.
Fugaku had been too idealistic.
Of course, Chiba had no right to criticize him.
After all, Chiba had reached this conclusion knowing that the Uchiha would be wiped out in the future.
"So, are you going to stop me from spending time with Itachi?"
Chiba looked up, meeting the Uchiha Clan Head's gaze.
Fugaku simply smiled.
"Why would I?"
"You two are the future of the Uchiha Clan. I have no right to hold you back!"
"I believe in my own children. I believe in Itachi, and I believe in you as a member of the Uchiha Clan!"
"In the future, whatever decision Itachi makes, I think I'll accept it gladly."
That was right.
He had done it.
Chiba knew Uchiha Fugaku hadn't been joking.
On the night of the massacre, he had accepted Itachi's choice and hadn't even resisted.
"When it comes to the village and the clan, Itachi will make his own decisions."
"You and everyone else are simply part of Itachi's life!"
"Uchiha Chiba, I'll remember you!"
"You're exceptional!"
"It's good that Itachi has a friend like you..."
"Excuse me, Clan Head—"
Chiba rose, leaned on his cane, and quietly left.
In the courtyard,
as cherry blossoms drifted down, Koizumi and her female clanmate spread a blanket on the grass, eating boxed lunches and admiring the flowers.
"Chiba, what did Father say to you?"
Itachi came up beside Chiba.
He felt a little apologetic.
Looking back, he realized how careless his reason for inviting Chiba over had been.
To admire the flowers?
That might have stirred up painful memories for Chiba.
But Chiba didn't mind.
"He said it was your honor to be my friend!"
"Pfft—"
Itachi couldn't hold back a laugh.
Chiba always knew how to catch him off guard.
Leaning on his cane, Chiba walked beneath the cherry tree and lay down beside Koizumi, eating the boxed lunch she handed him. He looked perfectly content.
"The cherry blossoms are beautiful this time of year!"
Itachi deliberately lowered his voice so Chiba wouldn't hear.
He had already been foolish enough to invite Chiba over to admire the flowers.
He wasn't about to loudly proclaim how moved he was.
The joy of admiring the flowers could stay in his heart.
"Yeah... they're really beautiful!"
A different, ill-timed voice suddenly reached his ears.
It wasn't Itachi or Koizumi.
It belonged to someone Chiba knew of, but had never met.
He had the rare "dango nose" of the Uchiha Clan. He wore a dark, short-sleeved, high-collared shirt with triangular armor, matching pants, and leg wraps.
The Uchiha Clan Crest was on the back of his shirt, and he carried a small tachi.
He was the man said to have "turned Asuma Sarutobi green with envy."
—Uchiha Shisui.
He had once possessed Kotoamatsukami, the most powerful genjutsu, and the ability to change the Uchiha Clan's fate.
Unfortunately, like Uchiha Fugaku now,
he had held out hope for the Konoha High Command.
In the end, Danzo stole one of his Kotoamatsukami eyes.
A wolf with fangs was a fearsome sight.
But once its fangs were pulled, there was no difference between a wolf and a dog.
Neither Fugaku nor Shisui had understood the true meaning of "political power grows out of the barrel of a gun."
The gun was for fighting.
Three Mangekyou Sharingan could accomplish so much.
Itachi was surprised to see Shisui.
"Shisui, you... are you back from the battlefield?"
"Yeah. I just got back to the village."
Uchiha Shisui was famous not only among the Uchiha but throughout the entire village.
After all, earning the title "Body Flicker Shisui" in the Mist Village was an honor.
Shisui had a simple purpose in returning.
Chiba's Observation Haki had already picked him up long ago.
And Shisui didn't beat around the bush.
He walked up to Chiba with a bright smile.
"Uchiha Chiba?"
"I've heard about you from Itachi."
"Want to spar?"
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Chapter 31