Self-Awareness

"At first, my motives weren't pure. I only wanted to join the faction of Seventh Elder Uchiha Raimon through a series of deeds that would make a name for myself and by tying our interests together, all to secure my own future. But I'd thought everything through carefully and planned each step in advance. I wouldn't have acted this way if there'd been even the slightest danger!"

"Whether it was attracting the clan's attention by making a name for myself and putting myself in the spotlight, or giving Seventh Elder Uchiha Raimon material benefits and a share of the clan's prestige while helping him solve problems within the clan, it all elevated him morally in the eyes of the clan. Under the watchful eyes of the clan members and so many elders, the slightest misstep would ruin his reputation!"

"In other words, Uchiha Raimon would never do anything that could hurt me. He could only do his utmost to protect me. Besides, I'd already calculated that Seventh Elder Uchiha Raimon had no successor. He had only two daughters. One was too frail to train as a ninja, while the other had decent talent but was overlooked by the Uchiha Clan's preference for sons. On top of that, Elder Raimon loved his wife dearly. After she died, unlike the other Uchiha Clan elders, he didn't take a string of wives and have lots of children. He didn't have many siblings, either, so he had plenty of heirs!"

"Only in a branch like this could a genius like me be chosen as his successor and receive the training I needed, while protecting the old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled of Elder Uchiha Raimon's branch. After all, the turmoil at the end of the Warring States period and Madara Uchiha's reckless actions had taken the heaviest toll on Uchiha Raimon's branch out of the nine branches of the Uchiha Clan. It still hadn't recovered."

"But that was exactly what made it my opportunity. Only in a branch like this could I join as a genius and receive the attention and training I deserved. The Seventh Elder's faction looked powerful, but was actually weak and without an heir. It was my natural ally. First, I used a series of measures to protect myself, and then..."

"And now, I've accomplished every part of my carefully laid plan!"

A flicker of thought crossed Uchiha Tenshu's eyes. Then he sighed heavily. "But the original plan was only to study under him. Now I'm expected to take responsibility for Yukino and Lingyue. Entrust them to me? Sigh. He just wants to bind me to them willingly, in case anything happens. But..."

A bitter feeling welled up inside Uchiha Tenshu. "In the end, I'm only human. I can't escape the full range of human emotions and desires. Even though I started out scheming, after two years of pretending, I still couldn't help but give them a part of my genuine affection. I can't bring myself to let go or forget!"

"Without realizing it, I've grown attached to the companionship. Sometimes, I even let this warmth cloud my judgment and think that a life like this wouldn't be so bad!"

"Maybe that's just a flaw in human nature. Even I can't completely sever my emotions!"

Uchiha Tenshu shook his head helplessly.

"But whether it's Yukino or Lingyue, if you want to entrust them to me, then I'll accept them without reservation!"

"Though things didn't get off to an ideal start, I swear I'll give them a wonderful journey and a happy future."

Uchiha Tenshu made a silent vow.

In a way, he'd finally understood his own heart.

Perhaps the person the outside world knew was a sincere and friendly young man who united his clan, honored his elders, and was loyal, kindhearted, and outstanding in every way, with a heart full of hopes for a better future.

But that was merely the facade he used to mislead the outside world.

The real me—

When it came down to it, I was nothing but a despicable, vile person of terrible character, full of schemes and deceit.

I was greedy, grasping, and insatiable.

I longed for every good thing this world had to offer.

My desires knew no bounds.

But weren't all people like that?

When all was said and done,

humans were just more advanced animals.

If I wanted to survive in this world, I had to pay the price and make the necessary sacrifices.

Desire drove people to act.

The rule of survival in human society was that big fish ate little fish, little fish ate shrimp, and shrimp ate mud.

Under such a brutal law of survival, people did whatever it took to stay alive. They wouldn't rest until they got what they wanted!

If that was the case,

who was more noble than anyone else? Who was more lowly?

It was simply survival of the fittest.

Whoever reached the top basked in endless glory. Whoever stayed at the bottom was scorned and cursed.

As long as I could reach the highest peak,

wouldn't everyone sing my praises and glory shine all around me?

Why should I care about being despicable today?

At that thought, Uchiha Tenshu made a quiet decision. "Now that I've achieved my original goal, it's time to move on to the next step!"

"Based on the original Naruto timeline, after this winter ends, next year will be when the First, Hashirama Senju, passes the title of Hokage to the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. That means my prediction is completely right, and I'll have Elder Raimon's full support."

"At the same time, because Hokage after Hokage will come from the Senju Clan, the village will grow wary of them, perhaps even more so than of the Uchiha Clan. That will eventually lead the Second Hokage to pass the title to his student Hiruzen Sarutobi after the Senju Clan's strongest fighters are devastated. That's how Hiruzen Sarutobi and his inner circle will dominate the Hokage's office for decades. No matter what, that outcome must not be changed. With a 'Ninja Bear' like that in Konoha, it'll be much easier for me to establish my own country elsewhere!"

"So before Tobirama Senju, that old schemer of the Senju Clan, dies, I must avoid changing the original storyline wherever possible. I have to leave Konoha in the hands of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the 'strongest' Hokage in history. And the Uchiha Clan definitely won't all leave with me. They've already been lulled into a false sense of peace. Apart from Yukino's branch—the old, weak, sick, and disabled—and the few families who are loyal to me, whom I'm confident I can take with me, the rest of the Uchiha Clan will stay in Konoha and fight for power. If so, I might as well help them eliminate a few threats, then leave them here to wear Konoha down from within!"

"I feel a little guilty about the Uchiha Clan members who'll stay in Konoha. But for the sake of my ambition, I can only sacrifice a few of them. Besides, if I don't, they won't hesitate to stab me in the back to prove their loyalty to Konoha. Just look at the pathetic way Fugaku Uchiha thinks in the future: even members of his own clan are disposable to him when he has to choose between them and his loyalty to Konoha. Since we're on opposing sides, Uchiha Tenshu can only look out for himself!"

A sinister smile curled Uchiha Tenshu's lips.

No one knew better than he did how badly the few loyal followers of Hiruzen Sarutobi would damage Konoha, that flourishing village.

What a pity!

If the foundation of Konoha's founding hadn't belonged to the Senju Clan, and if the whole shinobi world hadn't recognized their role in establishing the village, it would have been impossible to erase the Senju Clan's mark completely.

Uchiha Tenshu wouldn't have chosen to leave.

After all, under the so-called shinobi village system, even Uchiha Tenshu had no way to keep every clan firmly under his control. That was precisely why he'd resolutely chosen to leave.

He didn't want to be overshadowed by the Senju Clan, nor did he want his power to face any kind of restriction or oppression. He didn't want his enemies to become his predecessors.

Otherwise, even if he fought for power in Konoha and climbed all the way to the top, he'd still be overshadowed by the Senju name.

He'd only be bringing glory to someone else's house.

No matter how much he gained, he'd have to share the glory and benefits with those former enemies.

It was utterly disgusting.

What Uchiha Tenshu wanted

was to be the one who built everything from the ground up.

He wanted to be the beginning of all glory.

"After all, I really want to be emperor, just once!"

Uchiha Tenshu murmured, his deep gaze fixed on the endless darkness, where the future seemed to lie.