Ambition

"No!" Genma quickly calmed down.

Nagato's Rinnegan belonged to Madara. Transplanting it into my eyes would only burden me.

And I already have the Sage Eye that suits me best. There's no need to rush. With the power of Oonamuchi, I have all the time in the world. I just need to train steadily!

Transplanting Madara's Rinnegan would be putting the cart before the horse. There's no need for that.

"So the most urgent thing now is..."

Senju Genma didn't finish his sentence. A sudden ambition had simply welled up inside him.

If those with unrivaled power all liked to stir up trouble, why should someone with a Sage Body and Sage Eye sit on the sidelines?

Even children knew games were more fun when everyone played together. So why not join in and play with them?

One life is a life for ten thousand generations!

This Ninja World is mine!

Only then would I have greater motivation to stop the Otsutsuki Clan!

Protecting the Ninja World could be a choice.

Protecting my Ninja World was an obligation!

"Now that I've become the head of the Senju Clan, the next step... is to become Hokage!"

As the emotion called ambition took root, Genma felt warmth surge in his chest.

The man named Senju Genma had broken free of the restraints imposed by Uzumaki Mito!

"Big Brother Genma!"

Senju Genma jumped at the sudden, familiar voice. He turned and saw Kushina looking timidly at him.

Kushina took a deep breath, as if gathering her courage, then asked:

"Big Brother Genma, are you all right?"

The cruelty in Senju Genma's heart vanished at once. He quickly composed himself and replaced his expression with a gentle smile.

"I'm fine."

"But your face looked really scary just now, Big Brother Genma!"

Senju Genma gently stroked her little head.

"Sorry. I was thinking about something frightening."

"Is it still scary?"

Senju Genma made a silly face, making Kushina laugh.

"It's not scary anymore!" Kushina shook her head and said with a smile.

Genma stood up and asked, "All right, what did you need me for?"

At Genma's reminder, Kushina slapped her forehead, remembering the real reason she'd come. "Big Brother Genma, someone from the village came looking for you!"

Senju Genma looked puzzled.

"The village? What do they want now?"

Kushina shook her head, pouting cutely.

"I don't know, but the person looked like an Anbu ninja. He's waiting outside the clan grounds!"

"Well, that works. I was wondering what to do with myself!" Senju Genma took out a black cloak and put it on. "Stay home and behave. Things are unstable right now, so don't go wandering around."

"Tell Mikoto and Konan the same."

"Yes!" Kushina replied sweetly.

Senju Genma patted her cute little head, then turned into a streak of darkness and left the Clan Head Residence.

Outside the clan grounds, an Anbu wearing a dog mask was waiting.

"Let's go."

"Yes, Captain!" The Anbu answered and led Senju Genma to the Hokage Building.

Senju Genma pushed open the door to the Hokage Office and saw Hiruzen Sarutobi wiping his nose with one hand, while the other was hidden behind his back, concealing something.

That old bastard was definitely looking at something he shouldn't!

The thing behind his back was probably a Crystal Ball meant to be used with the Telescope Technique.

This item is fated to be mine!

"Genma, you're here?" Hiruzen Sarutobi gave him a kindly smile.

That old bastard's expression was so punchable. He had to be up to something.

Was he trying to take Mito's place in my heart?

As if! Mito was one of a kind in my heart!

Senju Genma asked, "Lord Hokage, may I ask why you wanted to see me?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed and replied, "The fighting at the front has been fierce lately. You've been an Anbu squad captain for six months now, and I think you can go to the battlefield and help Sakumo."

Half a year earlier, the spoils from defeating the Land of Rain had finally been divided. Hiruzen Sarutobi had overruled the objections of others and promoted Senju Genma to Anbu squad captain.

Hatake Sakumo had been promoted to Anbu deputy commander. Once this war was over, he would probably become commander.

Senju Genma rubbed his chin.

Tsunade had kept in touch with him, and as far as he remembered, Konoha had the upper hand in the war in the Land of Rain.

So he was sending me to earn some military merit!

"I understand! When do I leave?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "Within seven days. The sooner, the better. The battlefield doesn't need reinforcements this time."

That confirmed Senju Genma's suspicions, and he agreed to leave as soon as possible.

Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed determined to act like an elder to Senju Genma.

After they finished discussing official business, he kept Senju Genma there to chat about everyday matters for a while.

Seizing the opportunity, Senju Genma lamented that he had let Uzumaki Mito down by failing to manage the Senju Clan properly, leaving its numbers dwindling.

Seeing his beloved junior in such anguish, Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart softened.

He didn't abolish the policy of having the Senju Clan assimilate into the civilian population, but he agreed that from then on, the clan itself would be responsible for carrying out the policy. The village wouldn't actively interfere.

That was how one managed those under one's authority. It wasn't enough to expect them to obey. You also had to offer them benefits to win their loyalty.

By the time he got home, it was already evening. Senju Genma told the others that he would be going to war.

They refused to let him go to the battlefield. After all, it was full of danger, and no one knew what might happen.

Senju Genma had no choice but to reassure Mikoto, who had led the protest, then have her calm down Kushina and Konan.

With Mikoto, their gentle big sister, soothing them, Kushina and Konan finally stopped arguing.

But once the argument was over, the atmosphere turned heavy. The four of them finished dinner in silence.

Late that night, Genma slowly opened his eyes, went out onto the balcony, and found Mikoto gazing up at the stars.

He didn't need to guess to know she was weighed down by worry.

"Do you really have to go to the battlefield? War is too dangerous. How can you leave Kushina and the others here without worrying?"

She didn't mention herself, but Genma knew that "the others" included her.

Genma nodded, gripping the railing so tightly that it bent slightly. "That's right. Don't worry. This isn't my first time on the battlefield."

"For me, it's just necessary training. Trust me, I'll be fine."

He was only going to the battlefield to earn military merit and prepare to take over the Hokage Position smoothly.

And with his strength, the battlefield wasn't exactly a perilous place for him.

They chatted beneath the moon for a while. After much persuasion, Genma finally got Mikoto to agree to let him go to the battlefield.

After escorting Mikoto back to her room, Genma finally put his mind at ease and went to sleep.