We Are the Successors of the Will of Fire

Konoha Village, Konoha Academy.

A chorus of clear, spirited singing rang out from the classroom.

"We are the heirs to the Will of Fire, Inheriting the glorious spirit of our forebears.

Love Konoha, love our comrades, march bravely onward, Our blazing faith lights the way..."

Uchiha Yan had composed this song overnight, drawing on Kamizuki Yakumo's deeds. The lyrics were catchy, and the melody was simple and easy to remember.

As soon as Uchiha Yan finished writing it, he immediately summoned Sarutobi Sasuke, the Minister of Rites.

"This song must be taught throughout Konoha Academy within three days. Lord Hokage personally ordered it to serve as the academy's school anthem. Every morning before class, everyone will sing it together."

Sarutobi Sasuke took the lyrics and read them carefully. His eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"Lord Yan, this song is wonderfully written."

"Less flattery. Go get it done."

"Yes!"

Before long, the song drifted through every street and alley of Konoha.

Children sang it on their way to school, sang it on their way home, and were still singing it while eating dinner at home. Vegetable-selling grannies, brick-carrying laborers, and patrolling ninja would all occasionally blurt out a line or two of "We are the heirs to the Will of Fire."

"Oh my, this song really is lovely."

"Isn't it? My boy sings it at home every day. I've practically learned it by heart."

Conversations like these rose and fell throughout every corner of Konoha Village.

The Senju compound.

Senju Tobirama had just finished a secret experiment and emerged from the basement, exhausted from head to toe. The physical fatigue was still bearable, but the mental exhaustion was truly draining.

Uchiha Yan had one trick after another. Today it was a school anthem, tomorrow it would be public opinion—every step meticulously planned, without a single flaw. His elder brother Hashirama paid no attention to village affairs.

The Senju Clan could only rely on him to hold everything together.

Ever since Uchiha Madara became Hokage, the Uchiha Clan had become nearly unrivaled in Konoha. Though they were both founding clans, Konoha's people now knew only the Uchiha and not the Senju. Those smaller clans were even rushing to side with the Uchiha—Sarutobi, Shimura Clan, Aburame Clan... one after another, they had all become the Uchiha's direct affiliates.

If this continued, what standing would the Senju Clan have left in Konoha?

Tobirama rubbed his temples. Just as he was about to return to his room and rest, he ran into Hashirama and Mito.

"Tobirama, what have you been busy with lately? Mito and I haven't seen you at all."

Senju Tobirama said, "What have I been busy with? I've been busy saving the Senju Clan."

Hashirama froze for a moment, the smile on his face stiffening. "Tobirama, what are you talking about?"

"What am I talking about?" Tobirama sneered. "Brother, Madara is Hokage now. You have to become the next Hokage. If this goes on, the Senju Clan will be completely suppressed by the Uchiha!"

Hashirama frowned.

"Tobirama, you're too narrow-minded. You judge a gentleman's heart with a petty man's mind. Madara and Yan seem perfectly fine to me. Since Madara became Hokage, Konoha has flourished. It's peaceful, and the people live and work in contentment. You're always targeting the Uchiha. This is your Pride and Prejudice!"

"You're exactly what Yan called—a remnant of the old era. You still cling to the old ideas of the clans and haven't integrated into the big family that is Konoha."

Tobirama's face instantly turned red.

"I'm a remnant? I'm the petty man?"

His voice rose several notches.

"You're so noble! You're so amazing! So now you get to scold me! I stay in the clan conducting experiments and worrying about the Senju Clan's future, while you're out there living carefree!"

"Hmph—"

Tobirama turned around, slammed the door, and entered the house, leaving Hashirama and Mito standing in the courtyard.

Hashirama sighed.

"Mito, do you think Tobirama's being overly sensitive?"

Uzumaki Mito did not answer. She did not particularly want to involve herself in the feud between the Senju and the Uchiha. She had not been married into the family for long and had yet to fully understand all these twists and turns. But one thing seemed quite clear to her—Tobirama really was petty.

Konoha had already been founded, yet he was still hung up on old grudges, constantly talking about the "evil Uchiha." It made her unable to hold her head up in front of Uori. Uori was her childhood best friend, and she had now married Uchiha Izuna. Mito often went to the Uchiha compound to chat and drink tea with her. Whenever Uori asked, "Does Lord Tobirama have some kind of problem with us Uchiha?" Mito never knew how to answer.

Thankfully, Shino and Nagetsuki had not taken a liking to Tobirama back then. If either of them had married him, wouldn't they have been bullied to death by such a small-minded man?

Mito silently counted her blessings, then took Hashirama back inside.

"Come on, don't argue with Tobirama. He's just like that. He'll be fine in a few days."

The Uchiha compound.

Inside Uchiha Madara's residence, Madara and Uchiha Yan sat facing one another.

"Lord Madara, according to the clan records, excessive use of the Mangekyo Sharingan causes declining eyesight, and in severe cases can even lead to blindness. You have fought Hashirama for so many years and have constantly used the Mangekyo in battle. Your vision must have deteriorated quite a bit by now, hasn't it?"

Uchiha Madara fell silent for a moment before slowly nodding.

"That's right. Not just me—Izuna's and my eyesight have both declined to some extent compared to before. I never told the clan about this because I was afraid it would cause panic."

Uchiha Yan's heart sank. As expected, Madara's and Izuna's Mangekyo were already beginning to lose their light. If this problem was not resolved quickly, Madara's strength would suffer greatly. The Uchiha could not afford to lose such a top-tier fighter now.

"Lord Madara, I know of a way to solve the Mangekyo's blindness problem."

"What way?"

"Between blood brothers, transplanting each other's Mangekyo Sharingan can solve the blindness problem."

"How come I didn't know about this?" As the Uchiha Clan's leader, Madara was familiar with most of the Uchiha's history. Yet nowhere had he ever seen any mention that Mangekyo blindness could be cured, much less by transplanting them between brothers.

Uchiha Yan had long expected Madara's question. Without changing expression, he replied, "My father told me."

"Elder Liudao?" Madara's gaze became complicated.

Uchiha Liudao, Uchiha Yan's father, had once been an elder. Back when Uchiha Tajima—Madara's father—had competed for the position of clan leader, Liudao had been Tajima's greatest rival. After losing, Liudao had withdrawn to become an elder. Though he no longer vied for leadership, he still carried considerable influence within the clan.

Words from such a man were indeed credible.

"My father said that if I ever awakened the Mangekyo, it would not be a blessing for me, but a curse—because I have no blood-related siblings." Uchiha Yan's voice grew somewhat lower. "Unfortunately, Father passed away too early. He never had the chance to give me another younger brother or sister."

He raised his head and looked into Madara's eyes.

"Lord Madara, with Lord Izuna here, this is a blessing for both you and Lord Izuna. I have never mentioned this matter to anyone because I did not wish to cause unrest within the clan. But now that Lord Madara is the Hokage, and Lord Izuna is also a pillar of Konoha, there cannot be any problem with your eyes."

Madara fell silent.

He closed his eyes, recalling the scattered words his father Tajima had spoken while alive. Tajima had never mentioned Mangekyo transplantation, but neither had he told Madara every secret of the clan. Some things were known only to the elders.

It was not impossible that Liudao knew things Tajima did not.

"Are you sure this method will work?" Madara opened his eyes and fixed Uchiha Yan with a sharp stare.

"Lord Madara, I am sure."

Of course he was sure. The method for obtaining the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan had been laid out crystal clear in the plot of his past life—when Indra's descendants, blood brothers, transplanted each other's eyes, they could bring forth an eternal light that would never go blind.

Madara and Izuna were the most suitable candidates.

Uchiha Madara rose to his feet.

Only after a long while did he speak.

"Let me think about this matter some more."

"Naturally." Uchiha Yan stood and gave a slight bow. "Lord Madara, I'll take my leave first."

After walking out of Madara's residence, Uchiha Yan looked up at the night sky and let out a long breath.

He had already provided a solution to the greatest problem.

Now, it depended on when Madara came around.