First Generation Loses, Tobirama Only Regrets Insufficient Combat Power

The Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan had joined forces.

Within days, the news spread throughout the entire ninja world. To every ninja clan, it was no different from detonating a nuclear bomb.

Who did not know that the Senju and Uchiha were the two strongest clans of the Warring States Era? For centuries, they had fought each other to the death.

And now, those two clans had actually buried the hatchet and planned to build a village together—what did that mean? It meant that from this day forward, the ninja world would have a colossal power, a superpower capable of sweeping away all resistance.

Hyuga Tennin, the head of the Hyuga Clan, fell silent for a long time upon hearing the news.

The three Boar-Deer-Butterfly clans—Yamanaka Clan, Akimichi Clan, and Nara Clan—had always stood together. Their three clan heads met overnight. Before dawn the next day, the three clans had dispatched envoys bearing their sincerity and letters of allegiance, hurrying toward the Senju and Uchiha camp.

The Shimura Clan and the Sarutobi Clan did not hesitate for long either. They took the initiative to pledge themselves. If they could not beat them, they would join them. While the village was still being established, they could still fight for a place; once the village was built, they might not even be able to get through the door.

For a time, the Land of Fire was swept up in turmoil. The major clans all sent people to the temporary camp of the Senju and Uchiha to declare their allegiance. What had originally been a village-building plan involving only two clans now gathered more than half of the ninja clan forces in the Land of Fire in the blink of an eye.

At the same time, in the royal capital of the Land of Fire, the Daimyo sat in his study with a livid expression.

"The Senju and Uchiha are joining forces to build a village?" the Daimyo's voice trembled. "What are they trying to do? What are they trying to do?!"

Ninja were supposed to kill and fight as usual, taking on missions. No matter how chaotic the ninja world became, it would not affect him, the Daimyo. But now, these ninja suddenly wanted to unite and build a village—calling it a village sounded nice, but it was clearly a military fortress!

On a smaller scale, it was neglecting their proper duties; on a larger scale, it was illegally establishing an army!

Once these ninja had a base of their own, unified command, and a massive army—if they got unhappy one day and marched on the royal capital, what could he use to stop them?

How could one allow another to sleep soundly beside one's bed...

But no matter how anxious he was, there was nothing he could do. Anger those ninja? He did not dare. Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara—neither was anything less than a legendary monster.

The Daimyos of the Land of Lightning, Land of Earth, Land of Wind, and Land of Water were equally overwhelmed. News of the Senju and Uchiha joining forces to build a village spread like a plague to every corner of the Five Great Nations.

In the Land of Grass, Land of Waterfalls, and Land of Rain, ninja within each country began either imitating them or forming alliances.

Land of Fire, temporary camp of the Senju and Uchiha.

Calling it a camp was not quite accurate. It had already begun to take the shape of a village. After the two clans joined forces, the Senju and Uchiha lived together and trained together. Houses went up one after another, and streets were carved out one by one. It was crude, but every face bore something they had never possessed before—hope.

At this moment, five people sat gathered around a table in the largest council hall at the center of the village.

Uchiha Madara sat at the head on the left, with Uchiha Yan and Uchiha Izuna standing behind him. Senju Hashirama sat at the head on the right, with Senju Tobirama seated behind him. Tobirama was in a wheelchair, his face pale, his scarlet eyes fixed intently on Uchiha Yan across from him.

Uchiha Yan did not care in the slightest. He even offered Tobirama a faint smile as a gesture of goodwill, but in Tobirama's eyes, that smile was nothing short of provocation.

Hah... Uchiha Yan sighed inwardly. The evil old bastard Tobirama had pulled through after all. That kick had not been light. He had thought it would leave the future Second Hokage bedridden for at least a year or two, but the guy was tough as nails. It had only been a few days, and he was already attending meetings in a wheelchair.

As the Uchiha Clan's de facto strategist, Uchiha Yan had never expected the Madara brothers to come up with any brilliant schemes. Madara had nothing in his head but power and Hashirama; as for Izuna, there was nothing in his head but his brother. If Yan had not been holding down the fort for the Uchiha, they would have been swallowed whole by that evil Senju Tobirama sooner or later.

"Ahem." Uchiha Yan cleared his throat and spoke first. "Lord Madara, Lord Hashirama, I think the first thing we should do is notify the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and express our goodwill."

He paused, swept his gaze around the room, and continued, "We need to let the Daimyo know that we are building this village for peace, to eliminate war. We can also protect the Daimyo. All he needs to do is provide financial support, and we will recognize his absolute sovereignty over the Land of Fire."

At that point, Uchiha Yan's gaze darkened slightly. "Otherwise... we will not recognize the Daimyo of the Land of Fire."

The council hall fell silent for a moment after those words.

Senju Hashirama scratched his head and asked hesitantly, "Um... will the Daimyo agree to that?"

He did not understand politics very well, but his instincts told him that the Daimyo might not be too happy about it.

"I think it'll work," Uchiha Madara said.

Madara had never taken this so-called Daimyo seriously. In his eyes, notifying the Daimyo of the Land of Fire was already giving him plenty of face. Otherwise, Madara could activate Susanoo and slaughter his way to the Fire Capital—who could stop him? Who would dare stop him?

Tobirama sat in his wheelchair with a gloomy expression. He truly hated this Uchiha Yan. If not for Yan interfering, he would have already cut down Uchiha Izuna. Then how would those three have gotten the chance to gang up on his elder brother? And he would not have been seriously injured and sitting in this wheelchair.

But—Tobirama had to admit that Uchiha Yan's proposal was indeed a good one.

"Big Brother," Senju Tobirama said, "I think it can work. The manpower, resources, and funds needed to build a village are astronomical. Relying solely on a few ninja clans like ours would make progress too slow. We can demand supplies from the Daimyo and have him provide aid. In exchange, we will be responsible for his safety."

"A country cannot go a day without a ruler. Likewise, if we are establishing this ninja village, we must have a leader," Uchiha Yan said. "This leader must not only be exceptionally strong, but also have the world at heart and be fair and impartial. As for those qualities..."

Uchiha Yan looked at Uchiha Madara beside him. "I think Lord Madara fulfills them perfectly. I nominate Lord Madara."

"I also think my brother is suitable," Uchiha Izuna said. "Supporting my brother unconditionally is Izuna's creed in life."

Senju Tobirama snorted coldly. "Uchiha Yan, if we are talking about exceptional strength, I think my elder brother is the strongest. My elder brother should be the leader."

Of course, he would not give up on fighting for Hashirama. The Senju Clan had to secure the position of leader of this ninja village.

Uchiha Yan shook his head. "Don't forget that Lord Madara is the Uchiha clan head, and he was also the one who took the initiative to set aside old grudges and join hands with the Senju Clan. Besides... the Uchiha's overall strength currently surpasses the Senju's. Therefore, the position of leader must go to Lord Madara."

Those words struck Tobirama right where it hurt, yet he could not refute them—three Uchiha Susanoo against one Senju Wood Golem was a real and undeniable gap.

"Yan." Uchiha Madara, who had barely spoken until now, suddenly opened his mouth. "Don't say things that harm unity. We are family from the same village now, with no distinction between you and me. I think Hashirama can be the leader too."

Senju Hashirama hurriedly waved his hands. "No, it should be you, Madara. I think Yan is right. Without you having the world at heart and taking the initiative to put aside old grudges, this ninja village could never have been established."

"Big Brother!" Senju Tobirama called out anxiously.

But as though he had not heard him, Hashirama continued with a smile, "Madara, stop refusing."

"How about we vote?" Uchiha Yan raised his hand. "I vote for Lord Madara."

Uchiha Izuna raised his hand as well. "I vote for my brother too."

Hashirama slowly raised his own hand. "I vote for Madara."

Tobirama's face turned livid as he glared viciously at Uchiha Yan. That shameless bastard! There were three Uchiha, while the Senju only had him and his older brother. Even if he voted for his brother, they would only have two votes and still lose. A vote? This was called a vote? They were clearly using their numbers to bully the minority!

"Damn it... those cursed Uchiha!" Senju Tobirama clenched his fists until they crackled.

Uchiha Madara looked at the three raised hands and fell silent for a moment. He did not refuse again, instead slowly nodding.

Uchiha Madara said, "Fine. Since that is the case, I'll be the leader."

And so, Uchiha Madara—the Rose of the Battlefield, the Ninja Shura—formally became the First Hokage.

A new era had begun.