The Daimyo Assassinated! The Second Hokage's Killing Intent!

Early morning.

Land of Rain, Konoha encampment.

The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was directing the ninja as they broke camp.

Suddenly, a clear eagle cry tore through the sky.

A massive Konoha messenger hawk circled down and landed steadily on Tobirama's arm.

Tobirama removed the tiny intelligence scroll and scanned it swiftly.

The next second, an unmelting frost covered his face.

"Go. Bring the monkey to me!"

His voice was icy as he turned and strode back into the central command tent.

Inside the central command tent.

"What?! The Land of Fire's daimyo was assassinated in his own palace?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi cried out, nearly dropping the Golden Cudgel in his hand.

Tobirama nodded grimly.

"The intelligence says the daimyo was assassinated in his own bedchamber. It happened the night before last."

Koharu Utatane pushed up his gleaming glasses, cold sweat beading on his forehead. "Lord Hokage, how should we respond?"

Seated in the main chair, Tobirama rhythmically tapped his fingers against the table and fell silent.

"Without rules, there can be no order."

Tobirama spoke slowly, his voice carrying bone-deep chill.

"Under the constraints of rules, Konoha was able to grow strong, and the Land of Fire was able to prosper in peace."

"Now, someone wants to shatter that balance for personal gain. I will not allow it."

"Though Konoha is nominally subordinate to the Land of Fire's daimyo, that does not mean we will let others manipulate us as they please."

"The old noble houses of the Land of Fire are testing my bottom line. They want to see which side I will take in this transfer of power."

A mocking smile tugged at Tobirama's lips. "Unfortunately, they have miscalculated."

He abruptly rose to his feet and looked at the three disciples before him.

"Monkey, lead the main force back to Konoha."

"I'll personally pay those nobles who don't know their place a visit!"

"Anyone who dares use such despicable methods right under my nose and break the rules will bear the full brunt of my merciless fury!"

With that, Tobirama flicked his ceremonial robe and walked out of the tent without looking back.

Homura Mitokado shot Hiruzen a vicious glare.

"Do you have a pig's brain? The Land of Fire's daimyo died in his bedchamber, and Konoha's ANBU were responsible for guarding him!"

"They've thrown Konoha's honor to the ground and trampled all over it! Is there room in that head of yours for anything besides peaches?!"

After berating him, Homura stormed off as well.

After leaving the tent, Tobirama went straight to find Lin Hai, who was packing his belongings.

"Bring your ninja tools and come with me. I'll show you the world."

Before Lin Hai could react, Tobirama had grabbed him and carried him out of the camp.

The two became streaks of shadow as they sped straight toward the Land of Fire's capital.

Four days later, they crossed the border of the Land of Rain and entered the heartland of the Land of Fire.

Outside a bustling town, Tobirama stopped.

He glanced at the slightly breathless Lin Hai and said calmly, "We'll rest here for the night. We'll continue tomorrow."

Lin Hai wiped the sweat from his forehead and lowered his head respectfully. "Thank you for your consideration, Lord Second. My strength is lacking, and I slowed your journey."

A rare smile appeared on Tobirama's face.

"It's good that you know your limits. Grow stronger quickly, kid."

"Perhaps one day, you'll become Konoha's fourth towering tree, sheltering everyone beneath its shade."

With that, Tobirama took the lead into town.

Lin Hai remained where he was, utterly bewildered.

The two found an inconspicuous restaurant in town and sat down.

After ordering, Lin Hai finally could not contain his curiosity.

"Lord Second, the 'towering trees' you mentioned just now...?"

Tobirama took a sip of coarse tea and smiled at Lin Hai.

"I thought you could hold yourself back from asking. Tell me first—which people do you think have been the towering trees sheltering everyone since Konoha was founded?"

Lin Hai considered it briefly before answering seriously.

"The First Hokage, known as the God of Shinobi, single-handedly brought peace to the chaotic era and founded Konoha. Naturally, he was the first towering tree."

Tobirama nodded slightly.

"You established the ANBU system and the Ninja Academy system, perfected Konoha's military and educational structures, and ensured Konoha had a steady stream of fresh blood. You are undoubtedly the second towering tree."

"As for the third..." Lin Hai scratched his head. "Forgive my lack of insight, but I truly cannot think of anyone."

Tobirama set down his teacup, his gaze profound.

"The third was Madara Uchiha. Konoha's legend, and also your grandfather."

Lin Hai's heart jolted.

Tobirama continued, "Perhaps you don't know this, but the name 'Konoha' was coined by your grandfather. It was a testament to the friendship between him and my elder brother."

"I won't deny that, even today, I still hold deep reservations toward your Uchiha Clan."

"I have never agreed with your clan's ideals, including yours now."

"You should know that well. Since my elder brother died, you have never left my sight. I have been watching you from the shadows!"

Lin Hai remained silent.

He knew that Tobirama's wariness toward the Uchiha was practically carved into his bones.

Tobirama's tone softened slightly.

"But merit is merit, and fault is fault. Madara Uchiha was a man who stood at the pinnacle of the shinobi world."

"His contributions to Konoha were too numerous to count. In some decisions, he was even more decisive than my elder brother!"

"Forcing Iwagakure into submission was the best example."

"With his absolute superiority in strength, Madara Uchiha shattered the convictions of the First Tsuchikage Ishikawa and his disciple Mu, indirectly driving Ishikawa to his death."

"Though my elder brother opposed those methods, on this matter, I absolutely support Madara Uchiha's actions! To deal with wolves, you need even harsher methods!"

Lin Hai abruptly raised his head and stared at Tobirama in shock.

This Second Hokage, who was so hostile toward the Uchiha, actually held Madara Uchiha in such high regard.

Tobirama gave a disdainful snort. "Surprised? That is simply the kind of person I, Tobirama Senju, am."

"If you do wrong, I will never spare you lightly. If you do right, I will not erase your achievements either."

"I judge only results, not methods."

"Of course, the greatest mistake of my life was that, back in the Valley of the End, I did not stand firm and personally kill Madara Uchiha!"

Lin Hai drew a deep breath and gathered his courage. "Lord Second, I want to know... why are you so wary of the Uchiha?"

Tobirama looked deeply at Lin Hai.

"How much do you know about your clan's Sharingan?"

"It is our clan's bloodline limit, and one of the strongest ocular techniques in the shinobi world," Lin Hai answered truthfully.

"Is that all?" Tobirama narrowed his eyes. "Have you never heard of your grandfather's Mangekyo Sharingan?"

"Mangekyo?" Lin Hai feigned confusion. "Could it be that the Sharingan can evolve again beyond three tomoe?"

Just then, the waiter brought the steaming dishes to their table.

Tobirama withdrew his gaze and picked up his chopsticks. "Eat first. Once we're done, we'll find somewhere quiet and talk properly."

Land of Water, Kirigakure Village.

Seven ninja of differing appearances, each carrying a strange ninja blade, knelt on one knee before the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki.

"My lord! The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist have assembled!"

Gengetsu Hozuki stroked his small mustache and smiled at the seven murderous subordinates before him.

"Not bad. You have plenty of spirit. Whether the Land of Water can expand its territory depends on whether your blades are sharp enough."

Gengetsu rose to his feet, a cruel glint flashing through his eyes.

"Though I'll be there personally to keep things under control, I still want to see what this new organization of yours is truly capable of."

"Come! We're taking a trip to the Land of Lightning to borrow the Second Tsuchikage's head! Let the shinobi world witness Kirigakure's terror!"

Land of Fire town, inn guest room.

After dinner, the two sat cross-legged on the tatami.

"Now, ask whatever you wish to ask," Tobirama said in a low voice.

Lin Hai looked directly at Tobirama. "What exactly is the Mangekyo? What secret does the Uchiha Clan hide that makes you so wary?"

Tobirama closed his eyes, as if he had fallen into painful memories.

After a long while, he slowly opened them, his tone grave.

"Let's begin with how the Uchiha awaken their eyes. The outside world says that Uchiha awaken the Sharingan through long periods of training or some form of stimulation, then gradually evolve it to three tomoe. Is that right?"

Lin Hai nodded. "That's right. The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan is also awakened through arduous training."

Tobirama scoffed. "You're wrong. Completely wrong!"

"The reason I am hostile toward the Uchiha is not because of the outside world's baseless claims that the Uchiha will rebel, nor because Madara Uchiha killed my elder brother."

Tobirama stared into Lin Hai's eyes and said each word with deliberate emphasis. "You Uchiha are a cursed clan!"

"A curse?" Lin Hai's heart tightened.

"That's right! A cursed clan!" Tobirama's voice rose slightly.

"People believe that the Senju Clan draws its strength from 'love,' while the Uchiha are founded upon techniques and power. But the truth is precisely the opposite!"

"After years of secret investigation, I discovered that in the entire shinobi world, no clan possesses a deeper love than the Uchiha!"

"Because that love is too heavy, your Uchiha ancestors sealed it deep within your bloodline."

Lin Hai feigned incomprehension. "Isn't that a good thing? A clan with love should be more united."

"Foolish!" Tobirama interrupted him without mercy.

"That is an extremely dangerous hidden threat!"

"Once an Uchiha understands love, they can unleash a terrifying power that surpasses the Senju Clan! But that power cannot be controlled!"

"When an Uchiha who understands love loses the feelings they cherish..."

"That intense love will instantly turn into even more intense hatred!"

"Pain and hatred stimulate the brain to secrete a special kind of chakra. This chakra acts directly upon the optic nerves, causing the eyes to mutate."

"This is the true origin of the Eyes That Reflect the Heart—the Sharingan!"

Tobirama stood and paced back and forth across the room, his tone growing ever more ruthless.

"The Sharingan changes in sync with emotion. The more extreme the emotion, the stronger its ocular power."

"The Uchiha Clan is naturally sensitive. Once people with intense emotions suffer a misfortune, the vast majority will fall completely into darkness and become demons who know only revenge and destruction!"

"The deeper the darkness in their hearts, the more terrifying the Sharingan's power becomes."

"In the end, they will walk into an irreparable abyss. Madara Uchiha was the most typical example!"

Tobirama stopped pacing and looked down at Lin Hai, his gaze complicated.

"You have deep ties to your parents, and an almost fanatical admiration for my elder brother."

"That is the fundamental reason I kept you by my side and watched you day and night!"

"I'm afraid! I'm afraid that one day, you too will suffer some loss, then fall into eternal darkness like Madara Uchiha and become a calamity that destroys Konoha!"

"So I even considered, before you truly awakened your eyes, or before you completely lost control... personally snuffing you out!"

Tobirama's words were like ancient ice, instantly plunging the room's temperature to freezing.

"If not for your master's wife, Mito Uzumaki, using her ability to sense malice to guarantee that there is currently not a trace of darkness or ill intent in your heart..."

"I would have made my move against you on the day you left the hospital!"

Faced with that naked killing intent, Lin Hai's face turned deathly pale, and his body trembled slightly. But he clenched his teeth and did not argue.

Seeing Lin Hai's expression, Tobirama sighed.

"Though you Uchiha are dangerous, you are indeed a fine blade on the battlefield."

"Coordinating your strength and having you contribute to the village is my duty as Hokage."

"But you must remember this—the village always comes first!"

"Anyone who threatens the village, I will eliminate without hesitation! Do you understand?"

Silence.

Deathly silence.

After an unknown amount of time, a mournful funeral melody faintly drifted in from outside. A family in town was holding a funeral.

Lin Hai slowly rose and walked to the window.

He pushed it open and looked at the white funeral paper drifting through the sky outside. His voice sounded hollow and sorrowful.

"Love gives birth to hatred. Falling into darkness, becoming a demon..."

"Is this the fate of the Uchiha Clan?"

Tobirama also walked to the window and stood beside him.

The two watched the funeral procession outside in long silence.