Two Years, a New Uchiha Clan Head

Two Years, a New Uchiha Clan Head

The Uzumaki Clan and the Senju Clan had reconciled, their territories now bordering each other. They had even decided to intermarry, and for a time, the Senju Clan gained many newborns, increasing its population by a full third.

The struggling Kaguya Clan escaped the Land of Fire and drifted to the vicinity of the Land of Water, where they reestablished themselves. New wielders of the Dead Bone Pulse were born, and relying on that terrifying bloodline limit, the Kaguya Clan successfully took root in the Land of Water.

The ninja clans that had long been established in the Land of Water saw the Kaguya Clan's fearless, death-defying attitude and knew that fighting the Kaguya ninja to the death was simply not worth it. At most, they would give up some mission shares to the Kaguya Clan; there was no need to truly fight them to the death.

Medium and small ninja clans such as the Sarutobi Clan, Fuma Clan, and Kurama Clan had begun to show faint signs of joining forces.

Many things had happened in the ninja world over the past two years. For instance, repeated clashes with the Senju Clan had caused the Uchiha Clan to lose many members. If the Hagoromo Clan had not joined the Uchiha in fighting the Senju, even more clansmen would likely have died in the war.

And then—

Uchiha Tajima died.

Before his death, he dragged Butsuma Senju, the Senju Clan head, down to the underworld with him.

At the clan meeting, fifteen-year-old Uchiha Madara looked coldly at several elders. "You do not wish to acknowledge me as clan head?"

"Clan Head Madara, we watched you grow up. You possess ninja talent far beyond that of others, and at only fifteen, your strength already rivals your father's. We originally had no objections to you becoming clan head."

"But you must understand that what the Uchiha need is not a ninja who only knows how to fight. Strength alone is useless. What the clan needs is a qualified guide who can lead it onward."

"With your impulsive temperament, that will be difficult for you to accomplish."

Uchiha Madara said coldly, "Is that all? Then you can shut up."

"You! Madara! You have not officially become clan head yet. Before we unanimously acknowledge you, you are merely acting clan head. Watch your attitude!"

"Hmph. The fact that I have not laid hands on you is already me being polite."

"Uchiha Madara! Do you even want to become clan head?"

"Enough. Shangwu, come out. Tell these old fossils about your plans going forward, as well as the plan you mentioned."

The elders were all startled and turned toward the figure who pushed open the door.

Among the younger generation of the Uchiha Clan, there was more than one truly outstanding person. Aside from Uchiha Madara, who already possessed clan-head-level combat power, there was another whose abilities and strength were no weaker. The younger Uchiha generation called him the "Star."

The title meant that Uchiha Shangwu was like a star in the dark night, illuminating the road for travelers. He was someone who could lead the Uchiha Clan to find its direction in the darkness.

"I am here. By order of the clan head, I will speak next. Do any of the elders object?"

"This..."

"Or do the elders believe I am not qualified to speak?"

"Fine, go ahead. As long as you can convince us old men, we will acknowledge Madara's position as clan head."

Uchiha Shangwu then laid out the plan he had long prepared. If successfully carried out, it could change the current situation in the ninja world and allow the Uchiha Clan to rise to the top as the most powerful force in the ninja world.

An elder frowned. "Can this plan really succeed?"

The plan was simply too vast. It was so enormous that even the elders, who had lived for decades, could not help doubting whether it could truly succeed.

Uchiha Shangwu said calmly, "Of course it can. Otherwise, why would I formulate such a plan? Have we not already succeeded with part of it? From canceling missions at the start to truly integrating the Hagoromo Clan into the Uchiha under the name of an alliance, the beginning stage of the plan has already been completed."

The plan was to establish a "ninja village."

Although the establishment of ninja villages had caused great harm to the Uchiha Clan in the original course of events, even bringing them within a step of total annihilation—

From the current perspective, however, establishing a ninja village was undoubtedly the best way to change the structure of the ninja world.

Ninja clans all fought independently and had no proper squad system. More often than not, when accepting a mission, several clan members would go carry it out together.

A ninja village could allow ninja to carry out missions in standardized squads.

A standardized ninja squad would have an experienced captain, along with three members skilled in different areas. For example, one would be proficient in combat, another would possess scouting or medical abilities, while the last would handle other duties.

Subtly shifting his gaze away from Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Shangwu was certain that Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama had known each other since childhood. Ninja villages would definitely appear in the future. Rather than putting aside their hatred and joining forces with the Senju Clan, it would be better for the Uchiha Clan to complete the ninja village plan independently.

Uchiha Madara said, "When Shangwu first mentioned this plan, I thought about it for a long time. I believe Shangwu is right. In the future, ninja villages will definitely replace the current clans."

"Understood. From now on, the clan will be entrusted to the two of you. I hope you can lead it even farther."

After hearing the full plan for the "ninja village," the elders had gained a general understanding. They knew that if the plan truly succeeded, ninja villages would inevitably replace the current ninja clans. At that point, the era of individual ninja clans ruling their own territories would become a thing of the past.

Gathering multiple ninja clans together to form a massive ninja force—that was what a "ninja village" would be. Then, ninja squads would be organized according to each member's strengths, making them more efficient than members of a single ninja clan carrying out missions alone.

Hearing the elders relent, Uchiha Madara secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, he could not help thinking of someone—the friend he had met by the river as a child, who should now have become his own clan's head as well.

The elders left one after another. Uchiha Madara suddenly said, "Shangwu, when we begin the plan, can we bring the Senju Clan into it as well?"

The Senju?

As expected, he still had not forgotten Senju Hashirama. Even though their clans had been enemies for hundreds of years, and members of both clans had been stained with the blood of the other, Uchiha Madara still regarded Senju Hashirama as a friend. Otherwise, he would not have said such words.

To establish the era of ninja villages together with the Senju, there was one person they could not avoid—a man who could stand in the sunlight while placing himself in darkness.

Tobirama Senju!

The Second Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village.

A man who created the Hidden Leaf Village's glorious era, possessing extraordinary talent and creating countless ninjutsu by himself.

He was also known as the Master of Forbidden Techniques.