Thinking of Pushing Me into Marriage?

A few days later, the Uzumaki Sealing Scrolls Hashirama Senju had promised were delivered.

With the principles of Sealing Arts in hand, Uchiha Gen suddenly had much more to study.

But it was only the beginning of spring, and there was still plenty to do. Although the Uchiha Clan now had far more ninja than before, several thousand people already amounted to a small town.

"Little Kuro, send word to the ten clansmen I dispatched. This year's mission is to seize the entire Land of Fire market. Also, begin preparing for overseas exports, and keep an eye on the shipyards."

"Okay, meow!"

In the clan head's office, Uchiha Gen methodically finished reviewing the last document, then lifted his teacup for a sip.

"Tea from home still tastes best."

With two soft pops, Little Kuro, who had returned immediately after delivering the message, began demanding food.

"Meow~ I'm hungry, meow."

"Fine, then let's eat."

He rubbed the cat's head, rose to his feet, and carried Little Kuro toward the dining hall. Along the way, every clansman they met greeted Uchiha Gen. There was no flattery in their voices; it was simply because he had done an exceptionally good job as acting clan head.

Uchiha Gen did not put on airs either, patiently responding to every greeting. A journey of only a few hundred meters took more than ten minutes.

It was spring, yet the cold wind had not allowed people to truly emerge from winter.

The years slipped quietly away, and when one was busy, time seemed to pass especially quickly.

Spring passed, and summer arrived. The scorching sun made everyone restless.

"Gen, prepare supplies. I'm taking five hundred clansmen out."

"Oh? We're fighting again? Who is it this time?"

"Several small clans."

Madara wore a casual yukata and used tea water to draw several circles on the table.

"Aburame Clan, Inuzuka Clan, Yuhi Clan..."

"Though these small clans are scattered, they're like monkeys beside a tiger. Every so often, they jump out and cause trouble. We might as well deal with them all at once."

Uchiha Gen glanced at the circles without speaking. After thinking for a moment, he said,

"The Uchiha Clan's momentum has already reached its peak. There's no point continuing to fight small clans with only a few hundred people. Besides, judging by the plan you and Hashirama have, we might as well strike the Hyuga Clan directly."

"...The Hyuga Clan?"

Madara frowned as he considered it, two fingers tapping rhythmically against the tabletop.

"Gen, what are you planning?"

"After taking down the Hyuga Clan, find an opportunity to fight the Senju in a decisive battle, then immediately begin the unification plan."

"Isn't that... too early?"

"The sooner, the better. We were going to fight the Hyuga Clan sooner or later anyway. What difference does it make?"

Despite all his persuasion, Uchiha Gen ultimately failed to convince Madara, leaving him helpless.

After getting along with Izuna for so long, he truly did not want to let him become a sacrifice. But if Izuna did not die according to the course of history, then there was a high chance the sacrifice would become him instead.

After seeing Madara off, Uchiha Gen stroked the cat and stared thoughtfully at the ever-growing number of clansmen outside.

"Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan... is there really no other way?"

There had been countless theories about the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan in his previous life. Some said that two brothers could exchange eyes and gain two pairs of Eternal Eyes, while others claimed the two pairs had to be fused to create one. Of those theories, Uchiha Gen leaned toward the most obscure one.

"The Eternal Eye... the order after the eye exchange may be the key. If two brothers exchange eyes, whoever receives the transplant first gains eternity, while the other person's Mangekyō Sharingan disappears forever and becomes ordinary eyes. Only that can explain why awakening the eyes requires killing one's own brother."

There were many plot holes in Hokage that had never been filled, and many had only been patched through the gradual digging of online fans.

In the original story, when Izuna gave his eyes to Madara, the author never explained where Madara's removed eyes went. They had likely been ruined outright and turned into ordinary eyes.

Otherwise, Madara could not possibly have failed to record the method of awakening the Eternal Eye in the clan records, allowing Itachi Uchiha to torment Sasuke in every possible way later on.

"If the plot can't be changed, then I can only leave it to fate."

In fact, over the past year, Uchiha Gen had secretly arranged for people to spread the title Shinobi of Doom. As long as they fought the Senju once more and exaggerated Hashirama's strength a little, what was the harm in giving him the title God of Shinobi?

When the time came, they would establish Konoha ahead of schedule and throw everything into chaos. At the very least, the Uchiha Clan would not follow its old path again.

A few days later, news of the Uchiha Clan making another move spread throughout the Shinobi World. Their prestige rose, while their affinity declined.

Uchiha Gen could already foresee the day when the wall fell and everyone pushed against it.

Time proved Uchiha Gen's guess right. After dealing with those small clans, Madara did not attack the Hyuga Clan. Instead, he continued bullying even more distant clans.

With Uchiha Gen supporting the logistics, the current Uchiha were not all built two sizes larger, but every ninja was far more solid in strength than before.

Fourth year.

Uchiha Gen promoted an internal education system within the clan and founded the Uchiha Academy, increasing the number of ninja once again.

The useful pawns scattered throughout the Land of Fire began expanding overseas and planting their own people among the Land of Fire's upper ranks, causing profits to rise once more.

Fifth year.

Uchiha Gen mastered Sealing Arts, successfully developed the Flying Thunder God, and took his first glimpse into the power of space.

At the same time, as Madara's range of operations continued to expand, the Clan Land began expanding as well. The number of registered Uchiha ninja had now surpassed five thousand, placing them first in the Land of Fire in terms of foundation. But while the Uchiha name brought prestige, it also brought greater hatred, and their affinity declined once again.

That same year, the underground Bounty Station was successfully established in the Land of Fire. The moment it appeared, it received widespread support from wandering ninja.

Because of his depleted health, Uchiha Gen had not grown even a bit taller over the past few years. His mood became increasingly gloomy, and he wanted to begin Senjutsu training early.

At Uchiha Madara's home, a birthday banquet was underway. Many of the attending ninja were Uchiha higher-ups.

"Gen! The Uchiha Clan's current golden age could not exist without your management. Let me toast you."

"...No, big brother. You know I don't drink."

"It's a happy occasion today. Just one cup. Otherwise, what will the clansmen think?"

Uchiha Gen turned his dead-fish eyes toward the clan elites behind him. Who exactly dared to object? Were they really trying to force me to drink?

"Ah! The weather is nice today."

"Yes, yes, the wind is especially noisy today~"

Madara could only helplessly drain the cup himself. His little brother had practically become the final authority within the clan, and only he and Izuna could slightly influence his decisions.

"Gen, after this year, you should be nearly eighteen, right? Have you taken a liking to any girl in the clan?"

"Hm? What do you mean, big brother?"

"Ahem, it's for carrying on the family line. Your second brother and I don't plan on taking wives anyway, so..."

"What a coincidence. I don't want to get married either. Besides, women aren't nearly as fun as ninjutsu."

"..."

Madara opened his mouth, but as the one who had set the example, he truly had no standing to say anything. He briefly regretted whether he had been too strict when they were young, always urging his brothers to train. Had that made them lose interest in women altogether?

No... Gen seems to have a woman around him, doesn't he? Could it be...

Seeing Madara lost in thought again, Uchiha Gen simply began eating and drinking by himself, completely unaware of the bad idea forming in Madara's mind.