Tetsuhiro had saved Might Guy not only out of sympathy and regret for him, but also because he had just used the system to check the bond between them.
Ding!!!
[Bond Level between Might Guy and host: 80%]
So this is mutual admiration? Hehe~ The Eight Gates Formation is within reach!
But saving him had cost Tetsuhiro a portion of his vitality, and Madara was growing anxious.
"Hashirama, what are you doing? This is a battlefield! Put away that naïveté!"
Tetsuhiro remained unmoved.
Madara cursed under his breath and threw everything he had into holding Anpei Minghui back.
Just as the White Snake Sage finished destroying the shikigami, Anpei finally lost his patience.
Hundred and Eight Forms: Thousand Talisman Killing Array!
Countless talismans spread outward, forming a massive Magic Formation.
He used the opening to vanish from the spot.
"You're not getting away!" Madara stopped playing around. His Perfect Susanoo shattered the array with two sword strikes, while his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan spun incessantly...
"Madara, he's over there." The White Snake Sage pointed toward the foot of the mountain with her tail.
"Good. Come up here and join me." With that, Susanoo lifted her up, spread the wings on its back, and flew over!
Tetsuhiro watched him fly away with envy, once again longing for that kind of mobility.
No, I'm too slow. I have to get wings. I want to fly!
Only after the treatment ended...
Did he finally settle down, sitting cross-legged on the ground to recover. He took a moment to survey his surroundings.
The once-lavish Daimyo's Mansion lay in ruins, and the Daimyo who had been sitting in the chair was nowhere to be seen.
He had probably fled when he realized things were going badly. A threat like that had to be rooted out completely.
Just then, Tobirama and the others arrived one after another.
"Brother, are you all right?" Tobirama approached with concern, then spotted someone else lying on the ground. "Huh? This man is still alive?"
Tetsuhiro patiently explained everything that had happened there.
"In that case, there's no time to waste. Each squad will immediately scout west, north, and south. Everyone else, come east with me!"
He turned to Tetsuhiro. "Brother, the guards should stay here. Your safety is more important!"
Tetsuhiro could only agree helplessly. "All right. They can reassure the people in the city while they're at it."
"That's all. Disperse!"
After everyone left, Hashirama sent five guards to reassure the residents and get Might Guy settled, then rose to begin rebuilding.
Wood Release-Great Palace Technique!
A long while later...
The surrounding buildings had been restored and remodeled to his tastes.
"Nothing beats the grandeur of our Tang dynasty's palaces." Tetsuhiro was thoroughly pleased with his work. After admiring it, he prepared to make do with a wooden bed for the night.
"This will do for now. I'm exhausted."
The next morning, at nine!
Tetsuhiro was woken from his sleep by a commotion.
The various clans of Konoha had arrived one after another, all marveling at the palace's solemn grandeur.
"As expected of Daimyo City. What magnificent buildings."
"Yes, this is my first time here. Now I can die without regrets."
Li Tetsuhiro hurried outside and angrily berated them.
"That old wreck was destroyed ages ago! This place is called Taiji Palace. The building in front is Taiji Hall, where we'll hold morning court and handle affairs of state. To the east is Liangyi Palace, my residence. Is that clear?"
"Understood!"
"Get moving according to the plan. The Senju Clan will stay."
Looking at his excited clansmen, Tetsuhiro smiled reassuringly. "The rules of this world are going to change! This is only the beginning. Follow me, and things will only get better!"
Everyone bowed. "May our clan leader enjoy peace and good health!"
"You've all performed very well lately. Each of you will receive an extra hundred points!"
"Long live our leader!" Everyone immediately grew excited. "That's enough points to exchange for an intermediate ninjutsu!"
"As long as you're willing to work hard, you have a bright future ahead. Now, I hereby announce the establishment of the Stealth Force and the Imperial Guard!
"Members will be selected based on your performance and preferences. You may all go."
"Mito, Shu Mao, Reiko, let's go." With that, Tetsuhiro led them into Liangyi Palace.
The farther they went, the more astonished they became. It was far grander and more imposing than their ancestral home, leaving them with a sense of unreality.
"Hashirama, how have you become so extravagant?" Worry clouded Mito Uzumaki's beautiful face as she reproached him. "The Uzumaki Clan's decline is still right before our eyes."
"Yes, Father. Under your guidance, Reiko and I have never dared pursue empty luxury, yet now you..."
Beside him, Reiko held their baby daughter in silence.
"Haha~" Tetsuhiro laughed awkwardly. "You're being shortsighted. I built this palace myself, without burdening the people or wasting their wealth. I'm not pursuing extravagance, either. Given my goals, I needed to get it right in one go. Rebuilding it over and over would only be a hassle."
"There's plenty of work ahead. The other four nations won't leave us alone. As for the palace, you'll understand once we've united the world."
"All right. You're the head of this family, so affairs outside the palace are yours to decide. But this Liangyi Palace..." Mito paused and looked at Tetsuhiro with utter seriousness.
"Don't worry. If I'm king, you'll be queen!"
"Queen? Are you planning to imitate the Daimyo and surround yourself with wives and concubines?" Mito stepped forward and twisted Tetsuhiro's waist.
He immediately howled in pain.
"My dear wife, of course not! I'll listen to you from now on."
"That's more like it. At your age, you still can't behave." Mito and the others had long since grown accustomed to these unusual forms of address.
Shu Mao and Reiko stayed off to the side, watching them and stifling their laughter.
"Come here. Let me hold my precious granddaughter!"
Perhaps it was the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren, but the baby girl liked Tetsuhiro and laughed easily whenever he played with her.
After entertaining her for a while, Tetsuhiro turned serious. "Now, to business. Mito, how has the Uzumaki Clan responded? How many support us?"
"Only a small portion. The clan leader refused last time, and his position hasn't changed."
"Arrogant and stubborn. Sooner or later, they'll become a source of trouble~"
"Hashirama, what should we do? Surely you won't take action against them yourself?"
"I promised you I wouldn't use force. I have plenty of other methods. No one will stand in the way of a happy future for the people!" Tetsuhiro's utter confidence stirred Mito's heart, which had lain quiet for years.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her gaze began to drift. "As long as you spare my clansmen's lives, I'll leave everything else to you."
Tetsuhiro gave her a puzzled look, then turned to Shu Mao. "How have your studies with Tobirama been going lately?"
"Father, your son lacks talent. I haven't been able to satisfy Uncle."
"Then sage... Never mind. You'd have even less luck with that. How are you getting along with your summon?"
"Lady Katsuyu is easy to talk to and takes good care of me. Everything is going smoothly so far."
"With her around, at least you can avoid dying in battle."
"What are you saying?" Mito chided him.
"Sigh~ Things are manageable while Tobirama and I are still here. But once we're gone and the Senju Clan declines, what do you think will happen to our descendants?"
Something terrible immediately occurred to Mito, and her expression darkened. "You mean..."
"Exactly. They'll die horrible deaths. Their bodies might even be taken away for research. Certain people might dig me up and use me, too."
"No! That won't happen! You won't die! You're only thirty-four, in the prime of your life!"
"That's only one possibility. That's why I have to work hard and make everything as sound as I can while I'm still alive. I have to do my best!"
"I understand your intentions now, Father. I'll go train right away!" Racked with guilt, Shu Mao headed for the door.
"Come back~ A little time won't make a difference. You're already nineteen, yet you're still so impatient. I'll find a way to improve your strength. Right now, our family should enjoy a meal together."
"It's a shame Tobirama isn't here. He's never shown any interest in marrying and having children, either. Is he really going to spend his whole life loving the Uchiha?"
"Uh~ I think it's more like hating them to the bone..."
Afterward, Tetsuhiro personally cooked four dishes and a soup for them.
The family praised the food endlessly, but an inexplicable emotion lingered in Mito's eyes throughout the meal.
After eating, Tetsuhiro was still uneasy and decided to inspect the city. His family came along to have a look around...
Before you continue