Night had fallen. The moonlight was dim and gloomy.
In the dark and silent Uchiha clan district, Itachi watched Sasuke's retreating figure before gritting his teeth and forcing himself to turn away, crawling forward.
Sasuke had held back in his punch just now, but the attack—something that even the Hyuga clan needed the Sun God Seal to perform—had still left Itachi severely injured. At this point, only sheer willpower was keeping him moving.
And because of that, his actions had hurt Sasuke so deeply.
Now, Sasuke understood.
In his brother's heart, things like duty, the stability of the village, and the peace of the ninja world mattered more than he did.
And he also understood something else—if one day he ever became a threat to that stability, his brother would not hesitate to deal with him. Whether it meant controlling him with genjutsu or even killing him, Itachi would do whatever it took.
So in the end, family didn't come first.
He was nothing like Madara, who wanted to change the ninja world because he had lost his brothers.
He was nothing like Obito, who rejected the world because he had lost the person he loved.
Uchiha Itachi—how dare he call himself a Uchiha?
How dare he claim to be of the clan of love?
"Why push yourself this far?"
Watching Itachi, wounded and still crawling forward, Hashirama's expression grew complicated.
This was a different kind of Uchiha—one driven by an unshakable belief.
"For the same reason you're here," Itachi said. "I need to stop my father from making a mistake by using the Uchiha's ultimate weapon. I need to reseal what should never have been unsealed."
He still had some chakra left. If he used everything he had, it wasn't impossible.
But that meant he had to take down his father instantly.
He lifted his head and glanced at Hashirama.
If it was the First Hokage facing his father, then there shouldn't be much of a problem.
So that masked man's trump card was reviving the First Hokage with Edo Tensei?
That was a fitting choice.
Aside from the Sun God Kingdom, which had been exploring Edo Tensei to create a new research group for their so-called "Dream Fulfillment Project," the only other known user of Edo Tensei was Danzo.
Well… I guess I did end up working with a traitor to the village.
Itachi let out a small sigh, but his gaze remained firm.
He was prepared to be hated if it meant completing his mission.
This was the burden he was willing to bear as a shinobi of the Leaf.
As long as it was for the sake of the village's peace, for the peace of the ninja world, he was willing to become the person everyone despised.
"Acting for the sake of your beliefs, huh?"
A hint of admiration flashed in Hashirama's eyes.
At this moment, he felt a connection with Itachi.
After all, wasn't his goal the same?
He had come here to reseal the Uchiha's so-called "light."
That's what you call like-minded companions!
"Good kid."
Someone with such a big heart shouldn't have to suffer humiliation like this!
The First Hokage stepped forward and helped Uchiha Itachi up from the ground, his eyes filled with encouragement.
Maybe the belief in understanding and peace was Asura's influence, but the way he could kneel to the Five Great Nations or casually seal the Nine-Tails just because it was too strong—that was purely Hashirama's personality.
Right now, the situation in front of him wasn't much different from the past.
Based on his guess, the massive chakra he sensed must have come from some powerful being created by gathering the Eight Thousand Spears. Someone might have already used them for something. In this situation, sealing Uchiha's ultimate weapon was clearly the right thing to do.
So, the two like-minded people stepped into the next courtyard.
They weren't far from the inner residence now. Maybe because of the chaos tonight, the servants who usually moved around here had all hidden away. Under the dim night sky, the place felt unusually quiet.
But a familiar figure was already standing in their way, blocking their path.
"Father."
Still on guard, Itachi struggled to stand straight, taking a deep breath, ready to fight at any moment.
"Judging by your expression, I guess if I asked you to sit down and have a proper talk, you wouldn't agree."
Fugaku couldn't hide the disappointment on his face. The fight between Sasuke and Itachi had made quite a commotion, so he obviously knew what had happened just one courtyard away. Yet, he hadn't stepped in to stop it.
He wanted Sasuke to knock some sense into his brother. He also wanted to give Itachi one last chance—holding onto a small hope that, just maybe, in these few steps, Itachi would wake up.
But reality was cruel and hard to accept. All he saw in Uchiha Itachi's eyes was unwavering determination to step past him and enter the inner residence.
"Once everything is over, I can talk with you for as long as you want. But right now, I have to go."
Itachi's voice was heavy.
In his mind, the corrupted Uchiha clan had already set their plan in motion. After his brief conversation with Senju Hashirama, he had come to this conclusion.
So now, he had to stop their plan before it was too late.
No matter what, he wasn't going to stop just because his father was in his way.
"But by then, we might not even have the chance to talk. You might lose the Uchiha name and everything you have now."
"Itachi, sometimes you shouldn't think of yourself as too important. Don't assume that what you see is always right. And most of all, don't believe that your way of thinking is the only correct one. You should take the time to listen to others once in a while."
"If you can't even do that, forget about becoming a proper leader—you won't even be a decent person."
With years of experience, Fugaku tried to teach his son a lesson.
But it was pointless.
Itachi didn't even respond. He had already made up his mind to move forward.
He wasn't interested in talking about morality with his father here. He had no doubts about himself—he had always acted with the greater good in mind and had no regrets.
If anything, he felt like his father was just making excuses, trying to buy time.
"Fifth Hokage, I think it's best if you let us through. You know exactly what Uchiha Hikari's existence means to the ninja world. I don't know why you unsealed her, but considering you've managed Konoha well, I'm willing to let bygones be bygones."
"So, step aside."
The First Hokage's aura started rising rapidly. It was clear he was ready to fight.
Just like Itachi, he believed the Fifth Hokage was trying to stall for time.
"You shut your mouth!"
Boom!
A pitiful amount of chakra, barely one ten-thousandth of the First Hokage's power, exploded.
Yet, even as he saw Hashirama's shocked expression, Fugaku remained indifferent.
"The Fifth Hokage of the new Konoha is interrogating a criminal who helped enemies invade the village. At the same time, as Uchiha clan leader, I am disciplining my useless, rebellious son. Who do you think you are to interfere?"
"You're nothing but a dead man, a revived First Hokage who knows nothing, a so-called legend who willingly became the Daimyo's lapdog despite having the power to do more."
"You are just a speck of dust, not even half the man my brother Hitoshi was. A so-called First Hokage who doesn't even deserve to speak to me."
His words showed no respect at all, blasting Hashirama without holding back.
Even with his usual good temper, Hashirama couldn't help but feel his anger surge.
He was about to argue back.
"Nowadays—"
"Shut up!"
Fugaku interrupted again without hesitation, scolding:
"As the head of the Senju clan, I can't even be bothered to call you a useless failure. The Senju were so powerful—strong enough to defeat my Uchiha clan—and yet, somehow, you let that loser Sarutobi Hiruzen wipe you all out. And the funniest part? Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo were both trained by you Senju! And now, you have the nerve to lecture me about raising my own child?"
"Is my son like this just because he has a bit of Senju blood in him?"
The Senju clan was wiped out?
The First Hokage was stunned.
Finally, he realized what had felt off when he used his chakra sensing earlier.
Among those fighting the enemy, there were barely any outstanding civilian shinobi. Almost everyone who took action was either from the Uchiha clan or other prominent ninja families of Konohagakure. But not a single one of them carried the presence of Senju blood!
Now, he finally understood the problem.
"You—"
"You what?! Uchiha Hikari? Don't you dare say I didn't warn you! I have no say in whether or not Uchiha Hikari gets sealed. And when you go inside, you'd better watch your damn mouth. Don't start preaching about 'justice' or how he's 'too powerful to be left unchecked.' If you do, you might just get pinned to the ground and beaten!"
Fugaku continued coldly.
"And another thing—this whole situation has nothing to do with me. The sealing ground's blueprint was found when we raided the Sarutobi clan's estate. The Senju didn't keep anything like that, but the Sarutobi did, didn't they? Now, tell me—what were they planning to do with it? Just what the hell were you and your brother teaching that idiot Third Hokage?"
"We found something like that while searching their place. If we didn't turn it over to someone who could actually handle it, what was I supposed to do? Keep it? If I had kept the blueprint, Itachi—the little bastard—would probably think I was plotting something just like he does now. Isn't that right? You and your brother have always believed the Uchiha clan is born evil, haven't you?"
That's not what I think.
Senju Hashirama frowned, wanting to argue back. But he realized his words no longer had the same power they once did when he united clans during the Warring States period.
Besides—
There was no reasoning with the man in front of him.
After being berated for so long, Senju Hashirama exchanged a glance with Uchiha Itachi. Both had already decided to take action—restrain this man and storm the inner chambers to put an end to this mess.
But Fugaku just let out a self-mocking laugh. His expression was that of a man who had completely given up on his own son.
"It seems my words meant nothing to you, Itachi."
That's right, Father.
Itachi remained silent.
"Fine, I understand now. From now on, you might as well change your last name to Senju. Hitoshi was right—there's no place for you in the Uchiha clan."
Ever since he awakened the Mangekyou, Itachi's obsession had only deepened.
This was the price of power—the curse of the Mangekyou Sharingan. It made the Uchiha clan descend into madness, and if guided the wrong way, it could lead to disaster.
When Shisui and Kagami awakened their eyes, they grew even more devoted to the village and their clan. But when Itachi awakened his, he only grew more suspicious of the Uchiha.
This was a fundamental difference in mindset.
Fugaku had no idea how his son ended up this way. Maybe he should never have taken Itachi to the battlefield at such a young age. Seeing death too soon had fractured his mind. Now, he was starting to show signs of complete mental breakdown.
"...Sigh."
With a heavy sigh, Fugaku turned around and opened the door to the inner chambers.
He didn't even try to resist.
"The truth is often vague."
"Maybe, if you had just talked to me as a son to his father from the very beginning, none of this would have happened."
Fugaku spoke calmly.
"But after today, you will no longer be part of the Uchiha clan. Konohagakure has no place for a traitor who conspires with outsiders to harm the village. If you have even a shred of conscience left, you should end your own life and atone."
The truth?
A flicker of uncertainty flashed in Itachi's eyes.
Fugaku's reaction was completely beyond his expectations.
"So, what exactly do you mean by handing over Uchiha's ultimate weapon to someone else? And what about the Senju clan?"
Hashirama looked at Fugaku with a serious expression, wanting an answer.
"If you want to know about the Senju clan, you can ask your brother. Ever since Tobirama was revived, he's been investigating Danzo. But that clown still couldn't stop his disciple from taking revenge on Konoha. In the end, it was our so-called 'evil' Uchiha clan that stepped in."
Fugaku let out a cold laugh, looking at Hashirama with clear disdain.
"You really should have consulted Danzo before coming here and learned about the current state of the ninja world. At the very least, in front of the Sun God Kingdom and my brother, those mere eight thousand spears are nothing."
"As a loyal supporter of Hitoshi, I simply did what needed to be done—setting up that internet-addicted girl on a blind date with my brother."
That was a ridiculous amount of information to process.
But...
Hashirama's mouth twitched. "Could you come up with a more absurd excuse? I'm more inclined to believe you dragged things out to ensure the eight thousand spears were fully stabilized and that some plan of yours has already succeeded."
So I'm just naturally an 'evil' Uchiha, huh?
Fugaku sneered and stopped paying attention to the First Hokage. He was just a dead man anyway. If he dared to act arrogant in front of Hitoshi, he'd get put in his place real fast.
Just because he was the so-called 'God of Shinobi' didn't mean Hitoshi would give him any special treatment.
But seeing that Fugaku didn't respond, Hashirama assumed he felt guilty. Wanting his opinion to be validated, he nudged Itachi beside him, hoping to get confirmation.
A blind date? Just thinking about it sounded ridiculous.
But this time, Itachi didn't answer. Instead, a bead of sweat dripped from his forehead onto Hashirama's arm.
A blind date?! With Uchiha's national beauty?!
This... this this this...
Why did everything suddenly make sense?
A bad feeling crept up inside Itachi.
"What about Asuma?"
"What about Asuma?"
"I saw Asuma get killed with my own eyes! Before he died, he—"
"You think as your father, I would need to sneak around just to kill someone? Especially a Sarutobi? What, do you think—no, I'm not your father anymore. Do you think I, the clan leader, would resort to assassination like Sarutobi Hiruzen?"
"Itachi, I have to say, you really haven't grown at all. You're still as self-righteous as ever."
Something was very wrong.
Itachi opened his mouth, but at that moment, it felt like he had just swallowed something disgusting. He wanted to cry, but he knew no one would believe the tears of a weasel now. His chance had already slipped away without him even realizing it.
"There's a lot of noise outside. Are we really just gonna sit here and—uh—keep eating?"
Inside the room, it felt like a completely different world.
Whether it was the Edo Tensei invading Konoha or the intense battles happening outside, the commotion was undeniable.
Uchiha Hikari blinked and asked Hyuga Hitoshi what he thought.
"Just a small matter, nothing to worry about. Let's just keep talking."
Hyuga Hitoshi casually sat cross-legged, chewing on his dessert as he looked at Uchiha Hikari with interest.
"So what you're saying is, you want to be a game tester? Trying out all kinds of new games?"
This was the dream job!
"Yes, yes!!"
Uchiha Hikari eagerly nodded, her eyes full of excitement.
"The salary doesn't need to be high, just enough for me to spend. I'm easy to take care of!"
Yeah, I can see that.
Hyuga Hitoshi nodded slightly. Just from the way Uchiha Hikari was eating earlier, it was clear—this was an Uchiha who had suffered. The days of being imprisoned by her own clan must not have been easy, which was why she wasn't picky about food.
"Then why not just join the game development department? With some training, it doesn't seem too hard to get the hang of it."
"You don't get it."
Uchiha Hikari shook her head. "Once you know how something works, playing it isn't fun anymore. Besides, I don't think I'm smart enough to research that stuff, but playing is a different story."
Is that so?
Hyuga Hitoshi rubbed his chin. "You might get along with Tsunade. Orochimaru is sneaky—whenever he develops something new, he lets Tsunade try it first before releasing it to the public. He tweaks the machines based on her feedback."
So she's basically a beta tester. But most of the games Tsunade plays are gambling-related… Hopefully, this war-era girl doesn't get led astray.
"Who's Tsunade?"
Uchiha Hikari raised an eyebrow, feeling inexplicably annoyed.
"My wife. Also, his granddaughter."
Hyuga Hitoshi pointed at Hashirama, who was walking toward them with a group of people. Uchiha Hikari glanced over, then slammed the table in frustration.
"I knew it! You're just like the clan leaders from the Warring States period—already have a wife but still going on matchmaking meetings!"
"Tsk, thanks to the Warring States era… But let me correct you. To be exact, I have double-digit wives."
Hyuga Hitoshi said seriously.
"That makes you an even bigger bastard! Worse than Senju Butsuma! When I was sealed, I heard his wife gave birth to a big, fat son, and then he went off and found several more women, giving that fat son a bunch of younger brothers. Let's see… Senju Tobirama, Senju Kawarama, Senju Itama… The Senju sure can reproduce."
Clearly, this war-era girl didn't mind polygamy. It wasn't shocking for powerful men to have many wives. What really impressed her was how productive the Senju clan was.
"Hashirama, Tobirama, Kawarama, Itama… Is there a Senju Kakema?"
Hyuga Hitoshi asked curiously.
Don't get the wrong idea—it was just an innocent question. After all, if they had 'pillar,' 'door,' 'tile,' and 'board,' it only made sense to have a 'wall' too.
But Uchiha Hikari froze for a moment, then gave Hyuga Hitoshi a look like she was staring at garbage. It was the kind of death stare you'd get if you talked about this during a matchmaking meeting. Through her silence, she made it clear—if you actually chatted like this with a girl, the conversation would die instantly.
However…
Before anyone else could respond, Hashirama, who had just reached the entrance, answered the question himself.
"My mother was pregnant , but she was killed by the Uchiha."
A mother and child lost—an unknown piece of history, but as the eldest brother, Senju Hashirama knew.
"This is the suffering war brings. It's why I wanted to create Konohagakure."
Hashirama looked at Hyuga Hitoshi, then glanced at Uchiha Hikari across from him. His expression grew more serious.
"Hmm, so you built the village… and then wars between nations escalated from small conflicts to battles where tens of thousands die at once. That was your goal, huh?"
Hitoshi chuckled and turned to Hashirama.
"And don't get the wrong idea, Hashirama."
"The current peace isn't something you created."
"It was me!"
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