"Hokage-sama? You called for me?"
Itachi pushed the door open and saw the young man sitting in the Hokage's chair. For a moment, he felt a surge of emotion.
Tōshirō said warmly: "No need to be so formal. Just call me Uncle Tōshirō, like before."
"But…"
"This is an order."
"Alright… Uncle Tōshirō."
Tōshirō nodded in satisfaction and took a scroll from his robe: "You accomplished great things this time. Consider this a reward."
Itachi looked confused. He stepped forward, took the scroll, and unrolled it. It appeared to be a jutsu. When he saw the specifics, his eyes widened in surprise.
Tōshirō smiled faintly: "Well? Do you like it?"
"This is too valuable."
Itachi, feeling the scroll was almost like holding a hot potato, quickly returned it.
Tōshirō handed it back: "I told you, it's a reward."
"But…"
Normally, Itachi would have accepted an ordinary jutsu without hesitation, but this one was too precious.
It was the Flying Thunder God Technique, the famed signature jutsu of the Fourth Hokage.
"You should listen to my reasoning before deciding whether to accept it."
Itachi sighed: "Alright…"
"Remember that masked man?"
Itachi's expression darkened: "I remember."
"I've faced him. His abilities are strange. In direct combat, my skills aren't suited for him, and my fighting style is already set. Besides, I'll be busy for some time and won't have time to master this jutsu."
Mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique and using it effectively at his level required a lot of time. Tōshirō, busy reviving Tsunade, couldn't spare the time.
"So… Uncle Tōshirō wants me to learn this jutsu to help you defeat him?"
"The Flying Thunder God Technique is difficult to learn. It may be challenging for others, but for you, I think it won't be a problem."
"…"
"If something happens to me that day, I hope that with your Mangekyō Sharingan and Flying Thunder God Technique, you can protect the Uchiha and the village."
"I understand…"
Itachi tucked the Flying Thunder God Technique into his robes.
Now wasn't the time for hesitation. Tōshirō still planned to seize the Land of Fire, which would certainly cause international turmoil. Wars could break out, and Itachi needed to strengthen himself to protect what was in front of him.
As Itachi took his leave, Tōshirō called after him: "Oh, right. When you leave, bring… um, what's her name? Uchiha Izumi. Call her to my office."
Itachi froze: "Izumi?"
Tōshirō teased: "Don't worry, I won't do anything to your girlfriend."
Itachi corrected him: "She's a friend."
"She's your female friend, right?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll just call her by a nickname. That's fine, right?"
"…"
"Do you want to know why I called her?"
"Forget it…"
Itachi sensed a trap and bowed out respectfully.
Tōshirō shrugged, finding it uninteresting.
Not long after, a young girl entered. She had a black mole by her eye and delicate features.
Uchiha Izumi looked nervous: "H-Hokage-sama, you called me?"
Tōshirō pointed to the mountain of documents on his desk: "See all these files?"
Izumi nodded, puzzled.
Tōshirō smiled warmly: "There's too much work. I want someone to help me organize it."
Izumi: ???
"Why hesitate?"
"I-It's not that…" she stammered.
He wasn't just the Uchiha clan leader, but the new Hokage. Helping him was an honor, and she was eager to do it. She just wondered why he had singled her out.
Tōshirō guessed her thoughts and clarified: "You're wondering why I chose you, right?"
Izumi nodded.
Tōshirō smiled: "Honestly, I want a secretary."
"A secretary?"
"You've seen the workload. I need someone to help. Strength isn't important. What matters is intelligence. I've seen your school grades; you excel in academics. You should manage this work well. Plus, you're Uchiha. I trust you."
"Even though I'm young?"
"That's fine. No one is born ready."
Uchiha Izumi said: "True, but isn't there someone more suitable in the clan?"
Tōshirō didn't deny it: "That's true."
"So… is there something about me that earns your trust?"
"Yes."
"What?"
"You're beautiful, my type."
"Huh?"
"Secretaries are usually women. You should pick someone pleasant to look at, right?"
"…"
Izumi was stunned. She immediately misinterpreted him.
Could the Hokage like her? Impossible.
He seemed young, handsome, strong—any woman would like him. But she already had a crush.
Seeing her misunderstanding, Tōshirō quickly clarified: "Haha, just joking."
Izumi's face darkened, annoyed.
Tōshirō continued seriously: "The main reason I chose you is because you're Itachi's friend…"
"Friend…"
Izumi's face flushed, ears turning red. "N-No, I'm not!"
"Really?"
"No."
"Then why blush?"
"I-It's because… Hokage-sama is so annoying…"
Tōshirō laughed: "I've been there before."
Izumi sighed: "I just have unrequited feelings…"
"In that case, try to change it."
"Ah?"
"Don't all couples start as strangers?" Tōshirō encouraged: "I believe in you."
Izumi asked curiously: "Why are you so invested in this?"
Tōshirō said kindly: "It's normal for an uncle to care about his nephew's future, isn't it?"
Izumi: "…"
Tōshirō teased: "Why help outsiders when family needs you?"
Izumi: "…"
"So, want to be my secretary? You'll get to interact with Itachi more."
"Really?"
Her eyes sparkled.
"Of course," Tōshirō teased. "But don't get distracted by romance. Work comes first."
Izumi blushed and nodded.
With a secretary in place, Tōshirō relaxed: "Then organizing is all yours."
"Wait…"
Before Izumi could react, Tōshirō dashed off, leaving her stunned.
He went to a flower shop owned by the Ino family.
The owner, Ino's wife, was surprised to see the new Hokage: "Ah, Hokage-sama…"
Tōshirō nodded.
"Are you buying flowers?"
He selected a bouquet: white chrysanthemums, a flower of mourning.
Tōshirō headed to the Hero's Grave, found a tombstone, and quietly muttered a few words, kneeling on one knee to place the flowers.
As he left, a young man approached, white-haired and masked—Kakashi.
He held white chrysanthemums and quietly placed them on a tombstone.
Tōshirō glanced at the name:—Nohara Rin.
Kakashi, finished paying respects, looked up.
Tōshirō spoke: "Got time? Let's talk."
Kakashi followed, puzzled: "Hokage-sama, why?"
Tōshirō stopped, turning. His Sharingan glowed red: "Just showing you something."
"This is…" Kakashi froze.
The images revealed Kakashi killing Danzo and the true cause of his father's death.
Tōshirō said calmly: "You should know this."
"You really…"
"So what if I do?"
"…"
"You're not the only one who knows the truth. Others avoid revealing it for balance. I don't need you for that."
"…"
"Will you stand with me, or with the dead? Decide."
Kakashi: …
◎
That night, cold moonlight shone over Konoha's Hero's Grave.
A snake silently slithered into a tomb. After a while, it emerged, moving to a shadow, then climbed a figure, eventually reaching an arm. It flicked its tongue at eyes glowing red in the darkness.
Under cover of night, Tōshirō left the village and entered a cave. It was dark at first, but deep inside a fire burned, as if waiting. A soft, eerie voice echoed: "Tōshirō, you've finally come…"
Orochimaru's face flickered in the firelight, adding a sinister edge to his pale features.
Tōshirō asked calmly: "Are the things ready?"
"Of course," Orochimaru replied happily, turning so Tōshirō could see.
Two unconscious women lay on the ground.
Tōshirō smiled faintly: "Good."
Orochimaru asked: "To revive her, one sacrifice is enough. Why two?"
"The other is my secret weapon against Uchiha Madara."
"Secret weapon?"
"You'll see."
Tōshirō formed hand seals. Red circles appeared around the two women, and symbols spread across their bodies.
Ninjutsu: Edo TenseiSince those being revived were most important to him, he kept full control, learning Edo Tensei himself from Orochimaru.
Under Edo Tensei, the women's bodies began to change.
End of Chapter)
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