"Aomi-kun... won't you feel too aggrieved by this?" Uchiha Hachida looked at Aomi with reverence, his face filled with hesitation and even a trace of heartache.
"It's nothing, change into new clothes and let's go, all this is for the Uchiha Clan." Aomi shoved the clothes Shisui brought into Uchiha Hachida's hands and firmly patted his shoulder:
"Hachida, there are parasites within the clan holding high positions, which is extremely disadvantageous to the clan and us. My strength is still insufficient to quell the endless troubles, so I need you to help me stay hidden."
"My personal reputation is not important; a bit of concession is actually more beneficial to my plan. But if you think a certain clan member is worth striving for, try to do it discreetly..."
"However, don't have a psychological burden. Although I believe in your abilities, the one who must carry the future of the Uchiha Clan is still me."
Aomi sighed helplessly, revealing a slightly tired yet confident smile.
Uchiha Hachida stared blankly at Aomi, tears seemed to well up in his eyes, and he bit his lip: "Yes, Aomi-kun, I will do as you say!"
Aomi gave Uchiha Hachida very simple orders.
When he went back to report to Uchiha Setsuna, he was to conceal Aomi's strength, describing the situation as slightly difficult but still manageable and under control.
This way, Uchiha Setsuna's attention would temporarily shift away from him. Although dealing with Uchiha Hachida wasn't difficult, if he provoked Setsuna, this extreme hard-liner, there would be a continuous stream of clansmen to challenge him, or even more excessive actions.
Aomi is not afraid of the so-called Three Tomoe, but it's a trouble without benefits, and it's more likely to expose his own strength and trump card.
But in Uchiha Hachida's view, Aomi made a tremendous sacrifice.
The reputation of strength in the Uchiha Clan is considered a lifeline, but Aomi didn't hesitate to give up the chance to make a name for himself with his well-established Three Tomoe, and even expressed trust in this bastard who was provoking him just a moment ago!
Enduring humiliation, discarding personal honor for the sake of the clan, while being strong and gentle... this is how Aomi appeared in Uchiha Hachida's heart.
Uchiha Hachida, wearing clean clothes, quietly examined the wounds that Aomi had carefully healed, and slowly, resolutely knelt down in a seated position on the ground, saying in a deep voice:
"Aomi-kun, give any orders, and I will not hesitate to go through fire and water."
"I know, although my talent and wisdom can't compare with yours, please allow me, this sinner, to shoulder some of your burden. A person like Aomi-kun shouldn't walk this path alone!"
"Aomi-kun, you owe nothing to the clan, it's those blinded clansmen who owe you too much."
Aomi slowly and firmly pulled Uchiha Hachida up, with a hint of a comforting smile:
"It's because of clansmen like you that I'm willing to bear the fate of the Uchiha, Hachida."
Uchiha Hachida's heart trembled, and he turned sharply: "Aomi-kun, take care of your health, don't overstrain yourself!"
Moments later, watching Uchiha Hachida's departing figure, Aomi smiled slightly, thinking to himself:
"This is the Uchiha... as long as you're stronger and give him respect and a way out, then his life is basically yours."
"Even though it's just a Three Tomoe, it can become a pawn I plant within the hard-line clansmen to monitor their actions. Hachida does have some talent, perhaps he could become a decent combat force in the future."
Aomi pondered the information Hachida had just provided, squinting his eyes:
"Uchiha Setsuna, that old relic once manipulated by Tobirama, why has he popped up again? What is Uchiha Fugaku thinking, allowing such a waste to take power?"
"I recall that during this period, Uchiha Fugaku should still have hope for Konoha. He shouldn't be against me approaching the Hokage's faction..."
"But he hasn't intervened. Could it be that he's hesitating in his stance towards Konoha?"
After pondering for a while, Aomi laughed wryly and gave up trying to fathom the thoughts of Uchiha Fugaku, the clan leader.
In the thousand-year history of the Uchiha in the Ninja World, he might be the only one who opened the Mangekyo but never used Susanoo.
Solely in terms of cowardice and hesitation, Aomi would call him the strongest!
Normal people cannot comprehend the actions of someone with a mental illness. After all, this is an abstract figure, sending his son to be brainwashed, turning the clan into a scattered mess, finally deciding on armed rebellion only to collapse and commit artistic suicide.
To understand his mentality, one might first need to lower their own IQ.
"Tobirama, how do I seem to you, care to evaluate..." Aomi shook his head, initiating interaction with Senju Tobirama.
"It's just alright, still need old me to remind you how to counter his Fire Release. Your art of winning people's hearts is something, reminds me of a scumbag I killed..."
Senju Tobirama snorted coldly: "Kid, I don't mind you deciding to get close to the Monkey, everyone has their own demands. Back then, Kagami, Danzo, and the Monkey were just like you, I'm quite surprised you didn't block my perception."
Aomi didn't pick up on this, quickly shifting: "Putting other things aside, Tobirama, you're such a stingy guy. I just mimicked Uchiha Izuna's signature move, yet you exposed your killing intent?"
"Sigh, some people live inside me, not even teaching me ninjutsu, and won't allow me to learn other self-defense techniques... truly the embodiment of the domineering CEO from Konoha, the Second Hokage!"
Senju Tobirama's expression faltered, inexplicably feeling guilty: Did he make it so obvious!
Yet his exterior remained iceberg-like: "Who's living inside you? Kid, you coerced old me into this place, you ought to seriously protect Konoha, inherit the Will of Fire, as an apology to me!"
"Tobirama, talking of this, I must say a few words: Even if I stood still, the forest a hundred meters away will ignite with the fires of my will..."
Aomi laughed aloud seeing Senju Tobirama's seemingly constipated expression: "Don't be so resistant, why not try the upcoming Will of Fire graduation test?"
"You shouldn't fail, but surely won't score higher than me."
"Kid, if it weren't for old me, big brother's level couldn't have summed up the Will of Fire!" Senju Tobirama folded his arms confidently, appearing victorious:
"Standing before you is the first principal of the Konoha Ninja School!"
Aomi shrugged, regardless of Tobirama being the creator of the Will of Fire, so what?
Times have changed! Now, there's no old-tradition Will of Fire anymore; it's the dynamic's world's to rule!
#
That night.
Uchiha Hachida woke up from a dream: "Damn me to hell!"
"Pa!"
Meanwhile, in a certain valley of the Ninja World.
An old Uchiha couldn't sleep either, contemplating whether this butterfly called Aomi might stir a fierce storm that disrupts his plan...