At the Uchiha clan compound.
Surrounded by Fugaku and the others, Tobirama and Shisui returned here.
Tobirama curiously looked around.
Even though he had once been the Hokage, he actually had not entered this place very often.
The only time he clearly remembered was when the Konoha Police Force had just been established, and the Uchiha clan compound had been forced to move to the outskirts of the village.
At that time, Tobirama had personally come to the scene to apply pressure, and had walked around the original compound once.
But strolling around as leisurely as this had never happened.
After all, given the reputation he had back then within the Uchiha…
If he had shown up rashly, an Uchiha old lady might have appeared and thrown cabbage leaves and rotten eggs at him.
If that really happened, there would be nothing Tobirama could do about it.
After all, he couldn't just slash her with Flying Thunder God, could he?
The Hokage's authority was not unlimited…
So he simply avoided coming here and let the ANBU monitor things on his behalf.
"This is Shisui's home. It's quite spacious. It was passed down from Kagami-senpai…" Fugaku pointed to a three-story house ahead and introduced it to Tobirama.
"There are spare rooms, right?"
"Yes, yes. My house is big. Usually I live here alone, and it always feels a bit empty…"
Shisui said excitedly, "From now on, big brother can live on the second floor. I'll stay on the first floor!"
As for the Hokage assigning him an older brother, Shisui accepted and adapted to it extremely quickly…
The Uchiha orphan who had been left outside the village, the handsome and sweet-talking "Seisui," quickly captured the boy's heart.
This matter fit perfectly with the path of the Will of Fire in Shisui's heart…
Everyone was one big family!
Moreover, in Shisui's view,
his brother had shown great sincerity by giving himself the name "Seisui."
Although the meaning behind that name had nothing to do with Shisui, he still felt it was chosen to better match with him…
Both of them had "sui" in their names—how could that be unrelated?
Out of the corner of his eye, Fugaku noticed Tobirama's curious gaze and smiled with satisfaction.
Being imprisoned by Kusagakure for so long must have been extremely miserable…
Now that he had entered Konoha—and the compound of the great Uchiha clan—it was normal to be dazzled by everything!
'Being inexperienced isn't Seisui's fault…' Fugaku thought to himself, then slowly said: "From now on, this will be your home. You'll have to get used to it!"
"In the past, our Uchiha clan compound was even more luxurious and imposing. It's a pity…"
Uchiha En spoke in a faint voice, "Fugaku boy, you don't really have any impression of the old clan compound either, do you?"
Fugaku nodded.
Although he was no longer young, he had only been born more than ten years after the village was established.
"Eh, there used to be an old clan compound too? Then why did we move away back then…?" Shisui asked curiously.
Tobirama's expression remained calm, but inside his heart skipped a beat.
He had a feeling he was about to get cursed out.
"And what the hell else could it have been for? Of course it was because Senju Tobirama forcibly demolished the old clan compound!"
The old ninja from the Warring States era spoke as if his mouth had been smeared with honey: "You little brats don't know—back then, that dog-born bastard acted like if we didn't relocate, he was going to flood the Uchiha clan compound!"
"And there was nothing we could do about it. He had already torn down the Senju clan first…"
"He said it was to speed up integration between clans. But who didn't know that some of the Senju went to the ninja academy to become teachers, some went off to the Land of Fire, and only a portion of them actually intermarried!"
"That old dog was the sneakiest… good thing he died!"
"The Sage of Six Paths is still reasonable after all—scourges don't live long…" another senior Uchiha echoed.
When the other Uchiha saw how things were going, they also cursed him a few times here and there.
After all, everyone cursed him all the time, so they all knew a few lines.
Worth mentioning was that, back then, even the ANBU assigned to monitor the Uchiha had gotten used to hearing it, and later they more or less stopped reporting it.
After all, it wasn't anything good, and there wasn't much information in it.
Tobirama did his best to keep his expression steady.
He was not very used to being cursed at directly on the spot.
Back when he read reports about the Uchiha cursing him wildly, Tobirama had actually felt a certain sense of pleasure in his heart…
It was nothing more than impotent rage.
But being blasted to his face was another matter entirely.
Yet Tobirama had no choice right now. He could only let it go in one ear and out the other, pretending not to hear it…
"You tell me, why did this person have to be so dead set against the Uchiha clan?"
Fugaku shook his head with feeling. "Hurting others without benefiting himself—large-scale intermarriage between ninja clans is not a good thing…"
It would affect the stability of Bloodline Limit inheritance.
"Then you're underestimating him!"
Isshin's voice rang out. "Do you think Senju Tobirama didn't understand that?"
"I'm telling you, the Senju clan never had any such thing as a pure orthodox line. Long ago, they were already supplementing their population from outside!"
"Intermarriage would affect them too, but compared with other ninja clans, the impact would be much smaller."
"The First was black-haired, that bastard was white-haired, and Tsunade is blonde. I've even seen red-haired Senju…"
Fugaku frowned tightly. "That insidious? Did anyone discover that back then?"
"No. I only realized it afterward. It took me many years to slowly think it through. Besides, this is only my speculation—I have no evidence…"
"That bastard may have had vile character, but his strength and brains were the real deal!"
Isshin sighed. "That much, I have to admit."
Tobirama smiled inwardly.
Recognition from an enemy always made one feel better than praise from a friend.
But Tobirama also raised his vigilance and evaluation of Isshin by another level.
This was a troublesome Uchiha—one who truly had a brain.
To actually be able to see through one part of the method he had used back then…
"Isn't it a bit inappropriate to speak of the Second Hokage-sama like this…"
Shisui said softly, "It probably wasn't only for the sake of targeting the Uchiha, right? Even though I can't really figure it out…"
The other Uchiha sighed, but they did not say anything to Shisui.
They were all used to it…
Tobirama, on the other hand, was quite satisfied inwardly.
As expected of Kagami's descendant—his ideological awareness was indeed high!
At least recognizing this little brother did not seem to have been for nothing so far…
And when Isshin saw the thoughtful look on Tobirama's face, something suddenly stirred in his heart, and he said: "Fugaku, tell me—if we had known the truth back then, would there have been any way to solve it?"
Fugaku frowned. "There probably wasn't any good way, right? I can't think of one off the top of my head…"
"Seisui, what do you think?" Isshin asked.
Tobirama answered casually: "That Second Hokage was able to use the dissolution of the Senju clan as an excuse because the impact on the Senju clan itself was not that great…"
"But intermarriage would have an obvious impact on the Uchiha and the other ninja clans, right?"
After receiving a confirming reply, Senju Tobirama continued: "Then just carry it out excessively."
"If they dissolve, then the Uchiha clan should also declare that they will carry out dissolution-style intermarriage, and even pull the other ninja clans in the village into it as well. No one can be left out—everyone intermarry to their heart's content."
"If the Second Hokage isn't an idiot, he would urgently call a halt."
Fugaku looked at Tobirama in surprise. "Kid, you really are a genius! How did you come up with that?"
"What do you mean how did I come up with it? Does that even require thinking…?"
Tobirama frowned. "Although I'm grateful that you saved me back then, I still have to remind you, uncle—you should train your thinking a bit…"
Fugaku was instantly struck down by those words.
His whole person fell into a depressed state, as if he had turned into white ash that would scatter with a single blow.
Was he really just a brainless uncle?
He was clearly a young and vigorous member of Konoha's council!
"Good, good! That was said wonderfully, Seisui!"
Isshin burst into hearty laughter, and three dark tomoe appeared unconsciously in his eyes.
His turn… draw a card!
He had drawn the supreme hidden collector's edition!
'I've finally waited for this…' Isshin thought to himself, his eyes slightly moist.
'An Uchiha with a brain—and a young one who can be trained from childhood. I've waited so bitterly for this…'
The other Uchiha all looked at Tobirama with admiration.
Heroes truly do emerge in youth…
Of course, there were also a few who still hadn't figured it out and didn't understand why excessive execution would work.
Those were the typical foolish Uchiha.
"Alright, all of you go back!" The reinvigorated Fugaku waved his hand at the three-tomoe Uchiha.
"Hurry back to your posts. Don't let Danzō pick out any faults…"
"With Clan Head Isshin and me here, that's enough! We'll see if the children still need anything…"
The three-tomoe Uchiha nodded.
Before leaving, quite a few of them deliberately glanced at Tobirama a few more times, giving him encouraging looks.
An Uchiha with a brain—now that was a rare thing…
There would be new material to talk about while drinking tea at the Police Force today!
"Fugaku, you get lost too. Don't let your brain contaminate these two children…"
"When you finish the books I assigned you, then come back and get involved."
"This is also for the sake of your son!"
Isshin cursed while blowing his beard and glaring. "Go now!"
Fugaku nodded awkwardly. "Got it, got it. I'll go back and read the books!"
After entering Shisui's house, Isshin busied himself helping Tobirama arrange the bed and the room.
He then hurriedly brought over many books—ninjutsu, history, swordsmanship…
It could be said that they covered everything.
"Seisui, study slowly…" Isshin said with a smile.
"If there's anything you don't understand, come ask this old man directly! I'll help you master it as quickly as possible…"
Tobirama nodded. "Alright. Then when can I become a ninja?"
"Don't rush. I plan to send you to the ninja academy." Isshin waved his hand.
"The current ninja academy is run much better than it was in Senju Tobirama's time. With talent like yours, you should first steadily solidify your foundations and restore your nutrition. There's no need to rush out on missions."
"And there, you'll meet quite a few classmates who will carry Konoha's banner in the future…"
"Win them over, and later they'll be your brothers. It'll also count as part of your network."
Isshin had actually wanted to say "power base"…
But he did not want to suddenly place too much pressure on this boy.
After all, Tobirama had only demonstrated intellectual ability so far—his strength might not necessarily be great…
Everything would still have to be observed.
"Enter the ninja academy?" Tobirama frowned.
Shouldn't a traditional Uchiha be urging children to graduate quickly and go straight into real combat?
How did he suddenly understand the strategy of keeping a low profile…
However, Tobirama did not have any aversion to being the king of children.
The ninja academy had been established by him in the first place.
Going back to see how Hiruzen was running it now, and helping the children resolve their questions, was something Tobirama was willing to do.
Even Isshin approved of it, which made Tobirama quite curious.
"By the way, it seems your evaluation of the Second Hokage isn't very high?" Tobirama asked knowingly.
"Yes. He's a thoroughly despicable villain…" Isshin replied immediately.
"Then does the Third Hokage have anything to do with him? In that case, that person… I probably shouldn't trust him either, right?"
Tobirama said thoughtfully, playing the role of a boy who had put himself in the position of an Uchiha.
"The Third Hokage is the Second's disciple…"
Isshin hesitated for a moment, recalling the words Hiruzen had said to him.
So-called sincerity for sincerity—although Isshin still did not fully trust Hiruzen, he also did not want to speak ill of him behind his back.
"His name is Sarutobi Hiruzen."
"Although I hate to admit it, he may truly be a Hokage who inherited the true spirit of the First…"
"He surpassed the limitations of being Senju Tobirama's disciple and stepped out of the cage of short-sightedness."
"In any case, it's better not to show hostility toward him for now. At least at present he deserves your respect. He is a rival between clans, but not really an enemy."
Isshin sighed.
After saying all that, even he himself felt that something about it was strange…
Tobirama nodded on the surface, but his feelings inside were very complicated.
It could be called gratification, yet also very unpleasant.
Across time and even life and death, he felt as if he could hear an idiot laughing loudly beside his ear.
"Hahaha, little brother, see that? The monkey takes after me, not you!"
Tobirama ground his teeth inwardly.
'Hiruzen, you've really become something now… even the Uchiha speak well of you?'
'I'd like to see exactly what you've been doing!'
At that moment, Shisui tugged at Tobirama's sleeve, interrupting his thoughts.
Tobirama had to supervise the Hokage.
Seisui still had to carry a schoolbag.
"Big brother, let's go to school together tomorrow!"
"Oh right, you should prepare yourself. The students at the ninja academy are very strong—don't get discouraged!"
Shisui kindly reminded his brother Seisui. "Sigh… in a couple of months that blond guy will show up again…"
Tobirama asked curiously, "What blond guy? Is he very strong?"
"Super strong! And although his personality seems very gentle, he's actually terrible. While beating us up he even says we're monsters and things like that. There's really nothing we can do about him…"
Shisui complained softly.
"Big brother, you don't know—he's mastered something called the Flying Thunder God Technique. I heard from other classmates that he invented it! Though some people say he only perfected it…"
"He can teleport. It's unbelievably powerful!"
Invented… and perfected?
That struck directly at Tobirama's sensitive point.
Immediately, a certain Second Hokage said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes: "Then I'm really looking forward to seeing it…"
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