"What is it? If you have something to say, say it quickly!"
Tobirama was wearing a white lab coat and a mask, his tone extremely impatient. Although Haru could not see Tobirama's face, he was certain Tobirama's expression had to be terrible right now.
"Come here first."
Haru pulled Tobirama into a corner, then spoke.
"Tobirama, I've basically confirmed that Madara has already infiltrated the Leaf."
Tobirama's brow furrowed. Although he had already prepared himself, when Haru truly confirmed this information, his heart still inevitably sped up. Even his breathing became somewhat difficult. Tobirama took off his mask and exhaled deeply.
"I feel that mere Hashirama cells aren't enough for me to face Madara directly. So..."
Haru glanced at Tobirama's expression.
Mm. No change.
Then he continued.
"I think the First Hokage's Sage Mode is quite good. Don't you think Sage Mode suits me very well?"
"What?! Sage Mode?"
Tobirama shouted instinctively, and the surrounding Uchiha all looked over at once.
"What are you looking at? Turn your heads away and cover your ears!"
Tobirama had only been dead for a little over a year, and his lingering authority still remained. The Uchiha obediently turned their heads and covered their ears.
The Second Hokage and the current Hokage were discussing something major. Small fries like them should not get involved for now.
"Haru, don't you think you're being greedy?"
"My brother only had so many methods, and you want to empty him out completely!"
Tobirama looked at Haru indignantly. Hashirama had been so powerful because he was supported by two pillars. One was his immortal body. The other was his nearly perfect Sage Mode.
Haru was already about to steal the power of the immortal body, and now he even wanted to steal Sage Mode?
If Haru obtained the ultimate powers of both the Uchiha and the Senju, just how powerful would he become?
A second Madara or Hashirama?
Perhaps even stronger?
Tobirama did not dare imagine it.
But Haru's strength would definitely swell to an extremely terrifying level. Perhaps he could even wrestle with Madara.
"This is all for the Leaf. You know Madara's power better than anyone. You are the Leaf's Second Hokage. You don't want anything to happen to the Leaf either, right?"
"The First Hokage's summoning scroll from Shikkotsu Forest. You are Hashirama's younger brother and the former clan leader of the Senju clan. As long as you want to, you can definitely leave your name on it."
"I don't have it!"
"I never asked my brother for the summoning scroll at all. Does my strength need Sage Mode to enhance it? I have Flying Thunder God. Where in the ninja world can I not go? My Water Release, my forbidden techniques..."
Tobirama directly shattered Haru's fantasy, then began speaking confidently while slightly boasting about his own strength. Haru listened and shook his head.
"All right, Tobirama, stop bragging. If you couldn't learn Sage Mode, just say so. You were so strong and had ninjutsu like Flying Thunder God, yet you still died. Water Release and forbidden techniques were useless. You're already dead, so what are you still bragging about?"
Haru could not stand Tobirama's attitude, so he stabbed hard at Tobirama's sore spot. Being killed by those brutes from Cloud Village was the unresolved regret of Tobirama's life.
"What do you understand?"
"I did that to cover my disciples' retreat. If you were being chased by more than a dozen jonin and elite jonin, with the Gold and Silver Brothers leading them while somehow using Nine-Tails Chakra Mode and holding the Sage of Six Paths' sacred tools, you would die too!"
Tobirama was so angry he nearly jumped. Who could have imagined he would face that lineup? If it had only been an ordinary jonin squad chasing him, he might have had a chance to escape. There had truly been no way.
"Tch. Ptui!"
Tobirama said a long string of excuses, and Haru's response was extremely direct. He looked at Tobirama with disdain, then spat on the ground.
This floor would still have to be cleaned by Orochimaru.
"You naturally evil Uchiha brat!"
"I, I..."
Tobirama was so angry he could not speak. However, this time, he was wise enough not to attack. If he attacked, Haru would control him with a single seal. There were so many Uchiha secretly glancing over here.
"Bastard, do you still want to learn Sage Mode or not? With your identity as an Uchiha, even if you are the Hokage of the Leaf, the Senju clan would never hand Shikkotsu Forest's summoning scroll to you. Unless I step forward!"
"I can help you convince the Senju clan to give you Shikkotsu Forest's summoning scroll!"
As Tobirama spoke, his true intent was revealed. He really wanted to get in contact with the Senju clan and Mito. Haru took advantage of him every day and stabbed him in the heart constantly.
Heaven had no eyes!
Even if Haru's position as Hokage was now unshakable, as long as Tobirama's existence was revealed, control over his Impure World Reincarnation body would definitely no longer remain in Haru's hands.
Then his good days would come.
His prestige, the Senju clan's power, and his scientific research ability would be enough to break Haru's monopoly in the Leaf.
In Tobirama's eyes, most of Haru's current achievements were his own credit. Aside from providing a little money, just a little, what else had Haru done?
Why should all the glory and accomplishments be enjoyed by Haru alone?
"Hmph. Then forget it. It's just a summoning scroll. The ninja world doesn't only have Shikkotsu Forest as a sacred land that masters Sage Mode."
Haru directly rejected Tobirama's proposal. Releasing Tobirama would only bring endless trouble. The Leaf only needed one Hokage's voice. Why should a dead former Hokage come out and join the fun?
Even with his own clansmen and Orochimaru, Haru did not feel at ease. He had placed seals on all of them. If they leaked even the slightest information about Tobirama in any form, they would faint immediately, and Haru could even sense it.
The Leaf's secrecy technique had been upgraded by Haru after asking Mito, who was proficient in sealing techniques. In the future, it would continue to be strengthened.
"When Madara suddenly attacks the Leaf, Haru, you will definitely regret this!"
Seeing Haru reject him so decisively, Tobirama threatened him fiercely.
"Shut up, old Senju ghost!"
"I am the current Hokage!"
Haru said the classic line very smoothly. Last time, it was Mito. This time, it was Tobirama. Who would be next?
It would not be Hashirama, right?
No way, right?
The convergence of the plotline was truly terrifying. Was this the fate of the Leaf's Third Hokage?
"If there's nothing else, get out!"
"Leave my laboratory!"
Tobirama immediately ordered Haru to leave. Today was another day of being provoked by Haru.
So angry.
So annoying.
"That Uchiha over there, you're the one who kept secretly looking over here, right? When we draw blood later, you're first. Eight hundred cc!"
Tobirama decided to find someone to vent on, and the Uchiha clansman in front of him was the best target. Eight hundred cc was already the limit of a one-time blood draw for an ordinary person. Fainting and cold hands and feet were normal. Any more would truly threaten life. But for a ninja...
If the physique was weak, they would still faint.
Haru rolled his eyes at Tobirama. He definitely could not let Tobirama vent his anger on his clansmen.
"Don't listen to this old fossil. Six hundred cc at most. Right now, he's in our Uchiha clan compound, and his strength is quite weak. Although Tobirama is the Second Hokage, if he goes too far, three to five of you can attack together. You over there, you already have three tomoe, right? If you attack together, dealing with him will be easy. Oh, right, be careful when you fight. Don't break the laboratory equipment. It's very expensive.
"This set alone is worth tens of millions of ryo. Enough for you to work for several years."
Haru backed up the young Uchiha men. Although they probably did not have the courage to attack Tobirama, he still had to say it. If they had the courage, then go ahead. If they won, he would back them up. If they did not dare, then they could obediently endure it.
After speaking, Haru left, leaving the Uchiha looking at one another.
How could they have the virtue or ability to attack the Second Hokage?
They had personally experienced Tobirama's former might when he suppressed the Uchiha. Later, they still had to cooperate with Tobirama for the experiment, and it was the kind with life-threatening danger. Although they all said they did not fear death for the sake of power, when it was time to back down, they still had to back down.
Backing down before Second Hokage Tobirama was not shameful!
"Who among you wants to attack together? You can try now."
A cold light appeared in Tobirama's eyes. At some point, he had taken out a kunai.
The scene became terrifyingly quiet.
"You. Six hundred cc or eight hundred cc?"
Tobirama looked at that young man. Sweat appeared on the young man's forehead. Eight hundred cc would at most make him dizzy for a while.
It was not worth it. Not worth it.
"Eight hundred cc."
"Very good!"
Tobirama smiled in satisfaction. It seemed his authority still remained. Only Haru, that naturally evil Uchiha brat, was so disrespectful to him.
"Since you're quite sensible, four hundred cc will do!"
Tobirama did not actually make things difficult for this sensible Uchiha. Just now, he had been dizzy with anger because of Haru. Later, injecting the Hashirama cell solution would be very dangerous. If the body was weakened from blood loss, it was very possible that the Hashirama cells would erode it.
"Line up one by one. Prepare to draw blood!"
Tobirama looked at the rows of obedient Uchiha, and his expression became much gentler. Haru, that naturally evil brat, was truly too hateful. Now, this group of obedient Uchiha looked so likable.
Night.
Hokage Residence.
Haru lay on the bed, panting.
That had been another great battle.
Refreshing.
The fire had been extinguished.
His mind was clear again.
Three daily reflections: Why were there so many annoying things in the world?
Hopefully, Jiraiya would not disappoint him. Hopefully, Madara would behave a little and had only come to the Leaf out of boredom to look around and reminisce about the old place. Just like simp Obito, who would go to Rin's grave every year, leave a flower, and then leave.
Before he knew it, Haru entered dreamland.
The next day.
Hokage Building.
Haru woke up relatively early today, so he was not late for work. He sat in the office, slacking off while working, and waited as usual for Shikato to report the Leaf's intelligence from this period.
"Hokage, the exchange students from the Land of Whirlpools will set off soon and should arrive in the Leaf in the near future."
"Also, the feudal lord and samurai of the Land of Iron formally requested aid from the Leaf today. Recently, a rising force from the Rain Village has been very rampant and has already started small-scale conflicts on the border of the Land of Iron."
"Perhaps this is a good opportunity to intervene in the Land of Iron's ore trade. However, the Leaf is not suitable to become involved in a conflict right now. The Leaf's ninja are still systematically lacking. The next two to three years will be a good opportunity. According to intelligence, the Rain Village is still accumulating strength. This time, it does not truly intend to invade the Land of Iron."
"The Land of Sky suddenly produced a ninja village called the Sky Ninja Village. They have a new type of ninja tool that is said to allow flight through the sky. They are also ambitious. Recently, they have begun active movements, carrying out terrorist attacks against nearby ninja forces, and are now recruiting soldiers."
"The Village Hidden in the Mountains of the Land of Mountains..."
"The Leaf's factories are expanding outward with the Leaf as the center. They have already expanded into large cities in the Land of Fire and are recruiting large numbers of workers. According to intelligence, local nobles and officials are somewhat dissatisfied. A considerable number of tenant farmers have abandoned farming and chosen to work in factories."
After listening, Haru fell into thought.
The ninja villages that would show up during the Second Ninja World War were all developing during this period.
The Five Great Ninja Villages had fought one another until they vomited blood, allowing these small ninja villages to pick up benefits.
The Five Great Ninja Villages were all recovering and replenishing their status. Faced with these ambitious small ninja villages, they turned a blind eye. As long as these small ninja villages did not provoke them, that was fine.
This was not a suitable time for the Leaf to send troops either. There was neither a proper excuse nor the conditions to send troops. The Leaf had not yet completely transformed its economic strength into the ability to launch war. At the very least, the situation would only improve after another two or three years.
If the Leaf attacked a small ninja village now and could not crush it completely, that would become very troublesome.
Those sandal-wearing forces had used simple rockets to bombard the bald eagle's bases for hundreds of rounds. Even the nuclear-powered floating coffins had not been spared.
The bald eagle was still enduring it, saying it did not hurt after being slapped. No one died. It was only a concussion. No problem.
It was the same with the two bears fighting.
A big brother could not show weakness. Either he did not act and maintained his dignity, or he solved the war with overwhelming force.
"Continue collecting intelligence. Whether it is the Rain Village, the Sky Ninja Village, or the Hidden Mountain Village, those flying tools are somewhat interesting. Send a few spies and think of a way to get one."
"As for the Land of Iron's request for aid, give them an ambiguous answer. In short, we need to show that the Leaf may send troops, but do not leave any verbal evidence. Trick... cough, cough, request some compensation. For example, iron ore or sales quotas. Recently, the Leaf laboratory improved smelting technology. Next, the iron mines under the Leaf's name should increase iron output and reduce costs. First, fight a price war, seize market share, squeeze the competitors to death, and then the Leaf will monopolize it."
"As for those nobles and officials, just ignore them. If there is a problem, tell them to find the feudal lord. If it still cannot be solved, then send them to meet the Sage of Six Paths."
Haru issued a series of orders. Shikato wrote everything down and repeated it once. Then he left Haru's office.
"The ninja world is getting restless again. Outside the village, undercurrents are surging. Inside the village, there is a timed explosive that can blow the entire Leaf into the sky.
"What a headache.
"When will I finally be able to slack off happily all the time?"
Haru drank a mouthful of iced cola and lay back in his chair with a sigh. Becoming the Leaf's Third Hokage really was miserable. Sometimes, he even sympathized a little with that old man Hiruzen. When Hiruzen took office, first, he had no strength. Second, no background. Third, no money. Fourth, he could not even handle the forces inside the Leaf. There were also so many rising ninja villages in the ninja world, each one ambitious.
Tsk. Truly miserable.
Time passed bit by bit.
Before long, it was noon.
The door to Haru's office was knocked on.
"Hokage!"
(End of Chapter)
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