Chapter 772: Today’s Winner
Naori was slightly surprised, not expecting Tobirama to evaluate her like that, then smiled:
"Greedy? I actually think Tobirama-sama is greedier..."
"Me, greedy?"
"The Senju clan has ended the war and even established a ninja village, but Tobirama-sama is still unsatisfied, wanting to dominate the entire Land of Fire, even the whole world. Isn’t that greedy?"
"Uh... You don’t understand!"
Tobirama hesitated, slightly stunned.
In truth, he never wanted to unify the entire ninja world, or rather, he initially lacked such grand ambitions; controlling the world’s ninjas was enough for Tobirama.
Unfortunately, he no longer had a choice.
’It’s all because of Aniki and the Lord, putting me in this mess!’
"What does Tobirama-sama mean?" Naori asked sincerely.
Tobirama sighed:
"Truthfully, I, Tobirama, don’t crave power, but everyone thinks I’m greedy for it—what a huge misunderstanding!"
"..."
Naori closed her mouth, unsure if she believed him.
Tobirama frowned, wanting to explain but unsure where to start.
This made his student, Danzo, seem like he was copying him.
Utterly outrageous!
Of course, if the old Tobirama in another dimension successfully unified the world while he was still stuck, that dog would surely laugh at him.
Parallel World 1’s Tobirama couldn’t stand it.
Thus, the desire to unify the world was also his own.
"In short, power isn’t my goal. If the world can have lasting peace and the village’s children can grow safely, Aniki and I would rather lay down our swords, return to the village, and enjoy life."
"Lay down your sword?"
"Hmm?"
"Nothing. So Tobirama-sama is determined to unify the world to achieve eternal peace?"
"Of course. Once unification is complete and peace achieved, I don’t care who becomes Hokage or world ruler..."
"You’d agree to the clan leader becoming Hokage?" Naori asked cleverly.
Tobirama panicked, immediately denying:
"No way! Not him!"
"Why not the clan leader?"
"Not just him—all Uchihas can’t!"
"How can you be sure something untested won’t work? Is this Tobirama-sama’s prejudice against the Uchiha clan?"
"It’s not prejudice, it’s..."
Tobirama wanted to retort but recalled his future self’s choice to train his beloved student, Uchiha Kagami, and could only hold back.
Sometimes, the one who slaps their own face isn’t others but themselves!
"Tobirama-sama is speechless?"
Tobirama took a deep breath, calming his emotions.
Arguing with a girl under twenty?
If word got out, Aniki might beat him again.
So Tobirama smiled calmly: "Nothing needs saying—my actions will prove my heart."
"But you, it’s rare for anyone in the entire Uchiha clan to be this skilled at arguing."
"Yet to criticize me, you’re still too young."
"Even Madara couldn’t beat me in a debate!"
Naori said bluntly: "But the clan leader said you don’t even dare fart in front of him..."
Tobirama’s face darkened: ’Uchiha Madara, I curse you &%%...￥&’
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Furious, Tobirama grabbed the katana at his side, but his vision blurred, and he grabbed the wrong thing, showing how exhausted he’d been lately.
Even if he drew the katana, he wouldn’t actually attack Naori.
On one hand, he valued this highly useful Uchiha ninja; on the other, he didn’t want to fall into Madara’s trap.
"Tobirama-sama, I think you should rest a bit."
"Rest? Only those useless to the village need rest!"
"Your body won’t hold up."
"That’s not your concern. We have no retreat and no time to slack off!"
Tobirama tossed a piece of intel. Naori picked it up, read it, and was slightly shocked:
"The Land of Lightning has established Kumogakure? Hmm? The Lightning Daimyo secretly tasked Kumogakure to investigate the Land of Fire? Seems we’ve been found out."
"Right, I didn’t expect to hide it too long. They’re only noticing now—later than expected."
Since Tobirama began taking over the Land of Fire’s Daimyo residence, three months had passed.
Though Tobirama and others hid it well, completely blocking news was impossible.
Various ninjas, merchants, ronin, samurai, even civilians passing through the Land of Fire could leak information to other nations.
It couldn’t be fully concealed.
Unless the entire Land of Fire was isolated, but that was pointless and would confirm rumors.
Fortunately, thanks to Uchiha ninjas, the information blockade in the Daimyo’s residence was tight. The outside world still didn’t know the Land of Fire’s Daimyo was dead or that Tobirama and Konoha controlled the Land of Fire.
They only assumed Konoha and the Fire Daimyo reached some deep cooperation or interest exchange, unafraid to deploy ninjas to balance nobles.
But that alone was, in other nations’ eyes, betrayal and unacceptable.
The Land of Fire dared drastically elevate ninja status? Even hiring ninjas to suppress nobles and officials? Was this tolerable?
How could ninjas, mere dogs and disposable war tools, rule over them?
If the Land of Fire was allowed to grow, would their ninjas follow suit?
In those daimyo and nobles’ eyes, such a precedent couldn’t be allowed!
Sadly, invitations and temptations from surrounding major nations were all deftly rebuffed by Tobirama controlling the Edo Tensei Fire Daimyo.
Now, the aggressive Land of Lightning could no longer hold back.
They began issuing missions to the newly founded Kumogakure.
Tasking them to infiltrate the Land of Fire and investigate what dirty deal the Fire Daimyo and Konoha had struck.
"Is the intel reliable?"
"Absolutely reliable."
Tobirama was confident.
The Anbu he founded, though in its early stages, had systems and training modeled after the future—impossible to be wrong.
In this early ninja village era, Anbu or similar groups were too ruthless and extraordinary!
"So what will Tobirama-sama do?"
"Since they’re seeking death, I won’t hold back!" Tobirama sneered coldly, making Naori shiver.
"But didn’t Hokage-sama say you can’t actively target or attack other nations or villages?"
"Damn, why did Aniki tell you that?"
Tobirama pouted, displeased with his brother’s differential treatment.
"So Tobirama-sama plans to use the Bijuu?"
Naori boldly guessed. She clearly knew the nine Bijuu had surrendered under Hashirama and Madara’s ’touch.’
Recently, the Beast Organization led by Kurama caused plenty of chaos in other nations’ territories, all under Tobirama’s covert orders.
Thus, most nations were overwhelmed, with little time to unite against the Land of Fire, slowing their expansion.
But the Land of Lightning and Kumogakure weren’t simple.
They not only had Kage-level ninjas who could fight Bijuu alone but also many ninja tools left by the Sage of the Six Paths; even Kurama alone wouldn’t gain much against Kumogakure.
Unless multiple Bijuu attacked together or used Bijuudama for slaughter. Sadly, Hashirama forbade this.
"No, Aniki only allowed the Bijuu to cause minor chaos, not use their abilities recklessly for mass slaughter..."
Last time Tobirama had Kurama and others spit Bijuudama at the Fire Daimyo’s residence to intimidate and extort money.
But it nearly spiraled out of control, and he unhesitatingly sold out Kurama, leading to the Bijuu being beaten by Hashirama.
Thus, the Bijuu now didn’t fully obey Tobirama.
At least, they wouldn’t defy Hashirama’s orders, not daring to proactively harm innocents.
So Tobirama couldn’t order the Beast Organization to attack Kumogakure and the Land of Lightning together.
"So what will Tobirama-sama do?"
"Hmph! Though I can’t attack proactively, if they strike first and I counter passively, even Aniki can’t argue, right?"
"So that’s it—Tobirama-sama deliberately let the Land of Lightning task Kumogakure to investigate us?"
Naori instantly understood, easily guessing Tobirama’s plan.
Once the Land of Fire was attacked without reason, or worse, if Kumogakure ninjas injured Tobirama personally, he’d have full justification for a counterattack.
At that point, forget just Kumogakure—the Hokage might directly crush the entire Land of Lightning with a giant Wooden Buddha statue!
"Exactly. Kumogakure ninjas set out two days ago and should arrive at the Daimyo’s residence soon."
"Do you need me to do anything?"
"No need for you to act. Just manage the Uchiha ninjas in the city—don’t let them scare people. I need to let those Kumogakure ninjas enter the imperial palace and cause a ruckus."
"Tobirama-sama will use himself as bait?"
Tobirama snorted coldly, with utmost disdain:
"Bait? Hmph, they’re not worthy of me as bait."
"But the Kumogakure ninjas’ main target must be to investigate the cooperation between the Fire Daimyo and Konoha."
"What if we pin the Fire Daimyo’s death on these bastards?"
Uchiha Naori: "..."
In her heart, she couldn’t help cursing Tobirama’s madness and cunning—no wonder other Uchihas couldn’t beat this freak!
"You just cursed me in your heart?"
As a sensory-type ninja, Tobirama was highly perceptive; most couldn’t hide secrets from him.
"No, this subordinate only admires Tobirama-sama’s calculations!" Naori praised sincerely—cunning geniuses were easier to deal with than brainless fools.
"Hmph! You’ve got a long way to go and much to learn—don’t let that useless clan leader of yours fool you!"
"Understood, I’ll remember."
Tobirama fell silent, feeling as helpless as when facing his sister-in-law, Mito.
Couldn’t argue, couldn’t hit.
Ugh... he suddenly missed Izuna; though that bastard was cruel, facing him required little thought.
Just beat him senseless.
"You..."
"Any further instructions, Tobirama-sama?"
"None, you may leave."
"Alright! Oh, this is lunch prepared for Tobirama-sama. Please eat on time and take care of your health."
Naori handed over a pre-prepared lunch box.
When opened, it was filled with Tobirama’s favorite foods, even hot grilled fish!
This surprised Tobirama slightly.
’Oh! This damned Uchiha, did she even figure out my favorite foods so clearly?’
But this tactic was too childish!
"Taste it first, check for poison," Tobirama suppressed his emotions, testing with a blank face.
There must be poison in this dish, right?
Hmm, definitely!
"There’s an antidote in this tea—Tobirama-sama just needs to drink it after eating."
"If you’re really afraid, you can have someone else prepare different food."
"I’ll take my leave..."
Naori didn’t taste the food, spoke, then turned and left.
For Tobirama, with pride higher than the Uchiha clan’s, no method was more effective than provocation.
Watching Naori leave, Tobirama sat alone, staring at the grilled fish in the lunch box, sinking into thought and doubt.
But he didn’t hesitate long before deciding.
Even if there’s poison, so what? A petty Uchiha trick could kill him?
That bastard Madara could never kill him!
Tobirama grabbed the grilled fish, biting fiercely as if venting his frustration against the Uchiha clan.
Then, his eyes lit up!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Half an hour later, Naori returned.
Seeing the empty lunch box and Tobirama asleep at the desk, she couldn’t help but smile slightly.
Today’s winner was still her.
And it seemed some Senju ninjas, as her brother described, had unexpectedly low pride at crucial moments!
Accepting Uchiha kindness but still unforgiving, even too ashamed to face her.
This mismatch of mouth and heart wasn’t easy to change!
But no rush.
Take it slow.
She’d eventually change Tobirama’s biased view of the entire Uchiha clan—Naori was confident of that.
Naori quietly took the lunch box, preparing to leave.
But then, a loud knock on the door sounded—a Konoha ninja bringing urgent news to report.
Thus, Tobirama, pretending to sleep, was forced to wake.
He instinctively avoided Naori’s gaze, turning his attention to the door.
"Come in."
"Tobirama-sama, urgent report from the village, from Hokage-sama."
The messenger ninja handed an envelope to Tobirama.
Tobirama, pondering how to recruit and ’teach’ this messenger ninja for Anbu, had to act serious.
’Aniki sent me a message now?’
’Is something big happening?’
Tobirama took the envelope and opened it to read.
*SLAM!*
Tobirama slammed the desk hard, standing abruptly, eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
This not only startled the Konoha ninja but also piqued Naori’s curiosity.
’What shocking news could rattle Tobirama?’
’Did Hokage-sama die?’
’Or did the clan leader get promoted?’
Naori proactively asked: "Tobirama-sama, has something big happened in the village?"
"No. Just that bastard came back to life."
"Who? What?"
"An Uchiha bastard I’ve hated my whole life!"
Indeed, Hashirama didn’t convey any major news to Tobirama—just that Madara’s experiment succeeded, and his beloved brother, Uchiha Izuna, was finally revived!
But for Tobirama, this was undoubtedly the greatest provocation!