Uchiha, starting from the destruction of the ninja world

Chapter 56 Hiruzen's Deal

After Jiraiya left...

Inside the Hokage's temporary office, a heavy atmosphere prevailed, filled with silence...

It filled the entire camp like a tangible object.

After a long silence, Tobirama finally broke it, his voice tinged with undisguised weariness and disappointment: "Monkey, have you forgotten? You are the true Hokage!"

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen slightly raised his head, his gaze meeting Tobirama's for a moment...

Hiruzen felt neither joy nor sorrow...

"Yes, I am the Hokage, but I am also your student."

"Since you have made your decision, teacher, I will support you no matter what you do... even if it means abolishing the daimyo system in the Land of Fire."

The simple statement of abolishing the daimyo system carries an extremely dangerous message.

This means that the Land of Fire and Konoha will be embroiled in a fierce conflict between the ninja world and the aristocratic class, and may even trigger a united hostility and war between other countries and ninja villages against the Land of Fire.

Hiruzen knew very well that unless the other four major ninja villages all chose similar actions...

Otherwise, at this critical moment when the end of the world is imminent, the Land of Fire is very likely to be targeted by the other four daimyo, causing the already precarious Konoha to fall into an even more passive situation.

Even though Tobirama's current actions can quickly consolidate power within Konoha, they are extremely dangerous in the long run.

Tobirama clearly saw Hiruzen's concerns. He slowly shook his head, his voice tinged with a hint of mockery and helplessness: "I never expected this, you monkey. After all these decades, you've become so cowardly and weak."

"Since it's something I've decided to do, I'm confident I can persuade the Kage of the other ninja villages. Besides, even if they do choose to wage war against Konoha, I've never felt afraid."

Tobirama's tone was unusually firm, his gaze revealing calmness and domineering power.

He had even prepared for the worst, even if all his plans failed...

And then there's the ultimate trump card: reviving his own older brother, Hashirama!

With the First Hokage, Hashirama, in charge of the ninja world, all possible risks were nothing to fear for him.

However, this is not what Tobirama wanted to express at this moment.

He slowly turned around, looking at Hiruzen, his voice gradually lowering, and a rare hint of sorrow creeping into his tone...

"Monkey, you should understand that I am already dead..."

"The only reason I remain in this world is to protect Konoha and save the village. A dead man like me can't possibly have any selfish motives anymore. In fact, Tsunade has been ignoring me lately."

Hiruzen, who believed Tobirama's claims were all just high-sounding rhetoric...

But inwardly, a cold laugh involuntarily crept in.

If what the teacher said is true, then why are you so determined not to let go completely and return to your own world so soon?

However, Hiruzen did not say these words aloud.

After a moment of silence, Hiruzen spoke again...

"Kakashi is a young man with the true potential to become Hokage."

"He took the initiative to monitor Danzo and approach Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. All of these actions were personally instructed by me."

Upon hearing this, Tobirama's gaze sharpened. He stared at Hiruzen in silence for a few seconds before coldly saying, "Are you trying to protect Kakashi? Trying to use this as a pretext to make some kind of exchange with me?"

Hiruzen finally raised his head, his gaze becoming unusually firm and resolute.

"Teacher, don't forget, I am the current Hokage. Since the decision you are making will completely destroy the order that has existed in the ninja world for hundreds of years, someone will inevitably have to take responsibility for it in the future."

He paused for a moment, his voice becoming even lower and heavier...

"If someone has to sacrifice their life to quell the turmoil caused by this change, that person can only be me. I'm prepared to pay the price with my life to gain the understanding and forgiveness of other countries and ninja villages."

"If I don't have enough heads, then I'll take the entire Sarutobi clan with me..."

Upon hearing this, Tobirama's pupils contracted slightly, and his gaze revealed an indescribable complex expression.

Hiruzen, without the slightest hesitation, continued, "But in exchange, the future Hokage position must be smoothly passed down by Tsunade and Kakashi."

"These two are the only ones who can truly inherit the Will of Fire; they are the ones who truly possess the power to save the ninja world and Konoha."

Tobirama remained silent for a long time before asking, "Do you really trust Kakashi that much?"

Hiruzen laughed: "Perhaps you, teacher, think that Kakashi has been corrupted by the power of the Sharingan and will even gradually become a puppet. But in my opinion, he will definitely not be easily devoured by this power."

He gently raised his head, looking at Tobirama, his voice soft yet incredibly resolute...

"Because Kakashi is the future Hokage of Konoha, his will can never be controlled by the Sharingan. If we can't even trust Kakashi this much, how can the Will of Fire be passed down to the next generation?"

"Perhaps Kakashi is indeed confused, struggling, and even affected in some way right now. But I believe he will eventually come to his senses. He is Kakashi, not that madman who wants to destroy the world."

"Back then, didn't you also hold the same belief when you passed the Hokage title to me, teacher?"

Tobirama hummed in response...

At this point, Hiruzen turned to his teacher and asked, "Teacher, now that things have come to this point, what do you think of this deal?"

"Using my head, Hiruzen Sarutobi, to buy a brief period of peace in the ninja world after the abolition of the daimyo system... do you think that price is enough?"

Inside the camp...

Silence fell again, the air seemed to freeze, making it hard to breathe.

Tobirama Senju stared intently at the disciple he had personally nurtured, his heart filled with complex emotions.

He slowly closed his eyes, let out a long sigh, and finally spoke:

"I will continue to keep a close watch on Kakashi. As for the rest, just as you said."

Having said that, Tobirama turned around and gradually disappeared into the shadows.

Only after Tobirama had completely left did Hiruzen finally let out a sigh of relief...

He leaned back slowly in his chair and ordered in a low voice, "Send someone to bring Shinnosuke here..."

Meanwhile, Tobirama, having finished his conversation with Hiruzen, appeared at the Hyuga clan's temporary camp without hesitation, using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

It's clear that after the master and apprentice opened up to each other, they each had their own plans...

Upon seeing this, Hyuga Hiashi immediately stepped forward respectfully, his expression full of awe and humility: "Second Hokage, you have arrived."

Looking at the respectful and solemn Hyuga clan leader before him, Tobirama invited him to sit down and talk...

At this critical and turbulent moment, he could no longer fully trust any assurances made by Hiruzen.

For the safety of Konoha and the entire ninja world, he must firmly control the other forces...

Not only the Hyuga clan, but also other clans with deep roots in Konoha, such as the Kurama clan, which has made significant achievements in the field of genjutsu...

Kakashi is such a big hidden threat, how could Tobirama possibly relax his surveillance on him just because of a few casual words from the monkey?

This is Tobirama, the Second Hokage...

An absolutely rational ruler...