Looking down at the unconscious Danzo Shimura sprawled on the ground, Uchiha Su's gaze shifted slowly toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Where is the other eye?" he asked coldly. "I want to see it—today."
Hiruzen remained silent for a brief moment before replying, "I will send someone to Danzo's residence to retrieve it."
His tone was steady, but there was no mistaking the heaviness behind it.
Uchiha Su let out a soft scoff.
"Jonin Sarutobi," he said mockingly, deliberately avoiding the title of Hokage, "you've only held power for a few days, and already you've allowed things to descend into such chaos. Tell me—how can a group of vermin like you possibly govern a village?"
His words cut like knives.
"As Hokage, you cling so tightly to your reputation, terrified of staining your hands by eliminating someone like Danzo. If that's the case, how can you ever hope to lead properly?"
He stepped closer, his voice dropping into something colder.
"Frankly, even a dog would make a better Hokage. At least a dog knows to bark when its food is stolen. You? You don't even dare to make a sound."
The insult hung in the air.
Hiruzen said nothing.
Perhaps he had no malicious intent in his heart. Perhaps, as a person, he was even kind. But as Hokage, his tolerance—his indulgence of Danzo—had allowed countless wrongs to take root.
For a leader, ruthlessness was not always a flaw.
Indecision, however, was.
And Hiruzen Sarutobi embodied that flaw perfectly.
"Homura Mitokado, Utatane Koharu…" Uchiha Su continued, turning his sharp gaze toward the two elders. "You're even worse. Narrow-minded, short-sighted, and utterly useless—no better than pigs and dogs."
Neither of them dared to respond.
Faced with Uchiha Su's overwhelming presence, all they could do was swallow their anger and remain silent.
"Uchiha Su, that's enough!"
Jiraiya finally stepped forward, unable to tolerate the insults any longer.
"You may have your grievances, but Konoha was once your home! To speak of it this way—doesn't your conscience trouble you at all?"
"Conscience?" Uchiha Su laughed coldly. "Get out of my sight, Jiraiya. Either you're blind to everything happening right in front of you, or you're just another fool who believes whatever nonsense a talking toad feeds you."
His gaze sharpened.
"You're just like your master—cut from the same cloth. As a shinobi, you're useful enough. But as a leader? You'd probably get everyone who trusts you killed."
Jiraiya clenched his fists.
"Home?" Uchiha Su continued, his tone dripping with disdain. "I'm lucky I left when I did. Otherwise, who knows? Maybe Danzo would've taken my eyes too."
He pointed down at Danzo's broken body.
"Actually… you just reminded me of something."
Jiraiya frowned. "What are you—"
Before he could finish—
Crack!
Uchiha Su stomped down mercilessly, shattering both of Danzo's legs.
The sharp sound of bone breaking echoed through the air. Danzo's body convulsed violently, and he let out a hoarse scream as consciousness was forced back into him by pain.
"Danzo," Uchiha Su said calmly, looking down at him, "your legs didn't have to be broken. But Jiraiya reminded me. So remember—this is his fault."
Jiraiya froze.
"…What?"
Fury exploded within him.
He charged forward without hesitation.
But in the next instant—
A massive Susanoo arm struck him aside like an insect.
Jiraiya was sent flying, blood spilling from his mouth as he crashed heavily against the ground. He tried to stand, struggled once… twice… but ultimately collapsed again.
"Su…"
Tsunade stepped forward, her voice hesitant.
But before she could continue, Uchiha Su cut her off.
"Tsunade," he said quietly, his Mangekyō Sharingan spinning slowly, its petal-like pattern reflecting in her eyes. "Do you think I'm wrong?"
She lowered her gaze.
She couldn't answer.
Everything she had just witnessed… was undeniable truth.
The darkness within Konoha had been laid bare for all to see.
Hiruzen stood there, silent and unmoving, like a man bearing the weight of the world. To outsiders, he might have looked like a steadfast leader—a true "Shinobi Hero."
But to Uchiha Su, he was simply a man who lacked the will to act.
After venting his anger, Uchiha Su felt a sense of release.
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
There were more important matters to attend to.
Uchiha Clan Compound
Uchiha Su entered the compound with several clan members trailing behind him.
Along the way, whispers spread among those who had remained in Konoha.
"It's the Young Lord…"
"Idiot—call him Clan Chief! He was personally appointed by Lord Madara!"
"That's Setsuna… and En…"
Their voices were filled with uncertainty, awe, and a trace of fear.
As Uchiha Su's gaze swept across them, each one lowered their head, bowing respectfully.
"Clan Chief…"
"I heard you were planning to select a new clan leader," Uchiha Su said casually.
No one answered.
Silence was their only response.
He chuckled softly.
If he wished, he could take most of them with him right now.
But he had no such intention.
From the moment they chose different paths, they had already become strangers.
Moreover, none of them stood out in his eyes.
Perhaps Uchiha Kagami's son held some potential—after all, that lineage would eventually produce Uchiha Shisui.
But even that held little interest for him.
Fate would take its course.
Meanwhile, the Uchiha of the Hidden Mist were thriving. In just ten years, their numbers had grown from two hundred to over five hundred—and they would only continue to grow.
At the clan graveyard, Uchiha Su stopped before Uchiha Shū's tomb.
He poured a cup of sake and let it spill gently onto the earth.
"Elder Shū," he said quietly, "I will restore the glory of the Uchiha. Our name will not fall into disgrace in my hands."
He bowed once.
Then, without hesitation, he turned and left.
There was no attachment.
No nostalgia.
Senju Tobirama's Grave
"Wait for me outside," he told his companions. "I'll go alone."
This time, he approached in silence.
Standing before Senju Tobirama's grave, he placed a white chrysanthemum down carefully.
"With your death," he murmured, "our grievances have turned to dust."
He let out a faint breath.
"And now… there are no more Senju."
Tsunade. Nawaki. Their parents.
None of them carried the Senju name anymore.
Tobirama had been the last.
"With you gone, this world feels… duller," Uchiha Su admitted. "Fighting you was… enjoyable. Now, something is missing."
He poured two cups of sake—one for Tobirama, one for himself.
"I'll look after Tsunade and Nawaki for you," he added quietly. "No harm will come to them."
He sat down.
For once, he allowed himself to drink.
"Life… is truly as lonely as snow."
Just as he raised the cup—
A hand stopped him.
"Drinking doesn't suit a ninja."
Tsunade had appeared beside him.
He smiled faintly.
"I thought you'd be angry with me."
"I'm not," she said softly, sitting down beside him. "You weren't wrong. The Will of Fire… it's lost its meaning."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Uchiha Su glanced at her.
"If you need it… I can lend you my shoulder."
Before he could finish—
She leaned against him.
"My great-grandfather… my grandfather…" she whispered. "They're both gone."
Her voice trembled, though no tears fell.
"People meet… and part," Uchiha Su said quietly. "That's life."
She looked up at him.
"Will we become strangers one day?"
He met her gaze directly.
"Never."
This time, there was no hesitation.
For a brief moment, the world seemed to still.
Then Tsunade stood up, her usual bright smile returning.
"One day," she said, "I'll bring you back to Konoha. I'll become Hokage… and we'll make it better."
Uchiha Su chuckled softly.
"I'll be waiting."
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
"Then… see you next time."
In a flash, she was gone.
Only the faint scent of gardenias remained.
Hokage Office
The atmosphere inside was tense.
Now, only key figures remained.
Hiruzen spoke first.
"What is your true purpose in bringing three thousand troops here?"
"You're mistaken," Uchiha Su replied calmly. "I've already completed two of my objectives. Only one remains."
"And that is?"
"Compensation."
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes.
"What do you want?"
Uchiha Su leaned forward slightly.
"The Flying Thunder God Technique. Edo Tensei. The Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu."
"Impossible," Hiruzen said immediately.
"Ninjutsu is the foundation of a village. It cannot be handed over."
Uchiha Su slammed his hand on the table.
"You speak of foundations? What about your betrayal of the system? A Hokage chosen without election—is that your 'Will of Fire'?"
Silence followed.
"Very well," Uchiha Su said after a moment. "Then give me Flying Thunder God and Multiple Shadow Clone. Replace Edo Tensei with the Eight Gates."
Hiruzen hesitated.
"And if I refuse?"
Uchiha Su's Mangekyō Sharingan flared.
"Then Konoha becomes a battlefield."
The threat was unmistakable.
After a long pause—
"…Agreed."
Hiruzen exhaled slowly.
"I will give you those three techniques."
Uchiha Su leaned back.
"I never break my promises."
Hiruzen studied him for a moment before asking his final question.
"What about the Uchiha in Konoha?"
Uchiha Su smiled faintly.
"I was considering taking them all with me…"
Hiruzen's heart tightened.
"But," Uchiha Su continued, "perhaps we can make a trade instead."
"What kind of trade?"
"A few members of the Hyuga Clan."
"Impossible."
Hiruzen's refusal was immediate.
Uchiha Su's expression turned cold.
"I've already shown restraint today. Don't push me further."
The pressure in the room intensified.
At that moment—
"I'll summon Hyuga Ran."
Koharu's voice broke the silence.
And with that, the negotiations took a dangerous turn.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)