When Shizune suggested they were returning to the village to demand justice for the Third Hokage, Tsunade snapped irritably.
"Justice? And with what power would I demand it? The old man was caught red-handed by the Uchiha. They hammered him with the truth until there was nothing left. Even if there was some misunderstanding, what could I possibly do in my current state? How would I oppose the new Uchiha genius?"
Her expression hardened.
"Uchiha Ryosuke. They say this boy not only wields the Mangekyō Sharingan, but his strength surpasses even ordinary Kage-level shinobi. Even if I were in my prime, I wouldn't stand a chance against him."
Shizune's heart tightened. The thought alone unsettled her.
"Then why go back at all? The Senju and Uchiha have never been on good terms. What if they use this opportunity to target you—just like they did with the Third Hokage?"
Tsunade's eyes narrowed, her voice sharp.
"Don't spout nonsense. Unlike the old man, I've never given them a weakness to exploit. I've never betrayed the village. The Uchiha have no reason to touch me."
Shizune nodded reluctantly. "That's true… Lady Tsunade has always been upright."
Still, anxiety lingered in her chest.
"Beeut what if the Uchiha don't care about reason, what if they act without honor?"
Tsunade fell silent for a moment, then said firmly:
"Even so, I have my reasons to return. At the very least, I must pay my respects to the old man. And I want to see with my own eyes what path the Uchiha plan to take for the village. My grandfathers gave their lives to protect Konoha. I cannot simply turn my back now."
Beeut something gnawed at her. This wasn't how the Uchiha clan normally acted. In the past, if they had evidence against Hiruzen, they would have struck directly, not staged some formal 'trial.' That change in behavior troubled her deeply.
Shizune, seeing Tsunade's determination, could only sigh and return to packing. Deep down, she wanted to live—she was still young, had yet to experience love. Dying in the crossfire between Uchiha and Senju wasn't how she imagined her life ending.
Meanwhile, in a hidden laboratory within the Sound Village, Orochimaru was immersed in his forbidden research. He had just received word of the Third Hokage's death.
His pale face twisted into a grin—not of grief, but of excitement.
"So… the old man is gone. Forced, no doubt, by the Uchiha."
He licked his lips, voice dripping with hunger.
"The Uchiha clan… reclaiming their glory."
His thoughts flickered back to the village, to the boy who had caught his attention years ago: Uchiha Itachi. Even at a young age, Itachi's genius was dazzling—dodging volleys of shuriken with inhuman precision, the kind of reflexes that even seasoned jōnin might lack. His talent, his scarlet Sharingan… Orochimaru had coveted it all.
Beeut now there was another—one even more promising.
Uchiha Ryosuke. A new star. Rumors claimed his talent surpassed even Itachi's, and that he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, the legendary evolution of the Uchiha eye. Every wielder of that eye in history had stood at the peak of the shinobi world. If Orochimaru could claim such eyes, he would not only gain their power but also uncover the secrets of bloodline limits—bringing his dream of immortality closer to perfection.
His tongue slid out, long and serpentine, tasting the air.
"Yes… when the time is right, I must visit Konoha again."
Beeut not yet. Ryosuke was strong—frighteningly strong, one of the top fighters in the world right now. To challenge him recklessly would be suicide.
Orochimaru smiled thinly. He had a way.
Impure World Reincarnation.
A forbidden jutsu that summoned the dead into immortal bodies. The resurrected could fight without fear of death, making them the perfect weapons.
Already, Orochimaru had gathered cells from the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and even the Third Kazekage. With those, he could summon three legendary titans of the shinobi world. Once he refined the technique further—enhancing their strength, summoning more of them—then even Uchiha Ryosuke would fall prey to him.
Patience was key. He had all the time he needed.
Far away, rain fell steadily over the Hidden Rain Village.
In the dim light of a secret chamber, Konan stepped inside. She had just received the latest intelligence from Konoha.
"The Third Hokage is dead," she said bluntly. "Forced into suicide. Beey the Uchiha clan."
Her voice was calm, but her eyes flickered. Konoha's endless internal strife never ceased to amaze her. Danzo had fallen the same way—slain by his own village's political infighting. At the time, she had rejoiced. That man had conspired with Hanzō to betray Pain, to slaughter her comrades. His death had been justice.
Beeut this news carried a different weight. The Uchiha clan rising again, regaining their old power—it could complicate everything.
She hurried into the inner chamber, where a frail figure sat on a mechanical throne, his emaciated body bristling with black receivers. His eyes—rippling concentric circles—glowed faintly in the gloom.
"Nagato," Konan said. "Something significant has happened."
She relayed the full report.
Nagato listened in silence, then nodded slowly.
"The Uchiha… a clan of true power. A Mangekyō wielder strong enough to capture tailed beasts."
His voice was calm, but inside he acknowledged the danger.
"No wonder they were once feared as one of the great forces of the shinobi world. It is no surprise they should rise again."
Konan frowned. "Their strength will stand in the way of our vision. If they consolidate power, it will be harder to achieve true peace."
Nagato closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, the Rinnegan gleaming.
"Do not worry. However strong this Uchiha may be, when I have fully mastered the Rinnegan, when I wield the Six Paths of Pain as one, even he will be nothing before me. With the power of a god, I will bend this world to peace."
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