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The hall fell silent.
Hagoromo sat at the head of the room, his expression calm and unreadable. Beside him sat Gamamaru, quietly observing the three of us with those ancient eyes of his.
Indra sat to my right, his posture straight and composed. Ashura sat beside me, looking noticeably nervous.
All around us, the disciples remained silent, waiting.
I already knew what was coming.
Father had called us here to determine his heir.
And judging by the results of our respective missions, I had a pretty good idea of how this was going to go.
Hagoromo slowly looked toward the three of us.
"Indra. Ashura. Danava."
We straightened slightly.
"You were each given the same task. You were asked to deal with the remnants of the God Tree while helping the people affected by them."
His gaze lingered on each of us.
"Indra completed his task efficiently."
Indra remained silent, his expression unchanged.
"Ashura succeeded as well. More importantly, he gained the trust of the people and convinced them to follow him."
Ashura scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"And Danava..."
Hagoromo paused.
I raised an eyebrow.
"also managed to solve the underlying problem of the village. He provided them with a new source of water and gained the loyalty of the people."
A few of the disciples murmured among themselves.
I simply smiled. So that's how he saw it.
Hagoromo's gaze became solemn.
"After observing all three of you, I have made my decision."
The hall became completely silent.
My eyes narrowed slightly.
Here it comes.
Hagoromo looked directly at me.
"Danava."
My eyebrows shot up.
"...huh?"
Indra's eyes widen in shock. His eyes flickered toward me, clearly caught off guard.
Ashura looked between Father and me.
Hagoromo nodded.
"Yes. You."
For a moment, I said nothing. I had expected Ashura.
Honestly, I had considered the possibility of me.
But that was unexpected, Hagoromo continued.
"You possess strength, intelligence, creativity, and the ability to lead others. You have demonstrated that you can protect people while also thinking beyond the immediate problem."
His voice softened slightly.
"You have qualities worthy of an heir."
I stared at him.
Then I slowly smiled.
"...I see."
Everyone waited for my response.
I looked around the hall.
Then back at Father.
And suddenly, I found myself thinking about everything that had happened.
My entire life here.
My relationship with my brothers.
Indra's descent into darkness.
Ashura's kindness.
The future.
The clans that would one day descend from us.
The Senju.
The Uchiha.
And my own descendants.
A faint smile appeared on my face.
"Father."
Hagoromo looked at me.
"I appreciate that you consider me worthy of becoming your heir."
I paused.
"But..."
The hall became even quieter.
"I have to decline."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Ashura's mouth dropped open.
Indra's eyes widened slightly.
Even some of the disciples looked at me as if I'd suddenly grown another head.
Hagoromo stared at me calmly.
"You decline?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
I took a breath before continuing.
"Father, I don't believe I'm the right person to inherit your mantle."
Hagoromo's expression remained calm, but I could tell he was listening carefully.
"I actually have no interest in those things."
I glanced toward Ashura.
"But being the heir is not something I desire."
Ashura blinked.
I shrugged.
"Honestly, that sounds exhausting."
A few disciples exchanged confused looks.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"But more importantly..."
My expression became serious.
"I believe Ashura is better suited for it."
Ashura's eyes widened.
"Me?!"
I nodded.
"Yes. You."
He stared at me like I had just said the sky was green.
"Elder brother, how can I do that? Brother Indra and you are both older than me."
he said with panic laced on his face
"Ashura's, we should focus on merit and capability, not age."
I turned toward Father.
"Ashura has something I don't."
Hagoromo remained silent.
"People naturally gather around him."
I looked at Ashura again.
"I believe He ahs the ability to connect with people easily."
I smiled faintly.
"That's what a leader should be."
Ashura's expression softened.
I continued.
"I'm not saying I'm incompetent or unable to lead people, but I have no interest in it."
Then I looked back at Ashura.
"But Ashura..."
I smiled.
"He will definitely move ninshu forward."
The hall remained silent.
Even Indra seemed to have lost his words.
I turned toward Hagoromo.
"So, Father..."
I bowed my head slightly.
"If you're asking me who I believe should inherit your mantle..."
I gestured toward Ashura.
"My answer is him."
Ashura stared at me, completely stunned.
"Elder brother..."
I looked at him and smirked.
I reached over and ruffled his hair.
"You've got the heart for it."
Ashura's eyes began to water slightly.
I laughed softly.
"Besides, don't look so shocked. I never wanted the position in the first place."
Then I leaned back slightly.
"And honestly..."
I glanced toward Indra.
"You would be the best choice among us."
Indra's expression tightened.
For a brief moment, our eyes met.
There was something complicated in his gaze.
Coldness, fury, resentment—everything at once."
But I didn't care.
I had already made my decision.
Hagoromo remained silent for several moments.
Then, finally, a small smile appeared on his face.
"I understand."
His eyes moved toward Ashura.
"And Ashura?"
Ashura immediately straightened.
"Yes, Father!"
Hagoromo smiled.
"Do you accept the responsibility?"
Ashura froze.
He looked at me.
Then at Father.
His hands slowly clenched into fists.
"I..."
He took a deep breath.
"...Yes."
His voice was still nervous.
But there was determination behind it.
"I'll do my best."
I smiled.
That's it.
The future had just changed.
Or perhaps...
Maybe I had simply nudged it back onto the path I wanted.
Either way, I wasn't going to become Hagoromo's heir.
Ashura would.
And I?
I'd be free.
Free to build my own path.
Free to develop the Ten Shadows.
Free to create my own clan.
And, perhaps most importantly...
Free to watch history unfold.
I leaned back slightly, a faint grin forming on my face.
This was going to be interesting.
Indra remained seated for several seconds, his fists clenched tightly against his knees.
He didn't say a word.
His eyes remained fixed on the floor, but his mind was already spiraling.
First Danava was chosen... He did'nt even wanted the poston but was offered and declined
His jaw tightened.
And then—
Ashura was chosen.
His fingers dug into his palms.
Ashura?! Why? was I not capable?
Indra's breathing grew heavier.
He had trained harder than anyone.
He was the strongest of the three. (With the sole exception of Danava, of course)
He had awakened the Sharingan.
He had surpassed every other disciple.
He had dedicated himself completely to Ninshu and to becoming worthy of Father's legacy.
And yet...
He hadn't even been considered.
Not once.
His eyes slowly lifted toward Hagoromo.
There was no anger in his father's expression.
Only calmness.
That somehow made it worse.
Was I not even considered?
The thought burned inside him.
Not even as an option?
Indra suddenly stood.
The movement startled several of the disciples.
Without saying anything, he turned around and walked toward the exit.
"Indra?" Hagoromo called calmly.
Indra stopped for only a moment.
His fists trembled.
But he didn't turn around.
"...I need some air."
His voice was unnaturally calm.
Then he continued walking.
The moment he stepped outside the hall, his expression twisted.
His Sharingan flared violently.
The tomoe spun within his crimson eyes as anger surged through him.
First Danava was chosen, and he rejected it.
His breathing became heavier.
Then Father chose Ashura.
His eyes widened, the Mangekyō pattern beginning to emerge through his fury.
Ashura.
His teeth clenched.
What is this?!
Indra's hand slammed against the wall beside him.
CRACK!
The stone fractured beneath his palm.
"Was I not even considered?!"
His voice echoed through the corridor.
His eyes burned crimson.
"I trained harder than anyone!"
His breathing shook.
"I was Father's strongest disciple!"
His voice cracked with frustration.
"And yet...not even once."
Silence.
The anger slowly twisted into something deeper.
Something bitter.
Something that Black Zetsu had been patiently cultivating inside him for years.
Perhaps Father never believed in me.
Indra's eyes narrowed.
Perhaps he never intended for me to inherit anything.
His fists tightened.
And then another thought entered his mind.
Danava was chosen first.
That fact hurt more than he wanted to admit.
His younger brothers had been chosen before him.
And Danava had rejected the position.
Yet even after rejecting it...
Father had chosen Ashura.
Indra's expression darkened.
Even when Danava rejected it... Father still chose Ashura over me.
His Sharingan burned brighter.
For the first time, the thought didn't merely hurt.
It enraged him.
Indra turned toward the forest, his cloak swaying behind him.
"I see..."
His voice had become cold again.
"If that's what Father wants..."
He walked away from the hall.
"...then I'll show him."
Behind him, the cracked stone remained as the only evidence of the rage he had left behind.
And deep within the shadows of the forest, unseen golden eyes watched him depart.
A faint smile appeared.
Exactly as planned.