The Third Hokage rarely wore his formal robes or his traditional green flak jacket. Instead, he wore a formal black montsuki, his expression solemn.
Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, Utatane Koharu, and Akimichi Torifu stood to the left and right of the Hokage.
"Call Orochimaru, as well as Senior Shota and the others. Have them all come in to bid farewell to Lady Mito," the Third Hokage spoke.
"I'll go call them."
Utatane Koharu nodded slightly and pushed open the main door.
The members of the Hokage faction in the courtyard heard the movement and turned their heads.
"The ceremony is about to begin. Everyone, come in and bid your final farewell to Lady Mito."
The group spontaneously formed a line and walked into the hall. They saw the solemn-faced high-ranking officials of Konoha, as well as Uzumaki Mito lying on the bed, with Tsunade and Kushina weeping by her side.
"Alright, stop crying; there are so many people watching."
Uzumaki Mito patted Kushina's forearm and glanced at Tsunade. The latter, having lived with Mito for many years, immediately understood and pulled Kushina to stand aside.
Only then did Uzumaki Mito turn her head, looking at the newcomers with a peaceful gaze.
"Shota, Mai, you've all come."
"Lady Mito, we've come to see you," Senju Shota said, leaning on his cane and speaking tremulously.
"Alright, don't be sad. You bunch of shameless old-timers, crying at your age—what is there to cry about?"
A smile hung on Uzumaki Mito's face. Even though she was at the final moment of her life, she carried an open-mindedness that transcended life and death. Just like her husband.
"I am very happy, because I can finally go see Hashirama. I want to tell him that many of his dreams have been realized. The village has grown strong and prosperous. Tobirama and Monkey have both managed it with great care, and even little Tsunade has grown into a beautiful young woman."
"And these children have also grown up sturdy, like new sprouts. Under the protection of the branches, they absorb the nutrients from the dust and fallen leaves. One day, they will be like him, having broad shoulders to carry the village's future."
As Uzumaki Mito spoke, her gaze naturally fell upon Uchiha Gen and the others. The gazes of Senju Shota and the other elders followed, and they couldn't help but look at Uchiha Gen a few more times.
However, at this critical moment, they wouldn't say anything. They had agreed back then to let Tobirama Senju take Uchiha Kagami as a student, so naturally, they wouldn't treat Uchiha Gen with blatant discrimination now. Even if some of the old Senju had once been hostile toward the Uchiha, they wouldn't stoop to bickering with a junior.
At this moment, Uchiha Gen was somewhat glad for his foresight. Before coming here, knowing the mission was at the Senju Ancestral Home, he had used the excuse of needing rest to return home. He had swapped the ninja sword that Madara had once used for the one he had bought previously. Otherwise, some of the old Senju here might have recognized it. If something directly related to Madara really appeared, they might not have remained as calm as they were now.
"Children, come here."
Uzumaki Mito beckoned to Uchiha Gen and the others. Currently, they were the only three who were the grand-disciples of the Third Hokage. Orochimaru nodded to his three students. The three of them stepped forward slowly and stood respectfully before Uzumaki Mito.
"They are all good children. Hiruzen, your student is also good at teaching."
"Lady Mito, you flatter him, but Orochimaru has indeed taught them quite well," Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice.
"Mhm."
Uzumaki Mito nodded, turning her gaze toward Uchiha Gen.
"I must thank you and that other child for rescuing Kushina."
"Lady Mito, in that situation, it was impossible for me to just stand by and watch," Uchiha Gen said with a sincere look.
Uzumaki Mito looked into Uchiha Gen's eyes, and a hint of a smile appeared on her wrinkled face.
"So similar, truly similar!"
Mito's comment about being "similar" made Uchiha Gen feel uneasy.
Oh no, before coming, I should have unequipped the Young Madara character card first.
"Lady Mito, who do you say I'm like?"
"Your eyes are very similar to Hashirama's."
Tsunade, standing by the bed, poked her head forward and looked Uchiha Gen over again.
He's quite handsome, but they don't look alike... Is Grandma hallucinating because she misses Grandfather too much?
Uchiha Gen felt relieved, but he was also full of curiosity.
My eyes are like Hashirama's?
"Lady Mito, why do you think so?"
"Child, your eyes are like Hashirama's. I can tell that you two are the same kind of people. From the bottom of your heart, you believe that the world shouldn't be like this. You have a sense of loneliness, as if you don't fit into this world and are not understood by others."
"So Hashirama established Konoha, determined to change this world. He wanted to end the war, bring peace, and let children grow up sturdy."
"Like him, you feel out of place in this world, don't you, child?"
Uzumaki Mito leaned against the bed, her eyes filled with smiles as she looked at Uchiha Gen kindly. Uchiha Gen was truly surprised this time and looked up at her.
"My perception is somewhat special, and because of the Nine-Tails, I can distinguish the truth within human hearts. That's why I can feel that innate quality in you, just like Hashirama's."
"Deep down, you both firmly believe that certain ideals can definitely be achieved."
"Hashirama achieved some things, but some things also collapsed. Yet, he has already planted the seeds. As the village grows stronger, subsequent successors will work tirelessly, generation after generation, for the ideal world he left behind."
"Child, can you tell me what the world in your dreams is like?"
Uchiha Gen looked at Uzumaki Mito, sensing the gazes from Hiruzen Sarutobi and the rest of Konoha's core leadership behind him. This seemed to be a political vetting, though whether it was pre-planned or spontaneous was unclear.
And the reviewer was Uzumaki Mito. Her special perception ability, which pointed directly to the soul, combined with her decades of experience, gave this elderly woman the power to see through the hearts of men. Lying in front of her was almost impossible.
"Lady Mito, the world in my heart might not be perfect in all aspects, but it would ensure that the vast majority of people have food to eat and clothes to wear. The elderly would be cared for until their end, the strong would find employment, and the young would have the opportunity to grow. A stable society, with the ability to quell wars, where invaders dare not intrude, and those who do dare not return. Every child like me could receive an education, grow into an adult, and then devote themselves to the great ideals of their ancestors."
At this moment, Uchiha Gen's tone was firmer than ever before. This was not only the world in his heart but also the world he had seen with his own eyes and had once been a part of.