"Of course." Black Zetsu nodded. "Uchiha Madara was an outstanding figure in the entire history of the Uchiha clan, and he was also the one who came closest to creating the peace I longed for."
"However, he made a fatal mistake." Black Zetsu said, "He believed the words of Senju Hashirama, who inherited the Will of Fire, abandoned his own principles, and founded your current village."
"When he realized his mistake, it was too late, and you probably know the history that followed." Black Zetsu said.
After the deaths of Lord Madara and the First Hokage, the ninja world fell into war again..." Uchiha Touhuan sighed with lowered eyes, "So, you chose me again, didn't you?"
"That's right, your talent surpasses that of Uchiha Madara." Black Zetsu said in a seductive tone, "Uchiha Madara only had power, but you are different. You not only have power, but your mind and methods are the reasons I chose you."
"Go, evolve your eyes to the level of the Eternal Eye, and then return here. This stone tablet will give you the answer." Black Zetsu said.
Uchiha Touhuan paused in thought, and after a while, he raised his head, looked at Black Zetsu, and said, "I understand."
After saying this, Uchiha Touhuan turned and left. Only after reaching the door did he turn back to Black Zetsu and say, "By the way, even if you truly are the will of our ancestor, don't just enter other people's homes casually. You still need to have a sense of boundaries."
After saying this, Uchiha Touhuan ignored the other's reaction and left the basement.
Back home, Uchiha Touhuan went to his study and wrote down the method he had just recorded for using Sage Mode to advance to the Mangekyō Sharingan.
After thinking for a moment, he summoned the little snake from Ryuchi Cave and had it deliver a message to Orochimaru.
Soon, the space-time fluctuations from the Reverse Summoning Jutsu were felt around Uchiha Touhuan, and he headed to Ryuchi Cave.
When Uchiha Touhuan arrived, Orochimaru was already waiting.
"Lord Touhuan, is there something you need to see me about so late?" Orochimaru asked respectfully.
"Help me verify the feasibility of this technique," Uchiha Touhuan said, handing the copied scroll to Orochimaru.
"I understand." Orochimaru took the scroll, unrolled it, and looked at it. "A training method that combines natural energy with Sharingan eye power?"
After reading the scroll, Orochimaru looked up at Uchiha Touhuan: "To verify this, we need suitable materials."
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Touhuan gave Orochimaru a deep look. Seeing that the other's expression remained unchanged, he took out a sealing scroll, entered Sage Mode, and activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Uchiha Touhuan sealed a portion of his ocular power and a portion of Sage Chakra within the scroll, then handed it to Orochimaru, saying, "This should be enough for your research."
"Of course," Orochimaru nodded, "Thank you for your generosity, Lord Touhuan."
...
A few days later, after spending some time at the Security Department, Uchiha Touhuan went to the Hokage Building.
After the Jonin election, Uchiha Touhuan was practically indistinguishable from the Hokage within the village, and Hiruzen Sarutobi had begun to delegate some tasks to him.
However, on his way to the Hokage Building, Uchiha Touhuan noticed that some villagers avoided his gaze upon seeing him.
Upon arriving at the Hokage Building and entering the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi greeted Uchiha Touhuan first.
"Touhuan, you've arrived."
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved away his attendants, gesturing for Touhuan Uchiha to step forward.
"Touhuan, there seems to be a slight mishap regarding your appointment as the Fifth Hokage," Hiruzen Sarutobi said.
Touhuan Uchiha frowned upon hearing this. "Take a look at this." Hiruzen Sarutobi retrieved a letter bearing the daimyo's seal from his desk and handed it to Touhuan Uchiha.
"The daimyo had initially agreed to your appointment as the Fifth Hokage, but several officials and nobles from the Land of Fire have jointly submitted a petition opposing it," Hiruzen Sarutobi explained.
"Officials and nobles?" Touhuan Uchiha's brow furrowed deeply. "I don't recall ever offending them."
He then looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with suspicion.
"Don't look at me like that, Touhuan. This has nothing to do with me." Seeing Touhuan's gaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly explained, "I've even handed over command of the Anbu and the Jonin teams to you. I'm also eager to retire."
Touhuan nodded. It was indeed unlikely that Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged this; otherwise, he wouldn't have so readily allowed the Sarutobi clan's private soldiers to register at the Hokage Building and hand over command of the Anbu and Jonin teams.
Just then, Kakashi rushed into the Hokage's office.
"Touhuan, let's go back to the Security Department first," Kakashi said after glancing at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Let's talk here," Touhuan said.
"Several fortune tellers from the Land of Fire have come to the village these past few days. Since they arrived, many rumors have spread about you." Kakashi said.
"Rumors? Like what?" Uchiha Touhuan raised an eyebrow and asked.
"For example, Touhuan, your appearance is bad, and you'll bring disaster to the village after becoming Hokage," Kakashi said, glancing at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Eh, Kakashi, this really has nothing to do with me," Sarutobi Hiruzen said helplessly. "My every move these past few days has been under the watchful eyes of your security forces; how could I have had the opportunity to do such things?"
But Sarutobi Hiruzen also knew that this method of using rumors seemed too much like the work of his faction.
"Don't worry, Kakashi, this matter shouldn't have much to do with the Third Hokage," Uchiha Touhuan chuckled. "Using an unlucky appearance as a reason to spread rumors is a bit ridiculous. Every ninja is risking their lives for a living; who would believe that?"
Kakashi: ...
Kakashi wanted to say, "Don't forget there's someone in the Security Department who believes this stuff," but then he thought, Uchiha Touhuan's words seemed to make sense. Few of the ninjas he knew believed in such unfounded things; their only trust was their kunai.
"However, this kind of rumor sounds like something those idle nobles would come up with. Kakashi, I'll trouble you to take some men to the Land of Fire and investigate. See who these people who suddenly appeared against me are."
"Understood." Kakashi nodded, took the order, and left.
"Third Hokage, I'll go back and handle these matters then." Uchiha Touhuan said, turning and leaving the Hokage Building.
Back at the guard post, Uchiha Touhuan glanced at the patrol schedule and summoned Uchiha Shisui.
Shisui entered Touhuan's office, bowed respectfully, and asked, "Captain, what are your orders?"
"Shisui, I heard some unusual people have been visiting the village lately," Touhuan said calmly, while brewing tea.
"Captain, are you referring to those fortune tellers? The guard post has already sent people to handle that," Shisui replied.
"Good," Touhuan nodded. "Remember to treat the village guests well; the people behind them are quite powerful."
"Understood," Shisui nodded, preparing to leave.
"Hey, what's the rush?" Uchiha Touhuan called out to Shisui, then handed him a cup of freshly brewed tea. "At least drink this tea."
"Thank you, Captain!" Shisui smiled and nodded, taking the tea and drinking it all in one gulp, then wincing in pain from the heat.
"Sigh..." Uchiha Touhuan looked at him helplessly and sighed. It seemed that the education of the next generation of the clan was indeed a long and arduous task.
...
On the village's commercial street, a brand-new storefront displayed a sign for fortune telling and palm reading. This newly opened shop seemed to be doing very well, with a long queue in front of it.
"Sister Yoshinaga, are you also here to have your palm read by a master?" A middle-aged woman in the queue greeted a familiar face.
"Yes, I heard from my neighbor that this master here is very accurate."
However, after exchanging pleasantries for a short while, a group of people in security uniforms walked over with cold faces. The leader of the group was none other than Sakurai Hideaki, who had been promoted to squad leader.
Upon seeing the police, the villagers in line instantly fell silent.
"Go back quickly! We received a report that this shop is promoting superstition in the village and needs to be investigated," Sakurai Hideaki said coldly, dispersing the villagers in front of the shop before leading his team inside.
At that moment, the people inside, having their fortunes told, also hurriedly stood up and fled upon seeing the police.
"Who are you? Why are you disturbing my business?" the fortune teller, dressed in professional attire, demanded as his business fled.
"We are the Konoha Village Police. We heard you are skilled in fortune telling, so we came to have our faces read," Sakurai Hideaki said.
"If you want your fortune told, please queue outside," the fortune teller advised.
"We queued to get in," Sakurai Hideaki retorted.
"Alright." Seeing that Sakurai Hideaki and his companions didn't seem so easy to deal with, the master could only patiently ask, "What would you like to see?"
"Master, please take a look at this gentleman. Is he capable of becoming Hokage?" Sakurai Hideaki took out a photograph of Uchiha Touhuan and placed it on the table in front of the master.
The master picked up the photograph and recognized the person in it as the very person their backers had sent them to Konoha to target. He then said, "Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk, this man's appearance isn't good. I think he has no chance."
"Please take a closer look," Sakurai Hideaki said, his face grim, enunciating each word clearly.
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