When Tobirama found his older brother, Hashirama was sitting cross-legged on the cliff of the Hokage Rock, quietly gazing down at the village below.
When they were alive, Hashirama often sat here, lost in thought.
"Tobirama," Hashirama slowly spoke.
"Have you noticed anything in the village these past few days?"
Tobirama pondered for a moment, then replied, "Hyuga Makoto has a very high reputation in the village and has gained the trust of the villagers."
He had met with his former disciples and subordinates and had inquired among the lower ranks of the village.
Recently, the villagers had been discussing the Hokage election, and almost everyone's choice was clear: Hyuga Makoto!
Hashirama said, "These are all things he has earned for himself."
"When the Fourth Hokage was in office, Makoto worked diligently in the Hokage role, never delaying any affairs of the village, and he personally took care of nearly everything the villagers needed."
Tobirama frowned and remained silent.
He had naturally heard about these things.
Should they say that Makoto was winning people's hearts?
But the achievements were real and tangible.
Or perhaps their high-mindedness was the problem.
Hashirama sighed. "Tobirama, the times have changed."
Different times give rise to different people, and perhaps the way they used to do things no longer suits Konoha today.
Namikaze Minato, who had once been so upright and revered, had now become a figure of disdain.
Tobirama asked, "Big brother, are you ready to give up?"
Hashirama did not answer.
He felt his younger brother had also become fixated, unwilling to let go of the world and Konoha in his heart.
But as Makoto had said, they couldn't win.
After a long silence, Hashirama spoke, "I think Makoto might really be able to create an entirely new path."
Since Konoha's founding, the village had been plagued by constant wars.
Even he, once a force that could intimidate the ninja world, hadn't been able to bring lasting peace.
The strength of one person was never enough; the entire village had to become truly powerful.
He had not achieved this, and neither had the Second or Third Hokage.
Could Hyuga Makoto accomplish it?
At least Hashirama could see enough ambition in him, but Makoto's extreme self-centeredness made Hashirama uncomfortable.
It was a difference in ideology, and Hashirama found it hard to accept, but the situation forced him to compromise.
"Tobirama, it's time for us to go."
Whoosh—
The wind on the cliff grew stronger.
Tobirama stood there silently.
"Big brother, I don't plan to leave."
Hashirama sighed silently, already anticipating his younger brother's reaction.
"We are, after all, the dead, people who have been gone for decades," he said.
"Then let's truly become the living!" Tobirama suddenly replied.
Hashirama's brows furrowed lightly at those words.
Tobirama continued, "I've been to Orochimaru's research facility. Orochimaru has an extremely high level of research on the human body and soul. If we continue down this path, reversing the Edo Tensei and bringing the dead back to life is not impossible."
Orochimaru's research facility had been sealed by Makoto, with orders to prohibit anyone from entering.
But Tobirama, with his special status, had no difficulty getting in.
Silence.
The wind at the height whipped their hair about.
Hashirama asked calmly, "Tobirama, do you know what you're doing?"
Tobirama replied, "I know very well, big brother. I still have many things I want to do."
...........
The detailed process for the Hokage election had been finalized, after several revisions, ensuring that it appeared sufficiently fair, open, and just on the surface.
Makoto released this process, and it made the villagers excited, eagerly anticipating the day of the vote.
After several days of circulation, the news of the Third and Fourth Hokage's deaths had spread throughout the ninja world, including Orochimaru's vile actions and the shocking revelation that the once-revered Namikaze Minato, the "Yellow Flash," had become a criminal.
While anyone with a discerning eye could see that it was the result of internal power struggles within Konoha, that did not stop others from taking pleasure in Konoha's misfortune.
Some factions believed that this was an opportune moment when Konoha was extremely weak, and saw it as a chance to take advantage of the situation.
Makoto also noticed that the number of spies caught in the village had noticeably increased recently.
These spies were sent to gather information about Konoha.
His ascension to the position of Hokage was imminent.
The number of visitors to his clan had also grown, and even Hokage's office had told him that many families had been inviting him to visit.
Makoto knew that these people meant no harm; they simply wanted to attach themselves to him.
He told Hakumen that if someone invited him, he could go.
Hakumen, however, firmly stated that he did not need these social interactions; he was merely a tool in Makoto's hands.
Makoto returned to the inner courtyard, where Mikoto had come to visit with Itachi.
The two women were chatting in the bedroom, while Itachi stood beside the baby's crib in the nursery, playfully interacting with little Neji.
Itachi was quite curious about the newborn life.
Hyuga Natsu from the clan had been arranged to take care of little Neji, and had become a maidservant in the Makoto household.
She and Ayari had a good relationship, though Ayari still had some lingering feelings about the fact that she had once tried to introduce her to Makoto as a potential girlfriend.
She had introduced Natsu for a boyfriend, only for herself to be taken by Makoto instead.
"Makoto."
When Makoto entered the bedroom, Mikoto immediately stood up and greeted him with a smile.
She teased, "Isn't it almost time to call you Lord Hokage?"
Makoto responded without hesitation, "If you want to call me that, go ahead."
He walked over to Ayari's side of the bed and, without hesitation, kissed her on the cheek right in front of Mikoto.
Ayari blushed a little, but couldn't avoid it, so after he kissed her, she playfully hit him in mock anger.
Mikoto, watching from the side, couldn't help but pout and say, "Lord Hokage, you really don't mind being affectionate in front of an outsider, huh?"
Makoto asked, "This is my house, and Ayari is my wife. Why can't we be affectionate?"
After chatting for a bit, Makoto returned to the living room to check on his son.
Natsu and Itachi were talking, mostly with Itachi asking questions about children's habits, and Natsu answering.
Makoto walked over and casually patted Natsu on the backside.
Startled, Natsu turned around, and upon seeing it was Makoto, she relaxed, giving him a flushed, disapproving glare.
"Uncle Makoto," Itachi said politely, intending to greet him.
Makoto ruffled his head and asked, "Itachi, I heard you're now the top student in school."
Itachi replied obediently, "The school's evaluation standards are too simple."
Makoto chuckled, "Then graduate soon and become a real ninja."
Itachi nodded seriously, "I will."
The little Neji in the cradle was soundly asleep.
Makoto casually asked about the baby's condition, and Natsu told him in detail how many times Neji had woken up, how much milk he drank, and how many times he had peed that day.
Itachi was also listening attentively.
Noticing this, Makoto asked, "Do you really like Neji?"
Itachi nodded, "I would really like to have a younger brother like him."
Makoto thought to himself, You'll have one very soon.
If he calculated the time correctly, Sasuke should be born soon, and then Naruto...
Naruto... Naruto...
Makoto suddenly fell into deep thought.
It seems that Naruto might never be born now.
Without Naruto's companionship, wouldn't Sasuke be lonely to death?
Should I... help out?
Makoto's expression flickered, but then he felt that becoming some kind of "breeding machine" was really inappropriate.
Even if I had a child with Kushina, would it really be Naruto?
And how would I explain the naming process?
Would I say it was because I read one of Jiraiya's books and was deeply moved and inspired?
Itachi, on the way back with Mikoto, chattered endlessly to his mother about little Neji.
Itachi couldn't help but say to Mikoto, "Kaa-san, I really want a little brother. Can you give one for me?"
Mikoto laughed lightly and replied, "That's not something you can just decide to do, you should ask your dad."
Itachi, feeling a bit confused, thought for a moment and then said, "Oh, and kaa-san, today I saw Uncle Makoto touch Sister Natsu butt."
Mikoto froze in surprise and involuntarily stopped in her tracks.
"Are you sure you saw that?"
Itachi nodded and said, "Sister Natsu even blushed. Touching a girl's butt is very impolite. Why would Uncle Makoto do that?"
Mikoto stammered, "…Well… maybe… it's a special way of communicating between them."
"Itachi, you must never speak of this to anyone."
"I understand!"
"And you must never do that!"
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