Talent is rare.
If you want to found a shinobi village, money matters—no, it's very important, extremely important.
Even the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, had to run around seeking sponsors for the village's budget.
But for a shinobi village, the most important thing is a group of ninja who can fight.
Makoto knew this perfectly well. A "shinobi village" is a village where shinobi gather.
Starting from scratch to train ninja costs too much money and time. Eating what's already on the table is far more cost-effective.
Though the Uchiha had just been driven back in disarray by the Senju, that was because Hashirama Senju—an overpowered monster this patch—couldn't be judged by common sense. No one could help that.
Against the Senju, the Uchiha would come up short.
But if you set Hashirama aside, the Uchiha could fight the Senju for another thousand years.
And as for other clans in the shinobi world: "Hmph. Ever seen the Uchiha's Sharingan? If you don't kneel and surrender right now, I'll make you fly."
So compared to money, Makoto wanted people.
Even if they were small-fry genin, even if they were Uchiha who hadn't awakened the Sharingan, Makoto wanted them.
"Lord Madara, I believe I'm not the only one in the clan who thinks this way.
"If they want to leave with me…"
Makoto began a dangerous probe.
If you took it to the limit, Madara could label Makoto's behavior as splitting the Uchiha.
A crime of the heart, worthy of death.
But considering Madara's usual style—and the string of stunts he'd pull later—
As a clan leader or an organization head, he operated like an NPC. Only a few years after joining Konoha, he lost control of the clan. When he defected from Konoha, not a single person was willing to follow. Later, as the great boss behind the scenes, his subordinates were all traitors at heart.
So Makoto felt he could take a gamble. Madara did not seem like a true ruler. He might be arrogant enough to see Makoto's intent and still not care.
"Hmph… is that really so?"
"I don't think so."
Madara glanced at Makoto.
In his eyes, Makoto was still a snot-nosed brat trapped in the millennia-old hatred between Uchiha and Senju.
But Madara had already seen the future.
"My eyes stand above yours.
"I can see farther than you."
As he spoke, heavy, dense chakra rolled off him without restraint, and his Mangekyō Sharingan opened of its own accord.
"Everyone, I am the Uchiha clan head, the strongest shinobi of the Uchiha.
"My eyes have seen the future.
"I will, together with Hashirama Senju, dissolve the generations-deep hatred between Uchiha and Senju. Together we will found a village the likes of which the world has never seen. Together we will pacify the chaos… In the village we build, whether Senju or Uchiha, our children will no longer walk onto the battlefield."
Madara's voice filled the room.
As clan head, his authority went without saying.
One rousing, pie-painting speech fed the Uchiha present to bursting.
The surviving clansmen didn't have Makoto's god's-eye view. They couldn't see the Uchiha's tragic future—Madara squeezed out until he defected, Tobirama Senju as Second Hokage fixing the baseline that the Uchiha would never enter Konoha's power core—step by step toward the abyss of annihilation.
"So, will you follow me toward a brand-new, bright future, or leave the clan to wander the shinobi world with Uchiha Makoto?"
Arrogant as ever, Madara gave Makoto what he wanted—though with a small twist.
"Born-evil Madara Uchiha!"
"Who told you to give a speech to Uchiha clansmen with your Mangekyō Sharingan open?"
"Don't you know Mangekyō has a special effect on the Uchiha?"
Makoto cursed Madara again and again in his heart. With you it was a "bright new future." With me it was "wandering the shinobi world."
Hmph.
Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—don't bully the poor youth.
One day, Madara Uchiha—
You will regret this.
Bang. (The inner gate of the heart.)
The clansmen couldn't help but indulge in the future Madara painted. The strongest of the Uchiha united with the strongest of the Senju… Madara's hundred-meter Susanoo and Hashirama's hundred-meter Wood Golem—those irresistible forces were still vivid in memory.
What could those two not do in this world?
Nothing.
"Madara Uchiha… Madara Uchiha… Madara Uchiha…"
Soon the Uchiha present were chanting Madara's name without restraint, and Madara spread his arms, basking in their cheers.
Makoto stood alone… for a moment, just another lackey.
"To think the taste Madara will one day know, I had to taste ahead of him."
"No one in the Uchiha trusts me. No one is my comrade. Not a single person is willing to follow… a one-man army with a catastrophic opening."
Makoto was helpless.
At this point in time, trying to compete with Madara for clan prestige was simply overestimating himself.
"Don't forget… there's also Hashirama Senju."
"Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju… Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju…"
In the swell of slogans, Makoto threw himself in without hesitation and added "Hashirama Senju" to the chant.
The Uchiha paused.
"Yes. The beautiful future is one Hashirama and I will create!"
Madara heard the discordant note but, too busy enjoying the cheering, didn't catch its source.
No matter.
It sounded good.
Who said it?
The clan head is very pleased with you.
Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju—
Those names sounded so fine together.
"Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju!" × n
The Uchiha looked at one another. It felt a bit off to add Hashirama's name at a time like this.
But since Madara himself had endorsed it, the chant became "Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju," repeated again and again.