"Hmph… foolish…"
"Do you really think this can topple me?"
"I am Konoha's shadow Hokage, known as Konoha's Nine-Thousand-Year!"
"Since Konoha's founding, I have handled every affair great and small. My elder brother values me, the shinobi clans support me… A handful of villagers making trouble? I merely cherish my reputation."
Tobirama Senju looked at Uchiha Setsuna's smug face and sneered inwardly.
He laughed at Uchiha Setsuna's lack of strategy, at the Uchiha's thin wits… Assigned to the village's dispensable patrol posts, they could strut before civilians now and then and feel their clan was impressive, thinking such swagger fit the Uchiha as Konoha's founders… utterly ridiculous!
You really think you can use this to bring me down?
As shadow Hokage, Konoha's Nine-Thousand-Year, I have run every matter in the Leaf. Konoha must be managed by those I elevate, its ANBU must gather intelligence at my command. On what day could Konoha do without Tobirama Senju?
Personnel is politics!
The village's many shinobi clans have long since bound their interests to mine!
Even the ever-neutral, opportunistic Hyuga clan is leaning my way!
Do you think only the Uchiha saw my delay in deploying troops, and no other clan noticed?
Naive!
We already held a small council with Konoha's clan heads.
We simply didn't invite the Uchiha!
And what was the attitude of those clan heads?
Uchiha Makoto is merely a member of the Uchiha. If the Uchiha want to send troops to aid, what has that to do with those clans?
Have they ever fought shoulder to shoulder, life and death, with Akatsuki Village?
They have not!
Every clan head in the village is brutally realistic. Talking benevolence and righteousness with men who walked out of the Warring States' mountains of corpses and seas of blood is far too ahead of its time.
The Sage of Six Paths' writings are for instructing clan youths; for doing affairs they are useless.
You want them to dispatch troops on the strength of a paper alliance?
Only solid, tangible interests can move them. Sending aid is not done with lip service—it means deploying the heirs a clan has raised with hardship and spending the village's precious funds!
Such a huge cost just to aid an ally on paper?
How naive and laughable!
Tobirama had never regarded Akatsuki Village as an ally. That paper treaty wasn't even fit to wipe with; only his naive elder brother still recognized it.
And Akatsuki Village is an eyesore!
Each of the other four great nations has only one great shinobi village. One village monopolizes the nation's mission resources, the daimyo's funding, and countless invisible dividends. Why should the Land of Fire have two large shinobi villages?
Why should real, hard interests be shared with Akatsuki?
At the small council.
Tobirama hadn't even spoken plainly—just hinted at his stance—and the clans at once expressed understanding: "Konoha's preparations truly require time."
A mere crowd of people blind to the situation, duped into a trap, want to oppose the village's will?
I, Tobirama, merely cherish my feathers.
So long as my brother does not wish to topple me, no one in Konoha can threaten my position.
…
After this inward mockery.
Tobirama Senju cast a cold glance at Uchiha Setsuna, then made his decision at once.
Though a disturbance by villagers would not affect the grand scheme, and the clan heads understood the stakes—so much so that even if a few hot-blooded youths in their clans lost their heads, those clan heads would handle it without his intervention—his base suffered no loss. Yet in public opinion he had fallen to a disadvantage, so the urgent task was to deal with the villagers who wanted to make trouble.
Those villagers could not directly interfere with the village's orders, but his elder brother was a naive child at heart, fond of taking outsiders' part. Tobirama did not wish to see that crowd truly gather at the Hokage building.
Once that happened.
The impact would be extremely vile.
No matter how dull his brother was, he would realize Tobirama had been remiss. Though it wouldn't strip him of overall command, a thorough scolding would be inevitable.
So Tobirama waved his hand.
Two more ANBU appeared in the office to keep Uchiha Setsuna forcibly in the Hokage's office. Tobirama did not want someone stirring the pot while he handled matters.
"Until this is over, stay in this office. You're going nowhere!"
"Why should I?"
"What? Do you truly want to brawl with me?"
"Make a move—I'll let you strike first!"
Tobirama stood tall, momentum oppressive.
Shadow Hokage, Konoha's Nine-Thousand-Year—these were not self-styled, but epithets given by the clans. As he looked at Uchiha Setsuna before him, that aura burst forth in full.
Even if Uchiha Setsuna dared to fight him, Tobirama would not flinch.
He was the fastest in the shinobi world and had single-handedly slain Uchiha Izuna after he awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"I…"
Uchiha Setsuna was extremely displeased, but he truly did not dare brawl with Tobirama. Right or wrong aside, the one who struck first would bear the infamy of shattering the friendship between Uchiha and Senju—an infamy so grave it could shake Konoha's foundations!
Tobirama's fearsome renown from the Warring States era remained. He had slain Lord Izuna after awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan!
Even Lord Madara could do nothing about him now!
After weighing the pros and cons.
He backed down.
Uchiha Setsuna ultimately lacked the courage to tear things open with Tobirama.
The body that had risen to its feet sat back down.
"Hmph. If you don't dare, then sit here obediently!"
"You two, watch him!"
Tobirama snorted, the corner of his mouth curving as he saw Setsuna retreat, then he gave orders to the two ANBU before him.
After leaving the Hokage's office.
The first ANBU who had appeared there followed Tobirama.
He would obey Tobirama's orders at any time!
"Pass my command!"
"Assemble the ANBU!"
"A band of rioters has appeared in Konoha, deliberately disrupting order and intending to storm the Hokage building. We must strike them with a heavy fist."
Tobirama decided on the spot.
He planned to strike hard at those beguiled villagers who wanted to cause trouble.
"Yes!!"
"Wait… also send for my disciple to come along!"
Tobirama added one more line.
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