Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed on his pipe.
This was his habit. Actually, the smoke no longer had any stimulating effect on his body.
It was more of a sense of ritual...
"The so-called 'Authority' can be roughly summarized as the degree of control I have over the various groups and institutions in the village..."
"The two nails, Hyūga and Uchiha, must be pulled out..." Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head and glanced at the report submitted by Hatake Sakumo in his hand.
This was about Hyūga Hizashi's performance in the clan grounds yesterday.
"This young man Hizashi has a ruthless streak. He can be used..."
Combining intelligence with Hizashi's words, this clan was simply a natural base for him as the Hokage.
It was hard to find a better target for unity than the Hyūga Branch House...
Even civilian ninja in today's Konoha had a very high degree of freedom during non-wartime. They could take missions if they wanted, or lie at home and sleep if they didn't...
Seemingly a noble clan, the majority of the Hyūga didn't have this freedom.
It was a case of a slavery society hidden within a feudal military group...
"I need to cultivate Hizashi well and let him make a good fuss within the Hyūga!" A glint flashed in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes as he pondered in his heart.
"Not just as an ordinary Anbu member. I hope he can demonstrate the ability to be a Squad Leader."
In that case, Hizashi would have enough capital to slowly generate influence within the Hyūga Clan, attracting a group of Branch House members who want to learn from him—that is, developing a yearning for the Hokage's protection.
"As for the Hyūga Main House, ignore them for now. They've maintained a high posture for so many years; let Hizashi's fire burn them for a while. Wait until the Main House gets anxious, then talk to them with a smile..."
Suppress first, then pull up; this is always an unbreakable good method.
After all, icing on the cake is far inferior to sending charcoal in snowy weather...
As for where this 'snow' comes from, don't ask!
"But where is the opening for the Uchiha?"
"Hard to find..."
In Sarutobi Hiruzen's view, there was a severe lack of trust between the Uchiha Clan and the Hokage Building today.
This situation was caused by multiple factors.
The heavy historical baggage was a big problem.
Putting himself in their shoes, if he had transmigrated into an Uchiha, he would definitely keep a respectful distance from the Hokage faction...
There was no helping it. Who told the little affair between Senju Tobirama and the Uchiha to be such a popular meme in the Ninja World from the Warring States period until now?
It even spawned quite a few storybooks. Heard that those naive nobles quite loved to read about this...
In Sarutobi Hiruzen's view, the cooperation between the Senju and Uchiha to build the village was also quite magical.
It was completely pushed through by Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara forcibly. There was no reconciliation between the rest of the middle and high levels, and hatred truly existed.
If just talking about the beginning of the reconciliation, it was actually quite wonderful.
Uchiha Madara demanded Senju Hashirama commit suicide before the two reconciled...
It seemed overly harsh, even unreasonable, but Senju Hashirama's agreement gave the defeated Uchiha an emotional step down and gave Madara enough face...
It made the Uchiha and Senju, who should have been frantically consuming each other in a bloody battle to the end for the heavily injured Uchiha Izuna and the dead clansmen, suddenly shake hands and make peace.
It could be said to be advancing by retreating, occupying all the grace and convincing people wholeheartedly.
But the problem was that there was no institutional constraint formed subsequently; it was completely supported by Senju Hashirama's personal charm...
So much so that after Senju Tobirama came to power, the Uchiha Clan's hope for the 'Hokage' fell through, and coinciding with the death of Uchiha Kagami, all aspects were superimposed together...
The Uchiha problem had become a major difficulty.
Take the Konoha Police Force issue for example.
Anyone with discerning eyes could see that the Konoha Police Force was a policy adopted by the Second Hokage to restrict the Uchiha.
First, it restricted them within the village, unable to frequently execute missions and specialize in training. Instead, they took on the role of internal security, a job with very low actual combat frequency. Naturally, like pulling a lion's teeth, their combat power dropped significantly.
Second, constituting law enforcers with a single ethnic group, coupled with the Uchiha Clan's personality, their reputation and fame would definitely become worse and worse within the village...
But having developed to this day, even if Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to fish the Uchiha out of the Konoha Police Force, it would be extremely difficult.
Because this was the last piece of stale bread held in the Uchiha's hands.
For them, the fear of losing was already greater than the desire to gain.
Especially with his identity as Tobirama's disciple, it was even harder to gain the trust of the older generation of Uchiha.
In this situation, even the crudest method of cutting off interests would hardly have much effect...
There was a chain of suspicion between the two that was difficult to sever.
"To settle the Uchiha Clan, a sufficiently strong communication bridge must be established..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed the center of his brows:
"The older generation of Uchiha can't be counted on. It must be the new generation, genius Uchiha whose hearts are with the village, who can synchronize with my thinking and generate enough influence within the clan!"
"Teacher, you really left me a pile of mess! As the saying goes, he who tied the bell must untie it, but I think even if you came, you probably wouldn't do much better..."
"That brat named Shisui has such potential, but potential is just potential after all."
Although in memory, Senju Tobirama always told Kagami that he never discriminated against the Uchiha, saying that the Uchiha Clan was the clan with true love in their hearts, just used in the wrong place.
But these words could only fool the simple-minded Uchiha Kagami...
If Sarutobi Hiruzen transmigrated into an Uchiha, unless he could be locked inside his body to chat slowly, otherwise, saying even one sentence to him would be superfluous.
For no other reason than fear of being slashed by the Flying Thunder God.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the Hokage portraits in the office, staring at Senju Tobirama's serious face and red eyes like an Uchiha.
A thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
This is the Ninja World, where all kinds of techniques exist...
Is it possible to resurrect this teacher of his?
But not as Senju Tobirama, but as an Uchiha?
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly clenched his fist.
Actually, he had thought about the Impure World Reincarnation of Senju Tobirama...
Although this technique, Impure World Reincarnation, cannot replicate the ninja's strength during their lifetime, for Senju Tobirama, the number one scientist in the Ninja World, having a brain is enough.
For Sarutobi Hiruzen, who wanted Konoha to establish a 'technological generation gap' and 'technological hegemony', he immensely desired Senju Tobirama to assist him.
It sounds a bit contrary to the natural order, but the situation is indeed so...
But there are two problems.
One is that in the state of Impure World Reincarnation, since the impure body does not have fresh flesh to nourish the soul, existing for three to five days is fine, but a long time is equivalent to air-drying the soul.
That is his master after all, the Second Kage of Konoha; how can he let him endure such torture?
Two is a very realistic problem.
Sarutobi Hiruzen wants to develop Konoha, diversify, and make Konoha strong quickly, well, and economically...
But there is a premise: Konoha must be under his rule!
If Senju Tobirama himself is resurrected, leaving aside the difficulty of resurrection, based on Sarutobi Hiruzen's understanding of him, this Second Hokage would definitely try to become the Overlord of Konoha!
Not to say Senju Tobirama loves power, but every such figure has an extremely strong self-awareness.
In that case, the authority in his hands would inevitably drain away.
This is unbearable for Sarutobi Hiruzen, who needs 'Authority'.
But what if he is resurrected as an Uchiha?
Everything seems to be solved easily...
Just need to arrange a suitable identity for him, such as an Uchiha orphan or something, or even be bolder and directly say he is a 'descendant of Uchiha Izuna'!
Doesn't Teacher understand Uchiha Izuna very well? It shouldn't be difficult for him to disguise, right?
In this way, the best communication bridge between the Hokage and the Uchiha would exist!
And as Uchiha Tobirama.
Inherently, he cannot interfere too much with Sarutobi Hiruzen's Hokage authority.
Because, in any case, Konoha's unified consensus is the Will of Fire.
Given the conflict between Senju Tobirama and the Uchiha Clan, if you, the Hokage, are resurrected in an Uchiha body, it will undoubtedly give birth to extremely terrible associations in everyone's minds.
Killing wasn't enough, you had to possess the body too?
So, if Senju Tobirama is really resurrected as 'Uchiha Tobirama', then he can only live in Konoha as an Uchiha and cannot return to being the Second Hokage...
This secret must be buried forever!
— Teacher, I am the Hokage! You are just an Uchiha!
Even if he has suggestions for Sarutobi Hiruzen's work, they are just suggestions.
This idea was originally just a thought upon seeing Senju Tobirama's red eyes.
But once started, it ran wild in Sarutobi Hiruzen's brain like a runaway horse...
He was already thinking of practical methods.
How to resurrect Senju Tobirama...
No, Uchiha Tobirama?
At this moment, a large number of forbidden techniques popped up in Sarutobi Hiruzen's thoughts, regarding souls, regarding chakra...
He stared fixedly at Senju Tobirama's portrait.
Slowly, step by step, he walked towards the Second Hokage.
And at this moment.
Shimura Danzō knocked on the door of the Hokage's office.
Followed by Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura...
"Enter!" Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze was still fixed on the Second Hokage's portrait.
So much so that after the three of them entered and saw Sarutobi Hiruzen's posture, they were all stunned in unison.
Hiruzen, do you miss Teacher that much?
This scene lasted for a while.
"Hiruzen, you..." It was still Shimura Danzō who spoke, breaking this weird silence.
Sarutobi Hiruzen turned his head, his gaze meeting Shimura Danzō's. In his eyes was an indifference born alongside extreme rational thinking: "Mn, sorry to keep you waiting, everyone."
"I was thinking about something just now. Sit down first."
But these three were stunned.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's posture, tone, and especially that look in his eyes...
Why did he resemble Teacher so much?