Early in Konoha Year 36.
During this time of war, Konoha's pillar—the one who silently supported the village after Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju—Uzumaki Mito, the first Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, passed away. This marked the disappearance of Konoha's older generation.
At the same time, it meant that aside from Tsunade, the last traces of the two founding clans of Konoha, the Senju and the Uchiha, had vanished.
The entire village fell into a somber mood. After all, no matter what, Lady Mito had been the one silently supporting Konoha after the deaths of the two Hokage, while also securing the Third Hokage's position, allowing Hiruzen Sarutobi to smoothly take office and establish the Elder Council to consolidate the village's power.
"Kushina." Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed as he looked at the information about the little blonde girl, murmuring, "The Nine-Tails…"
The new Jinchūriki, as per Uzumaki Mito's request, was to live an ordinary life in the village. But the moment she became the Nine-Tails' vessel, she could no longer be ordinary.
Why had the First Hokage distributed the Tailed Beasts to each village back then?
It was to maintain a balance of power among the villages. And the Tailed Beasts…
Were the key to that balance among the Five Great Shinobi Villages!
"Danzo, what do you think?" Hiruzen looked at the pensive Danzo and said, "The Nine-Tails issue must be resolved."
"Huh? Oh!" Danzo snapped out of his thoughts, forcing a smile. "Let's follow Lady Mito's arrangements. After all, the Nine-Tails isn't of much use to the village right now."
After years of grassroots work, his reputation in the village had indeed risen. Among farmers and civilians, his standing now rivaled even the Hokage's. Indeed…
Protecting Konoha couldn't be done silently!
His old friend's methods were correct—no matter what, as long as it was a righteous cause, it had to be publicized. Whether it was preferential treatment for the village's clans or increased investments in orphanages and the Academy, everything had to be heavily promoted.
Otherwise…
Why did everyone in the village see his old friend as a kindly grandfather?
It didn't make sense!
Didn't Hiruzen know about the shady things he had done in the past?
He probably understood better than anyone what the consequences would be. So why hadn't he stopped him, even allowing him to act freely?
It was because…
Some people refused to obey, unwilling to dedicate themselves to Konoha!
"No!" Hiruzen slammed the table, roaring, "I promised Lady Mito that Kushina would live an ordinary life in the village!"
"This is wrong, Danzo." He took a drag of his pipe, shaking his head in disappointment. "You've become too obsessed with power."
"I—" Danzo pointed at himself, stunned. Had he…
Said something wrong?
He had agreed with Lady Mito's request!
The Nine-Tails wasn't that important to him anyway, because…
His old friend would never let him control it.
After years of studying, he had long understood that only cunning and ruthlessness could get him what he wanted.
But…
Hiruzen cut him off before he could speak, sighing helplessly. "Leave for now. Reflect on yourself. And the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki…"
"Stay out of it."
"We must not disappoint Lady Mito's final wishes."
"..."
Danzo opened his mouth. There was something he really wanted to say.
But seeing the sharp look in his old friend's eyes, he could only sigh and say, "You'll regret this, Hiruzen!"
Damn it!
He had been too active these past few years, forgetting why he had survived despite doing so many terrible things.
His value…
Lay only in taking the blame and silently protecting Konoha from the shadows!
"Sigh." Hiruzen watched Danzo's retreating figure, shaking his head in disappointment. "Someone."
"Hokage-sama." A masked ANBU entered, bowing respectfully.
"Elder Danzo disregarded Lady Mito's wishes and attempted to control the Nine-Tails." Hiruzen took a slow drag of his pipe, his hands clasped behind his back. "I stopped him."
"Keep a close watch. Ensure nothing happens to Kushina."
"I…"
"Made a promise to Lady Mito." His voice was firm, filled with grief and resolve. "And I will see that girl live happily in this village."
So you thought you could just act recklessly?
Even if they were just civilians, they were still Konoha's people. And yet, you've been building your reputation among them—what exactly are you planning?
To become the Fourth Hokage?
If that happens, who will guard Konoha's roots?
"Understood!" The ANBU's eyes sharpened. "I will assign ANBU to protect Kushina around the clock."
So…
Elder Danzo's recent self-promotion had ulterior motives after all!
Otherwise, why would he try to seize the Nine-Tails now?
The Nine-Tails must not be compromised. As the Hokage's direct subordinate, he would carry out his mission faithfully.
"Dismissed." Hiruzen sighed. "Be careful. No mistakes can be made."
"Yes, sir." The ANBU nodded and vanished in a shunshin.
Land of Whirlpools
"Senju… Mokushukuma." Uchiha Iketo sneered at his black-haired opponent. "In the end, we stand on opposite sides."
"Hmph. Uchiha…" Mokushukuma scoffed. "Will always be inferior."
How could the Uchiha compare to the Senju?
The First was a Senju. The Second was a Senju. The Third…
Was the Senju's student.
And the Uchiha?
Aside from the traitor Uchiha Madara, who had died long ago, who else was there?
So…
The Senju had won!
"What are you two doing? Get on with it!" Below them, an old man in a wheelchair—Uchiha Madara—snapped impatiently. "Start already, or you both fail."
This scene…
Felt oddly familiar.
Madara's eyes grew distant as memories surfaced.
Back then…
He and Hashirama had trained like this too—sparring, throwing rocks, seeing who could pee farther…
Though only Hashirama actually did the peeing.
He could never go when someone was watching, so…
"That damn Hashirama!" Madara muttered. "Always sneaking up behind me when I was relieving myself."
Just then…
"Grandpa Madara, Grandpa Madara."
Uchiha Mikoto gently called out to him. These past few years, Grandpa Madara often lost himself in memories. It seemed that with age came nostalgia.
But…
Whenever she asked, Grandpa Madara would just close his eyes impatiently. What a shame.
She really wanted to know what Grandpa Madara's past was like.
Why had he become as expressionless as the rest of the Uchiha?
But probably…
He had suffered greatly. Otherwise, why wouldn't he talk about it?
"Grandpa Madara, here's today's shinobi newspaper. The guards just delivered it." Mikoto handed him the paper.
"Hn." Madara grunted, taking it. In the Land of Whirlpools, he had slowly grown accustomed to reading the news.
But as he unfolded the paper, his eyes fixed on the bold headline:
"The Passing of the Old Era, The Rise of the New."