"Ha!"
Uchiha Madara raised his cup high, narrowing his eyes at Senju Tobirama's slightly flushed face, and sneered: "As I thought. Whether on the battlefield or at the drinking table, without scheming and trickery you're nothing but weak!"
Senju Tobirama's eyes narrowed dangerously.
He very much wanted to say, if not for Kazuki sealing away his Six Paths power before this drinking contest—
Today, your Uncle Tobirama would've drunk you under the table!
"It's just a reckless temperament. Fine wine is meant to be savored. Drinking it down like a cow—how could you taste anything at all?" Tobirama shot Madara an equally disdainful look, lifted his cup, and drained it in one gulp.
"Nothing but liquor. Do you think the physique of an Uchiha surpasses that of a Senju?" Tobirama's pair of Mangekyō Sharingan glared sharply as he spoke.
"And you still dare call yourself a Senju? Enough of that nonsense already!"
At the side, Uchiha Izuna glanced at Tobirama with exasperation, then sternly pointed at the bottom of his cup: "What's this, raising fish? Leaving that last drop? Planning to use Flying Thunder God to make it vanish?"
After all, the Mangekyō Sharingan in Tobirama's sockets had once been his… and now Tobirama's ocular power was more abundant than his own, yet he still dared claim the name Senju?
"Do you think the Senju are some petty thing?"
Tobirama spread his hands. "Uchiha Izuna, that's your narrow vision speaking. Your outlook is far too small."
Izuna rolled his eyes in irritation.
"Enough useless talk. Drink!" Izuna grabbed the wine flask, filled Tobirama's cup to the brim, and motioned for him to clink glasses.
Tobirama froze for a moment.
This bastard… actually pouring him a drink? Surely the sun hadn't risen in the west today?
"Though you're a cunning bastard, sly and treacherous… I have to admit, you still have a bit of conscience. For the peace the shinobi world has now reached, you've played your part."
Izuna looked at Tobirama with obvious distaste, but his words were honest: "All those past hatreds… let's wipe them clean."
Tobirama blinked, silent.
A crisp clink of cups.
The two raised their heads and drained their drinks in one go.
Today's banquet was lively beyond compare.
It was, after everything had ended, the first official celebration feast.
Upon a boundless plain stretching as far as the eye could see, tens of thousands of tables were laden with wine and fine dishes. Shinobi once belonging to different villages were now all mingled together, speaking excitedly and emotionally about that world-shaking battle—
Each one of them had been a part of it… regardless of the size of their contribution, they were truly part of the victory.
They had earned the right to celebrate.
"Tobirama-sama, thank you…"
Carrying a wine flask, the slightly shy Uchiha Shisui walked over from the Konoha Uchiha side of the banquet. "On behalf of the Uchiha clan, I offer you this drink…"
"You know, they all admire you… it's just that with the Uchiha temperament, they can't bring themselves to say it outright…"
Shisui looked at Tobirama earnestly, eyes full of gratitude, lowering his cup almost reverently. "Thank you for all you've done for my brother, and thank you for the supreme contribution you've made to peace in the shinobi world…"
Senju Tobirama gave a warm smile, one that could even be called kindly.
And who was Shisui? Kazuki's younger brother! Back when Shisui had not even graduated from the Academy, Tobirama had already watched him grow.
"Shisui, there's no need to stand on ceremony with me!"
With a cheerful laugh, Tobirama patted Shisui on the shoulder. "Where do you get the idea that I was looking after Kazuki? It was clearly he who looked after me… In any case, both Kazuki and I are proud to see you've grown into such an outstanding man!"
"Come, let's share this cup!"
Tobirama and Shisui exchanged smiles, then both drained their cups in one hearty gulp, drinking with ease and cheer.
Turning around, Shisui then grinned toward Uchiha Izuna and Uchiha Madara.
"Madara-sama, Izuna-sama, I've long admired the two of you as elders of the Uchiha clan…"
"As expected of Kazuki's little brother. Brat, I like you," Madara arched a brow, motioning for Shisui to sit beside him.
Izuna, meanwhile, glanced back at the Uchiha tables, then burst out laughing.
"Anyone who wants to drink with me, Madara, and that half-Uchiha, half-Senju demon over there, come on! You're all grown men—what's with the sneaking glances?" Izuna bellowed with full voice.
At his words, the Uchiha side erupted at once.
Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha Tekka, Uchiha Inabi… all of Kazuki's staunch supporters seized their cups and rushed over with excitement.
Drinking with Madara and Izuna was one thing.
But after the war, with the shinobi world heading into an age of peace, that Senju demon who had never once lost to the Uchiha clan—there might never again be a chance to defeat him in the Uchiha's name!
There was only one chance left, and that was this very drinking match—to take him down with a relentless wheel-battle of sake!
This was the Uchiha clan's righteous group assault!
"Second Hokage-sama, please take this cup!" Uchiha Yashiro stepped before Tobirama. Before the white-haired man could reply, Yashiro had already downed three cups in quick gulps, then filled one for Tobirama: "You just need to drink this one!"
Tobirama cast him a sidelong glance and spoke: "I remember you, Uchiha Yashiro. Once a hawkish member of the Uchiha clan, skilled in Fire Release, with a certain mastery of Uchiha Izuna's swordsmanship… After being guided by Kazuki, you joined the Root, and awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"I am willing to share a drink with such an excellent shinobi as you."
Before the stunned eyes of the surrounding Uchiha, Tobirama downed three cups in succession without so much as a change in expression, then raised his brows. "Who's next?"
Izuna gave a cold snort at the sight.
Feigning magnanimity to win hearts, is that it?
It wasn't only with Yashiro—every Uchiha who came forward to toast Tobirama, even those with only a single-tomoe Sharingan, this bastard could still call them by name…
And he would patiently offer them a few words of encouragement, telling them, The future is yours.
False as such words sounded, which Uchiha could ever refuse praise from Senju Tobirama?
Every Uchiha bared his teeth in wide grins as they drank with Senju Tobirama. At first, it had been about teaming up to get the great villain drunk, but before long it turned into a genuine desire to befriend him.
Even Uchiha Itachi, clutching a cup of fruit juice, summoned his courage to walk before Tobirama.
"Young man, you'll become an outstanding shinobi in the future as well… but remember this: when faced with questions you cannot untangle, go to the adults in the village—come to me, come to Kazuki…"
Tobirama looked at the boy, already a little chubby, and found it difficult to connect him with the clan-killer Itachi that Alternate-Space Sasuke had spoken of. Smiling, he added: "Of course, you can also go find that bastard Izuna…"
"The you in another timeline is not you. The same person, growing up in a different environment, can turn out entirely different."
Itachi's eyes lit up. He looked at Tobirama with deep gratitude, nodding firmly. "Thank you for your guidance, Tobirama-sama!"
After all, Alternate-Space Sasuke had spoiled the plot of the original timeline.
The burden on Itachi's heart was enormous—he was just a chubby kid who loved dango, so how could he possibly have grown so extreme as to slaughter his entire clan in the name of the Will of Fire?
Yet that was indeed what his other self had done.
The weight of it nearly drove Itachi mad.
But today, Tobirama openly declared that Uchiha Itachi had no need to carry that burden.
This was recognition from Senju Tobirama—a kind of pardon that carried almost the force of law in the shinobi world of today. Because everyone knew, standing behind Tobirama was Kazuki…
And whatever Tobirama acknowledged, Kazuki would almost certainly not oppose.
Watching from the side, Uchiha Izuna shook his head, his thoughts turning bitter: Senju Tobirama, truly a troublesome enemy… Just with those few words, if the shinobi world ever fractures again…
Uchiha Itachi will surely stand with him! It'll be just like in the alternate space—if Tobirama gives the order, Itachi won't even blink before cutting down his own father and mother!
'If my brother had possessed even a fraction of this bastard's skill at winning hearts, how would it ever have been Tobirama who became the Second Hokage of Konoha?!'
But with a shift of thought, Izuna cast such notions aside.
This shinobi world was different—Kazuki existed here.
As long as Kazuki was present, there would never be war or internal strife.
"Bastard, since when was it your place to teach children of the Uchiha? You already tricked Kazuki once, and now you'd trick Itachi too?" Izuna squinted at him. "Drink!"
And so began a head-to-head drinking clash between Senju Tobirama and Uchiha Izuna…
All those taboos once buried in Konoha's shadows, which no one had dared bring up, were now laid out like side dishes for sake.
Tobirama was both judge and player, explaining to the Uchiha from both sides how he had once suppressed them—
From dividing hawks and doves, to founding the Konoha Police Force…
One by one, case by case.
The tactics, the hidden layers beneath, Tobirama broke down and laid bare for the Uchiha to hear.
But now… the situation was no longer the same.
The Uchiha clan had, by now, become completely their own people.
To prevent these Sharingan, so prone to turning inward and self-destructive, from one day stirring up another disaster… Senju Tobirama decided to seize the moment and give them a lesson.
A thorough one.
On human nature, on the art of conflict, on the so-called demonic nature of the Uchiha…
At this moment—
Tobirama spoke as if reciting from a treasured book, detailing everything about the Uchiha: their weaknesses, how they should confront them, and how they could make use of their own bloodline.
Every pair of Sharingan widened, staring at this white-haired "Uchiha" in astonishment, listening as if to scripture, not daring to miss a single word.
He knew the Uchiha too well!
Even Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Izuna found themselves nodding slightly as they listened.
By the end, the Uchiha and Tobirama were fully mingling together, the conversation fiery and full of spirit.
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