Chapter 120 – The Secret of the Senju and the Uchiha, Prelude to the Night of Massacre
(T/N: I a little disappointed that Haruta is very much responsible for the Uchiha clan's situation going out of control. All because he wants more points and extremely selfish.)
Tsunade's mind was in chaos.
She couldn't comprehend what she was seeing.
Someone freshly exhumed from a century-old grave... and yet, alive?
For a moment, she even suspected Haruta had buried her here himself—but that was impossible.
"I have no idea either," Haruta said with a helpless shrug, deliberately playing dumb.
"Shouldn't you be the expert on sealing techniques, Sensei? You're Mito-sama's granddaughter, after all."
Yes—but this was way beyond anything she'd ever seen.
Tsunade could handle seals. She'd mastered the Yin Seal, after all.
But this? This was something else entirely.
What kind of person could survive this long?
And why was she sealed so thoroughly?
This wasn't just some grave robbery anymore.
This... was a secret buried by time.
As a seasoned kunoichi, Tsunade only needed one glance at the surrounding vegetation to confirm that this area hadn't been disturbed before their arrival.
Then she turned her gaze to the ancient, sealed coffin. Judging by its age—at least a hundred years—and what Haruta had said about the seal's complexity, there was only one possible conclusion:
This girl… had been sealed for over a century!
And yet she was still alive.
That fact alone shattered everything Tsunade thought she knew.
"This is seriously a headache. And of all things, she's an Uchiha?! What exactly did those scrolls you read say?"
Tsunade turned to Haruta with an exasperated glare. This was turning into a much bigger issue than she'd anticipated.
"They said that the Senju, in alliance with several clans, ambushed a powerful Uchiha shinobi and sealed away an important Uchiha artifact," Haruta replied smoothly, blinking innocently.
No way was he going to believe Tsunade had the patience to go dig through dusty clan records to double-check.
"I was just curious what kind of 'artifact' was worth sealing away… so…"
His gaze drifted to the unconscious girl.
"Now I'm wondering—was she the artifact? Or the powerful shinobi?"
Tsunade went quiet. She didn't have an answer either.
But before either of them could speak again, the girl in the coffin suddenly stirred—and opened her eyes!
Her expression was blank at first, her gaze slowly scanning her surroundings. There was confusion written all over her face, like someone waking up in a world they didn't recognize.
She sat up slowly, looking around as if searching for something familiar. But then a flash of pain crossed her face.
Holding her head, she winced—memories were crashing into her all at once.
"You okay?" Haruta stepped forward cautiously, his tone mild, but one hand was already forming a seal behind his back—ready to react if things went south.
Tsunade, sensing the tension, moved into position beside him. Her nerves were on edge, but her body knew what to do.
"…Who are you people?" the girl asked, raising her head in dazed confusion.
"Did you… save me?"
"Looks like it," Haruta nodded, eyeing her closely.
"And you? Who are you supposed to be? Judging by your outfit, you're an Uchiha. Why were you sealed away like that?"
At the mention of Uchiha, the girl's expression instantly twisted.
Buzz—
A surge of raw, volatile chakra burst out from her. Hatred flared across her face, and in an instant, her eyes turned blood red.
Tsunade's eyes widened. This girl looked young, barely more than a teen—but the oppressive aura she gave off was terrifying.
And what was with that reaction the moment 'Uchiha' was mentioned? It was like the clan had murdered her whole family.
"You hate the Uchiha?" Haruta spoke up again, this time his chakra already circulating at full speed.
"That's weird. You're one of them, aren't you? Why do you hate them more than we Senju ever did?"
"…Are you trying to get us killed?!" Tsunade glared at Haruta like he'd grown two heads.
He'd read through those old records. He knew the history between the Senju and the Uchiha. He knew how bloody it was. So why would he go poking a clearly unstable girl like that?
As expected, the moment Haruta mentioned "Senju," the girl's head snapped toward him, eyes burning with murderous intent.
Old memories clearly surged back to her—her eyes spun faster and faster, and in a flash, they evolved.
The tomoe spun into a spiraling vortex—Mangekyō Sharingan!
"Mangekyō Sharingan?!" Tsunade exclaimed. Things just got way more complicated.
Haruta, on the other hand, remained perfectly calm. Before the girl could react, his chakra flared.
Boom—
Vines erupted from the ground, binding her in place. As they coiled tightly around her, Haruta spoke in a low voice:
"Calm down. The Uchiha and Senju don't have any grudges anymore."
---
Somewhere in the perpetually rainy Land of Rain…
Uchiha Obito stood atop a mountain, staring out over the drenched landscape, letting the downpour soak his cloak and mask.
Then, with a squelch, a pitcher plant broke the surface nearby.
"There you are, Obito. Standing in the rain won't fix anything, you know."
Before Black Zetsu could say anything, White Zetsu's half of the face giggled. "What's wrong, feeling nostalgic about the Land of Water or something?"
Obito's face twitched beneath the mask, but he didn't bother arguing with White Zetsu. That moron wasn't worth the energy.
Instead, he turned to Black Zetsu. "Just say what you came to say. Hopefully it's something good."
"Not good or bad, really," Black Zetsu replied calmly. "Just… Shisui Uchiha might be dead."
"What?" Obito's head snapped around. Then, without warning—he laughed.
"Good! About damn time!"
"…"
Black Zetsu's expression stiffened. Was this guy brain-dead?
Did he not realize what Shisui's death meant?
"Obito, if Danzo killed Shisui, do you understand what that implies?"
"It implies that one of the people who ruined my life is finally dead!" Obito shouted, voice cracking with raw frustration.
Ever since Haruta had blown his cover, beaten him to a pulp, and thrown him out of Kirigakure, Obito had been living like a rat.
He was humiliated. Exposed. Publicly disgraced. Even wanted now, with bounty posters slapped up all over the islands.
To make things worse, even Sunagakure got in on the action, issuing a bounty under the absurd charge of "stealing the Ryūmyaku of Rōran."
At first, Obito had assumed Suna was just siding with its allies. But after Black Zetsu joked they probably just wanted the Ryūmyaku themselves and needed a scapegoat, Obito snapped.
"The hell?! So now Haruta gets the treasure and I get the blame?!"
Sunagakure scapegoating him was one thing, but Haruta getting the loot and still pinning it on him?
Unforgivable.
Black Zetsu could only sigh.
Truly, Obito's misfortune was reaching tragic levels. Even he was starting to pity the guy.
"Shisui's death will stir chaos. The Uchiha and Konoha were already tense—this might be the final straw."
Black Zetsu's tone turned serious.
"Shisui was the last thread connecting the clan and the village. With him gone, the situation will spiral fast. If you want to act—now's the time."
"…Act how?" Obito muttered, calming slightly.
"That's up to you. I can only give you intel," Black Zetsu said. "But you should also know—Haruta's still in Konoha. His sensory ability is sharp. I can't get too close."
"I know… That bastard Haruta is a constant problem."
Obito's voice was filled with venom. But then his tone shifted as something else came to mind.
"What about the seed I planted? Is it still in place?"
"Not sure," Black Zetsu admitted after some thought. "But from what I've gathered, he might be a lot like Uchiha Kagami."
"…Kagami, the Second Hokage's student? If that's the case…"
Obito's eyes narrowed beneath the mask. The rage was still there—but now, it was focused.
"Maybe I should help him. Help him fulfill his dream."
"A loyal Uchiha… how interesting."
---
The dreams were agony.
At least, they were for the Uchiha girl sealed for so long.
In her sleep, she saw her own clan branding her a weapon. She saw herself locked in a cell, robbed of a name, called only Uchiha Nanashi.
She saw the Senju, Uzumaki, and Sarutobi clans ambush her, sealing her away with the justification that she was "too dangerous to live."
She couldn't resist. Couldn't fight back. Couldn't do anything.
But alongside that agony came a sudden awakening.
Her eyes snapped open.
"…Where…?"
Her thoughts were hazy—but slowly she remembered. Two people… they had released her. Two Senju?
Why?
Why would the Senju save her?
And what did that boy mean when he said "the Senju and Uchiha no longer have any grudge"?
Suddenly, a familiar voice cut into her thoughts—it was the woman who had been standing beside the boy earlier.
"You're insane. Grave after grave. Just what the hell have you been digging up, Haruta?!"
"I don't really know, sensei. The scroll said it was sealing some kind of weapon, so I thought I'd dig it out and have a look. You know I specialize in taijutsu."
"For real? What kind of sealing technique is this? It's been over a hundred years, and the person inside is still alive? And she's even got a Mangekyō?"
"How about this—we sneak off and steal the Reanimation Jutsu, summon one of the former Uzumaki clan leaders and ask them ourselves?"
The girl's mind was spinning.
Over a hundred years?
Had she really been sealed for that long?
And what in the world was "Reanimation Jutsu"?
"You're insane. Are you hearing yourself? That's the dumbest idea I've heard all day."
"Then what do you suggest? The Uzumaki clan is gone—only Karin is left. The Senju are practically extinct too. How else are we supposed to get answers?"
"Bastard. The Senju are not the Uzumaki. I'm still alive, you know? And you—aren't you one too? Our clan didn't vanish, we just became part of Konoha!"
"Hah, sure. But until I met Sensei, I didn't even know I was a Senju."
Gone. The Uzumaki gone. The Senju, nearly extinct.
That hit the girl like a lightning bolt. She couldn't comprehend what had happened. What was going on in this world?
And what was this "Konoha" they kept talking about?
"All right, Sensei, let's drop it. We need to figure out what to do with her. She's awake."
At that moment, the boy's voice rang out again. The girl realized there was no point pretending anymore.
So, she simply opened her eyes—only to see that boy grinning at her.
"Don't panic. We don't want a fight. This meeting was an accident, really.
But just to be safe, I sealed your chakra. Hope you don't mind.
Also—my name's Haruta. Nice to meet you."
The girl frowned instinctively at his words. She could already feel it—her chakra wasn't flowing right.
> [Sealing Technique Upgraded: Current Level – LV6]
[Available Points: 0]
Haruta glanced at the girl, then checked his system panel. He sighed.
Five free points, gone just like that. But hey, the results were solid.
His Sealing Technique had been stuck at LV5 for a while—it was already powerful enough for most situations. But this one required an upgrade. Luckily, he'd learned how to "farm points" efficiently, so it wasn't a big deal.
"What's your name?"
This time it was Tsunade who spoke, unable to stay silent. Everything today felt like a fever dream.
"Can you tell us—what happened back then?"
The girl's expression twisted. Rage flickered through her features once more.
She didn't answer. But her fists were clenched, trembling with fury.
"What happened doesn't matter anymore. I only have one goal now."
She raised her head sharply. Her eyes burned with hatred and resolve.
"Family, shinobi, this broken world—they all disgust me!"
"You'd best kill me now. Otherwise, I'll burn it all to the ground!"
---
Hearing her words, Tsunade frowned deeply.
Aside from thinking this "grown-up girl" had a few screws loose, she was seriously considering taking her down.
Those weren't just empty threats. She had the Mangekyō Sharingan. If she went berserk...
Tsunade's gaze hardened. But before she could act, Haruta spoke again.
"Sounds like your clan treated you like crap."
"Hm?"
Both Tsunade and the Uchiha girl turned to look at him.
Haruta stayed calm. But as he stared at the girl, he couldn't help but purse his lips.
That hairstyle—Madara. That face—feminized Sasuke. Those eyes—Itachi's dojutsu. And that tone—straight out of Obito's playbook.
Was this girl a one-woman tribute to all four of them?
Even as his mind wandered, his thoughts were focused.
"I don't know exactly what happened to you. But from your words, I can guess a few things.
Your clan treated you like a tool. If I'm not wrong, the 'Uchiha Final Weapon' mentioned in those old records... was you, right?"
The girl said nothing—but her eyes confirmed it all. Even Tsunade looked stunned. She never imagined something like this had happened a century ago.
"Honestly, I get it. I can relate."
Haruta smiled, his voice calm.
"Being raised like a tool. Forbidden from emotions. No will of your own. Like living in a cage... with no light in sight. Am I right?"
Tsunade sighed quietly. She knew Haruta had once followed Danzo, though he rarely talked about it. Now, it seemed things had been worse than she thought.
And the Uchiha girl... was shaken. This boy's story was practically a mirror of her own.
Could it be... after the fall of the Senju, their descendants had been reduced to this?
"Looks like I was right."
Haruta met the girl's eyes, his tone gentle but steady.
"We've walked similar paths. The only difference is—I got lucky. I wasn't sealed, and I found my own way.
I understand how you feel. But destroying everything isn't always the only path. Some things... we can help you with."
---
Tsunade's pupils contracted sharply.
Hold on—this girl is insane. But why are you going crazy too?
You're a Senju, not an Uchiha!
"Help me? With what?"
The Uchiha girl looked puzzled. She didn't understand what this descendant of her clan's old enemy was saying.
He was using strange techniques. Speaking nonsense. If she weren't so weak, she wouldn't even bother listening.
But then—
Both she and Tsunade froze.
"It's simple."
Haruta smiled faintly, then spoke in a whisper.
"You want to destroy the Uchiha, right? Maybe... you'll get to watch them burn to ashes."
"???"
"!!!"
---
Sunset—Uchiha District, Konohagakure.
Tension filled the entire Uchiha clan.
Everyone seemed on edge. Grim-faced. Busy. No one had time for anything else.
But none of that concerned young Sasuke.
He was cheerfully pestering his big brother to teach him a new jutsu. After all, his brother had been distant lately—rarely home.
"Not today, Sasuke. Maybe next time."
Unfortunately, Itachi didn't seem in the mood.
His tone was gentle, as always. But even Sasuke could tell his heart wasn't in it.
"Hmph. It's always next time."
Sasuke pouted and shook his head. Every time it was "next time." How long would that take?
"And when Izumi-senpai looks for you, you ignore her too. I haven't seen Shisui-nii lately either. What are you guys doing all day?"
"Sorry, Sasuke. That's on me."
At the mention of Shisui's name, Itachi froze—but only for a moment. He quickly reached out and flicked Sasuke's forehead.
"My bad. I promise I'll teach you next time, okay?"
Sasuke pouted, about to protest again, but—
A loud voice rang from outside the courtyard.
"Uchiha Itachi! Come out here!"
Itachi's face tensed. Sasuke tilted his head, confused.
Now what?
"Stay here. Don't move."
Itachi stood and whispered to Sasuke.
Their parents weren't home today. Normally, no one would dare cause a scene at the Uchiha compound.
"Yes? What is it?"
Stepping outside, Itachi saw three Uchiha clan members waiting. He recognized them—radicals with dangerous views.
His expression cooled slightly, but he remained polite.
"Itachi. Finally you come out!"
One of them stepped forward, his face twisted in fury.
"You're in the ANBU, aren't you? Then why is there still no word?
Tell us—what happened to Shisui? And what's the village's stance?"
"I don't know."
Itachi stared at the three men, his eyes filled with frustration and cold anger.
The clan had lost its mind. Interrogating the village? Was that really their role?
"You don't know?"
The man exploded with rage.
He stormed forward, grabbing Itachi's collar and clenching his other fist tightly.
"You think being the clan leader's son means you can talk to us like that?
Shisui was our hope! Don't think we're fools—we know something's up.
You were put in ANBU to bring us intel. And what've you done?
Are you even worthy of the clan?"
Worthy of the clan?
Itachi didn't respond. But the fury in his eyes grew more intense.
The clan. The clan.
Without the village to support it, the clan would've crumbled long ago.
As the man ranted, the other two nodding behind him, Itachi's killing intent surged.
"Big brother…"
Behind the door, Sasuke peeked out. Terrified—but too scared to speak.
"Enough!"
Itachi had reached his limit. He raised his head, and with a burst of force, threw the man back.
His eyes were crimson. Three tomoe swirled with murderous intent.
"Have you said enough? Look at yourselves—you're pathetic.
Always shouting 'our clan, our clan.' Is that all you're good for?"
---
"I won't repeat myself. I don't know anything about Shisui. And I don't want to see you again. If I do… I will act."
"You—!"
The Uchiha ninja wanted to retort, but Uchiha Itachi didn't give them the chance.
In an instant, his figure vanished like a ghost. Before the three could react, pain shot through their bodies.
By the time they realized what had happened, they were already on the ground.
Itachi stood with his head bowed, his expression unreadable. But behind the door, Sasuke, hiding quietly, saw something shift in his brother's eyes.
Those weren't normal Sharingan. The pattern… it looked like a shuriken.
"Leave. All of you."
Itachi's voice was cold and indifferent. Yet, his gaze suddenly turned toward the distance.
After a brief silence, he added, "You scared Sasuke. And don't let me see you again."
With that, he turned to glance at the door where Sasuke hid. He'd noticed his little brother's presence long ago.
He felt regret, letting Sasuke witness such a scene—but there were more urgent matters at hand.
"Damn it… that bastard. Konoha's dog!"
Watching Itachi leave, the three Uchiha could only curse under their breath.
But Itachi didn't care.
He strode swiftly through the village and soon arrived at a secluded forest clearing.
"Come out. You let your chakra leak on purpose. I'm here now—Uchiha Obito."
That's right. Itachi had left so abruptly because he sensed a familiar chakra.
He would never forget what happened before—being held hostage by Obito, nearly killed by Haruta.
Obito's sudden appearance set him on edge, but also sharpened his desire to uncover the man's motives.
"Heh. Still sharp as ever. I was worried you wouldn't sense me."
A ripple in space, and from the swirling distortion emerged a man in a black cloak and mask—Uchiha Obito.
"By the way, Uchiha Obito is dead. But if you like using that name, go ahead."
"What do you want?"
Itachi ignored the man's nonsense, his entire being coiled like a drawn blade, ready to strike at the slightest provocation.
"My goal? Hmm… let's say I came to speak with a lost lamb. Someone standing at the edge of a cliff, unsure of what to choose."
Obito's tone was mocking, but seeing that Itachi's expression remained unchanged, he shook his head.
"Tsk, so cold. Fine, I'll be kind and give you a reminder.
Even without me saying it, you can feel it—the Uchiha clan is standing at the edge of destruction.
And it's not just the Uchiha. This entire world is on the brink.
I can sense it. You're close to the point of no return.
Maybe you're confused. Maybe you've already decided something. But I'm telling you—ask me for help.
I'm not like you. I can handle things you can't. As for the price…"
Obito paused, then gave a cryptic smile.
"You've got talent. Potential. I like people like you. Who knows—you might even be useful to me."
"Useful… for what?"
Itachi stared at him in silence. Internally, his thoughts twisted in a storm no one could see.
"Do you hate the Uchiha clan that much?"
"Hate?"
Obito laughed lightly, looking at Itachi with disdain.
"What I'm trying to do… you can't understand. Maybe one day you will. But not yet.
Still, I can share something interesting."
He looked up toward the sky.
"To me, the Uchiha mean nothing. Because—"
"I'll create a world… where everyone lives… and peace reigns."
"You're insane."
---
In a forest camp in the Land of Fire, Tsunade sat beside Haruta.
Glancing at the Uchiha girl nearby, her face still etched with shock, Tsunade muttered under her breath, "You're out of your damn mind."
They'd unsealed her, sure. And though Tsunade very much wanted to wring the neck of this "evil Uchiha relic," the girl was still weak.
But Haruta? He seemed interested in this psycho—and even gave her a reason that made Tsunade's head hurt.
"Sure, I admit, I've got the edge against Obito. But the best way to deal with Uchiha… is still another Uchiha.
She has a Mangekyō. Against Obito, that could be very useful.
Besides… didn't the First Hokage accept Madara Uchiha and even leave a will behind saying we should treat the Uchiha kindly?
Sensei, you wouldn't want to go against your grandfather's last wish, would you?"
Best way to deal with the Uchiha, my ass, Tsunade thought.
Her grandfather beat the hell out of Madara in that final battle. Now Haruta wanted to lecture her on compassion?
Still… that will. That legacy. She couldn't ignore it.
She wanted to refute him. But the words caught in her throat.
"Just make sure your crazy doesn't set her crazy off."
That was all she could say in the end.
The Uchiha girl frowned at the comment but said nothing.
To be honest, her heart was in turmoil.
She hated the Uchiha. Hated the Senju. Hated the Uzumaki who sealed her.
But the one who released her… was a Senju.
And strangely… his past felt all too familiar to her.
She never imagined that over a hundred years had passed. That her world was gone, her people scattered.
"So then… what am I now? What's the point of my existence?"
No one could answer that kind of question.
---
"Sensei, I've been thinking about something."
Haruta didn't respond to Tsunade's grumbling. Instead, he changed the topic, eyes gleaming with interest.
Now was the perfect time. He wanted to test if a hidden quest would trigger.
If it did—cha-ching.
"Have you ever wondered why the First Hokage trusted Madara so much? They were even friends, right?
Also… why can Obito use Wood Release?"
"Because my grandfather had a few screws loose."
Tsunade answered without hesitation.
Haruta nearly choked. Lady, that's your own grandfather!
"But yeah, Obito using Wood Release—that is strange."
Tsunade's gaze sharpened. She wasn't dismissive.
Where did Obito get the First's cells? And even if he did, who else could survive such immense power?
The sealed lab records in Konoha… all the failed names written on them were proof.
So why him?
"Okay, let's ignore your grandfather for a second. Let's just talk about Wood Release."
Haruta rubbed his temples and carefully chose his words.
"I think we've misunderstood the fundamental structure of Wood Release.
You've probably noticed it too—the core of the power isn't really wood itself. It's a strange form of Yang Release, isn't it?"
"Yes. The Yang nature is definitely a key component. But it feels… different somehow."
Tsunade nodded.
Even though she wasn't close to using Wood Release herself, she could feel a strange energy building inside her.
It was definitely Yang chakra—but with something else embedded in it.
Maybe it was Haruta's bloodline. But one thing was certain—this Yang Release made the technique stronger.
"So Sensei… what kind of power is the Sharingan?"
Now that he had confirmation, Haruta asked the most crucial question.
Tsunade froze. Her expression changed immediately.
"Yin Release… You mean… Obito can use Wood Release because of Yin chakra?"
"Yin and Yang… balance each other. When perfectly mixed, they can stabilize."
Haruta nodded solemnly, putting on his best mystic face.
"When I awakened Wood Release, I always wondered how Obito managed it.
But after poring over old records and Tobirama's research, I realized something—
The Sharingan might be the missing piece. The key to balancing the First's cells.
That's why a moron like Obito could use Wood Release properly.
And Sensei, I don't think that was an accident."
"Not an accident?"
Now it was Tsunade's turn to be stunned. She didn't know what Haruta was getting at.
But Haruta didn't answer her just yet. He turned toward the still-silent Uchiha girl.
"Let me ask you something. Back in your era… did the Uchiha ever say they were descended from the Sage of Six Paths?"
"The Sage of Six Paths?"
The Uchiha girl furrowed her brow. She could follow the conversation—sort of. Haruta had explained this world to her, after all.
But one thing bugged her.
When did the Senju gain Wood Release?
Weren't they known for taijutsu and mastery of all elemental releases?
Now people said Wood Release could overpower even Mangekyō users?
The First Hokage, and now this Haruta guy—both beat down Mangekyō Uchiha.
Even she couldn't resist.
Sure, she'd been ambushed and sealed, but the gap in strength was real.
Shaking her head, she composed herself and replied without emotion.
"Yes. People often talked about that nonsense. Said the Sharingan was inherited from the Sage of Six Paths.
And if I remember right… the Senju used to say they inherited his body."
Haruta nodded slowly. Tsunade frowned.
"That claim has always existed. But no one's ever proven it. And there's no point debating it.
If it were true, then why such deep hatred between the Uchiha and the Senju?"
"Sensei… have you ever heard the legend of the Ninshu Sect?"
Haruta's eyes gleamed. This was it—his final theory.
"The Ninshu Sect…?"
Tsunade's frown deepened. Haruta's words were growing more and more absurd.
But frustratingly, she couldn't find any holes in his logic.
"That's right. The legend of the Ninshu Sect.
What if… the ancestors of the Uchiha and Senju clashed because of a conflict over who would inherit it?"
(T/N: Now it's plan stupid. He has no evidence to show but keeps going on with more bullshit.)
At that moment, Haruta's expression turned solemn. His voice, low and deliberate, carried undeniable weight.
"Don't think it's impossible. Just look at what's happening in the village. You think the Ninshu Sect was some peaceful utopia?"
"Inheritance conflict… between the Sage of Six Paths' two sons?"
Tsunade's mind screamed absurd, but at the same time… she couldn't deny the logic.
Where there are people, there is conflict. Be it for power, fame, or profit—where desire exists, grudges follow.
And when grudges can't be reconciled, chaos spreads.
Was this the truth behind the so-called heirs?
"Well… it's just a theory. But I think it's a direction worth investigating."
Tsunade rubbed her temples. The Uchiha girl nearby also looked stunned. But before either of them could speak, Haruta continued.
"No one knows exactly when the rift between the Senju and Uchiha began. No one remembers the exact cause.
But in our memories, it's like we're born knowing our enemy. We're raised to kill the other side.
Centuries of hatred buried the truth. All that's left is the instinct to destroy.
What made the First Hokage truly great… was that he chose to abandon that hatred.
I imagine he faced tremendous pressure from within the clan to do so.
But still, the Senju and Uchiha joined hands to build a home—Konoha.
It wasn't a perfect ending. But I've learned: the more you chase perfection, the more disappointment you find.
And even in peace, voices of dissatisfaction never truly disappear.
So now that things are calm, isn't it time we dig into the real roots of our conflict?"
Haruta's words weren't just for Tsunade—they were meant for the Uchiha girl as well.
Tsunade was visibly moved. After all, he was praising her grandfather. And truthfully, Wood Release didn't lie—Obito did have it.
Paired with the two clans' legends, maybe it was worth exploring?
"Using my grandfather's legacy to pressure me… you little brat."
Tsunade gave Haruta a sideways glare before sighing deeply. The Uchiha girl, meanwhile, seemed lost in thought.
She hadn't expected such words. But when she thought it through… it wasn't that far-fetched.
And she had to admit, that so-called First Hokage sounded terrifying. He could crush Uchiha—and yet chose peace?
In her time, people often boasted about being "descendants of the Sage." Could there really be a link?
Were the Senju and Uchiha once brothers? Torn apart by a battle for inheritance?
"By the way… do you have a name?"
Haruta's sudden question snapped the girl out of her thoughts.
"I… don't remember. I think… they called me Uchiha Nanashi."
Her brow furrowed. Painful memories rose again, her voice flat and emotionless.
Haruta understood that kind of pain. Not just because he'd served under Danzo—because in his past life, he'd been a Milan fan.
"…Let's not use that name. Let's cast aside that pain. Consider this your rebirth. A fresh start."
Haruta thought for a moment, then smiled.
"You emerged from darkness. Your past is shadowed, so now you should walk toward light.
How about… the name 'Uchiha Hikari'—Uchiha Light?"
The girl blinked, visibly stunned. That name… it felt strangely familiar. Warm. She actually liked it.
"Uchiha… Hikari?"
She whispered it. But then immediately gave Haruta a weird look. Tsunade, too, seemed to realize something and glanced over.
"So you preach about abandoning hate… and the possibility of Uchiha–Senju reconciliation…"
"But wasn't you, just a while ago, who said you wanted to watch the Uchiha burn to ash?"