"Right now…"
"Their clan name is Uchiha."
"The Uchiha clan and the Senju clan have been locked in conflict for generations."
Tobi Senju, as if he had found a kindred spirit, voiced his grievances against the Uchiha: "My elder brother defeated the Uchiha clan and persuaded them to join Konoha, yet among them still remain those evil souls, just like their ancestors…"
But Tobi Senju overlooked a crucial point.
This adviser to Konoha's Hokage had been quietly listening to Emiya Shirahara's stories, and his trust in Shirahara grew rapidly. These tales were exactly the kind he liked to hear. Yet, Tobi Senju could never suspect someone who claimed to have lived over a thousand years ago. From Shirahara's words, he had found a solid reason to monitor the Uchiha clan!
"My elder brother…"
Tobi Senju's gaze darkened as he mentioned someone he despised: "He was also wounded by a naturally evil Uchiha…"
"That man… was named Uchiha Madara."
When Tobi Senju said that name, his voice was thick with contempt and hatred: "Back then, my elder brother invited him to end the era of chaos together. But that man betrayed his trust. Leaving Konoha was one thing, but to return and try to destroy Konoha and kill my brother, dragging the shinobi world back into a war-torn era…"
Fortunately,
Uchiha Madara was finally dead.
And my elder brother was no longer shackled by that man.
Emiya Shirahara sighed softly, a trace of sorrow in his voice: "Sounds like that Uchiha Madara you speak of was as warlike as my own ancestor…"
"Back then…"
"Ashura sought universal understanding."
"But Indra sought to dominate the shinobi world."
"Though brothers, their opposing ideals drove them to fight relentlessly until death…"
"Hmph!"
"That is the inherited evil in their bloodline!"
Tobi Senju's face twisted with disgust as he harshly condemned the Uchiha clan: "Just like the evil bloodline limit — the Sharingan — that the Uchiha inherit…"
"The power of the Sharingan…"
Emiya Shirahara began recounting the history of the Sharingan: "I discovered long ago that the Sharingan's power gradually drives Indra to extremes…"
"Indeed."
"I have studied the Sharingan's power as well."
"This bloodline limit is inevitably controlled by emotion."
Tobi Senju, who was well-versed in the Sharingan, spoke sincerely as if with a kindred soul: "Because the evolution of the Sharingan is influenced by chakra born from extreme emotions…"
"That also means…"
"The stronger an Uchiha, the more likely they are to spiral into extremes."
"And the more extreme an Uchiha becomes, the stronger they tend to grow…"
It was an unsolvable dilemma.
If an Uchiha's emotions cannot be properly guided and their life is unsettled, they ultimately become a great danger.
They must be watched!
They must be strictly watched!
They must be closely and strictly monitored!
Tobi Senju silently resolved to implement the plan he had drafted. Konoha lacked enough manpower to watch every Uchiha individually, so they must be concentrated and monitored as a group.
These Uchiha were still comrades for now.
He needed to establish a new division for them.
This division would be managed primarily by the Uchiha clan themselves, with their residences grouped together and secretly watched by ANBU operatives.
Konoha Hospital.
The defenses here were extremely tight.
Because the battle between the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, and Uchiha Madara had been so fierce, the aftershocks reshaped the land, forming a deep canyon where they fought.
This battle could not be hidden from the other shinobi villages.
Other nations sent spies into Konoha to investigate the First Hokage's fate, as his well-being affected the entire shinobi world's peace. Konoha could only tightly seal information about Hashirama.
"Sasuke."
Suddenly, Tobi Senju called out loudly.
Emiya Shirahara's eyes flickered.
Wait…
That can't be right, can it?
How could Sasuke suddenly appear here?
This wasn't supposed to be a few years after Konoha's founding?
According to Shirahara's previous life memories, this time should be just after the Valley of the End battle between Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, so how could Sasuke be here already?
"Lord Tobi!"
A young shinobi strode briskly forward.
He glanced at Emiya Shirahara beside Tobi Senju, his eyes tinged with confusion and caution.
"Lord Tobi, this is…"
"This is Lord Emiya Shirahara."
Tobi Senju, who deeply trusted this young shinobi, spoke in a grave tone: "Sasuke, everyone can now feel assured. There's no need to worry about the village's situation."
"I used a forbidden technique to resurrect Lord Emiya so he could treat my elder brother's wounds. You've probably heard of him — Lord Emiya. My brother's injuries will no longer pose a problem."
"The greatest medical ninja, Lord Emiya?"
The young shinobi's face flickered with amazement, disbelief shining in his eyes as he looked at Shirahara: "I grew up hearing his name. I never thought I'd see the man himself one day…"
"This is Sasuke Sarutobi, the Jonin squad leader."
Tobi Senju introduced the young shinobi to Emiya Shirahara, then instructed Sasuke: "You must strictly keep Lord Emiya's presence secret from the villagers…"
Though Tobi Senju wielded great power as the Hokage's aide, he did not rule with absolute dictatorship.
During the time Hashirama was injured, the other shinobi clans within Konoha were uneasy, and had some knowledge of the situation.
If something went wrong…
Konoha would surely face hostility from other villages.
At this critical moment, Tobi Senju needed to unite the clans within the village, so Konoha wouldn't collapse so soon after its founding because of Hashirama's fate.
The Sarutobi clan was one of the larger clans in Konoha.
The three allied clans of Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka—known as the Ino-Shika-Cho—had long been led by the Sarutobi during the warring states era.
Sasuke Sarutobi was actively helping stabilize the other clans, so the village would not fall into panic. Introducing Emiya Shirahara to Sasuke was a reassurance.
Tobi Senju entrusted Sasuke with protecting his elder brother, also demonstrating trust towards these clans. Compared with the independently minded Hyuga and Uchiha clans, the Sarutobi were indeed more trustworthy.
"I'll take Lord Emiya to the ward first."
Tobi Senju patted Sasuke on the shoulder, then led the way, praising Emiya Shirahara as they walked: "Sasuke is a tenacious shinobi and the Sarutobi clan head. In many ways, he even surpasses me…"
"Speaking of which, his son, Sarutobi Hiruzen, is also an outstanding student, having already mastered their clan's summoning technique at this age…"
At this, Tobi Senju glanced at Emiya Shirahara meaningfully, seemingly hoping Shirahara could share some stories about the Sarutobi clan's ancestors.
"…"
Emiya Shirahara looked at Tobi Senju with some surprise.
Did he want me to speak about the Sarutobi clan's past?
I don't know their history. I only know their future.
Meeting Tobi Senju's gaze, Shirahara gently shook his head: "In my time, the Sarutobi name did not yet exist…"
"At the founding era of the shinobi religion…"
"The shinobi religion had only six individuals with surnames."
"Shinobi religion?"
"Six Paths Sage?"
Tobi Senju's steps faltered. He stared hard at Emiya Shirahara, subconsciously asking, "Have you truly seen the legendary gods?"
"Gods?"
Shirahara looked curious, examining Tobi Senju closely: "Senju clan… don't you have records of the Six Paths Sage?"
"…"
Tobi Senju shook his head, then nodded: "For our era, the Six Paths Sage are mythical creators—wielding the Ame-no-Nuhoko to bring peace to the shinobi world, spreading chakra, and founding the ancient shinobi religion…"
"That's quite something."
Emiya Shirahara, nonchalant about the Six Paths Sage, casually dropped a bombshell: "I thought the Senju clan would have records, because the Six Paths Sage were the father of your clan's ancestors Ashura and the Uchiha clan's ancestor Indra…"
"…"
Tobi Senju's heart raced uncontrollably.
This secret…
He had never heard of it before!
The Senju and Uzumaki clans' ancestors were both the Six Paths Sage!
The consequences of this secret leaking were unimaginable. Too bad it came too late.
Of course,
It would be even better if this was not revealed to the Uchiha clan.
The Uchiha were already arrogant and rebellious. If they learned their ancestor was the Six Paths Sage, they would become even more defiant in the village.
"The Six Paths Sage was a good man."
Emiya Shirahara disregarded Tobi Senju's worries and continued: "When I introduced the concept of medical ninjutsu to this world, the Six Paths Sage was the first to donate his body for posthumous medical research…"
Of course,
Shirahara did not mention the other truth.