'No" Madara thought to himself. The Moon's Eye Project had been in preparation for far too long. To abandon it now would be a waste. He had suffered too much, sacrificed too much for that plan. Better, then, to pursue both paths at once. To build a perfect world of illusion for his son, while also forging a perfect reality. A world where Shiro could be safe and powerful. A world where the Uchiha clan could thrive. He had promised his younger brother, Izuna, that he would protect their people. The clan had once abandoned him, but now, they looked to him as their leader. This was his chance to fulfill that vow.
Build a ninja village. The idea took root in his mind, a sudden, powerful revelation. He had founded Konoha himself, a creation that had ultimately left him with nothing but regret. But this time would be different. This time, there would be only one leader: himself. It would be a foundation for his son, a legacy of true power.
"My dear son," Madara said, his voice suddenly filled with a new purpose. "Your father has just made a decision. It concerns the future of the Uchiha clan, and therefore, it concerns you. Do you wish to hear it?"
"Of course!"
"Good. Then ask your pet to summon Uchiha Fugaku and the others. I will announce my decision to all of you together."
"I understand, father!" Shiro nodded enthusiastically, then ran to the door and waved. "Danzō, come here!"
"Woof! Woof woof!" The broken man scrambled over on all fours, his tongue lolling out as he eagerly awaited his master's command, his tail wagging like a real dog's.
"Good boy," Shiro said, patting Danzō's head with satisfaction before giving his order. "For this task, I permit you to speak. No more barking. Go and find Fugaku, Inahiro, and Yakumi for me. My father has something to tell them. Hurry!"
"Woof! I mean… yes, master!" It seemed Danzō had grown so accustomed to his new role that speaking like a human was now a struggle. After receiving his orders, he rushed off toward the Uchiha's settlement.
A short while later, outside Fugaku's home, a series of frantic barks shattered the quiet. Fugaku, who was in the living room resting with a cup of tea, knew instantly that Danzō had arrived. With a frown, he stood, went to the kitchen to retrieve a leftover bone, and opened the door. Danzō lay on the ground, panting, his tongue hanging out.
"Woof! The young master commands you to bring Inahiro and Yakumi to see Lord Madara at once!"
Fugaku's expression was complicated. Though he thought he had grown used to Danzō's current state, it was still a deeply unsettling sight. To see the once-proud leader of Root reduced to this… it was a sad, disgusting spectacle.
"I understand. We will be there shortly. Here, this is for your trouble." Fugaku dropped the bone onto the ground. Danzō pounced on it instantly, gnawing on it with a ravenous hunger.
A moment later, Uchiha Fugaku, Inahiro, and Yakumi stood before Madara and Shiro. The three men bowed respectfully. "Lord Madara."
"Yes." Uchiha Madara nodded gently. "I have summoned you to inform you of a change in your duties. From this day forward, the Uchiha clan no longer needs to farm."
"Truly?" The three men's faces lit up with an unconcealed excitement. The days of their clan's toil were finally over.
Fugaku was the first to compose himself. "Lord Madara, what is our purpose from this day forward?"
Madara replied, "We will do as we once did in Konoha. We will function as a proper shinobi village, taking on missions and building our treasury. I will build a new village, with the Uchiha clan as its heart."
"Oh?" Hearing this, the three were overcome with a mixture of surprise and joy. It seemed their ancestor was finally going to lead the Uchiha to a new era of glory.
Uchiha Yakumi quickly advised, "Lord Madara, if we are to build a village, then according to the one-village-per-country system, we should first align ourselves with a small nation that lacks its own military power. The daimyo of that country would provide us with the funds for development, and we, in turn, would provide military protection. It is the fastest and most effective way to grow."
"That's right," Fugaku agreed. "With the backing and legitimacy of a nation, we will not only develop rapidly, but we may also be able to absorb other, smaller ninja clans. The great shinobi villages all rose to power in this way."
Inahiro also concurred. "If we develop smoothly, with your strength, Lord Madara, and our assistance, perhaps this small country could even become the sixth great nation! The daimyo would be eternally grateful!"
Uchiha Madara frowned slightly. Just as he was about to speak, Shiro's voice cut through the air.
"That must be a joke! The great Uchiha clan, becoming lapdogs for some pampered daimyo? What right does a man who simply sits on a throne have to command us? If we are to adhere to the system of one village per country, then it is the Uchiha who should rule that country!"
The three men were stunned by the sheer force of the child's words. It was like a bolt of lightning, a wake-up call that shattered their conventional thinking. How could such words come from a mere child?
"Hahahahahaha! Well said!" Madara laughed, a deep, booming sound that filled the cavern. "You are truly my son! You have a mindest, just like me!"
"If it were not for Hashirama's incessant pleading, I would never have allowed Konoha to be subservient to the Land of Fire, to turn our village into a tool that the daimyo could order about at will!"
"I have decided! The Uchiha's village will not be dependent on any country!"
"Land can be taken, resources can be seized, and our people will grow in number!"
"If any nation dares to oppose us, we will fight!"
Uchiha Madara grew more and more animated as he spoke, his ancient passion reignited. He stood, his voice resonating with power. "Since we are a ninja village, we must have a Kage!"
"The Uchiha are a clan of dōjutsu and fire. The title of Hokage was taken by Konoha, and I have no desire to use it again. We require a word that represents the power of our eyes."
"Dōjutsu… Kage… Dōkage." He let the word roll off his tongue. "Yes. That will be the title."
"I, Uchiha Madara, hereby declare the founding of our own hidden village! And I shall be its first Dōkage!"
"From this day forward, our new era begins!"
__________________________
"Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed the chapter, please consider donating Power Stones and joining our patreon
[patreon.com /coolperry]
for early access to future chapters.(+30 chapters)