Once Hokage Senju Hashirama spoke up, the clans all spun around one hundred and eighty degrees and echoed him. Everyone would be living under Konoha from now on; offending the village's first and second in command meant no good days ahead.
Lord Tobirama, how could he possibly have plagiarized?
A coincidence is purely a coincidence.
Hearing the chorus around him, Senju Tobirama's expression finally eased. Then he snuck a sidelong glance at Uchiha Madara, and an inexplicable sense of delight welled up inside.
Inherently evil Uchiha Madara.
Do you see the influence my brother and I have in the village? Even if I did plagiarize—no, that's wrong—I didn't plagiarize at all.
Everyone has always trusted me and my brother, not you.
"Hmph!"
Uchiha Madara snorted.
He disdained these hypocritical clans. A good village had been turned foul by Senju Tobirama. He had clearly copied Uchiha Makoto yet still refused to admit it.
And Hashirama—when the truth was that obvious, he still shielded Tobirama and chose not to believe Madara. Madara felt that he and Hashirama were not being completely frank with each other, that Hashirama was holding back. A rift began to open between them.
Madara cast a cold glance over the hypocritical clans, then another at Tobirama. Irritation rising, he didn't even bother to continue the meeting and simply walked out alone.
"Madara…"
Hashirama grew anxious, knowing Madara was angry. He wanted to chase after him and explain.
He had his difficulties. Tobirama was his younger brother, after all.
And Tobirama was thinking of Konoha.
The methods might be bad, but the intention was good.
However, today's meeting was important.
As Hokage he absolutely could not leave on his own. He could only sit back down, unwilling, and signal Tobirama to continue.
"I understand."
Tobirama's mood was foul. He had shut himself up for days, and the strategic plan he had wrung from his brain turned out identical to that inherently evil Uchiha Makoto's.
And now he had somehow become the plagiarist.
It infuriated him.
After sketching the execution plan in broad strokes, he didn't invite comments from the clan heads present. He hurriedly adjourned the meeting. He would reconvene tomorrow or the day after. The day's events had completely thrown off his rhythm and he needed to prepare anew.
When the meeting ended,
the clans filed out.
Hashirama followed behind Tobirama. He wanted to go straight to Madara, but looking at Tobirama's back he couldn't help speaking. "Tobirama, you really didn't plagiarize? How about the two of us go apologize to Madara in private. So you copied—then you copied. We'll keep it secret for you."
"Madara is angry now…"
Tobirama: "…"
Big Brother, give me back the gratitude I felt a moment ago.
Madara is angry, so I'm supposed to go apologize with you?
What a joke.
I didn't plagiarize.
It was all just coincidence.
"Big Brother, I didn't plagiarize."
"Believe me."
Tobirama answered firmly. The innocent clear themselves and the guilty stain themselves. He knew in his heart these were coincidences. But Hashirama shook his head, only thinking his brother's mouth was awfully stiff.
"But…"
"Enough, Big Brother. I will never admit to something I didn't do."
Hashirama, helpless, could only leave alone. He would have to spend time explaining things to Madara again. He had just promised Mito this morning that he would eat with her. It seemed he would break his word.
Still,
Mito should understand him.
…
One month later.
Akatsuki Village.
The sun was especially harsh today.
Uchiha Makoto led part of Akatsuki's leadership to inspect the Ninja Academy.
All the new students had already enrolled.
Unlike Konoha's academy in the original work, Akatsuki's Ninja Academy adopted fully closed, militarized management. No unauthorized persons were allowed within even half a step of the school. Every teacher had been handpicked by Uchiha Makoto and hired at high pay.
And
the school had only one day off each month.
All other time was spent learning cultural subjects and training in ninjutsu and taijutsu.
They were ninja; they had to eat bitterness and strive.
If they didn't train hard now, then on the battlefield they would be nothing but small fry, taken out by a single shuriken.
"Yo, they're so young."
Uchiha Makoto pointed at a group of little brats. They wore uniforms he had personally designed: black with red clouds. Konoha's green vests were truly ugly; Akatsuki's aesthetics had to be ahead of the times.
Considering their constant taijutsu training would wear clothing out quickly, he had prepared eight sets of everyday uniforms across the four seasons. That should be enough for daily life.
"Obedience is a ninja's duty."
"Always uphold Lord Light Shadow."
…
A class was in taijutsu.
They circled the training field running warm-up laps while shouting slogans. This rule was set personally by Uchiha Makoto. The Ninja Academy must always carry out the Will of Light.
Not only civilian-born students had to shout these slogans; clan-born students had to shout them even more. A few people felt something was off and objected that this was overdoing it.
Upon hearing such talk, Uchiha Makoto immediately convened a meeting and sternly criticized the mindset. "Shouldn't ninja obey orders?"
"As ninja of Akatsuki, shouldn't you support Lord Light Shadow?"
"What is your motive, what are you trying to express, what are you trying to undermine, what are you trying…"
With a few big hats pinned on,
those voices vanished at once.
"Welcome, Lord Light Shadow, to inspect."
A whistle blew.
All the students snapped into formation and shouted in unison that "obedience is duty."
"Tell me, what is your sole purpose in becoming ninja?"
"Our sole purpose in becoming ninja is to obey Lord Light Shadow's orders."
"Well said."
"That is the most satisfying answer I've heard."
Uchiha Makoto smiled with satisfaction. Ninja like these, a Ninja Academy like this, truly set his mind at ease.
The leaders who came to observe with him were stunned. Though the sun was blazing straight overhead, a chill crept up their backs.
"Dismissed."
After a while Uchiha Makoto dismissed the ranks. It was nearly time for lunch.
The cafeteria had been busy since morning. Now steaming rice, miso soup, big chunks of meat, and a dessert sprinkled with a layer of white sugar were served in quick succession.
Inside, the students sat in straight rows, waiting for the command to eat. That was academy discipline.
Their eyes stared straight at the lunch before them.
The mostly civilian-born students had only learned what rice was, what it meant to eat their fill, after coming to the academy.
Parasites had never treated them like people.
"All rise."
"Begin eating."
Everyone stood up in unison, shouted "Lord Light Shadow, we are always ready to offer you our loyalty," then sat down and dug in.
"Tastes pretty good."
Uchiha Makoto also had lunch in the cafeteria. He was satisfied with the food. These students were essentially reserve ninja. Ensuring their daily meals was very important.
If they couldn't even eat well, who would risk their lives for him?
In the afternoon, back in his office,
Uchiha Makoto resumed work. A formal reply letter immediately caught his eye.
"The Uzumaki clan… huh… they're actually sending an envoy?"
Uchiha Makoto had always loved prying loose Konoha's cornerstones. In that instant, he almost wanted to dye his hair blond on the spot.
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