"Naruto: My Ninja Skills"Chapter 175: Come Out and Duel! (Part 2)
Working a job? Impossible. Not happening in this lifetime.
Yūshin wasn't a donkey—he couldn't just keep going in circles, grinding away year after year.
From the very beginning, he'd never cared about village committee positions. His thinking was actually quite simple... If he was exhausted like a dog before Konoha's establishment, and still exhausted like a dog after its founding, then what was the point of establishing Konoha at all?
So the calculation was fairly straightforward: if Yūshin continued holding some important position, he'd just be a wage slave for the Senju brothers. But if he maintained a relaxed attitude and refused village duties, then the Senju brothers would become his wage slaves.
So Yūshin and Tobirama Senju stood there arguing for ages, but the former wasn't swayed by the latter... Come on, Yūshin was so indifferent to fame and fortune—how could he be tempted by mere village committee perks and high salaries?
Tobirama's logic of standing on moral high ground to manipulate him—Yūshin simply wasn't buying it. Tobirama had no morals himself, so how could he manipulate anyone?
After all that talking, he only got a perfunctory "we'll discuss it later" from Yūshin. Heh, standing on high ground, overlooking the village, feeling the cool breeze, envisioning the future?
Tobirama wasn't Hashirama, and Yūshin wasn't Madara Uchiha.
Yūshin had no interest in such elevated sightseeing activities—more precisely, he had no interest in elevated sightseeing activities with Tobirama Senju.
After ending his conversation with Tobirama, Yūshin didn't return to the hospital but headed elsewhere instead.
Tobirama did want to continue persuading Yūshin, but he was simply too busy during this period—one task after another, with no time for sustained verbal jutsu.
Yūshin wandered the construction site several times, appearing to inspect progress but actually just trying to completely shake off Tobirama.
Then he arrived at the workshop the Fūma Clan had established in the new ninja village. Previously, he'd assigned a secret mission to the Fūma Clan.
"Lord Yūshin..."
The ninja engaged in production kept greeting Yūshin upon seeing him. He continuously returned their greetings, indicating they should just focus on their own work.
Subsequently, he found Fūma Chi, who was developing some kind of secret weapon.
"How's the project progressing?"
"Quite smoothly. Lord Yūshin, please look over here."
Fūma Chi led Yūshin into a secret chamber, then displayed their "research results."
This so-called new weapon was completely at odds with the ninja world's aesthetic—ordinary ninja couldn't possibly understand what this thing was for.
Fūma Chi hesitated, but ultimately couldn't resist asking:
"Lord Yūshin, I'm somewhat confused about why we're developing such a crude weapon. Its application scenarios are too narrow, and it severely lacks flexibility—it's difficult to apply in ninja combat..."
Yūshin smiled slightly and said:
"This thing wasn't meant for fighting ninja anyway. I just want a weapon that absolutely contains no chakra—100% pure natural."
"No chakra?"
This explanation left Fūma Chi even more bewildered. Having chakra available but choosing to play with metal lumps instead—how does one become a grandmaster this way?
"Mm, based on fair competition principles... cough, anyway, this isn't for our use—it's for Lord Shimizu to use, and he'll need it very soon."
As Yūshin spoke, he crouched down and tapped those pipes and canisters with his hand.
"Have you tested it?"
"No, because Lord Yūshin required secrecy, we can only test it back in Fireflies village."
"Very good—that's exactly how cautious you should be. Maintain secrecy, especially from the Senju Clan."
Yūshin sighed inwardly. No choice—the "warm guy" script had to continue.
...
Although Hashirama Senju was still fighting externally, as more and more ninja clans arrived at the new ninja village, Tobirama Senju saw the timing was ripe and began convening the "Konoha Village Founding Conference."
Yūshin temporarily couldn't abandon his responsibilities, so he could only endure his drowsiness and attend meetings with Tobirama... The participants were basically clan leaders from various ninja clans.
In this meeting, Tobirama explained for the first time the "one country, one village" system established by Hashirama—namely, within the Land of Fire's borders, the new ninja village led by the Senju alliance would become the only legitimate ninja military force. All other ninja, ninja clans, or armed groups would face suppression from the new ninja village.
The new ninja village's name was confirmed as "Konohagakure."
Yūshin naturally felt no novelty about these broad matters, but this didn't prevent other clan leaders from listening with great interest.
Subsequently, Tobirama also introduced Konoha Village's various departmental arrangements. With Fireflies village as a precedent example, everyone easily understood the purpose and significance of establishing various departments, and their future functions.
Fireflies village was the previous wave that died on the beach. Just as Yūshin was internally complaining "all the happiness belongs to you, I'm just a spectator," a Senju ninja hurriedly burst into the meeting room, then whispered something in Tobirama's ear.
Then Tobirama's expression changed dramatically. He struggled to maintain composure, then announced a thirty-minute recess.
In a small meeting room on this building's second floor, Yūshin learned why Tobirama had just acted like his backside was on fire.
"Yūshin, Madara Uchiha has surrendered to big brother."
"Ah... No need to think about it—Hashirama must be delighted to accept this."
For Tobirama, this outcome was worse than actually having his backside set on fire.
Yūshin watched Tobirama Senju pacing anxiously in the small meeting room and suddenly felt somewhat schadenfreude... Setting aside impressions left from the original work, Yūshin's feelings toward Madara Uchiha basically stopped at dislike and disgust—hatred wasn't that intense.
But Tobirama Senju was different—he wished he could spit in Madara's face twenty-four hours a day.
"Tobirama, serves you right for loving conspiracies and schemes—screwed up, didn't you?"
No need to think about it—Tobirama's "kill the person and destroy the heart" plan had taken effect, but not completely... In his conception, after Madara's previous defeat in battle with big brother, returning home to discover his home was gone, shouldn't he have become quite angry and impulsive?
With Madara's stubborn personality, upon encountering Hashirama again this time, shouldn't he have unhesitatingly thrown eggs at rocks?
But what was this surrender about?
This showed Tobirama's understanding of Madara had certain deviations. Was there a possibility that after Madara finished being excited and angry, he'd become rational?
Furthermore, you couldn't assume that just because Madara accidentally eliminated one clansman, he no longer cared about Uchiha clan members.
The current Madara was still the Uchiha clan leader. Certain responsibilities would still drive him to make certain decisions... Madara abandoning the Uchiha, no longer burdened by the clan name, was a gradual process. His attitude toward the Uchiha couldn't possibly flip 180 degrees overnight.
"No, why would Madara Uchiha surrender? This doesn't fit his character."
"Cyclical disillusionment. For Madara Uchiha, Hashirama is probably the only person worth surrendering to?"
If Madara were a normal person, a normal clan leader, then facing the reality that almost his entire clan was in enemy hands, he truly had no choice but surrender.
The problem was—was Madara a normal person? Tobirama had always considered Madara obsessed, so his understanding was somewhat one-sided. He hadn't expected that even obsessed people had normal sides.
"I mean... no, if only I'd known..."
If only you hadn't interfered with big brother Hashirama's determination and resolve, right?
But the world is fair—Madara Uchiha can't buy regret medicine, and Tobirama Senju equally can't buy regret medicine.
"Tobirama, is there a possibility that... mm, comprehensively speaking, Madara Uchiha's surrender is actually a good thing? Next, when you inform everyone about this, everyone will definitely have soaring morale and greater faith in the new ninja village's future."
Yūshin naturally felt Madara moving closer to Hashirama was a good thing. Perhaps he could bring out the Hashirama cell research project... He actually knew that wanting to completely ignore affairs after Konoha's establishment was somewhat unrealistic, so he'd long ago chosen a quite symbolic but powerless position for himself.
"Turning a funeral into a celebration? No, precisely because the funeral didn't happen, there's nothing to celebrate..."
"Don't lose heart either. Consider Madara's personality—his 'condescending' surrender is just a helpless measure. Who knows, maybe someday he'll rebel."
Yūshin thought Tobirama was somewhat mentally unbalanced, even saying things like "turning funerals into celebrations"... In fact, Madara Uchiha, such a symbolic figure, surrendering to the Senju alliance was definitely a good thing, even extraordinarily significant.
"Rebellion..."
These two words made Tobirama suddenly stop in his tracks.
"Mm, rebellion."
Yūshin repeated.
Put it this way: suppose Madara Uchiha was a little fairy, and one day the world suffered disaster, leaving only one honest man alive. At this point, based on certain subjective and objective reasons, he'd have to combine with this honest man—not for anything else, because the honest man was his only choice.
But afterward?
He'd definitely feel increasingly wronged. When it really came time for business, what would he say?
He'd say "Sorry, I still refuse."
Well, actually Yūshin also had narrow prejudices against Madara Uchiha—he must have been infected by Tobirama Senju, becoming black from proximity to ink.
Who knows which sentence touched Tobirama's nerves, but his emotions gradually calmed down.
The thirty-minute period quickly passed, and the meeting resumed.
After Tobirama regained rationality, he indeed began "turning the funeral into a celebration." He told everyone:
"Just now I received good news. After conducting confirmation and learning it's basically accurate, I'm now synchronizing it with everyone... The most stubborn resistance element within the Land of Fire's borders, Madara Uchiha of the Uchiha Clan, has surrendered to us."
Tobirama silently thought it was a pity—big brother and Madara Uchiha's third great battle ultimately didn't happen. If it had...
Not considering his personal feelings, this news was indeed a strong stimulant for everyone present.
Even Madara Uchiha had surrendered—what more was there to say? This proved everyone had foresight and wisdom. Joining the alliance was the most correct decision, and the new ninja village's prospects were even brighter.
This was a ninja village founding conference, so everyone's speeches became increasingly active.
After much discussion, finally a minor clan leader discovered a certain blind spot.
"Everyone, since it's a one country, one village system, the Land of Fire's military forces are controlled by the new ninja village—but what about the Land of Fire's political situation? Which daimyo should lead?"
This was a key question, because he'd found the crux of the problem.
At this moment, Yūshin, who'd been acting as a human puppet, finally spoke for the first time in the meeting room:
"Cough, regarding this question, I definitely support Lord Shimizu of the Land of the River Source."
"Everyone, as long as you can maintain rationality without preset positions, you'll definitely understand that Lord Shimizu is more suitable for leading the Land of Fire's political situation... If you've met Lord Shimizu and other daimyo, and your judgment is normal, you'll support Lord Shimizu."
At this point, what else could Yūshin do? He could only maintain warmth to the end.
"Lord Shimizu, the Land of the River Source's Lord Shimizu... Indeed a capable daimyo."
"Yes, during the critical war period, it was the Land of the River Source that supported us."
"Not only that—recently this daimyo personally rushed to the front lines. Quite courageous."
"Those are all past matters, unimportant. More important is the new ninja village's future... Do you know how high the Fireflies organization's military budget was as a percentage of the Land of the River Source's finances?"
"How high?"
"Frighteningly high. I heard..."
Yūshin rarely entered to steer the narrative, but once he did, he could definitely make the rhythm fly everywhere.
At this point Tobirama was getting restless. He glanced at Yūshin with peripheral vision, thinking: you little bastard actually backstabbed me so blatantly.
Just moments ago everyone was happily criticizing Madara Uchiha together—how did both sides suddenly become opposed?
"No, I think Lord Enshi is more suitable. Although Lord Shimizu performed the righteous act of providing help in snow, Lord Enshi's long-term persistent support is more precious."
Tobirama immediately spoke, trying to pull the topic and everyone's inclinations back.
The Senju Clan had to support Lord Enshi. In fact, Lord Shimizu's previous courting actions toward the Senju weren't to make the Senju switch allegiances, but just to ensure the Senju wouldn't oppose him... Once he became the Land of Fire's daimyo, the Senju Clan wouldn't express opposition. Lord Shimizu's goals were very practical.
However, his words were pale and powerless. Lord Shimizu's timely assistance targeted all alliance ninja clans, while Lord Enshi's persistent support only targeted the Senju Clan.
Lord Enshi? Really unfamiliar.
"Eh, seems like there's a bit of disagreement."
Compared to the somewhat anxious Tobirama, Yūshin's tone remained unhurried.
"We can try to resolve this small disagreement. This can actually be considered a trial run of the ninja village's decision-making mechanism."
Yūshin immediately put on a label, binding this matter with the ninja village's fair decision-making ability and disagreement resolution capability. If this wasn't handled well, how could everyone believe the ninja village could handle affairs fairly in the future?
"Actually, facing such situations, the solution is quite simple—nothing more than synthesizing everyone's opinions, minority obeying majority... Everyone can vote to select their preferred daimyo."
"We can vote by ninja clan units, or one ninja one vote... Oh, for fairness, if voting by ninja clan units, small ninja clans get one vote, large ninja clans can have two, three, or even five votes."
"What do you think of my suggestion?"
"I object!"
Tobirama Senju's tone was quite high, but Yūshin had already seized meeting leadership. Was shouting loudly useful? Having reason doesn't depend on volume, understand?
At this point Tobirama's teeth were nearly grinding to pieces. He wished he could directly drag Yūshin out for a duel... Family, who understands? Political infighting is too dark.
(Hot and cold alternating, seasonal cold, feverish—today's writing was entirely subconscious. Sorry, everyone please bear with it...)
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