Shisui stared unblinkingly at Tobirama.
People often said that the Uchiha Clan produced handsome men and beautiful women in abundance, and that was not false.
Conversely, those red-eyed individuals with generally high looks were also, almost without exception, "appearance lovers."
They were naturally more fond of beautiful things.
Tobirama's current appearance clearly fit Shisui's aesthetic extremely well.
In a certain sense, part of the Three-Tomoe users' favorable impression of Tobirama came from this. Even Uchiha En was quietly muttering: "This kid looks like the young clan leader, but somehow he feels even better-looking than the young clan leader was in his youth?"
"A bit more heroic…"
Which caused another senior Uchiha to glare fiercely at Uchiha En.
How could he talk like that?
Even if it was the truth, some things simply could not be said out loud—that would be disrespectful to the young clan leader!
Hiruzen took the entire scene in and smiled faintly.
One could only say that his teacher was truly the number one action figure of the shinobi world, the king of disguise suits…
When it came to Uchiha aesthetics, he had indeed grasped them perfectly.
"This big brother… I feel like I've seen this big brother somewhere before…"
Shisui could not help but step forward a few paces and muttered: "Have we met before?"
The moment those words came out, the atmosphere instantly filled with cheerful laughter.
Of course, Danzō still had a dark expression on his face…
"Every time you see a handsome big brother, you say you've seen him before? Shisui, not only are you talented—you're quite clever too…"
Fugaku laughed loudly as he teased Shisui: "In the future, go visit my son Itachi more often and see whether you've met that little brother of yours before."
Shisui immediately blushed red.
"That's not it! Fugaku-sama, please don't say it like that! I really—"
Hiruzen's expression also turned somewhat subtle.
So the Uchiha drama queen had arrived, huh?
Tobirama looked at Shisui and nodded in satisfaction, a trace of genuine gentleness appearing in his eyes rather than a disguise.
As for why…
Naturally, it was because Shisui was a descendant of Uchiha Kagami.
Back then, Kagami had been a member of his guard squad and was practically no different from an officially accepted disciple.
He had gone through life-and-death battles alongside Tobirama for many years, truly shedding blood and risking his life for the village.
In this life, being able to become the elder brother of his descendant felt like a very good kind of fate to Tobirama.
Because of that, Tobirama was quite satisfied with Hiruzen's arrangement.
And Hiruzen also noticed Tobirama's expression and secretly nodded.
Although Tobirama's current identity was an orphaned Uchiha from Kusagakure…
He was still his teacher, the Second Hokage.
Reviving him counted as Hiruzen repaying the side of Tobirama that had once benefited him…
But back then, the man had also stayed behind to cover his retreat, painstakingly taught him a full set of ninjutsu, and even handed the position of Hokage over to him…
Moreover, Hiruzen would still need Tobirama to work for him in the future!
Fortifying the Uchiha, researching all kinds of ninjutsu and technology, uniting the ninja clans, and certainly also going to the battlefield…
It could be said that he would be holding several posts at once.
As for things he was unwilling to do, there was no need to force him.
For example, making him become Danzō's disciple or something like that…
After all, Hiruzen was a Hokage who prided himself on being fair and decent.
Naturally, he had to be even more fair and decent to his own teacher.
"Come here. Let me have a look at you…" Tobirama said with a smile as he waved to Shisui, his bearing proud yet not off-putting.
Shisui was stunned.
Why did this older brother of his feel so imposing in every gesture and movement…?
He looked only a few years older than him, yet even the teachers at the Ninja Academy did not have this kind of approachability!
"Okay…" Although Shisui was thinking many things in his mind, he still obediently stepped forward.
"Would you be willing to be my younger brother? Your name is Shisui, right?"
Tobirama's double tomoe rotated slowly, lending that heroic face of his an oddly enchanting air: "From now on, I'll protect you—as your older brother."
Shisui's face instantly flushed completely red, and he nodded repeatedly.
"I'm willing! I'll protect you too, brother…"
Hiruzen looked at this scene in slight shock.
No, teacher…
You're a middle-aged man in your fifties—why are you suddenly pulling the whole blushing-during-eye-contact routine?
Is this really right?!
At that moment, Hiruzen suddenly realized a problem.
For some people, once they put on a mask, they might no longer be able to take it off…
But for some people, putting on a mask instead meant taking off the mask, allowing them to show a side of themselves that had previously been inconvenient to reveal…
For example, a certain inherently evil Second Hokage.
Hiruzen suddenly thought that, strictly speaking, Tobirama could also be counted as something of a "brother lover"?
Among the not-so-many memories he had, he could still recall quite a few scenes of Tobirama shouting "Brother!" at Hashirama…
Had he spent so long being the younger brother that now he also wanted a turn at being a mature, invincible big brother?
Hiruzen had a great many complaints he wanted to voice in his heart.
But there was no helping it. This was something he could not share with others and could only digest silently by himself…
"What an utterly evil little brat. He's dangerous, Hiruzen!" Danzō soundlessly walked to Hiruzen's side and lowered his voice as he spoke to him: "Look at that kind of affinity—Uchiha Shisui can't resist it at all…"
"I'm not trying to scare you, Hiruzen! Put on a larger scale, this is Kage-level affinity…"
"And this little brat is clearly a hawk at first glance. If he unites the Uchiha in the future, what are we supposed to do?"
Danzō gritted his teeth.
Hiruzen took a deep breath and controlled his facial muscles, even using chakra.
It had to be said that this old friend of his really was very accurate at judging people.
No wonder he had worked so deeply in intelligence and seen so much…
Kage-like affinity, hawkish, uniting the Uchiha—he was right about all three, and every one of them was on point…
It was just that the root of it was crooked.
"Don't think so much about it, Danzō."
"He's just a little kid. Besides, isn't there still you?"
"Pay a bit more attention to it. Sorry to trouble you," Hiruzen said softly to Danzō.
"However, you absolutely must mind the consequences. You must never use the old methods again, or if something goes wrong, I won't be able to help you!"
Those words came from the bottom of his heart.
Even setting aside the procedures and institutionalization that Konoha was now emphasizing, even in the past, if Danzō had used those things from Root on Tobirama…
even if it had not succeeded, Hiruzen really would have had no choice but to "tearfully execute Danzō"!
Otherwise, there would have been no way to explain it…
Tobirama's standing was visibly far higher than Danzō's.
"I understand, Hiruzen."
"I'll monitor that kid. If there's a suitable opportunity, I'll also imprint my will onto him," Danzō said, even thanking Hiruzen.
He even sounded a little dissatisfied.
"Besides, he's just a kid. Do you really think I wouldn't be able to handle him?"
"Saying 'sorry for the trouble' is unnecessary, Hiruzen…"
Hiruzen smiled and expressed his apology.
If Danzō knew that the person he was planning to deal with was his teacher, he might very well faint from anger…
It would be like a believer trying to deal with a god.
But the gentle Hokage would keep that fact buried forever…
Off to the side, Uzumaki Shio silently clenched her fists.
Was there something wrong with the Uchiha Clan?
They seemed to have no interest in women at all, yet they cared so much about this whole older-brother–younger-brother business?
'Senju Tobirama's' attitude toward her and toward Shisui was completely different.
But there was nothing that could be done about it.
In Tobirama's thinking, Shio was already a tool that had finished serving its purpose.
Although she was a member of the Uzumaki Clan, hadn't he already protected her?
That settled things between them.
But Shisui was different. He was the descendant of an old comrade, and moreover the key and foundation for him to enter the Uchiha Clan.
The two were simply not comparable.
"You really are quite popular, kid. Make sure you live well in Konoha from now on…" Hiruzen noticed Uzumaki Shio's unusual reaction and teased: "Don't become a heartless person. Treat others well. If there's something to say, it's best to say it clearly in time."
And this was also Hiruzen's "revenge" across time.
Back then, Tobirama himself had neither married nor had children, yet he constantly urged the ninjas under him to get married, asking about it whenever he had the chance.
It had made Hiruzen and the others miserable.
Interestingly, in this matter the only one who actually listened to him was Hiruzen, who got married early.
Danzō and the others all remained single until the end of their lives, paying tribute to their teacher…
Although the current Hiruzen could understand Tobirama's way of thinking back then.
He himself had become the same.
After sitting in the Hokage's seat, the angle from which one considered problems inevitably became more macro.
Population was very important for a hidden village—it was the village's foundation.
Even if a genius could fight a hundred alone, geniuses still had to be produced from a sufficiently large base.
Tobirama frowned, feeling confused for the first time.
Hiruzen… what exactly are you talking about?
Following Hiruzen's sidelong glance, Tobirama noticed Shio and casually nodded.
Just as Shio excitedly responded, she saw Tobirama turn his head back again, and her whole body stiffened.
That was far too decisive…
'If you want to win over my sensei, young lady, I'm afraid it won't be easy.'
'If my sensei is willing to experience a new life, I certainly won't oppose it—but when it comes to arranging his romantic matches, I can't help anyone with that…'
Hiruzen thought to himself.
Dating, having children, and the like—Hiruzen would actually be happy to see Tobirama do such things.
And not just Tobirama. Anyone who worked earnestly for Konoha should have that right.
In essence, it was also part of the "salary" Hiruzen gave him.
Experiencing a new life, after all…
But that did not mean Hiruzen could force Tobirama into a relationship.
That would be going too far.
It would still depend on Shio—or perhaps someone else.
On this point, even the Hokage could not help.
"Since Shisui agrees, then it's settled…"
Hiruzen spoke: "Give yourself a name."
In truth, Hiruzen had even considered giving Tobirama the name "Uchiha Tobirama."
In the shinobi world, naming someone after a predecessor carried the meaning of paying tribute.
It expressed the hope that the younger generation would become someone like their predecessor…
But the name Tobirama was still a bit too extreme for the Uchiha. It really wasn't suitable…
If he actually became Senju Tobirama, that would be a disaster!
Tobirama paused for a moment, then nodded.
After thinking for a while, he slowly said: "Let it be 'Uchiha Seisui.'"
Isshin spoke up: "A good name…"
"The name 'Shisui' means water that calms the waves."
"'Seisui' means young, surging water."
"One still and one moving, complementing each other—the meaning is excellent! Shisui, it seems your brother Seisui already holds you in his heart…"
Isshin analyzed, warming up the atmosphere at the scene.
Since he could no longer stop Shisui and Seisui from being tied together, it would be better to show a cooperative attitude.
That way, it would also help increase the goodwill the two brothers felt toward him.
'Perhaps by taking advantage of this opportunity, with more contact, I might even pull both brothers into my camp!' Isshin fantasized.
Tobirama could not help glancing at Isshin.
This old fellow was rather cultured?
How had he not noticed this person before? It seemed that back then he had been careless and forgotten to suppress him!
Cultured Uchiha had always been the kind Tobirama was most wary of.
However, Isshin's interpretation was incorrect.
Of the two characters that make up the name Seisui…
The character for Sui represented Tobirama's previous life—it was his symbol.
The character Sei carried the meaning of "youthful and unfinished."
It represented that in this life, his war against the Uchiha Clan had entered a new stage.
"You're very learned… I hadn't even realized this name carried so many layers of meaning."
Tobirama said this with a smile. It seemed that after gaining a younger brother, his whole demeanor had become a bit livelier and more cheerful.
"I've only eaten a few more years of plain rice, that's all…"
Seeing Tobirama take the initiative to show goodwill, Isshin's spirits rose: "The future of the clan…"
"The future of the village still rests on young people like you two, Seisui and Shisui!"
Noticing that Hiruzen and Danzō were beside him, Isshin hurriedly included Konoha as well.
He had truly been frightened by Danzō, and Isshin always felt as though there were a pair of Byakugan watching him from behind.
"Hokage-sama, I have a request… could you let me serve as these two children's guardian?"
"Please rest assured, I will absolutely hold myself to the standards of the Will of Fire!" Isshin suddenly said.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, and Danzō's expression at the side also turned unpleasant.
How did this old fellow even dare to ask that?
"After all, you are the head of the Uchiha Clan. Taking care of the clan's youths is only proper."
A moment later, however, Hiruzen nodded and agreed. He paid no attention even when Danzō tugged at his sleeve.
But he then said: "The rest of you may leave first. Isshin, stay behind."
After everyone had left, Isshin and Hiruzen walked along a small path in the village, the two of them silent.
Only when they arrived beneath the Hokage Rock did Hiruzen slowly speak: "Isshin, do you think I failed to notice that child resembles Uchiha Izuna?"
"Not only does he resemble him, he also seems to possess a different kind of potential, doesn't he…?"
Isshin was greatly shocked, and his heart trembled.
Could it be that Uzumaki Shio had also spoken with Sarutobi Hiruzen?
That shouldn't be possible!
If Hiruzen knew, then how could he still allow Seisui to enter the Uchiha Clan?
"Isshin, do not underestimate the Hokage's intelligence network…" Hiruzen did not explain much. He merely gazed at the statues on the Hokage Rock and said calmly: "I allowed Seisui to join the Uchiha Clan because he is originally a member of the Uchiha Clan."
"A weary bird returns to its nest; fallen leaves return to their roots. That is only proper."
"I will not deliberately guard against or target him just because he belongs to the Uchiha Clan. Everyone is a companion of the village."
Hiruzen patted Isshin on the shoulder and lit a cigarette: "I hope you can understand my intention. Do not disappoint the Will of Fire. Go take care of your business…"
Isshin looked at Hiruzen blankly and subconsciously nodded, yet did not know what to say.
He was both shaken by how the Hokage's great hand seemed to cover everything… and felt that the man before him might truly be practicing the so-called "Will of Fire."
Following Hiruzen's gaze, Isshin looked ahead.
He saw the statue of Senju Hashirama, shining brilliantly under the sunlight, as though it had been coated in a layer of flames…
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