Tobirama Senju found that being a "brat" was incredibly therapeutic.
In his past life, he always had to maintain the dignity of a teacher and the
gravity of a Kage. Even when he wanted to rip into Danzo for being an idiot, he
had to do it with a certain level of decorum.
Plus, Danzo had been a master of "malicious compliance." Back then, every ti
Tobirama criticized him, Danzo would bow so low his head hit the floor and act
as if he were transcribing Tobirama's words into a holy scripture—only to go out
and do exactly what he wanted anyway.
But now? The rules had changed.
Tobirama's Two-Tomoe Sharingan spun lazily as he scanned Danzo's body.
"The chakra flow around your eyes is perfectly rhythmic. You aren't injured,"
Tobirama noted, his voice flat and clinical.
"So why the bandages? Is this so pathetic attempt at visual theater? Are you
trying to signal to the world that you're a martyr for the state?"
"It's interesting. I t a moron in the Grass Village who loved playing dress-up
just like you," Tobirama continued his verbal blitz. "He was stupid, too. His
stupidity eventually got him killed."
Danzo didn't retaliate imdiately. He couldn't. He was paralyzed by the sheer
audacity of the child. It had been decades since anyone in Konoha had spoken to
him with such naked contempt. Usually, only Hiruzen dared to mock him, and even
then, they shared the bond of teammates.
Is this Uchiha brat... not afraid of ? Danzo wondered, his brain stalling.
Behind him, Isshin and Fugaku stood frozen. The Uchiha elites who had co to
"rescue" their lost kinsman felt a sudden, sharp surge of kinship.
This kid is arrogant, rude, and has a mouth like a razor, Fugaku thought. He's
perfect! He's exactly what an Uchiha should be!
Usually, seeing a clan mber pick a fight with the Anbu Commander would be a
source of anxiety. But seeing this teenager "face-tank" the Darkness of the Leaf
while rocking a Two-Tomoe Sharingan made the Uchiha elders feel like they were
watching a highlight reel of their ancestors.
Is this part of your plan, Master? Hiruzen wondered, standing behind Danzo and
watching the scene like a silent spectator.
He had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. If any other
Uchiha had said this, the village would be on the brink of a civil war. But
"Uchiha Tobirama" was a refugee. He didn't know who Danzo was. He was just a
traumatized kid reacting to a "creepy mummy." It was a perfect tactical cover.
"Listen here, brat!" Danzo finally snapped, his voice a low, vibrating growl. He
was only holding back because he could feel Hiruzen's presence behind him.
"I am the Hokage's Assistant and the Commander of the Anbu!"
Tobirama tilted his head, his expression shifting to one of genuine, scientific
curiosity. "What exactly is a 'Hokage's Assistant'?"
"A Hokage is a Sovereign. Why would a Sovereign need a 'Half-Kage' tag-along? Do
we have Advisors? Yes? Then your title is redundant. It sounds like you invented
a rank just to feel superior to the other bureaucrats."
"And you don't look like a Kage. You look like a failure of a ninja who forgot
how to dodge a kunai. If you were the leader of this village, I would have
stayed in the Grass."
The silence that followed was heavy enough to crush a building.
The Uchiha honor guard was having a collective spiritual awakening. He said it!
He actually said it! They had been thinking the sa thing about Danzo for
years, but no one had the spine to say it to his face.
"You—! You'll regret those words!" Danzo's fists clenched, his killing intent
flaring. In the old days of the Root, he would have kidnapped this kid by
nightfall and had his tongue removed by morning.
"Danzo, calm down. Why are you picking a fight with a child?" Hiruzen stepped
forward, placing a steadying hand on Danzo's shoulder.
"The boy is a survivor. He doesn't know our customs. He's just speaking his
mind," Hiruzen said with a "kindly grandfather" smile.
"Master Tobirama once said that the village must be big enough to hold the
hearts of those who don't yet understand the Will of Fire. We have to show them
the warmth of the Leaf, not the edge of our blades."
Danzo blinked, looking at Hiruzen with suspicion. Did the Master say that? I
don't rember that lecture...
Wait, did Hiruzen get a private tutoring session I missed?
Tobirama, hearing his own na used to justify Hiruzen's "Soft Power" tactics,
felt a twinge of irony. I never said that, Saru. You're a natural-born liar.
"And Lord Hashirama," Hiruzen added, doubling down on the "Kage-quotes" tactic,
"spent years patiently negotiating with the clans to build this ho. You can't
just bark orders at a boy and expect him to bow. You have to earn his respect,
Danzo. Be more like the First—gentle, kind, and approachable."
Danzo looked at Hiruzen, then at his own bandaged reflection in a nearby window.
How can I be 'approachable' when you've assigned to be the 'Darkness'? Danzo
fud. You have the monopoly on the Senju brothers' legacies! You use Hashirama
to look like a saint and Tobirama to justify your rules! It's a total rhetorical
lockdown!
"Fine. I won't argue with ghosts," Danzo grumbled, conceding the point. He
realized that as long as Hiruzen held the "Historical Interpretation Rights" of
the previous Kage, Danzo would always lose a debate.
"Lord Hokage, I apologize for the intrusion!" Isshin Uchiha stepped forward,
seeing an opening.
He needed to get this "Blessed Son" into the compound before Danzo found a way
to "disappear" him.
"The boy is clearly confused and traumatized. The Uchiha clan will take full
responsibility for his rehabilitation! We wish to bring him ho so he can feel
the love of his true kin. It will save the village the administrative burden of
housing him."
Isshin offered a shallow bow. "We only wish to help the Hokage. You've done so
much for us already; let us handle our own orphans."
Danzo's eyes narrowed. "Help? Since when does the Uchiha help the
administration?"
"And since when do you 'rehabilitate' anyone? You just want to hoard a new
genius for your own 'internal security' reasons!"
"How dare you!" Isshin shot back. "This is a family matter! Are you suggesting
the Anbu has a right to steal Uchiha children?"
"If those children are a threat to national security, then YES!"
The two elders began to close the distance, the air between them crackling with
decades of mutual hatred. The Uchiha Three-Tomoe users shifted their weight,
their hands moving toward their pouches.
The situation was spiraling toward a "Face-Off."
BOOM—!
A sudden, violent explosion of chakra erupted from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
It wasn't a technique. It was just Raw Output.
The pressure hit the clearing like a physical tidal wave, kicking up a storm of
dust and causing the ground to split into deep, jagged fissures. The force was
so great that Shio Uzumaki was knocked back several feet, and even the
Three-Tomoe Uchiha had to brace themselves to keep from falling.
The argunt stopped instantly.
"Hah... my apologies. My apologies," Hiruzen said, scratching the back of his
head with a sheepish, "oops" expression.
"I'm getting old. I was just pondering the next stage of my Modified Yin
Seal—how to release the stored chakra at 100% output for a combat buff—and I
lost my focus. I didn't an to waste so much energy."
The lie was blatant, but the effect was terrifying.
Hiruzen was signaling that even his "accidental" leak was enough to crush
everyone in the room. He was the "God of Shinobi," and he was reminding them
that while they played at politics, he played with the laws of nature.
"Lord Hokage... your mastery of the 'Professor's' arts is truly peerless,"
Isshin stamred, his bravado vanishing. His chakra... it's denser than it was
last month. He's still growing?!
"Don't worry about it, Isshin," Hiruzen said, patting the Uchiha's shoulder.
"But Danzo is right about one thing: the schedules must be maintained."
"Today was an 'incident.' Tomorrow, it becos a 'pattern.' I trust the Police
Force will return to their posts imdiately? We wouldn't want the village to
think the Uchiha are more interested in a single boy than the safety of ten
thousand citizens."
Isshin snapped to attention. "Of course, Lord Hokage! I will file a formal
self-reflection report by morning! The Police Force will not fail you!"
He knew a "Kage-level" warning when he heard one. Hiruzen wasn't yelling, but
the threat was clear: Stay in your lane, or I'll find soone who will.
"And Danzo," Hiruzen added, "take those bandages off. You aren't a mummy. If
your eye is healed, show it to the world. A leader shouldn't hide behind props."
Danzo lowered his head, his face a mask of frustration. "Yes... Lord Hokage."
Tobirama watched his student from the shadows of his ssy hair.
Saru has mastered the 'Hashirama Act' perfectly, Tobirama noted. The 'Clumsy
Powerhouse' routine. It's a total sham, but it works brilliantly. He's
effectively cast a village-scale Genjutsu on everyone's expectations.
But his chakra... Tobirama's Sharingan flared. It's nearly at my pri level.
How is a human body evolving this late in life?
The Second Hokage felt a surge of competitive fire. I can't let my own student
out-grind . If his potential is expanding, then as an Uchiha-Senju hybrid,
mine should be infinite.
Hiruzen turned back to the "Uchiha boy."
"Now then, young man. How about we find you a place to stay? As Hokage, I'll
take personal responsibility for your housing while you decide your future. Do
you agree?"
Tobirama gave a slow, stoic nod.
Internally, he was cringing. Being "pity-housed" by his own student was a new
low. But the ga had to be played.
"I accept... Lord Hokage."
☆☆☆
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