Tōshirō nodded in acknowledgment: "That's a long story."
Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled for a moment: "I remember Jiraiya seemed quite fond of Tsunade, didn't he? He was always clamoring to pursue her, yet Tsunade couldn't even be bothered to glance at him. I never expected you'd be the one to win her over."
Tōshirō gave an awkward smile: "Well, you know, keep the good stuff in the family."
"More like stealing someone's love, wouldn't you say?" Hiruzen chuckled teasingly before shifting the topic. "How did Jiraiya react when he heard the news?"
Tōshirō replied, "I imagine he had a hard time accepting it at first, but he gradually came to terms with it."
"Oh? That's a relief. I was worried he might make a scene." Hiruzen smiled faintly. "That disciple of mine really knows how to make people worry. But why are you telling me all this?"
Tōshirō saw through Hiruzen's act: "Lord Hokage, don't play dumb. You already knew, didn't you? When Tsunade came to visit me, the ANBU monitoring me to prevent a tailed beast rampage must have reported this to you."
A romance between an Uchiha and a Senju was significant enough to draw the village's attention—especially when the other party was the granddaughter of the First Hokage, a figure of unique political importance.
Hiruzen didn't deny it: "Ah, you caught me."
Tōshirō smirked slightly: "I'm not stupid, you know."
"But what does this have to do with you telling me that the two of you are dating? As the Hokage, I oversee many aspects of the village, but I hardly think I need to meddle in matters of the heart."
Tōshirō frowned: "How should I put this… Lord Hokage, you're aware of the history between our clans, right?"
Hiruzen understood his implication: "You want me to say something about it?"
Tōshirō clasped his hands together, adopting a childlike earnestness: "Please."
Hiruzen's lips curled into a bitter smile: "Even if I'm the Hokage, there's only so much I can do about something like this."
"Tch…" Tōshirō's expression darkened.
Hiruzen left some room for negotiation: "But I can at least offer you some advice."
Tōshirō's eyes lit up: "Lord Hokage, please tell me. I'm all ears."
Hiruzen laid out two suggestions: "First, you need to gain control over the tailed beast's power as soon as possible and contribute to the village in the war. That way, the villagers will recognize your worth, and no one will object to your relationship. Second, keep your relationship under wraps for now to avoid unnecessary complications."
Tōshirō found his words reasonable and thanked him: "That makes sense. Lord Hokage, you're truly a great man."
"It's nothing. If there's nothing else, you should head over to your assignment now." Hiruzen smiled warmly, dropping a hint: "I imagine the people there are growing impatient."
"People there?" Tōshirō blinked. "Who?"
Hiruzen grinned mysteriously: "You'll see when you get there."
"Alright then…" Tōshirō bowed deeply, his eyes glinting with a subtle cunning.
Lay low for a few years, fully master the tailed beast's power, and then I won't have to tread so carefully anymore.
As he watched Tōshirō leave the room in high spirits, the warmth in Hiruzen's eyes faded, replaced by a shadowy depth.
His earlier advice hadn't been out of genuine concern for the couple—it was simply pragmatic. Even if he hadn't spoken up, Tōshirō would've figured it out eventually. Better to play along and earn some goodwill.
Besides, with tensions running high, Tōshirō and his tailed beast's power were indispensable assets.
...
After leaving the Hokage's office, Tōshirō followed an attendant, lost in thought.
First, he analyzed Uchiha Madara's motives for sealing the tailed beast inside him.
He thought I was weak, so he gave me a tailed beast to strengthen me. As for the Mangekyō Sharingan, overusing it would just strain my eyes. In this era, there's no White Zetsu cells to mitigate the side effects.
To deepen my bond with Tsunade, making the eventual betrayal more devastating.
To be determined…
Having sorted that out, Tōshirō turned his attention to countering Uchiha Madara's schemes.
In the original story, Madara's plan was to kidnap Rin during the war and manipulate Obito into witnessing her death, triggering his rampage.
That template could easily apply to Tōshirō's situation.
The key elements of the plan were:
Capture Tsunade first.
Ensure Tōshirō witnesses her death.
To prevent this, Tōshirō just needed to cut off these two points.
Since he had only recently become a jinchūriki, the village wouldn't send him into battle yet—too much risk of the tailed beast going berserk. In other words, Tsunade was safe for now.
But once he gained control over the tailed beast's power and was deployed to the front lines, he'd have to be wary. Madara would make his move, abducting and killing Tsunade.
The best way to avoid this was to stay off the battlefield—but that was impossible.
It wasn't just about whether the village would allow it. He could only delay his deployment for so long. Who knew if Madara would grow impatient and switch to a different plan?
If that happened, Tōshirō would lose his informational advantage, leaving him vulnerable.
Deploy too early, and he'd be powerless against Madara. Deploy too late, and Madara might alter his strategy.
Just as Tōshirō was racking his brain over this dilemma, the Five-Tails inside him stirred, unable to stay silent any longer:
"Hey, Tōshirō, you're quite the liar, aren't you? You've got the Sharingan, yet you hid it from that human. He seemed pretty decent to you, didn't he?"
Tōshirō replied inwardly, "Don't let his appearance fool you. He's not as kind as he looks."
Since extracting the tailed beast would kill the host, Tōshirō had no reason to hide anything from the Five-Tails.
The Five-Tails understood: "So he's a hypocrite, huh?"
"Not exactly. He's just… complicated. Hard to explain in a few words. And hiding my Sharingan isn't just about distrust—it's self-preservation."
"Self-preservation?"
The Five-Tails grew intrigued: "Someone in the village wants you dead?"
"In a way, yes…"
Tōshirō knew that if his Sharingan were exposed, figures like Danzō wouldn't tolerate a jinchūriki with both the Sharingan and a tailed beast's power.
The Five-Tails pieced it together: "Because of the Sharingan?"
"The Sharingan's power is too coveted. Countless people would kill for these eyes. I'm sure you can relate."
Hearing this, the Five-Tails resonated with the sentiment. Throughout history, humans had sought to capture it for its immense chakra. It felt a newfound kinship with Tōshirō.
Tōshirō sighed: "Most people are too complicated. Sometimes, I'd rather talk to a dog—at least I can speak my mind without fear of betrayal."
For once, the Five-Tails didn't snap back, instead agreeing: "Fair point…"
Tōshirō grinned: "Right?"
Suddenly, the Five-Tails' train of thought took a sharp turn: "Wait a minute… Are you calling me a dog in your mind?"
Tōshirō laughed it off: "Don't overthink it. In my eyes, you're way better than a dog. Dogs need food and bathroom breaks—you don't."
"Well… I guess that's true." The Five-Tails huffed, sensing an insult but lacking proof.
As Tōshirō watched the Five-Tails sulk, an idea struck him.
Now I know how to stop Madara from killing Tsunade.
(End of Chapter)
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