Then Hashirama asked:
"By the way, now that Konoha is under your control, what kind of reforms are you planning? Where will you start?"
Uchiha Yu replied:
"More than anything else, what you want right now is to stall me with small talk, just to buy the remnants of Konoha's clans a little more time to escape, isn't it?"
"You saw through that too? Can you actually read our thoughts in this space?"
Hashirama grinned sheepishly.
Tobirama's expression remained unchanged; he had no intention of indulging in such pointless chatter.
"No, I can't." Yu continued, "But if you fled with the survivors of Konoha, I can guess what you'd do next. Most likely, you'd make Tsunade the new Hokage, wouldn't you?"
"…" Tobirama's expression shifted slightly.
That was indeed their last resort. Rebuilding Konoha would be almost impossible, but with the power of the Nine-Tails, the remaining clans, and Tsunade's leadership, the survivors of Konoha could still carve out a place in the shinobi world.
Yu went on:
"Don't worry. I promised I'd let Tsunade become Hokage of the remnants of the old Konoha, and I'll keep that promise. But before that, the new Konoha will need her to do a few things for me."
Both Tobirama and Hashirama's faces changed at once. Yu's words had struck straight at their intentions.
They had only considered making Tsunade Hokage if she was still free of his control.
But if Tsunade, already under Uchiha Yu's genjutsu, were made the leader of Konoha's survivors, then all of Konoha's remaining strength would essentially fall into Uchiha hands.
This was a cruelty worse than killing them outright!
"When did you take control of Tsunade?" Tobirama could no longer hold back his thoughts, demanding coldly.
"A long time ago," Yu answered.
The next instant—
A brilliant light illuminated the entire dark space. The radiance was blinding, forcing Hashirama and Tobirama to squint and raise their hands to shield their eyes.
This was another authority Yu had uncovered within the sealed prison space—the ability to manipulate vision and hearing.
He could allow those trapped spirits inside to see and hear, projecting his own perspective so they could observe the outside world around him.
"Tsunade! Tsunade!"
Hashirama, seeing her following behind Yu, shouted loudly—but Tsunade gave no response.
"Big brother, don't bother. Tsunade and the others can't hear us," Tobirama reminded.
"Huu—"
Yu exhaled a slow breath, withdrawing the spiritual power he had poured into the Spacetime Sealing Prison, cutting off the brothers' connection to the outside.
Sunlight pierced through the leaves, spilling across the forest floor. Dust drifted in the air, mingling with the scent of earth and greenery.
As the war came to a close, the storm clouds that had loomed over Konoha gradually began to scatter.
The colossal, orange-red Susanoo towered motionless in the forest, like a guardian deity of the earth. Golden sunlight reflected off its armor, scattering in dazzling rays that lent it an almost divine majesty.
Tsunade glanced back repeatedly.
Just moments ago, she, Shizune, and Tonton had watched with their own eyes as Hashirama and Tobirama crumbled into scraps of paper, vanishing without a trace.
"Where did you send them?" Tsunade asked in astonishment.
After spending so much time around Yu, she knew he wasn't the type to stall or do things halfway.
But the way he had agreed to spare her grandfather and great-uncle so quickly—it felt far too dreamlike.
She hadn't seen the battles herself, but if her grandfather and Tobirama had been in the retreating ranks of Konoha, it could only mean that they had been the ones leading the resistance against the Uchiha.
Tsunade could not believe Uchiha Yu would truly let them go so easily.
Yu replied casually:
"I sent them where they belong. I'd guess they're quite happy right now."
"Happy?"
Tsunade's expression turned strange, her worry for her two grandfathers growing deeper.
Uchiha Yu didn't respond to her. He flipped his right hand and pulled out a vial of green medicine from his storage space, downing it in one gulp to restore his condition.
Only one vial of green medicine remained in his storage, and the Light and Heavy Rock Technique empowered by his Complete-Body Susanoo was also beginning to fade.
At this moment, chasing after the scattered remnants of Konoha carried too many uncertainties. Without enough green medicine, Uchiha Yu didn't feel safe.
Before Tsunade could continue questioning him, Uchiha Yu manipulated her and Shizune, guiding them toward the Complete-Body Susanoo.
When they reached it, Uchiha Yu suddenly stopped, turning back to face Tsunade.
"When those Konoha shinobi who escaped settle down, they'll come to you. By then, it's very likely they'll recommend you as their new Hokage."
Tsunade's beautiful eyes trembled, her teeth biting her lip as she fell into silence. Then she asked, "So… what do you plan to do with them?"
"I want you to become their Hokage," Uchiha Yu said calmly, meeting her gaze.
Both Tsunade and Shizune froze in place, staring at Uchiha Yu in disbelief.
"Don't agree, Tsuna! Don't agree!" Hashirama shouted desperately.
"Sigh…" Tobirama lowered his head and let out a long sigh.
If Tsunade, under genjutsu control, became the Hokage of Konoha's surviving forces, then all of their previous efforts would have been in vain.
"I can't agree to this."
Tsunade's eyes widened, fully realizing Uchiha Yu's scheme.
She might not have much luck with gambling, but she wasn't stupid.
The remnants of Konoha didn't know she was under Uchiha Yu's control. If she became their Hokage, Konoha would be destroyed even more thoroughly.
"Yes, that's it! Refuse him, Tsuna, you are your grandfather's pride!" Hashirama's face lit up with joy.
But before his happiness could grow, Uchiha Yu spoke again:
"I'll give you two choices: become the Hokage of the old Konoha, or I'll use you and the Susanoo under my control to hunt them down. Either way, I'll take back the resources they can't protect."
Hashirama's smile slowly froze. He muttered, "Tobirama… you were right. There's not a single good person among the Uchiha."
Tobirama shot him a cold glance, silently saying: You finally get it now?
"Release your genjutsu. I'll chase them myself." Tsunade's face turned ashen as she locked eyes with Uchiha Yu.
If she refused the first option, Uchiha Yu truly would take her and slaughter Konoha's fleeing shinobi. How many would survive then would be up to fate.
Tsunade couldn't gamble. She couldn't afford to gamble—especially not with the lives of her comrades.
"Let's return to Konoha. The new Konoha needs you now as well."
Uchiha Yu shifted his gaze away from her, satisfied with her decision.
He was already looking forward to the day when the remnants of the old Konoha settled in the Land of Fire's capital, only to discover that their Hokage had long since become his pawn…
°°°
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