"Yūshin-sama, if you want to use an event to announce the village's founding, aren't there more suitable choices? Like forming alliances with the Senju Clan or Koizumi Clan," Nara Naoyuki offered tactful counsel. He didn't disagree with Yūshin's assessment, just felt it was perhaps too radical.
Those great clans have survived a thousand years for good reasons.
Yūshin shook his head:
"Alliance activities are too mundane—they lack the impact I'm seeking. Actually, I don't want to constantly deal with harassment from small and medium powers after establishing the village, so we need considerable deterrent force... A large-scale war is exactly what we need."
"Furthermore, we don't need allies right now—maintaining friendly relations with several major clans is sufficient... Allies mean binding ourselves together. We can travel light after shedding our burdens, so there's no need to get entangled in other clans' conflict systems."
The clan leaders exchanged glances, their meaning obvious.
It's revenge, isn't it?
Need you ask? Of course it's revenge.
From dawn to dusk, Yūshin-sama doesn't want to endure another moment.
What are you saying? Yūshin-sama has already endured for a long time.
"The Hagoromo Clan is indeed our enemy target, but considering their strength, shouldn't we develop for a while before acting? That would be more certain... If we're conducting external warfare, we could choose other targets."
Yamanaka Tokiya tried to pull Yūshin's thinking back on track. They weren't opposed to revenge against the Hagoromo Clan, just that considering the power balance, the Fireflies needed time to grow.
Given sufficient development time, the Fireflies would definitely surpass the Hagoromo Clan in strength—everyone present believed this firmly, or they wouldn't have joined the organization.
But even after gaining considerable power, warfare should be gradual and methodical. The idea of annihilating a major clan in one strike was extremely dangerous.
Take too big a step and you'll definitely pull something.
Yūshin continued shaking his head: "Others have no grudges with us—we have no reason to target them."
So if there are grudges, you'll fight to the death?
"Don't worry, I never act blindly, much less recklessly. The enemy-ally power disparity is enormous—I understand this better than you. However..."
"The Shinobi World's various forces are intricately complex. To eliminate a major clan, you don't necessarily need greater power than theirs. As long as you can learn to stir the pot... I mean, as long as you can learn to use others' strength against them, you can achieve tremendous results with minimal effort."
"The power capable of destroying the Hagoromo Clan has always existed—we just need to connect them... Our side acts as vanguard, and others will willingly serve as the main force."
Naoyuki immediately grasped the concept. Yūshin's idea did have certain feasibility, except the vanguard task of cracking open a major clan's shell wasn't so simple.
Moreover, how would Yūshin contact other clans and gain their trust? That was also problematic.
You can't just fleece one family after another—that's not easy either... Obviously, he remembered the Senju brothers still visiting their camp.
"Yūshin-sama, we can attempt it, but must be sufficiently careful and cautious."
"Don't worry—no one in this world is more cautious than me."
Yūshin only wanted to see the Hagoromo Clan die quickly. As for exactly how they died, that wasn't so important.
Since the Fireflies' establishment, they'd suffered their first and so far only large-scale attack. Many familiar, veteran figures who made important contributions to early organizational development were killed or wounded in large numbers. How could Yūshin possibly forget such a thing?
People can be magnanimous, but not about everything.
Given Yūshin's previously good reputation and his tendency to take risks without encountering danger, plus his current firm decision, everyone couldn't say much more.
They couldn't prevent it anyway—they could only help Yūshin identify gaps and fill holes.
After deciding the most important matter, the subsequent atmosphere became less serious as they began discussing village founding ceremony arrangements.
The establishment ceremony was set for three days later, when the camp's main buildings would be completed and presentable—not too shabby.
Preparation work officially began. The organization would invite the daimyo while requesting more material support, and also needed to send formal invitations to the Koizumi Clan—Retto could come discuss caravan trade matters with Lord Shimizu.
After the meeting ended, everyone departed to handle their own affairs. At minimum, they needed to select their clans' most capable ninja to join that thirty-member combat unit.
This concerned the organization's fighting capability, mutual trust levels, and internal resource allocation—no one wanted to lose face or handle it carelessly.
The situation was quite the opposite—this was currently their top priority.
Only Yūshin remained in the meeting room when someone climbed through the window... it was Sasuke Uchiha.
"You ignore doors and use windows—did someone prevent you from walking normally?" Yūshin looked somewhat speechlessly at his window-climbing behavior.
Actually, his earlier thoughts were correct. Shichimi summoning this person really was like dropping a huge problem. Yūshin currently had no idea how to handle him.
Given Sasuke's personality, he obviously wouldn't work for Yūshin—he was far too self-willed.
Or should he just eliminate Sasuke? Yūshin felt that would be wasteful—wouldn't that squander Shichimi's eye power?
Honestly, if Kakashi Hatake had been summoned instead, he'd be ten thousand times better than Sasuke, even twelve-year-old Kakashi... At least after understanding the situation, Kakashi would know what was correct and necessary.
Yes, for Konoha and peace, he'd naturally work diligently for Yūshin.
But Sasuke? He wouldn't think that way. However, he'd already found what he should do in this era.
"I don't know why you hate Tobirama Senju, but as you witnessed, don't attempt action in front of his brother—that equals suicide."
Yūshin continued pretending to be a native of this timeline. Regardless of his acting skills, Sasuke's thought processes were inherently problematic, and he basically wouldn't notice conversational partners' physical or emotional details. In front of him, even his idol brother's acting would have to be considered divine-level performance.
"For unknown reasons, after arriving in this timeline, I feel my chakra has been slightly weakened," Sasuke said expressionlessly.
Being stubborn? Trying to save face for that day's performance? Unnecessary—don't I understand your strength?
That's what Yūshin initially thought, but he quickly realized something. He examined Sasuke several times, then said meaningfully:
"Every era has its own protagonists. This era's protagonist is neither me nor you."
Unfortunately, Yūshin lacked the ability to sense lingering chakra from a thousand years past, or he could be more certain about certain matters.
Then Sasuke continued:
"Contact with the Senju was a mistake. I remember you now—you and your organization will join the future Konoha led by the Senju Clan, but will lose when competing with Tobirama Senju for the Second Hokage position... that is, the village leader position. Not long afterward, you disappear, seemingly dying in depression."
Uh, you really shouldn't say this—Sasuke even thoughtfully explained what "Hokage" means for Yūshin.
Yūshin's eyes widened—not because Sasuke's words were shocking, but because they were hilarious. He had to struggle to maintain his expression... He must remember his native timeline persona.
Me competing for Second Hokage and dying in depression?
Oh no, I really can't hold it in.
Think about it—if Yūshin led the Fireflies to join Konoha and genuinely competed for Second Hokage, what situation would he face?
No need to think—it would definitely be overwhelming support.
Tobirama might gain major clan backing, but Yūshin would obviously have broader popular support. How could this fail?
Did Yūshin also streak naked through Konoha for five years, becoming a Konoha good citizen and completely ruining his reputation?
Impossible.
Pfft—he finally laughed out loud.
Sasuke just glanced at Yūshin, finding it somewhat inexplicable. Are you mentally ill? Knowing you'll die in depression yet still laughing?
"Ahem, continue speaking, I'm listening... Your intelligence is very important."
Sasuke thought Yūshin was on the first level while he was on the second, but actually Yūshin was on the fifth level.
Yūshin knew he had no interest in being Hokage. Actually, being the Fireflies' leader was already exhausting enough. In his view, such roles were far less satisfying than being a lone wolf.
Having power without interpersonal constraints, doing whatever you want—isn't that happier?
Unfortunately, people are often involuntarily constrained.
The "history" from Sasuke's mouth was unreliable, basically apocryphal. History passed down to later generations naturally tends toward distortion, and more importantly, Sasuke fundamentally didn't care about history, having only superficial knowledge of everything that happened during Konoha's establishment.
His historical knowledge was equivalent to reading too many clickbait articles.
Sasuke's mind was already empty, and after Yūshin's interruption, he momentarily didn't know what to say.
"How about this—first recite the names of successive Hokage."
"First Hashirama Senju, Second Tobirama Senju, Third Hiruzen Sarutobi, Fourth Hagūgen Aoi..."
"Who?"
Wait, something seems wrong.
Very wrong.
"Is there a problem?"
"Nothing, I just think one name is rather special... quite tongue-twisting."
Yūshin suppressed his wild thoughts, constantly reminding himself to maintain his "native timeline" persona, letting Sasuke continue maintaining his time traveler superiority.
Knowing future events—how could that not feel superior?
"You're from Konoha, meaning the Uchiha Clan also joined Konoha, yet some of your behavior suggests the Uchiha's future circumstances weren't good?"
Sasuke fell silent. After a while, he said:
"Coming to this era was never my intention. I hope you can send me back to my original timeline, because I still have many things to do... I heard you mention that some Uchiha ninja can send people to the future."
"She passed away, because of your Uchiha."
Sasuke didn't care about the reason—he immediately wanted to mention "Edo Tensei," but fortunately remembered this era didn't have Edo Tensei yet.
He spoke without thinking, but fortunately retained some intelligence level, or Yūshin would have to slap him twice more.
"If I must remain in this era, then I also have things I must do... prevent the Uchiha Clan from joining Konoha, kill Second Tobirama and Fourth Aoi."
"Uh, I think you could start by killing Tobirama—that has the highest possibility."
Will Sasuke's actions succeed? Impossible—his Konoha origins already explain everything. It's a simple logical problem.
However, does Yūshin need to remind him? Unnecessary—even if Sasuke understood everything, he'd still stubbornly do what he believed was right.
"I think you underestimate the difficulty. In this era, whether us, the Senju Clan, or even the Uchiha, everyone hopes to end the chaotic times. Multi-clan alliances forming villages is an inevitable developmental trend. Trying to prevent village establishment is like swimming against the tide of history."
"Put it this way: when most clans awaken from endless slaughter, even if they realize the village system is poison that will kill them in a few years, they'll still choose to swallow the poison now. Know why?"
"Because rather than worry about future poisoning, better to consider present starvation. So... eat, even if it kills you."
Every era has its background. This already counted as Yūshin's well-intentioned advice.
What could Sasuke alone accomplish? Forget other things—assuming he prevented the Uchiha from joining Konoha, they'd either join other villages or be eliminated by some village while remaining stagnant.
Joining other villages—would that be better than Konoha?
As for personally leading a village, not to boast, but leadership requires talent, especially leading a group of people who were recently slaughtering each other. Such a leader must at least be able to both assert authority and show humility, right?
Show humility? The Uchiha?
Don't forget about the lurking Black Zetsu and White Zetsu.
"Human effort can overcome destiny. The Uchiha's fate must change."
Very normally, Sasuke didn't listen to Yūshin's words.
"How about this—go out and turn left, find someone called Sasuke Sarutobi. At least wait until you defeat Sasuke Sarutobi before discussing changing fate—that would add a tiny bit of credibility."
This suggestion was too wicked—Sasuke would get beaten like a dog.
Unlike Hashirama or Madara's cheat-level violent crushing, Sasuke Sarutobi would make Sasuke Uchiha understand exactly how vast the gap in ninja taijutsu skills could be.
Then Yūshin had a sudden inspiration.
"If you want to prevent Senju-Uchiha cooperation, you must first further damage their relationship. I happen to have a plan—want to participate?"
"What plan? I disguise myself as another Uchiha ninja and assassinate Hashirama Senju?"
"Uh, that... works too. Your plan's better than mine—straight to the point."
Sasuke still didn't understand how to write the word "death."
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