Talent is a rare and precious resource.
If a person wants to create a hidden village, money is important. In fact, it is very important. It is the foundation of everything. Even the man known as the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, has to travel everywhere to secure funding and sponsors for the sake of his village.
However, for a hidden village, the most critical asset is a group of capable ninjas. Ron understood this better than anyone. A hidden village is, by definition, a place where shinobi gather.
Training ninjas from scratch is a massive undertaking. The cost of training and the time required are both too high. It is far more efficient to take those who are already trained.
Although the Uchiha clan had been pushed back by the Senju recently, it was only because Hashirama Senju was a monster with abnormal power levels. He was an existence that could not be measured by common sense. That was a problem no one could solve.
In front of the Senju, the Uchiha might be at a disadvantage. But if you removed Hashirama from the equation, the Uchiha could continue to fight the Senju for another thousand years.
When facing any other clan in the world, the Uchiha were supreme. They could simply look at an enemy with their Sharingan and demand a surrender. Therefore, Ron wanted people more than he wanted gold.
Even the weak Genin or the Uchiha members who had not yet awakened their Sharingan were valuable to him.
"Lord Madara, I believe that I am not the only one in the clan who feels this way," Ron said. He was testing the waters with a dangerous question.
"If there are others who wish to leave with me..."
This was a bold move. If Madara chose to be strict, he could easily label the actions of Ron as an attempt to split the Uchiha clan. That was a crime that deserved death.
However, Ron knew the personality of Madara. Whether acting as a clan leader or the head of an organization, the social skills of Madara were almost non existent. A few years after joining Konoha, Madara would lose all control over his own family. When he eventually chose to leave the village, not a single person would follow him. Later, when he became the secret boss of the ninja world, his subordinates were all traitors.
Ron believed he could take this risk. Madara was an arrogant man. Even if he saw the intentions of Ron, he likely would not care.
"Is that truly what you think?" Madara asked. He looked at Ron with a cold gaze.
In his eyes, Ron was just a brat who could not escape the cycle of hatred. Madara believed he was the only one who truly saw the path forward.
"My eyes see further than yours!" Madara declared.
A heavy and suffocating chakra began to radiate from his body. His Mangekyou Sharingan opened, spinning with power.
"Everyone! I am the leader of the Uchiha. I am the strongest shinobi of this clan!"
"My eyes have seen the future!"
"I will work with Hashirama Senju to end the generational hatred between our people. I will work with Hashirama to build a village like the world has never seen. Together, we will bring an end to the wars. In the village we create, the children of the Senju and the Uchiha will never have to go to the battlefield again."
The voice of Madara echoed through the room. As the leader of the clan, his authority was absolute. His grand speech about the future was like a feast for the starving hearts of his people.
The remaining Uchiha did not have the perspective of Ron. They could not see the tragic future that awaited them. They did not know that Madara would be isolated and forced to flee. They did not know that Tobirama Senju would create a system that kept the Uchiha away from the center of power, leading them into an abyss of extinction.
"So," Madara said with supreme arrogance. "Do you choose to follow me toward a bright and new future? Or will you leave the clan to wander the world with Ron?"
Ron felt a surge of frustration.
"Damn you, Madara!" Ron thought. "Why are you using the Mangekyou Sharingan while giving a speech to your own people? Do you not realize that those eyes have a special psychological effect on the Uchiha?"
Madara had framed the choice perfectly. Following him meant a bright future. Following Ron meant being a homeless wanderer.
Ron promised himself that one day, the tables would turn. One day, Madara would regret this arrogance.
The Uchiha members in the room began to imagine the future Madara described. The strongest of the Uchiha and the strongest of the Senju were joining forces. They remembered the sight of the massive Susanoo and the giant wooden statues of Hashirama. There was nothing those two could not accomplish.
"Madara Uchiha! Madara Uchiha! Madara Uchiha!"
The clansmen began to chant the name of their leader. Madara stood with his arms open, enjoying the praise of his people.
Ron stood there alone. He felt like a minor character in a much larger story.
"I did not expect to feel this sensation so early," Ron thought. "No one in the Uchiha clan trusts me. No one is my ally. Not a single person is willing to follow me. This is a disastrous start for my village."
He felt helpless. Trying to compete with the prestige of Madara within the clan was a losing battle at this stage.
As the cheers continued, Ron felt a spark of mischief. He decided to ruin the mood.
"And Hashirama Senju! Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju!"
In the middle of the loud chanting, Ron shouted the name of the rival leader.
The Uchiha members paused for a moment. They looked at each other with confusion.
"That is right! The beautiful future will be created by me and Hashirama!"
Madara heard the addition and loved it. He was too busy enjoying the moment to realize that Ron was mocking him. He liked the sound of those two names together.
The clansmen looked at each other. They felt it was strange to shout the name of their greatest enemy, but since their leader approved, they had no choice.
The chant changed.
"Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju! Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju!"
The voices echoed into the night.
....
(￣^￣)ゞ