Chapter:204
Months passed, and as the cicadas' chirping grew louder, it became clear that midsummer was approaching.
At the same time, more and more children were entering Uchiha's school, beginning their education under the guidance of their mothers.
Some were as young as four years old.
This was the Warring States Period—a cruel era where, despite the recent war, people knew that peace would last only three to five years at most.
The losses in the last battle had been catastrophic, and the next generation had to be trained as the future warriors of the clan.
It was a bitter reality.
Peace, however fleeting, existed only to prepare for the next war.
The schools were filled mostly with children of widowed mothers, their fathers having perished in battle.
And yet, these women did not complain.
They knew—this was the fate of their time.
Growing Uchiha Strength and the Formation of the Fire Country
Izuna sat in his office, reviewing an admission report from Uchiha Kai, the third elder of the clan.
This year, over 300 children had enrolled—the highest number in a decade.
Before Izuna could set the paper aside, a chunin entered, bowing slightly.
"Deputy Clan Leader, I have something else to report," the shinobi whispered.
Izuna looked up. "Speak."
The shinobi hesitated before relaying the information. "The city lords, nobles, and wealthy merchants of the Warring States are beginning to unite."
A cold glint flashed in Izuna's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
It had begun.
The Fire Country was taking shape.
As the power of ninjas, particularly Uchiha and Senju, grew, the civilian elite began to consolidate their influence.
These lords, merchants, and landowners feared the military dominance of shinobi clans.
If Uchiha and Senju were building Konoha, then this faction was forming the foundation of the Fire Nation itself.
It was only a matter of time before the Warring States became obsolete.
"I understand. You may leave," Izuna said with a wave of his hand.
As the shinobi vanished, Izuna leaned back and exhaled.
"Everything is falling into place."
Despite the looming tensions, the present peace was intoxicating.
It was a rare time when mothers could stand beside the ninja school playground, watching their children train safely.
A time when Uchiha warriors—instead of waging war—sat drinking tea, playing shogi, and conversing like ordinary men.
The Warring States schools were far stricter than those of later generations.
Still, they allowed their students some rest.
As the sun set, children aged four to eight ran into their mothers' arms before heading home.
After dinner, many returned to train, understanding that only strength could keep them alive on the battlefield.
Watching from a distance, Uchiha Nobu, a former battlefield commander now assigned to teach at the school, let out a soft chuckle.
"They're working hard."
As he approached the training ground, several students turned and beamed.
"Teacher Nobu!"
One child suddenly blurted out, "Sensei! Tell us about the battlefield!"
Excited murmurs spread among the students.
Whether in wartime or peace, children admired heroes.
Uchiha Nobu often recounted tales of Uchiha Tajima, Uchiha Ishiki, and, of course, the legendary exploits of Izuna and Madara.
Tonight was no different.
As he spoke of the greatest battle, where Izuna and Madara had crushed thousands of Senju troops, more and more clan members gathered around him.
Soon, hundreds of people had assembled.
Then, a young boy raised his hand.
"Sensei, my father said Uchiha and Senju are going to unite. Is that true?"
The crowd froze.
Silence fell like a heavy stone.
All eyes turned toward the boy.
He was Uchiha Takeyasu, the son of Uchiha Sashu, head of the Secret Investigation Division—a man directly related to both Madara and Izuna.
"Where did you hear that?" Uchiha Nobu asked cautiously.
Takeyasu tilted his head, innocent yet unaware of the weight of his words.
"My father mentioned it. He said the other clans fear Uncle Madara, Uncle Izuna, and Senju Hashirama. So—"
"Enough!"
An angry voice suddenly interrupted.
The entire crowd flinched.
A man emerged from the shadows—Uchiha Sashu himself.
The boy shrank back, suddenly afraid. "F-Father…"
Sashu's eyes were cold. "Go home. Now."
Without hesitation, Takeyasu lowered his head and fled.
Sashu then turned toward the gathered Uchiha. "Forget what you heard. Now."
With that, he disappeared.
The crowd stood in uneasy silence before slowly dispersing.
The Rumors Spread Like Wildfire
Despite Sashu's intervention, the rumor refused to die.
Instead, within days, it had spread throughout Uchiha lands and even beyond.
> "Uchiha and Senju are forming an alliance."
"No, it's a forced alliance!"
"Other ninja clans are uniting against them, but they plan to destroy them first!"
The entire Warring States Period was shaken.
This was no ordinary gossip—it was a tremor of war.
Like a bomb thrown into still water, the entire region erupted in chaos.
End of the Chapter.
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