Chapter 63: The Clan of Love

Konoha Hokage Meeting Room.

Nara Shikayama, leading a group of Nara clan members, organized the Anbu reports, summarizing the key points into briefings.

There had been an overwhelming amount of crucial information in the past few days.

The Third Hokage reviewed these briefings with a stoic expression, but the smoke emitted from his mouth became increasingly dense.

"Although the war with Sunagakure and Amegakure has ended, the war within the village has just begun."

In this war, it was impossible to ignore one presence: Uchiha Hanma.

"The hunting unit led by Uchiha Hanma has slain 1,300 Sunagakure and Amegakure ninja."

"Shukaku of Sunagakure was killed by Uchiha Hanma, and the Sunagakure forces have retreated."

"Amegakure suffered a massive explosive tag bombardment, and the entire village has been obliterated."

"The Third Raikage did not clash with Uchiha Hanma and has already withdrawn from the Land of Fire."

The Third Hokage, observing the frequent mentions of "Uchiha Hanma" in the reports, rubbed his temples and closed his eyes in contemplation.

The outcome of this war was, at best, barely acceptable to the Third Hokage.

Sunagakure suffered heavy losses with Elder Chiyo and the Jinchuriki Bunpuku killed.

Amegakure and Hanzo were both obliterated, erased from the ninja world.

On a macro scale, Konoha effectively repelled these invaders, solidifying its top position and prestige in the ninja world without losing face.

However, Konoha's losses were also significant, though no key figures were lost, making the losses seem relatively minor.

The Konoha forces at the Amegakure battlefield lost nearly half of their troops, even after Orochimaru adjusted the tactics.

Since the beginning of the war, the Sunagakure battlefield had been extremely challenging.

Even though White Fang launched a desperate final assault and achieved considerable results, it couldn't conceal the horrific casualties caused by Shukaku.

Konoha's forces in the Sunagakure battlefield lost two-thirds of their troops. Deputy Commander Kato Dan was also killed in action.

The casualties among Konoha's rank-and-file ninja were far greater than those of the Sand Shinobi.

The Third Hokage opened his eyes and thought about post-war consolation work.

But he couldn't calm down, his thoughts drifting back to the Uchiha Clan.

"How should the Uchiha Clan be handled..."

Since this war began, the Third Hokage and Hanma had made several exchanges, reflecting a tug-of-war between the Uchiha Clan and the Hokage lineage.

On the eve of the war, Uchiha Hanma forcefully contested for the commander selection, taking the opportunity originally intended for a civilian ninja.

At the war's outset, the Third Hokage, to prevent the Uchiha Clan from forming alliances with other clans, traded Kushina's freedom with Hanma.

The Uchiha Clan autonomously provided troops and moved the grown civilian ninja.

In the later stages of the war, when Sunagakure deployed their Jinchuriki, the Third Hokage was pressured into another secret trade with Hanma.

The Third Hokage looked at the war reports with worry, feeling a bit troubled.

"Although Uchiha Hanma gaining military merits is good, the gap between him and the village is widening."

Danzo deceived Uchiha Fugaku into moving the defenses, and then let the Two-Tails Jinchuriki infiltrate the defense line, provoking a mass rebellion from the Uchiha.

Upon returning to the village with his troops, Uchiha Setsuna quickly identified the problem and became furious.

With his Mangekyo Sharingan flashing, Setsuna, along with all three-tomoe Sharingan users of the Uchiha Clan, confronted the Third Hokage.

The Uchihas, having regained their war-hardened and blood-soaked demeanor under Hanma, displayed their formidable vigor.

Though the Third Hokage had the confidence to take down Uchiha Setsuna, facing dozens of three-tomoe wielders and the absent Hanma, he chose to remove Danzo from office.

Uchiha Setsuna was dissatisfied with this form of punishment, demanding Danzo's imprisonment or execution.

Ultimately, Uzumaki Mito, who had stayed secluded for years, intervened to mediate the conflict.

To Mito, Setsuna publicly declared that it wouldn't happen again and even exchanged pleasantries about Warring States times, then withdrew with his clansmen.

What truly worried the Third Hokage was that such a significant incident occurred even before Uchiha Hanma returned.

"I wonder if Uchiha Hanma can control his emotions... Uchiha, after all, is a clan that quickly gains strength through war."

Recalling the Second Hokage's assessment of the Uchiha Clan, the Third Hokage tried to find the root of the problem.

"The Uchiha Clan is a clan of love. No other clan's love runs deeper than the Uchihas, so they seal away their love."

"Once the Uchihas gain love, their suppressed emotions are released, unlocking power beyond ordinary men."

"But this extreme love is the root of their problem. Once an Uchiha loses this love, extreme hatred fills their hearts, drastically changing their nature."

"When an Uchiha feels despair, a special chakra is secreted into their brain, affecting the retina, causing their eyes to change, awakening the Sharingan."

"This is the eye reflecting the heart, known as the Sharingan. The Sharingan synchronizes with one's will, rapidly making its possessor stronger, but it thrives on the power of hatred in their heart."

"Uchihas often have delicate minds. Those who awaken the Sharingan are usually consumed by hatred and intense emotions, falling to the dark path."

"The deeper the darkness in their heart, the stronger their visual prowess, making that Uchiha harder to deal with..."

Comparing the Second Hokage's assessment to the Uchihas in his heart, the Third Hokage couldn't help but nod in agreement.

But thinking of Hanma, he sighed deeply with a feeling of helplessness.

"Tobirama-sensei, I've encountered someone even more troublesome than a Mangekyo Uchiha."

According to the Anbu reports, almost all the Uchiha troops led by Hanma awakened their Sharingan during this war.

Though Uchiha Hanma himself hadn't awakened the Sharingan, he possessed a Kekkei Genkai that the Third Hokage had never seen.

Mistaking the existence of blood as a previously unseen Uchiha Kekkei Genkai, the Third Hokage noted the intense malice within it, feeling that Hanma's inner darkness surpassed even Setsuna with his Mangekyo.

"Sigh… I cannot let down Tobirama-sensei and the First Hokage."

The Third Hokage wasn't worried about the Uchihas seizing power through elections.

During the village's founding, the Uchiha Clan never had good relations with other ninja clans, and their reputation was always poor.

After the battle between Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, Hashirama soon passed away due to his injuries, sparking the First Ninja War.

Many Konoha ninjas who lost family and companions in the First Ninja War held grudges against the Uchihas.

After all, Madara was the Uchiha clan leader.

The Second Hokage's establishment of the Police Force further bound the Uchihas, taking away their power source.

Now, although the Uchiha Clan returned to the battlefield, their leader Hanma fell in love with Senju Tsunade, the princess of the Senju Clan.

At this point, the Third Hokage finally smiled, relieved that he hadn't stopped Tsunade and Hanma from meeting; this was the power of bonds and emotions.

As long as Tsunade still considered the Third Hokage her teacher, the possibility of an Uchiha rebellion was slim.

"Sensei, why didn't you choose to marry the Uchihas and the Senju? That would have been the masterstroke..."

The Third Hokage sighed, beginning to plan the post-war interest distribution.

(End of Chapter)