Chapter 34: A Day in the Life of Tobirama Senju (Part 2)

After a brief discussion with Hiruzen Sarutobi, who still had official duties to attend to, Tobirama Senju didn't keep him long. He asked a few questions and then let him go.

Bidding farewell to Hiruzen, Tobirama, feeling deeply troubled, casually cast a Transformation Jutsu and strolled onto the streets.

He needed to have a serious conversation with Rinjin, but before that, he decided to take one last look at Konoha.

The Pure Land was unbearably dull, with his elder brother constantly yammering on about this and that. His head felt like it was going to explode. Why didn't Madara come down to keep his brother company instead?

Muttering to himself, Tobirama quietly stepped out of his home.

The village was far more prosperous than it had been during his tenure. The buildings were denser, and there were many new faces. Children played and chased each other, running wildly through the streets and alleys.

In Tobirama's eyes, this was the most beautiful scenery.

He walked for a long time, enjoying the view, until this harmony was suddenly disrupted.

In front of a residential gate, two men bearing the Uchiha clan crest were locked in a heated confrontation.

A crowd had gathered around them, a mix of civilians and Uchiha clan members.

Inside the gate stood a stern-looking woman with an air of elegance, holding luggage in her left hand and a young boy of about eleven or twelve by her right. The boy, though clearly timid, stood trembling in front of his mother, trying to shield her.

Outside the gate, one of the Uchiha men was clearly protecting the mother and son, while the other, his expression fierce, stood aggressively across from them.

Frowning slightly, Tobirama pushed through the crowd and stepped to the front.

The argument grew louder.

"Uchiha Haruna! Since you're leaving Konoha, hand over the house deed! This belongs to the clan!" the aggressive man shouted at the dignified woman named Haruna inside the gate.

In response, Haruna stared coldly at the man, her voice calm but firm.

"Don't call me Uchiha Haruna. I don't carry the Uchiha name anymore!

This house belonged to my husband. The deed clearly has Kagami's name on it. Why should I hand it over?

You expelled our family from the Uchiha clan back then, and now you have the nerve to come here and demand the house?"

Beside her, the man protecting the mother and son nodded firmly, standing resolutely in front of them. He was a former subordinate and old friend of Kagami Uchiha.

The aggressive man's expression turned even more vicious as he glared at Haruna.

"Your husband was expelled because he deserved it! Serves him right!

But your husband was born into the Uchiha, raised by the Uchiha, and never once gave back to the clan!

This house should be compensation for that deadbeat husband of yours!"

He then turned his gaze to Kagami's old friend, his lips curling into a sinister sneer.

"And you—your name's Uchiha Rei, isn't it? Why are you defending this woman? Got some dirty little secret with her, huh?

It must be true! Kagami's barely in the ground, and you're already so eager, aren't you?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Tobirama's brow furrowed deeply.

It wasn't just that the man's words were vile—it was that he showed no regard for the child present.

Without hesitation, Tobirama stepped forward, ready to shut this man up.

But before he could act, a commotion erupted in the crowd. A moment later, cries of fear rang out.

"Get back! Fugaku's coming!"

The terrified exclamations had barely faded when the crowd scattered in all directions, as if fleeing from a ghost.

Not just the spectators—even the two Uchiha men at the gate, who had been at each other's throats, suddenly looked panicked.

The two men exchanged a brief glance, then turned to flee.

It wasn't that they had suddenly decided to make peace—it was that Fugaku Uchiha had a terrifying reputation for "reconciling" disputes.

Rumor had it that a few years ago, he had forced two feuding drunkards to kiss each other for ten minutes straight.

How horrifying!

Just as the two men were about to bolt, a green-and-black figure appeared between them in an instant.

From a distance, the figure looked young, no older than fourteen or fifteen. He wore a Konoha forehead protector, a black combat suit underneath, and a Jonin vest over it.

The boy casually hooked his arms around the necks of the two men, his voice playful.

"Ah~ I've barely been gone, and there's already trouble in the village?

Come on, tell Grandpa Fugaku what's going on~"

His teasing tone made the two men's faces twist into expressions more pitiful than crying.

"Uh... Fugaku, we were just joking around!" stammered Uchiha Rei, forcing a grin.

The once-aggressive man beside him nodded frantically, shrinking from a tiger into a kitten.

Compared to Fugaku, the house was nothing—it wasn't even worth a strand of fur.

But Fugaku wasn't buying it. His experience with troublemakers was too extensive.

He knew exactly what schemes these people had in mind, probably better than they did themselves.

His smile widened, his narrowed eyes gleaming with a cold light.

"Oh? Joking around? Mind if I join in?"

As he spoke, a fiery red Susano'o erupted around him, its skeletal hands grabbing the two men.

"Now, tell me—what's really going on?!"

His booming voice made everyone around shudder in fear.

At that moment, Haruna, holding her child's hand, stepped forward and calmly explained.

"Fugaku, here's the situation:

Kagami died on the battlefield, and I'm planning to move far away from the Uchiha compound.

But this man blocked my way, refusing to let me leave and demanding the house deed.

Rei stood up for me, and that's why they were arguing."

Hearing this, Fugaku frowned, then nodded. He extended a hand toward Haruna.

"Let me see the deed."

Without hesitation, Haruna retrieved the deed from her bag and handed it to Fugaku.

Glancing at it, Fugaku saw Kagami's name clearly written as the owner.

Satisfied, he returned the deed to Haruna and turned to Uchiha Rei, his tone stern yet approving.

"Uchiha Rei, you've done well! You've upheld the honor of Konoha's shinobi. You may leave now.

If the Uchiha clan leader gives you trouble, blame it on me. And if that doesn't work, come to me and file a complaint!"

"Upholding the honor of Konoha's shinobi..."

"The Uchiha clan leader..."

Standing amidst the crowd, Tobirama Senju watched the young Fugaku Uchiha with keen interest.

How intriguing.

As a former Hokage, Tobirama had never judged people by their personality or abilities first.

For him, the most important criterion was always their "stance."

Were they aligned with Konoha's interests, or not?

Only after that would he consider their abilities and personality.

This was why he had repeatedly warned Hiruzen not to elevate Rinjin to a high-ranking position, even though he allowed him to stay in Konoha.

Rinjin's stance was ambiguous—neither fully aligned nor entirely opposed. His great abilities and unpredictable personality barely managed to balance each other out.

But this young Uchiha boy was different.

His stance was clear—aligned with Konoha.

His strength? Impressive. Anyone who could activate Susano'o wasn't weak.

His personality? Well... a bit domineering, but Tobirama didn't mind.

After all, during his tenure, he too had ruled with an iron fist.

The more he thought about it, the more Tobirama felt that this boy might just be a worthy successor to his legacy.

An Uchiha, of all people, catching his eye?

How bizarre!

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