Summer of Year 31
Fukashi Residence, Late Night
The house was quiet with Minami, Kaito, and Ran already asleep in their rooms.
In the living room, lit only by a single lantern, Fukashi and Shinichi sat across from each other on the Tatami floor. The soft hum of night settled over the compound with occasional hooting of owls and crickets' chythmical chirping filled the noise.
The clan meeting had ended hours ago, but its weight lingered.
Fukashi broke the silence.
"Shinichi… what do you think of Sosuke's idea?"
Shinichi collected his thoughts for a moment before stating.
"Uncle Sosuke's idea isn't bad... If, the Hokage wasn't Senju Tobirama."
"Why?"
"Because Tobirama will never let an Uchiha become Hokage."
Fukashi frowned and folded his arms.
"But he said the Hokage is chosen by the village, through election."
Shinichi's raised his brow in mix of surprise and slight disbelief, his voice turned incredulous.
"Did Tobirama go through a proper election to become the Second Hokage?"
Fukashi stiffened.
"…!"
"You always told me Senju Hashirama's election was orchestrated. He wanted to give the position to Madara-sama. But Tobirama used the election to make Hashirama take the mantle."
Fukashi's jaw tightened, anger rising at the memory, but he exhaled and steadied himself.
Shinichi continued.
"Look at Tobirama's reforms. Did he ask our permission before binding us to the Police Force? Did he consult other clans before creating Anbu, a force loyal only to the Hokage? He doesn't believe in so-called democracy. He believes in control."
He leaned forward.
"So, he will never choose Kagami as the next Hokage. Even if by miracle he does… Kagami's too blinded. Too naïve. He'd be a good puppet for Tobirama to control behind the scene... The best outcome of the upcoming war would be for Tobirama and Senju's decline, but not too much to embolden other villages. After all, weakened Konoha would be a root of disaster for all of us. But, given his capabilities and his Hiraishin, I doubt that will happen."
Fukashi stared at his son.
"… I always thought your loyalty was to the village more than the clan."
He remembered how Shinichi had contributed his training methods to the Ninja Academy, shared Senju Medical ninjutsu with the clan, and worked closely with Tobirama. Fukashi had assumed his son's heart beat for Konoha first and the clan second.
Shinichi shook his head.
"Dad, you're too narrow-minded. We're part of the village. If the Uchiha grow stronger, Konoha grows stronger. But if we grow alone, we'd make more enemies than allies. If there's a way for both to grow together, our clan would be safer. I chose the path that brings the best result for us."
He looked up towards his father with chillingly cold and calculative eyes.
"Tobirama... He did taught me water release and shared Senju's medical ninjutsu. I respect him as a shinobi. But as Hokage, his reforms and policies speak louder than personal favors and lessons. He doesn't trust us. He fears us. Suppress us. Brands us as 'inherently evil' clan and sharingan as dojutsu that feeds on hatred."
Shinichi had once considered compiling his training methods, his elemental theories, his jutsu innovations and contribute them to the Ninja Academy or village jutsu depository like the Senju. But now?
"He says we're too cold and too arrogant toward other villagers and civilians. But are we? Aren't all clans reclusive to certain degree and protective of their own? It's just that most civilians now are former Senju. No one dares look down on them. But will that respect last forever?"
Shinichi shook his head, returning his gaze back toward his father.
"This political quagmire is temporary. But at some point, new blood will rise. Senju or not, Konoha will change. And the Uchiha will rise again. We just need to be patient. "
Fukashi said nothing. He didn't need to. He realized his son had already stepped beyond the clan's narrow walls and into wider battlefield of politics.
Only the wind wrestling with the leaves filled the background, as two slowly collected their thoughts and emotion.
Shinichi straightened his back and locked his eyes with Fukashi's.
"Father... if Kaito comes home asking to take the early graduation exam, can you deny him?"
Fukashi nodded slowly.
"…Don't worry, Shinichi. I was thinking the same. I won't let him graduate early. There's no need for Kaito to experience bloodshed yet."
It had been a long time since Shinichi called him "father."
Fukashi could feel the weight behind the word.
He knew Shinichi was serious. And he agreed – completely.
In truth, he didn't want Shinichi to fight in the war either. But that was impossible. Shinichi was a Chunin of Konoha, and his strength surpassed most jonin in the village. He knew, neither the clan nor the village would let him sit idle.
***
The morning light filtered through the paper windows of the Hokage office, casting long shadows across the scroll-laden desk. The air felt still and heavy with weight of decisions yet to be made.
Senju Tobirama, seated in his formal robes, looked up from a report as Uchiha Kagami stood before him.
"So, Uchiha clan decided to participate in the war…"
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Kagami replied with conviction. "The clan wish to gain merits and recognition from the village. They are eager to protect Konoha with all their strength."
Tobirama nodded slowly, his gaze lingering.
"... I see."
He leaned back slightly, fingers steepled.
"The role of Konoha Military Police Force is to guarantee internal stability. If the Uchiha are being deployed to the front lines, it means our forces are stretched thin… and that more than two major villages are threatening us."
He paused.
"Let us hope we do not reach that point."
"I understand, Sensei."
Tobirama studied Kagami for a moment, then spoke again – more quietly.
"Kagami… I want to ask you something. What is your honest opinion of my decision to assign the Uchiha clan to the Military Police Force? And of my choice to hold them back from war?"
Kagami hesitated, surprised by the question. But he answered without flinching.
"…It was a difficult decision. Many in the clan felt it was a restriction. They saw it as a leash. But I understand your reasoning. You wanted to protect the village from within... And protect the Uchiha from unnecessary loss."
He then looked straight with clear eyes.
"But Sensei – no. Hokage-sama… the Uchiha are warriors. We find purpose in battle, in protecting what we love. Holding us back too long only deepens the divide. The Police Force gave us an anchor to hold on to – but it also isolated us."
Tobirama nodded slowly, absorbing the words.
"I see and you?"
"I accepted the role because I believe in Konoha. I believe the Uchiha can be more than what history has made us. But I also believe we must be allowed to prove ourselves on the battlefield, not just in the streets."
Tobirama's gaze softened.
"Take care, Kagami. Try your best to earn the trust of the villagers and your fellow shinobi. If you – and the Uchiha – can gain their recognition, then perhaps… the clan may one day produce a Hokage."
Kagami bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama. I will not disappoint you."
He turned to leave.
Tobirama watched him go, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
'What a promising youth. Despite the evolution of his Sharingan, he remains grounded and Loyal. He has transcended the narrow-minded clannism that plagues the Uchiha. He isn't just an Uchiha – he is a Konoha shinobi.'
But Tobirama's thoughts did not stop there.
'Still… loyalty is fragile. The Sharingan is born of emotion, ambition, grief, and pride. They twist even the brightest minds. Kagami is different. But how long will he remain so?'
He turned back to his desk, dipping his brush to ink, resuming his work as the Hokage.