Chapter 104: Hiruzen's Arrangement; A Brother for Shisui
Seeing "Uchiha Tobirama" give a reluctant nod, Isshin and Fugaku Uchiha let out
a collective sigh of relief.
The kid isn't stupid!
If the boy had continued to spit fire at the Hokage, they would have been out of
options. In the Uchiha clan, knowing when to hold your tongue was the only
difference between a "Tragic Hero" and a "Dead Rebel."
Isshin nodded to himself. This level of survival instinct was exactly what the
clan needed. But he remained tense, waiting to see how Hiruzen would distribute
this new "asset."
"Young man, since you carry the blood of the Uchiha, it is only right that you
return to your kin," Hiruzen said, his voice warm and reasonable.
"Regarding your eyes... this Elder here," Hiruzen gestured to Isshin, "is a
master of our village's history and ocular theory. You won't be able to master
those eyes on your own. Go with them. Let your family teach you what it means to
be a shinobi."
Isshin was elated. He nodded frantically, his face a mask of "Generous
Patriarch."
"Yes, exactly! As the Hokage says, the Sharingan is a complex, divine tool.
Without systematic training, you'll only burn yourself out. Look around you,
lad—these are your brothers! We've come to bring you home!"
Isshin waved a hand toward the honor guard.
The Three-Tomoe veterans all offered genuine, toothy grins. "Kid, I like your
style! I'll teach you the blade myself!" one shouted.
"Have you tried Fire Style yet? I've got a dozen scrolls with your name on
them!" another added.
Their enthusiasm was real. What Uchiha wouldn't love a teenager who walked up to
the Anbu Commander and called him a failure to his face? Even if the boy turned
out to be a "Late Bloomer," his spirit was already S-rank in their books.
Tobirama (as the youth) maintained a mask of hesitation. He looked at the
cheering Uchiha, then back at Hiruzen, letting out a long, weary sigh as if he
were being forced into a cage. He gave a single, slow nod.
The Uchiha erupted into a victory cheer, acting as if they had just won a Great
War. In truth, they were mostly celebrating the fact that Danzo looked like he
wanted to jump into a volcano.
Danzo's face was indeed a violent shade of purple. Hmph. Naturally evil brats,
all of them. They recognize their own kind instantly.
Hiruzen arranged this, fine... but you could have at least tried to act like you
wanted to learn from me! Why reject the Assistant but follow the Hokage?!
There's something wrong with this kid's head!
Danzo ground his teeth, burning the boy's face into his memory. I'll find a
reason to discipline you later, you little monster.
"I have a follow-up proposal," Hiruzen said, snapping the room back to focus.
"I've reviewed the boy's intake file. He has zero formal training, no knowledge
of international politics, and a very thin grasp of Konoha's history and the
Will of Fire."
"My directive is this: The Uchiha clan will appoint a peer to live with him. I
want him integrated into the community immediately. He needs a guide his own age
to help him navigate his new life."
"I think Shisui would be the perfect candidate. Isshin, what do you think?"
Hiruzen looked at the Elder, his gaze sharp and heavy. "Shisui is a descendant
of Kagami. His loyalty and his resources are both... exemplary."
Isshin's heart skipped.
There it is. The 'Hokage Hammer.'
He knew Hiruzen wouldn't just hand over a "Blessed Son" for free. Putting the
boy with Shisui was a move for Total Assimilation.
Shisui was the clan's "Model Citizen." He was young, but he was already famous
for his "Kagami-style" devotion to the village. He openly opposed the Hawks. If
this new prodigy lived with Shisui, he'd be indoctrinated into the Will of Fire
before he could even unpack his bags.
"That... is a wonderful suggestion," Isshin lied, his smile tightening. "But I
worry about the burden on Shisui. The boy is used to living alone. A roommate
might be a distraction for a young genius."
If he could help it, Isshin wanted this boy in his own house. He wanted to
"corrupt" the kid with clan pride before the Hokage could turn him into a
"Village Tool."
Fugaku and Isshin shared a silent, defeated look. The Monkey is as sharp as
ever.
Hiruzen was using "Soft Power" with a "Hard Edge." He wasn't ordering them to
give the boy to Shisui, but he was framing it so reasonably that a refusal would
look like a confession of treason.
Hiruzen smirked inwardly. This was the perfect cover for Tobirama.
Why would I trust a feral Uchiha youth who just insulted my Assistant? the
village would ask. Oh, I'm putting him under the supervision of my most loyal
Uchiha student. Logic satisfied.
Furthermore, Hiruzen knew that Shisui's house was a gold mine for Tobirama. It
contained the surviving scrolls of Kagami Uchiha—many of which were written by
Tobirama himself. It also held the clan's private "Utility" archives.
Tobirama could "stumble" across his old research, effectively giving him a
reason to start using his real jutsus without looking like a spy. He could blame
it on "Learning from Shisui's family library."
And once he cons Shisui into thinking he's a long-lost brother, Hiruzen mused,
the kid won't just 'room' with him. He'll become Shisui's absolute world.
"Shisui's opinion is the deciding factor, of course," Hiruzen said graciously.
"We shouldn't force a living arrangement. Hizashi, fetch the boy."
"Three minutes, Lord Hokage!" Hizashi's voice echoed from the shadows.
Isshin's brow twitched. Hizashi Hyūga really is the Hokage's personal hunting
dog, he thought. Fugaku, look at him! That's what a 'High Commissioner' looks
like! He doesn't even have a home life anymore!
Fugaku offered a nervous, awkward smile. No thanks. I like my kid and my dinner
at 6:00 PM.
Danzo, meanwhile, was mentally cursing Isshin. What do you mean 'Hizashi is the
right hand'? I'm the right hand! Hizashi is just a pair of binoculars! I'm the
one who handles the money!
Tobirama's Internal Monologue.
As the group waited, Tobirama studied his student.
Saru... you've really learned how to play the game, Tobirama thought.
Taming the Hyūga so thoroughly that a Branch member reports to you before the
Clan Head? That's better than I ever managed. I spent my whole reign just trying
to keep them from closing the gates.
And the 'Will of Fire' payouts... using social security to anchor loyalty? It's
brilliant. If the village provides a pension, the ninja stops being a mercenary
and starts being a stakeholder.
I didn't choose the wrong successor, Tobirama admitted. But don't get cocky,
Saru. I'm going to be watching every move you make. If you slack off, I'll be
the first one to file an 'Uchiha Grievance' in your office.
Hiruzen looked at the boy and smiled. "So, tell me... would you like a brother?
Shisui is a fine young man. He's been looking for someone to share the path
with."
"The village will also provide you with a Living Stipend. 500,000 Ryo annually
until you reach the rank of Genin. And since you were found in a Black Site, you
are eligible for the Repatriation Grant."
Tobirama blinked. Since when does the Leaf hand out cash for being kidnapped?
Monkey, where the hell are you getting all this gold?
Tobirama channeled his "Traumatized Youth" persona. "A brother? Hmph. Sounds
like a headache."
"But if the brat agrees, I suppose I can tolerate his presence. I have no
memories of my parents. I don't even remember my own name."
Tobirama pointed to his head. "The Grass... they did things to me. I'm probably
'sick' in the head."
It was a perfect cover. Any weird behavior, any gaps in his history, and any
display of S-rank "voices in his head" would be blamed on Grass Village trauma
and his "Ancestral Blessing."
"You aren't alone anymore," Hiruzen said, hiding his amusement. "In the Leaf,
every ninja is protected. Take the gold. It's your right."
At that moment, Shisui Uchiha arrived, led by Hizashi.
The boy had been in the middle of a training session. He was sweating and
slightly out of breath.
Hizashi didn't give him time to greet the Hokage. "Shisui," the Hyūga said
flatly, "the Hokage is assigning you a brother. Do you want him?"
"An orphan from the Grass. Two-Tomoe. Elite talent. He helped neutralize a
strike team during his escape."
Shisui froze. The words hit him like a Genjutsu.
A brother? A government-assigned Uchiha brother?
Shisui had spent his childhood pining for an older brother figure—someone to
talk to about his ideals, someone who wouldn't just call him "soft." He had
imagined finding one, but it always felt like a fairy tale.
But here was the Hokage, making it an official decree.
Shisui looked at the "Uchiha Tobirama" vessel for the first time.
It was Destiny.
The boy looked exactly like the hero Shisui had seen in the ancient, dusty
scrolls of his family's private collection. He looked like the legend the Uchiha
had forgotten.
"Yes," Shisui whispered, his eyes welling with tears of pure joy. "I want him!
I'll take care of him with my life!"
Tobirama looked at the crying child and felt a wave of absolute dread.
Oh god. He's a 'Natural Lover' type. He's going to be a hugger, isn't he?
☆☆☆
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