Tsunade's lineage was extraordinary, even by the lofty standards of the Land of Fire. Her father was the biological son of Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, a figure whose legacy had shaped the very foundation of Konoha. Her mother, on the other hand, was the younger sister of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire—a direct member of the royal family. This dual heritage gave Tsunade an influence that surpassed most within the Land of Fire, which was why many addressed her with the honorific Hime, marking her as a princess in every sense.
Yet despite her aristocratic blood, Tsunade's parents had deliberately avoided involvement in Konoha's internal politics. Coupled with the fact that Tobirama had left no descendants, Tsunade herself had held tremendous sway, both within Konoha and across the Land of Fire, long before Nawaki's birth. Su had long recognized the depth of her influence, though perhaps Tsunade herself had only a hazy awareness of her own power.
"Okay, okay. Don't worry, Su. Leave this little matter to me; I can handle it," Tsunade said confidently, placing a hand over her chest as though sealing the promise with her very soul. Her expression radiated a hearty determination that was impossible to ignore.
Su allowed himself a small smile, knowing that this was the essence of Tsunade's charm. She carried herself with the poise of a princess but with the blunt practicality of someone who could command armies. Even her youthful form, as flat as an open airstrip, had an intensity that seemed to make the space around her taut with anticipation—an irony that never failed to amuse Su.
"Su, what did you call me here for?"
The voice came from behind, calm yet carrying a subtle authority. Uchiha Hikari had arrived, her presence immediately noticeable. Uchiha Nami followed closely, efficiently ensuring that everything ran smoothly. Hikari approached Su's side with an effortless grace, her height giving her a subtle dominance over Tsunade, who looked up at her briefly, eyes narrowing in mild irritation. Tsunade found Hikari… frustrating in some unexplainable way.
"Elder Shū, this is the person I want to introduce to you—an Uchiha with higher seniority than even you," Su announced, gently guiding Hikari forward.
Uchiha Shū blinked in confusion. He stared at Hikari for several seconds, his mind grappling with a paradox: this young girl, radiating vitality and youth, could possibly outrank him in seniority? Shū's eyes betrayed a mix of awe and incredulity, and he had to rely on Su to clarify the situation.
After Su explained Hikari's unique background, Uchiha Shū's face softened with understanding. Memories of his grandfather's stories came rushing back—tales he had once dismissed as the ramblings of senility. And now, here was living proof of those legends.
"I once heard my grandfather mention this. He must have heard it from his grandfather. I didn't expect it to be true," Shū said, nostalgia coloring his tone. At the end, he added with a hint of playfulness, "I thought my grandfather was just being senile back then!"
"Hikari…" Shū paused, uncertain how to address someone whose rank placed her above him, yet whose age was decades younger. The social protocols of the Uchiha Clan twisted into knots before him.
"Just call me Hikari," Su said with a light smile. "I also call her Hikari."
Hikari nodded, serene and composed. "Elder Shū, you may call me Hikari. Just treat me as a junior of the Uchiha Clan," she added gently, diffusing the tension with her modesty.
The group spent a while chatting, their voices mingling with laughter and gentle anecdotes from past generations. Under Uchiha Nami's meticulous arrangements, everyone was eventually guided to their rooms for rest, a brief pause before the day's significant ceremonies.
The next morning, the Hidden Mist awoke to the raucous voice of Jiraiya.
"Big Brother Su! It's already six in the morning! When are you taking me to soak in the hot springs?"
His voice echoed down the corridors, boisterous and unrelenting.
"It's too early! We'll go after lunch!" Su shouted from under his pillow, muffling the sound with a hand as he tried to reclaim a few more moments of sleep.
The relentless energy of Jiraiya, however, was unstoppable. Even as Su attempted to hide beneath the covers, Uchiha Nami's calm yet insistent voice pierced the room.
"Young Master, you need to get up now. There are still many procedures to complete today," she said firmly, though without the faintest irritation.
Su groaned, blinking blearily at her, his expression blank, as if life itself had drained his energy. "Fine, fine… whatever you say," he muttered in a tone that suggested the weight of an entire world rested upon him.
Under Nami's careful coordination, Su changed into a pure white kimono, its fabric embroidered with the Uchiha Clan crest in rich, crimson threads. The garment carried both history and symbolism, the weight of his predecessors' expectations woven into its very fibers.
Once prepared, Su led the Uchiha clansmen to the Naka Shrine. This was not a mere copy of Konoha's sacred site. After relocating to the Hidden Mist, the shrine had been rebuilt on a grander scale—taller pillars, intricate carvings, and a solemnity that radiated power and reverence.
Before the shrine's deities and ancestral tablets, Su recited the sacrificial oration. The words, long and intricate, tested his patience and stamina. Each syllable bore weight, carrying the memories of generations past. At times, Su nearly wanted to abandon the recitation altogether, his mind wandering to trivial thoughts—a fleeting wish to be anywhere else—but he persisted, driven by duty and honor.
After the ritual, Su positioned himself at the entrance of the Uchiha Clan compound, wearing a practiced, polite smile. Guests began arriving to participate in the succession ceremony, and beside him stood a cadre of greeters: Kaguya Takuma, Ashikaga Yamato, Uchiha Yashiro, and Uzumaki Kotaro. Kotaro, the eldest among them, exuded an air of serene dignity. Hōzuki Gengetsu also appeared, his presence grounding the proceedings in a sense of gravitas and familiarity.
Gengetsu gently rubbed Su's head, smiling. "Su, how does it feel to succeed as clan head?"
"Besides being tired, it's… just numbness," Su replied honestly, not hiding his weariness.
"Is that so?" Gengetsu said with a knowing smile. "When I became clan head, there was no succession ceremony. But I envied those who could witness their own moment, to feel it as it happens." His gaze softened. "Perhaps it feels exhausting now, but one day, when you look back, this day will be etched in your memory forever, engraved deep within your soul."
Su rolled his eyes subtly, but allowed Gengetsu to enter the compound first. "Hurry in, my Mizukage," he said, a faint teasing note in his tone.
The day's celebrations were immense. At Su's insistence, all restaurants in the Land of Water were open to the public, free for all citizens. The Hidden Mist Village had arranged a street of open banquets, stretching for several blocks, ensuring that no one—regardless of social standing—was denied a share. The feast was set to last three days. Even the poorest villagers, beggars, and wandering travelers could partake in the bounty.
"Congratulations to the General on becoming the head of the Uchiha Clan," Ashikaga Yoshiaki said, bowing respectfully. He glanced at his son, Ashikaga Yamato, and his smile deepened, warm and sincere. Behind him stood nobles of the Land of Water, who, despite their usual arrogance, bowed humbly in Su's presence.
"Go in," Su said simply, nodding slightly. He had no desire to engage in idle conversation with the dignitaries; his mind was focused elsewhere.
Kaguya Takuma leaned close and whispered, "Young Master, as the main figure today, you should go in and give your speech."
Su pursed his lips, scanning the end of the banquet street. A cold realization settled over him: the one person he most wished to see, Madara, had not come. Whether through choice or circumstance, Madara had remained absent. Perhaps he was still in that dark cave, his body strengthened by Hashirama's cells, yet not yet awakened to the Rinnegan.
"Life is indeed hard to make perfect," Su murmured. Resigned, he turned toward the hall to deliver his speech, allowing the ceremony to proceed without further delay.
Across the Hidden Mist Village, red lanterns hung high, swaying gently in the morning breeze. Occasional fireworks cracked through the sky, adding color and celebration to the atmosphere. Streets were crowded, yet orderly, filled with citizens eager to witness history.
Among the throngs moved a man in a straw raincoat, his face ordinary, nondescript. He walked calmly to a banquet on the village outskirts. Without drawing attention, he ate a modest meal, lifted a cup of sake in silent acknowledgment toward the Uchiha Clan Compound, and finished without a word.
As quietly as he had appeared, he left, leaving no trace, vanishing into the bustling village as though he had never been there at all.
In that fleeting moment, the Hidden Mist continued its celebration, unaware of the silent figures observing from the shadows, or the weight of history pressing against every smiling face. Yet for Su, the day was perfect in its own way: the succession ceremony had begun, a new chapter of the Uchiha Clan had been written, and the Hidden Mist thrummed with life, unity, and hope.
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