"Mhm, mhm. I get it. Go on."
Uchiha Ren casually dug at his ear, looking utterly uninterested.
"Let's get to the point. No need to repeat those old ideals."
Those words—
Maybe only someone like the First Hokage would truly believe them.
But Tobirama Senju?
A man as calculating as him?
Hearing such rhetoric from his mouth carried no weight at all.
Especially—
To an Uchiha.
A target of his prejudice.
…Annoying brat!
Tobirama felt his irritation rising again at Ren's dismissive attitude.
"This is important!"
His tone sharpened, expression turning serious.
Ren's smile faded slightly.
Tobirama continued.
"Konoha does not belong to one person."
"Nor to one clan."
"It belongs to everyone in Konoha."
"And the Senju…"
"Have already produced two Hokage."
His voice remained calm, but firm.
"Within the clan, voices have already begun to say—'The Senju are Konoha.'"
"As long as my brother and I lived, we could suppress that ambition."
"But my brother is dead."
"And when I die as well…"
"If the position of Hokage is still passed to the Senju—"
"Who will restrain them?"
No one spoke.
"Senju Toma is capable."
"He is qualified."
"But…"
"He bears the name Senju."
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly.
…Impressive.
He had to admit it.
That level of decisiveness—
Was ruthless.
In any system, once power remained within the same line for too long, it solidified into inevitability.
A dynasty.
If Tobirama had chosen Senju Toma—
Then the Hokage position might have remained in Senju hands for generations.
But instead—
He cut it off himself.
Cleanly.
For Konoha's sake—
He severed his own clan's future dominance.
"Very well said."
Ren nodded lightly.
"Truly selfless, Lord Tobirama."
Then his gaze sharpened.
"But you still haven't answered my question."
"Why Sarutobi Hiruzen?"
His eyes locked onto Tobirama.
That answer—
Could not be brushed aside.
"Why not Uchiha Kagami?"
Ren pressed further.
"You were willing to choose Hiruzen."
"How is Kagami inferior?"
"Personal strength. Clan backing. Character. Will."
"By every measure—Kagami is more suitable."
"And don't forget—"
"The Uchiha are co-founders of Konoha."
"The Senju have already produced two Hokage."
"No matter how you look at it—"
"It should have been the Uchiha's turn."
Each word struck like a hammer.
Tobirama fell silent.
His own reasoning—
Perfect.
Flawless.
But—
There was one obstacle he could not bypass.
The Uchiha.
Uchiha Kagami was indeed qualified.
Strong.
Steady.
Reliable.
But—
He was Uchiha.
And that alone—
Was enough.
Because Tobirama knew.
Better than anyone.
What the Uchiha truly were.
Potential lunatics.
Every single one.
Even he—
Had misjudged once.
Had overlooked Ren.
If Kagami awakened the Mangekyō—
If he changed—
If he became unstable—
Then Konoha would fall into chaos.
A mad Hokage.
Leading a clan of madmen.
That risk—
No matter how small—
Was unacceptable.
Even now—
The worst-case scenario had already come true.
But this—
Had not been his choice.
He would never have created such a situation knowingly.
"…Can't say it?"
Ren's voice broke the silence.
"Then I'll say it for you."
His expression turned cold.
"You never saw the Uchiha as comrades."
"From the beginning to the end."
"You only used their power."
"And tried to turn them into watchdogs for Konoha."
His words were merciless.
"The Military Police Force?"
"That wasn't trust."
"That was a leash."
Tobirama's eyes flickered.
Ren didn't stop.
"The authority you gave them looks impressive."
"Arresting spies. Maintaining order. Independent enforcement."
"But in reality?"
"You understood the Uchiha too well."
"In political games, they're inferior even to the Hyūga."
"So you guided them."
"Suppressed them."
"Made them accept a role—"
"As nothing more than police."
Ren's voice grew colder.
"Handling petty theft."
"Mediating trivial disputes."
"Acting as glorified enforcers."
"Day after day."
"Endless, meaningless work."
The Uchiha—
Were warriors.
Proud.
Arrogant.
Born for battle.
And yet—
They were forced to smile at civilians.
To maintain order.
To deal with scraps of daily life.
Impossible.
"So what happens?"
"Rough enforcement."
"Cold attitudes."
"Even using genjutsu on civilians."
"Violating village rules."
"And if anyone resists?"
"They get dragged into the Police Force for a 'talk.'"
Ren let out a faint laugh.
"And slowly…"
"The Uchiha lose everything."
"No voice in the upper levels."
"No support from the lower levels."
"They offend both sides."
"And still—"
"You expect them to produce a Hokage?"
His gaze locked onto Tobirama.
"Stop dreaming."
During wartime—
Their sacrifices still held weight.
But in peace?
People forget.
Just like they always do.
The same villagers who once feared and resented—
Would one day cheer for a hero.
And trample others without hesitation.
"And in the future…"
Ren's voice lowered.
"The backbone of Konoha won't even be the great clans."
"It will be civilians."
"Descendants of those very people the Uchiha oppressed."
A quiet pause.
Then—
"Tell me, Lord Tobirama."
"How exactly…"
"Did you ever see the Uchiha as equals?"
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