Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make
Chapter 121: Preparing For War
POV Hashirama
"Where am I?" muttered Hashirama as he looked around. Everything was white. Those who had been Jinchuuriki might have found this place familiar, but Hashirama wasn't one, so he called out.
"Hello?"
Silence.
"Hmmm, no response."
"Is this the afterlife?"
Before he could say more, he was suddenly pulled by an invisible force.
"Wahhhhh, what is this?!" Hashirama shouted, moving faster than he had ever moved before. Everything became a blur, lights flashing around him, forcing him to close his eyes.
Suddenly, it all stopped. Peeking through his eyelids, he saw that he was now in a cemetery.
"Mito," called Hashirama.
But the woman who had been his wife for more than half his life didn't answer because she couldn't hear him.
He looked around and saw familiar faces, people who had been a part of his life, attending his funeral.
Yes, he saw his own tomb and listened to his brother's speech. He saw Tsunade crying and many others mourning him. Time moved forward, and Tobirama became the Second Hokage instead of someone from the Uchiha.
While all this was happening, one figure silently observed everything, it was Uchiha Setsuna.
Hashirama Senju wasn't truly dead. He was trapped in a safe space, his chakra able to travel and observe the world under the direction of Uchiha Setsuna. Currently he can only go to his wife and his brother, other than that he couldn't go anywhere else.
Setsuna did this to show Hashirama that his methods were flawed and could ultimately lead to war.
He hated some aspect of Senju Hashirama 'believed in the descendant' while it sounded good, but actually Hashirama let his descendant solve his problem. Meaning he create the problem that big enough that cost other people to die while he had already passed away.
Uzushiogakure...
"Did your clan feel okay about Tobirama becoming Hokage?" asked the Uzukage.
"Hmm, nope, they weren't okay with it, but they love peace more than war. That's why they accepted the majority's vote for Tobirama to become Hokage," answered Setsuna.
"Well, good to know," replied the Uzukage. "Setsuna, what do you think of Konoha?"
"Konoha? It's a place of unity, but at the same time, it's slowly rotting," said Setsuna.
"Rotting? Why didn't you help remove the rot?" asked the Uzukage.
"With Tobirama there? No way. There will be another war between the Senju and Uchiha if I try to intervene with Konoha politics," replied Setsuna. "The Uchiha clan invited me to return to Konoha and become the Second Hokage, but I rejected it because I didn't want to cause another war."
"Thank you, Setsuna," said the Uzukage.
"Thank you for what?" asked Setsuna.
"For choosing Uzushiogakure as the place you'll live and protect," replied the Uzukage.
Setsuna smiled, knowing why the Uzukage was thanking him.
The war was near, and most shinobi could feel it. By having an Uchiha in Uzushiogakure, it made the village more secure from potential enemies.
---Konohagakure---
"How is the situation in the other villages?" asked Tobirama.
"They've been sending several shinobi to our borders and attacking our guards," replied the Anbu.
The warning Madara had given them was finally becoming a reality. He had told the people of Konoha, especially Hashirama, about the impending war after they passed away.
Suddenly, the Uchiha clan leader spoke, "Madara-sama warned us about the possibility of others attacking Konoha. And what did you do? Denied him? Killed him?"
"You..." Tobirama was at a loss for words.
"When the three of them were alive, what did you do? Now, the Uchiha won't join this war because we've been given the role of the Uchiha Police Force," said the Uchiha clan elder before leaving the Hokage's office.
Though Setsuna lived in another village, he still kept in contact with the Uchiha clan, especially its elders and the clan leader. The words spoken just now had been taught to them by Setsuna.
After learning that the Uchiha were given a police role by Senju Tobirama, he had advised them to accept the position but with certain conditions attached.
1. The Uchiha will not undertake any missions unless permitted by the Clan leader.
2. The Uchiha are permitted to collect rent in certain locations (refer to the map).
3. The Uchiha clan has the right to change the name of either Konoha Police Force or Uchiha Police Force.
4. During times of war, the Uchiha are only required to defend Konoha and will not be deployed outside the village.
5. The Uchiha clan can recruit civilians or other individuals as members of the new police force.
6. Depending on the strength of the Uchiha Police Force, their pay cannot be reduced. It must range between the standard pay for Chunin and Jounin.
Tobirama frowned but accepted the terms, as he didn't want any more Uchiha to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Now, other shinobi felt guilty for rejecting Madara when he was alive. The Shodai Hokage had died, and Uchiha Madara had also passed.
Hashirama, who was watching, wanted to speak up and admit he had been wrong, but his voice couldn't be heard. He tried to touch other shinobi, but his hand passed right through them, and no sensory ninja could detect him.
He realized he had truly died, and this must be the condition of those who pass on. He attempted to channel chakra but found he had none.
Meanwhile, Kumogakure, Kirigakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure were eager to attack Konoha. One reason was that Konoha had the most fertile farmland, making it rich, and another was that their Daimyo supported the war for resources.
---Uchiha Madara---
"Hashirama, I told you before—you're too naive. Now look, the war still rages on, even after Konoha was founded," muttered Madara.
Uchiha Madara didn't plan to reveal himself just yet. There was no ninja left who could give him the joy of battle except Hashirama.
Now, his final plan was the Infinite Tsukuyomi, which was why he had been so busy researching Hashirama's cells.
Black Zetsu, watching from the shadows, was becoming more delighted. After nearly 1,000 years of planning, Madara had taken another critical step. First, he awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, and now he was trying to activate the Rinnegan.
"Mother, soon you will be released," Black Zetsu muttered quietly.
Author's Notes:
I'm not entirely satisfied with this chapter because I don't know much about the First Great Ninja War. The time skip happens really fast—within 1 to 3 years in this chapter.
Extra Notes:
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