Chapter 2: Dividing Tsunade
The scroll given to Tsunade about the so-called Elder Uchiha Setsuna was merely a part of his scheme. Tsunade would likely be 70% inclined not to meet this elder, as she knew well the consequences of such actions. Even if she did meet him, whether or not the elder admitted anything didn't matter. Either way, Konoha's blame would inevitably land on the Uchiha.
After all, the "evil Uchiha" wasn't a baseless reputation.
As long as the information in this scroll eventually proved true, it would raise suspicions. No one would question a young shinobi who had only graduated from the academy a year ago—he simply wouldn't have the power to manipulate such matters.
"Kid!"
Inside the tent, Tsunade's expression softened, perhaps feeling a tinge of remorse for her earlier anger. That was her character: her temper flared up quickly but faded just as swiftly. Uchiha Yosuke, however, kept a determined look.
"Captain Tsunade, believe in the village—this old scoundrel surely still has ill intentions!"
Uchiha Yosuke cursed his clan's elder so harshly that he seemed like a boy thoroughly brainwashed by the Will of Fire.
Tsunade snorted with pride. "I don't need you to tell me that. In two days, Hatake will come to the front lines to take command here. You'll return to the village with my unit to rest for half a month."
The situation on the Rain Country battlefield hadn't fully escalated, so Konoha still had sufficient troops.
Yosuke began to respond, but Tsunade gave him a sharp warning. "Don't forget my warning, kid. The information on that scroll is top-secret!"
"Yes, Captain Tsunade!" Uchiha Yosuke took a deep breath, his face set with determination.
With a wave, Tsunade indicated for Yosuke to return the scroll respectfully and leave.
Once alone in the tent, Tsunade stared at the scroll with a frown. "Is that old devil still scheming, or is this for real?"
The intelligence written on the scroll was simple yet shocking for any Konoha ninja.
[The grandchild of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, Nawaki, was assigned to Sarutobi Hiruzen's disciple, Orochimaru's squad, with a mission scheduled on the day after his birthday…]
The first part of the message didn't surprise Tsunade—anyone with a bit of curiosity could dig up that information. But the crucial part was the second half, which suggested the mission was an ambush, and the target was Nawaki!
Though it didn't explicitly say who orchestrated it, the implication pointed directly at the Third Hokage's faction. That was the real point!
"That old devil!"
Tsunade squinted. This intel seemed to tell her that the current Hokage administration not only feared the Uchiha but also the Senju. It even hinted at a dark scheme.
Outside the tent, Yosuke pulled on his hood, feeling the rain drip down in the gloomy weather at the border of the Rain Country. But his lips curved into a slight smile.
The Uchiha were isolated and needed allies if they ever hoped for a shot at the Hokage's position.
This intel was no fabrication—Nawaki and he were in the same graduating class, and Nawaki's birthday was on August 9th. According to his calculations based on the original story, Nawaki's birthday fell just when Tsunade would be back in the village.
And more importantly! In the original story, Nawaki received Hashirama's necklace as a gift for his 12th birthday, but the very next day… he died on a mission.
How convenient.
A mission just a day's travel from the village, under the protection of Orochimaru, one of Konoha's elite jonin, but still resulted in his death.
Without the intel, blame would naturally fall on Orochimaru. But what if Tsunade had this warning ahead of time?
"Whether or not there's a plot isn't important. What matters is that Tsunade knows in advance, and that makes it impossible for anyone to believe it's a mere coincidence."
Yosuke sneered inwardly. He didn't believe the ambush would be so precise, waiting just outside the village gates.
After all, this was wartime! And it just so happened that the target was the 'prince' of the Senju clan.
"Yosuke."
Suddenly, a familiar voice called from behind. Yosuke turned to see Uchiha Fugaku and smiled.
"Captain Fugaku."
A few years older and already a special jonin, Fugaku looked a bit mature for his age and rarely smiled. "Yosuke, I've told you before—there's no need for formality between us."
The two were clearly close; Fugaku, known for his stoic nature, naturally got along well with Yosuke, who appeared bright and devoted to the Will of Fire.
As they walked, they arrived at a small waterfall near the Konoha camp.
The sound of the waterfall relaxed Fugaku, who finally allowed a bit of weariness to show on his typically serious face.
"Yosuke, tell me, how can our clan earn the village's trust?"
Well, now…
Seeing the worry on Fugaku's face, Yosuke was speechless. No wonder the Second Hokage thought the Uchiha clan was too extreme.
Here they were, the Uchiha elite on the Rain Country battlefield, yet Fugaku wasn't concerned with the battle, his clan, or his own safety—instead, he was fretting over the village's trust!
Truly, the Uchiha were extreme.
Yosuke sighed, shaking his head in feigned frustration. "Captain Fugaku, it's not about how our clan earns the village's trust. The question is, how will the village trust the Uchiha?"
Seeing the confusion on Fugaku's face, Yosuke thought there was still hope for him.
Or rather, Fugaku's life story was clear: loyal to both the clan and the village, he was a man torn between duty and personal loyalty, unable to reconcile both.
Had he chosen one path, things would have been different. If he had chosen the village, he could have taken down half the rebellious members in the clan himself.
Then, the weakened Uchiha would still be spared by Konoha—or, at least, the village would have handled the situation less urgently.
"Captain Fugaku!"
Yosuke put on a serious expression. He needed to pull this conflicted Fugaku back to clarity while he could. This man was a rare asset!
More importantly, Fugaku was the son of the clan leader—someone he needed on his side.
Otherwise, the Uchiha would end up passive and victimized like in the original story, which was unacceptable. Under his guidance, the Uchiha should learn to resist, to charge forward with purpose.
"Captain Fugaku, to earn the village's trust, look at how many of our elite are here on the front lines. Even you, the clan leader's son, are here, and this is Rain Country—a place where the terrain is hardly in our favor."
Yosuke spoke passionately, as if the Uchiha clan had given their all, exposing their very hearts for the sake of Konoha's trust.
Hearing this, Fugaku's rare smile appeared, and he nodded. "Yes, this time, our clan truly has committed its best."
The Uchiha were labeled as "evil," but from the First to the Third Great Ninja Wars, they fought on treacherous battlegrounds like the Rain and Water Countries, enduring countless hardships.
It was only after the Nine-Tails incident, when they were treated as criminals, that unrest began to stir.
Seeing Fugaku's smile, Yosuke spoke a single sentence that immediately darkened Fugaku's expression.
"By the way, Captain Fugaku, I heard rumors that recently White Fang is being discussed as the next Hokage candidate, even though the Third Hokage is still in his prime."
This statement shocked Fugaku, leaving him with a look of serious contemplation.
**(End of Chapter)**
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