"Tobirama, now that Father has passed away, we need to decide on the new clan leader as soon as possible. We can't afford to delay. The Senju are surrounded by powerful enemies—we have to stabilize our position first," Tobirama said, his voice calm and calculated as always. Revenge could come later; securing their clan's survival was the priority.
"I understand," Hashirama nodded solemnly. "Gather everyone."
He knew that from this moment forward, the responsibility of leading the Senju rested on his shoulders. There was no room for hesitation.
As the entire Senju clan assembled, Hashirama suddenly knelt, startling many of the gathered members.
"Hashirama, there's no need for this! We are all family. We were all raised under Lord Butsuma's protection," one of the elders spoke, his voice laced with concern.
Tobirama stood off to the side, watching his older brother's dramatic display with a hint of exasperation. Seriously? How shameless can you be…
Hashirama ignored Tobirama's expression and spoke with sincerity, "I want to thank all of you, especially the elders, for your efforts. Today, I officially take on the role of Senju clan leader, and I am grateful for your support."
His heartfelt words moved the clan members. The Senju had always been a united family, and there was no dispute that Hashirama and Tobirama were the strongest of their generation. With Hashirama's sincerity and natural charisma, any lingering doubts vanished.
"I know many of you seek immediate revenge for my father, but right now, we need to focus on stabilizing the clan first. We will discuss revenge at the right time," Hashirama declared.
Many in the clan had been ready to declare war on the Uchiha, but hearing their young leader's words, they reluctantly held back. No one raised objections.
As the meeting ended, the clan members gradually dispersed.
Tobirama wasted no time confronting his brother. "That's not what we discussed before. I told you that avenging our father immediately would help win the clan over to your side. You completely wasted that opportunity. Lucky for you, at least you weren't dumb enough to talk about making peace with the Uchiha during the meeting. Otherwise, believe me, you wouldn't still be clan leader."
Hashirama sighed. "Tobirama, do you really think the Uchiha would reject peace if we tried to reach out to them?"
Tobirama's expression hardened. "Brother, don't be naïve. Even if you want peace, the Uchiha won't just go along with it. You're the Senju clan leader now. You can't afford to be as soft-hearted as before. Besides, the Uchiha won't let this go so easily."
"Why not? If we understand each other—"
"My shadow clone gathered intel. Uchiha Tajima is dead," Tobirama cut in. "Just like our father, he died from his wounds. The Uchiha will never let this slide."
Hashirama clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his father's death pressing on him. "So war is inevitable..."
"Yes. And you need to be ready for it. I'll gather more intelligence," Tobirama said before vanishing into the night.
---
Meanwhile, at the Uchiha compound, Tajima's funeral had concluded.
As the preparations for his burial began, Su Xiuyu stepped forward with an unorthodox suggestion. "Before we bury him, we should remove his Sharingan. If any of our clan members lose their sight or need replacements, his eyes will be invaluable."
At first, both Madara and Izuna opposed the idea. Traditionally, Uchihas were buried with their Sharingan intact. It was a matter of honor.
"Madara, the war with the Senju is coming," Su Xiuyu reasoned. "You might not like it, but the Uchiha need a symbol to rally behind, and that's you. You've awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, but you're the first in our clan to do so. What if there are side effects? What if you lose your sight? You need to be prepared."
Madara hesitated. He hated the idea of desecrating his father's remains, but Su Xiuyu made a valid point.
"You carry the entire Uchiha clan on your back now. It's always wise to have a backup plan," Su Xiuyu added.
After a long pause, Madara sighed. "Fine. But this stays between us. No one else needs to know."
With that, Izuna carefully removed Tajima's Sharingan and sealed them away using an Uchiha clan technique.
---
Not long after, the ceremony for Madara's succession as clan leader took place. However, as expected of the Uchiha, it did not go smoothly.
Two challengers stepped forward.
"Madara, we don't doubt your strength, but if you want to lead, you need to prove it," one of them, Uchiha Fan, stated.
Beside him, his brother, Uchiha Dan, nodded in agreement.
Madara met their gazes with a confident smirk. "You two want to challenge me at the same time? Fine by me. I respect every member of this clan, but let me remind you—power decides leadership. If you think you can take this position from me, step up and try."
The surrounding Uchiha warriors erupted in cheers at Madara's commanding presence.
Unknown to most, Fan and Dan weren't actually trying to take power. Before his death, Tajima had arranged this challenge as a way for Madara to prove his strength and establish his authority.
Madara understood this as well. The two weren't holding back, but there was no real hostility in their eyes.
The fight was over in minutes. Madara's overwhelming power left no room for doubt. Fan and Dan knelt before him. "We acknowledge you as our leader. We will follow you to the end," they declared.
With that, Madara's rule was solidified.
---
Later, away from the public eye, Madara sighed as he sat with Su Xiuyu and Izuna.
"Everything is happening too fast," he admitted. "One moment, I was just another warrior. Now, I'm responsible for the whole clan… I don't even have time to process my father's death."
Su Xiuyu leaned back. "Madara, you're the Uchiha clan leader now. You don't have the luxury of being lost in your emotions. Izuna, tell him."
Izuna offered a small smile but remained silent, listening as the two spoke.
Su Xiuyu continued, "The first step was securing control of the Uchiha clan. Now comes the hard part—leading them. The Senju will not back down, and neither will your people. War is coming whether you want it or not."
Madara exhaled deeply. He knew Su Xiuyu was right. Both clans were teetering on the edge, their suppressed hatred ready to explode. Neither he nor Hashirama could stop it.
"There will always be obstacles, but you must push forward," Su Xiuyu said. "Once this war ends, you and Hashirama must find a way to make peace. That will be the second step toward building a new future."
Madara nodded slowly.
Before leaving, Su Xiuyu turned to Izuna. "Be careful of Tobirama. His techniques are... unconventional. Don't underestimate him."
Izuna gave a sharp nod. "I won't."
As Madara looked up at the night sky, he clenched his fists. The weight of leadership pressed down on him, but he would carry it.
No matter what.
----
Su Xiuyu knew that Izuna might not have taken his warning seriously, which left him feeling somewhat helpless. In the original timeline, Izuna had been killed by Tobirama, and after his death, Madara was devastated. That loss pushed him down a path of extremism, leaving him vulnerable to Black Zetsu's manipulation. For the rest of his life, he had been trapped in a web of lies.
Now, with Su Xiuyu in the picture, he had to make sure that didn't happen. He even considered taking both Madara and Izuna to another world to work for him. The special forces in his original world were far too weak, and when the time came to truly explore the vast multiverse, he would be exhausted without powerful allies.
Besides, Madara treated him like family. Watching him waste his life as in the original story was something Su Xiuyu couldn't bear. The simplest way to prevent that was to change Izuna's fate.
"Madara, the challenges we face in this world go far beyond clan rivalries. The Uchiha-Senju conflict? That's just the first step on a much longer path."
Without further explanation, Su Xiuyu led Madara and Izuna to the ruins of the Hagoromo Clan. Watching as a once-powerful bloodline vanished into history left Madara with a deep sense of unease.
"Xiuyu… you brought us here, which means you witnessed what happened?"
"Not exactly. I was there, but only observing from a safe distance with detection ninjutsu. My real body was buried a hundred meters underground, hidden beneath rock and soil," Su Xiuyu explained, shaking his head.
Madara frowned. "Why are you telling me all this?"
"Because I need to warn you. Don't ever think about challenging this man. If you see him, don't hesitate—run. Don't look back. If you're lucky, he won't even bother with you." Su Xiuyu's voice was stern, trying to hammer the warning into Madara's skull. He knew how stubborn the man was.
Madara snorted, unimpressed. "You're exaggerating. You were there, right? If you escaped, why wouldn't I have a chance?"
Su Xiuyu narrowed his eyes. "Tell me, Madara. Do you think you could kill me?"
Madara hesitated. He had fought Su Xiuyu before and had seen firsthand how slippery he could be. Even if he activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, he wasn't sure he could finish him off. If Su Xiuyu was truly determined to escape, even Madara would be helpless to stop him.
"I hid underground for three days before daring to come out," Su Xiuyu continued. "Not because I was outmatched in combat—but because I was terrified. It wasn't that he couldn't find me. He simply didn't notice me. That's the difference in power we're talking about."
Izuna, who had been listening quietly, noticed the seriousness in Su Xiuyu's tone. He wasn't joking.
"Listen carefully," Su Xiuyu said, his voice grave. "This man is easy to recognize. He wears white robes and has white eyes—but they're not the same as the Hyuga clan's Byakugan. He's over two meters tall, incredibly muscular, and specializes in close combat. The entire Hagoromo Clan was wiped out using just his physical strength. He didn't use a single ninjutsu technique."
Madara's expression darkened.
"He has a single upward-tilting horn on his head, and his arms are absurdly strong. If you ever see him, don't hesitate. Run." Su Xiuyu took a deep breath before finishing his warning. "He won't try to hide himself, so if you see a man like that—don't second-guess it. Just go."
Madara was silent for a moment before nodding. "Fine. I'll remember."
With that, the three of them returned to the Uchiha compound. Madara and Izuna quickly busied themselves with preparations for the clan's future, while Su Xiuyu had other matters to attend to.
He had made a promise to Uzumaki Mito that he would visit her when he had time. But between returning to the real world, his trip to the Parasyte world, and all the chaos that followed, he was only now getting around to it. She was probably furious with him.
---
Meanwhile, in the Uzumaki Clan's village of Uzushiogakure, Mito sat on a rock on the mountainside, watching the sunset. It was the same rock that Su Xiuyu had raised with Earth Release last time—the very place they had watched fireworks together.
"That bastard," she muttered, crossing her arms. "He said he'd come see me when he had time, but how long has it been? Did he forget? Damn it, if he really forgot, I'll beat him to death!"
Her expression was fiery, but deep down, she was just frustrated. Despite her usual hot-headed personality, Su Xiuyu was the only one she ever showed her gentler side to. If it were anyone else, she wouldn't be complaining—she'd be throwing punches.
Just then, a hand tapped her shoulder.
"What girl is complaining about me?"
"Ah!" Mito gasped, startled. Then, realizing who it was, she spun around and punched Su Xiuyu lightly in the chest. "You scared me, you idiot!"
Su Xiuyu exaggerated a pained expression. "Ouch. That hurt, Mito."
Mito pouted. "Why did you take so long to come back?!"
He sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "I won't lie to you. A lot has happened. I rushed here as soon as I had the chance. It's not that I wanted to keep anything from you, but there are things I can't explain just yet. Trust me—one day, you'll understand."
She stared at him for a moment before sighing. "Fine. I'll forgive you."
With a small smile, she reached for his hand, and together, they sat down to watch the sunset.
Su Xiuyu's smile faded slightly. "I feel bad for not spending enough time with you."
"It's okay, I get it." Mito waved him off before asking, "I heard from the clan that both Uchiha Tajima and Senju Butsuma passed away, and now Madara and Hashirama are leading their clans. Is that true?"
"Yeah. They've taken over as clan leaders. And with that… the war is about to start again."
Mito's expression darkened. "So what are you going to do? I know the Uchiha treat you as one of their own, Hashirama considers you a friend, and Madara sees you as a brother. You're caught between them. What's your plan?"
Su Xiuyu fell silent.
That was the question weighing on him. Who should he help? No matter what he chose, one of them would be hurt. He never thought he'd be caught in such a dilemma.
"I honestly don't know," he admitted. "If I help one, I betray the other. But if I help neither, I betray them both."
Mito gave him a long look before offering, "How about this? Learn medical ninjutsu from our Uzumaki clan. That way, you won't have to pick a side. You can support both without truly joining either. You might not be pleasing to either of them—but at least you'll be staying true to yourself."
Su Xiuyu blinked.
That… actually made sense.
He grinned and pulled Mito into a hug. "You're a genius, Mito. My perfect wife."
"Let go, you idiot!" She punched him in the stomach. "If the elders see us, they'll kill you!"
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