Konoha New Era : Third Hokage Ascends

(Edited)

Rimi was very concerned about the results of the meeting, but she lacked the qualifications to participate, so all she could do was wait at home for Masaki's return. When she heard the sound of the door opening, she quickly set down what she was holding and went to ask Masaki about the final outcome.

Seeing Masaki's calm expression, Rimi felt relieved. If the meeting had gone poorly, Masaki wouldn't be this composed.

After sitting down, Masaki began talking to Rimi about the Uchiha clan. As Rimi had anticipated, the First Hokage had resolved the situation smoothly. She smiled and said, "That Uchiha Kagami should become the clan leader. If he does, I believe the Uchiha can live in harmony with the village, unlike before."

"Yes," Masaki responded, but he secretly added to himself, As long as Kagami doesn't die prematurely.

Uchiha Kagami was undoubtedly someone loyal to the village. As long as he remained the Uchiha patriarch, the clan wouldn't abandon Konoha. However, Masaki knew from his knowledge of the future that the Uchiha clan eventually fell to the brink of extinction, a fate partly tied to Kagami's early death.

Masaki also understood some of the Uchiha clan's traditions. They valued strength, and the strong were respected. This philosophy fostered a cruel competition within the clan.

Even Uchiha Kagami, who was originally chosen by Madara himself, earned the support of most clan members due to his exceptional talent and power. According to the normal timeline, Kagami would pass away before the age of twenty-five. Despite early marriages being common in this era, Kagami didn't leave behind adult heirs, and the clan wouldn't accept a young leader.

Following Uchiha tradition, a new patriarch would typically be chosen through fierce competition, a process often marked by bloodshed. This ensured that the chosen leader had enough strength to gain the trust of the entire clan and lead them forward.

If nothing changed, after Kagami's death, the Uchiha clan would follow this brutal method to select a new patriarch. If the new leader wasn't Kagami's successor, Uchiha Shisui wouldn't inherit the position. Without the relationship that Kagami had built with Konoha's leadership, and given the clan's internal dynamics, it's understandable how they gradually became alienated from the village.

The reason Senju Tobirama had accepted Kagami as a disciple was that he wanted Kagami to influence the clan, helping them form an identity tied to the village. However, Kagami's early death caused the clan to lose this vital connection with Konoha's leadership. As a result, the Uchiha clan drifted further from the village's center of power, and Tobirama's efforts were in vain.

For the Uchiha clan to truly become an inseparable part of Konoha, Kagami mustn't die, or at least, he needed to find an heir before his death to maintain the bond of trust.

Masaki thought to himself, It seems I now have another reason to protect Kagami from dying. The problem is, I don't know the exact mission where Kagami perishes. However, I'm certain something happens around his 25th year. I need to stay alert.

Seeing that Rimi was relaxed, Masaki said, "By the way, Hashirama-sama hopes we can get married soon, perhaps within the next few days. Also, Kagami suggested that our weddings be held on the same day."

"Huh? Uchiha Kagami is getting married too?" Rimi was startled at first, then her eyes widened. "Wait, does that mean we'll be getting married on the same day?"

"Yeah. Do you not like that idea?" Masaki asked.

"It's not that," Rimi said, puffing her cheeks slightly. "What did Hashirama-sama think?"

"He thought it was great and even clapped during the meeting. If you're uncomfortable with it, I can talk to Hashirama-sama," Masaki offered.

"It's not really about what I think," Rimi muttered. "It just surprised me. Getting married on the same day…"

In Konoha, this was indeed a novel idea, Masaki thought. Then he remembered something Uchiha Kagami had mentioned earlier and decided to ask Rimi's opinion. "On the way back, Kagami brought up the idea of a marriage agreement between our children—assuming one's a boy and the other's a girl."

"Did you agree?" Rimi asked, eyes wide.

"No," Masaki replied with a smile. "I wanted to hear your thoughts first. After all, the child is yours too."

Rimi smiled at his response. "Good. Kagami's the Uchiha patriarch, so having him suggest marrying our children is an honor. But I think it's better to let them decide when they grow up. It wouldn't hurt for them to become close, though."

"I feel the same way," Masaki said. Then, with curiosity, he asked, "Rimi, if you hadn't liked me, would you have refused Hashirama-sama's marriage contract?"

"Of course," Rimi said softly. "I wouldn't want to spend my life with someone I didn't love." She glanced at Masaki before lowering her head slightly. "Honestly, it's because I liked you that Hashirama-sama decided to arrange our engagement."

Masaki's eyes widened slightly. They were only eight years old when the marriage contract was made, too young to fully understand the concept of love. Hearing Rimi's words, Masaki realized she must have had feelings for him even back then.

He started to recall the past. After being taken in by the Senju clan and losing his parents, he had been deeply hurt. During that period, he'd met a girl who had also lost her parents. They had spent time together, but once Masaki recovered, he focused solely on training with the Senju boys and lost contact with her.

Thinking back now, wasn't that girl Rimi? He had been so blinded by his pain and training that he forgot about her—until their engagement.

Masaki chuckled to himself. He had truly been an idiot.

"What's so funny?" Rimi asked, giving him a curious glance.

"I'm laughing at a fool," Masaki said, shaking his head. "He met someone special but forgot all about her when they reunited."

Rimi understood immediately and huffed. "You finally remembered! When we got engaged, I was expecting you to say something, but you acted like we were strangers."

"Sorry," Masaki quickly apologized. "It was my mistake."

"It's not a big deal," Rimi said, though she had been upset at the time. After so many years together, she no longer cared. Still, when Masaki brought it up, the memory resurfaced. However, she was about to marry Fumori Masaki, and that was what mattered now.

"Besides," Rimi added with a smile, "Masaki is still Masaki. You seem more reliable these days, but deep down, you haven't changed."

Masaki was slightly taken aback. After gaining new memories and experiences, he sometimes struggled to reconcile who he was. Was he truly Fumori Masaki, or was he someone else possessing Masaki's memories? For now, Rimi's words eased some of the confusion in his heart.