Naruto: Uchiha's Resolve

The usual path to becoming Hokage was out of reach for an Uchiha in Tobirama Senju's time, leaving Uchiha Hirito with only one option—waiting.

"Wait until Tobirama dies," he thought, despite the fact that he held an ace: the Mangekyō Sharingan Experience Card. This trump card allowed him to wield the power of the Mangekyō temporarily, yet Hirito was cautious. The Mangekyō had its limits. Tobirama, the man who defeated Izuna Uchiha, another Mangekyō wielder, was a dangerous opponent. Challenging Tobirama would be reckless, even with the Mangekyō.

For Hirito, the experience card was a precious resource, one he didn't want to waste. Tobirama had crafted numerous jutsu specifically to counter Uchiha, and Hirito had no intention of testing the Senju's genius without a strategic advantage. If he ever hoped to learn Tobirama's secrets, like the Sealed Book of Jutsu, he needed to survive—and ideally, become Hokage.

But as things stood, Hirito's waiting game seemed to pay off. "By tonight, Tobirama's body should be cold," he mused, feeling the gloom from his unsuccessful lottery draw fade into a growing excitement. A smirk appeared on his face, then broke into the classic Uchiha laughter.

"Hahaha! Hehehe—"

Cough, cough. Hirito choked on his laughter and quickly cleared his throat, catching a meow from outside. A black cat slipped through the window, landing gracefully on his bed, tail flicking as it settled down.

"Hirito, we've got the news."

The black cat, known as Manji, was Hirito's summoned partner. Flicking his tail, Manji continued, "There really was an ambush at the negotiation between Konoha and the Raikage, just as you thought. The Second Hokage led off the enemy alone. It was… dangerous."

The cat paused, licking his paw with practiced grace before curling up on the bed. Hirito took a seat beside him, fingers skillfully stroking Manji's fur.

"That intel wasn't easy to get out of Chazi," Manji continued, referring to the familiar of Uchiha Kagami. The Uchiha and Ninja Cat clans had always been allied. From the day Hirito showed promise in the Ninja Academy, Manji had been introduced by the clan and had signed a contract with Hirito. They'd faced numerous missions together, building a bond of trust.

"Nice work, Manji."

Manji purred in response, looking quite pleased with Hirito's skillful petting. "How are you going to thank me?"

Hirito chuckled. "How about three bottles of catnip?"

"Make it six," Manji countered, his tail flicking in mock displeasure.

"Deal." Hirito reached into his drawer, pulling out a can of catnip, which he tossed to Manji. "I'll pick up the rest tomorrow."

Manji wasted no time, cracking open the can, pulling out a pawful of catnip, and savoring it. "This stuff's top-notch," he murmured, blissfully rubbing himself against the soft spread.

"Manji," Hirito said, "tell the other ninja cats to stay in Konoha for the next few days and keep an eye out. I'll need updates regularly."

But Manji, eyes glazed over from the catnip, was clearly no longer listening. His paws worked mechanically as he continued munching. Hirito sighed. "Forget it," he thought. Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others hadn't returned yet, so the official news of Tobirama's death was still pending. For now, he would simply wait.

A few days later, Sarutobi Hiruzen and his team rushed back to Konoha, bearing grave news: negotiations with the Raikage had failed. The Raikage was ambushed by his own followers, Kinkaku and Ginkaku, while Senju Tobirama had perished in the ensuing battle.

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Senju Compound

"Tobirama… dead?" Uzumaki Mito's voice trembled as she processed the news. The shock was overwhelming. She could scarcely believe her brother-in-law, Tobirama, was gone. In her memories, he was the epitome of calm and intelligence, a brilliant strategist who had managed Konoha flawlessly after Hashirama's death.

Tobirama was a man of unmatched strength, having survived the chaotic Warring States era. That he should fall during a negotiation seemed impossible. Confused, she turned to Hiruzen, hoping for an explanation, yet her heart knew the truth. Silence, however, was all Hiruzen could offer.

Tears welled in Mito's eyes, but she quickly wiped them away, replacing her sorrow with resolve. She fixed a steely gaze on Hiruzen. "Tell me everything. Don't leave out a single detail."

Her voice, sharp and commanding, seemed to pulse with chakra, a testament to her Uzumaki heritage. As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, her energy was formidable, and her grief made it all the more intense, causing everyone in the room to feel the weight of her presence.

Konoha was in a precarious state. After eight years of grueling warfare in the First Ninja World War, even a powerful village like Konoha was worn thin. Tobirama's death at such a critical time was a blow that could destabilize everything.

"Yes, Mito-sama," Hiruzen replied, proceeding to recount the negotiation. He described how Tobirama and the Raikage had been ambushed, how the Kinkaku Squad had pursued them, and how Tobirama ultimately chose to sacrifice himself to give his disciples a chance to escape. Finally, he mentioned Tobirama's last words, appointing him as the Third Hokage.

Throughout the story, Mito interrupted several times, pressing Hiruzen for exact details and making others in the room repeat their accounts. Mito's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized each statement. With her unique ability to sense emotions, granted by the Nine-Tails, she could tell they weren't lying.

When they finished, Mito's expression softened, though doubt lingered. Was Tobirama's judgment sound? Could the young ninjas before her truly uphold his legacy? And this Sarutobi Hiruzen—was he worthy of the title of Hokage?

(End of Chapter)