Uzushiogakure.
Hashirama Senju had gone out for a walk with Uzumaki Mito.
Tobirama Senju had taken no interest in any of the three—Shiono, Ameori, or Nagatsuki—who had come earlier.
His words were icy cold, pushing them away.
But Uchiha Hikaru was different.
What Tobirama had not taken a liking to, Hikaru had taken a liking to all of them.
Not for himself, however—but for Madara and Izuna.
Though Shiono, Ameori, and Nagatsuki were not Ashina Uzumaki’s daughters, Hikaru could simply call them Uzumaki princesses and they would be.
When emperors married off their daughters for political alliances, very few of them were actual princesses either.
One of them in particular—Ameori—kept casting glances toward Izuna.
The Uchiha clan may have had a tendency toward mental instability, but when it came to looks, they produced nothing but handsome men.
In the original story, Sasuke was exceptionally good-looking, and Izuna resembled him greatly—sharp brows, bright eyes, powerful, noble in status, the Hokage’s younger brother.
He was practically Konoha’s top celebrity.
For a man to pursue a woman was like climbing a mountain.
For a woman to pursue a man was like piercing a veil.
Ameori’s gaze kept landing on Izuna.
Once or twice could be coincidence; three or four times was intentional.
At first, Izuna had not thought much of it—he had never been particularly interested in matters of the heart.
But Ameori’s gaze was too intense, like the summer afternoon sun—impossible to avoid.
Izuna’s face began to flush.
The Uchiha clan’s Sharingan was a Yin Release kekkei genkai, representing the power of spirit and mind.
The Uzumaki clan’s Sage Body was a Yang Release kekkei genkai, representing the power of life and body.
The bloodlines inherited from the Sage of Six Paths’ two sons—Indra and Ashura—seemed to resonate in that moment.
Yin and Yang were always one.
Watching Izuna’s lovestruck state, Hikaru immediately formulated a plan.
He rose and walked over to Ashina Uzumaki, bowing respectfully.
“Ashina-sama.”
“I, on behalf of the Uchiha clan, formally request a marriage alliance with the Uzumaki clan.”
The entire reception hall fell silent.
Hikaru straightened up, his voice clear and firm: “Izuna-sama has taken a liking to Ameori-san.
On behalf of the Uchiha clan, I humbly ask Ashina-sama to grant this union.”
“Hikaru!!!” Izuna shot to his feet, his face crimson.
He had known Ameori for less than half a day, had barely exchanged a few words with her, and this man was already tearing down all pretense?
“Izuna-sama, a man should marry when he comes of age, and a woman should marry when she comes of age.” Hikaru turned to him with a perfectly serious expression.
“I have seen your feelings for Ameori-san with my own eyes.”
“When did I ever—”
“Izuna-sama, there is no need to be shy.”
The atmosphere in the reception hall grew delicate.
“Hahaha!” Ashina Uzumaki suddenly burst into laughter.
“Excellent!
Excellent!
On the return journey to Konoha, besides the originally scheduled Uzumaki Mito, there was now an additional passenger—Uzumaki Ameori.
One was to marry Hashirama Senju.
The other was to marry Uchiha Izuna.
Tobirama’s eyes were filled with contempt.
For all these years, he and Uchiha Izuna had fought each other on the battlefield.
From youth to adulthood, blade against blade, life and death in every clash.
Before Hikaru appeared, Tobirama had always regarded Izuna as his lifelong rival—a man with strength equal to his own, a mind equally calm, and the same resolve to sacrifice everything for his clan.
Tobirama had once believed Uchiha Izuna was a worthy opponent.
But now?
He had degraded himself!
Sunk into lust!
Tobirama Senju was ashamed to be associated with him!
Konoha, the Hokage’s office.
Uchiha Madara sat at his desk, a thick stack of documents spread before him.
Since becoming Hokage, the thing he had struggled with most was reviewing documents every day.
Fortunately, Hikaru had established the Three Department Chancellors, diverting most administrative affairs away from him.
“Hikaru-sama, there is an intelligence report.”
Hikaru took the letter.
It turned out that supplies bound for Konoha had been intercepted by rogue ninja from the Land of Grass.
More critically, one of Konoha’s chunin had been taken hostage by these rogue ninja, who were demanding a ransom.
Taking ninja hostage and demanding ransom from their clans was common in the Warring States Period.
Training a ninja was no small investment.
Paying a ransom to secure their release was always worthwhile, and generally the demanded sum was not excessive.
Typically, the victims were from minor clans.
“Hikaru, has something happened?”
Hikaru looked up and handed the letter over.
“Madara-sama, one of Konoha’s chunin has been kidnapped by rogue ninja from the Land of Grass.”
“Arrogant.” Madara’s voice thundered with anger.
“Hikaru, Konoha must rescue him at all costs.”
“Madara-sama, rest assured.
Not only will we rescue him, but it would be best if you personally led the rescue.”
Madara paused.
“Personally?”
“Yes.
Not only must you go, but you must go openly and publicly.”
Hikaru continued: “Let everyone in Konoha know—no matter where you are in the shinobi world, the mighty Konoha will always be your unshakable support.
The Hokage stands with you.”
This was about winning the people’s hearts.
This was about shaping public opinion.
The Hokage needed such positive sentiment.
Madara fell silent.
Since becoming Hokage, his days had been filled with documents, meetings, and receiving clan heads—all trivial administrative tasks.
But he understood what Hikaru was saying.
The people’s hearts.
Public opinion.
An hour later, Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Hikaru set out for the Land of Grass.
Through Hikaru’s deliberate orchestration, news of the Hokage personally leaving the village to rescue a hostage spread like wildfire through every corner of Konoha.
“Hey, did you hear?
The Hokage-sama personally went to rescue that captured chunin.”
“Really?
The Hokage-sama himself?”
“Of course it’s true.
I saw him leave through the North Gate with my own eyes.”
“Wow, who is that chunin?
The Hokage-sama himself is going?”
“I heard he’s from a minor clan.
No connections.”
“I think his name is Kamizuki Yakumo.”
“The Hokage-sama truly loves his people like his own children.
Long live Konoha, long live the Hokage, long live the Uchiha…”
“The Hokage-sama is telling everyone that Konoha will never abandon any of its comrades.”
“No regrets joining Konoha in this life.
In the next life, I will be a Konoha ninja again.”
“Those who dare to harm Konoha will be pursued to the ends of the earth.”
When Tobirama Senju heard the news, he was in the Senju compound, secretly researching his techniques.
“Uchiha Hikaru…”
Tobirama knew immediately that this was Hikaru’s doing.
The Hokage personally leading a rescue—whether successful or not, the gesture alone was enough.
What would Konoha’s ninja think?
They would feel this village was worth serving, this Hokage was worth following.
And what would those with ill intentions think?
They would think twice about what they would face if they touched someone from Konoha.
He had to admit—Uchiha Hikaru was even more formidable than he had imagined.
A Hokage personally going to rescue a single hostage was almost unheard of in the original story—the Hokage always remained in the village and rarely left.
But precisely because of this, the impact was even greater.
That was exactly the effect Hikaru wanted.
To let every person in Konoha know—the Hokage was not some distant figurehead, but someone who would go through fire and water for you.
That was the people’s heart.
The Uchiha needed that kind of support.