Konoha Village, Konoha Academy.
From the classrooms came the sound of neat and spirited singing.
“We are the inheritors of the Will of Fire,
Carrying on the glorious spirit of our predecessors.
Love Konoha, love your comrades, march forward bravely,
The fiery faith illuminates our way…”
This song was composed by Uchiha Hikaru overnight, inspired by Kamizuki Yakumo’s story.
The lyrics were catchy and the melody simple and easy to remember.
After finishing it, Hikaru immediately summoned Sarutobi Sasuke, the Minister of Ceremonies.
“This song must be taught to the entire Konoha Academy within three days.
By the Hokage’s direct order, it will serve as the academy’s school song, to be sung by all students every morning before classes begin.”
Sarutobi Sasuke took the lyrics, read them carefully, and his eyes grew brighter with each line.
“Hikaru-sama, this song is wonderfully written.”
“Save the flattery.
Go carry out the order.”
“Yes!”
Before long, the song could be heard echoing through every street and alley of Konoha.
Children sang it on their way to school, on their way home, and even while eating dinner.
Vegetable vendors, construction workers, patrolling ninja—all of them occasionally hummed a line or two of “We are the inheritors of the Will of Fire.”
“Oh, this song is so lovely.”
“Right?
My kid sings it at home all day long.
I’ve practically learned it by heart.”
Conversations like this echoed in every corner of Konoha.
Senju Compound.
Tobirama Senju had just finished his secret experiments and emerged from the basement, utterly exhausted.
Physical fatigue he could endure, but the weariness of the mind was far harder to bear.
Uchiha Hikaru’s tactics were relentless—one day a school song, the next day a public relations campaign.
Every move was calculated, leaving no gaps.
His brother Hashirama remained completely indifferent to village affairs.
The Senju clan had no one to rely on but him.
Ever since Uchiha Madara became Hokage, the Uchiha had dominated Konoha almost unchallenged.
Though both clans had founded the village together, the people of Konoha now knew only the Uchiha, not the Senju.
The minor clans were all scrambling to align themselves with the Uchiha—the Sarutobi, the Shimura, the Aburame…
one by one, they had become Uchiha loyalists.
If this continued, what standing would the Senju have left in Konoha?
Tobirama rubbed his temples and was about to head inside when he ran into Hashirama and Mito.
“Tobirama, what have you been busy with lately?
Mito and I haven’t seen you at all.”
Tobirama replied, “What have I been busy with?
I’ve been busy saving the Senju clan.”
Hashirama blinked, his smile faltering.
“What am I talking about?” Tobirama let out a cold laugh.
“Brother, the Hokage right now is Uchiha Madara.
You must become the next Hokage.
If this continues, the Senju will be completely eclipsed by the Uchiha!”
Hashirama frowned.
“Tobirama, you’re too narrow-minded.
You always suspect others of ill intent.
I think Madara and Hikaru are doing a fine job.
Ever since Madara became Hokage, Konoha has flourished in peace, and the people live in harmony.
You’re always targeting the Uchiha—that’s prejudice and arrogance!”
“You are exactly what Hikaru calls—a remnant of the old era.
Still clinging to outdated clan ideologies, refusing to embrace Konoha as one big family.”
Tobirama’s face flushed red.
“I’m a remnant?
I’m narrow-minded?”
His voice rose sharply.
“You’re so noble!
You’re so great!
Now you can scold me all you want!
I’m in the compound doing experiments, worrying about the Senju’s future, while you’re out there having a wonderful time!”
“Hmph—”
Tobirama turned and slammed the door behind him, leaving Hashirama and Mito standing in the yard.
Hashirama sighed.
“Mito, don’t you think Tobirama is being too sensitive?”
Uzumaki Mito did not answer.
She did not want to get involved in the Senju-Uchiha feud.
She had only been married here a short while and had not yet fully grasped all the intricacies.
But one thing she did feel quite certain about,Tobirama was indeed petty and small-minded.
Konoha had already been established, yet he was still clinging to old hatreds, constantly muttering about “wicked Uchiha.” It embarrassed her in front of Ameori.
Ameori was her childhood friend, now married to Uchiha Izuna.
Mito often visited the Uchiha compound to chat and have tea with her.
Every time Ameori asked, “Does Tobirama-sama have a problem with us Uchiha?” Mito did not know how to answer.
Thankfully, Shiono and Nagatsuki had not taken a liking to Tobirama—otherwise, if they had married into the Senju, that petty man would have made their lives miserable.
Mito silently counted her blessings, then took Hashirama’s hand and led him inside.
“Come on, stop arguing with Tobirama.
He’s always like that.
He’ll get over it in a few days.”
Uchiha Compound.
Inside Uchiha Madara’s residence, Madara and Hikaru sat facing each other.
“Madara-sama, according to clan records, overuse of the Mangekyo Sharingan leads to deteriorating vision, and in severe cases, blindness.
You have been fighting Hashirama for years, using your Mangekyo in battle continuously—I imagine your vision has already declined considerably, has it not?”
Uchiha Madara was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.
“Yes.
Not only me—Izuna as well.
Compared to when we first awakened, our vision has gradually weakened. Visit novelping.com for the full chapter.
I have never told the clan about this, for fear of causing panic.”
Hikaru’s heart sank.
Just as he had suspected—both Madara and Izuna’s Mangekyo were already approaching blindness.
If this problem was not resolved soon, Madara’s combat strength would be severely diminished, and the Uchiha could not afford to lose their most powerful asset.
“Madara-sama, I know of a way to solve the problem of Mangekyo blindness.”
“What way?”
“Between blood brothers, transplanting each other’s Mangekyo Sharingan can cure the blindness.”
“How do you know this?” As the head of the Uchiha clan, Madara was familiar with most of Uchiha history.
But nowhere had he ever read that Mangekyo blindness could be cured, let alone through mutual transplantation.
Hikaru had anticipated this question and answered without changing his expression: “My father told me.”
“Elder Ruito?” Madara’s expression grew complicated.
Uchiha Ruito, Hikaru’s father, had been a former elder of the clan.
When Uchiha Tajima—Madara’s father—had competed for the position of clan head, Ruito had been his greatest rival.
After his defeat, Ruito had stepped down to the position of elder.
Though he no longer contested the leadership, he still carried considerable weight within the clan.
Words spoken by such a man carried credibility.
“Father said that if I ever awakened the Mangekyo, it would not be a blessing for me, but a curse—because I have no blood siblings.” Hikaru’s voice dropped slightly.
“Unfortunately, Father passed too soon and never had the chance to give me a younger brother or sister.”
He looked up, meeting Madara’s eyes.
“Madara-sama, with Izuna-sama by your side, that is a blessing for both of you.
I have never spoken of this to anyone before, because I did not want to cause unrest in the clan.
But now that you are Hokage and Izuna-sama is a pillar of Konoha, your eyes cannot afford to have any problems.”
Madara fell silent.
He closed his eyes, recalling fragments of his father’s words.
Tajima had never mentioned Mangekyo transplantation, but he had also not shared all of the clan’s secrets with him.
Some things were known only to the elders.
It was not impossible that Ruito knew things Tajima did not.
“Are you certain this method works?” Madara opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as he fixed it on Hikaru.
“Madara-sama, I am certain.”
He was absolutely certain.
The method of transplanting the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan was clearly laid out in the original story—descendants of Indra, through mutual transplantation between blood siblings, could be reborn with Eternal Light that would never fade.
Madara and Izuna were the perfect candidates.
Uchiha Madara rose to his feet.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
“This matter…
let me think on it.”
“Of course.” Hikaru stood and bowed slightly.
“Madara-sama, I will take my leave.”
Stepping out of Madara’s residence, Hikaru looked up at the night sky and let out a long breath.
The greatest challenge—he had already provided the solution.
Now, it was only a matter of waiting for Madara to come around.