The Senju clan and the Uchiha clan had joined forces.
Within days, news of this spread across the entire shinobi world.
For every ninja clan, it was no different from a nuclear bomb detonating.
Who didn’t know that the Senju and Uchiha were the two strongest clans of the Warring States Period?
For centuries, they had fought each other to the death.
Now these two clans had not only made peace but were planning to build a village together—what did that mean?
It meant that from this day forward, a juggernaut would emerge in the shinobi world, a superpower capable of sweeping away any force that dared to resist.
When Hyuga Ten’nin, head of the Hyuga clan, heard the news, he fell into a long silence.
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio—the Yamanaka, Akimichi, and Nara clans—had always stood together.
Their clan heads met urgently that very night.
Before dawn broke the next day, the three clans had dispatched envoys, bearing tokens of goodwill and offers of allegiance, racing toward the Senju and Uchiha encampment.
The Shimura and Sarutobi clans did not hesitate long either.
They voluntarily came forward to pledge loyalty—if you can’t beat them, join them.
Now, while the village was still being built, they could still secure a place for themselves.
Once it was fully established, trying to join later would likely leave them without even a foot in the door.
In an instant, the Land of Fire was swept up in a whirlwind of change.
One by one, the great clans sent representatives to the temporary Senju-Uchiha encampment, expressing their willingness to submit.
What had begun as an alliance of just two clans rapidly swelled to encompass the majority of the Land of Fire’s shinobi forces.
Meanwhile, in the capital of the Land of Fire, the Daimyo sat in his study, his face ashen.
“The Senju and Uchiha want to build a village together?” The Daimyo’s voice trembled.
“What are they trying to do?
What do they think they’re doing!”
Ninjas had always been content to fight and take on missions—no matter how chaotic the shinobi world became, it never troubled the Daimyo’s domain.
But now these ninjas had suddenly decided to unite and build a village—it sounded innocent enough, but that was clearly a military fortress!
At best, this was a dereliction of duty.
At worst, it was an illegal armed uprising!
Once these ninjas had their own base, unified command, and a massive army—if they ever grew displeased and marched on the capital, what would he have to stop them?
How could he tolerate such a threat sleeping beside his bed…
But as frantic as he was, he had no recourse.
Offend those ninjas?
He wouldn’t dare.
Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha—weren’t they both legendary monsters?
Equally frantic were the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, the Land of Earth, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Water.
The news of the Senju-Uchiha alliance spread like a plague into every corner of the Five Great Nations.
In the Land of Grass, the Land of Waterfalls, the Land of Rain—ninjas in every country began either imitating the model or forming their own alliances.
Back in the Land of Fire, inside the temporary Senju-Uchiha encampment.
To call it an encampment was almost an understatement—it was already taking on the shape of a village.
After the two clans united, Senju and Uchiha members lived and trained together.
Houses were built one after another, streets were laid out one by one.
Though simple and crude, every face carried something that had never been there before—hope.
At this moment, inside the largest meeting hall at the center of the village, five people sat around a table.
Madara Uchiha sat at the head on the left, with Uchiha Hikaru and Izuna Uchiha standing behind him.
Hashirama Senju sat at the head on the right, with Tobirama Senju seated behind him.
Tobirama, however, was confined to a wheelchair, his face pale, his crimson eyes fixed on the Uchiha Hikaru across from him with undisguised hostility.
Uchiha Hikaru couldn’t have cared less.
He even offered Tobirama a small, friendly smile—but to Tobirama, that smile looked like nothing short of provocation.
Ah, Hikaru sighed inwardly.
That wicked old Tobirama had managed to survive after all.
He had kicked him hard—hard enough that he’d assumed it would put the future Second Hokage out of commission for at least half a year.
But the man was stubborn; barely a few days had passed and there he was, already wheeling himself into a meeting.
As the de facto strategist of the Uchiha, Hikaru had never expected much in the way of clever plans from Madara and Izuna.
Madara’s head was filled with nothing but power and Hashirama.
Izuna’s head was filled with nothing but his brother.
If Hikaru weren’t there to keep things steady, the Uchiha would have been devoured whole by the wicked Tobirama Senju sooner or later.
“Ahem.” Hikaru cleared his throat and spoke first.
“Madara-sama, Hashirama-sama, I believe our first priority should be to inform the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and express our goodwill.”
He paused, scanning the room, then continued.
“We need to let the Daimyo know that our village is built purely for peace, to end warfare.
We can also offer to protect the Daimyo.
In exchange for economic support, we will acknowledge the Daimyo’s absolute sovereignty over the Land of Fire.”
At this point, Hikaru’s gaze turned slightly darker.
“Otherwise…
we simply won’t recognize this Daimyo of the Land of Fire.”
The hall fell silent for a moment after his words.
Hashirama Senju scratched his head, looking uncertain.
“Would…
would the Daimyo agree to that?”
He didn’t understand politics well, but his instincts told him the Daimyo might not be thrilled with this approach.
Madara Uchiha said, “I think it’s fine.”
Madara had never respected the so-called Daimyo anyway.
Informing the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, in his view, was already generous enough.
Otherwise, he could drive his Susanoo straight to the capital—who could stop him?
Who would dare?
Tobirama sat in his wheelchair, his expression dark.
He loathed this man named Uchiha Hikaru.
If not for Hikaru’s interference, he would have cut down Izuna Uchiha with his own blade—and then the three of them would never have ganged up on his brother.
Nor would he be sitting here now, grievously wounded in a wheelchair.
But—Tobirama had to admit—this Uchiha Hikaru’s proposal was indeed sound.
“Brother,” Tobirama Senju spoke up.
“I think it works.
Building a village requires manpower, resources, and funding on a colossal scale.
Relying solely on a few ninja clans will make progress far too slow.
We can demand supplies from the Daimyo, request his assistance.
In return, we take responsibility for his security.”
Uchiha Hikaru said, “A nation cannot go a single day without a ruler.
Likewise, if we’re founding this ninja village, we need a leader.
This leader must not only possess supreme strength but also a heart for the world, be just and impartial.
As for that…”
Hikaru turned to look at Madara beside him.
“I believe Madara-sama fits perfectly.
I nominate Madara-sama.”
Izuna Uchiha said, “I also believe Nii-san is the right choice.
Unconditionally supporting Nii-san is my life’s creed.”
Tobirama Senju let out a cold snort.
“Uchiha Hikaru, when it comes to strength, my brother is the strongest.
This leader should be my brother.”
He would never give up fighting for Hashirama.
The position of village leader—the Senju absolutely had to claim it.
Uchiha Hikaru shook his head.
“Don’t forget, Madara-sama is the head of the Uchiha.
He was also the one who first set aside old grievances and reached out to the Senju.
Furthermore…
the Uchiha’s overall strength currently surpasses the Senju.
So the leadership position must go to Madara-sama.”
Those words struck Tobirama’s sore spot, but he could not refute them—three Uchiha Susanoo against one Senju wooden giant.
That was a tangible gap in power.
” Hikaru.” Madara Uchiha, who had been largely silent, suddenly spoke.
“Do not say things that undermine unity.
We are now one village, one family.
There is no distinction between us.
I think Hashirama could be the leader as well.”
Hashirama Senju quickly waved his hands.
“No, Madara, you should take it.
I think Hikaru is right.
Without your willingness to set aside grievances and embrace the greater good, this ninja village could never have been founded.”
Tobirama Senju grew anxious and called out, “Brother!”
But Hashirama seemed not to hear, continuing with a smile.
“Madara, don’t refuse.”
“How about we vote?” Uchiha Hikaru raised his hand.
“I vote for Madara-sama.”
Izuna Uchiha raised his hand as well.
“I also vote for Nii-san.”
Hashirama slowly raised his hand as well.
“I vote for Madara.”
Tobirama’s face turned pale with fury, his glare boring into Uchiha Hikaru.
This shameless bastard!
The Uchiha had three people, while the Senju had only himself and his brother.
Even if he voted for his brother, that was only two votes—still a loss.
Voting?
This was called voting?
This was clearly bullying through sheer numbers!
“Damn it…
cursed Uchiha!” Tobirama Senju’s fists clenched, knuckles cracking.
Madara Uchiha looked at the three raised hands and fell silent for a moment.
He did not refuse further, but slowly nodded.
Madara Uchiha said, “Very well.
Since that is the case, I shall take this leadership.”
And so, Madara Uchiha—the Battlefield Rose, the Ninja Shura—officially became the First Hokage.
A new era had begun.