Uchiha: Starting as Tobirama's Jinchuriki

"...When the leaves dance in the air, the fire burns eternally..." This phrase was even framed on the wall of the Ninja Academy as a prominent slogan.

Asuma had long wanted to talk to Qingshui, but today's shock gave him the courage to overcome his inner hesitation.

Although he had no connection with Qingshui, he still boldly came looking for him.

"Asuma-kun, if you want to talk to me, you can..."

Qingshui looked at Asuma, who looked like a rebellious teenager, and smiled gently.

This person is quite unique in the Naruto series.

As the son of the Third Hokage, and the only child after the Nine-Tails' attack, he is guaranteed at least a position as an advisor to Konoha, barring any major trouble. If he proves himself, he could become the Hokage's assistant.

But Asma was not a conventional person.

After the Third Shinobi World War, he acted on his own likes and dislikes, left Konoha to wander around, and even pondered the question of who the Jade was.

In a sense, Asuma once questioned the underlying logic of the Will of Fire.

So, this is an interesting ninja who attempted to betray his own class.

"Where shall we talk, Asuma-kun? Here, or perhaps somewhere secluded..."

Qingshui stared at the stunned Asuma and said softly.

"Please, please come with me, Qingshui-kun! This is really not a good place to talk!"

Asma was indeed stunned. He hadn't expected Qingshui to agree to his request so readily, and in such a gentle tone.

This is the oppressive feeling that comes with strength.

In Asuma's mind, Qingshui, who possessed such martial prowess among his peers, should be proud and arrogant. He was prepared to beg Qingshui, but he never expected it to go so smoothly, and Qingshui agreed to his request...

Asuma led Aoshui through several turns, eventually arriving at a secluded valley outside Konoha Village. Seeing Aoshui's confused look, Asuma scratched his head and explained somewhat awkwardly:

"It's safer here, Qingshui-kun."

"That old man uses ninjutsu to spy on the villagers. This is a blind spot I found, and it's also where I usually smoke, so it's safe here. We can say whatever we want..."

Qing Shui chuckled inwardly. Was Asma really that filial?

So that reveals the third generation's telescope technique, right?

It seems that Hiruzen Sarutobi's family relationships are not harmonious...

Tobirama Senju frowned. Aokiji had just told him that Asuma Sarutobi was Hiruzen Sarutobi's youngest son.

So, what's going on here?

The Hokage's son came looking for a Uchiha genius, and even went to such a secluded corner, his tone showing no respect for Hiruzen Sarutobi...

"This monkey, how come he can't even be a father?" Tobirama Senju shook his head, looking disappointed in him.

"No, you don't even have a partner, so don't accuse others of not knowing how to be fathers..."

Aozumi Yuuyu offered a rebuttal on behalf of Hiruzen Sarutobi, then gestured to Asuma with his eyes, indicating that he could begin his questioning.

Asuma took a deep breath and voiced his inner confusion: "Aozumi-kun, can you tell me what the Will of Fire is?"

"I know that Qing Shui-jun has a high score in the Will of Fire, but do you really believe in the Will of Fire? If so, why do you choose to believe in it?"

"Please give me an answer, Qingshui-kun!"

Chapter 46 A strange pair, gazing together at Konoha.

Looking at the incredibly serious Sarutobi Asuma, Qingshui sighed and, instead of directly answering his question, asked in return:

"Asuma-kun, what is the real source of your confusion?"

Qingshui sat down under a rock, gestured for Asuma to sit next to him, and gazed at the bustling Konoha Village in the distance.

"Your father is the current Third Hokage of Konoha and the successor appointed by the Second Hokage. Growing up beside him, you should have been influenced by the Will of Fire. Why would you ask such a question?"

Asma slowly sat down beside Qingshui. The bustling scene he saw appeared so ephemeral in his eyes.

"Lord Aoshui, it is precisely because I am the son of the Third Hokage that I have doubts about the Will of Fire..."

Asuma gave a wry smile, pointed to the Uchiha clan crest on the hem of his blue robe, and said self-deprecatingly:

"Don't laugh at me, Qingshui-kun, if you weren't from the Uchiha clan, even if you were so proficient in the Will of Fire, I wouldn't dare to come looking for you."

“If I ask other people the questions I just mentioned, my father will know everything I said the next day, and he will either scold me severely or beat me up.”

Qingshui laughed: "You're an honest man, Asma."

“That’s right. The Uchiha clan is in such an awkward position in Konoha right now. Even if I could gain your father’s favor, I wouldn’t risk talking to him about this. After all, that would be sowing discord between you and your father.”

Asuma nodded awkwardly.

Qingshui patted him on the shoulder, stared at him, and said, "It has nothing to do with the Uchiha clan or Konoha..."

"Asuma, I assure you that no one else will know what you said today. I swear on the honor of the Uchiha."

Upon hearing this, Asuma immediately became serious: "Thank you, Aomine-kun."

Swearing an oath in honor of the clan is a very reliable guarantee for a thousand-year-old ninja clan like the Uchiha.

But Tobirama Senju snorted coldly upon hearing this.

If it were any other Uchiha who said something like that, he might be able to believe it to some extent…

If the person making the oath is Aoshui, Tobirama Senju feels that the credibility of this oath is about the same as the strength of his own oath using the honor of the Senju clan. In short, it can be said that the bottom line is very flexible.

"Huh, did I accidentally curse myself...?" Tobirama Senju paused, realizing his blind spot.

"Seisui-kun, it is because my father is the Hokage and my brother is the head of the Anbu that I can see and hear many things in this village that others cannot..."

Asuma pulled a crumpled cigarette from his pocket, lit it skillfully, took a deep drag, and said with a dreamy look in his eyes, "Do you know Root?"

"That was a branch of the Anbu, under the control of Danzo Shimura, who was assisted by the Hokage. I used to have a few friends there, some of whom were commoners and some of whom were from ninja clans, but they were all later selected by Root."

Qing Shui nodded: "Being chosen by the Dark Division, isn't that a good thing?"

Sarutobi Asuma exhaled a puff of smoke:

"Good news? They disappeared from Konoha. I asked their elders, but their families said they were dead, their eyes filled with hatred and resentment."

"I don't believe my friends wanted to join the so-called Root. Their dream used to be to become Hokage..."

Qing Shui remained silent and slowly nodded.

This is indeed Danzo Shimura's style: abducting the geniuses he valued and brainwashing them into becoming his tools when they were young.

Not only ordinary ninjas, but even ninja clans found it difficult to resist Danzo Shimura's demands. Even the Yamanaka clan, which was closely attached to Hiruzen Sarutobi, had to contribute their clan's geniuses to assist the Hokage.

Upon hearing the name Shimura Danzo, Tobirama Senju's heart stirred, and his expression gradually darkened, lost in thought.

"Not only that, Qingshui-kun, as an Uchiha, you should have heard of Wood Release, right?"

Seemingly because of Aoshui's earnest vow, Asuma's words became increasingly bold:

"Orochimaru, Danzo Shimura, and my father once conducted human experiments in order to replicate the First Hokage's Wood Release for the sake of Konoha."

"Initially, this project was official and formal, with many members of the Senju clan volunteering and actively cooperating with the research. Even many civilian ninjas volunteered to join in."

Qing Shui waved his hand and slowly said:

“Asuma, human experimentation is justifiable. The village and your father were doing it to strengthen the village, which does not violate the Will of Fire. After all, it was done voluntarily.”

Asma slowly shook his head:

"Later, the experiment was stopped. I don't know the specific reasons, but I heard that the success rate was too low and many ninjas died."

Qingshui nodded knowingly: "Effort doesn't always guarantee a return, Asuma."

"The power of the First Hokage is so tempting that any Hokage would want to replicate Konoha's former glory, but they just haven't succeeded. That doesn't prove anything."

Asuma sighed heavily: "Qingshui-kun, how could I not understand what you're saying?"

"But after this experiment was stopped, a small number of the ninjas with the Senju bloodline that I remembered mysteriously disappeared from Konoha. Where do you think they went...?"

"Did they go to Root, or did they continue to sacrifice themselves in this secret experiment? I want to know, were those ninjas who disappeared later voluntary?"

"And the blackmail at the root and the secret human experimentation are just the tip of the iceberg."

"Do these all align with the Will of Fire?"

Qingshui narrowed his eyes, patted Asuma on the shoulder, and slowly said, "So, what's really confusing you is..."

“In your daily life, the Will of Fire you learn at the Ninja Academy is so bright and righteous, without a trace of filth or flaw.”

"Because of your family and background, you have witnessed the darkness buried deep in the village, which conflicts with the Will of Fire that most Konoha ninjas have learned, and makes it even more difficult for you to understand what the Will of Fire is."

Asma nodded vigorously; Qingshui's summary resonated with him deeply.

If one has never seen the light, then one can endure the darkness.

Asuma, having witnessed darkness, harbored a deep-seated skepticism towards the light before him.

As a teenager with independent thinking, Asma has his own ideals, but his background brings him a gap in information, making him feel extremely confused and painful.

"Asuma, give me one..." Qingshui didn't answer Asuma's question, but instead asked him for a cigarette.

Asma nodded silently, lit a fire for Qing Shui, and also lit one for himself.

Son of the Hokage and a genius of the Uchiha clan.

This odd couple sat atop the mountain, gazing at the bustling streets of Konoha, silently smoking.

At this moment, it seems that some kind of bond has formed...

Chapter 47 The high ground of public opinion needs to be defended, or it will fall to the enemy.

占去

Aokiji and Asuma silently smoked, gazing together at Konoha in the distance.

Asuma was smoking very hard, each puff seemingly an attempt to expel the bitterness in his heart, his brows furrowed with worry.

Qingshui let the cigarette in his hand burn, and the Asuma in front of him reminded him of a famous Uchiha.

His name is Uchiha Itachi…

Right now, he's probably still inside Mikoto Uchiha's belly...