Uchiha: Becoming the Strongest Hokage from Scratch

Rin Uchiha smiled inexplicably and left the Hyuga clan's residence without saying a word.

Without the slightest delay, they leaped onto the treetops and swiftly traversed the afterglow of the setting sun.

Rin pondered her next move as she traveled.

She took out the list given to her by Uchiha Tsuki from her ninja tool bag and glanced at it in the last rays of daylight.

"Next up is... the Night Moon Clan."

The Yoruzuki clan's base isn't too far from the Hyuga clan's; at her speed, she could arrive in half an hour if she traveled at full speed.

"The Yotsuki clan is probably just as afraid as the Hyuga, right?" A sly smile played on his lips. "Yukatsuki is a genius. Such a simple sentence can make all the ninja clans uneasy."

She knew what the major ninja clans valued most—bloodline, lineage, and secret techniques.

"Who would agree to sacrifice their own interests for the sake of peace for others?" Rin chuckled softly, her figure disappearing into the woods.

Before Madara and Hashirama officially announce their alliance, she must visit as many ninja clans as possible to create a media frenzy.

……

The next morning.

Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju stood side by side on a high platform, below which gathered elite ninjas from both clans.

Before them, a huge scroll slowly unfurled, densely covered with the terms and declarations of the alliance.

"From this day forward, a new era of peace officially begins!"

Hashirama Senju's voice was loud and passionate: "We will join hands to end this era of constant war, and create a peaceful new world for all the ninja clans and for every living person on this land!"

Madara Uchiha stood beside him, arms crossed, his expression cold and confident.

"We will open our doors to anyone who is willing to join our ninja clan, regardless of their age or past grievances."

Together we will build a new order, an order without needless killing, an order where children can grow up safely!

News of the alliance between the two clans spread rapidly to the ninja clans' territories via ninja hawks, summoning beasts, and ninjas specifically tasked with relaying intelligence.

Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju awaited the outcome with confidence.

They anticipated that a large number of ninja clans would come upon hearing the news, either sending people to gather information or coming directly to discuss joining.

After all, this is the alliance of the two strongest clans in the ninja world, a force powerful enough to change the entire landscape of the era.

However, on the first day the official declaration was released, it didn't cause a ripple in the ninja world at all.

Apart from a few ninja hawks bringing back some courtesy messages, no ninja clan sent anyone.

The situation improved slightly on the second day, but it was far from the expected scene of all the major ninja clans flocking to the scene.

Those who came to negotiate were only a few small and medium-sized ninja clans that had been on good terms with the Senju clan for generations: Sarutobi, Shimura, Utatane, and Mitomon.

"That's all?"

Inside the makeshift reception tent, Tobirama Senju frowned as he looked at the few visiting cards in his hand.

This isn't right.

The alliance between the Uchiha and Senju clans is a bombshell news that should shake the entire ninja world, so why is there only such a small reaction?

Even if some ninja clans are still observing, they should at least send someone to sound them out.

But now, apart from these few clans that already had good relations with the Senju, the other ninja clans seem to have collectively fallen silent.

"Brother, something's wrong." Tobirama found Hashirama, who was discussing the alliance's specific terms with Madara Uchiha, and said in a deep voice.

"What's wrong, Tobirama?" Hashirama looked up from the map, puzzled.

"Too few ninja clans have come." Tobirama placed the visiting card on the table. "Take a look."

Madara Uchiha snorted coldly upon hearing this, "It's their loss if they don't come."

Once we quell the chaos and establish a new order, they will regret their hesitation today.

"Madara is right." Hashirama patted his brother's shoulder optimistically. "Perhaps they need some more time to process this news."

After all, the alliance between our two races is a huge shock to many people.

Tobirama Senju hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

He knew his older brother all too well.

Hashirama always believed in the best side of human nature, always thinking that as long as he treated others sincerely, they would reciprocate.

But the world is not like that, especially in this Warring States period filled with killing and betrayal.

"I'll go greet Sarutobi and the others." Tobirama didn't say anything more in the end, and turned to leave the tent.

He knew that there was no point in saying anything now; he could only deal with the immediate situation first.

……

Inside the reception tent, the clan leaders and representatives of the Sarutobi, Shimura, Utatane, and Mitomon clans had been waiting for a long time.

When Tobirama Senju entered the tent, he keenly noticed the expressions on the faces of the others.

It wasn't anticipation and excitement, but rather caution and doubt.

"Thank you all for coming." Tobirama sat down in the main seat and got straight to the point. "If you have any questions about the specific terms of the alliance, please feel free to ask."

After a brief silence, the head of the Sarutobi clan spoke first.

"Lord Tobirama, we do have some concerns."

"We fully agree that the Uchiha and Senju alliance aims to end the chaos and create peace." He paused, "But we'd like to know, in the peaceful new world you and Lord Hashirama envision..."

Will we, the ninja clans that have joined the alliance, still be able to retain our own clans?

As soon as he finished speaking, the heads of Shimura, Utatane, and Mitomon all stared intently at Tobirama, awaiting his reply.

Just then, the tent flap was lifted, and Hashirama Senju strode in.

"Of course!" Hashirama said loudly, with his signature cheerful smile on his face. "We are forming an alliance for peace, not to annex other ninja clans."

Senju Tobirama realized where the problem lay and quickly stood up to solemnly announce it.

"We guarantee that after you join the alliance, the alliance leader will not interfere with the internal management and inheritance of each ninja clan."

"Your family will remain your family, your secret arts will remain your secret arts, and your bloodline will remain your bloodline."

"What the alliance should do is establish a unified order, regulate ninja behavior, formulate rules for mission allocation, and avoid unnecessary fighting and conflict, rather than erasing the characteristics and heritage of each ninja clan."

After these words were spoken, the atmosphere inside the tent noticeably eased.

"If that's the case... then our Sarutobi clan is willing to join the alliance."

"The Shimura family is also willing."

"The dorm-switching generation has joined."

"The Mitomon clan has agreed to form an alliance."

Tobirama Senju secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Very good." He took out the alliance document that he had prepared beforehand. "These are the specific terms. If there are no objections, we can officially sign it today."

Over the next two hours, the two sides discussed the specific details of the alliance.

Finally, at dusk, the representatives of the four tribes signed their names on the alliance document.

"Welcome everyone." Hashirama Senju shook hands with each clan leader, his smile sincere. "From today onwards, we are partners fighting together for peace."

After seeing off the representatives of the four clans, Tobirama Senju's smile vanished instantly.

"Brother, I have to go out."

"Now?" Hashirama asked, somewhat surprised. "It's almost dark."

"There are some things I need to find out." Tobirama's tone left no room for negotiation. "Why are only so few ninja clans responding to our call? There must be something wrong behind this."

Madara Uchiha appeared at the tent entrance at some point, and said coldly, "Do you need me to send someone with you?"

"No need." Tobirama shook his head. "I'll go alone, just with a few trustworthy subordinates."

Looking at his younger brother's serious expression, Hashirama knew that things might be more complicated than he had imagined.

"Be careful, Tobirama."

"rest assured."

Without saying anything more, Tobirama Senju turned and left the tent.

He summoned three members of the Thousand Hands clan who were most skilled in intelligence gathering and covert operations, and the four of them left the camp quietly under the cover of night.

Their first stop was the nearest mid-level ninja clan—the Shiranui clan.