Uchiha's personal opinion

There's nothing we can do about it. The sealing techniques accumulated by the Uzumaki clan over thousands of years are vast and complex, and the terminology and codes used in different eras vary. Even if you obtain the complete set of materials, without an expert to teach you, it would take an unknown amount of time to decipher and translate them.

The close relationship between the Uchiha and Uzumaki clans has also drawn attention from everyone in Konoha.

The fact that the police department set up a sentry post in the Uzumaki clan's territory caused an uproar among the Konoha ninja clans.

For a time, the close relationship between the Uchiha clan and the Uzumaki lineage became the most important topic among the various ninja clans and high-ranking ninjas.

Konoha was founded on an alliance of powerful ninja clans. These clans have survived since the Warring States period and naturally possess a keen political sense.

Therefore, the powerful but marginalized ninjas from various clans sent invitations to the Uchiha clan.

Just like the aristocratic families during the Three Kingdoms period, each ninja clan has its own members who are specifically responsible for finding potential stocks and rehashing old ones, and they place bets separately to ensure that the clan does not suffer a devastating blow during the changing times.

Of course, the stubborn Uchiha clan is an exception.

Uchiha Tokumitsu ignored all the invitations and visits from various ninja clans, except for important letters from the Senju, Uzumaki, and vassal clans under the Uchiha clan, leaving them all to be handled by his clan.

Although the conservative members of the clan had some reservations about Uchiha Tokumitsu, they were also very keen to socialize with other ninja clans who took the initiative to make friends. In Uchiha Tokumitsu's eyes, this was a relatively effective way of recycling and reusing trash.

Although the relationship between the Uchiha and Senju clans will not be completely resolved due to Uchiha Tokumitsu's single meeting, the proactive overtures of the weakened Uzumaki clan and the Hokage Building's apparent indifference have indeed given the various ninja clans a glimmer of hope.

Although the ninja clans did not like the Uchiha, it did not mean that they necessarily supported the Hokage.

The Hokage lineage, especially since the Third Hokage took office, has been tirelessly working to strengthen centralized power, which has genuinely made the ninja clans feel threatened.

Especially among the younger generation studying at the Konoha Ninja Academy, they constantly talk about the Will of Fire, and when asked about it in detail, they all aspire to become Hokage. How could this not make the old guard in power within the ninja clans extremely anxious?

If the ninja clan is not united, is it still a ninja clan?

Riding on the momentum of the Uchiha clan, the storm stirred up by the ninja clans had a huge impact on Konoha.

Even the third generation couldn't sit still any longer.

He thought that perhaps Mito Uzumaki had a problem with the rescue of the Land of Whirlpools and Danzo's inappropriate remarks in the Hokage's office, so he would just let it cool down for a while and then visit Mito Uzumaki in person.

But what was unexpected was that this delay only fueled the growing wave of ninjas gravitating towards the Uchiha clans.

Even the ninjas who outwardly align themselves with the Uchiha clan are "marginalized" members of the various ninja clans. Although they are quite strong, they have little status within their clans. Generally speaking, the ninja clans still support the Hokage and are closely united around the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. However, this self-deceiving trick can be seen through by anyone with even a little bit of shrewdness and political experience.

Therefore, a person of subtle identity and high status personally came to visit Uchiha Tokumitsu.

Of course, it wouldn't be Danzo.

As the situation in the Land of Rain became increasingly tense, Danzo Shimura, the Hokage's assistant who had made a mistake, was sent back to the Land of Rain's dispatched army to garrison and oversee the situation, so as to prevent him from wandering around the village and being seen and disturbed by Mito Uzumaki.

The one who came to visit alone was Tsunade.

Officially, they came under the guise of returning the visit to Uchiha Tokumitsu.

Given that this "Princess of Konoha" had specifically requested to visit, Uchiha Tokumitsu naturally could not avoid seeing her.

"Tsunade-hime".

Standing at the entrance to the clan's territory, Uchiha Tokumitsu greeted Tsunade, who had come alone, from afar.

The Uchiha members of the police department were also deployed to guard the area, and they did not slack off because Tsunade came alone.

"Tokugaku-kun." Tsunade also displayed the etiquette expected of a direct descendant of the Senju clan, a prestigious ninja family. "I have come to pay my respects to your family on the orders of Lord Mito, so as to establish friendly relations."

"Princess Tsunade, you are too kind. My humble abode is simply unworthy of your hospitality. I have prepared a more comfortable place for you. Please follow me as I move gracefully."

Uchiha Tokumitsu also maintained his respect for Tsunade, inviting her to enter the Uchiha clan's territory and explaining the history of the Uchiha clan in various places along the way.

This was the first time Tsunade had entered the Uchiha clan's territory.

Unlike the semi-open garden architecture of the Senju clan, the Uchiha clan's houses have a more uniform layout, with walls standing in all directions, ensuring that each family does not interfere with the others, and each house is engraved with the Uchiha fan-shaped clan emblem.

This also reflects the personality traits of the Uchiha clan: aloof and proud.

The tendency to be withdrawn is more of a negative consequence of the Sharingan, especially for powerful three-tomoe Uchiha Jonin, who mostly don't like socializing and prefer to stay in their own little world honing their ninjutsu and pondering their own thoughts.

Their pride stems from the Uchiha clan's unwavering strength over thousands of years. As a prestigious ninja clan on par with the Senju, the Uchiha's arrogance is deeply ingrained and perfectly natural.

As a direct descendant of the Senju clan, Tsunade was not only proficient in medical ninjutsu, but also had extensively reviewed the research materials of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, including some shady Uchiha research materials such as "Research Report on the Mental State of the Uchiha" or "The Dialectical Relationship between the Sharingan and the Evil Clan".

Therefore, while Tsunade was outwardly listening attentively to Uchiha Tokumitsu's descriptions of the clan's former territory, scenery, and historical stories along the way, she was actually secretly observing his every move.

Incidentally, Tsunade also compared Uchiha Tokumitsu's tone of voice, emotional fluctuations, and range of motion with the descriptions in Tobirama Senju's research report.

The results showed that Uchiha Tokumitsu was a non-standard three-tomoe Uchiha.

This also piqued Tsunade's interest.

Tsunade had very little contact with Uchiha Tokumitsu. The first time was when he showed his tough and domineering attitude in the Hokage's office, disregarding the Hokage's assistant. The second time was at the Senju clan's territory, where he acted politely and reasonably. Before that, the rumors Tsunade heard about Uchiha Tokumitsu were often words like brutal, ferocious, bloodthirsty, and belligerent.

This echoes Uchiha Tokumitsu's witty remarks when explaining the clan's history today, painting a more complex and diverse picture of the atypical Uchiha.

Of course, Uchiha Tokumitsu was unaware that in Tsunade's eyes, he had become a non-standard product.

The banquet to welcome Tsunade was held in a private banquet hall in the Uchiha clan's territory; Uchiha Tokumitsu also prepared kaiseki dishes such as sake, fragrant crab, pan-fried monkfish, and sushi stew, based on what he had heard about Tsunade's preferences.

Although Konoha has a rule against minors drinking alcohol, this rule is practically ignored by the upper-class ninja clans. Soon, the two began to politely drink and eat together.

"Deguang-kun, with the recent surge of activity among ninja clans, has the Uchiha clan been involved?"

After several rounds of drinks, Tsunade dismissed the waiters and spoke seriously to Uchiha Tokumitsu.

"The ninja clan?" Uchiha Tokumitsu raised an eyebrow. "The Uchiha clan is part of the ninja clan, don't you think?"

At this moment, Uchiha Tokumitsu displayed the same arrogant demeanor that Tsunade had first witnessed in the Hokage's office.

"Grandma Mito met with you and Sakumo-kun more to thank you for your contributions in the War of the Land of Whirlpools. The old lady also did not want to see the rift between the Konoha ninja clan and the village."

Perhaps because she had been drinking, Tsunade's words were very direct.

"Tsunade-hime." Uchiha Tokumitsu also took a small sip of sake, his face slightly flushed from the alcohol. "How many years has the history of the ninja clans been around? And how many years has Konoha been around?"

Tsunade straightened her back and looked at Uchiha Tokumitsu seriously.

"The reason why the ninja clans chose Konoha is because they believed in Lord Hashirama and Lord Madara's vision of peace, believed that Konoha would protect them, and believed that Konoha would allow their clans to thrive and no longer suffer the pain of war," Uchiha Tokumitsu said slowly. "Do you agree, Tsunade?"

“That’s true.” Tsunade partially agreed. “But as a member of Konoha, it’s only right that we support the village and contribute to its safety and stability, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Uchiha Tokumitsu answered affirmatively, “That’s why ninja clans all select clan ninjas to fight for their villages during the Jonin Conference.”

"So, Tokumitsu-kun," Tsunade said, dissatisfied with Tokumitsu's evasive attitude, "what is the purpose of the recent alliance between the Uchiha clan and other ninja clans?"

"It's quite normal for ninja clans to engage in complex power struggles," Uchiha Tokumitsu said casually. "Since the Warring States period, the Uchiha and Hagoromo, the Senju and Uzumaki, the Hyuga and Kaguya, and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio... which of the major ninja clans hasn't had an ally to survive to this day?"

"Tokuko-kun, the Uchiha's actions have torn apart the unity of the village."

"These words were spoken by your teacher, Hiruzen-sensei, right?" Uchiha Tokumitsu squinted slightly, seemingly a little drunk, and took another sip of sake. "No other ninja clan would say such a thing except for him."

"Isn't that a bit off?"

Tsunade also frowned.

Her delicate eyebrows were slightly furrowed, her beauty radiant.

Uchiha Tokumitsu couldn't help but think of a few idioms, and then drank another cup of wine.

"That statement... is both right and wrong." Uchiha Tokumitsu uttered a correct but meaningless statement.

Upon hearing this, Tsunade's expression turned displeased, and she was quite dissatisfied.

"Tsunade, the ninja clans have all seen the Hokage Building's wariness and exclusion of the Uchiha clan." Uchiha Tokumitsu let out a slight breath, as if trying to dispel the smell of alcohol by speaking. "Although our Uchiha clan's relationship with other ninja clans is not very good, we are still a ninja clan after all, and a thousand-year-old clan that should rightfully be the leader of the ninja clans."

"Tokukatsu-kun... whether you're a clan ninja or a commoner, you're all a member of Konoha." Tsunade grabbed a bottle and started chugging. "Why are you deliberately emphasizing the differences in our status!"

“Because they are indeed different!” Uchiha Tokumitsu was very serious at this moment. “Ninja clan members are different from ordinary ninjas, especially those from bloodline clans. This is a fact, an undeniable fact.”

"We cannot deny the differences between ninja clans and ordinary people just because of so-called political correctness, and force everyone to look at the issue from the same perspective. This is also very unfair to the ninja clans."

Tsunade didn't know what to say at this point.

"The ninja clans and the common ninjas are completely different. From the Ninja Clan's lineage and ninjutsu system to the quality of kunai and the number of explosive tags... they are all different. How can you force everyone to be fair?" Uchiha Tokumitsu began to confuse concepts and make absurd arguments. "The equality that Konoha pursues cannot be achieved by sacrificing the interests of the ninja clans to subsidize the common people. This is an unsustainable method."

Tsunade sighed.

She put down the bottle, unsure of what to say next.

As a princess of the Senju clan and the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju, she has enjoyed a privileged status since childhood. Naturally, she understands the differences between ninja clans and commoners, and is aware of the conflict of interests within Konoha.

"It takes more than one day for water to wear away stone, and it takes more than one day for ice to freeze three feet deep." Uchiha Tokumitsu stopped drinking and twirled his wine glass in his hand. "Since the time of the Second Hokage, the ninja clans have had their opinions. The conflict is of different degrees of importance. In the past, everyone was wary of the Uchiha clans, but now the ninja clans are just starting to be wary of the Hokage."

"Ninja clan..." Tsunade murmured the word.

"If one day, the Uchiha clan were to be silently wiped out under the suppression of the Hokage's faction..." Uchiha Tokumitsu raised his head and looked directly at Tsunade, "Tsunade-hime, what will be the fate of Konoha?"

Tsunade took another deep breath.

The Uchiha clan's Jonin make up about one-fifth of Konoha's population, making them an absolutely indispensable core force. Furthermore, the police force system controlled by the Uchiha clan serves as Konoha's last line of defense.

Losing the Uchiha clan is equivalent to losing one-fifth of their high-level combat power, and the last line of defense of Konoha's base becomes virtually non-existent. The severity of the consequences is unimaginable.

“How could it have come to this…” Tsunade said in a low voice, “Has the Uchiha clan… become so pessimistic about their relationship with the village?”

“Yes, why would it come to this?” Uchiha Tokumitsu nodded. “So, it’s just that the ninja clans who are skilled in the art of survival have started placing their bets. There’s nothing to pay attention to, right? Tsunade…”

Tsunade silently drank another glass of wine.

Chapter 69 Controversy! The Uchiha's Plot for a Place

During the meal, Uchiha Tokumitsu and Tsunade exchanged seemingly heartfelt words, but there was a mixture of truth and falsehood in their conversation.

Even though he was filled with curiosity and fondness for Tsunade herself because of the various doujinshi he had read in his past life, Uchiha Tokumitsu still would not tolerate or back down towards Tsunade.

This is also his principle.

Having had enough of being a lowly office worker in my previous life, what is the point of being reborn into the arrogant Uchiha clan if I have to live so cautiously in this life?

However, while other people's words are usually nine parts truth and one part falsehood mixed with their own agenda, Uchiha Tokumitsu's were three parts truth and seven parts falsehood. But his ability to confuse right and wrong, honed from his experience in the financial industry in his previous life, still managed to lead Tsunade, who was still leaning towards idealism, astray.

The Uchiha clan may be arrogant, unruly, and have poor interpersonal relationships, but so what? As long as the clan's strength remains, no one can ignore the Uchiha clan's demands; even if the Uchiha clan is temporarily suppressed and doesn't react due to internal disagreements, no one dares to truly believe that the Uchiha clan is weak and easily bullied.

When the Uchiha retreat, outsiders often assume they are plotting something sinister. So what follows is even more intense suppression and exclusion, intended to provoke a rebellion from the Uchiha. Only in this way can their suppression be justified. Then, pointing at the Uchiha who are baring their teeth and claws as if about to devour people, they say: See! I told you the Uchiha were going to rebel!

Although the friendly meeting between Uchiha Tokumitsu and Tsunade did not yield any promises from the Uchiha clan, it did allow Tsunade to see the Uchiha's attitude.

Although this attitude, after being embellished and packaged with rhetoric, is somewhat biased from the actual situation, Tsunade believed it to be about 70%.

However, Tsunade was also deeply troubled by the attitude of the Uchiha clan shown by Tokumitsu.

Tsunade relayed the entire content of her meeting with Uchiha Tokumitsu to Uzumaki Mito, and then, with Mito's consent, reported the results to her teacher, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As the 'great-grandmother' of Konoha, Mito Uzumaki also cherished Konoha, the village that embodied her husband Hashirama Senju's life's work. Although she was somewhat dissatisfied with Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had always supported her, the undercurrents stirred up by the collusion among the various ninja clans recently made her quite uneasy.