Kapitel 115: The Flourishing Uchiha

"It was just... a friendly exchange."

"Lord Danzo wanted to discuss taijutsu techniques with me, but in the heat of the moment, I didn't hold back enough. He got injured, but it shouldn't be anything serious..."

Fuma swept up the last bit of wood debris and glanced at Danzo lying outside, unconscious like a dead pig. His expression remained calm as he responded.

Uzumaki Mito looked around the spotless house, noticing the polished floors that shone like mirrors and the brand-new rosewood furniture.

She silently marveled, "No one possessed by a demon would clean the floors to a mirror shine and thoughtfully replace all the furniture with fine redwood pieces…"

With a quiet sigh, she thought about how, regardless of what positions they might end up taking, Fuma had treated her with impeccable manners and given her, in name, the respect due to a grandmother.

What moved her most, though, was how, during the recent scuffle, Fuma intercepted stray splinters from reaching the cherished photograph of her and Hashirama.

His careful and unflinching gesture made Mito feel a strange warmth.

"What a fine young man… Far better than Hashirama, who wouldn't even wash his socks. Looks like Tsunade is in for a better life than I had…"

A faint hint of nostalgia softened Mito's expression as she gazed at the photo of Hashirama, who laughed joyfully back at her.

Beside her, the Third Hokage hesitated. Mito's demeanor left him perplexed.

"Fuma did, after all, beat Danzo severely... but judging by Lady Mito's reaction, it seems she has no intention of holding him accountable."

Even Fuma was a little surprised. If Mito had used this as an excuse to confront him, he wouldn't offer substantial compensation, but it would be hard to escape without some loss of face.

"She truly is the First Hokage's woman. Her insight and composure far surpass the likes of Hiruzen and Danzo…"

By now, Fuma had figured out Mito's and the Third's intentions.

The Third Hokage and Danzo wanted to keep the Nine-Tails under their control, even going so far as to consider making Danzo the jinchuriki.

But Mito clearly didn't trust them and was more interested in negotiating with Fuma to hand the Nine-Tails over to someone in her own clan.

Shaking his head, Fuma had no desire to remain involved in this farce.

"A mountain that stands alone does not waver."

As long as his side showed no interest in the Nine-Tails' power, all attempts to sway him were pointless.

"When Tsunade returns, I'll visit again, Grandmother Mito…"

After taking his leave, Fuma watched as the Third briefly treated Danzo's wounds, then sat dutifully across from Mito.

He knew Mito, the kind old woman before him, was deeply dissatisfied with both him and Danzo. Her behavior just now was enough of a sign.

"Monkey, tell me everything you know about Uchiha Fuma—his background, growth, reputation in the village, everything…"

Mito pulled out a notebook and addressed the Third Hokage slowly.

A glimmer of surprise crossed the Third's eyes; he wasn't sure what Mito intended but quickly gathered his knowledge of Fuma and began to explain in detail.

This was the Third's cleverness: he never questioned those stronger than himself. If anything went wrong, the blame wouldn't fall on him first.

As the Third Hokage spoke, Mito took meticulous notes, piecing together a comprehensive picture of Fuma.

"Three years ago, he defeated the elite Jonin squad single-handedly, fought Hanzo to a standstill, killed the One-Tails jinchuriki…"

"Made a fortune of billions through proxy ninja missions, shaped public opinion against Danzo, took on the role of Uchiha clan leader, and boldly reformed the Police Force..."

"Ruthless, decisive, powerful enough to restrain tailed beasts, a master of public opinion, and both an internal reformer and an outward defender…"

Mito stared at her notes, her expression complicated. There was an odd familiarity about this portrait.

"Isn't he a blend of Tobirama and Uchiha Izuna?"

Glancing at the Third, then at the still-unconscious Danzo, Mito sighed deeply.

"These allies… are really too burdensome."

"Hiruzen and Danzo are unreliable; I hope Tsunade can achieve more than I once did."

The marriage between Mito and Hashirama had been a political alliance between clans. They hadn't even met before their wedding night.

As the eldest daughter of the Uzumaki clan, Mito had married into the Senju with a mission and had been rigorously trained for it.

Now, Mito was drawing on her old lessons, analyzing Fuma's personality and style to find the most effective way to influence him subtly.

She intended to pass this information to Tsunade as a last resort to ensure Konoha's peace. However, the one uncertainty in Mito's knowledge was the nature of Tsunade's relationship with Fuma.

Unlike Mito's arranged marriage, theirs was genuine and free from family constraints.

Watching Mito's note-taking, a glimmer of understanding flashed in the Third Hokage's eyes. He quietly reflected on all the details of Fuma and thought, "As expected of Lady Mito, binding Uchiha through bonds of kinship..."

Now, the Third had stopped worrying about the alliance between the Uchiha and Senju. For him, stabilizing the current situation was the priority.

And Danzo continued lying motionless on the floor, undisturbed.

Neither the Third Hokage nor Mito mentioned Danzo, as if Fuma's conflict with him hadn't even happened.

In that moment, through his own efforts, Danzo successfully transitioned from being the Nine-Tails' container—or rather, its pawn.

........

Outside the Uchiha Compound~

After months away, Fuma finally returned to his familiar clan grounds, feeling a surge of joy.

"What a lively scene..."

Ever since he had invested millions of Ryo into the compound, the Uchiha district had flourished, expanding to create the most successful commercial street in the Land of Fire.

Fine foods, fashionable clothing, high-quality ninja tools, and rare goods from the five great nations were all common items here.

Occasionally, wandering ninja clans and rogue ninja from nearby small villages would come by to sell their family's inherited jutsu or ninja techniques.

Most of these were basic, but now and then, rare and ingenious techniques could be found.

With luck and enough funds, one might even receive training from an Uchiha jonin and experience a unique style of guidance.

Here, even the now-laidback Uchiha Police Force set aside their scrolls, actively maintaining public order with a positive attitude.

After all, this was Uchiha land, and those who came here were supporting Uchiha businesses—they were all customers.

Poor performance from the police force would often be met with scolding from shopkeepers, including their own relatives. The reprimands could be fierce, wielding rolling pins and all, leaving them no room to fight back.

Even the proud Uchiha wouldn't turn down profit…

Fuma surveyed everything with satisfaction. Under his leadership, the Uchiha clan had achieved financial independence and was steadily moving toward a sustainable future.

A soft chime sounded as the barrier around the residential area opened, revealing an entryway.

Fuma acknowledged the two Uchiha clan members watching him with admiration and made his way to his home.

Because of the potential surveillance from White Zetsu and the Third's telescope technique, privacy could easily be compromised, so Fuma had set up a barrier around the Uchiha residential area, carefully monitored by dedicated personnel.

It might not stop a determined intruder, but it sent a clear message.

This had caused a stir in Konoha, with many noble clans wanting to emulate it. After all, no one wanted to live under constant surveillance.

But the Third Hokage and Danzo had quickly quashed this movement, viewing it as a challenge to the Hokage's authority.

Instead of moving into Setsuna's clan leader residence, Fuma had bought a street near the Uchiha training grounds and expanded it into his estate.

It was a considerate gesture to his clan members. His training sessions often caused quite a disturbance, so he thought it best not to disrupt the central residential area.

Though his clan wasn't pleased with the decision; they would have preferred more interaction with the leader who had ushered in their prosperous times.

Just as he approached his home, Fuma heard a commotion nearby at the training grounds.

"Damn it! How is it possible I can't land a hit on you?"

Obito, glaring at the grinning Minato, cried out in frustration.

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