Uchiha: Starting as Tobirama's Jinchuriki

Pre-positioning booby traps, directing the bombing squadron to create aerial charts, conquering Kirigakure, and providing support to Iwagakure...

There are too many things that require his decision-making and planning.

This war, in which the four major hidden villages joined forces with the other smaller hidden villages to attack Konoha, ignited the flames of war throughout the entire ninja world. Panic and fear swept through Konoha, plunging the entire village into darkness.

Almost no one believed that Konoha could win this war.

It's like a village fighting against the entire ninja world. Even with Konoha's rich resources, it couldn't withstand such a united front...

Many merchants fled, and the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled who remained were also demoralized, living in constant fear and anxiety in the early stages of the war.

But as time went on…

To everyone's surprise, Konoha had actually withstood the Allied Shinobi Forces' offensive, with success on every battlefield. Thanks to its amazing new ninja tools and tactics, it hadn't lost a single line of defense.

After the battle at the Hidden Stone Village battlefield, Konoha quickly returned to its vibrant state, where everything flourished.

Konoha hero Uchiha Aoki, leading the Root squad, annihilated 10,000 enemy troops from Iwagakure and killed two Jinchuriki!

This terrifying record allowed the villagers of Konoha to rediscover the sense of security they once felt under the protection of the God of Shinobi…

It's important to understand that even during the First Shinobi World War, when Tobirama Senju was still alive, Konoha didn't fare well. They had to grit their teeth and fight head-on. Although they eventually repelled the invaders, they also suffered serious injuries.

But this time, facing a situation where they are once again fighting four, or even six or seven, Konoha has received only good news so far, without a single bad one…

As information was passed around, the legends about Qingshui became increasingly distorted, showing a tendency to be mythologized.

Along with Qingshui, the Roots under Qingshui's command also rose to fame.

In the past, Root members were synonymous with terror and darkness. Under Danzo Shimura, they were only known by their collective name, while the individual members were nameless. All the credit was attributed to the Hokage who assisted Danzo Shimura.

But in Konoha today...

Qingshui walked slowly down the bustling street, waving to the villagers who were very excited to see him. Every smile made the young men excited and the young women blush and their hearts race, while listening to the conversations coming from all directions.

Aburame Torune, Yamanaka Fu, Yakushi Nonou, Hiruko…

These names were mentioned in all the taverns in Konoha, and they were remembered as shining war heroes. They were no longer the roots that would not even be remembered after they died, but leaves that could be praised in the sunlight.

Along the way, you can hear newly enrolled ninja school students excitedly telling their parents that they will definitely train hard in the future and strive to join the Root organization where Lord Qingshui is located.

It's a beautiful and hopeful scene.

Qing Shui looked around with a smile, his steps slow and deliberate, a hint of lingering affection in his eyes.

Tobirama Senju keenly caught Aoshui's gaze, and a pang of pain shot through his heart...

The village's thriving prosperity was all built by Qingshui, who single-handedly turned the tide.

These villagers, who could still appreciate the peace and tranquility of life during the war, were unaware that the so-called war hero Qingshui was enduring suffocating pressure as if the sky were falling.

This feeling left Tobirama Senju with a very unpleasant feeling, yet he couldn't say anything.

Qing Shui...!

"Tobirama, Konoha is getting better and better. It's truly gratifying." Aokiji strolled slowly, surveying the bustling shops and throngs of people, and smiled happily, his smile as gentle as ever.

"Isn't the village better now than it was when you were in power?"

"Much better, Qingshui."

Tobirama Senju affirmed without hesitation, "You will be a better Hokage than me, I have no doubt about that."

Qing Shui smiled, then looked up at the Fire Shadow Rock atop the distant mountain peak and shook his head: "Will there be another chance?"

"To be honest, Tobirama, I don't even have much confidence myself anymore. I don't even know what challenges I'll face, let alone why I always have to go through these things. It's as if fate is always playing a joke on me, giving me one insurmountable hurdle after another..."

"This time, a huge mountain even fell from the sky. If the god of fate exists, then he is quite witty and humorous."

Qing Shui said self-deprecatingly, his words carrying a hint of world-weariness.

Tobirama Senju fell silent.

He could tell that Qing Shui was in turmoil.

"Let's not rush to see the stone tablet. I'd like to stay with the village for a while. Is that alright?"

Aokiji and Tobirama Senju discussed, "I haven't had any time for myself in so long..."

Tobirama Senju nodded heavily, his heart clenching as he listened to Aomine's seemingly casual yet heartbreaking words.

"Qingshui, you can do whatever you want, I will support you."

"Thank you, Tobirama." After hearing Aoshui say thank you, Tobirama Senju felt even more distressed.

What could Qing Shui possibly have to thank him for?

On the contrary, it is he, the Second Hokage, who should thank Qingshui!

Thank you for everything this Uchiha did.

A glint flashed in Qing Shui's eyes, and the Nine-Tails' chakra within his body suddenly began to surge, subtly echoing a three-colored dumpling shop not far away.

"These individual Tailed Beast chakra strands still yearn to return to their original forms and have not merged with me..."

Qing Shui glanced at the nine-tomoe Sharingan but didn't take it to heart.

He didn't intend to use the chakra of the Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and even Nine-Tails within him; it was more like a treat to tease Kaguya…

There is only one possibility that it can interact with the Nine-Tails' chakra.

Kushina and Kurama are inside this dumpling shop.

Qing Shui strode towards the dumpling shop, and couldn't help but smile as he looked at its signboard and location.

This was opened by Kojiro Inada...

This former ninja academy student, who once took the Will of Fire exam in place of Tobirama Senju, has now become a small business owner with the financial support of Aoshui, and his business is thriving.

Qing Shui gently lifted the curtain and walked into the shop, looking around with great interest.

Kushina Uzumaki was sitting at a dining table, enjoying eating skewers of dumplings.

Kojiro Inada was busy greeting customers, incredibly busy, but his face was beaming with a fulfilling smile, and it was clear at a glance that he thoroughly enjoyed his job.

Tobirama Senju blinked and recognized the unlucky kid who was taking the blame for his "zero-point Hokage" status.

Being acquaintances is...

At the time, Tobirama Senju asked Aozumi for help because he wanted Kojiro Inada to become a ninja.

Instead of doing that, Aoshizu gave him a rent-free shop so that Inada Kojiro could fulfill his dream of opening a dango shop.

At the time, Tobirama Senju didn't understand at all...

But upon entering the shop, the owner's busy and fulfilling life, and the customers' praise and enjoyment warmed Tobirama Senju's heart, and he smiled with a sense of realization.

That's great...

What a beautiful scene.

In a fleeting glance as the dishes were being served, Inada Kojiro spotted a familiar figure. His heart skipped a beat, and he exclaimed with delight, "Lord Aomizu, what brings you here!"

"Long time no see, Kojiro-kun."

Qingshui greeted him with a smile: "Looks like business is doing quite well?"

Qingshui waved to the other diners and then gestured for everyone to continue eating. The villagers of Konoha nodded knowingly, though their excitement was still evident on their faces.

"Thanks to you, business is booming!"

Kojiro Inada proudly reported to Aomizu, "The rent I'll pay you next month will be equivalent to two S-rank missions!"

When Kushina Uzumaki saw Aoshui arrive, she was about to get up and greet him when she heard these words that shocked her greatly…

Just making meatballs can be equivalent to two S-level missions in a month?

This is much more lucrative and safer than many Jonin...

The owner of this meatball shop is truly someone whose appearance doesn't reflect his character!

"What's wrong, Kojiro? Do you think the rent is too high?"

Qingshui smiled and said jokingly, "We're classmates from the same year. If you feel the burden is too heavy, I'll reduce some of it."

"Lord Qingshui, that's not what I meant!"

Inada Kojiro puffed out his chest and said in a firm voice, "It is my honor to pay your rent!"

"Are you here to eat dumplings? Please have a seat, Lord Qingshui. I'll make you the freshest ones right now!"

Qing Shui smiled helplessly and said earnestly:

"What's so great about paying me rent? Be ambitious, Kojiro. I'm waiting for you to come to me so we can take over the shop and you can truly be your own boss..."

Inada Kojiro just chuckled foolishly, but when he saw Aozumi Akabane's hair, a hint of worry flashed in his eyes, but he didn't say anything.

After bowing respectfully to Aoshui, Inada Kojiro quickly went to the kitchen and personally made Aoshui's signature dumplings.

Tobirama Senju was slightly surprised by Inada Kojiro's actions.

Fluid footwork and swift speed—this is at least the foundation of a veteran Chunin's mobility...

Isn't it a waste of talent for someone like this to be the owner of a meatball shop?

But looking at Kojiro in the rice paddy, who was working hard, Tobirama Senju had many thoughts on his mind.

It's impossible for Inada Kojiro, who has become a Chunin, to earn the silver coins from two S-rank missions in a month, and Konoha would lose a delicious dango shop because of it...

A sense of reflection, tinged with the subtle scent of everyday life, sparked the Second Hokage's contemplation in a dumpling shop during wartime.

"Aoshui, come sit here!" Kushina warmly greeted Aoshui, gesturing for him to sit down beside her: "It's been so long since I've seen you!"

Aoshimizu gladly accepted the invitation and sat down opposite Kushina: "How have you been doing in the village lately?"

"It's good, but it's not good either..."

Kushina shook her head somewhat dejectedly:

"Life in the village consisted of eating, cultivating, and sleeping. There was nothing wrong with it, except that I would get so nervous that I couldn't sleep whenever I heard a battle report."

"Thank you, Qingshui... If you hadn't gone to the Iwagakure battlefield to provide support, I really don't know how Minato would have dealt with those two Jinchūriki and so many troops."

During the time Kushina spent with Kurama.

The bored fox and Kushina chatted idly. Although the Nine-Tails had been freed from some of its restraints thanks to Aoshui's coordination and was no longer suspended in the sealed space but could lie down freely, its bad habit of messing with people's minds had not changed.

When Kurama learned that Minato Namikaze would be facing the Four-Tails and the Five-Tails, it carefully explained the characteristics of its two siblings to Kushina.