Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha lacks motivation.

Leaf Village

Dark clouds hung heavy over the village, and the once bustling streets were eerily silent. Every household had hung white mourning banners outside their doors.

People dressed in black mourning clothes, holding white flowers, walked slowly towards the martyrs' cemetery located in a corner of the village.

The usually quiet martyrs' cemetery was now crowded with ninjas and villagers who had come to pay their respects. Sobs could be heard intermittently, adding a touch of sorrow to the farewell ceremony.

Before the heavy memorial stone, Senju Hisama, dressed in a black kimono, stood with a tense expression. Her hands, gloved with black silk, held a black-and-white portrait of the deceased. She glanced down at her selfie, a strange feeling filling her heart.

I'm giving myself a ride?

"Hijin, time is almost up."

Just as Senju Hishima was at a loss for words to describe the farce that had unfolded that day, a gentle and virtuous voice rang in her ear.

Senju Momoka, who had just offered a bouquet of flowers at the memorial stone, led Tsunade, who was secretly wiping away tears, to her side. Her pretty face, veiled in black, was filled with deep sorrow.

"I see."

Senju Hisana looked around and noticed that, apart from her disciple Uchiha Kagami, there were no other members of the Uchiha clan among those who had arrived. A strange unease settled over her.

Not seeing that idiot Uchiha Izuna kowtow at his own grave was Senju Hisama's biggest regret in life.

"Bury."

With a slight nod, the Senju clan members, carrying the corpse of Tobirama Senju's clone, parted the crowd and slowly lowered the black coffin into the pre-dug grave.

"Tap~"

As the first handful of soil was sprinkled onto the coffin, which was engraved with the Senju clan crest and the Konoha emblem, the somber atmosphere in the room instantly reached its climax.

"Waaaaah, Second Grandpa, don't leave me! I'll be good and behave like a good boy!"

Despite her young age, Tsunade could no longer contain her grief. She collapsed to her knees on the damp grass, large tears streaming down her face, creating ripples of longing on the back of her delicate hands.

"Teacher! We're so sorry!"

Dressed in black mourning clothes, the F6 members knelt in unison before Tobirama Senju's grave, their faces filled with remorse. If it weren't for covering their retreat, their teacher wouldn't have died far from home.

The rest of the clansmen who had fought alongside Tobirama Senju for many years were also in tears, and some even fainted on the spot due to excessive grief.

Senju Hishin was filled with mixed emotions upon witnessing this scene; he was practically the first person to attend his own funeral.

"Huh? What's that?"

Still filled with emotion, Senju Hisa suddenly noticed two tall figures standing under a large tree in the corner of the martyrs' cemetery. With her excellent eyesight, she recognized them at a glance.

So it really happened?

A complex expression flashed across Senju Hisa's face, but her eyes showed a hint of curiosity due to the two people's unusual attire.

"Big cousin, why did you drag me to that white-haired guy's funeral? My family is waiting for the feast!"

Under a large tree, far from the crowd, Uchiha Izuna gazed at the solemn crowd with an inscrutable expression. He awkwardly tugged at the long scarf around his neck, the exaggerated silver ornaments hanging from his tight black leather jacket jingling with his movements.

"And this outfit? Are we here to be a joke?"

Dressed in Uchiha silver clothing similar to that of Uchiha Izuna, he slowly removed the motorcycle helmet from his head, revealing a strange, sacred quality in his salted fish-like eyes.

"We're still missing one thing."

He looked up at the overcast sky and uttered a strange, inexplicable remark.

"Boom!"

The next moment, as if summoned by the heavens, a light drizzle began to fall after a piercing clap of thunder.

"Now we have everything."

Gin Uchiha was quite pleased with the sensible heavens. He immediately fastened his helmet to his waist and gave Izuna Uchiha, who was standing to the side with a pained expression, a wink.

"Do we really have to do this?"

"This is a rare opportunity; once it's gone, it'll be gone forever."

As he spoke, Uchiha Gin casually opened his leather jacket, revealing a gleaming belt around his waist. With a flick of his small hand at the switch on his side, the round gem in the center of the belt instantly emitted a beam of light like a high beam.

The wattage was so high that it seemed as if the people present might not notice it.

"What is that? It's so bright!"

"Mom, I saw light!"

Seeing that everyone was drawn to his light, Uchiha Gin's face lit up with a smug look. He patted Izuna on the shoulder and began spouting nonsense with a straight face.

"Little cousin, Kamen Riders are beings that can bring light to humanity in the darkest of times!"

Knowing he couldn't go against his older cousin's wishes, Uchiha Izuna had no choice but to compromise. He raised his hand to pull down his cowboy hat, trying to conceal his identity, but his body language betrayed him by unzipping his leather jacket, revealing the gleaming headlights at his waist.

"Snapped!"

With a gentle tap on his side, an equally blinding light shot out, illuminating Senju Hisahi's face, which held a ravenous expression, instantly blinding her crimson eyes.

Furthermore, a powerful piece of music emanated from the flashing headlights on Izuna's waist.

"The vast horizon is my love."

"Why am I finding myself swaying to this music without even realizing it?"

After a brief moment of surprise upon hearing the background music, the crowd gradually became influenced by the highly rhythmic music and began to nod and sway.

"Those! Two! Bastards!"

Her perfectly good farewell ceremony was turned into a massive graveyard rave by Gintoki and his buddy Uchiha. Senju Hisa wanted nothing more than to throw her own portrait in their faces.

"Big cousin, are you a poet?!"

Izuna, clumsily imitating Gin Uchiha's pose, was utterly shocked by the background music playing on his own belt. Noticing the unfriendly gazes from the Senju clan members around him, he immediately turned to question the mastermind behind the incident.

"Huh? Where did they go?"

The result, however, chilled him to the bone. Uchiha Gin, riding his motorcycle, had already sped away and disappeared into the rain, leaving not even a trace of his exhaust fumes.

"I haven't gotten on the bus yet!"

Izuna spread his hands, his bitter face filled with the helplessness of a middle-aged man.

Is there any relationship more fragile than brotherhood?

"This! Person! Is! Mr.! Uchiha!"

Just as he was feeling dejected, a ghostly voice rang in Izuna's ears. The familiar aura instantly triggered his reflexes, and he clutched his lower back tightly with both hands.

"Stop taking my kidneys!"

He only breathed a sigh of relief after seeing who it was.

"Phew, so it was you. You're just as cunning as your father."

"Since you're here, aren't you going to kowtow?"

Senju Hisa glared fiercely at the fleeing curly-haired girl, her beautiful eyes then falling on Uchiha Izuna, whose gaze was darting away.

"I came in a hurry and didn't even bring a bouquet of flowers. I'll definitely make it up next time."

Subtly turning off the switch at his waist, the gravesite regained its solemnity. Uchiha Izuna shook his head, feigning regret, indicating that he was willing but unable to help.

"It's alright, chrysanthemums are flowers too."

Suddenly, Senju Hisana raised her hand and placed it on Uchiha Izuna's shoulder.

"Don't!"

A flash of blue light appeared, and before Izuna's face could even show any panic, the two of them landed in front of Tobirama Senju's grave.

"Thump~"

Thanks to Senju Hisama's deliberate adjustments, Izuna, riding the Flying Thunder God Technique, was covered in stars and nearly lost his balance, landing hard on his backside in front of Senju Tobirama's grave, offering his old chrysanthemum.

"It's the Second Clan Chief's Flying Thunder God Technique. She really is Lord Tobirama's daughter."

After demonstrating his skills, the Senju clan members who had previously doubted Senju Hisahi's identity were instantly convinced of his abilities.

Tobirama Senju's Flying Thunder God Technique is unique in the ninja world; unless he imparts all his knowledge to the world, it is virtually impossible for anyone to master it.

"Not bad. To have mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique to this level at such a young age, you are better than your father."

To avoid making things too awkward for himself, Uchiha Izuna immediately adopted the demeanor of an elder, looking at Senju Hisama with a face full of satisfaction.

"Have you finished your nice words? Time for a bow."

Determined to avenge her opponent's prank, Senju Hisama was determined to make Uchiha Izuna kowtow to her.

"Himaru, don't be silly. Izuna was a good friend of your father. He did this perhaps to make this rain less sad."

At that moment, a gentle, jade-like hand was extended towards the aggressive Senju Hisama. Senju Momoka, her face filled with sorrow, gave Izuna an apologetic smile.

"Who is he?"

Senju Hisana blushed on the spot, and actually said that she was Uchiha Izuna's friend. Such an extreme insult is extremely rare in the entire ninja world.

"Okay, be a good boy."

Senju Momoka raised her hand and pressed it on the head of the jumping Senju Hisami, instantly exuding the authority of an elder sister-in-law, successfully intimidating her niece who had appeared out of nowhere.

"Mr. Izuna, since you're here, please offer some incense."

Turning her head, she pulled three incense sticks from the sobbing Tsunade's arms and handed them to the enigmatic Uchiha Izuna.

"."

"All right."

Finally, after a long silence, Uchiha Izuna took the three unlit incense sticks, raised his hand to form the Tiger Seal, and scorching fire-style chakra rose out of thin air, igniting the tips of the incense sticks, with wisps of blue smoke drifting away.

"call"

Seeing this, Senju Momoka breathed a sigh of relief. With one of the Senju clan's two pillars dead and the other missing, the clan was at its most vulnerable. At this critical juncture, it was crucial not to antagonize the powerful Uchiha clan.

Moreover, the relationship between the two families is not as strained as Senju Hisa, who has just returned to the village, thought. On the contrary, the higher-ups communicate frequently, and they are only one step away from becoming a family.

Turning her head to glance at Senju Hisana's gloomy face, Senju Momoka nodded secretly.

When we get back, we must give this eldest niece a good lesson and encourage her to visit Yinsang's house often so she can get to know her younger aunt who lives in anonymity better.

I also wanted to get some lucky money to help support my family during the Lunar New Year.

"White hair."

Kneeling before Tobirama Senju's grave, with three incense sticks in his hand, Izuna Uchiha suddenly felt a little dazed. In a flash, he seemed to have returned to many years ago, and in his vision, there were two young men standing on a stream, swords drawn.

"Tobirama Senju!"

"Uchiha Izuna!"

"Bang!—"

Today, the streams of the Nanga River still flow gently, undeterred by the ravages of time, but of the two children who once faced each other with knives, only one remains.

A strange emptiness instantly filled Izuna's heart, bending his once straight back into a颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it implies a state of listlessness, decadence, and a sense of being overwhelmed) curve. The usual disdain in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a touch of the vicissitudes and loneliness unique to the elderly.

"We haven't settled our score yet."

Gently shaking his head, Uchiha Izuna, his body hunched over, slowly placed three half-burnt incense sticks before the grave of his former nemesis, saying nothing more.

The Senju clan members around him could clearly sense his sorrow and made way for him, watching his lonely figure disappear into the rain.

Senju Hisa stared blankly at Izuna's departing figure, lost in thought. She hadn't expected that her nemesis, whom she had tormented for years, would show such genuine emotion at her grave. That undisguised mutual respect stirred a strange feeling within her.

If it weren't for the hatred brought about by the war, they might have been childhood friends catching fish and playing together on the banks of the Naka River, encouraging each other as they grew up, and eventually becoming sworn brothers fighting side by side.

"Hima, Hisa!"

Senju Momoka's voice interrupted Senju Hisa's thoughts. Turning to look at the leveled grave, she knew what she had to do.

Stepping forward, the white-haired girl holding her own portrait bowed deeply to the remains of her clone, and the dark mass of people behind her also bent over.

"Lord Izuna."

Standing before the grave, Jingzai, a sensitive member of the Uchiha clan, could understand the loneliness Izuna felt upon leaving. That lion-like man, without rivals, might have simply succumbed to despair.

"Hiruzen, are you ready?"

"Mirror, what are you saying?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, kneeling before his teacher's grave in repentance, frowned. He could sense the unspoken meaning in his friend's words.

"The Hokage's fate is uncertain, and the Kagesuke is in his prime. What qualifications do I have? As for you, are you ready to take over?"

"In this matter, our opinions don't count."

Mirror glanced deeply at Hiruzen Sarutobi, his gaze subtly sweeping over the ninjas who had come to mourn. Looking at the familiar faces, a bitter smile crept onto his lips.

The ninja alliance, which once relied on unity to survive, has now grown to the point where it can rival the Senju clan.

Outside the martyrs' cemetery,

As Izuna slowly walked out, he immediately spotted Uchiha Gin, who had abandoned him. Gin was leisurely leaning against his motorcycle, a lollipop of unknown flavor dangling from his mouth, which he was munching on noisily.

"Big cousin! You actually left me all alone and ran away."

"I'm just giving you an opportunity to say goodbye, you're welcome."

Looking at his disgruntled little cousin, Uchiha Gin sucked on his strawberry lollipop, wearing a "I'm thinking of you" expression.

"I have no interest in sending that wretched white-haired guy a gift."

The Uchiha's unique arrogance was on full display at this moment. Even though he could see deep sadness in his little cousin's eyes, it didn't stop him from being stubborn.

"Alright, alright, now that the memorial service is over, it's time to go back for the banquet."

If we're any later, the eight-treasure rice will be served.

Due to the recent motorcycle ban imposed on Konoha, Uchiha Gin, who wanted to show off, could only push his cool motorcycle along the streets of the village with a preoccupied Izuna.

"Big cousin, I don't want to be Hokage anymore."

Suddenly, Izuna, who was walking behind, said something that surprised Uchiha Gin, startling him so much that he dropped his lollipop.

"Hiss, are you alright?"

Retaining the Hokage title was a rigid target set for the Uchiha clan by Madara Uchiha when he was still alive.

The fact that his younger cousin, on whom they had placed high hopes, had been designated as the next successor was already an open secret in Konoha.

"If I can't boss that white-haired guy around, what use is the Hokage position to me?" (End of Chapter)