Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou

Inside the room, as Tsunade's voice faded, the wooden door slowly creaked open, and Uzumaki Mito walked out slowly.

Tsunade stepped forward to help her grandmother sit down, but Uzumaki Mito praised with admiration:

 "Shirou is truly a child who has inherited the Will of Fire. His vision is no longer limited to the Uchiha clan but encompasses the entire shinobi world."

Initially, it was thought that Shirou's visit was motivated by the Uchiha clan's desire to climb higher on the social ladder. Even Tsunade had similar thoughts at the start.

"Tsunade, Shirou can see the bigger picture. Don't tell me you can't see it. What exactly are your thoughts?"

Uzumaki Mito, now seated properly, gazed deeply at her granddaughter. She didn't have much time left and only wanted to understand her granddaughter's true intentions.

Facing her grandmother, Tsunade no longer displayed her usual indifference but instead nodded solemnly and said:

 "Grandma, I know what you're worried about. Don't worry. I'm not foolish. If I were to take on this heavy responsibility now, who knows how many people would be stabbing me in the back—or even the back of the Senju clan."

Tsunade was no fool and was not blinded by ambition or idealism.

Seeing her granddaughter remain calm, Uzumaki Mito revealed a satisfied smile and nodded.

"Good. Right now, all the major families want to push you into the spotlight because it benefits them. But they never consider your feelings or your situation."

As she said this, Uzumaki Mito glanced out the window at the Hokage Rock, sighed faintly, and shook her head:

 "People are forgetful. In just over twenty years, the younger generation has risen, and the old have either died or grown old. How many still remember the past?

 For the current village shinobi, the First Shinobi World War is already a legend and a story."

The First Shinobi World War, over twenty years ago, was a memory of childhood for the current generation. Those children who were five or six years old in the ninja academy then were now nearing thirty, and those who were ten or so were heading toward forty.

For them, the war was already a tale of the past. But now, they were the backbone of Konoha.

So, who still remembers the sacrifices of the past?

Without personal pain, no one can truly understand.

Uzumaki Mito, who had witnessed it all, naturally understood. Gazing at Tsunade, she sighed and said:

 "For the current Konoha shinobi, the Third Hokage is their reality. These twenty-plus years of peace have brought unprecedented development to Konoha in terms of economy, population, and military strength.

Konoha is the largest village in the shinobi world. They live in an environment shaped by the governance of Sarutobi and his generation. The Senju name has become nothing more than a nostalgic relic of the past."

Listening to her grandmother's words, Tsunade naturally understood and nodded:

 "Grandma, I understand. Nowadays, aside from a few major clans teaching about past glories, almost no one remembers the brilliance of Konoha's founding."

Ungrateful?

 No, it's just that such things were never taught in the academy from the start.

"As long as you understand."

Seeing Tsunade's composure, Uzumaki Mito smiled with relief and nodded.

"Now is not the best time to compete for the position of the Fourth Hokage. The major shinobi villages in the world are biding their time, and no one knows when war will erupt.

If you do well, people will say that Sarutobi and his generation handed you the strongest Konoha, and you merely benefited from their groundwork. If you make even the slightest mistake, all the blame will fall on you."

War spares no one. What would count as doing "well"? It's hard to say.

Indeed, having an elder in the family is a treasure. Uzumaki Mito, with her experience and wisdom, analyzed the current shinobi world situation more clearly than anyone else.

"No matter how strong Konoha is, how strong can it truly be? These twenty-plus years of peace haven't only benefited Konoha. Other villages haven't been idle either. The fertile lands and resources of the Land of Fire will inevitably spark war sooner or later…"

Uzumaki Mito directly compared the current situation to the First Shinobi World War.

"Times create heroes. Were Sarutobi and the others truly exceptional?"

As she said this, Uzumaki Mito revealed a complex smile. She was determined to guide her granddaughter properly before her time ran out.

"They simply got lucky. After the First Shinobi World War, the major clans suffered heavy losses internally, and externally, and the entire shinobi world was licking its wounds.

The Land of Fire, scarred by the war, offered vast development opportunities. This paved the way for the rise of civilian shinobi…"

Hearing her grandmother's insights, Tsunade couldn't help but laugh and tease:

 "Grandma, you're still as sly as ever. Let those old geezers handle this war. If they win, well, that's their job. If they lose, it's their fault."

Though Tsunade's words seemed playful, a trace of melancholy flickered in her eyes.

War… she had never liked it.

Uzumaki Mito, understanding her granddaughter's aversion to war, patted Tsunade's hand and said earnestly:

 "After this war, both the shinobi world and the village will suffer heavy losses. The saturated state of interest will give rise to numerous opportunities. At that time, whoever becomes Hokage will have the best chance to grow.

Because the control of those vacant interests will lie in the hands of the new Hokage. Winning over everyone's support, nurturing new talent, and developing the economy—all of this will become the Hokage's achievement. If development is slow, it will only be attributed to the damages caused by the war…"

 If Shirou were here, he would be stunned. Uzumaki Mito's insight and tactics were on par with those of the Second Hokage.

As she explained, it became clear that war, while destructive, also reshuffles the deck of interests.

Whoever takes the stage as Hokage will inevitably gain immense prestige.

"Besides, how old are Sarutobi and the others now?"

At this, Uzumaki Mito smiled meaningfully, and Tsunade nodded knowingly.

"Grandma, I understand. Given the shinobi world's current state, war will likely break out within five years. After a few years of fighting, those old men will be in their sixties. If they don't die, they'll be ready for the grave."

Tsunade spoke calmly, while Uzumaki Mito nodded with satisfaction. Tsunade had truly matured, giving her peace of mind as she prepared to pass on.

Unfortunately, they underestimated human nature. They predicted the severity of war but failed to foresee the greed for power.

In the original story, even after the selection of the Fourth Hokage, the Third Hokage refused to relinquish his authority. The Hokage advisors and Root organization remained in place.

The Fourth Hokage became a mere puppet. After the Nine-Tails' attack, these old men temporarily took over in the name of a special period.

That temporary period lasted until their deaths—twelve years in total. Was there no time to choose another Hokage during those twelve years of peace?

"As long as you understand. Since you've chosen to carry the Senju name, you must bear the responsibility of the clan."

Uzumaki Mito smiled as she spoke, and Tsunade nodded firmly:

 "I understand, Grandma."

"Good. From Sarutobi's perspective, their actions over these years can be understood. It's natural to fear power they can't control. If another war breaks out, remember this: you don't need to achieve great merit, only avoid making mistakes."

Uzumaki Mito smiled as she offered her guidance. With the prestige of the Senju clan, there was no need to seek achievements. Tsunade's medical ninjutsu alone was a powerful tool for winning people's hearts.

"If Sarutobi and the others push too hard, you can choose to endure temporarily. After all, there's still a hidden card."

With a meaningful smile, Uzumaki Mito hinted at the child in the Wood Release laboratory. Tsunade hadn't hidden this from her, making it their ultimate trump card.

This advice was meant to prevent Tsunade from clashing head-on with the Third Hokage and his faction.

"Still, if those old men go too far, we can't let them off so easily."

Although she didn't plan to compete for Hokage during this turbulent period, Tsunade wasn't one to silently endure injustice. With a cold snort, she said:

 "Grandma, let them panic for a few days first."

Looking at the sulking Tsunade, Uzumaki Mito smiled and shook her head. However, her gaze inadvertently swept across the wine bottle on the table, now sealed with its stopper, and a trace of doubt flickered in her cloudy eyes.

When did Tsunade become so obedient? Could Uchiha Shirou stop her granddaughter from drinking?

Yet, thinking about her granddaughter's personality, Uzumaki Mito didn't dwell on it too much—she didn't believe the rumors circulating outside anyway.

...

The Uchiha Clan.

Shirou lay on the rooftop, gazing at the dazzling starry sky. Beside him, Mikoto gracefully brewed tea.

"Shirou, if that old man makes things difficult for you, I'll step in!"

Just as Shirou was about to take a sip from the cup, Mikoto's gentle smile suddenly shifted, and her unique, enchanting Mangekyō Sharingan appeared in her eyes.

Shirou almost spat out the tea he was drinking. He waved his hand with a wry smile and said, "Mikoto, there's no need to go that far."

Seemingly sensing what Shirou was worried about, Mikoto spoke in a firm tone: "Shirou, you need to trust my eyes!"

"Of course, I trust you, Mikoto."

Shirou shook his head with a smile. He had to admit, the Mangekyō was truly deserving of its reputation as the Uchiha clan's ultimate cheat code.

Anyone who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan could almost certainly reach Kage-level. Although this was partly due to the terrifying ocular jutsu it granted, he had also witnessed Mikoto's growth over the past two years.

At an age when Mikoto's chakra should have stabilized, the stimulus of awakening the Mangekyō had brought her into another period of explosive growth.

With no shortage of resources for training over the past two years, Mikoto's abilities had undoubtedly reached Kage level.

If the two of them were to compare, without using the Mangekyō, Shirou's advantages lay in his Taijutsu and Flying Thunder God Technique. However, Mikoto's Genjutsu still posed a significant threat to him.

Once she activated her Mangekyō, her Genjutsu became something even Shirou dreaded facing.

According to Uchiha Mikoto, her eyes were the strongest eyes of Genjutsu.

This strongest was not just a statement of confidence but also reflected her unwavering determination.

"Shirou, the way you are now feels the most real to me."

Under the moonlight, Mikoto murmured, leaving Shirou momentarily stunned.

Indeed, now he could stand openly in the light without hiding any secrets. This was the truest version of himself.

"The way you were before, I knew you had ambitions, but I was afraid. That's why I pushed myself so hard to grow stronger…"

Hearing Mikoto's heartfelt words, Shirou gave her a genuine smile.

"Mikoto, don't worry. From today onward, we'll stand together in the sunlight!"

Gazing at the moonlight, Shirou squinted his eyes. Senju Tsunade—her surname would soon bring an unprecedented upheaval to Konoha.

Those old geezers would never willingly relinquish their power, even if Tsunade had no immediate desire to compete for the position of Hokage and was simply waiting for the Third Shinobi War to end.

But this was also his opportunity to step into the spotlight.

If Tsunade became the Fourth Hokage, it wouldn't make much difference to him. The only difference would be the person sitting in the office.

He believed that his vision of peace would eventually move Tsunade, especially when he had the power to bring an end to the chaos of the world.

First, the death of White Fang. Then it was discovered by the ANBU that White Fang had been betrayed by a spy during a mission. Even the subsequent coercion he faced was orchestrated by this spy.

In response, the Third Hokage personally issued a Hokage decree, ensuring that White Fang's name was inscribed on the Memorial Stone.

Hero White Fang!

However, Tsunade's decision to reclaim the Senju name didn't cause much of a stir among Konoha civilians.

Most regular shinobi simply saw it as another matter of a great clan. After all, the majority of them were focused on goals like becoming Chūnin, Jōnin, or mastering a powerful jutsu. Who had time to concern themselves with the affairs of noble clans?

Besides, Tsunade was already a member of the Senju clan, so what was so unusual about her reclaiming the name?

As a result, what should have been a major event—Tsunade reclaiming the Senju surname—only caused a brief commotion among the noble clans and a few Jōnin, before things calmed down again.

Even the Senju clan didn't take any significant actions, leaving the higher-ups of Konoha puzzled.

"The Senju clan is just an outdated relic of the past. It's us common folk who've been protecting Konoha all these years."

"Exactly! How many of those clan shinobi are on the front anyway? It's us, the civilian shinobi, who've been sacrificing our lives to protect this village."

"Look at those Uchiha—they're all so arrogant, walking around with their noses in the air. Ugh!"

"Don't even get me started on the Hyūga clan. They're even worse! They treat their family members like slaves with that main house and branch house nonsense. What kind of family does that?"

The story of White Fang quickly faded from public attention, replaced by new gossip and rumors.

It was clear that these rumors were deliberately targeting the noble clans, aiming to stir up resentment among the average shinobi towards them.

Though the Senju clan remained silent, Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu certainly weren't going to sit idly by.

...

Inside the Hokage's Office.

"Lord Third, various rumors have been circulating in the village recently, effectively overshadowing the White Fang incident…"

Listening to the ANBU's report, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, nodded calmly. Once the ANBU left, he turned to look out the window, letting out a deep sigh.

"Sensei, everything I do is for the sake of the village."

He was well aware of the methods employed by Danzō, Homura, and Koharu, but he turned a blind eye to the tactics targeting the noble clans.

In his eyes, what mattered was that the White Fang incident had been overshadowed.

...

Similarly, Shirou, observing the changes in the village, couldn't help but be amused.

What appeared to be a conflict between the noble clans and the civilians had, in fact, caused the Third Hokage and his inner circle to push most of the noble clans into siding with Tsunade.

"All it took was Tsunade reclaiming the Senju name, and you're already panicking."

Shirou's calm smile exuded confidence.

The battle hadn't even begun, yet he had already gained the upper hand. His opponents had unwittingly pushed what was once a fractured group into uniting against them.

As for the civilian shinobi?

 After the war, when the village lay in ruins, all it would take was distributing some of the vacant resources to satisfy them. Civilian shinobi were the easiest to appease—they only wanted a stable home.

...

Meanwhile...

"Damn it! So it's all true!"

Sitting alone by the waterfall, the mature-looking Sarutobi Asuma stared at the family he had once been proud of. Now, all he felt was irony.

PS: All of this scheming and politics burns my brain cells. xD