Chapter 144: Chapter:137
(Deeply sorry guys iam not able to sign in to my Webnovel account for sometime after rebooting my phone a couple of times Iam BACK)
Afer three days of rest, Madara summoned Izuna to his residence to discuss important clan matters.
"This war lasted over a year," Madara began, his tone serious. "Although we emerged victorious, the casualties we suffered cannot be ignored."
He handed a document to Izuna. "Take a look."
Izuna unrolled the parchment and scanned its contents. It was a detailed list of the Uchiha clan members who had died in the war, along with those who had sustained injuries so severe they could no longer serve as shinobi.
The report also included updates on the four subordinate clans—Watanabe, Saito, Onikawa, and Fuma—who had moved their members to the Uchiha territory to serve as a defensive line. Their integration was the inevitable result of their decision to align with the Uchiha.
After reviewing the list, Izuna looked up at Madara. "Even with our victory, our casualties are likely comparable to the Senju's."
Madara's expression darkened. "Exactly. Hashirama's ridiculous chakra reserves and Tobirama's Flying Thunder God and large-scale Water Release techniques inflicted heavy losses on us."
Madara clenched his fists at the mention of Hashirama, his frustration evident.
Izuna nodded thoughtfully, gazing at the falling leaves outside the window. His mind wandered to Hiruzen Sarutobi's later declaration of the Will of Fire, a philosophy he could not yet understand.
"The next generation of shinobi should be nearly ready to join the battlefield, right?" Izuna suddenly asked.
Madara paused, then slapped his forehead with a laugh. "Yes, of course! How could I forget? The children you've trained are old enough to fight now."
Izuna smiled, reflecting on the past three years since his arrival in this world. He had prioritized training the next generation, teaching them advanced techniques from his system's skill tree.
Children who had once been no older than 10 were now 12 or 13, fully prepared to transition from trainees to active warriors. Unlike future generations in Konoha, where 12-year-olds had just graduated from the academy, Warring States children often entered the battlefield as early as eight years old.
Madara immediately called for Uchiha Sashu to retrieve a list of eligible students from Uchiha Kaineri.
When the list arrived, Madara reviewed it carefully before handing it to Izuna. "There are more than 200 of them—an impressive addition to our forces."
"They'll surpass the average skill level of our generation," Izuna replied confidently. "After all, I personally trained them."
Madara chuckled, crossing his arms. "You planned this all along, didn't you?"
The brothers then discussed plans to honor fallen clan members. Names of those who had made significant contributions during the war would be engraved on memorial tablets placed at the clan's gates. Arrangements for funerals and other rituals, though somber, were set in motion.
The Uchiha clan held elaborate funerals for those who had died in the war.
During wartime, burials were often hasty, marked by a simple prayer. But in this time of truce, traditions were followed meticulously.
For seven days, every Uchiha household displayed white banners and draped their homes in white silk. Once the burials and condolences were complete, life in the clan slowly began to return to normal.
Shortly after the ceremonies, Madara approached Izuna again with a request.
"Izuna," Madara began, "I want to focus on my training. I need your help managing the clan's affairs in my stead."
Izuna understood. The gap in strength between Madara and Hashirama weighed heavily on his brother's mind. Though Izuna wanted to assist Madara in obtaining the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, he lacked the skill points necessary to unlock the path.
"I'll handle it," Izuna agreed, knowing that Madara could be trusted to keep the clan safe even in his absence.
One afternoon, a small green leaf with a hole in the center drifted through the window.
Izuna, sitting at his desk reviewing documents, picked up the leaf and held it to his eye. Through the hole, he gazed at the blue sky outside.
"Konoha Ninja Village…" he murmured softly, letting the words hang in the air.
"Deputy Clan Leader, my apologies," Uchiha Ise called from outside the door. "There's another batch of documents requiring your review."
Izuna set the leaf aside and motioned for Ise to enter.
Inosuke carried a stack of scrolls into the room, bowing respectfully. "You've worked hard, Deputy Leader, especially while the Clan Leader is in seclusion."
Having taken over Uchiha Takahiko's responsibilities, Inosuke was now responsible for managing the clan's operations alongside Izuna.
"Inosuke," Izuna asked abruptly, "did any of your family members die at the hands of the Senju?"
Inosuke stiffened, clearly taken aback. "Deputy Leader… Why do you ask?"
Izuna's tone was casual. "Just curious."
Lowering his gaze, Ise replied, "My parents… they died on the Northwest battlefield. My best friend also fell to the Senju."
Izuna continued reviewing the scrolls without looking up. "If the Senju were to propose an alliance, what would your response be?"
"What?!" Inosuke's voice shot up as he jumped to his feet.
"Don't get so excited," Izuna said with a faint smile. "It's just a hypothetical scenario."
"Even if it's a hypothetical, that's impossible!" Inosuke exclaimed. He paused, then added quietly, "Even if I were to consider it, our clan has lost far too many people to the Senju. Your father, Tajima-sama, and your brothers all fell to them, didn't they?"
Izuna set his brush down and raised a hand. "That's enough. You may go."
"Yes, Deputy Leader." Inosuke bowed deeply before leaving the room.
Izuna leaned back, picking up the green leaf once more. He sighed, stretching, before tossing it out the window.
"How can centuries of hatred be forgotten so easily?" he murmured.
In the original timeline, Madara had been moved by Hashirama's sincerity and agreed to build Konoha together. But the path to peace had been anything but smooth.
"It's still a long way off," Izuna whispered, feeling a rare sense of helplessness.
Though he wielded unmatched power in the Warring States Period, the dream of lasting peace seemed impossibly distant.
End of the Chapter.