Konoha: The King of Souls from Uchiha

c57: Small History Classroom (Part 1)

Uchiha Gen lowered his gaze to meet Uchiha Itachi's upturned face—eyes filled with expectation and smiled faintly. "I do have an idea... but it's extremely difficult to realize."

He then glanced sideways. "Shisui, help Itachi up here. Listening with your head tilted like that must be uncomfortable."

Shisui chuckled lightly. "No need. Itachi's a genius. He's already mastered tree-walking."

"Itachi, come on up."

At the invitation, young Uchiha Itachi took a breath and placed one foot on the trunk of the tree, then the other. Steadying his balance, he ascended with calm steps, walking up the vertical surface using chakra control.

Tree-walking, while easier than water-walking, is a chakra control technique most genin struggle with. That Itachi, not yet five years old, could perform it with composure explained why Shisui spoke of him with such admiration.

Upon reaching the top, Shisui reached out and took Itachi's hand, guiding him to sit beside them.

Due to his strict upbringing under Uchiha Fugaku, Itachi, though just a small child, settled into a formal kneeling position on the branch.

Uchiha Gen shook his head slightly. "Looks like the clan head holds you to very high standards. Relax. You can sit however you like."

"This is out of respect for Brother Gen, and the question I asked earlier," Itachi said earnestly, his face serious beyond his years.

Damn, Gen thought to himself, this kid's frighteningly composed for his age.

"Suit yourself. As long as you're comfortable, let's get to the main topic."

"My idea isn't original. I'm borrowing it from someone who came before."

"Which predecessor?" Shisui asked, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Uchiha Madara."

At the mention of that name, Shisui's expression changed visibly. Within the Uchiha clan, and even more so within Konohagakure, Madara's name was practically forbidden. It wasn't simply taboo it was a ghost from history, spoken of with caution, or not at all.

Itachi, young as he was, looked puzzled. "Who is Uchiha Madara?"

"You've never heard of him?" Gen asked gently.

"I haven't seen his name in the clan's records yet."

"That's not surprising," Gen said, shaking his head. "There are very few records on Uchiha Madara in the clan's archive. I had to ask my mentor, Orochimaru, to help me dig them up."

He deliberately mentioned Orochimaru. The truth of his research was harder to trace, and if Itachi or Shisui tried to investigate, the eccentric sannin would likely back him up or at least remain cryptic enough to prevent contradiction.

In truth, Gen had done his own private digging across several sources: shinobi history scrolls, classified ANBU reports, and scattered war memoirs. But it was simpler and more plausible to credit Orochimaru, given his known obsession with forbidden knowledge.

"Did Madara ever speak about ending war or achieving peace?" Shisui asked, cautiously re-entering the discussion.

"He did. Not in public speeches, but in private correspondence and some transcripts of his conversations during the clan's early migration into Konohagakure."

"But I've never seen anything like that in the clan archives," Shisui murmured.

"You wouldn't have," Gen replied. "The clan redacted or destroyed most of Madara's writings after his fallout with Hashirama Senju and the village. Even among the Uchiha, mentioning his ideology is rare. It's a political risk."

Itachi listened silently, eyes wide. He hadn't yet learned about Madara's legacy, the founding of Konohagakure, or the complex rift between the Uchiha and the Senju clans something that, in time, would deeply shape his worldview.

But already, a small ember of curiosity had been lit.

Shisui folded his arms. "So what was Madara's idea about achieving peace?"

Gen leaned back slightly against the trunk, gazing through the canopy at the softly rustling leaves. "I'll explain it in a moment. But keep in mind, the ideas are... controversial."

Both Shisui and Itachi nodded, waiting quietly, their attention fixed.

Gen exhaled. "Let's begin."

"The person in the clan who probably knows Uchiha Madara best now is Elder Setsuna, who is currently imprisoned in Konoha's detention center."

"This Elder Setsuna is your maternal grandfather your mother's father."

Uchiha Itachi looked puzzled. He had a grandfather?

Why had neither his father nor his mother ever mentioned him?

"Why is Grandfather in jail?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Gen replied mildly. "You should ask the clan head, or your mother, Mikoto-san."

"If they don't give a clear answer, maybe you'll get a chance to ask your grandfather yourself one day."

In truth, Uchiha Gen knew the full story, but he chose not to speak it aloud. Sometimes, leaving questions unanswered had greater impact. If Itachi were to hear the truth from Setsuna himself, it might lead to deeper reflection than a secondhand explanation.

If a son-in-law or a daughter knew the truth and simply passed it on, it would lack the same weight. But if Itachi had to question his grandfather personally, and look him in the eye...

Could Uchiha Setsuna really resist the urge to justify himself? Could he tell the full truth and not attempt to clear his name?

Human nature tends to seek absolution. Even strong men falter under the instinct to whitewash their past, especially to the next generation.

Once Setsuna did that, he would almost certainly shift the blame onto the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. That in turn would reflect badly on the legacy of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and might inflame political tensions something that could complicate Itachi's future.

Although Itachi had the qualities of a successor sharp judgment, emotional restraint, loyalty any disruption in the village's stability would only make his path more difficult.

Still, if there was to be a Uchiha genius in the village's core structure, it would be the best possible outcome. Someone like Itachi, who could act both as protector and judge.

Because while Itachi had the potential to rise beyond being just a shinobi, for now, he was still bound to the clan. His fate and the clan's strength were intertwined.

The stronger the clan, the more power and protection he would receive in return.

"I understand," Itachi said softly.

"Well then," Gen continued, "let's return to the topic of Uchiha Madara."

"During the Warring States Period, many ninja clans fought constantly for survival, resources, vengeance, and influence. War was the norm."

"At that time, the two strongest families were the Senju and the Uchiha, locked in a vicious cycle of mutual destruction."

"When it came to the idea of peace, Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara leaders of their respective clans held different visions."

"Hashirama dreamed of a system where all clans united under a single village, with shared rules and cooperation. He believed mutual understanding would end conflict."

"Madara believed the only path to peace was through absolute unity—one rule, one voice. A single system governing all shinobi would suppress war by force and eliminate discord."

"Because of these different philosophies, the two eventually clashed. After a prolonged struggle, Madara was defeated in single combat by Hashirama."

"Madara had originally planned to die then and there but Hashirama offered to take his own life instead, hoping to end the hatred between their clans."

"This gesture shocked Madara. He decided, at least briefly, to give Hashirama's vision of peace a chance."

"But Madara's decision wasn't based solely on that. At the Uchiha Naka Shrine, a stone tablet passed down for generations revealed that cooperation between Uchiha and Senju was a path forward. Madara was the first to truly comprehend this message through his Sharingan."

"Originally, Madara had been willing to cooperate earlier, but his younger brother Izuna's final words full of caution and bitterness—held him back."

"The two clan leaders eventually stepped away from the battlefield for the sake of their children and the next generation. They formed an alliance to create a better future."

"Children being forced into war was common in the Warring States Period. Both the Uchiha and Senju had lost young ones on the battlefield."

"Madara's younger brother, Izuna, was mortally wounded by Senju Tobirama. Meanwhile, Hashirama's own brothers Itama and Wama had died at the hands of the Uchiha."

Uchiha Gen paused here and added with deliberate neutrality:

"Just like Tobirama, younger brother of Hashirama, took Izuna's life… Uchiha shinobi also killed Hashirama's brothers. The cycle of vengeance went both ways."

"The hatred between the Uchiha and Senju couldn't be unraveled so easily—it was tangled, bitter, and generations deep."

"But the very weight of that pain drove both leaders to forge peace. And that peace became Konohagakure."

"For the sake of children no longer being forced to fight… that was the true origin of the village."

Shisui and Itachi both nodded slowly, absorbing the story.

Gen's voice shifted slightly.

"Did you know that the name of the village and even the position of Hokage are linked to the Uchiha?"

"What?" Shisui and Itachi both exclaimed in surprise.

Gen chuckled. "I reacted the same way when I first read the account."

"Xuan—how could the name Konoha and Hokage relate to us Uchiha?" Shisui asked eagerly. Itachi's eyes were wide with curiosity.

"Why shouldn't they be?" Gen replied calmly. "The Uchiha were co-founders of the village. Our contributions were second only to the Senju. No other clan can compare."

"Senju Hashirama had the unique Mokuton ability, and other Senju excelled in Suiton and Doton."

"But we Uchiha were known for our mastery of Katon and, of course, our Sharingan. Naming the Hokage position after our fiery style isn't so strange."

"But here's the critical detail records say that Hashirama originally wanted Madara to be the First Hokage."

Shisui's jaw dropped. "What? Madara was going to be Hokage?"

"Why didn't he accept?"

"Well, according to surviving documents, Madara was powerful, yes—but he was also viewed as cold, rigid, and uncompromising by the other clans."

"Hashirama, in contrast, was warm-hearted, forgiving, and charismatic. People trusted him."

"But when push came to shove, Hashirama could be ruthless especially if Konoha's survival was on the line."

"Still, his reputation as the 'God of Shinobi' made him unbeatable in influence. Madara was called the 'Ghost of the Uchiha' a feared warrior, but never as widely respected."

"As the saying goes, nicknames reveal the soul. Hashirama stood for peace and harmony. Madara stood for control and power."

"Hashirama led the formal founding of the village. His prestige among the clans was unmatched."

"You're both familiar with how Hokage are chosen. Under that system, how could Madara ever win the position?"

"To become Hokage, one must be approved by both the daimyo of the Land of Fire and the will of the people."

"The daimyo feared Madara's temperament and the villagers overwhelmingly supported Hashirama."

"Public opinion is more influential than political formality. Once the people have chosen, even the daimyo cannot object."

Shisui nodded slowly, now understanding. Itachi, still unsure, turned to him.

"Shisui what is the Hokage selection system exactly?"

Shisui explained it simply: popular support, nomination by village elders, and formal approval by the daimyo.

Itachi thought for a moment, then nodded. "I see. There was no way to contest that."

"Exactly," Gen confirmed. "Unless Hashirama himself had refused the position and directly nominated Madara, Madara could never have become Hokage."

"But tell me… do you think that was ever truly possible?"

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