Naruto: Sukuna's Jinchuriki, I am Uchiha

Chapter 94: Do You Remember How Many Loaves of Bread You've Eaten?

Hashirama Senju entered Konoha with a passing merchant caravan, his eyes constantly wandering, marveling like a child in a grand new world. Everything was different from the village he once knew.

The old, traditional architecture was now rare. Lining the streets were shops, filled with all kinds of goods, only a few of which he could recognize.

Apart from arms dealers, most merchants preferred the stability Konoha offered. Although the profits were smaller due to regulated pricing, the goods sold quickly, and merchants didn't need to worry about bandits along the way.

Konoha's ninja forces couldn't yet cover the entirety of the Land of Fire, but they ensured the safety of the key trade routes.

---

Though the walls of Konoha were gone, the checkpoints were still manned by guards—teams of Uchiha and Hyūga working together to prevent hostile infiltrations.

But Hashirama Senju was no ordinary man. If he wanted to enter, no ordinary Uchiha could detect him, not even those with the Mangekyō Sharingan.

As he wandered the streets and alleys for hours, Hashirama began to understand the biggest difference between this new Konoha and the one he had known: a sense of order.

Everyone seemed to know what they should and shouldn't do. There was a respect and adherence to the rules.

When the Uchiha Police Force first took over maintaining order, there hadn't been any major issues, but something had felt off to Hashirama.

The issue wasn't with the Uchiha; they had followed the rules strictly. The problem was with the villagers.

The Uchiha were firm adherents of law over sentiment. But in a village where nearly everyone was connected by family or clan ties, enforcing the law could easily offend a whole network of people.

And you couldn't expect someone to feel no resentment when their loved one was punished. Most people prioritized kinship over reason.

This fundamental conflict between law and emotion was a debate that had persisted for millennia.

Tobirama hadn't been wrong in appointing the Uchiha as the enforcers of justice. They were, by nature, the most suited to the role.

Hashirama observed merchant caravans that seemed on the verge of conflict. But a single glance at the patrolling Uchiha nearby immediately quelled any disputes.

Hashirama knew that unchecked power could corrupt any group. This was why he and Tobirama had disbanded the Senju clan.

If they hadn't, the Senju's reputation and influence would have cemented the position of Hokage as a hereditary role within their clan.

But the proud Uchiha would never accept such a scenario.

The Uchiha clan was prone to emotional extremes, and Tobirama's solution had been suppression.

He couldn't risk the possibility of an emotionally compromised Uchiha holding the highest office.

This wasn't prejudice but a conclusion Tobirama had drawn from countless experiments, all aimed at protecting the greater good.

Tobirama didn't hate the Uchiha but simply refused to gamble on the stability of the village—or the future of the ninja world—on their ability to control their emotions.

---

Walking down the road toward the Hokage building, Hashirama glanced up at the Hokage Rock, noticing two new faces carved alongside his own.

A faint smile graced his lips.

"Madara… If you had become the Second Hokage, perhaps the village would've turned out this way."

"No… probably not. Although I don't want to admit it… you really weren't suited for leadership back then."

"If only… if only Izuna had survived…"

Arriving at the Hokage building, Hashirama knew it would be more difficult to enter unnoticed. The barriers here were more like spiderwebs—easy for him to break, but difficult to bypass without leaving a trace.

After a brief moment of thought, he altered one of his jutsu techniques.

---

Inside the Hokage's office, Minato had just finished resolving a dispute with a local official.

It was already lunchtime, and he was about to open the lunchbox Kushina had lovingly prepared for him.

Before he could take a bite, he sensed a faint chakra fluctuation.

Gripping his special kunai, he turned toward a corner of the room where a potted plant stood.

From the plant's leaves, a hand extended. Before Minato could throw his kunai, a deep voice emerged from the greenery.

"Ahaha, sorry for the intrusion. I thought this was the best way to meet you."

A figure, glowing green, materialized from the plant. Removing his hat, Hashirama Senju smiled warmly.

"Konoha's Hokage, I am Hashirama Senju. There are some things I'd like to ask you, if that's alright."

---

At the Gates of Demon Lantern City

Under the shadow of the city walls, the zombie-like hordes were engulfed in crimson flames, burning like fiery lotuses of karmic retribution.

From a distance, the eerie scene almost resembled a city lit by thousands of lanterns.

Ryūzetsu stood frozen in shock, unable to believe what she was witnessing.

There had been no grand display of energy, not even the simplest hand signs.

Yet in an instant, tens of thousands of undead were reduced to ash.

With his hands in his pockets, Uchiha Kagami carefully avoided the filth on the ground as he walked toward the city.

Ryūzetsu's legs moved of their own accord, compelling her to follow.

Suddenly, a deafening roar stopped her in her tracks.

A massive beast, wings spread wide, perched atop the city walls.

Its four limbs were thick and muscular, exuding power.

A grotesque head bore enormous wings, and its gaping maw was lined with twin rows of giant fangs. The entire creature radiated an aura of pure malice.

It was the monstrous offspring of the Box of Ultimate Bliss, born alongside Satori.

---

"Mukuro…"

Ryūzetsu's voice trembled as she recognized the beast.

Her childhood friend, Mukuro, had been consumed by the red light emanating from the Box and transformed into this abomination.

Her reason for staying here was to find a way to save him.

Countless nights, she'd been haunted by the sound of Mukuro's screams from within the Box.

---

"Your chakra… it's immense," the beast growled, its massive jaws spreading wide.

Shhk-shhk-shhk!

With a shake of its massive wings, countless blade-like feathers rained down.

"Look out!" Ryūzetsu cried.

But before the feathers could reach Kagami, they dissolved like ice in boiling water.

Zzzzt—

A crackling black and crimson slash split the air.

The inky strike cleaved through the beast, tearing it in two. Residual energy rippled outward, shredding its body to pieces.

---

"W… why…" Mukuro's voice was filled with disbelief as its body disintegrated.

"I could sense fear… killing intent… No one could attack me—"

The slender figure standing above its remains answered.

"Why would I feel killing intent toward food?"

---

From his elevated position, Kagami looked toward the black box at the heart of the ancient city.

The Box of Ultimate Bliss…

End of Chapter

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