Uchiha Ascendant: Rewriting the Ninja World

The scroll handed to Tsunade, supposedly from the Uchiha elder Setsuna, was nothing more than part of Uchiha Yo's scheme.

Tsunade was about 70% unlikely to meet this so-called elder. After all, she understood the consequences better than anyone else.

Even if she did meet him, whether the elder admitted or denied the allegations wouldn't matter. In Konoha, any trouble was automatically pinned on the Uchiha—without question.

After all, the "evil Uchiha" wasn't a reputation earned lightly.

As long as the intel in the scroll became reality, it would raise suspicions. And no one would believe that a child barely out of the Academy, with just over a year of field experience, could orchestrate such a thing.

"Brat!"

Tsunade's tone softened as the anger from before subsided. There was even a faint trace of apology in her expression.

This was typical of Tsunade—her temper flared quickly and cooled just as fast.

Uchiha Yo, on the other hand, remained resolute, his face filled with unshakable conviction.

"Captain Tsunade, trust in the village. That old thief will never give up!"

To anyone watching, Uchiha Yo's furious condemnation of his clan's elder painted the picture of a young Uchiha entirely brainwashed by the Will of Fire.

Tsunade snorted disdainfully.

"Spare me your lecture, brat. In two days, Hatake will arrive to take over here. You'll return to the village with my team for half a month of rest."

At this point, the battlefield in the Land of Rain hadn't fully erupted, so Konoha's forces were still abundant.

Hearing this, Uchiha Yo opened his mouth to respond, but Tsunade's stern gaze silenced him.

"Don't forget my warning—everything in that scroll is top secret."

"Yes, Captain Tsunade!"

Taking a deep breath, Uchiha Yo forced himself to appear unwavering.

Tsunade gestured for him to leave. After respectfully returning the scroll, Uchiha Yo exited the tent.

Now alone, Tsunade furrowed her brow, her gaze lingering on the scroll.

"Is that old ghost still scheming? Or is this for real?"

The scroll contained a simple piece of intelligence, but it was enough to send chills down any Konoha ninja's spine.

The bloodline of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama—his grandson Nawaki—was assigned to Orochimaru's team by the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, on the second day after his birthday…

The first part of the report didn't surprise Tsunade. Anyone with some effort could uncover this information.

But the latter half was the issue:

The scroll explicitly stated that the mission was an ambush, and Nawaki was the target.

While it didn't specify who orchestrated the ambush, the implications pointed squarely at the Third Hokage's faction.

This was the real problem.

"That old ghost!"

Tsunade's eyes narrowed. This intelligence wasn't just about Uchiha—it hinted at the Senju being another target of suspicion among Konoha's high-ranking officials.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Yo stepped into the rain, pulling up his hood to shield himself from the downpour.

The relentless weather of the Land of Rain mirrored the dismal atmosphere.

Still, a faint smirk tugged at Uchiha Yo's lips, his eyes glinting with amusement.

The Uchiha were isolated and weak. If they wanted the Hokage position, they needed allies—plenty of them.

The intel he provided was no fabrication. Nawaki and he had been classmates, and Nawaki's birthday was indeed August 9th.

Based on his knowledge of the original timeline, Nawaki's 12th birthday aligned perfectly with Tsunade's scheduled return to the village.

More importantly, in the original story, Tsunade had gifted Nawaki the First Hokage's necklace on his 12th birthday. The next day, Nawaki left on a mission and was killed.

A mission close enough to the village to return within a day.

Even with a protector like Orochimaru, one of Konoha's elite Jonin, the mission failed spectacularly.

Without prior intel, it was easy to blame Orochimaru for negligence. But what if Tsunade had forewarning?

"Whether it's a conspiracy or not doesn't matter. What matters is that Tsunade knew in advance. Who would believe it was just a coincidence?"

Uchiha Yo sneered internally. There was no way an ambush could be that precise—so close to Konoha's gates.

Especially during wartime. And of all targets, it just happened to be the Senju heir.

"Yo-kun."

A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. Turning, Uchiha Yo smiled at the newcomer.

"Captain Fugaku."

Uchiha Fugaku, a few years older but with a more mature appearance, was already a Special Jonin. He rarely smiled but managed a faint one now.

"Yo-kun, how many times must I tell you? No need for such formalities between us."

The two were clearly well-acquainted. Fugaku's reserved and composed nature made it easy for him to get along with the bright and seemingly devoted Uchiha Yo, whose words always echoed the Will of Fire.

Their conversation carried them to a small waterfall near the Konoha encampment.

For some reason, the Uchiha clan seemed to enjoy discussing matters by waterfalls.

The sight made Uchiha Yo chuckle internally. Still, the sound of the cascading water eased Fugaku's guard, revealing the weariness in his already mature face.

"Yo-kun, how can the clan gain the village's trust?"

Good grief.

Seeing the worry on Fugaku's face, Uchiha Yo couldn't help but sigh internally.

No wonder the Second Hokage claimed the Uchiha were extreme.

Here was Fugaku—one of the clan's elites on the frontlines of a critical battlefield—more concerned about Konoha's opinion of the Uchiha than the war, his clan's safety, or even his own life.

The Uchiha truly were an extreme bunch.

Feigning a heavy sigh, Uchiha Yo shook his head with a troubled expression.

"Captain Fugaku, the question isn't how the clan can gain the village's trust. It's how the village can trust the Uchiha."

Fugaku looked bewildered, and Uchiha Yo inwardly sighed. This one could still be saved.

Fugaku's loyalty to both the Uchiha and Konoha was genuine, but it left him perpetually torn. He was a man of indecision, trapped between conflicting loyalties.

If Fugaku had ever been decisive—if he had either sided with the village and purged the rebellious elements of the Uchiha or fully committed to leading the rebellion—the clan might have survived, or at least its downfall wouldn't have been so sudden.

"Captain Fugaku!"

Uchiha Yo's expression grew serious. He had to guide Fugaku before he fell into the same dead-end thinking.

This man wasn't just a capable fighter; he was also the clan leader's son—a key ally Uchiha Yo couldn't afford to lose.

"The clan has sent so many elites to the frontlines this time, even you, the clan leader's son. This is the Land of Rain—the terrain works against us. Isn't this proof enough of our sincerity?"

Uchiha Yo's tone brimmed with conviction, as if declaring that the clan had given everything to gain the village's trust.

Hearing this, Fugaku's rare smile returned, and he nodded in agreement.

"True. The clan has indeed sent its finest."

Despite their reputation for malice, the Uchiha had borne the brunt of the wars from the First to the Third Shinobi War. Fighting in the harsh terrains of the Land of Rain and the Land of Water, they had endured immeasurable suffering.

It wasn't until after the Nine-Tails' rampage that the Uchiha were relegated to outcasts, watched like criminals, and eventually forced into rebellion.

But Uchiha Yo's next words made Fugaku's smile vanish, replaced by a grave expression.

"By the way, Captain Fugaku, why are there rumors in th

e village about White Fang becoming the Fourth Hokage? Isn't the Third Hokage still in his prime?"

That single question made Fugaku's face darken.