"What is the true objective of our Hawk Faction?" Toyoma asked, his tone steady yet heavy.
"A better life for our people… or sacrificing everything for the title of Hokage? One path protects the longevity of the Uchiha; the other chases short-term glory for a single individual. After all… only one man can become Hokage."
Setsuna opened his mouth to answer "Hokage," almost by instinct.
For decades, that dream had been drilled into every Uchiha elder — the idea that recognition from the village meant survival. But when he heard Toyoma sharply define the two paths, he paused.
He truly thought about it.
The Senju, once equal founders with them, were now only a fading name. The village had pushed them aside easily. What would they do to the Uchiha? Even if an Uchiha became Hokage… would the villagers ever truly accept it? Would that one title protect their people?
White Fang's tragedy flashed in his memory — how a single "hero's" reputation meant nothing when the village turned its back.
Setsuna finally exhaled and answered:
"The better life of our people. The long-standing survival of our clan."
Toyoma smiled faintly. He had crafted the question so that anyone who truly listened couldn't choose otherwise. And Setsuna had chosen correctly.
Toyoma then leaned forward."Grandpa, I want to tell you something. Yes… I also have a predictive ability," he said quietly."I saw more than thirty years into the future — clearly. I can answer anything you ask. But my condition is simple: you cannot get excited and take reckless action. If events from the future arrive early, many things could collapse."
Setsuna's aged eyes widened. A future-seeing ability from a Uchiha? This was beyond fortune — it was an opportunity the clan had never dreamed of.
His first question, of course, was the one every Uchiha elder hid in their heart.
"Does any Uchiha become Hokage in the future?"
"No," Toyoma replied without hesitation.
Setsuna's face remained still, but the tremble under his breath was unmistakable.A dream spanning generations… nothing but a pipe dream.
He swallowed and asked again, this time more softly:"What becomes of our clan? Does our relationship with the village improve?"
Toyoma shook his head.
"Much worse. Leadership failures, pressure from the village, and internal division. Even children suffer. Some clan members get brainwashed by the so-called Will of Fire… and because of that, the clan is pushed to the point where every Uchiha — unborn babies, infants, women, elders, civilians — are executed. By their own people… and by the village."
Regret tightened Toyoma's voice.
Setsuna felt the world tilt.Bleak. Hopeless. A future soaked in blood. This was far beyond anything Madara had warned him about.
But even then, he forced himself to breathe and ask:
"Do you… have any way to prevent this?"
Because a boy who could see thirty years ahead… must also have a way forward.
"I have solutions for any path you choose," Toyoma said calmly. "But before that… I need to explain what each choice truly means."
He lifted one finger.
"If you want an Uchiha to become Hokage… I can help make that possible. And afterward, I can help make Konoha incredibly strong."He paused, his voice turning colder."But I dislike that future. It is not good for the Uchiha. It benefits Konoha, yes — but many of our people will be sacrificed. And if a future Hokage is anything like the current leadership, then our sacrifice will become meaningless. Just like White Fang."
Toyoma sighed.
"Thirty years later, we would still be exactly where we are today — sacrificed for Konoha, gaining nothing in return."
He did not want his clan — or his future lineage — to be tools for the village ever again.
Setsuna felt a chill.The idea that becoming Hokage could hurt the Uchiha… what kind of future had this boy witnessed?
He couldn't hold back his emotions.
"Why?" Setsuna demanded — anger, guilt, and regret shaking his words."Why has founding Konoha never benefited the Uchiha? When the village was created, many of us believed we finally escaped the Warring States. Why is our fate still the same?!"
Toyoma met the elder's gaze — the dejection in those old eyes made him feel a sting of guilt.But he still spoke clearly.
"Elder… if the Uchiha had created a separate village instead of joining the Senju, we might have become the strongest clan in the entire ninja world. But following Hashirama… and following Madara… both were the worst possible outcomes for the Uchiha."
Setsuna flinched at the mention of Madara. But he said nothing — only nodded stiffly.
Toyoma continued.
"There is something you must know — a secret about this world. The true reason behind every war and conflict."
He took a deep breath.
"Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama were not ordinary humans. Their overwhelming power had a reason."He leaned in.
"They were reincarnations — Madara of Indra, and Hashirama of Asura — the sons of the Sage of Six Paths, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo. Their souls reincarnate over and over, destined to clash again and again. Not for ideals. Not for justice. But simply because the Sage chose Asura as his successor."
Setsuna's eyes trembled.Generations of bloodshed — nothing but a cycle forced by ancestors.
Toyoma continued, ruthlessly honest.
"Their reincarnation will happen for the last time in the future… and then both bloodlines will nearly end."
Setsuna felt sick. Everything the Uchiha sacrificed… all the lives lost… all because of a destiny they never asked for.
Toyoma didn't stop.
"And even if an Uchiha becomes Hokage in the future, Konoha will still be an empty shell — a powerful village only in name, barely stronger than the Sand. Tobirama Senju's decision to make Hiruzen Sarutobi Hokage was the worst mistake of his life. He planned perfectly to weaken the Uchiha, but he never realized he was weakening Konoha itself."
Toyoma looked directly into Setsuna's eyes.
"After hearing all this — about the past, the future, and the truth behind our suffering — what do you think now, Elder Setsuna?"
Setsuna stood in silence after Toyoma's question.
For the first time since the founding of Konoha, the elder of the Uchiha had no answer.
He wanted to say he had a plan.He wanted to say he knew what was right.But the truth was cruel — he had nothing.
He did not know what choice would protect the Uchiha.He did not know what path would save the clan's children from the future Toyoma described.Every decision he had made until now suddenly felt meaningless.
Setsuna looked at Toyoma — not as an elder to a child, but as a man facing someone who carried the weight of tomorrow.
His voice trembled.
"Son… if you have a way to save the Uchiha, then please tell me."His pride shattered."I don't want my clan to be sacrificed for nothing. I want a future for our children — for those not yet born."
He lowered his head.
"Whatever choice you make… I will follow it. I beg you."
Toyoma watched him quietly.
This was what he had been waiting for.
"Elder," Toyoma said at last, his voice firm but heavy,"I can save our lineage — but only six hundred and fifty-two people. Only those who will listen to us. Trying to change the fate of the entire clan at once would be too dangerous."
He paused.
"Some civilians of our bloodline can also be saved. But not everyone."
Toyoma met Setsuna's eyes.
"Can you accept that?"
Toyoma spoke calmly, but his words carried weight.
"There is a reason I set that limit," he said.
"Many within the clan have been brainwashed to the core. Trying to pull them back to reality would take too much time — time I don't have. Worse, forcing them to see the truth too early could make them turn against us. That would only waste my strength and expose everything we are trying to protect."
He looked away briefly, his expression dark.
"It is far better to save as many of our bloodline as possible — quickly — than to fight endlessly with factions who refuse to see the truth. Convincing them could take years. By then, the village's pressure would already tighten around our throats."
Then his voice lowered.
"There is another reason… one I haven't told you yet."
Setsuna listened in silence.
"I have noticed a pattern in history," Toyoma continued."Clans connected — directly or indirectly — to the Ōtsutsuki brothers rarely survive. One by one, they disappear. The Senju are gone. The Uzumaki were wiped out. Others faded into obscurity. Only the Hyūga remain — and even they exist in small numbers."
His eyes sharpened.he thought
"I don't believe this is the will of the Sage of Six Paths. The texts don't support that. But there is another existence that does fit this pattern."
Toyoma spoke the name like a curse.
"Black Zetsu."
"A being who has lived for over a thousand years. Who manipulates bloodlines, history, and reincarnations. Who knows far more than any clan or village ever could."
He clenched his fist.
"If I try to save the entire Uchiha openly… it may backfire. We could become the next clan erased from history."
He turned back to Setsuna.
"That is why I will only save the Hawk Faction — secretly. We will retreat from the storm, preserve our bloodline, and build strength in the shadows. When the world finally changes… the Uchiha will still exist."