Setsuna looked at the boy and knew—there was no hesitation left in him. Toyoma had already chosen the future.
Knowing what was to come, Setsuna could not stop himself from thinking: if only all the Uchiha could be saved. Even those who disagreed with him, even those who walked different paths—they were still family. He could not accept sacrificing them to ensure his own survival.
To Setsuna, the Uchiha were not a clan. They were his children, the grandchildren of his brothers and sisters. And yet, standing before a boy who carried the weight of the future, he felt trapped—as if every step he took would tighten the web around them all.
He looked up, sighing. The boy sat before him, calmly explaining everything and its consequences. Setsuna felt that Konoha—the village for which he and his people had sacrificed so much—would never truly belong to them. At this moment, nothing about the village seemed to matter anymore. If it were possible, he wanted to take every clan member and leave this place behind.
But he knew no one would believe him. They were a clan only in name now. Everyone held different views, different loyalties.
Convincing them would not be easy.
Two tears fell from the old man's face.
The proud Uchiha elder, who had lived his life with his back straight, now felt like nothing more than an old man who wanted nothing for himself—only to save his people.
And yet, even that wish was not easy.
"Toyoma… if I can convince some people, will it be alright?" Setsuna asked quietly. "I just want to save a few more of my family."
Toyoma looked at Setsuna. He understood how unbearable it was for an elder to know the deaths of his descendants before they happened. But he also knew that if too many people learned the truth, the future would twist beyond control.
"Grandpa," Toyoma said calmly, "I also want to save all the Uchiha. This is not just a clan to me—it is my people, my family. But many choices come with high costs. I can promise you this: if they willingly come to us, I will not refuse them. But only those who are loyal to our people, or who genuinely want the good of the Uchiha."
After a brief pause, Toyoma continued, "If you can convince some people without revealing the future or any information we discussed, that would be best. There is something else you need to know. In the future, our forbidden jutsu—Izanagi—will be exposed and used by Danzo. There is a chance he already knows about it."
Toyoma lowered his gaze. "I didn't want to tell you this. I know you might act on it. But if something like this becomes known to certain people… you will understand just how deeply brainwashed many members of our clan have become."
Setsuna listened in silence. But the moment he heard that their forbidden jutsu had been leaked, he lost control.
"Those bastards!" he snarled. "How much more are they willing to sacrifice their own clan? This is no different from pushing us into a pit!"
As an elder, Setsuna understood the danger of Izanagi. It was not forbidden because it was difficult—but because, in the hands of someone without restraint, it would invite disaster. If Danzo truly possessed that knowledge, then the destruction of the Uchiha was inevitable.
Not for rebellion.
Not for treason.
But for the Sharingan itself.
Setsuna finally understood why Toyoma did not want the elders to know everything. If they did, many would immediately report it to Konoha's higher-ups without hesitation.
He looked at the boy again.
Just as Toyoma had said, they were thoroughly brainwashed by the Will of Fire.
Setsuna's inner struggle slowly settled.
He finally understood how close the clan was to death. This was no longer a matter of strength or power. It was no longer Uchiha versus fate—it was Uchiha versus Konoha itself. And in that battle, Konoha held the overwhelming advantage.
Not only because of its strength, but because of traitors within the clan.
Even if Setsuna were to mobilise his entire faction, the price would be unbearable. A price he was no longer willing to pay.
He looked at Toyoma, his eyes firm with resolve."Son," he said, "tell me what you want to do. My entire faction will follow your decision."
Toyoma met the elder's gaze."Grandpa… I won't tell you everything about the future," he said calmly. "Not because I don't trust you—but because the more people who know a fixed future, the more they try to change it. And sometimes, those changes bring consequences far worse than the original fate."
Toyoma paused before continuing."You genuinely care for the clan—not as a leader, but as a grand elder who wants the best for his people. That's why I respect you. But that same care is also dangerous. There will come a moment when emotion outweighs reason… and a single step taken then could ruin everything."
Toyoma did not look away as he spoke. Every word carried truth.
He knew that an elder standing at the end of his life would do anything—anything—to secure the future of his family. And that was exactly why Toyoma could not reveal everything. Some decisions, if taken emotionally rather than logically, would only hasten the clan's destruction.
Setsuna felt a sting in his heart.
At first, the refusal hurt. But as Toyoma spoke, Setsuna recognised the truth in those words. There was no arrogance in the boy's eyes—only sincerity and respect.
And that respect struck deeper than fear or authority ever could.
What did an elder truly want from his descendants?Not fear.Not blind obedience.
Only the certainty that their struggles had meaning—that their lives would be remembered.
Setsuna said nothing. He simply looked at Toyoma.
The boy he had once seen as the clan's last hope now felt like something more. Not a weapon. Not a pillar.
A grandchild—not by blood, but by heart.
"Toyoma," Setsuna said quietly, "from now on, don't call me elder. Call me Grandpa. My son and grandson… none of them are alive anymore. When I die, remember me as your grandfather."
Toyoma felt his chest tighten."I will, Grandpa."
Setsuna pulled the twelve-year-old into a sudden embrace, emotion finally breaking through the old man's restraint.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then, slowly, they sat down again.
Toyoma slowly steadied his emotions before speaking again.
"Grandpa," he said, "in the future I saw—thirty years from now—I realized something. We ninja are trapped in a cycle. We accept missions, execute them, and move on… but we rarely understand the real reason behind our work."
Toyoma's gaze hardened slightly."At its core, everything we fight for comes down to one thing—resources. Not pride. Not names. Not ideals. Resources. Clans, families, civilians, even daimyō… they are all the same in this regard."
He paused before continuing."Ninja possess power far beyond assassination and killing. Yet we limit ourselves to that role alone. We never use our strength to truly secure our future."
Setsuna listened quietly. The words stirred memories he had long buried.
"You're right," he said slowly. "During the Warring States Period, before the concept of villages even existed, we all fought for resources. That was how the Uchiha and the Senju became great clans—because we had both strength and control over what we needed to survive."
His voice grew heavier as he continued."When the village was founded, both clans donated enormous amounts of land and property. The blood and resources we poured into Konoha were no less than the Senju's. Yet the funds provided by the daimyō were barely a fraction of what we contributed."
Setsuna clenched his fist unconsciously."You could say we gave just as much—if not more—than anyone else."
As he recalled those early days, bitterness surfaced in his eyes. So much had been sacrificed in the hope of securing a peaceful future for their children.
And yet, that future was never guaranteed.
For the first time, Setsuna questioned whether those sacrifices had truly been worth it.
Among all the clan factions now, only his still possessed significant independent resources. Sometimes they were shared with the clan—but many other factions had already tied their wealth directly or indirectly to Konoha.
The realisation settled heavily in his heart.
Toyoma listened carefully as Setsuna spoke, piecing everything together.
"From what I understand, Grandpa," Toyoma said after a moment, "our resources come from the land we own, the shops we control within Konoha, and the contracts we signed with the ninja cats—those skilled in smithing kunai and forging weapons."
Setsuna nodded."Yes. Only our faction signed contracts with the ninja cats. The others chose the crow clan instead. Since the Warring States Period, our faction has been responsible for weapons and resource management. That was always our true expertise. The others were fighters."
As he spoke, memories surfaced—his father's voice reminding him of their value to the clan, of how their role had sustained the Uchiha through generations.
Toyoma absorbed every word in silence.
With that knowledge, many scattered thoughts finally aligned. He now understood not only what their faction possessed, but also what path lay open before them.
And, more importantly, what steps they would have to take to survive.