HSU: Ch. 321

Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan had returned to the Uchiha clan. Regarding this matter, most people actually let out a sigh of relief.

Neither the Uchiha clan nor the Hokage were the sort of people you wanted to cross.

The Uchiha, flourishing in their prime, went without saying. Masashi's very existence was like a towering mountain. Though this guy never used his strength to oppress others in the village, too many people depended on him for their livelihoods. Thinking of his ferocity outside the village, many felt suffocated.

But that didn't mean people were willing to make an enemy of the Hokage either.

After all, the Hokage was still the Hokage. Minato might be approachable, but at his core he was a ruthless man.

As the person most in the spotlight in all of Konoha, many people could more or less guess his thoughts. Regarding who he favored as his successor, everyone had some idea.

This was a decision that could shape an entire era.

For this, many sincerely admired his ambition and mindset.

However, even though the Uchiha clan had recovered the Mangekyō Sharingan, these past days they were far from jubilant. On the contrary, the atmosphere was heavy and stifling.

The Hyūga clan, now quite close to the Uchiha, had Hiashi visit the Uchiha compound several times.

Because the clan's number one "unofficial historian," the last elder who had lived through the village's founding era, Setsuna, had suddenly collapsed.

As for this old man, most of the village didn't have a very positive impression.

He was a completely different type of clan leader compared to the current Uchiha leader.

He was a Uchiha of the old era, an "Old Uchiha."

And what were the traits of an "Old Uchiha"?

Fierce and belligerent, sharp-minded yet prideful, prone to wild thoughts and great ambition, straightforward in speech yet ignoring key details, repressive and awkward, saying one thing but meaning another, self-centered, arrogant, protective of their own, hating interference, insisting on making their own decisions, never listening to others, nor speaking in ways others could understand.

In short: "I don't care what you think, I only care what I think!"

To befriend such an Old Uchiha, you needed patience of a saint, the ability to yield in arguments, you could be formidable, but never more formidable than him. Most importantly, never meddle in his affairs. Your role was to follow behind him, and wait for him to pull you along.

Still, Old Uchiha had their virtues too. They were the type to share blessings, and in times of hardship, they bore the burden alone, though you were not allowed to help carry it.

Setsuna embodied all of these traits to perfection, not missing a single one.

Those of his generation could still clearly recall his youthful "classic characteristics":

Extremely patriarchal, lonely, utterly clueless in matters of love, and even worse at expressing emotions. His ways of showing feelings were awkward and stiff. He loved to protect others, yet hated being seen as weak, even if you were only trying to protect him.

That a man with such a personality actually married and had children was shocking. He scared away more women than he ever pursued.

And yet, such an old man suddenly collapsed, just like that.

A sigh-worthy event.

At this point in life, there were no enemies, only old companions. Over these days, a dozen or so elderly men and women from other clans had come to visit.

At this age, everyone carried hidden injuries. Today it was Setsuna, but tomorrow it could be anyone else.

Their emotions were complicated, filled with sighs.

The old women recalled how, in their youthful beauty, they had been cornered against a wall by this man. Each time, compensation had to be paid, and more often than not, he was the first to slip away as the instigator.

The old men's memories were mostly of fiery, physical brawls.

Setsuna had a foul temper and a poor tongue, when he lost an argument, he swung his fists. No honor, utterly shameless. Worse still, he was a master of playing the victim.

Though everyone hated him to their bones, they all knew he wasn't truly doing it for himself.

Because Setsuna valued repuation more than anyone.

His home was the same as always, old, yet clean. He had lived here for decades. Nothing much had changed.

Once, there had been liveliness here, but after the Second Great Ninja War, only Setsuna and his wife remained in this house.

Now, with his life nearing its end, the house felt livelier again, filled with people.

His sudden collapse had left many unprepared. After all, he had always presented himself as vigorous despite his age.

Masashi had stayed by his side these days.

He had long received Setsuna's care and guidance, there was no reason not to remain here now.

Saeko and Yosuke too, two little ones who had grown up with this always-kind "grandpa" playing with them. But suddenly, he had collapsed. The children were restless, fearful, and at a loss.

In the bedroom, Setsuna lay on the bed, frail and weak. He looked as if he were sleeping, but his eyes were open, his breath faint.

Ninjas were powerful, but still human. When the time came, they were no different from ordinary people.

The usually noisy Yosuke crouched by the bedside with his sister, two little heads staring unblinkingly at Setsuna.

They still couldn't truly grasp or accept the death of someone close.

Masashi opened the door, carrying a basin of warm water.

Every day at this time, he would help Setsuna wipe down.

In a previous lifetime, this old man had been the one shielding over his fragile self like an umbrella. Yet now, in this lifetime, Masashi was the one caring for him. Life played its tricks.

The debt he owed Setsuna in this lifetime, this was all he could do to repay.

Because of their affinity with Yin Release, Uchiha weren't great at maintaining health.

It wasn't that they ignored it, but that their "health preservation" was aimed only at keeping combat readiness. In youth, it didn't matter. But as they aged, their bodies were being drained.

For someone like Setsuna, with decades of hidden injuries accumulated, once he collapsed, he couldn't get back up.

Nowadays, thanks to Masashi, the Uchiha had improved greatly in this regard. But for elders like Setsuna, it was too late.

By comparison, though Hiruzen was very old and his strength had declined greatly, his body was still far healthier than Setsuna's.

"Yosuke," Masashi said to the children, "help Dad wipe Setsuna-jisan's face, alright?"

"Mm!" Yosuke nodded firmly.

"Saeko, go downstairs and check with Mom, see if dinner is ready," Masashi said to his daugther.

This wasn't something suitable for Saeko to take part in. She could help in other ways.

She could understand more than Yosuke the meaning behind Setsuna's current state. She obediently ran out.

The children didn't stay here all the time anyway, Saeko had school, and Yosuke would be entering the academy within the year.

Most of the time, Masashi and his wives were the ones taking care of things.

Mikoto would also bring her sons to visit. When Sasuke was little, he often came here to play with Setsuna as well.

The place wasn't cold and lonely because no one visited, but because no one wanted to disturb Setsuna in his final days. Everyone helped as much as needed, never less.

Madara was still living here, but when people came, he stayed only in the courtyard. He didn't know how to care for people or offer comfort, but these past days, his words had been much more... normal.

Taking the towel, setting the basin nearby, Masashi guided Yosuke to help wipe Setsuna's face and hands.

Setsuna's skin was very oily, and now, even awake, he had no strength. So every hour or so, Masashi would wipe him down. It made him feel a little more comfortable.

As for bathing, that could only be handled by Setsuna's wife.

Suddenly, Setsuna's fingers twitched.

Masashi, who was wiping his hand, froze and leaned closer, Setsuna had opened his eyes.

"Masashi..."

His voice was faint now. The booming voice of the past was gone.

Yosuke stood on tiptoe, carefully using the towel to wipe Setsuna's forehead.

Setsuna turned his head, gazing into Yosuke's dark eyes, his expression softening.

"You are here too? You'll be starting school this year, right?"

"Mm-hm!" Yosuke's eyes shone with expectation. "Will you come watch too?"

"I'll go, I'll go," Setsuna smiled. "Once I'm better, I'll be there."

But inside, there was bitterness. He knew his own condition.

It seemed Yosuke would be the last child he ever watched walk through the academy gates. His body wouldn't carry him much further.

Still, he felt no real regret.

If anything, it was guilt, that he would leave before his wife.

From now on, she would be alone.

The only one he had wronged in his life was his old wife.

"Masashi... my wife... in the future, I'll trouble you to look after her, alright?"

"Don't worry," Masashi nodded.

Of course, Setsuna wasn't worried that no one would care for his wife. The Uchiha had always upheld filial duties toward their elders.

This was simply his way of expressing guilt.

Everyone knew he had a foul temper and a stubborn nature. The one who suffered the most from his outbursts was undoubtedly his wife. After all, she faced him every day...

But for him to say something affectionate to her directly? Impossible. He couldn't, and didn't even know how.

Masashi understood.

He'd seen this kind of situation many times.

Since Setsuna was awake, Masashi stayed by his side, talking with him for a while.

Until a knock came at the door, and Pakura open it.

"Masashi, the food's ready."

"Alright. Take Yosuke downstairs," Masashi said. "I'll handle things here."

Watching Pakura lead away a reluctant Yosuke, he pulled over the wheelchair.

Setsuna's condition was that his strength was gone, his body failing rapidly, drowsiness overtaking his waking hours.

With Light-Weight Rock Technique, Masashi carefully moved Setsuna onto the wheelchair, then draped a quilt over his legs.

When he wheeled Setsuna into the living room, Pakura had already prepared the food, mainly soft things, like porridge.

After helping Setsuna finish eating, Masashi pushed him out into the back garden.

Madara sat in a chair, blade across his lap like a sentinel, speaking with Setsuna's wife.

It was clear, he really was making an effort.

For Madara to "try" like this... in two lifetimes, Masashi had hardly ever seen it.

He figured that once Setsuna passed, Madara would leave as well.

Though Madara hadn't revealed a word, from details alone Masashi could tell his goal hadn't changed.

The plan of planting the great tree, he was serious about it, his resolve firm.

The difference, perhaps, was only in how he now viewed the Uchiha clan compared to the original timeline.

Madara's perception of the clan had always shifted.

In his youth, he was no different from today's younger Uchiha. Back then, the clan to him was honor and responsibility.

Confident in his Sharingan, proud of his Uchiha blood, every Uchiha went through this "youthful phase."

Madara was like this, later Obito as well.

But the sense of pride began to fade when, under Hashirama's overwhelming power, some Uchiha began to surrender to the Senju.

As the situation worsened, fewer and fewer were willing to fight. In the end, only Madara remained. And when Hashirama defeated him, urging him to stop, Madara said, "There are no men of spirit left in the Uchiha clan."

At that moment, he no longer just lost his last brother, he felt he had lost the clan he once took pride in. Still, he tried to protect them, fulfilling Izuna's dying wish. Protection of the clan turned from honor into obsession.

But he failed. Tobirama, who feared and distrusted the Uchiha most, became Hokage. To Madara, the clan's decline and eventual destruction was inevitable. He tried persuading them to leave Konoha to survive, but most begged him to stay instead.

He couldn't fulfill his brother's wish, abandoned even by his own kin. He was utterly alone.

To him then, the clan had become nothing but ignorant weaklings. Not worth protecting. In fact, they were the reason he failed to honor his brother's will.

Toward the clan he once gloried in, he had only disdain left.

In the original timeline, this grew into intolerance, he couldn't allow the Uchiha name to linger in Konoha as a hollow, pitiful remnant.

Only... in this altered timeline, how exactly did he see the clan now?

That was something Masashi very much wanted to know.