Chapter 144: You Think You’re Madara Uchiha or Hashirama Senju?
This strike came without any warning.
Meaning he swung simply because he wanted to, without considering consequences.
That was true, unrestrained will.
And in Konoha, there was probably only one person who would act like that.
“Chiyo of Sunagakure’s envoy greets Hakken.”
Letting out a soft sigh, Chiyo didn’t spare a glance for Baki, who was writhing on the ground in pain. She looked deeply at Hakken, then offered a natural, respectful bow.
This time, she had come representing Sunagakure to beg for peace. The Kazekage had granted her wide authority for one purpose.
To prevent the Land of Wind from ending up like the Land of Earth.
She had told Baki earlier: Use your eyes. Say nothing.
Even so, he made a mistake.
A fatal one.
That he was still alive was nothing but luck.
Too young. Far too young.
A jōnin who failed to see Konoha’s change—such a man was unworthy of the rank.
This was Konoha. The Uchiha clan’s territory.
Hakken and the Uchiha clan head’s son were sworn companions.
He was inside the clan head’s home, being treated affectionately—and the two children playing beside him could not possibly be ordinary.
All these things were in their intelligence reports.
Yet Baki still made that mistake.
He deserved that strike.
Chiyo had no intention of seeking justice for him.
Nor did she have the confidence to attempt it.
Since ancient times, sword-wielding shinobi had always been the natural enemies of puppet users.
Even setting that aside, the Raikage’s strength was acknowledged throughout the shinobi world. Anyone capable of defeating the Raikage needed no further explanation.
And Sunagakure had come here adopting the lowest posture possible to secure peace—why would they risk angering the other side now?
The result of the negotiations between Kumogakure and Konoha had already been engraved beneath Hakken’s name on the Wall of Honor.
It was his accomplishment. From that alone, it was clear who in Konoha truly made the final decisions.
She had come here for one reason: to probe.
Hakken, holding a child in each arm, cast a glance at Chiyo before losing interest entirely.
In the original timeline, she’d died a noble death.
She used her own life force to perform One’s Own Life Reincarnation, saving Gaara after Shukaku was extracted.
Or rather… Naruto talked her to death while in her arms.
Entrusting hope to the younger generation—this was something every dying elder did.
Any shinobi willing to sacrifice themselves for their successors…
Was worthy of respect.
For that alone, Hakken would give Chiyo a thumbs-up.
But that didn’t mean he would forget her identity.
He understood perfectly why she had come.
But this idea of “testing the waters” was completely unnecessary.
“Sit.”
He spoke two words, calm as ever.
He glanced at the two little ones in his arms.
Though they were reincarnations of the children of destiny, right now they weren’t even a year old.
After that whole commotion, both had fallen asleep against him.
Just as he’d said—one was his younger brother, the other his future disciple.
Hakken wasn’t particularly interested in taking disciples. What he could teach was limited—unless he pulled a Zanpakutō from the system shop for Sasuke to play with.
Taking Sasuke as a disciple had been Itachi’s idea anyway.
How much Sasuke could achieve would depend on himself—and whether he was worth Hakken spending points on to give him an Asauchi.
In the original story…
Fate was unfair to both children.
An orphan clashing with another orphan—sparks were inevitable.
But in every confrontation…
Just as Ashura always suppressed Indra…
Sasuke always fell behind.
The reason, as the Sage of Six Paths said, was that the power he granted Ashura surpassed that given to Indra.
Only in the final moments of this generation—the one in Hakken’s arms—did Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo finally change that, granting both equal strength.
But none of that concerned Hakken.
Only when the two children finally slept quietly in his arms did he realize how deeply they trusted him.
Two more little brothers… Whether Sasuke, once he learned swordsmanship, could change anything, Hakken still didn’t know.
But their eventual victories or defeats weren’t what mattered.
What mattered was the bond forged through every clash.
He smiled and handed them to Itachi and the approaching Mikoto Uchiha.
Fugaku Uchiha had already slipped back into the house on his own.
As clan head, he knew very well when something wasn’t his place to hear.
Hakken was about to discuss serious matters with Chiyo; even if Hakken hadn’t asked him to step back, this level of awareness was expected.
“Phew…”
Chiyo let out a breath, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
This was the first time anyone had made her feel such overwhelming pressure.
Luckily, Baki’s foul mouth hadn’t escalated the situation further.
As for how he would someday face the challenge of those two children… that would be his own problem.
Survive—and then drag his life forward, waiting for the day they came for him.
Perhaps that was his fate.
“Hakken-sama, before the formal negotiations begin, may this old woman ask what terms Iwagakure offered Konoha?”
After steadying herself, Chiyo spoke first.
“An apology to Konoha. As Iwa’s Kage, Ōnoki must bow before the Hero Monument.”
“Beyond that, one-fifth of the Land of Earth’s territory will be ceded to Konoha, and they must provide annual shipments of supplies.”
“That’s all.”
Hakken said it lightly, then observed Chiyo’s reaction.
As expected, her face turned green.
The first condition alone was impossible for them—let alone the second.
And between the two, the first was the true impossibility.
The Land of Wind’s territory wasn’t worth much—what treasures could a desert offer?
But forcing the Kazekage to swallow his pride and bow before the Hero Monument in front of all of Konoha…
That would be a humiliation beyond words.
“Do you know why you were kept waiting?”
Hakken stood and walked to her side, his tone calm.
“Because Rasa didn’t come. Your sincerity is still lacking.”
What should she do?
Chiyo’s breath grew unsteady.
“Ōnoki will arrive in Konoha in three days. How you choose to proceed is up to you.”
“And the only reason you can speak with me calmly right now is because you’ve acknowledged Sunagakure’s wrongdoing. Otherwise, your fate would be the same as Iwagakure’s.”
Hakken knew well: after seeing the devastation of the Land of Earth, Rasa had grown timid.
By now, everyone except the Land of Wind had already been completely subdued by Konoha.
Their sincerity simply wasn’t enough.
Chiyo, who had lived long enough to see countless rises and falls, looked at Hakken deeply.
She finally understood what he intended.
From Kirigakure…to Sunagakure now…
Konoha had systematically overturned them all.
What he wanted to achieve…
was becoming painfully clear.
Submit to Konoha?
End the chaos of this warring age once and for all?
“I think I see your ambition,” Chiyo said quietly.
“But tell me, Hakken…”
“Do you think you’re Madara Uchiha or Hashirama Senju? Do you truly believe you can reach that height?”
But the words he spoke next made her eyes widen in disbelief.
“I am no one else. Neither Madara Uchiha nor Hashirama Senju will ever stand at the same height as me, looking down upon this world.”
“And the two you mentioned? They’re only worthy of having their names engraved beneath mine on the Wall of Honor.”
Tilting his head, Hakken let his blade fall into his hand.
The pressure that erupted—born from the fusion of his three newly awakened powers—surged upward, as if tearing through the sky itself.
“I am who I am.”