"That couldn't be helped," Tobirama Senju said calmly, casting a glance at his elder brother before shaking his head.
"If we had followed Big Brother's idea and simply given everything away, war would have arrived even faster."
According to Hashirama's original thinking—
Just give it away.
But that created another problem.
Small villages would ask: Why do we get nothing?
Villages that already had some would demand even more.
Only when things are exchanged for value do people truly cherish them.
That had always been Tobirama's stance.
Compared to Hashirama's ideals, his approach was undeniably more mature.
Souma nodded.
Peace itself was an almost unreachable ideal. Even having lived two lives, he couldn't claim to know the correct answer. That was precisely why so many people kept striving for it.
But one thing he was certain of—
Madara's and Obito's paths were absolutely wrong.
"Konoha… it's wonderful," Hashirama said with a sigh, his attention quickly shifting.
"It's much stronger now than it was back then. I just wonder how the Uchiha are doing."
He sought peace, but he already knew his answer had been flawed. As such, he had no intention of interfering further.
They were already dead.
The future belonged to the living.
This visit was nothing more than a glance at the present Konoha—at the land beneath his feet.
However—
As Hashirama extended his perception, his expression changed.
Where… were the Uchiha?
Such a large clan—gone?
Jiraiya coughed lightly beside him. "First Hokage-sama, the Uchiha clan…"
"What happened?" Tobirama frowned.
"They were wiped out. There's only one survivor left. Oh—and a missing-nin, Uchiha Itachi."
"..."
"..."
Hashirama and Tobirama fell silent together.
The Uchiha… annihilated?
The news stunned them—but upon reflection, both could only sigh heavily.
The conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha had begun back in Madara's era. Spanning generations, it had ended like this.
Tragic.
After a moment, Tobirama spoke.
"Was it Sarutobi… and Danzō?"
Souma didn't answer.
Jiraiya rolled his eyes inwardly.
Of course.
This kid was even more slippery than Orochimaru—no way he'd answer a question like that.
Left with no choice, Jiraiya stepped up.
"I don't know about the Third, but Danzō was definitely involved."
He let out a quiet breath of relief after answering.
Then he turned—and met Souma's equally disdainful gaze. One old man, one young man, both snorted at the same time.
Tobirama sighed.
"Danzō misunderstood my intentions."
"Huh?" Jiraiya froze.
"I was wary of the Uchiha because their eyes require extreme emotion," Tobirama explained.
"They were deeply influenced by Madara. My goal was division and precaution—to isolate unstable elements."
"The Military Police and ANBU were created to prevent another Madara. In the worst case, we could eliminate the opposition and elevate pro-Konoha Uchiha instead."
"I see…" Jiraiya muttered, stunned.
Cruel—but there had never been an intention of genocide.
Only then did Souma speak.
"Have you considered that some people didn't want to do as you intended… and others simply couldn't?"
"Oh?" Tobirama looked surprised, then glanced toward the Hokage Rock, deep in thought.
It seemed… much had happened after their deaths.
After pondering for a while, Tobirama said,
"Sarutobi had the ability. But… why do you think Danzō refused?"
"The Uchiha faction that could've been separated still possessed unstable bloodlines and eyes," Souma replied coldly.
"Danzō always assumed the worst of others. He never trusted them."
Shisui. Itachi.
Both had been nurtured by the Third Hokage—geniuses loyal to Konoha.
And yet Danzō's methods had been brutally crude.
Souma understood Danzō's fear.
Kotoamatsukami was too terrifying. If it could be used on the Uchiha, it could just as easily be used on a Hokage.
That was why neither of them had been capable of realizing Tobirama's vision.
Something Tobirama could never have foreseen.
Hashirama spoke softly from the side.
"The future is beyond our reach. We can't change it… nor should we."
Then suddenly—
"Oh, who's that? He looks unfamiliar."
"Big Brother!" Tobirama barked sharply, then asked, "Where is Danzō?"
"Beneath the Hokage Tower."
"???"
Both Hokage—and Jiraiya—were utterly baffled.
What?
They exchanged looks. Tobirama sensed for a moment, then placed a hand on Hashirama's shoulder… and Souma's.
In the next instant, they vanished.
Only Jiraiya remained behind.
"Hey! Wait! I haven't gone yet! I want to hear this too!"
He sprinted toward the Hokage Tower.
"Who goes there?!"
Genma Shiranui instantly drew a kunai.
But the moment he recognized the three figures that appeared—
His eyes widened, pupils shrinking in shock.
"F–First Hokage-sama! Second Hokage-sama?!"
His words tangled hopelessly.
Souma patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't be too surprised. They're just taking a look—inspecting the handiwork of us juniors."
"..."
Tobirama's mouth twitched as he scanned the surroundings.
There was no Danzō underground.
But Hashirama studied the curved rupture in the earth and the building's foundation, then spoke slowly:
"This… is the Reverse Four Symbols Seal?"
"Yes," Souma replied.
"After I killed him, it activated automatically."
"!!!"
Tobirama turned sharply.
Killed… Danzō?
So this rubble—
Was his grave.
For a moment, Tobirama didn't know what to say.
"First Hokage-sama, Second Hokage-sama," Genma hurriedly added,
"Souma had no choice. Danzō was no longer the man you knew. He'd changed."
Not that Souma cared about being misunderstood.
After a pause, Tobirama said quietly,
"Those who dwell in darkness too long are eventually devoured by it. Danzō… truly lost his way."
"Maybe," Souma shrugged.
"But excessive vigilance and bad examples were the root of everything. The Uchiha are gone now—talking about it is pointless."
"..."
Tobirama fell silent.
He didn't regret his choices—but seeing the outcome left him with a bitter taste.
After a long while, Hashirama slung an arm over Souma's shoulder.
"By the way, your Sage Mode is fascinating. You enter it incredibly fast. Are you a Sage Body?"
"No," Souma shook his head.
"I simply store natural energy in advance."
Hashirama pondered, then laughed heartily.
"Amazing! That must require exceptional chakra control."
"It does. Actually… there's a technique I'd like to discuss with you two."
"No need for trades," Hashirama said easily.
"You're impressive. If I know it, I'll teach you."
Souma hesitated.
They were dead—and once stood at the pinnacle of shinobi. His minor techniques likely wouldn't impress them.
"I heard the Senju have a secret technique—using chakra control to amplify taijutsu power. I studied it for a while, but only managed a weakened version."
"You mean this?"
Tobirama suddenly threw a punch.
It struck nothing—yet the explosive chakra pressure forced Genma and the others several steps back.
Souma nodded. "Yes. Mine looks like this."
He followed with a punch of his own.
Chakra surged outward.
"Heh. You don't even understand the subtleties of the technique, yet you managed to imitate it to this extent—"
Tobirama stopped mid-sentence.
Boom!
A sharp detonation echoed.
Souma's chakra stream twisted into a compressed pillar before exploding at a single point.
This—
Was a second-stage variation.
Tobirama's version dispersed power over a wide area.
Souma's focused everything into a single strike.
If it landed—survival would be unlikely.
This was no longer a "weakened version."
It was an entirely new technique.
"Hahaha! Tobirama, looks like he doesn't need much guidance at all," Hashirama laughed loudly.
"Just teach him the original—he'll master and integrate it in no time."
Rarely did Tobirama lose in ninjutsu creation.
To witness it now—
Worth it.
Tobirama squinted at his brother, speechless.
Then he sighed.
"The Senju are gone. This can't be called a secret anymore. It's just that few could learn it."
"So?" Souma asked.
"Our time is limited, otherwise—"
Teaching was troublesome. Tobirama searched for an excuse.
"It won't take long. Just explain it once—I'll remember."
Souma cut him off.
Among the living, only Tsunade had mastered it—and she was probably either gambling or fleeing debt.
Finding her would be… difficult.
Tobirama narrowed his eyes.
The true Strength of a Hundred–style force technique wasn't simple at all.
This kid was confident.
He pulled Souma aside and began explaining the technique verbally.
"It's powerful, but improper control can injure the user. It demands extreme chakra control and taijutsu foundation. Even though you created a similar—"
He stopped.
Souma's chakra surged throughout his body.
Then—
Boom!
A terrifying wave erupted, chakra flowing in chaotic yet ordered patterns around him.
Spiraling. Colliding.
Like a storm.
If an enemy stood before him now, they'd be torn apart instantly.
"So this is it," Souma said with satisfaction.
"Once you have the real thing, the development potential skyrockets."
The technique meshed perfectly with his Sage Mode.
He'd chased this for a long time.
Who would've thought Orochimaru would be the one to help him fulfill that wish?
Thank you, dream enabler.
He sighed, then looked at Tobirama.
"By the way, Second Hokage-sama… what about Orochimaru?"
"I killed him using the Spirit Transformation Technique," Tobirama replied.
Souma's eyes narrowed slightly.
Spirit Transformation assassinations destroyed the body—but the soul?
Orochimaru was notoriously hard to kill.
As long as the Heaven's Curse Seal still existed in the world—
True death was uncertain.
Perhaps…
It wasn't over yet.
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