Senju Tobirama was extremely ruthless.
He didn't hesitate at all; even with the formidable Akatsuki Organization nearby, and even when the Five Great Ninja Villages were coordinating joint actions, he still chose to stab them in the back.
Almost instantly.
Along with his statement, the other core high-ranking officials also voiced their agreement.
Clearly, under the leadership of Uchiha Jin as Hokage, their style of action had long since changed, and even Hashirama Senju nodded directly, expressing approval for his younger brother's stance.
As the duration of the Edo Tensei lengthened, Hashirama Senju had gained at least a basic understanding of the current Ninja World.
The conditions for unification were ripe!
When he first founded the Village, even though the various Ninja Clan within the Village joined, they still harbored reservations about it. Furthermore, the Daimyō and nobles of various countries were causing trouble externally. In order for the Village to survive long-term, he could only choose to swallow his pride and compromise, even having to distribute all the Tailed Beasts.
That's right.
That wasn't what Hashirama Senju wanted; even if he was a big simpleton, he was first and foremost the Hokage of Konoha Ninja Village!
His kindness was reserved only for the people of the Village.
For a man who had lived through the Sengoku Era, his blood had long since turned utterly cold.
The rhetoric about maintaining stability among the Five Great Nations was, frankly, just something said for outsiders. At that time, if Konoha had tried to forcibly keep the Nine Great Tailed Beasts, the problem of finding a Jinchuriki alone could not have been solved.
After all, the Land of Whirlpools was only an ally and had not truly joined the Land of Fire.
Uzumaki Mito, as Hashirama Senju's wife, voluntarily became a Jinchuriki, so others couldn't object. But why should the other Uzumaki Clansmen be willing to serve as Jinchuriki for Konoha?
The two families were merely allies; such a request would never have been agreed upon.
Given the structure of the Ninja World at that time, Hashirama Senju could not have forcibly demanded that the Uzumaki Clan merge with Konoha.
This matter had to be dropped, or Konoha would have become the target of public criticism!
Secondly, the overall structure of the Ninja World wouldn't allow it. Konoha was already too powerful back then. If Hashirama Senju had been able to solve the Jinchuriki problem, it would have made Konoha a thorn in the side of every nation and faction!
Considering that it was not the right time for unification, and the factors of timing, location, and popular support were absent, Hashirama Senju could only choose to distribute the Tailed Beasts.
Otherwise... if Hashirama Senju had attempted unification at that time, before they could even eliminate the Other Ninja Villages, the Ninja Clan within Konoha would have completely fragmented. Furthermore, even if the entire Ninja World had been barely unified, Konoha would not have had enough personnel to manage it.
The final result would only have been total collapse and chaos!
There was no other way!
This was—reality!
Even the unification achieved by the Great Qin of the Flower Nation was due to the efforts accumulated over six generations, and Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng merely happened to be there at the right time.
Now, however, it was different!
First, the Daimyō and nobles no longer existed. Second, the entire Ninja World had descended into chaos.
Finally... the major Ninja Clan of Konoha had submitted and were truly willing to obey the Hokage's command. Even if the entire Ninja World were unified, Konoha would have enough manpower to manage it.
In this situation, refusing would be truly foolish!
However, it was a pity.
Although everyone present had agreed, only Minato Namikaze frowned slightly, and after a brief moment of contemplation, he couldn't help but speak.
"Second Hokage-sama, isn't that inappropriate?"
"Konoha and the Other Ninja Villages just finished the Five Kage Summit, and we just confirmed a joint effort to target the Akatsuki Organization..."
"Turning against them under these circumstances, wouldn't that look bad?"
Minato Namikaze spoke reluctantly.
To be honest, he felt insecure because everyone present had agreed to Senju Tobirama's proposal.
But if he didn't say these words, he would feel equally uncomfortable.
That's right!
Although he would fight fiercely against enemies on the front lines and deliver ruthless blows without complaint, in political power struggles, he still wished to maintain some moral boundaries.
Simply put, he cared too much about appearances!
Just like when he rose to become the Fourth Hokage, although his gentleness earned unanimous approval, and everyone privately liked Minato Namikaze, the problem was that when it came down to a crucial moment, no one dared to truly trust Minato Namikaze.
Take the Uchiha Clan back then: although they seemingly defected to Minato Namikaze, at the crucial juncture of the Nine-Tails Attack Night, when Fugaku faced Danzo's obstruction, he weighed his options and ultimately chose to stand by and do nothing.
Could Fugaku be blamed?
If it were the former Uchiha Jin, he would definitely have called Fugaku indecisive, but after understanding the circumstances back then, he came to understand Fugaku.
There was no choice!
Minato Namikaze's personality indeed made it difficult for people to trust him wholeheartedly.
Although he appeared to support the Uchiha, in reality, he remained secretly wary, and the genuine trust he offered was minimal. Was Fugaku crazy enough to give Minato Namikaze his complete devotion?
It was similar for the Other Ninja Clan!
Political infighting is not a dinner party. Even if you were supported by Hiruzen Sarutobi to gain power, if you wanted to stabilize your base, you would inevitably affect the interests of Hiruzen Sarutobi and others.
If the leader himself doesn't dare to resist, why should others dare to stake their fortunes on you?
Didn't Ino–Shika–Chō, who only offered moderate loyalty, get purged after Minato Namikaze sacrificed himself?
What about everyone else?
Ino–Shika–Chō still served a purpose, so Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't go too far.
Most of the Other Ninja Clan knew Minato Namikaze's temperament, so they generally chose neutrality after he took office. As for those individuals from Civilians backgrounds whom Minato Namikaze truly recruited—even the Shadow Guard who developed the Flying Thunder God Formation—does anyone know where they are now?
No one knows!
The moment Minato Namikaze sacrificed himself, these people were completely purged by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Even if they didn't die during missions or on Root's operating tables, they were completely marginalized as soon as Hiruzen Sarutobi regained power.
Talented?
Nonsense!
For a major Ninja Village like Konoha, especially under a Hokage like Hiruzen Sarutobi who only cared about power struggles and had no interest in developing the Village, do you think he cared about these so-called geniuses?
Even the Fourth Hokage's Shadow Guard, who mastered the Flying Thunder God Formation, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't care about such trivial matters.
The situation before them was the same!
Minato Namikaze once again exposed his immaturity. Uchiha Jin saw this and didn't say much, merely curling his lips into a faint smile.
But Senju Tobirama, however, couldn't hold back.