"This turmoil began because of me, so naturally, I should be the one to shoulder it!"
A clear, hearty laugh echoed through the council hall. Everyone turned abruptly, their faces etched with disbelief and shock, frozen in place, their breaths nearly halting.
"F-First Hokage-sama?" someone stammered, voice trembling with incredulity.
Standing at the entrance was Senju Hashirama.
Everyone was stunned. After all, everyone had believed he was already dead; even the Second Hokage had personally announced his demise just days ago. How could there be such a mistake? Yet, seeing Hashirama safe, sound, and full of vigor, all doubts instantly vanished from their hearts, replaced by indescribable joy and relief.
"Hahaha! I knew the First Hokage-sama wasn't dead at all!"
"Such injuries are nothing to the First Hokage-sama!"
"Exactly! The First Hokage-sama is the God of the Ninja World; how could he fall so easily!"
Listening to the flattery from the various clan heads, Hashirama gave a hearty laugh and leisurely walked over to Tobirama's side, not taking these praises to heart. He knew full well that such words were merely for show; there might be other intentions lurking behind them.
Apart from the direct vassal clans of the Senju Clan, the other families had only pledged allegiance to Konoha later. While they were now willing to contribute support, the depth of their loyalty was not necessarily profound.
Standing in the hall, Hashirama observed the reactions of the clan heads and felt a slight sense of relief. With him here, what did Konoha have to fear from these invading Hidden Villages? The title "God of the Ninja World" alone was enough to deter all covetous ambitions.
The clan heads, their morale now soaring, eagerly voiced their loyalty.
"Excellent! With the First Hokage-sama leading, we are willing to go through fire and water for Konoha!"
"My clan has three hundred ninjas, all ready and awaiting orders!"
"And my clan! Four hundred ninjas, ready to take the field and fight the enemy at any moment!"
For a time, the clan heads vied to declare their positions, each offering their clan's military strength, the scene becoming extremely fervent. Watching this, Hashirama couldn't help but feel a touch of gratification.
Tobirama immediately stood up, taking full charge of the war preparations and mobilization efforts, coordinating supplies and organizing troops, arranging everything in an orderly manner. Soon, Konoha's army was rapidly assembled, comprising both ninjas trained by Konoha itself and reinforcements dispatched by the major clans.
As for the other clans, there was no need to urge them; each was eager to send every ninja from their clan to the battlefield, hoping to seize this opportunity to gain prestige. Though war held dangers, it also concealed countless opportunities. If they could grasp them, they could rise to prominence in one leap.
Under Hashirama's leadership, Konoha's grand army marched toward the battlefield to face the invading allied forces of the four Hidden Villages. The enemy's initial offensive, launched under the pretext of border conflicts, was now firmly halted by Konoha's united front.
"Hmph! Sending troops to block us now is too late!" sneered an enemy ninja.
"Continue the attack! Crush them!"
Having already invaded the Land of Fire, the enemy forces would not retreat easily. They coveted the fertile lands of the Land of Fire, each harboring calculations—once Konoha was destroyed, this rich territory would be divided among the victors. This greed drove them to press forward step by step.
The battle erupted, and the enemy ninjas grew increasingly frenzied, especially those from Sunagakure. Escaping the harsh desert environment and no longer having to endure sandstorms day after day had become their greatest obsession.
"Kill them! Wipe out all the Konoha ninjas!"
"The land of the Fire Country will be ours from now on!"
"No more suffering from sandstorms! Charge!"
Amidst the roars, the Second Kazekage personally led a group of Sunagakure ninjas in a fierce assault on Konoha's defensive line.
Konoha's vanguard troops were caught off guard and, coupled with their lack of combat experience, struggled to hold their ground. In the eyes of the enemy, these Konoha ninjas were nothing more than lambs to the slaughter.
The Second Kazekage laughed triumphantly, "Hahaha! Konoha is nothing more than this! Destroy them!"
In no time, the Sunagakure ninjas breached Konoha's defenses and began advancing step by step into the heart of the Fire Country.
Meanwhile, within the Leaf Village, Hashirama waited quietly in the Hokage Building, biding his time. To prevent any leaks, he planned to join the main forces only when the battle reached a stalemate.
To ensure rapid reinforcement of the front lines, every squad dispatched to the battlefield carried specially crafted Flying Thunder God Kunai made by the Second Hokage. If they encountered formidable enemies, they could activate the kunai, allowing Tobirama to instantly transport himself and Hashirama to the battlefield using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Soon, Tobirama in the Hokage Building received the signal from the front lines.
"Brother, it's time for us to step in."
"Alright, let's go."
The two immediately geared up, their overwhelming presence radiating around them. This pillar that once shook the entire Ninja World was about to reveal its sharp edge once again.
Tobirama placed his hand on Hashirama's shoulder and activated the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Whoosh!
On the battlefield, the roars of the Sunagakure ninjas still echoed.
"Kill!"
"Come on! Hahaha! People of Konoha, prepare to die!"
"This time, we'll crush you tree-huggers to pieces!"
The figures of Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama suddenly appeared on the battlefield. Their awe-inspiring, world-dominating presence instantly drew the attention of everyone present. All the enemy forces, including the Second Kazekage, stared in stunned disbelief, their faces filled with shock.
"S-Senju Hashirama?!" the Second Kazekage stammered, unable to believe what he was seeing.