"Wait!"
Just as Menma was about to fade away, reverting to his other personality, Hashirama stepped forward and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him with excitement.
"If you understand my thoughts so completely, why can't you achieve this noble goal?" Hashirama's voice was loud, echoing in the tense silence. "I never viewed the village as an end goal for peace! It was just the path to get there!"
He gestured emphatically. "Like you said, every newborn has limitless potential. If I pass on my ideals, one day one of them will bring real peace, not just a temporary truce!"
This was only the second time Hashirama had met someone who truly understood him. The first was Madara. And look how that turned out.
At first, they both thought the village was the answer. Distributing the Tailed Beasts to the other villages created a balance of power, a deterrent—a Cold War. But all it did was drive the fighting underground, making it more vicious. If the ones holding it all together died, war would explode again, worse than before. That's why they split.
Hashirama stayed behind, trusting the Will of Fire to the next generation. Madara, though... he had the courage Hashirama didn't. He left the village to find the true path to peace.
But Madara lost his way. He came back with Kurama to destroy Konoha. Hashirama had wanted to crush Madara's ideals, to force him onto the right path.
But his question hung in the air unanswered, because Menma was gone, replaced by Naruto, whose face was burning with excitement.
Naruto wrenched himself free of Hashirama's grip and spun around, bolting toward Minato. He was halfway through a pounce when he suddenly skidded to a halt, doubt washing over his face.
"The Fourth Hokage..."
Minato smiled, warm and gentle, and opened his arms wide. "No, Naruto. Not the Fourth Hokage. Father."
"Father..." Naruto's voice cracked. "My... Father!!!"
He didn't hesitate another second. Snot and tears flew everywhere as he threw himself into Minato's arms.
"I have a brother, and now I have a father too!" Naruto sobbed, burying his face in Minato's shoulder. "I was never an orphan! I was never alone!!!"
Minato stroked his son's hair, his own face a storm of heartache, regret, and a tiny, fragile bit of satisfaction: Heartache for Naruto's childhood—the despair and darkness that would have crushed an adult, let alone a child. Regret for sealing Kurama inside him, for letting Hiruzen Sarutobi manipulate him into a mental breakdown. And that sliver of satisfaction? It was something he couldn't feel with Menma, but he finally felt it now with Naruto.
He just wished Kushina was here. If he could hold Naruto in his arms while she watched, she'd probably cry herself to tears of joy. Minato's eyes welled up. He looked down at the crying boy in his arms.
"I'm sorry, Naruto," he murmured. "You've had it so hard."
"But it won't happen again. Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo won't escape. They'll pay for what they did."
Asuma, walking past them, flinched at those words. He clenched his fists, face grim, and moved toward Hiruzen, who was slumped against the wall, looking lifeless. Asuma hauled his father to his feet.
Seeing Asuma, a flicker of life returned to Hiruzen's dead eyes. Asuma had been kept in the dark from start to finish. Hiruzen had paved the way for him, letting him take in the heirs of Team 10. He'd arranged for Kurenai to take in the heirs of the other clans. He had even pushed Asuma to stage a betrayal, to cut ties with his family. Hiruzen had hoped it would make Asuma the next Hokage, or at least an elder advisor. But as the Third Hokage looked at his son now, he saw no gratitude, only disappointment.
Asuma sighed, crushing a fresh, unlit cigarette between his fingers. "Father... you were wrong," he said, his voice low and tired. "Don't make the same mistake again. Just accept your punishment. Apologize to the Fourth Hokage and Naruto."
"Retire. Just... retire. Kurenai and I will take care of you. Stop scheming." Asuma shook his head. "And I finally get it—the 'Jade' you talked about. But you forgot what it actually was."
For years, Asuma thought the 'Jade' was the Daimyo and the Hokage—people you sacrificed to protect. But witnessing the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage, and hearing Menma explain the Will of Fire... he understood now. The 'Jade' was the kids, the ones with unlimited potential. Like Menma. If Hiruzen had truly upheld the Will of Fire, the boy could have been the village's greatest pillar. He could have ushered in an era of peace, just like the First Hokage. But Hiruzen taught that ideal, yet abandoned it himself.
Just like Sakumo Hatake. The White Fang of Konoha was powerful enough to strike fear into enemies and the village leadership alike. If he'd understood the Will of Fire back then, things might have been different.
"You..."
After Asuma's quiet lecture, the hope drained from Hiruzen's eyes, replaced by pure disappointment.
"There's no right or wrong," he breathed out, the life leaving his voice. "I just... lost."
The Third Hokage sighed, a long, rattling sound. He knew he had protected Asuma too well. In politics, there was no morality, only winning and losing. Losing meant you were wrong. Winning meant you were right. Menma was strong. He won. Therefore, he was right. Even though he had killed so many Root ninja, even the guards of the Sarutobi Clan Territory... no one would say a word against him.
Tobirama looked at Hashirama, who was staring into space, dejected. He sighed and walked over, clapping a hand on his brother's shoulder.
Hashirama looked away, his mood sour. "Tobirama," he murmured. "I created the Jinchuriki by handing out the Tailed Beasts. I spurred the wars. Was I wrong?"
"Maybe Madara's plan..."
"Brother!" Tobirama's shout cut him off. "There's no absolute right or wrong, and this isn't the time to debate philosophy."
Tobirama looked around, spotting the two masked ANBU—Zō and Ōkami. "I, the Second Hokage, and the First Hokage are currently serving as Hokage and Assistant," Tobirama declared, his voice authoritative. "You two. Arrest Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado for investigation."
Zō and Ōkami exchanged a glance, then approached their targets. Hiruzen didn't resist. He let Ōkami grip his arm and haul him up.
"Help me stand," Hiruzen whispered.
Danzo, on the other hand, snorted coldly, and waved off the ANBU trying to grab him.
"Hmph. Don't touch me," Danzo snapped. "I can walk myself."
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