Conflict * Defense Deployment

Madara and Tobirama arrived at an empty Office at the end of the corridor.

The door closed, and Madara turned around to face Tobirama.

What exactly do you want?

Tobirama's expression was indifferent. "You called me out just to ask this?"

Answer me.

Tobirama remained silent.

"You severely injured him," Madara said. "One cut, right here."

He ran his hand along his side.

"The bleeding wouldn't stop... In the end, he died. Tobirama Senju, you killed him."

The air in the room seemed to freeze.

"No matter what you do now, it won't change this."

Tobirama's expression darkened, and he said impatiently, "To be merciful to one's enemies is suicide. I don't think there was anything wrong with my decision back then. Besides, he's not Izuna from our world; he hasn't experienced this."

"I know what you're worried about. Now that Konoha has been built, I have no reason to continue targeting you."

Madara sneered. "Is that so? You've certainly targeted the Uchiha quite a bit with your policies."

"I treat all Shinobi Clans equally." Tobirama remained unmoved. "As for Hashirama becoming the village chief, it's an inevitable trend. You know that too."

Don't change the subject!

Ban took a step forward, and the distance between the two was less than an arm's length.

The crimson Mangekyō Sharingan slowly turned, its gaze fixed intently on Tobirama.

"Tobirama Senju, I don't care what you're up to. Just stay away from my brother."

Tobirama looked at him.

Then he laughed, "Stay away from him?"

His voice was no longer flat; it was as if something was trying to burst out from beneath that cold shell.

"I'd love for it! If it weren't for—"

Suddenly, he stopped. His lips pressed into a thin line.

Ban frowned as he watched him bite off the last part of the sentence.

"... I'm the one who has to bring his brilliant ideas to fruition." Tobirama finished the sentence, his tone returning to its usual indifference.

"And you're the one who 'asked' me to treat his eyes. What, you don't want to treat him anymore?"

Ban was not swayed by his mockery. Instead, he calmed down, the crimson in his eyes faded, and his black eyes looked at the guy in front of him who was pretending to be calm. He said calmly.

"Tobirama Senju, these are not reasons for you to show him concern and care."

Tobirama's pupils contracted slightly.

"You--"

"Don't tell me you didn't," Madara interrupted him. "It's too obvious."

The room fell silent.

Tobirama remained silent.

Ban looked at him, his gaze unwavering.

He hated this man, and he loathed everything he had done and his hands that were stained with Izuna's blood.

Even with reconciliation, even though he had once said he wanted to shake hands with the enemy and make peace together, he still couldn't help but hate this guy.

He only refrained from taking action out of Hashirama.

But what if his existence threatens Izuna?

He wouldn't mind breaking ties with Hashirama.

"My brother's safety is my top priority," Ban said. "That's why I came here today to ask you—why your attitude has changed."

Tobirama's eyes flickered, and then he spoke.

"Haven't you noticed? Izuna is very comfortable with this way of getting along."

Ban's brow twitched slightly.

"I was just playing the Tobirama Senju as he remembered him."

"Isn't this what you said? To make him think this is his world?"

Ban looked at him and thought to himself, "You're kidding me."

It's one thing when Izuna is around, but when he's not, you still tidy up his desk for him, and do it so meticulously.

That's acting? You, Tobirama Senju putting on a show for thin air?

Moreover, Izuna already knew that this was no longer his world.

Madara didn't say any of that, he just snorted.

"Is that so? That's for the best."

Tobirama looked at him.

"If you're unhappy with my attitude, then I'll have less contact with Izuna in the future. But we still need to have conversations during the handover of work, is that alright?"

Before Madara could answer, Tobirama had already turned around.

He placed his hand on the doorframe, turned his head to the side, and said in a flat tone, "I'll head back now. I still have a lot of work to do. Goodbye."

The footsteps faded away down the corridor.

Ban narrowed his eyes.

You're not going to say, are you?

He turned and walked towards his Office.

Pushing open the door, Hashirama sat at the table, a map spread out in front of him, marking something on it with charcoal. Hearing the door open, he looked up.

What about Tobirama?

"I don't know, he left first." Ban walked to his desk, sat down, picked up a pen, and opened a document.

The room was quiet for a while.

"Hey, Hashirama."

"Um?"

"Your brother has been acting strange lately."

Hashirama's hands didn't stop. He drew another line on the map with his charcoal pencil. "What's strange?"

"He was actually very kind to my brother."

Hashirama's hand stopped.

Ban leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed over her chest, looking at him.

Hashirama opened his mouth.

"Hey! I knew you knew." Madara pointed at him and said, "Confess."

Hashirama looked at Madara and sighed.

"You also know that another Tobirama."

Ban frowned. "... Is this matter still troubling him?"

"Yes," Hashirama said, "He's having mixed feelings right now. For my sake, please don't be too harsh on him."

"Didn't they say Tobirama wouldn't be coming back? Why is he still so concerned?"

Hashirama looked at Tobirama's desktop, which had relatively fewer files compared to theirs.

These days, Tobirama is working the hardest. He's putting all his effort into grading documents. If he finishes early, he goes back to do experiments. If not, he stays up a little later to do it.

It's like being wound up like a clockwork toy.

"Perhaps it's because..." he said, "That was another request from myself."

"Besides, Izuna just too wonderful," he said.

"You know about Ban too."

"Your younger brother is like a shining sun; wherever he goes, laughter and joy follow."

Hashirama smiled gently. "Just being by his side is like being pulled into a paradise. It's so wonderful, full of whimsy and fun."

"Perhaps Tobirama was also attracted to him Tobirama of this."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Ban gave him Dead-Fish Eyes. "If you want to praise my brother, just praise my brother, but please don't mention yours. It's bad luck for me."

Hashirama suffers a massive blow! KO!

"... Madara! You hate him that much?!"

Ban gave a forced smile. "Heh, I didn't kill him, all because of you."

Hashirama became despondent.

His entire body visibly shrunk.

His shoulders were slumped, his head was drooping, and even the two strands of hair on his forehead seemed to have lost their strength, lying limply against his face.

Madara's lips twitched as he looked at him.

It really is a cockroach's antennae.

Ban withdrew his gaze.

"Alright, stop being so down. Get back to work. Take a look at the defense map here."

He pushed a document onto the table. Hashirama stretched out his arm, took it, and glanced at it.

"Three teams rotating... personnel... you want people from all ethnic groups to join the Guard Corps?"

"Yes." Ban leaned back in his chair. "Although it might cause considerable difficulties at first, relations between different ethnic groups have eased, and there's also the pressure of a foreign Delegation coming. I think we can try to take this opportunity to put the proposal on the agenda."

Hashirama stroked his chin.

"After all, nobody wants to lose face in front of outsiders," he said. "That's a good idea. Let's do it that way. And the head of the Guard Corps... you'll be the one?"

Ban raised an eyebrow. "That's definitely not a role I'll take."

Hashirama was puzzled. "Then who will?"

"I think Tobirama would be quite suitable."

Hashirama's eyes widened slightly. "... Ah, this..."

"It's settled then."

Hashirama's eyes widened.

"Wait a minute. You want him to do three jobs? He'll be exhausted!"

"As the Clan Head of the Uchiha clan, it's inappropriate for me to be the captain of the defense force," Madara said calmly. "Izuna has already taken care of all the diplomatic work. You're Hokage candidate, so only he can handle this job."

"But he's already drafting the regulations for the Police Force!"

"That's perfect. He can start immediately after drafting, saving us a handover process."

Hashirama stared, speechless for a moment. He looked down at the defense map on the table, then looked up at Madara. Madara's expression remained unchanged.

"What are you doing...?"

"Um?"

"You're settling a personal score."

Ban couldn't help but laugh out loud, making no attempt to hide his schadenfreude. "I'm just making the best use of his talents. You know your brother's personality best. He'll feel uncomfortable if he's idle. Giving him something to do makes him feel at ease."

Hashirama finally got a little angry. "That doesn't mean you can put the work of three people on his shoulders! I can find Clan Head to take on this position."

"Hashirama."

Madara's tone suddenly became a little serious, and Hashirama stopped.

"A foreign Delegation is coming. Envoys from the Four Nations, coming with their own eyes and ears. They want to see what Konoha is really made of. I don't trust anyone else with the defense arrangements."

Hashirama remained silent.

"You're Hokage candidate, so you need to attend events. Izuna isn't tough enough; I can tell. He can't handle killing."

I could accept it, but I know I wouldn't be able to gain popular support. Different ethnic groups already find it difficult to accept each other, and even with other countries under my command, they might not necessarily obey.

In the entire Konoha, who else besides Tobirama could simultaneously manage deployment and scheduling, personnel organization, and the balance of power among the various clans?

Hashirama's shoulders slumped slightly.

"How am I supposed to bring this up with him...?"

"You don't need to ask," Madara said. "He'll answer it himself."

Hashirama raised his head.

"Just put the proposal on his desk, he'll understand it at a glance, and he won't reject it."

Hashirama stared at Madara for a long while. Then he buried his face in his hands and let out a muffled groan.

"... I knew it! Why did you suddenly say he was suitable?"

I genuinely think he's a good match.

"You really think he's useful!"

"Easy to use is also a suitable option."

Hashirama lifted his face from his palm, his gaze filled with resentment.

The spots remained unmoved.

Footsteps sounded outside the door.

The door opened. Tobirama walked in carrying a cup of tea and sat down in his seat. After placing the teacup on the corner of the table, he opened a document and picked up a pen.

Then he felt two gazes fall upon him.

He looked up.

Hashirama was looking at him with an indescribable expression. Madara remained expressionless.

"... What's wrong."

"It's nothing," they both said in unison.

Tobirama shifted suspiciously between the two men. Unable to discern anything amiss, he could only lower his head and continue writing.

The pen tip scratched across the paper with a soft, scratching sound.

Hashirama silently took the defense map, walked to his desk, and put it down.

Tobirama it, then looked up at Hashirama, Hashirama looked away.

He pulled over the deployment map, flipped it open, and stopped at the page with the personnel organization.

"Three teams will rotate," he said. "Personnel will be drawn from various ethnic groups."

"Right."

"Who's the captain?"

Quiet.

Tobirama understood. "I am, right?"

"If you don't want to do it, then..." Hashirama said immediately.

Tobirama looked at the defense map and nodded. "Okay, I'll give you the plan tomorrow."

Hashirama frowned, looking at Madara, only to find Madara raising an eyebrow with a smug expression.

Hashirama, unable to bear it any longer, said silently, "Let's have a fight after work!"

Ban's eyes lit up; this is great news!

Hashirama was furious at Madara's eager expression.