So-Called Peace

"Yes, yes, that's what I think too."

"The Second should be Lord Izuna, right? Lord Madara is strong, but Lord Izuna more perfect."

Tobirama thought to himself, "How did we get onto the topic of the Second?"

He didn't want to stop, but then he suddenly heard his own name called.

"Stop arguing, all of you. The Senju are the rightful heirs, Second must be Lord Tobirama."

Three or four villagers were sitting in the teahouse, including middle-aged men and elderly women. They put down their teacups and Kakuzu and started talking animatedly.

"Lord Madara is powerful and responsible. He took over the registration process when things were in complete chaos."

"Lord Izuna of impeccable manners, and he's just as formidable in battle as the two lords. Who wouldn't accept him as the Second?"

"But the Uchiha were the defeated side, weren't they already excluded from the center of power? The Second can only be a member of the Senju."

"So what if we're on the losing side? Can't you see what Lord Madara did?"

"But..."

"It's a widely acknowledged fact that Lord Izuna's Strength surpasses that of Lord Madara and Lord Hashirama."

"The first was Lord Hashirama, so the second is naturally Lord Hashirama brother. What's there to argue about?"

"But Lord Madara really does step in when there's trouble. Who quelled the chaos at the beginning of the alliance?"

"Lord Izuna is both likable and responsible; everyone is happy that he's in charge."

"What you're saying is useless. The Senju are the true line, Lord Tobirama is the Second."

"Whether it's orthodox or not, let's see who can truly manage the village well."

"Lord Izuna can't manage it? He's more meticulous than anyone else."

"What do you know? Lord Tobirama has political acumen. Madara and Izuna, one is tough and the other just plays with kids all day. How could they possibly be fit for that position?"

"Lord Madara lacks political acumen? That's just because he disdains hypocrisy!"

"Isn't that just a reckless brute?"

"That's called a ruthless hero!"

Finally, the old woman slammed the green beans back into the basin, yelling, "Stop arguing! The First leader hasn't stepped down yet, what are you all discussing here!"

The group awkwardly fell silent, picking up their teacups and pretending to drink.

Tobirama stood at the corner of the alley, his shadow pressed into a thin sheet by the afternoon sunlight, clinging to the stone slab beneath his feet.

He didn't listen any further and turned to leave.

He suddenly understood what Tetsugaku had done.

Tetsugaku had been with him for a long time and was a subordinate he had personally trained.

In Tetsugaku's eyes, the Senju defeated the Uchiha, and that was an undeniable fact. The claim that the Senju and Uchiha jointly established the Shinobi Village was baseless; it was clearly their wise and powerful Clan Head leader who built the Shinobi Village single-handedly.

They, the Uchiha, are nothing! My Senju Clan are the victors, and the victors should always be the rulers of the village, just like the royal families.

In the future, the title of Hokage should be inherited by the Clan Head's son, or at the very least, Tobirama Senju would be the first choice for the Second Hokage. In his mind, this was a matter of course, and there was nothing to discuss or compromise on.

However, this time when Tetsugaku was stationed at the border, the Uchiha became the center of public opinion in the village and even the Land of Fire.

Tetsugaku was definitely not happy about it.

He was a proponent of war, and in his eyes, the Uchiha were defeated opponents. What right did defeated opponents have to point fingers in Konoha? Not to mention that some people were starting to say things like "The Second should be Lord Madara."

Therefore, he wanted to set things right regarding the orders from the border region of the Land of Whirlpools.

After returning to the village and hearing those discussions, he became even more dissatisfied.

He probably made statements in public such as "The Senju are the true lineage" and "The Uchiha are all trash."

Although there have been discussions in the past about who should be the Second, and even the Uchiha and Senju have made such extreme remarks, it's just talk and nothing serious.

But what time is it now? It's the preparation period.

The entire Konoha was on edge, having finally reached a consensus to fight together against the enemy that was disrupting peace.

Spreading such words at this critical juncture is undermining morale.

No wonder Tōka wanted to replace him.

If Tetsugaku were to lead the team to the border, mingling with people of various tribes, Tenten saying things like "The Second must be Tobirama Senju" and "The Uchiha are easily defeated," what would become of them?

A mere three words can lead to a fight on the border. In that case, forget about scouting the terrain; the people will be fighting amongst themselves before they even arrive.

We must change Tetsugaku's mind!

Tobirama thought of this, his expression turned strange.

Because he originally shared the same idea as Tetsugaku.

They felt the Uchiha was unworthy and that Konoha belonged to the Senju.

He didn't know when it started, but he also began to believe that the Second would emerge from between Madara Uchiha and Uchiha Izuna...

Hmm... Izuna would probably strongly oppose his taking over, after all, that guy is lazy all day long, Tobirama has reason to believe that even if he were stuck in this position, he would find a way to jump out and let someone else take it.

That's Madara Uchiha.

Although Tobirama felt that Madara's ideas and actions were too radical, Madara was, after all, the one who had led the Uchiha Clan and his Big Brother to fight to this day. Apart from being too emotional, Madara's decision-making ability and action were impeccable.

Moreover, he was energized by Izuna's arrival, and his approach to working with Izuna was not as arbitrary as one might expect. Compared to Izuna's textbook answers, his responses were actually more tactful, sophisticated, and diplomatic.

Tobirama even felt that he preferred talking to Madara to working with his Big Brother Izuna.

He had to admit that Madara was indeed the most suitable person for the Hokage position besides his own Big Brother.

That's it, the Second will definitely be Madara Uchiha.

He was convinced of this, so afterwards, he didn't continue to do anything in the public eye, nor did he stop Izuna from winning the villagers' favor for Madara Uchiha.

They simply worked quietly behind the scenes to support them.

Tobirama thought about this, a series of things he had done flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern, all of them cleaning up their messes. Just thinking about them gave him a headache.

However, Tobirama felt that he would do it again if he had the chance.

He couldn't help but sigh. "Me... I'm just born to be a workaholic..."

The Senju Clan Compound is located in the northeast corner of Konoha, and is the largest clan area in the village. It consists of more than a dozen houses enclosed by walls, separated by bamboo fences and low trees. The alleys are narrow and deep, and the stone slabs are worn smooth and shiny.

Tobirama walked down the alley, sunlight filtered through the gaps overhead, dappling his shoulders. Several Senju children were playing soccer at the alley entrance; upon seeing him, they respectfully greeted him, "Lord Tobirama," and then ran off.

Tetsugaku's residence was located deep within the clan's territory, a detached wooden house with an old persimmon tree in front of it. The tree had a thick trunk and crooked branches, casting shadows over half the courtyard.

Tobirama walked to the door and knocked twice.

No one answered.

He stood at the door for a while, then knocked twice more. Finally, a rustling sound came from inside, as if someone had gotten up from the couch and dragged themselves to the door.

The door was opened a crack, revealing Tetsugaku's face. He was sleepy-eyed, his hair was messy and draped over his shoulders, and he had unshaven stubble on his chin.

Upon seeing Tobirama, he visibly paused for a moment, then opened the door and took a step back.

"Lord Tobirama."

His voice was hoarse, as if he had just woken up, or as if he hadn't spoken to anyone for several days.

Tobirama's gaze swept over Tetsugaku.

Tetsugaku was thinner than he remembered. His shoulders were still broad, but his eye sockets were sunken, and he looked ashen, as if covered in a layer of dust.

"You won't let me in?"

Tetsugaku stepped aside. Feijian stepped over the Tobirama, took off his shoes, and went into the room.

The room was small. A few clothes and a stack of scrolls were scattered on the six-tatami mats. A knife sat in the corner, the cloth wrapped around its handle already frayed. On the low table were an empty bowl and a half-cold pot of tea.

Tobirama sat down at one side of the low table, and Tetsugaku knelt down opposite him, his hands on his knees and his head bowed.

The two remained silent for a while.

"Do you know why your Big Brother sent you back from the border?" Tobirama spoke first.

Tetsugaku's Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't answer immediately. He stared at the back of his hands on his knees, where there were several old scars, the result of years of wielding a knife.

"Why did I personally replace you? Why did I scold you back then? Why did Tōka remove you from the roster this time, and why did no one object?"

Tetsugaku remained silent.

Tobirama didn't urge him, but just sat quietly.

The room was quiet, and the leaves of the persimmon tree outside the window rustled in the wind.

After a long while, Tetsugaku raised his head, his eyes reddening, as if he had finally been holding back his words for a long time.

"Lord Tobirama, I refuse to accept this."

His voice trembled, but every word was clear.

"We Senju defeated the Uchiha, so why is everyone now revolving around them? Madara is one thing, but what about Izuna? Why is he the only one who can have any say in the village, and why does the Daimyo treat him differently? Even the Tsuchigumo matter has to be decided by him?"

He spoke faster and faster, as if afraid that if he stopped, he would never be able to speak again.

"I'm guarding the border. When people there mention Konoha now, the first thing they say is Uchiha, and the second is Lord Hashirama. The world we conquered now seems to belong to the Uchiha."

He took a deep breath and lowered his head again.

"I know I shouldn't have blocked the order from the Land of Whirlpools at that time, I know I shouldn't have said those things in public, but I just... I just can't stand it."

Tobirama listened but did not immediately respond.

He looked at Tetsugaku's lowered head and recalled many years ago when Tetsugaku was just a boy, following behind him with bright, shining eyes, muttering, "I want to become Ninja like Lord Tobirama."

At that time, Tetsugaku looked at him with nothing but admiration and trust.

Tetsugaku is now an adult, but he still keeps his head down, just like he used to, like a child who has done something wrong but refuses to admit it.

"Tetsugaku," Tobirama said.

Tetsugaku looked up at him.

"You say the world conquered by the Senju clan now belongs to the Uchiha?" Tobirama looked at him. "Then let me ask you, is Konoha the private property of our Senju Clan?"

Tetsugaku opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"My Big Brother wants to build a village, not to trample the Uchiha underfoot, but to prevent the children of the Senju and Uchiha from killing each other anymore," Tobirama said calmly. "I unconditionally support my Big Brother's idea. If you think my Big Brother is wrong, then you think I'm wrong too."

"Lord Tobirama, that's not what I meant—"

"Let me finish," Tobirama raised his Tobirama to stop him. "You think Izuna isn't worthy to speak in the village, but can you improve Konoha's reputation overnight? Can you make us dare to build Amusement Parks without worrying about another war? Can you turn Konoha into Konoha Special Administrative Region? Now it's your turn to do it. Can you do it?"

Tetsugaku pursed his lips.

"We'll talk about Izuna later. He's an extraordinary person; it's normal that he couldn't do it. But do you know how much trouble his Big Brother Madara Uchiha, caused in the early days of the alliance?"

"When Konoha first registered its infiltrators and conducted a thorough investigation, he saw through all the spies who had infiltrated the village. He even eliminated children and the elderly without exception, showing no mercy even if it would be considered cruel afterward."

"When various ethnic groups were entangled in disputes over interests, he stepped forward to suppress them and forcibly forced everyone into the same position."

"He bore the blame, he played the bad cop, which made Big Brother later kindness all the more precious, although it was also partly due to his arrogant personality. But no one else could have done it."

Tetsugaku's fingers slowly tightened on his knee.

"You think I should be the Second."

Tetsugaku slightly raised his head.

"But have you considered what Konoha wants?" Tobirama looked at him calmly. "What Konoha wants is someone who will dedicate themselves to Konoha. Madara or Izuna, as long as they are truly acting for Konoha and for peace, they are qualified to be Konoha's leader. Not just them, anyone from Konoha, anyone who is for Konoha, can compete for the so-called Hokage position."

But Tetsugaku felt it was unfair.

He frowned and said, "Lord Tobirama, I understand what you're saying. But back then, it was Lord Hashirama who insisted on the alliance. Which of the other clans contributed?"

"Especially the Uchiha. How many years have they fought us? From childhood to adulthood, how many of my clansmen have died at the hands of the Uchiha? And what did they do? They were defeated and subdued by us before they surrendered and 'united' with us. What kind of alliance is this? What kind of alliance is this?"

"Tetsugaku, you shouldn't think like that."

"If it weren't for the Uchiha, we would have established Konoha long ago! Which other clan could compare to us? Without the Uchiha, the establishment of Konoha would have been much smoother!"

Tobirama's expression changed, "You..."

"Besides, the money for building the village came from Senju, and the land was chosen by Senju! Why should we just hand it over to someone else now?"

"Just because this place is called Konoha, not Senju!"

Tobirama's voice suddenly rose, like a knife cleaving through the air in the room.

Tetsugaku choked up, staring in astonishment at the person glaring at him.

In his memory, Tobirama had always been calm, restrained, and articulate, but at this moment his tone was filled with undisguised impatience and anger.

"You bastard! Haven't you figured it out yet?!"

"Lord Tobirama, I..."

"Yes, Konoha was founded by my Big Brother, and you're not wrong to say it was founded by the Senju. But without the Uchiha, this Konoha wouldn't be Konoha!"

His voice echoed in the six-story house, hitting the walls and bouncing back, making it hard to breathe.

"You think the Uchiha only 'united' because they were defeated and surrendered, and you think that the other clans didn't contribute and only the Senju kept going, so Konoha should belong to the Senju."

Tobirama stared at him. "Then let me ask you, why do we need to establish Shinobi Village?"

Tetsugaku's lips moved as if he wanted to speak, but Tobirama had no desire to hear him.

"Because my Big Brother dreams of peace and works towards it!"

"The Big Brother's dream was never for the Senju to be above everyone else. What he wanted was a place where everyone could put aside hatred and live together."

"Everyone! Including the Uchiha Clan, so we must get our arch-enemy Uchiha, to join! And they must be the first Shinobi Clan to unite! Only in this way can we achieve peace! And what you just said made it sound like Big Brother's choice was wrong—"

"I didn't say Lord Hashirama was wrong--"

"So you think I'm wrong!" Tobirama interrupted him. "Because I'm working for this village, because I don't see the Uchiha as enemies, because I believe anyone in this village could be the leader, so you think I'm wrong!"

Tetsugaku was completely speechless.

He lowered his head, his hands gripping the fabric on his knees tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Tobirama looked at him, his chest heaving slightly, and it took him a while to suppress his anger.

He stepped back, sat up straight, and his tone regained some calmness, but it still carried a hint of coldness.

"Tetsugaku, you've followed me for so many years, you should know what I dislike the most."

He said, "What I dislike most is people who disguise their selfishness as a noble cause. You blocked the order from the Land of Whirlpools, those words you said in public, and those words you just refuted me—you know in your heart what they were for. It wasn't for the Senju, it wasn't for Konoha, it was for your own pride."

"It's because you want to be superior," Tobirama narrowed his eyes. "That's why you find the Uchiha an eyesore. Without the Uchiha, the Senju Clan would be like Daimyo among the Shinobi Clans. That's what you think."

The leaves of the persimmon tree outside the window rustled in the wind, and sunlight streamed in through the cracks in the paper door, casting a thin streak of light on the ground.

Tobirama stood up and looked down at Tetsugaku, whose body was stiff.

"Tōka making the right choice to take your place is the right decision; you're not suitable to lead the team right now."

"I've House Arrest."

"Then continue to reflect."

He turned and walked towards the door, pausing briefly at the doorway without looking back.

Come find me again when you've thought it through.

After Tobirama left, Tetsugaku gritted his teeth and slammed his fist into the ground.

Shame and anger swirled in his mind, and even the correct answer couldn't extinguish the fire within him.

He hated Tobirama's reprimand, which sounded like a lecture to a child. He felt his dignity and opinions had been trampled on and he had been rendered worthless. But Tobirama couldn't possibly be wrong; his words were the truth.

He also knew that he was speaking with a sense of superiority, but he refused to admit his mistake.

His frustration, with nowhere to vent and his stubbornness inability to accept his own mistakes, made him desperately want to find an outlet for his anger.

Lord Tobirama was not wrong... it was the Lord Tobirama that misled Uchiha that was at fault!

If he weren't from the Uchiha, he wouldn't have suffered such humiliation!

"Damn Uchiha! Just you wait! I'll make sure you give yourselves away!"

He got up, put on his clothes, and planned to vent his anger through training.

Behind him, a faint black shadow flashed by.