"Hm?"
Seeing Konoha's First Hokage—Hashirama Senju—bow and apologize, the surrounding ninjas all froze for a moment.
The grim atmosphere in the air suddenly solidified. Everyone's breathing grew heavy as well, and they could not understand why Hashirama Senju was apologizing to them.
"I'm sorry!!"
Hashirama bowed to them once more, his voice low yet filled with sincerity. "The Fourth Shinobi World War could originally have been avoided. It was my carelessness back then that allowed this disaster to ultimately descend upon the Ninja World."
Seeing the First Hokage blame himself, the people around him exchanged glances, their eyes filled with confusion and incomprehension.
Hashirama gave a bitter smile and scratched his head as he explained, "Two years ago, when I was first revived, I discovered Uchiha Madara's existence and guessed that he might have been planning something.
"But later, I stopped my investigation halfway and didn't continue."
As he spoke, Hashirama suddenly lowered his head. An extremely dejected aura spread from him, leaving the gathered ninjas somewhat dumbfounded.
They had just witnessed Hashirama Senju's strength.
He was powerful!! Fully deserving of the title God of Shinobi.
But for such a powerful ninja to come up and inexplicably apologize to them, and with such sincerity at that... well, it was somewhat different from the image they had held in their hearts.
"Lord Hashirama!"
At that moment, a ninja stepped out from the crowd and respectfully said to Hashirama Senju, "Actually, you needn't be like this. Even if you had discovered Uchiha Madara's plan, given the situation at the time, the Five Great Ninja Villages might not have united. The other villages might not have believed intelligence from an enemy."
"That's right, Lord Hashirama. You don't need to blame yourself. This has nothing to do with you." Another ninja took over, his