When Tobirama found his elder brother, Hashirama was sitting cross-legged alone atop the cliffs of Hokage Rock, silently gazing down at the village below.
Back when they were alive, his brother often sat here lost in thought.
"Tobirama," Hashirama slowly spoke.
"Have you discovered anything in the village these past two days?"
Tobirama pondered for a moment. "This Hyuga Shin enjoys tremendous prestige in the village and has earned the villagers' trust."
Not only had he met with his former disciples and subordinates, but he had also investigated matters among the village's lower ranks. These days, the villagers had all been discussing the Hokage election, and nearly everyone had only one candidate in mind: Hyuga Shin!
Hashirama said, "He earned all of that himself."
"While the Fourth Hokage was in office, Hyuga Shin had already been diligently handling the Hokage's duties. He never delayed official business, and he personally saw to nearly every matter concerning the villagers."
Tobirama merely frowned in silence. Naturally, he had heard about such things as well.
Could it be said that Hyuga Shin had been currying favor with the people?
But those achievements were undeniably real. Or perhaps they were simply too aloof for thinking that way.
Hashirama sighed. "Tobirama, times have changed."
Different eras produced different people. Perhaps the ways they had once relied upon truly no longer suited the Konoha of today.
Namikaze Minato, once such a great and righteous man, had now become someone reviled by all.
Tobirama asked, "Brother, are you planning to give up?"
Hashirama did not answer. He felt that his younger brother had developed an obsession as well, lingering in this mortal world, unable to let go of the Konoha in his heart.
But as Hyuga Shin had said, they could not win.
After a long silence, he