The Source of Cowardice

Natsu Yuu didn't waste time—he snapped his fingers and activated [World Teleportation] again.

He brought Tobirama back to [Naruto World 2].

Still the same forest, still the same battlefield ruins.

Tobirama, now returned, felt his mind waver—everything he'd just witnessed seemed like a dream!

Had he and his Elder Brother really traveled to the future together and witnessed a 'Nine-Tails Riot'?

Could it all have been a Genjutsu?

No, no, that was far too vivid!

Tobirama glanced at the 'Immortal Natsu Yuu' beside him, then at Kinkaku's corpse crushed into paste in the distance, and immediately shook his head with a wry smile.

Clearly, it was all real, not a Genjutsu or a dream.

"Please wait a moment, sir."

Tobirama took a deep breath, drew his ninja sword, and used a Body Flicker Technique to flash into the center of the battlefield, arriving beside the dying Ginkaku.

Without hesitation, he swung his blade and lopped off Ginkaku's head, finishing off that beast for good.

Even setting aside their enemy status, Tobirama despised scum who betrayed their own village and leader!

"Haah—!"

Tobirama flicked the blood off his ninja sword, activated his sensory ability again, and swept the entire battlefield to confirm no enemies remained. Only then did he sheathe his weapon.

He also picked up the five [Six Paths Tools] left behind by Kinkaku and Ginkaku, then returned to Natsu Yuu's side.

Once more, he offered a solemn thanks:

"Thank you, sir! Without you and my Elder Brother, I might really have died here."

Natsu Yuu waved a hand casually, signaling that thanks weren't necessary.

"May I ask, sir, if there's anything you need me to do?"

Unlike the simple-minded Hashirama, Tobirama cut straight to the point.

Able to effortlessly take him and his Elder Brother across time, he had no doubt about Natsu Yuu's power! But even the strongest being wouldn't show unconditional love to others.

More likely, they wouldn't offer selfless help for nothing.

He wanted to know—what did this [Sage of the Dao Path] truly need? What was he seeking?

Could he and Konoha even afford the price?

Until he understood that, he couldn't rest easy!

To this.

Natsu Yuu didn't rush to answer. Instead, he asked back:

"Do you have an answer to that question from before?"

What question?

Tobirama suddenly recalled.

[Was choosing to stay behind and hold the line with your life really the right call?]

If it had been half an hour ago, Tobirama could have answered without hesitation—his choice was absolutely correct.

To protect his talented younger ninja, to pass on the Will of Fire and the Hokage Position, to ensure the message made it back to the village...

He had too many reasons, none of which he could abandon.

Most importantly:

As Hokage, as the Second Hokage who inherited his Elder Brother's will, he simply couldn't abandon his disciples, couldn't abandon his subordinates, and flee alone...

But now.

After visiting the world thirty-four years later and witnessing the future Sarutobi and Konoha.

The sharp and perceptive Tobirama naturally caught a hint of something off.

It made his answer waver.

Natsu Yuu smiled lightly and said bluntly:

"I'm sure you've noticed. The future Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is quite different from the Monkey you know now, isn't he?"

Tobirama nodded.

The gap between the two was indeed enormous—though of course, that gap wasn't just in appearance.

It was a deeper shift in temperament and conviction...

"Monkey has... changed a lot," Tobirama murmured in reflection.

He had died early, so he didn't know what Sarutobi had gone through in the thirty-plus years after, turning him so 'cautious and timid.'

"The reason lies here."

"Right here in this battle."

"Tobirama Senju, by staying behind alone to hold the rear, you did save Hiruzen and the others' lives."

"But the price wasn't low either."

"With this death of yours, you directly shattered Hiruzen's conviction and courage!"

Facing the Second Hokage, whom he most admired and respected, dying miserably at the hands of the enemy while they themselves were forced to flee and cling to life—

That kind of blow wasn't something every shinobi could bear.

Or rather:

It wasn't just Hiruzen.

Of the other members of Tobirama's personal guard, aside from Kagami Uchiha, who had already died in battle, and Torifu Akimichi, who was killed by the Nine-Tails—

If you find this book good, to avoid losing it next time, please remember to add it to your bookshelf.

The remaining few—Hiruzen, Koharu, Mitokado, Danzo—

All had their 'spirit and drive' shattered in this battle.

They lost their courage, lost their conviction. It turned them from fierce, battle-hardened elite shinobi into cowards cowering within the village.

This change didn't just affect them as individuals.

As the village's Hokage and High Council, every decision they made based on fear influenced the entire village.

It made Konoha timid and hesitant throughout the Third Hokage's reign, increasingly shrinking and cowardly.

To the point that—

In the subsequent great wars, all of Konoha feared Kumogakure three parts over.

Even after the Third Shinobi World War, in Konoha Year 54: Kumogakure launched a sneak attack on Konoha, kidnapped Hinata, and tried to borrow a [Byakugan] for fun.

The clan head, Hyuga Hiashi, dared to resist Kumogakure and reclaim Hinata.

But Hiruzen and the rest of Konoha's High Council didn't dare to confront Kumogakure. Instead, they suppressed the Hyuga Clan internally, forcing Hiashi's younger brother Hizashi to commit suicide, and voluntarily handed over Hizashi's corpse.

Just thinking about it is suffocating, suffocating to the point of panic!

This shows just how much Hiruzen and the others feared and dreaded Kumogakure.

A fear that never faded after the Second Hokage Tobirama was killed, persisting for decades, indirectly making Konoha spineless for decades!

Like a nightmare!

Tobirama understood. He didn't need much prompting; a single point was enough.

He had always been focused on how to protect Hiruzen and the others, how to pass on the Hokage and the village.

But he had greatly overlooked the impact his own death would have on Hiruzen and them!

Putting himself in their shoes—

If his most trusted and admired elder brother Hashirama were one day brutally killed by an enemy from some village, while he himself escaped like a rat—

What would he become?

Would he still have the courage to challenge a strong enemy that even his brother couldn't defeat?

Maybe yes, maybe no...

Tobirama himself couldn't be sure, let alone Hiruzen and the others.

His place in their hearts was probably no lower than Elder Brother Hashirama's place in his own!

No wonder!

No wonder Hiruzen lost that courage, lost that ruthless edge as Hokage. So the problem lay with him, lay in this cowardly battle!

"I understand."

"Sigh!"

"But I had no other choice..."

Tobirama sighed, speaking with some helplessness.

Even though he now recognized this huge flaw and mistake. If he had to choose again, he would still choose to stay behind alone and sacrifice himself.

Even if it meant giving Hiruzen and the others nightmares and robbing them of their courage; it was still better than leading them all to die together...

A cautious, cowardly Hokage was still better than a vacant Hokage Position!

After all, the next generation of Konoha shinobi hadn't grown up yet...

"No other choice? You didn't dare to stay with the six of them and fight the Kinkaku Force to the death?"

"That was too dangerous! I couldn't gamble. The Kinkaku Force was too strong..."

"You mean the Kinkaku Force that was almost annihilated by you alone?"

Natsu Yuu pointed across the entire battlefield, his tone carrying a hint of mockery.

A wounded Tobirama could almost wipe out the Kinkaku Force by himself; if he added Hiruzen and the other six, who were at least Elite Jonin, there was no way they'd be wiped out.

In fact, there was a high chance they could turn the tide and win!

"This..."

"Tobirama Senju, is it possible that the truly timid one is you yourself?"

Natsu Yuu's words struck Tobirama's heart like a heavy hammer, leaving him stunned.

"I..." Tobirama hesitated, lowering his head.

What had truly changed was not just Hiruzen decades later, but himself as well!

If this were the Tobirama from the Warring States period...

Would he have negotiated an alliance with Kumogakure?

Like hell he would!

He would have just flashed in with the Flying Thunder God, blade in hand, and started cutting.

When had he himself learned to compromise? Turned into a dove faction?

At the founding of Konoha?

At the First Kage Summit?

Or after Elder Brother Hashirama's death?

He had truly changed!

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