Gently Knocking On Your Heart With A Great Hammer

Hashirama didn't blame Tobirama too harshly; he knew Tobirama acted for the good of Konoha, always prioritizing the village's interests.

"Sir, according to Tobirama's explanation, wouldn't distributing the Tailed Beasts be even more beneficial for Konoha?"

On one hand, distributing the Tailed Beasts brought Konoha substantial profits and advantages. On the other hand, the potential danger of Tailed Beast rampages would significantly weaken the other ninja villages.

How could Konoha possibly lose?

Wasn't this a guaranteed win?

At least in Tobirama's eyes, even if he was ambushed by those Kumogakure brutes this time, the future would still be a guaranteed victory for Konoha.

Monkey and the others just needed to hold steady and do nothing.

Konoha's overall strength would eventually far surpass the other four villages.

Even Tobirama looked at Natsu Yuu with curiosity, wanting to know from this 'Immortal' who could seemingly traverse time and foresee the future, where his plans had gone wrong.

Natsu Yuu smiled slightly and asked Tobirama again.

"Second Hokage, if you discovered the drawbacks, what would you do?"

"Of course, I'd find a way to solve the drawbacks."

"Then what would the other villages do when they discovered that while Tailed Beasts are powerful, Jinchuriki are unstable and prone to rampages?"

"They'd find ways to improve Fuinjutsu, find ways to enhance the Jinchuriki's adaptability, until they could completely control the Tailed Beasts..."

"But that's not something that can be done easily. It would take at least decades of adjustment and development..."

Tobirama's judgment was correct. The villages did indeed tinker for decades before barely managing to produce three Jinchuriki: Killer B, Karatachi Yagura, and Naruto Uzumaki. The last one, in particular, had little to do with the village's training; it was pure neglect, supplemented by Kumogakure's guidance, and a cheat code from his grandfather.

"Then you left Konoha with a Nine-Tails that can't go out of control, and a soft persimmon that can be easily suppressed even if it does go out of control. Are you bored with the village being too peaceful? Or do you think your enemies are too foolish to do anything but stand still?"

Natsu Yuu's question jolted Tobirama awake!

An overly peaceful environment only breeds laziness and leaves future generations without experience in dealing with Tailed Beast rampages.

Especially when others were constantly improving through immense casualties.

Staying put while others advance meant falling behind, not to mention the fact that you were already slowly regressing!

In reality.

The Tailed Beast rampages had indeed brought significant casualties and trouble to the other four villages.

[Sunagakure] goes without saying; the One-Tail Shukaku alone drove several generations of Kazekage mad or to their deaths.

[Kirigakure] was similar; several rampages by Jinchuriki had killed large numbers of Kirigakure elites.

[Iwagakure] had the old tortoise Ōnoki, who could suppress the Tailed Beasts, but it also forced several Jinchuriki to leave the village one after another.

[Kumogakure] is even more so; without the Third Raikage's overwhelming strength, the Eight-Tails would have destroyed the village countless times by now.

But over these decades.

The other villages had reaped considerable benefits from the Tailed Beasts.

Sunagakure, by researching the One-Tail, developed [Magnet Release] and the [Art of the Sleeping Tiger], among others...

Kirigakure developed [Bubble Seal] and cultivated a perfect Jinchuriki.

Kumogakure also developed [Iron Armor Seal] and cultivated a perfect Jinchuriki.

Iwagakure was the least impressive, but their Jinchuriki were all loyal to the village and rendered countless meritorious services, gradually perfecting their own Fuinjutsu.

After comparing them all.

Only [Konohagakure], despite possessing the most powerful Nine-Tails, made no progress and yielded no value, relying solely on the Uzumaki Clan's legacy to suppress the Tailed Beast.

When the Uzumaki Clan was unfortunately wiped out.

In the vast Konoha, there wasn't a single person who could teach Naruto how to control the Nine-Tails...

It was all thanks to Naruto's own struggle that he was finally able to utilize the Nine-Tails' power.

Before that.

The Nine-Tails had never brought any assistance to Konoha; on the contrary, it had harmed Konoha time and time again.

Everyone else was progressing, reaping benefits from their Tailed Beasts.

It was only natural for them to surpass you and then beat you up?

If Konoha had given Orochimaru a couple of Tailed Beasts to research freely earlier, he probably could have swept through the Edo Tensei Army with a mechanical Tailed Beast army during the Fourth Great Ninja War.

What need would there be for the Shinobi Alliance then?

"Sir, Tobirama, what do you guys mean?" Hashirama scratched his head, completely unable to grasp the significance of technological advancement.

Tobirama looked at Natsu Yuu and said with sincere gratitude:

"Thank you for the reminder, sir. I was shortsighted. I will pay attention to this."

Tobirama secretly resolved that upon returning to the village, he must change their approach to researching and utilizing the Nine-Tails.

They couldn't just sit back and let the other villages slowly surpass Konoha.

The foundation he and his elder brother had left for the village was substantial, but it couldn't withstand future generations becoming complacent and stagnant!

Of course, Tobirama wasn't too worried.

The Uzumaki Clan and the Uchiha Clan were his greatest source of confidence. As long as these two clans were around, it would be difficult for any Tailed Beast to overthrow Konohagakure.

Natsu Yuu guessed what Tobirama was thinking and couldn't be bothered to persuade him further.

He'd take the Tobirama from world 2 to see the future Konohagakure later.

When he saw that the Uzumaki Clan and the Uchiha Clan had been ruined by Konoha's F4, he'd know to be anxious.

If you can't find the book title, you can try searching for the author. Maybe they just changed their name!

"By the way, sir, what was the optimal solution you mentioned earlier?"

Tobirama asked proactively.

Setting aside Natsu Yuu's mysterious abilities, his precise analysis of the Tailed Beast Deterrence System alone made Tobirama highly agree, as if he had met a kindred spirit.

He naturally wished to understand Natsu Yuu's high opinion more.

"It's very simple. There's no need to enfeoff the Tailed Beasts at all. Just Unify the Shinobi World and eliminate all ninja villages and countries!"

Natsu Yuu revealed his true intentions.

His previous analysis of the shortcomings of the Tailed Beast Deterrence System was merely to instigate them to abandon their ideals and dedicate themselves to the great cause of Unifying the Shinobi World.

Natsu Yuu naturally didn't expect to convince Hashirama in just over ten minutes, but he could plant a seed first and gradually guide them later.

He couldn't possibly force Hashirama and the others to Unify the Shinobi World right from the start.

Not to mention that he hadn't mastered the power of the Rinnegan yet. Even if he had, he wouldn't dare to guarantee he could defeat Hashirama.

"This... is not appropriate."

"The Warring States period finally ended. If we start a war of unification, how many more people will die!"

Hashirama immediately rejected it. He truly didn't want to see more war, more sacrifice...

"Big brother is right. Moreover, no one can guarantee that it won't split again even after unification."

Tobirama quickly added, but a glint flashed deep in his eyes.

Deep down, he had wanted to do this for a long time!

Unfortunately, his big brother had always forbidden it.

After his big brother was gone, it would be difficult for him to sweep across the entire Shinobi World alone.

He originally had some concerns about Unifying the Shinobi World, truly fearing it would split again after unification. But after experiencing the First Shinobi World War, Tobirama was convinced that the previous system of ninja villages and peace was nothing but waste paper! Utter nonsense!

Those beasts in other villages couldn't possibly understand and tolerate each other with love like his big brother...

He gradually abandoned this path in his heart.

Natsu Yuu glanced at Tobirama: That's right, it's that look!

I knew you had great ambitions, you brat!

Good job, I like it!

As expected, the concept of Unifying the Shinobi World was the easiest to convince this Second Hokage.

"No need to get excited. I'm just making a suggestion, not forcing you to Unify the Shinobi World."

"If you can find a more suitable path, I certainly don't mind you pursuing it, but you must be mentally prepared for the cost involved."

Hashirama and Tobirama fell silent.

Having witnessed and experienced the First Shinobi World War firsthand, both of them felt an indescribable bitterness in their hearts.

Even the most steadfast individuals could not help but fall into self-doubt and re-examination after witnessing the facts.

The key was that they truly couldn't think of any better method to replace the Tailed Beast Deterrence System.

"Hashirama Senju, how about it? Can you answer that question from before now?"

"Ah?"

[What do you want to protect: the village? Or your loved ones?]

"This..."

Hashirama looked at Tobirama and hesitated again.

He founded Konohagakure to protect Tobirama, to protect Madara, to protect those he cherished.

But now, the future him in this world had killed his close friend Madara for the sake of the village.

Wasn't this the greatest betrayal?

Had his future self truly changed?

Had he gone against his original intentions?

What did he truly want to protect?

Natsu Yuu was quite satisfied watching Hashirama's slight confusion.

The will of the God of Shinobi was not so easily changed.

First, gently shatter his imprinted thoughts with a swing of the great hammer, then incite him to change everything and Unify the Shinobi World; this is undoubtedly the most secure method.

"Still no conclusion? Then there's no rush to answer."

"I'll ask you two more questions."

[Hashirama Senju, what exactly is the Will of Fire you wish to pass on?]

[Tobirama Senju, is it truly right for you to choose to stay behind and cover the retreat with your life?]

Hashirama: "The Will of Fire, you say?"

Tobirama: "Huh?"

Staying behind to cover the retreat with my life was wrong?

That doesn't make sense.

"No rush, let's go see the story of the next generation of Hokage in the future first. It won't be too late for you to answer then."