Hashirama Senju's Resolve

It took nearly three days, using the Flying Thunder God to shuttle back and forth between Uchiha Stone City and Sarutobi Shimura's clan territory.

After three days without any attacks from the enemy, Izuna finally breathed a sigh of relief. The first thing he did upon returning to his room was fall into a deep sleep.

This was to recover the vast amount of Chakra consumed by his reckless use of the Flying Thunder God.

He had originally left behind a shadow clone precisely to prevent any suspicion from arising if Hagoromo Masashige were to suddenly launch an attack during these days and discover he wasn't in the clan.

Although the possibility was very low, Izuna's plan this time could not afford even the slightest mistake.

After sleeping for nearly twenty hours, Izuna finally woke up, not naturally, but because someone called him.

Fortunately, it wasn't a call to battle, but Madara sending a message via Ninja Hawk.

The letter, in addition to the usual inquiries about Izuna's status on the battlefield and the extent of his Mangekyo's wear and tear, also detailed strategies within the clan for dealing with the Senju.

Izuna had not told his clansmen that the Senju would definitely not attack.

While Hashirama Senju would certainly keep his promise, Senju Takeuma and Tobirama Senju were not good people.

It was highly possible they would make underhanded moves behind Hashirama Senju's back.

He had to guard against that.

Meanwhile, far to the east of the Uchiha clan territory, on the other side of Mount Kumogakure, in the Senju clan territory.

The Senju Clan was holding a lively clan meeting.

All ninjas of Jonin elite rank and above had been summoned.

This meeting was proposed by the clan leader, Senju Takeuma, and its topic was naturally a declaration of war against the Uchiha.

"Now is the best time to attack the Uchiha."

An elite Jonin of the Senju below said impatiently, "Uchiha Izuna is far away on the northwest battlefield, taking a considerable portion of our fighting strength. If the intelligence is correct and the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans also make a move, even more forces will be dispatched to the northwest. At that time, we'll strike directly at the Uchiha's main territory!"

"Last time, we could have won, all because of that damned Uchiha Izuna!"

"It's a shame he's far away in the northwest this time, preventing us from getting revenge!"

The Jonin of the Senju below all expressed their opinion that war should be declared.

At the same time, they all very tacitly avoided mentioning the Truce Agreement.

Although Senju Takeuma sat in the main seat of the clan leader, his eyes kept glancing towards Hashirama Senju in the vice clan leader's seat to his left.

Tobirama Senju also felt a bit uneasy.

At this moment, a peak Jonin of the Senju requested, "Clan Leader, declare war on the Uchiha. The unfinished battle on Mount Kumogakure must be avenged."

Seeing that Hashirama Senju remained silent, Senju Takeuma pondered for a moment and finally said, "Everyone, and all the elders, since you all think so..."

"Wait a moment!"

Two low words were spat out through gritted teeth. Hashirama Senju, who had been silent, now made a stunning statement that drew everyone's attention to him.

Many inwardly sighed.

If possible, they truly wished Hashirama Senju would remain silent until the end of the meeting.

"We... signed a three-year Truce Agreement with the Uchiha."

Hashirama Senju said word by word.

"This... Vice Clan Leader, that's just a piece of paper..."

"What did you say?!"

The peak Jonin below, trying to retort sheepishly, was so startled by Hashirama Senju's shout that he almost wet himself.

Throughout his life, Hashirama Senju had only gotten this angry a handful of times.

Tobirama Senju remembered the last time Hashirama Senju had gotten this angry was when their younger brother, Senju Waka, had died.

"That is not paper, it is our promise to the Uchiha!"

Hashirama Senju shouted, "If we break our word, the Uchiha will never trust us again!"

He had never given up on his dream of building a ninja village with the Uchiha where all ninjas could coexist harmoniously.

Therefore, he valued the Truce Agreement with the Uchiha more than anyone else.

If the Senju unilaterally tore up the agreement, it would be extremely difficult to form an alliance with the Uchiha in the future.

"Why should we make the Uchiha trust us..."

Many Senju ninjas below silently retorted in their hearts.

But seeing Hashirama Senju's flushed face, not a single person dared to retort for a moment.

This included Tobirama Senju and Senju Takeuma, the clan leader.

However, Hashirama Senju had clearly underestimated the centuries-old hatred between the two clans. Even under his pressure, someone still stood up.

"I'm sorry, Vice Clan Leader, but even you, I cannot tolerate this."

The speaker was an elite Jonin, around thirty-five years old, with a fierce scar across his right cheek.

As he stood up, his eyes turned red, and a tear trickled down along the scar. "My ten-year-old child died at the hands of the Uchiha. I swear I will get revenge. I will not let this opportunity pass me by."

The first person stood up. Then, one by one, others grew bolder and rose from the tatami mats.

"Vice-clan head, my husband was paralyzed eight years ago during the war with the Uchiha. He still can't stand up to this day."

"My two younger brothers and my father all died at the hands of the Uchiha..."

"I never saw my parents' faces. My uncle adopted me and raised me, but he was killed in the battle of Mount Kumogakure..."

In about half a minute, seventy percent of the Senju Jonin who were seated had stood up.

Hashirama Senju's teeth trembled. Even he found it difficult not to be shaken by such a situation.

This means even Older Brother...

Tobirama Senju thought to himself.

He was also advocating for tearing up the alliance and going to war with the Uchiha.

While this situation was somewhat cruel to Hashirama Senju, it was something he was willing to see.

However, Tobirama Senju had clearly underestimated Hashirama Senju's determination to form an alliance with the Uchiha and create a village together.

"It seems your accumulated hatred is quite deep..."

Saying this, Hashirama Senju stood up from his cushion. "Alright, those who wish to tear up the alliance, follow me to the training grounds."

"Hashirama, what are you doing?"

Senju Takeuma asked in surprise.

"It doesn't matter how many of you there are. Those who wish to go to war with the Uchiha, come and defeat me. If you can do it, I will no longer stand in your way."

Hashirama Senju raised his head and announced loudly, "Tobirama, Uncle Takeuma, it's fine if you both come at me together."

Is he crazy?!

For a moment, everyone thought this to themselves.

Currently, within the Senju clan, at least eighty percent of the ninjas wanted to tear up the agreement and go to war with the Uchiha.

That was over a thousand ninjas!

And Hashirama Senju said, "come at me together." Was he not crazy?

What was even more unbelievable was that when he said this, Senju Takeuma and the others vaguely felt that he could do it!