"Um?"
"That person's figure... it looks so familiar!"
Madara Uchiha's gaze pierced through the crowd and landed on a strangely familiar figure.
That silly-looking back view.
Hashirama?!
No.
Hashirama is dead!
He's been dead for many years!
I must be seeing things.
How could Hashirama possibly appear before him again?
The joy that rose in Madara Uchiha's heart turned into desolation in an instant. He still missed Hashirama too much. But Madara Uchiha still raised his head and continued to look around, with a tiny bit of hope in his heart.
What if?
Am I seeing things?
Not far away, that familiar figure was still clearly visible.
Who exactly is this person in front of me?
Madara Uchiha quickened his pace and stepped forward to investigate. Hashirama Senju keenly sensed the prying gaze and turned around to see a familiar figure as well.
Who is that person in the distance?
spot?
No. Impossible.
Madara is dead!
He was killed by his own hands, and even Madara's final body was brought back to Konoha by himself.
But who is this person?
Hashirama Senju walked towards Madara Uchiha. As the two approached, their eyes widened involuntarily, and they looked up at each other's faces with great anticipation.
He was definitely not Madara/ Hashirama.
But what is this familiar feeling?
How strange!!
Disappointment and confusion mingled in their hearts, but they didn't stop walking. Soon they passed each other, but before they had gone a few steps, they suddenly turned around at the same time and looked at each other.
"Um, I feel like I've seen you somewhere before!"
"Me too!"
What is your name?
Hashirama Senju was about to blurt out his name when he suddenly remembered Uchiha Nan's instructions: to always conceal his identity when traveling, not only to use the Transformation Technique to change his appearance, but also to give himself a false name!
If the news of the First Hokage's resurrection were to suddenly be revealed, it would definitely cause unnecessary turmoil in Konoha!
Faced with Uchiha Nan's request, Hashirama Senju readily agreed.
My name is Wood Madara.
Hashirama Senju gave himself a nice-sounding pseudonym.
My name is Madara Pillar!
The two exchanged a smile. Although the other person was not Madara/ Hashirama, they unexpectedly hit it off. Even though they were strangers, they felt that they could see the shadow of Madara/ Hashirama in each other, even their names were so similar.
I absolutely have to be friends with him!
Is this your first time in Konoha?
"I've been here before, but that was a long time ago. Now it's like returning to an old haunt. However, Konoha has changed so much that I almost didn't recognize it."
"That's perfect! I'll take you around Konoha. I've lived Konoha for several years now!"
Upon receiving Madara Uchiha's invitation, Hashirama Senju glanced out of the Hashirama Senju his eye at Uchiha Nan, who was enjoying the cheers of the crowd.
Today I'm supposed to be exploring Konoha with Uchiha Nan, is it really a bad idea to just leave Uchiha Nan behind?
but
There's nothing wrong with that!
Uchiha Nan, I'm sorry.
It seems more interesting to stroll around Konoha with this man in front of me.
"OK!"
Hashirama Senju thought of Uchiha Nan, but 0.01 seconds later, he immediately agreed to Madara Uchiha!
"Come on, that street is the liveliest!"
"Oh oh!!"
Madara Uchiha beckoned to Hashirama Senju and led him to the busiest street in Konoha. Walking from one end of the street to the other, Hashirama Senju, like a curious child, kept asking questions, wanting to learn more about the current state of Konoha and the " Madara Pillar " beside him.
Walking through the streets of Konoha, the person who appeared before Hashirama Senju had a radiance on his face unlike that of people from his era. It was a happy smile that could only appear on the face of someone who lived in peace and had forgotten the pain brought by war.
That's great!
This is what I've always hoped for and wanted to achieve!
" Konoha is really great right now!"
Looking at the prosperous scene of Konoha Hashirama Senju, Hashirama Senju couldn't help but smile. Even Madara Uchiha Hashirama Senju him was infected by Hashirama's sunny smile. For a moment, Madara Uchiha seemed to see that man again. Hashirama, my Hashirama.
This man really looks a lot like you!
That's really great!
Wow, what's that?
Is it a statue?
"It's Hashirama, and also... a statue of Madara Uchiha."
Upon hearing the name Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju immediately walked to the vicinity of the statue. His eyes, fixed on the statue of Madara Uchiha, suddenly became complicated as his thoughts were drawn back to the past, recalling many things he had done with Madara Uchiha.
The first time we met, the first time we skipped stones together, the first time we sparred, the first time we fought. And then there was the last time we drank together, the last time we met, and the last time we fought.
Looking back now, it feels like just yesterday.
"Madara, if you have a spirit in heaven, look at Konoha now. Our ideals have truly been realized. Although I'm sorry, Madara, killing you was the right thing to do."
"Madara, your thinking is too extreme and leaves no room for compromise. You are threatening the safety of the entire Konoha, and even the entire Ninja world."
Hashirama Senju gazed at the statue before him, silently reciting something to himself.
He really wanted to see Madara Uchiha. He really had so much to say to Madara Uchiha. He originally thought that as long as he died and his soul entered the legendary Pure Land, he could see Madara Uchiha Madara Uchiha again and apologize to him in person.
but
Hashirama Senju spent many years in the Pure Land, mostly drifting aimlessly, and never encountered Madara Uchiha.
Madara probably still hates himself.
I don't want to see myself again.
Hashirama Senju thought to himself, a sense of relief on his face. At least his choice was right!
"What's wrong?"
Madara Uchiha noticed the change in Hashirama Senju's emotions.
"It's nothing. Seeing the statue reminded me of the past. I had a friend who once shared the same ideals as me, but his personality was very similar to Madara Uchiha —stubborn and extreme. In the end, we parted ways for some reason."
"Is that so? Then we really get along well."
"I also had a friend who once shared the same ideals as me, but his personality was very similar to Hashirama Senju —naive to the point of being foolish. In the end, we parted ways. Later, he died, and I survived. As it turns out, I was right. Just like Hashirama Senju, he was wrong, terribly wrong."
"Um??"
Hashirama Senju.
I was wrong?
What did I do wrong?
The Konoha has clearly followed my path and is now thriving.
I don't like hearing that.
"Where did Hashirama Senju go wrong? As long as people understand and tolerate each other, war can certainly be avoided."
"Hmph, you really are just like Hashirama."
Madara Uchiha glanced at " Wood Madara " beside him and revealed a contemptuous smile. This guy's thoughts were so similar to Hashirama's, even his lecturing tone was exactly the same.
"You're really ignorant. Even the current students at the Ninja Academy know where Hashirama Senju went wrong. Konoha's textbooks have already settled his opinion on Hashirama Senju."
Warring States Period
The ninja clans slaughtered each other, a painful memory for the older generation of ninjas, and no one wanted to return to that era.
The First Hokage's greatest achievement was this: ending the Warring States Period!
The Senju Clan and Uchiha joined forces to establish Konoha, and under Hashirama Senju's insistence, the current system of one village per country was established.
Back then...
The ninja village system is indeed advanced!
After all, having rules is much better than having no rules, but that's about it.
The ninja village system brought numerous calamities to later generations. Like the increased efficiency of killing brought about by industrialization, it resulted in far greater casualties, much like the First Shinobi World War, which was practically a super meat grinder.
Ultimately
It was because Hashirama Senju didn't take advantage of the favorable situation to unify the Ninja world.
Even if such unification is just an empty shell, Konoha is simply incapable of governing such a vast Ninja world, and divisions and rebellions will likely still occur after the First Hokage's death, once the initial foundation of unification is laid, Konoha will only need to continue to build upon the legacy of the First and wait for the next " Hashirama Senju " to appear.
Madara Uchiha recalled the textbook's evaluation of the First Hokage's deeds, giving an "objective" account with only a few personal emotions interspersed, but the general meaning was correct.
"Is this how it's written in Konoha's current textbooks?"
Hashirama Senju looked incredulous; he clearly hadn't expected this, and his previously relaxed brows gradually furrowed.
He wasn't bothered by the negative evaluation of him in Konoha's textbooks, but rather by his concerns about Konoha's future. He foresaw that an unprecedented war would break out in the Ninja world sooner or later.
"That's right."
"Compared to Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha seemed relatively correct, at least in terms of the general direction; the Ninja world needed to be unified."
"Enough!"
Hashirama Senju shouted.
This Madara Pillar is exactly the same as the spotted one, and its mindset remains as dangerous as ever.
Hashirama Senju truly couldn't imagine what Konoha would become if the flames of war were to reignite. Would the villagers still wear those hopeful smiles?
Your mindset needs to change.
"The order of the Ninja world needs to be rebuilt. Well, this is a book written by Uchiha Nan. Although it has some flaws that need to be corrected, it should be enough for you. At the very least, it can help you see the truly correct path."
Madara Uchiha tossed a new edition of The Will of Fire to Hashirama Senju.
Chapter 1: The Meaning of the Ninja's Existence
"Why must ninjas be tools, carrying out tasks assigned by nobles to earn a living? Can't they live in another way?"
Chapter Two: The Justification and Necessity of Overthrowing the Daimyo and Nobles. Class Conflict is the Principal Conflict in the Ninja world; Ninjas Represent the Most Advanced Productivity in the Ninja world.
Chapter Three: Productive Forces and Relations of Production...
"."
Hashirama Senju quickly flipped through a few pages, but after reading for only a short while, he found it extremely painful. He recognized every single word, but when they were put together, he couldn't understand them at all. If he had to say something, he could only inexplicably feel that what the other person was saying made a lot of sense, and he felt like an idiot.
"Can't read?"
"He's just as stupid as Hashirama Senju. Let me explain it to you."
Madara Uchiha said with disdain, "I also spent a long time reading this book. If I didn't understand it the first time, I read it twice. If I still didn't understand it the second time, I read it three times. Ignorance is not terrible. Everyone is ignorant at times. But if you know you are ignorant but are unwilling to learn, then in the end you will only be beaten by the strong."
That's very profound.
That makes some sense.
My head is so itchy, I feel like my brain is growing in!
Hashirama Senju was a typical Sengoku period ninja, whose intellectual level lagged behind Madara Uchiha by two versions. It was indeed very difficult to get him to think outside the box and consider issues, especially since Hashirama Senju's external brain, Tobirama Senju the underground laboratory.
However, Madara Uchiha still explained diligently, because this foolish guy was so much like his own Hashirama.
Of course, there was also a tiny bit of personal motive mixed in.
Hashirama, you're fucking wrong!
I'm not wrong, at least not in the general direction!
But I have now found the right path.
Uchiha Nan's stuff was good, but I've figured out something even better!
"That's it, everyone can leave now!"
"Such a large circle around could easily cause a traffic accident!"
Uchiha Nan was surrounded by the crowd, calling out to them, but the loyal children and villagers were not willing to let him go so easily, raising their hands and cheering for Uchiha Nan Uchiha Nan's name.
" Lord Hokage, please give me your autograph!"
A Ninja Academy student, holding his new copy of The Will of Fire, asked Uchiha Nan to sign his name in it as a souvenir. Uchiha Nan, of course, wouldn't refuse this small request. Then Uchiha Nan discovered dozens of books appearing before him.
It took a long time to work.
Uchiha Nan managed to break free from the crowd, and the villagers reluctantly dispersed.
"Um?"
"Where's Hashirama Senju?!"
"Where did Hashirama Senju, who's so big, go?!"
Uchiha Nan rarely showed a look of panic. He didn't want Hashirama Senju to get out of his sight and run around Konoha. Who knew if that guy Hashirama Senju would cause him some trouble?
"Fortunately, I can sense Hashirama Senju's location."
Uchiha Nan took a deep breath and then exhaled, calming his emotions. He had summoned Hashirama Senju using the Impure World Reincarnation, so even if Hashirama Senju escaped Konoha and wandered the Ninja world, he could still find him.
"He's here."
Sensing Hashirama Senju, Uchiha Nan quickly located Hashirama Senju position and immediately ran towards Hashirama Senju.
soon
Uchiha Nan saw Hashirama Senju's figure.
"That figure next to Hashirama Senju looks so familiar."
"Who wrote this?"
"Um?!!"
"Holy shit!!!!"