When Was a Tailed Beast's Strength Ever Determined by the Number of Its Tails?

"Since you kept me company and talked with me for so long, I don't mind helping you once."

By the river outside Konohagakure.

At Madara Uchiha's words, Takenaka was briefly stunned. Then he shook his head and said, "Thank you, but there's no need. Tailed Beasts may sound terrifying, but to powerful people like you and Hashirama Senju, they're nothing special.

What I seek now is to stand before the two of you as soon as possible and challenge you.

Everything else is of no use to me."

"Ha ha ha, good. Then Hashirama and I will await your challenge," Madara Uchiha said with a hearty laugh, finding nothing wrong with Takenaka's answer.

Afterward, the two vanished using the Body Flicker Technique. Takenaka returned to the room Konoha had arranged for them, while Madara Uchiha went directly to the Hokage Office.

More than ten minutes later, inside the Hokage Office.

The moment Madara entered, he saw Hashirama propping up his chin as he sat listlessly in the Hokage's office chair.

As soon as he saw Madara come in, Hashirama immediately perked up and hurriedly asked, "How did it go, Madara?"

Seeing how excited Hashirama was, Madara felt a little jealous. After all, Hashirama was showing interest in someone other than him.

However, Madara quickly suppressed his displeasure and nodded. "Takenaka Kaguya didn't disappoint us. His ideas are quite unique.

It could be said that he has some understanding of both your and my visions of peace."

Hearing this, Hashirama Senju laughed and nodded. "Mm, from our last encounter, he truly seemed like someone with firm ideas of his own.

But Tobirama came to see me earlier and told me that Kirigakure seems to have ostracized him.

Tell me, if we invited him to come to Konoha and serve the village, do you think that would be possible?"

"Hmm? Ostracized by Kirigakure?" Madara was somewhat surprised.

He trusted Tobirama Senju's sources of information greatly. Even though he did not get along with Tobirama Senju, he had to admit that Tobirama Senju's intelligence organization was formidable.

Still, Madara frowned. He had never expected a young and powerful genius like Takenaka to be ostracized by Kirigakure. It was truly beyond his expectations.

"That's right. A month ago, Takenaka Kaguya left Kirigakure with his adoptive mother—or rather, his Aunt—and went to live on Half-Moon Island, at the junction of the Land of Water, the Land of Fire, and the Land of Whirlpools.

Although he came to Konoha this time with First Mizukage Byakuren and served as his guard, I believe Tobirama's information should be true.

And since you talked with him for so long and seemed to get along well, if possible, we could invite him to Konoha and make him one of our ninja," Hashirama Senju said with a smile.

Though he usually acted careless and unreliable, Hashirama Senju was actually very dependable when it came to strengthening Konoha.

Across from him, Madara could also tell that Hashirama was not joking. He was genuinely considering whether this was feasible.

After thinking it over, Madara shook his head. "I don't think inviting Takenaka Kaguya to Konoha is appropriate.

First, during the previous war, Takenaka Kaguya killed many ninja from our Land of Fire. Of all Konoha's clans, only the Nara Clan's ninja never fought him. Every other ninja who went to intercept him died.

Although the war has ended, the hatred in everyone's hearts will be difficult to erase in such a short time.

To say nothing of anything else, your brother Tobirama is deeply wary of him. Hashirama, you should know that very well.

If Takenaka Kaguya really came to live in Konoha, do you think he and your brother Tobirama could truly coexist peacefully?"

At this, Hashirama fell silent and did not answer.

However, Madara glanced at the faintly furrowed brows of Hashirama and continued, "Second, the Kaguya Clan is on good terms with Konoha's Hyuga Clan. Even on a battlefield where they fought to the death, Takenaka Kaguya did not kill any members of the Hyuga Main Family. If he came to Konoha, do you think your brother Tobirama would be at ease? Would the other clans be at ease?"

Madara had hit the nail on the head. If it were only the first point, Hashirama could still forcibly suppress Tobirama. But on this point, even as Hokage, Hashirama had no choice but to consider the views of the other clans.

Konoha had only just been founded. Though the various clans had submitted, both Hashirama and Madara knew that none of them had truly given their hearts to the village yet. If the delicate balance among them was broken, the newly established Konohagakure might very well fall apart.

"Finally, although Takenaka Kaguya has indeed been rejected by Kirigakure, the fact that he is still willing to serve as First Mizukage Byakuren's guard shows that he still has feelings for Kirigakure.

Taking all three points into account, I don't believe Konoha has any chance of recruiting Takenaka Kaguya," Madara concluded.

Hearing this, Hashirama understood as well. Recruiting Takenaka Kaguya was simply impossible.

"Alas, what a pity. I truly admire him. He has extraordinary talent, great strength, courage, and the ability to move through the battlefield with ease. He wiped out all thirty-six squads we sent after him. If he had not revealed himself in the end, we likely would never have even caught a glimpse of him.

Most importantly, he is young. So long as nothing unexpected happens, for the next forty or fifty years, he will stand at the pinnacle of the Shinobi World.

What a pity. Konoha cannot have someone like him," Hashirama Senju said with deep regret.

Once he finished speaking, Madara looked at Hashirama with an ambiguous smile. "There's nothing to be done about that. But it doesn't matter. If, in a few years, we find that he is a threat, then when he comes to challenge us, we can simply keep him here for good."

Hearing this, Hashirama was somewhat startled and quickly asked, "Has he not given up on challenging us?"

"The strong are all steadfast. Since he said he would come challenge us, then he will certainly come.

For now, instead of thinking about how to recruit him, you should think carefully about how to control the pace of tomorrow's talks.

After all, according to your plan, Sunagakure will receive only one Tailed Beast—and only the One-Tail at that. Retto may not agree to that.

Also, you intend to have the major nations pay to purchase Tailed Beasts. Will they agree? The people attending tomorrow's talks are all the strongest experts of their respective great nations. They may fear your and my strength, but when it comes to matters of such importance, they may not truly follow your arrangements," Madara said with a smile.

There was also a hint of mockery in his eyes, as though he were waiting to see Hashirama make a fool of himself tomorrow.

"Ha ha ha, others may not know the strength of Tailed Beasts, but Madara, don't you know?

When was a Tailed Beast's strength ever determined by the number of its tails?"