Showdown

"When had a Tailed Beast's strength ever been determined solely by the number of tails it had?"

Konohagakure, Hokage Office.

Hashirama shot his friend an irritated look. Madara was deliberately making things difficult for him.

"Hahaha."

Seeing Hashirama like that, Madara burst out laughing.

He was only joking, of course. Hashirama wanted to use an even distribution of the Tailed Beasts to make the major countries balance and fear one another, thereby achieving peace in the Shinobi World.

For that, they needed to distribute them according to their true strength.

Among the Tailed Beasts, the Nine-Tails was the strongest, followed by the Eight-Tails. But after that, it was less certain. The One-Tail in the desert, in particular, had taken them considerable effort to capture.

In truth, just as ninja needed the right environment to fight, Tailed Beasts did as well. If they fought in the desert, even the Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails would find it extremely difficult to defeat the One-Tail. After all, the desert was the One-Tail's home ground.

It was like a ninja skilled in Water Release Ninjutsu—the strength they could wield by the sea and in the desert was not the same.

Therefore, according to Hashirama's plan, Sunagakure would receive the One-Tail; Kumogakure would receive the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails; Kirigakure would receive the Three-Tails and Six-Tails; and Iwagakure would receive the Four-Tails and Five-Tails.

As for the Seven-Tails, Hashirama Senju had originally intended to give it to Sunagakure. But considering that Takigakure of the Land of Takigakure was situated between major nations and had the best relationship with Konoha, Hashirama had long decided to give the Seven-Tails directly to Takigakure.

Thinking of this, Madara saw Hashirama's somewhat gloomy expression and stopped laughing. He immediately said, "I agree with your Tailed Beast Distribution Plan. I originally used the distribution of the Tailed Beasts to tempt Takenaka Kaguya, saying I could lend him a hand.

"But he refused. Since that's the case, forget it. We'll follow your arrangements.

"Also, do you need me there tomorrow? If those people think you're good-tempered and easy to bully, I can teach them a lesson for you."

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Hashirama's face again. Of course, he knew Madara did not think he could not handle the others. Madara simply felt it would be inappropriate for the First Hokage himself to act. If they truly encountered any troublemakers, Madara could easily suppress them.

Though pleased, Hashirama thought to himself, With Madara there, the others won't dare act out. But with his temper, if there really is some hardheaded fool, it'll be troublesome if he makes a move.

At that thought, Hashirama shook his head and smiled. "No need. Get some proper rest these next few days. With me here, nothing major will happen.

"Besides, Tobirama has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. He definitely won't let me suffer a loss."

After he spoke, Madara nodded. He believed that much. Even he could not defeat Hashirama, so the others were even less likely to be a match for him.

Konoha's streets were still bustling at night. Perhaps because the war had just ended and the peace everyone had longed for had finally arrived, people were staying up later than usual.

Yet as Takenaka watched the lights outside, an unfamiliar feeling seemed to stir in his heart.

Ever since speaking with Madara Uchiha by the river today, Takenaka had been completely lost. He did not know what his purpose in this world was.

Or rather, from the very beginning, he had never set any goals for his life. That was why he found himself wondering what he could do after defeating Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju.

"Phew!"

After letting out a heavy breath, he was about to close the window and go to sleep when someone suddenly knocked on his door.

Takenaka walked over and opened it. He saw the First Mizukage, Byakuren, standing outside. Smiling, he said, "Takenaka, you're still awake? Care to keep this old man company for a chat?"

Hearing that, Takenaka stepped aside to let him in. After Byakuren entered and Takenaka personally poured him a cup of tea, he looked at Byakuren and asked with a smile, "Why hasn't Lord Byakuren rested yet at such a late hour?"

"Hehe, when one gets old, one needs less sleep. I couldn't sleep. I saw that the light in your room was still on, so I thought I'd come over and chat with you." Byakuren chuckled kindly, then slowly took a sip from his teacup.

Takenaka merely smiled at Byakuren without saying anything.

After a moment, Byakuren looked at the calm expression on Takenaka's face and could not help but sigh. "Takenaka, this old man and the village have wronged you."

At those words, Takenaka shook his head and said calmly, "Lord Byakuren, it's all in the past. Let the past remain in the past. There's no use talking about it.

"Whether I was wronged or not no longer matters. Things are fine as they are now. The village is the village, and I am me. We can coexist peacefully in our daily lives.

"If the village needs me for anything, just say the word. After all, no matter what, I am a ninja who came from Kirigakure."

Byakuren could not help sighing inwardly when he heard this. Of course, he knew the young man before him had been wronged, and that he had become rather disheartened with the village because of it.

And frankly speaking, Byakuren knew all about the wrongs the village had inflicted upon him. Though he had not personally ordered anyone to do it, it had been within his expectations.

"Takenaka, I'm sorry. This old man has failed you. If you must hate someone, do not hate anyone else. Hate this old man instead.

"At my age, as the old saying goes, I already have one foot in the grave. I do not have many years left to live.

"Rest properly on Half-Moon Island for the next two years. When a couple of years have passed, return to the village. At that time, this old man will personally give you a satisfactory explanation!" Byakuren said gently, his eyes full of guilt.

However, Takenaka did not take those words seriously. It was not as if he knew nothing; otherwise, he would not have gone to Byakuren for the list of those who had persecuted him.

Byakuren had ultimately agreed. Otherwise, Takenaka suspected he would have become Kirigakure's first defector before the village had even been established.

"Lord Byakuren, you flatter me. Some things cannot be made up for, so maintaining the current state is good enough.

"Besides, I know what you are worried about, and I can see Lord Hozuki Gengetsu's wariness toward me. But you can both rest completely assured—I truly have no interest in the position of Mizukage.

"However, some things can happen once, but not twice. Kirigakure has only just been established and needs to get through this period in peace and stability, so I endured it.

"But that does not mean that if something like that happens again, I will still be able to endure it."

At this point, Takenaka toyed with the teacup in his hand. Then he continued with a smile, "You may take this as a threat, or you may not. But you should understand that if I wish to do something, no one in the village will be able to stop me."

As his words fell, Byakuren's expression changed slightly. Then he shook his head with a bitter smile.

If anyone else had dared speak to him like that, he might have made them understand the dignity of the Mizukage.

But the young man before him made him deeply wary. Takenaka was only young; if he had been another seven or eight years older, then even though Byakuren had saved the Daimyo of the Land of Water's life, he might not have secured the position of First Mizukage.

"Alright, Takenaka. Rest assured, once I return, this old man will keep Gengetsu in line.

"It's getting late, and there is still the meeting tomorrow. This old man will take his leave first."