Takenaka Kaguya: I Didn't Have a Dream as Great as Yours (Second Update—Support Requested)

"I knew you hadn't told Madara, but, Takenaka, if possible, I hoped you could tell me."

In the study of Hashirama Senju's home in Konohagakure.

Before Takenaka Kaguya could finish speaking, Hashirama Senju feared he still would not get an answer from him. He immediately braced both hands against the tea table and heavily lowered his head onto it.

Takenaka Kaguya was shaken by the sight.

He knew that, to Hashirama Senju, peace was more important than his own dignity. Otherwise, when the Five Kage Summit had reached an impasse, he would not have bowed his head before the other four Kage.

"Sigh!"

Takenaka Kaguya could not help sighing before slowly saying, "Hokage, please raise your head."

Hearing that, Hashirama Senju lifted his head and looked at Takenaka Kaguya with eager eyes.

That yearning gaze was sincere and powerful, making it truly difficult to refuse.

"Please!"

"Sigh, fine. I didn't tell Madara my true thoughts yesterday because of his personality.

Likewise, I hadn't planned to tell you either, because for you, Hokage, it simply would have been impossible to succeed."

Across from him, Hashirama Senju was somewhat bewildered, but he understood the meaning behind Takenaka Kaguya's words and asked, "Takenaka, do you mean you didn't tell Madara because he could do it, while you don't want to tell me because I can't?"

"Correct. That's exactly what I mean," Takenaka Kaguya nodded.

"No way. Madara's strength may be formidable, but compared to mine, he should still be a little weaker.

Why did you think he could do it while I couldn't?" Hashirama Senju asked in confusion.

"Because he was more ruthless than you. Hokage, you respected life. With your personality, if not for the fact that too many people had died during the Sengoku era, perhaps you and Madara would not have joined forces to end this chaotic age.

But if true peace was to be achieved according to my idea, even more people would die. At the very least, before genuine peace arrived, the number of dead would not be much lower than during the Sengoku era.

And you, Hokage, were kind and gentle by nature. You could not bring yourself to make such a decision. Madara might have been a little weaker than you, but his strength was sufficient, and his heart was far more ruthless than yours.

That was why I didn't tell him my true thoughts. Likewise, I didn't want to tell you because I believed you couldn't do it." Takenaka Kaguya explained the consequences as he revealed his thoughts to Hashirama Senju.

After hearing him out, Hashirama Senju fell silent. His brows furrowed again and again. When he finally came back to himself, he looked at Takenaka Kaguya with a resolute expression.

"Please. Even if you don't believe I can do it, Takenaka, I still want to know your idea."

"Unification!"

When those two words left Takenaka Kaguya's mouth, even the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, underwent a drastic change in expression.

Takenaka Kaguya took in Hashirama Senju's expression and grinned. "Hokage, you look surprised. If it were Madara, then even if he were surprised, as long as it could truly achieve his goal, he would do it without hesitation, even if it meant killing everyone in the world.

And although you were somewhat stronger than him, Hokage, you had too many concerns—especially because once the Unification War began, countless people would die."

"Whew... whew... whew..."

Hashirama Senju said nothing. As he pondered it, his breathing became extremely rapid. At that moment, he was like a dragon on the verge of losing its mind, his reason being consumed bit by bit by Takenaka Kaguya's answer.

Takenaka Kaguya said nothing either, merely watching quietly.

After a long while, Chakra suddenly erupted from Hashirama Senju's body. In an instant, the powerful Chakra turned the entire study into something like a tornado had swept through it.

Bang!

A pale, delicate fist suddenly struck Hashirama Senju on the head, followed by Mito Uzumaki's roar. "Hashirama, are you trying to tear our house apart?"

"Ah, sorry, sorry, Mito. I didn't mean to."

Hashirama Senju immediately clutched his head and begged for mercy, while his erupted Chakra swiftly receded like flowing water.

"Hmph. Weren't you talking with Takenaka? Why did you suddenly erupt?" Mito Uzumaki asked Hashirama Senju angrily, unable to understand.

"Hahaha, hahaha, it's nothing, it's nothing. Mito, go make dinner first. I need to talk with Takenaka a little longer." Hashirama Senju laughed as he coaxed Mito Uzumaki out and hurriedly shut the study door.

"Whew!"

Seeing Hashirama Senju's relieved appearance, Takenaka Kaguya, who had not been affected by his Chakra at all, could not help laughing as well.

He had not expected the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, to be the same as the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato—a man afraid of his wife.

That did fit the occasional idiotic side of his personality.

Suddenly, Hashirama Senju lost the lingering fear on his face, replaced by a grave expression. After returning to sit before Takenaka Kaguya, he spoke seriously.

"Takenaka, your idea is very dangerous. But I understand why you were unwilling to tell Madara, yet also didn't want to tell me.

Indeed, based on my understanding of Madara, if he knew your idea could truly bring peace to the Shinobi World, there was an eighty percent chance he would do it."

"Heh, not eighty percent, but one hundred percent.

Though I haven't spent long with him, I'm confident these eyes of mine don't misjudge people." Takenaka Kaguya smiled smugly.

"Takenaka, what about you? If it were you, would you do it?"

Hashirama Senju suddenly looked at Takenaka Kaguya and asked him that question.

"Me?"

Takenaka Kaguya first showed confusion in his eyes, then nodded before shaking his head and continuing.

"I probably wouldn't do it.

You and Madara both had ideals. You both hoped the Shinobi World could truly welcome peace.

And you had both already taken action for it. But I was different. Whether the Shinobi World had peace or war, I didn't have a dream as great as yours.

All I wanted was to protect those I loved, and those who loved me, from harm. Beyond that, I wanted to become truly strong and see the view from the summit. That was all."