Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered for a moment. His mindset was no longer that of a naive young man. He was more inclined towards peace. If it weren't for his teacher Senju Tobirama specifically choosing him and Shimura Danzō to be the vanguard in this battle against Kirigakure, he wouldn't have even wanted to come.
"Teacher, I think this matter is only Hidan's problem in Hidan Yugakure. There's no need to provoke a conflict between the two villages. Besides, Yugakure is just a small village. I believe that peace should be the priority, and we should deal with the ringleader and appease him."
"How could our great village of Konoha stoop to their level? Wouldn't that make us a laughingstock to the world?" Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a smile. From this, we can see that Sarutobi Hiruzen is a man of principle, and he cares about his reputation.
Senju Tobirama gave him a deep look. To be honest, he was a little disappointed. The Sarutobi Hiruzen the retreat, the Sarutobi Hiruzen who was not afraid of death, the Sarutobi Hiruzen who was willing to sacrifice everything for Konoha.
As time passed, not only did his appearance age, but his ideals and courage almost disappeared completely. Fortunately, he had persuaded Sarutobi Hiruzen to abdicate beforehand.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen were still in power, the Konoha ninja clans would probably be extremely dissatisfied. They've already come to their doorstep, and even if it's just because of one person, it has indeed caused losses to Konoha.
They're already shitting on your face, are you going to put up with it? What was the point of your brother's original intention in establishing Konoha? Should Konoha like this continue to exist?
Furthermore, Senju Tobirama found that Sarutobi Hiruzen was a bit too dignified, and many of his advice made him feel nauseous, such as the idea that after conquering Kirigakure, they should cooperate sincerely with the various ninja clans.
Giving the ninja clan some benefits is perfectly reasonable. It will make governing Kirigakure together with the ninja clan easier and more convenient in the future.
As ninjas from a major village, Konoha Ninja should avoid conflict with Kirigakure ninjas to demonstrate the dignity of their village! If Senju Tobirama hadn't considered that Sarutobi Hiruzen was old, he would have wanted to hang him up and beat him to a pulp!
For the sake of your so-called face, you're humiliating the people of Konoha. What were you thinking? You're all smiles and obsequious to outsiders, trying to appear benevolent, but internally you're strict with the law and strike hard.
Well, are you one of us or a spy sent by the other side? If it weren't for the fact that Sarutobi Hiruzen's father Sarutobi Sasuke, used the First Hokage Senju Hashirama's secret technique, making Sarutobi Hiruzen's identity seem legitimate...
Senju Tobirama even considered treating Sarutobi Hiruzen as an Uchiha —oh, no, the former Uchiha! The current Uchiha, under the leadership of Uchiha Kō, is doing fairly well.
Although they cannot compare to the Senju Clan, they are still a cultured, profound, and sophisticated ninja clan!
Senju Tobirama hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's reply, Tobirama Senju didn't rush to speak. Instead, he turned to Shimura Danzō and asked, "Danzo, tell me, if it were you, how would you handle Hidan's situation in Land of Rivers, the Yugakure in the Hidan?"
Shimura Danzō his eyes, releasing an undisguised killing intent from his body. Sarutobi Hiruzen, about to speak and say that Danzo somewhat rude, Senju Tobirama glared at him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had no choice but to shut up, looking down at his toes, his ears perked up, ready to hear his old friend's opinion, which he guessed was probably similar to his own!
Shimura Danzō, "Looking back on nearly a thousand years of Ninja World history, I've only come to understand one word: Kill!" Upon hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen pale. He looked up at Shimura Danzō as if he were only meeting him today!
"What? Danzo! Do you know what you're saying? Kill? The other people in the Land of Rivers are innocent! They are living, breathing human beings! Are you going to indiscriminately kill innocent people?! When did you become so twisted?"
Shimura Danzō a chill Sarutobi Hiruzen with a gloomy gaze, gave him a thumbs-up, and said sarcastically, "You think you're so great? You think you're so high and mighty? Now you can insult me!"
"So what if I curse you! I don't want my friend, my dearest friend, to become a demon who only knows how to kill. I don't want you to be nailed to the pillar of shame in the history of the Ninja World!" Sarutobi Hiruzen's face turned red as he argued, and his body even began to tremble. He gritted his teeth and looked at Danzo.
Shimura Danzō shoved Sarutobi Hiruzen, now burning with rage and no longer caring that his teacher was present. He immediately launched into a tirade. "Do you even know what you just said?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent, but the fury in his eyes sent shivers down one's spine.
"Appeasement is the primary approach? He killed someone in the streets of Konoha without any scruples, disregarding Konoha 'Konoha laws and dignity, and all you offer is appeasement!"
"Are you trying to break the hearts of the Konoha ninja clan? How arrogant you are! For your empty fame, for people to sing your praises, you disregard the interests and dignity of Konoha!"
"If you had used even half the same amount of courage you showed me against the other villages, you wouldn't have been abandoned by the ninja clans, and you wouldn't have had to abdicate in such a sorry state!" Shimura Danzō's words were like a knife, piercing straight into Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart.
"Enough, Danzo, I am the one who..." Sarutobi Hiruzen paused halfway through his sentence. Even after retiring for many years, he still couldn't shake off the old Hokage's mannerisms.
"What are you? Why aren't you saying anything? Sarutobi Clan, face reality! You're no longer the Hokage!" Shimura Danzō didn't care about Sarutobi Hiruzen's feelings and said this directly.
Senju Tobirama remained silent, looking at Shimura Danzō with a bewildered expression. He began to doubt whether he had truly made a mistake, whether he had really chosen the wrong person! Now, Shimura Danzō 'Shimura Danzō thoughts and words were exactly what a qualified leader should have.
Enraged, Sarutobi Hiruzen slapped Shimura Danzō across the face. The loud sound filled the entire office. Senju Tobirama frowned, looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen with anger in his eyes.
Shimura Danzō was also stunned, then he sneered, "Heh heh, hahahaha, Sarutobi Clan, are you getting angry?" Shimura Danzō spat out a mouthful of blood.
"The master entrusted Konoha to you so that you could lead Konoha to prosperity and strength. If it weren't for Uchiha Kō's sudden emergence, turning the tide and saving the collapsing edifice, Konoha would probably be paying the price for your so-called empty fame!"
"If you lose, you have to pay compensation; if you win, you have to give money to help them uphold their reputation for benevolence. How naive you are, Sarutobi Clan!" This address of "Lord" signified that Shimura Danzō and Sarutobi Hiruzen had broken ties and were no longer brothers.
Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally understood the meaning of those words. He staggered backward and sat down on the ground.
"Do you think that if you give them money, they will appreciate it? Do you think that just because you don't want war, they also don't want war? Konoha and the Land of Fire are like a piece of fat meat, possessing countless Kekkei Genkai and countless resources."
"Do you think they wouldn't want to attack the Land of Fire, annex Konoha, or plunder our Konoha's Kekkei Genkai?" Shimura Danzō was now going all out.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was grim, but he couldn't refute it, because Shimura Danzō was right. Even though he no longer had the fighting spirit he once had, from an objective point of view, everything Danzo said was true.
"If Konoha wants to become prosperous and powerful, and if it wants other countries to fear it, it must not cede an inch of its territory, it must not give up an inch of its resources, and it must always seek revenge, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth! Only in this way can it achieve lasting peace and stability!"
"Not for so-called empty fame, so-called benevolence and righteousness!" Shimura Danzō roared! His voice carried through the Mizukage's Office, making the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist tremble.
They looked solemnly towards the Mizukage's Office! Deep down, they agreed with Shimura Danzō's words. Although they were enemies, they all knew that this was how a village could become strong!
The current situation speaks for itself: the name Uchiha Kō is known throughout the Ninja World! And Sarutobi Hiruzen? Mentioning him might elicit a response like, "Oh! He's the Third of Konoha!" And then nothing more.
Looking at his two disciples who were at each other's Senju Tobirama sighed inwardly and said loudly, "Alright, Danzo, calm down."
Shimura Danzō aback. This was the first time his teacher had ever told him to calm down. In the past, when he and Sarutobi Hiruzen disagreed, his teacher always considered Sarutobi Hiruzen's feelings, not his own!
"Teacher, I..." Shimura Danzō hesitated, Senju Tobirama waved his hand and then looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen. Sarutobi Hiruzen, and said, "Teacher."
"Hiruzen, I don't know what you've been through. I did entrust Konoha to you because you were there to cover our retreat, but do you know what I valued in you?" Senju Tobirama voice.
"Faced with danger, step forward bravely and dare to fight the enemy to the death."
"Even knowing certain death is inevitable when facing adversity, we must leave hope for our teammates."
"Fearless of sacrifice, willing to die for the village."
"I vaguely remember how dashing and reliable you were back then, but look at you now!" Senju Tobirama's face was filled with disappointment.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face stiffened upon hearing this. He lowered his head, gritted his teeth, and remained silent.
"Time is indeed a cruel knife; it changes people so much. The reason I'm asking you questions today is because I already have the answers in my heart, and I want to test you."
"Hiruzen, your heart is gone. That heart that devoted itself to Konoha has been eroded by time, turning into decency and benevolence."
"But Danzo has matured more and more over the years. When faced with enemies who have offended Konoha, what we must do is kill them! Not feign compliance and compromise. Compromise will only embolden the enemy!" Senju Tobirama's words settled the matter!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was ashen; he began to doubt whether he had truly changed. Shimura Danzō expressionless, glancing at Sarutobi Hiruzen of his eye, his eyes filled with disappointment.
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