Truce (Seeking Follow-ups)

Seeing this, Senju Tobirama said coldly, "Stubborn fool! Brother, there's no need to persuade him any further. Let me deal with this evil Uchiha brat today!"

With that, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique and instantly appeared behind Susanoo's head, kunai in hand, seemingly intending to stab Susanoo with it once more.

Yan controlled Susanoo, swinging its massive arm violently. A burst of furious air swept forth, mixed with countless sharp wind blades that instantly filled the sky.

Senju Tobirama flashed aside to evade the attack, then rapidly formed hand seals.

"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"

A freezing stream of water surged from his mouth and shot toward Susanoo.

Like an incomparably sharp blade, the stream sliced everything in its path cleanly in two.

Susanoo's armor rang with sharp metallic clanks beneath the water's impact.

Yan snorted coldly and controlled Susanoo to stomp down hard. The ground instantly cracked apart, and countless rocks flew into the air, hurtling toward Senju Tobirama.

Senju Tobirama's gaze sharpened as he thought, This brat really is troublesome.

He swiftly used Water Release to form a curtain of water, blocking the flying stones.

"Enough!"

Seeing that his younger brother could not even break through the opponent's defenses, Senju Hashirama frowned deeply and shouted.

"Don't you Uchiha Clan just want one of your own to become Hokage? I agree to it!"

His heart was incomparably heavy. Watching the scene of mutual slaughter before him filled him with pain.

"Brother, no!"

Senju Tobirama was sent flying back by a punch from Susanoo. His injuries rapidly healed amid the dust and sand as he roared.

"Handing Konoha over to the evil Uchiha Clan would be the true destruction of it!"

"Teacher!" Sarutobi Hiruzen wore a troubled expression. "Let's talk this out. Konoha as it is now truly cannot withstand any more chaos."

"Besides, I didn't summon you here to fight!"

"That's right, Tobirama!" Senju Hashirama agreed. "Whether the Uchiha Clan should become Hokage or not, we need to discuss it and come to a conclusion."

"If this continues, it won't do Konoha any good at all!"

Senju Tobirama panted heavily, standing in place with a kunai in hand as he could not help looking around.

Building ruins lay everywhere. Innocent villagers wept and cried out amid the rubble, their homes left devastated by this internal conflict.

A trace of hesitation flashed through Senju Tobirama's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by resolve.

"Brother, this isn't about whether I'm willing to stop. It's about whether that Uchiha brat is willing to stop!"

Senju Hashirama slapped his chest. "I'll speak to him, but you're not allowed to say another word."

Senju Tobirama snorted coldly and turned his head away.

Seeing this, Senju Hashirama, who understood his younger brother better than anyone, smiled faintly. He knew Tobirama had agreed.

He then walked before everyone and shouted at the towering Susanoo.

"Uchiha Yan, let's talk. Konoha needs peace."

Yan slightly restrained Susanoo's movements and said coldly, "You say that now—do you think I'll believe you so easily?"

Senju Hashirama slowly stepped forward without the slightest sign of caution, speaking sincerely.

"Uchiha Yan, in the name of the First Hokage, I guarantee that I will give the Uchiha Clan a fair chance. But on the condition that this conflict ends immediately!"

Yan fell silent for a moment, locked in fierce inner conflict.

Could Senju Hashirama's words be trusted?

They could, and to a great extent. But in the end, they still could not outweigh Senju Tobirama's habit of acting first and explaining later.

He turned to look behind him.

The Uchiha Flame Formation had already lost its effect during the battle just now.

While the aftershocks devastated Konoha, they had also swept away a great number of buildings within the Special Zone, leaving the place in ruins. Many clan members and villagers had suffered serious injuries as well.

Yan had poured a great deal of effort into the Uchiha Special Zone and had watched it gradually grow to its present scale.

Now that it had been reduced to such a miserable state by the battle's aftershocks, a trace of reluctance could not help but rise in his heart.

Yan gritted his teeth before finally saying slowly, "Fine. I'll trust you for the time being. But if you go back on your word, I'll make sure Konoha never knows peace again!"

"Also, once the negotiations are over, I want to fight you for real."

With that, he dispelled Susanoo and landed back on the ground.

Senju Hashirama also relaxed his tense body, nodding with a faint smile.

"Fine. A few matches will do!"

Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen hurried forward and said, "Everyone, calm down first. The major nations are watching us like tigers from outside. Once civil war breaks out, they will certainly invade."

"There's no need for this right now!"

But unexpectedly, Yan turned and left. The many clan members behind him hurriedly followed, while only a single voice drifted slowly back on the wind.

"I'll come find you tomorrow. I hope you'll have thought things through before you speak then!"

Watching Uchiha Yan's departing back, Senju Hashirama let out a soft sigh.

Konoha's atmosphere was still heavy, but at least the flames of war had temporarily died down.

"Everyone, rest where you are for now. Treat the wounded and tally the losses!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen continued issuing orders to the Anbu ninjas around him.

Though the First and Second Hokage were both present, he was still Konoha's current Hokage. His words still carried weight.

The next day.

Inside the Hokage Building, four figures sat in a conference room.

After talking through the night, Senju Tobirama had finally learned just how badly Konoha had declined.

If Senju Hashirama had not stopped him, he truly would have beaten Sarutobi Hiruzen to death!

"Go on. What did you discuss yesterday?"

Yan sat in his chair with one leg crossed over the other.

Seeing how flippant he looked, as though he did not take today's meeting seriously at all, the anger already simmering within Senju Tobirama rose once more.

"Your Uchiha Clan wants the Hokage position? Fine! But not now!"

The corners of Yan's lips slowly curled upward, a chill flashing through his eyes. "So you were just playing me yesterday?"

As he spoke, he prepared to rise and leave.

Seeing this, Senju Hashirama hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

"Tobirama, didn't I tell you to watch your attitude?"

Senju Tobirama incredulously pointed at himself, then at Yan, who was looking at him sideways.

"Whose attitude is bad here, exactly?!"

"Stop talking!" Senju Hashirama turned to Yan with a simple, silly grin.

"That's not what Tobirama meant."

"But the Fourth Hokage only passed away recently, and he died because of the Nine-Tails that was controlled by the Sharingan. With all the major nations watching us like tigers from outside, this really isn't a good time."

Yan sneered when he heard that. "My Uchiha Clan can't shake the blame for the Nine-Tails. I admit that."

"But when you say the major nations are watching us like tigers, are you serious?"

As he spoke, Yan swept a finger around the people in the room.

"With the four of us here acting together, which major ninja village couldn't we wipe out?"

"Or Sarutobi Hiruzen could make a Reanimation Army and directly unify the Ninja World. Wouldn't that bring peace?"

"No!" Senju Hashirama immediately objected, his gaze resolute. "Your idea is far too extreme."

"Killing people and destroying nations will only make hatred grow stronger! If we want peace, we ultimately need sincerity and love!"

Bro, are you okay?

Yan turned toward Senju Tobirama with a baffled look. "Has your brother's brain always been like this? He's such a grown man, yet he still hasn't accepted reality!"