The Uchiha Clan's Affection +10

"What? We're not fighting anymore? The Uchiha Clan killed my older brother. I have to avenge him."

"That's right! The Uchiha Clan killed so many of our loved ones. How can we just give up? I'll kill every last one of them to vent my rage."

"I disagree. I refuse to give up fighting the Uchiha Clan."

"I think it's a good idea! Our clans have been fighting for so long. It's about time we took a break, isn't it? I want to live in peace, too. I don't want my children to have to live the way we have."

"I agree, too. Our generation has suffered enough. There's no need to make the children suffer as well."

"I disagree! I disagree...!"

At Senju Fujima's words, the thousands of people below erupted into an uproar, voicing all kinds of opinions and shouting over one another.

"Ding! A difficult situation has been detected. The God Selection System has appeared. The available choices are as follows."

[Option One: Make an example of a few dissenting clan members by killing them outright, achieving your goal. After all, killing a few to warn the many is one of the usual methods used by those in power. Mission reward: Expulsion from the Senju Clan.]

[Option Two: Let things run their course and allow the minority to submit to the majority. After all, when faced with a major disagreement, having the minority submit to the majority is a sensible approach. Mission reward: The Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan will fight to the death.]

[Option Three: Skillfully address the reasons the clan members refuse to agree, and convince everyone to unite in making peace. This is up to you, Host. I believe in you. Do your best! Mission reward: The Uchiha Clan's affection +10.]

A screen appeared in front of Senju Fujima. After reading the information on it, he wasn't surprised at all. After all, this system was just there to trick people.

"I said, quiet down! I'm letting you choose, not telling you to make a racket."

"Now, make your choice. Those in favor, line up on the left. Those against, stand on the right."

Senju Fujima roared at the crowd, and an invisible aura of authority pressed down on them.

This was the suppressive power of bloodlines. A person with a powerful bloodline could completely suppress those with weaker bloodlines—though this only happened between members of the same clan.

At Senju Fujima's words, everyone quieted down and began to make their choices.

The Senju Clan had only a little over 3,800 people, including the elderly, women, and children. They split into two orderly lines.

Most of those in favor had several children at home. Most of those against had only a few family members left; nearly all their loved ones had been killed, leaving them with nothing but hatred for the Uchiha Clan.

When the votes were tallied, the majority agreed to a ceasefire. After all, many of them had children—more than 2,500 people in total.

Fewer than 1,300 opposed it, which was still a considerable number.

"All right, I have a general idea now."

"You disagree, is that it? I understand. Many of your brothers and sisters died in the fighting."

"But look around you now. Do you still have any brothers or sisters alive? What about your parents, wives, and children?"

"If you die on the battlefield, what will happen to them? Will they keep fighting to avenge you?"

"Think about it. Why were our brothers and sisters killed? Why?"

"It's because there was a war. The war took their lives, not the Uchiha Clan."

"They killed many of our brothers and sisters, but didn't we kill many of theirs as well?"

"Put yourselves in their shoes and think carefully: should we keep fighting, or make peace?"

"I personally prefer peace. I hope every child can live comfortably and happily as they grow up. The choice is yours now."

To complete the mission, Senju Fujima had no choice but to do everything he could to persuade them to let go of their resentment.

"But..."

"The young clan leader isn't wrong, but I still feel like something's off."

"I think the young clan leader is right! We keep fighting, and people keep dying. We've lost people, and the Uchiha Clan has, too. I've dreamed of living in peace for a long time, but anger always clouded my judgment."

"Alas... If only my younger brother had lived to see this day."

"You're telling me! If my older brother were still alive to hear that we were going to stop fighting, there'd be more than one man left in my family."

Senju Fujima's words had some effect on the clan members. Many gradually began to think about the real cause of their suffering, and in the end, they decided that their young clan leader made a good point.

More than a thousand people left the opposing line, leaving only a little over a hundred against the proposal.

"So many people have chosen to give up. What am I still doing here?"

Many others had been thinking the same thing. They'd been too embarrassed to join the line in favor, but seeing so many of their fellow clan members go over made them reconsider. One after another, they joined the line supporting peace.

After all, no one disliked peace. They'd long been hoping for it. If they could truly live without war, that would be the best outcome.

After a quarter of an hour, only a dozen or so people remained in the opposing line. Their hatred for the Uchiha Clan was clearly still strong.

"What are you dozen or so thinking? Speak up."

"Nearly everyone in the clan has chosen peace. Why can't you?"

"Once we make peace, you and your families can live in safety. Isn't that a good thing?"

Seeing the last dozen or so hardliners, Senju Fujima hurried over and questioned them in person.

"Young clan leader, my father, older brother, and younger brother all died in battle. I'm the only one left in my family. I just can't let go of my deep-seated hatred for the Uchiha Clan."

A Senju Clan member gritted his teeth as he spoke. Just thinking about the Uchiha Clan made him furious.

The other dozen or so nodded in agreement. Clearly, they all felt much the same way and shared this belief.

"Alas..."

"Although I feel for you, you should also think about your future. You'll have a family of your own one day. You're the only one left in your family now. Can't you leave a few children behind for your family?"

"If you die, your entire family will disappear. Do you understand?"

Senju Fujima looked at the remaining dozen or so and let out a long sigh before speaking.

"Think about it again. Nearly everyone in the clan has already agreed to choose peace. We need peace. We don't want to keep fighting."

"So ask yourselves: can you let go of your hatred? We can build a village for all of us, a place where our families and children can live."

"We can also build a Ninja Academy, where the children can grow up happily without being sent to the battlefield from a young age."

"We can assign missions according to their abilities, so they only take on missions they're capable of. Then we won't have large-scale wars and casualties like this again. Wouldn't that be better?"

Seeing that the remaining dozen or so were beginning to waver, Senju Fujima hurried to press his advantage and spoke to them.

"That's right! If I die, my family will be gone for good. If the world can be at peace, that really is the best choice. Isn't that the kind of peace I'd always hoped for?"

At last, after Senju Fujima's persuasion, all of the hardliners agreed to choose peace.

"Ding! The Host has made the successful choice and completed the mission. Reward received: The Uchiha Clan's affection +10."

When the system's notification sounded, Senju Fujima finally breathed a sigh of relief. He'd completed the mission.

"Good. Now that everyone has made their choice, you can all go. Before long, we'll welcome peace."

Senju Fujima then dismissed the clan members and went back into the meeting hall.

The elders and Hashirama Senju in the meeting hall had already learned the outcome of Senju Fujima's efforts.

"Hahaha, excellent! Since everyone agrees, we'll arrange a time to talk with the Uchiha Clan, just as we promised."

"Soon, the entire Ninja World will be free of war and know only peace."

Hashirama Senju looked at the elders and laughed heartily.

"But, Clan Leader, the Uchiha Clan has sent us a challenge. We're supposed to go to war tomorrow. Do we still have time?"

The First Elder looked at Hashirama Senju and asked worriedly.

Several clan members had agreed. There was nothing they could do about it now. They had to stand by their word and follow through.

"Yes. We'll still go to the battlefield tomorrow, but you'll all stay behind. Tobirama, Fujima, and I will go."

"This time, I'll make sure we achieve peace. I don't want any more members of the Senju Clan to die because of war."

Hashirama Senju looked at the First Elder and gave him a reassuring glance. He planned to go negotiate with Madara Uchiha with just Tobirama and Fujima. He wasn't sure how things would turn out.

But he believed that Madara Uchiha still had a kind heart.

"All right. We'll follow your arrangements, Clan Leader."

"Fine. We'll discuss it tomorrow."

"We have no choice. Let's hope we can reach an agreement."

Seeing that all the clan members longed for peace had given the elders the same idea.

The meeting soon ended, and the elders all left. Only Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Senju Fujima remained in the meeting room.

"You did well, kid. You really know what your old man is thinking."

Once everyone had left, Hashirama Senju reached out and ruffled Senju Fujima's hair, laughing heartily.

"Heh! They say no one knows a father like his son."

Senju Fujima grinned at Hashirama Senju.

"Tobirama, what's wrong? You look unhappy."

"I know you hate the Uchiha Clan, but peace is the general trend. We can't send everyone into battle just because of you."

"As for what happened to Shizuka... sigh!"

Seeing Tobirama Senju's gloomy expression, Hashirama Senju hurried over to comfort him. But when he thought of Shizuka Sarutobi, he could only sigh helplessly.