Uchiha Clan's Favorability +10

"What? We're not fighting anymore? The Uchiha Clan killed my brother; I must have my revenge."

"That's right, the Uchiha Clan has killed so many of our loved ones, how can we just give up? I must kill them all to vent the hatred in my heart."

"I disagree, I refuse to give up the fight against the Uchiha Clan."

"I think it's a good idea! Our two clans have been fighting for so long, it's time to take a break, isn't it? I want to live a stable life, too. I don't want my children to grow up living the way we have."

"I agree as well. Our generation has suffered enough; there's no need to let our children endure the same torment."

"I disagree, I disagree...!"

Because of these words from Senju Fujima, the thousands of people below instantly erupted into chaos, arguing, debating, and shouting loudly.

"Ding, host's dilemma detected. God Selection System activated. Task options are as follows."

[Option 1: Kill the chicken to warn the monkey. Execute a few dissenting clansmen to achieve your goal. After all, killing the chicken to warn the monkey is a common tactic for those in power. Task completion reward: Expulsion from the Senju Clan.]

[Option 2: Let the situation unfold and let the minority follow the majority. After all, when faced with great disagreement, letting the minority follow the majority is a very wise approach. Task completion reward: The Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan will fight to the death.]

[Option 3: Skillfully resolve the reasons for the clansmen's reluctance, and convince everyone to unite for peace. This will require your own effort, host. I believe in you, keep it up. Task completion reward: Uchiha Clan favor +10.]

A screen instantly appeared before Senju Fujima. Seeing the information on it, he was already unfazed; after all, this system was just a tool for deception.

"I said, silence! I gave you a choice, not permission to bicker."

"Start choosing now. Those who agree, stand on the left; those who do not, stand on the right."

Senju Fujima roared at the crowd, an invisible aura of authority pressing down upon them.

This was the suppression of bloodlines. The strength of one's bloodline can completely suppress inferior ones—though, of course, this only occurs among members of the same clan.

Hearing Senju Fujima's words, everyone quieted down and began to make their choice.

Including the elderly, women, and children, the Senju Clan numbered just over three thousand eight hundred, and they began to line up accordingly.

On the side that chose to agree, most were clansmen with many children at home, while those who chose to refuse were mostly people with few relatives left; their families had been nearly wiped out, leaving them with nothing but hatred for the Uchiha Clan.

The final tally showed that those who agreed to the ceasefire were in the majority—mostly those with many children—totaling over two thousand five hundred people.

Those who refused numbered less than one thousand three hundred, which was still a significant amount!

"Alright, I have a general idea now."

"You disagree, is that right? I know, many of your brothers and sisters died in the chaos of war."

"But look around you now. Do you still have surviving brothers and sisters? Parents, wives, or children?"

"If you die on the battlefield, what will happen to them? Will they just continue to seek revenge for you?"

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

"It is because of war. War took their lives, not the Uchiha Clan."

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

"Put yourself in their shoes. Think carefully about whether we should fight or make peace."

"I personally prefer peace. I hope all children can live in stability and grow up happily. The rest is up to you."

To complete the task, Senju Fujima had to do his utmost to persuade them to let go of the resentment in their hearts.

"This?"

"The Young Clan Leader isn't wrong, but I still feel like something is off."

"I think the Young Clan Leader is right! We keep fighting, which is why there is death. We have deaths, and the Uchiha Clan has deaths, too. I've dreamed of a peaceful life for a long time, but I've always been blinded by anger."

"Sigh...! If only my younger brother could have lived to see this day."

"Who's to say otherwise! If my older brother could have lived until this moment of ceasefire, our family wouldn't be down to just me as the only male left."

Senju Fujima's words had a certain effect on many clansmen. Many began to reflect on the reasons, eventually feeling that what their Young Clan Leader said made quite a bit of sense.

In the end, over a thousand people stepped out of the group of one thousand three hundred, leaving only a little over a hundred in the opposing line.

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

Many others held this same thought. Before, they were embarrassed to move to the side of agreement, but seeing so many clansmen move over, they felt a shift in their hearts and began to join the side of agreement.

After all, no one dislikes peace. They had been longing for it for a long time. If they could truly have peace without the chaos of war, that would be for the best.

A quarter of an hour passed, and only a dozen or so people remained in the opposing line. It seemed their hatred for the Uchiha Clan was still very deep.

"You dozen or so, what are your thoughts? Speak up."

"Almost all the clansmen have chosen peace now. Why can't you dozen choose the same?"

"Wouldn't it be better if you and your families could live in peace after this?"

Seeing the final dozen holdouts, Senju Fujima walked down and asked them personally.

"Young Clan Leader, my father, older brother, and younger brother all died in battle. I am the only one left in my family. I simply cannot let go of the deep-seated hatred I have for the Uchiha Clan."

A member of the Senju Clan gritted his teeth, his heart filled with resentment at the mere thought of the Uchiha Clan.

The dozen or so others nodded in succession, their sentiments clearly aligned as they found common ground in this perspective.

"Sigh...!"

"While I sympathize with you all, you must also consider the future. You will have families of your own, and you are the only remaining sprouts of your households. Can you not leave behind children for your families?"

"If even you die, then your family line will vanish completely. Do you understand?"

Senju Fujima looked at the remaining dozen men and let out a long, weary sigh before speaking.

"Think about it again. Almost all of our clansmen have already agreed to choose peace. We need peace; we do not want to fight anymore."

"So, consider whether you can set aside your hatred. We could build a village that belongs to us all, where our own families and children can live."

"We could even build a ninja academy, allowing children to grow up happily within it, without being sent to the battlefield from a young age."

"We could also assign missions based on their strength, letting them accept tasks suited to their abilities. There would never again be such large-scale warfare and casualties. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Seeing that the dozen or so men were beginning to waver, Senju Fujima struck while the iron was hot, looking at them intently.

"That's true! If I die, my family line really will be broken. If the world could be at peace, that would truly be a great choice. Isn't that the very peace I once longed for?"

Finally, under the persuasion of Senju Fujima, these few stubborn holdouts all agreed to choose peace.

Ding! Host's choice successful. Task completed. Reward: Uchiha Clan favor +10.

When the system notification sounded, Senju Fujima finally breathed a sigh of relief; he had managed to complete this mission.

"Very good. Since everyone has made their choice, let us disperse for now! Soon, we will welcome peace."

With that, Senju Fujima dismissed the clansmen and walked back into the meeting hall.

The elders and Hashirama Senju inside the meeting hall were already aware of the outcome of Senju Fujima's efforts.

"Hahaha, excellent! Since everyone has agreed, we shall follow our agreement and find a time to speak with the Uchiha Clan."

"By then, there will be no more war in the ninja world, only peace."

Hashirama Senju looked at the elders and laughed heartily.

"However, Clan Leader, the Uchiha Clan has already issued a challenge. We are set to go to war tomorrow. Is there still time for us to change course?"

The Great Elder looked at Hashirama Senju, asking with a hint of worry.

The clansmen had all agreed, and there was nothing more to be done. They were men of their word; since they had spoken, they would naturally follow through.

"Hmm, we will still head to the battlefield tomorrow, but you will all stay in the rear. Tobirama, Fujima, and I will go forward."

"This time, I am determined to facilitate peace. I do not want any more of our Senju clansmen to die because of war."

Hashirama Senju looked at the Great Elder, giving him a reassuring look. He prepared to go with the other two to negotiate with Uchiha Madara, though he had no certainty of the outcome.

Yet, he firmly believed that Uchiha Madara still possessed a kind heart.

"Very well! Then we shall follow the Clan Leader's arrangements."

"Indeed, we shall speak of it tomorrow."

"There is no other way. Let us hope an agreement can be reached."

Ever since they witnessed the clansmen's yearning for peace, the elders themselves had begun to harbor similar thoughts.

Soon, the meeting concluded and the elders departed, leaving only Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Senju Fujima in the room.

"You brat, not bad, not bad at all. You truly understand your father's heart."

Seeing the others leave, Hashirama Senju reached out to pat Senju Fujima on the head, laughing heartily.

"Hehe! That's what they call a son knowing his father best."

Senju Fujima looked at Hashirama Senju and chuckled.

"Tobirama, what is wrong? You look so unhappy."

"I know you hate the Uchiha Clan, but peace is the inevitable trend. We cannot let everyone risk their lives just because of your personal grudge."

"Regarding Shizuka... sigh...!"

Seeing Tobirama Senju's gloomy expression, Hashirama Senju stepped forward to comfort him, though the thought of Sarutobi Shizuka left him feeling helpless as well.