"On that question, I think you already had the answer in your hearts long ago."
Kou's tone was calm. His gaze swept over Hashirama's grief-stricken face before finally settling on Tobirama's gloomy expression.
"Especially you, Second Hokage.
"You should know better than anyone what effect assigning the Konoha Military Police Force to the Uchiha would have on their position within the village, shouldn't you?"
"Though you weren't entirely to blame, the Uchiha's fate today was still inseparable from your influence."
"Tobirama!!"
Hearing this, Hashirama finally tore away all restraint and hesitation.
He turned around, his black hair stirring without wind amid the sudden surge of chakra.
There was no anger on Hashirama's face, but the anguish rising from the depths of his bones was heavier than any rage.
"I told you long ago, many times, that the Uchiha were also part of Konoha!
"They were also part of Konoha! Don't be prejudiced against them. Don't exclude them from the village. Why would you never listen?!"
He panted heavily, his chest rising and falling violently. Even his Impure World Reincarnation body trembled faintly under the intensity of his emotions.
"The Uchiha, who were also part of Konoha, were ultimately destroyed by the Konoha we built together with them..."
"Was that kind of Konoha still the Konoha we once wanted—the Konoha that could bring peace to everyone?
"You... you've truly disappointed me, Tobirama."
"Big Brother, I..."
Facing his elder brother's genuine fury, Tobirama showed a rare trace of awkwardness.
The Uchiha massacre was not what he had wanted either...
From the very beginning, he had never intended for the Uchiha to be utterly wiped out.
In his original vision, Kagami would become the Uchiha's representative among Konoha's upper ranks. As long as Kagami lived, as long as he entered the core of