The two boys, Hashirama and Madara, thought it over quickly, then realized there was a major problem. "If we do that, what about the existing Feudal Lords and nobles? If there's only one country, who gets to be Feudal Lord?"
Bai Sui was taken aback by the question. He really hadn't considered it. After all, the idea that "even kings and generals are born of ordinary stock" was deeply rooted in his mind, so he simply hadn't thought about those people. "If that's what you're asking, then I have a question for you, too. How do your ninja clans choose their leaders? Does the leader's son always take over, or do you choose the strongest person in the clan?"
Madara picked up the thread. "Not necessarily the strongest. The clan chooses someone who can lead it to prosperity, though that person is often the strongest in the clan."
Bai Sui smiled. "Then it's simple. If a clan leader has to earn his position through his abilities, then the position of Feudal Lord should be earned the same way.
"The Feudal Lord's role isn't to fight, though, so he should be judged by how well he governs the country. Whoever does the best job should become Feudal Lord. As for the other nobles, even ninja clans can decline or disappear. If any of those nobles are capable, they can continue serving the country. If they're just a bunch of useless fools, let them fade into obscurity."
"But..." Hashirama hesitated again. "If we want to unify the country, it's bound to lead to a terrible war. We'd be turning the ninja clans into subordinates, so they'd definitely fight back fiercely."
Bai Sui's expression grew serious, too. "That's right. How could a major transformation happen without bloodshed? Haven't you heard: 'We love peace, but peace will survive if we fight for it, and perish if we seek it through compromise.'
"Peace is the goal, while struggle is the means; peace is relative, while struggle is absolute. Only through struggle can there be true peace. Peace isn't something you beg for; it's something you fight and battle for. At any time, whether they're enemies or friends, only the strong earn respect."
The words of this great man left both boys stunned. They had never heard them before, but the more they thought about them, the more sense they made. The more they pondered them, the clearer they became.
But they were still children, no matter how powerful they were. They still held on to the purest goodness in their hearts, to a noble kindness.
"But so many people would die. Countless families would lose their loved ones. I don't want more people to go through that, even if it's the right thing to do." Hashirama's spirits sank.
Madara, however, saw things differently. He thought Bai Sui was right. Even if they had to ruthlessly cut the population of the Ninja World in half, it would be worth it if they could bring lasting peace. Even if that peace lasted only a hundred years instead of forever, the number of people who would die in wars over those hundred years would far exceed the number who would die in this one great battle.
Seeing their different expressions, Bai Sui offered no comment and continued, "If you feel that the price of unification is too high, there's another way to govern: a small country with a sparse population, where the ruler does nothing, yet nothing is left undone.
"But that would still be extremely difficult to achieve. The upheaval it caused might not be any less than unification, because this approach mainly targets all those in positions of power..."
After talking for a while, Hashirama and Madara left. They had snuck out, after all, and couldn't stay away for too long, so they agreed to come back and talk again another time.
The two returned to their respective clan lands. Neither of them seemed like their usual selves; both looked troubled, and people naturally noticed.
Their younger brothers, Uchiha Izuna and Senju Tobirama, were among those who noticed something was wrong with their older brothers. Unlike Izuna, who deeply respected his older brother, Tobirama had a mind of his own. He had already noticed Hashirama sneaking out lately, and now he was even more determined to find out what was going on.
After all, he knew Hashirama very well. If Hashirama didn't want to talk about something, asking him outright wouldn't get an answer. Tobirama would have to find a way to figure it out himself.
In the days that followed, Hashirama and Madara often came to visit Bai Sui. They didn't discuss their plans for the future again, though. They each had their own ideas and weren't the sort to change their minds easily just because someone else told them to.
Instead, they wanted Bai Sui to help them improve their strength. After all, being a ninja was a profession that ultimately depended on strength. Any problem they couldn't figure out could be approached with force.
Bai Sui, who had once wiped out quite a few ninja clans, had naturally gained plenty of spoils. He rummaged through his Storage Jade Pendant and brought out quite a few scrolls he had collected.
Although Bai Sui couldn't use them, these scrolls were valuable goods, worth a great deal. They also served as references for his research into the Dragon Talisman, so he had kept them all.
It had to be said: in the chakra system, strength really could improve quickly. With the knowledge enriching them, both boys made considerable progress.
However, Madara and Hashirama both needed to keep their identities hidden, so they didn't reveal any signature techniques, though each had some suspicions about the other.
One day, as usual, the three met in the little wooden cabin. Bai Sui sensed something unusual with his spiritual awareness.
"Oh? Madara, Hashirama, it seems your little brothers care a lot about you. They actually followed you here in secret."
The two boys froze, and their expressions changed at once.
Bai Sui continued, "Don't worry. They've already left. They only took a look from far away." Bai Sui had no reason to keep his spiritual awareness spread out around the clock to watch his surroundings. If he hadn't felt someone looking at him, he wouldn't have noticed the two children at all. They posed no threat to him.
After a moment of silence, Hashirama and Madara started their usual activities, but this time they were exceptionally serious and focused. Before leaving, the two sat on a treetop and chatted for a long time beneath the setting sun, laughing and joking without restraint.
Bai Sui knew they were saying goodbye in their own way.
As expected, the next day they didn't come to the cabin. Instead, they went to the river where they had first met. They stood facing each other on opposite banks, as if they meant to put an end to everything there.
Madara clenched the pebble in his hand and suggested, "Let's greet each other with skipping stones like we always do."
Hashirama did the same, taking a pebble he had prepared earlier from his pocket and skipping it across the water as usual.
But whereas they had always thrown the stones toward the opposite bank before, this time they threw them at each other.
They caught the incoming pebbles. Written on them were the messages "It's a trap. Leave" and "Run."
"Hashirama, I'm sorry, but I can't play with you today. I just remembered I have something to take care of." Madara waved and turned to leave.