Aftereffects

In short, the conversation between Senju Butsuma and Senju Hashirama ended on a very unpleasant note.

After the funeral, most of the Senju clansmen departed, leaving only Senju Kyogawa and his brothers behind, while Senju Tobirama began to lecture Senju Hashirama and Senju Kyogawa once again.

The sun set, casting dim, yellowish light across the forest and carving out lines of light and shadow.

Senju Kyogawa and his three older brothers sat upon a large tree stump.

After Senju Tobirama had spoken for a while, seeing that neither Kyogawa nor Hashirama reacted, he could not help but sigh.

The group fell into silence, and for a time, no one spoke.

The chirping of birds and insects in the woods gradually ceased, leaving only the rustling of leaves stirred by the wind.

Senju Tobirama crossed his arms over his chest and was the first to break the silence:

"The adults are all fools. If they want to end the war, wouldn't it be enough to just sign a treaty with the enemy and stop the fighting?"

There was no lack of logic in what Senju Tobirama said.

In Senju Kyogawa's view, one of the most plausible ways to resolve the conflict was to establish a treaty.

Either everyone's strength would check one another, maintaining a relative balance through treaties, or one side would become so powerful that the enemy would feel nothing but fear, not even daring to harbor thoughts of resistance.

However, the current situation in the Ninja World was that the Senju and the Uchiha were evenly matched, the two dominant powers.

The best solution was for the two clans to form an alliance.

But having fought for a full century, the two clans held deep-seated grievances... how could they form an alliance so easily?

"But if we did that, wouldn't the parents, brothers... and our comrades who were killed have died in vain?" Senju Itama clearly did not agree with this proposal.

He thought of his brother, Senju Kawarama, and the other brothers who had fought alongside them but were left behind on the battlefield forever.

Senju Kyogawa sighed in his heart.

See? Resolving hatred is not a matter of a single day; there will always be those who harbor resentment.

Senju Tobirama looked at Senju Itama sternly and said in a harsh tone:

"If you keep saying things like that, you will die too. You and the adults are all too impulsive."

Senju Tobirama was right; Itama was a very emotional child, easily swayed by his feelings. Perhaps the death of Senju Kawarama today had already planted a seed of hatred in his heart.

"From now on, ninjas only need to suppress their emotions, establish strict rules, and follow them to avoid unnecessary wars," Senju Tobirama continued to express his views.

Senju Kyogawa believed that his second brother, Tobirama, made a valid point.

Thinking about it carefully, perhaps it was because the age threshold for ninjas was generally so low that children were always more emotional than adults. Thus, when they witnessed the deaths of relatives and friends at a young age, the seeds of hatred took root deeper and more viciously in their hearts. And when this generation of ninjas grew up, they would never think of forming an alliance with their enemies, because the hatred from their childhood had already grown into a towering tree.

In such a situation, perhaps only death could be the fitting end for a ninja.

Adults, however, were always constrained by various interests and rules; perhaps in the world of adults, rules were a better way to maintain order.

Senju Hashirama lowered his head, his brow furrowed, and asked:

"A true treaty, an alliance... is it really impossible to achieve?"

Kyogawa gazed at Senju Hashirama, the eldest brother of his life.

He had long known that Senju Hashirama had always yearned for peace.

The fact that he could maintain a heart of great love in a place like the Ninja World was one of the reasons Senju Kyogawa admired him.

Senju Kyogawa could not bear to see Hashirama looking so lost. He could not help but pat Senju Hashirama on the head and answer loudly:

"Of course..."

"It can be achieved!"

Senju Hashirama looked up at his youngest brother.

At this moment, that young brother—Senju Kyogawa—stood straight, the golden sunlight spilling completely over him.

Senju Hashirama heard his brother—Senju Kyogawa—voice his own inner thoughts:

"An alliance! It is a very good choice..."

"If the Ninja World is fundamentally wrong, then why don't we change it ourselves..."

"Sooner or later, we will find a true path, a true path that does not require sacrificing children!"

Senju Hashirama stood up, feeling his body filled with strength and fighting spirit once more.

Yes, how could he be less clear-headed than a five-year-old child? If the rules of the Ninja World were wrong, then he would simply rewrite them!

A sunny smile finally returned to Senju Hashirama's face. He rubbed Senju Kyogawa's head, his palm feeling incredibly warm, and agreed:

"That's right! Little Kyogawa is right!"

Seeing this, Senju Itama wore a bewildered expression. He was still a child, and seeing his brothers agree with the proposal, even though he was still hesitant, he immediately chimed in:

"An alliance? Although... but since Brother Hashirama and Kyogawa both think so... then I agree as well!"

Seeing this, Senju Hashirama could not help but laugh even more happily. Having gained the agreement of his brothers, he felt he was one step closer to success.

From that day on, Senju Kyogawa practiced his swordsmanship even more desperately. He did not know why, perhaps he just wanted to practice enough for Senju Kawarama's share as well.

Senju Kyogawa still remembered that night after he returned home. Senju Kazuki had come to find him and handed him a bag of konpeito.

Senju Kazuki had been Senju Kawarama's teammate in this war.

He told Senju Kyogawa, "Kawarama said that once he got off the battlefield, he would bring you some konpeito to eat..."

Senju Kyogawa took the bag of konpeito with hands that were trembling almost uncontrollably.

He could no longer remember what he had felt at that moment.

Was it sadness?

No, perhaps he had already become somewhat numb...

Senju Kyogawa felt his body growing cold inch by inch; he could barely feel his physical existence anymore, as if his soul were leaving his body.

However, to others, his state probably seemed fine, right?

He thanked Senju Kazuki, asked after Grandma Naiko's health, and then politely bid Senju Kazuki goodnight.

Senju Kyogawa did not notice the complex expression on Senju Kazuki's face as he looked at him.

With numb limbs, he returned to his room, moving almost in a stiff, uncoordinated gait. He ignored the concerned words of his older brothers, walked straight into his private room, closed the door, and got into bed.

Senju Kyogawa asked the system:

[System, if I put this bag of candy into the system storage, will it spoil?]

The system replied promptly: [It will not. Time in the system storage is frozen.]

Thus, Senju Kyogawa placed the bag of konpeito into a slot in the system storage.

He pulled the quilt over his head and discovered that the fabric was a little damp, and his nose felt somewhat congested.

He thought, so there were aftereffects after all.

The death of Senju Kawarama still had its aftereffects...