With Shui Xuan dead, Takigakure lost its backbone. The remaining ninja scattered like birds and beasts, each fleeing for their lives. Once Konoha's army had fully taken over the Land of Waterfalls, the Land of Waterfalls would become a complete vassal of the Land of Fire.
Land of Fire, Konoha.
"Madara, Takigakure has already been destroyed. Does Konoha really have to send troops into the Land of Waterfalls?" Senju Hashirama was still making one final effort.
"Hashirama, the entire ninja world is watching Konoha. We cannot let others think Konoha is weak and easily bullied." Uchiha Madara had hesitated before, but in the end, he had resolutely decided to deploy troops.
"But this will provoke a war! The ninja world has only just emerged from chaos, and the Five Great Nations have only just signed their pact. I don't want to see the flames of war rise again, much less have Konoha be the one to start it."
"Hashirama, you're wrong. Konoha has always loved peace. Konoha has never sought to provoke war; Takigakure started this war."
"Yan put it very well: 'A small state that does not remain humble, a weak state that does not fear the strong, one that is rude to its powerful neighbor, greedy and stubborn, and clumsy in diplomacy—such a state may perish.' Konoha is the true victim. It is only because Konoha is strong that it was spared the ravages of war."
"But..." Senju Hashirama understood all the reasoning, yet he still felt Konoha's actions were wrong. At least, that was how he saw it.
"If you believe this war is wrong, you can convene a Konoha ninja clan assembly and let all of Konoha's people vote on it." Seeing that he could not persuade him, Uchiha Madara offered Senju Hashirama another path.
"I'll