Brothers' Night Talk
He casually brushed away the bits of grass clinging to his clothes, his demeanor remaining as carefree and flamboyant as ever. But Ban saw through him—this man's mind was still deeply immersed in the words of that letter, unable to pull himself away.
He appears relaxed, but is actually filled with melancholy.
"I'm going to see Tobirama."
Hashirama gently placed the two empty wine bottles on the stone table. His tone had lost its usual lightness, replaced by a deep somberness, yet it remained open and honest.
See you at the Hokage Building tomorrow.
He turned and walked towards the courtyard gate, but after taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and turned his head to look back at the figure standing in the courtyard.
A cheerful smile habitually appeared on his lips, just as it had countless times before, as if he wanted to say a few words of comfort to the other person, but in the end he was speechless and gave up. He raised his hand and waved casually, and his figure quickly disappeared at the end of the deep path in the Uchiha Clan District.
The Senju Clan and Uchiha clan territories are separated by a river, only a bridge away, and can be reached in a short time.
Night had fallen, and most of the village was silent, except for a lone lamp still burning in the Tobirama of the house.
More accurately, the light in his study was almost never turned off.
His years of hard work at his desk had become an ingrained habit.
The moment Hashirama pushed open the door, Tobirama was hunched over Tobirama desk, reviewing the backlog of official documents accumulated during the day.
He heard familiar footsteps beside him, but without looking up, his fingers still gripping the pen, he asked casually with the familiarity and indifference of someone who had been bothered by his older brother for years, "Went to Ban's for drinks again?"
This time, Hashirama did not respond.
He casually pulled up a chair, sat down opposite the desk, and sat quietly for a long time without saying a word.
This silence is highly unusual.
Hashirama Senju, who is always noisy, restless, and unable to sit still for a moment, always talks non-stop when he comes to visit. He either enthusiastically talks about his ideas for new Ninjutsu or complains about Madara delaying official business and refusing to approve documents.
Tobirama had never seen such a sluggish and silent demeanor before.
He finally put down his pen, looked up, and frowned slightly.
His gaze swept across Hashirama's face for a moment, and he instantly understood the root of the problem—the only person who could make his elder brother so distraught was Madara Uchiha.
Hashirama made no secret of what had happened after nightfall and recounted everything in detail.
From chasing Madara towards the Naka River in the Dusk, to shamelessly following him all the way back to the mansion, to that sudden appearance of the plain white letter, and the truths between the lines that still send chills down his spine to this day.
The final showdown at the Valley of the End, his other self piercing Madara's chest with his own hands, Madara's dying words of regret, and all the heartfelt words Madara revealed to him afterward.
Tobirama sat quietly Tobirama, without uttering a single word, patiently listening to him recount the entire story.
After Hashirama finished speaking, the silence in the study grew even heavier, pressing down on everyone's hearts.
"Tobirama, I've been thinking..." Hashirama looked down at his outstretched palm, his voice hoarse and weary, full of confusion, "Was my ideal too naive from the very beginning?"
"I always believed that as long as everyone is willing to sit down and be honest with each other and communicate properly, the hatred accumulated over generations can be resolved and the war can be ended."
But look at the other world... The successors I personally chose, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo, actually used the peace I pursued my whole life as an excuse and a weapon to destroy the Uchiha."
"This is not a misunderstanding at all. It is a complete betrayal, a total subversion of all my expectations."
"It's not naivety. It's that you rely too much on your own strength and people's hearts."
Tobirama put down his pen, his cool voice softening slightly compared to usual, losing some of its sharpness and gaining a more composed and clear tone.
"Your ideal itself is not wrong. To keep children away from the flames of war, to let the ninja clans put aside their hatred and achieve an eternal truce—this is the destiny that everyone in the Ninja World should hope for. But your mistake is that you placed the entire foundation of this grand ideal on the shoulders of you and Madara."
"As long as you live, with your prestige and the strength of your forces, you will be able to forcibly suppress all the hidden conflicts in the world and maintain a superficial peace."
But have you ever considered that once you two are gone, these suppressed conflicts, suspicions, and estrangements will only rebound exponentially and spiral completely out of control?
"The reason Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo in the other world reached that point was never out of thin air. It was because your ideals, from the very beginning, failed to build a solid institutional framework that could not support long-term stability."
Hashirama looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with astonishment. "Did you... think about this all along?"
Tobirama remained silent for a long time, so long that Hashirama almost thought he would avoid answering.
He slowly rose, walked to the window, and stood with his back to Hashirama. His deep voice echoed clearly in the quiet study, "From the very first day Konoha was founded, I have repeatedly considered this."
"The eldest brother's personal charisma and Madara's absolute fighting power can temporarily smooth over all conflicts. But this balance is too fragile."
The Senju Clan would be wary of the Uchiha bloodline and power, and the Uchiha would be dissatisfied with the core Scepter held by the Senju Clan.
These conflicts, rooted in the interests of different ethnic groups, can never be completely eradicated by a mere word of trust or an alliance.
"I never mentioned it to you because I knew you wouldn't listen. You've always been optimistic, willing to believe in the inherent goodness of humanity, and that sincerity can be reciprocated."
He paused slightly, then said frankly, "Even today, I don't deny the goodness in human nature. But believing is one thing, but in life and in business, one must always prepare for the worst-case scenario."
Hashirama sat Hashirama, stunned and lost in thought, his mind churning with complex emotions. After a long while, he finally spoke in a low voice, tinged with a hint of self-doubt and bewilderment. "Then... am I simply not suited to be the Hokage?"
Tobirama turned around and looked at his brother, who was usually carefree and unrestrained but was now full of dejection. His usually cold and hard eyes revealed a rare hint of helplessness and gentleness.
"I've pondered this question for half my life."
"The conclusion is simple. You are the Hokage of Konoha, and I am your assistant. You don't need to become as strict and calculating as me, and I will never become as honest and straightforward as you. Neither of us is perfect, but we can complement each other and together support this village."
"As for the flaws in the ideal architecture, I'll fix them. You just need to hold onto the goodwill and expectations in your heart, believe in humanity, and believe in peace. As for the rest, I'll help you minimize all the unknown risks and the cost of blindly trusting human nature."
Hashirama stood frozen in place, motionless for a long time.
A moment later, he leaned back in his chair, exhaled a long breath of pent-up frustration, and slowly closed his eyes.
A relieved smile slowly spread across his tired face.
I've run into a small problem and might have to take a day off tomorrow. I've been sitting for too long lately, and I have a problem with my sacrum. I just had acupuncture today, and the doctor told me not to sit on the sofa today. I'll see if I feel better tonight.
I woke up this morning to find that Brother Wang Yanyu had been certified as a top author, but my back is really hurting terribly. I'll see if I feel better tonight so I can finish the chapter I owe.