A Fantastical Talk of Peace

Chapter 44: A Fantastical Talk of Peace

Using a Shadow Clone to hold the conversation while hiding his real body in a corner seemed very ninja-like, but the main reason was that Tobirama Senju knew his own strength well enough to understand that he was no match for his opponent, so he had prepared a Shadow Clone in advance.

Thus, as he listened from the corner to Uchiha Jobu's provocative words, he showed no emotional reaction whatsoever, not even a trace of anger.

A true ninja needed to learn how to control his own emotions, including anger.

Anyone who could not even control his own emotions was not suited to become a ninja.

Seeing that the Shadow Clone made no move, Uchiha Jobu revealed a look of disdain. He contemptuously swept his gaze across the river, trying to draw out the hidden Tobirama Senju through that expression.

"Since we're here to talk, shouldn't we meet honestly? Sending out only a Shadow Clone makes you seem rather full of yourself, doesn't it?"

Tobirama Senju's Shadow Clone said, "I won't be swayed by words. If you're trying to lure me out this way, you can give up."

He had only been trying his luck, and failure meant nothing. Seeing that the Shadow Clone across the river remained unmoved, Uchiha Jobu merely felt a hint of disappointment and showed no unwillingness on his face.

As though they had reached an understanding with the Shadow Clone across the river, he then remained silent along with it.

Elsewhere.

Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama arrived at the place where they had practiced taijutsu as children. Looking down at the vast green forest below, they could not help but reminisce about their childhood memories.

Uchiha Madara said, "All right, let's talk here. Tell me what you wanted to say."

Senju Hashirama said excitedly, "Madara, do you remember the future we imagined together when we were children? Back then, I thought that if we could truly reconcile and let go of our hatred, we should build a place here where everyone could live together."

"Heh, give it up. The hatred between the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan will never be abandoned. And do you really think the future we talked about as children could come true?

You should know exactly what this world is like. War is everywhere, and death covers the land.

So peace is simply impossible."

The Warring States Era's brutal living conditions were a reality that every ninja of the era could not escape. If they wanted to survive, they had to risk their lives.

The Uchiha Clan might have been one of the strongest ninja clans in the Land of Fire during the Warring States Ninja World, but in order to survive, men, women, old people, and children alike were destined to die on the battlefield.

Uchiha Madara still remembered learning as a child that his younger cousin had died during a mission. In that instant, he thoroughly understood what kind of era the Warring States Era truly was. Only the strong had the right to live.

From that time onward, Uchiha Madara trained like a madman. In order to increase his strength as much as possible, he never neglected either ninjutsu or taijutsu, and even maintained the highest standard in genjutsu among the younger generation.

Yet hearing his good friend Senju Hashirama speak once again of the future they had imagined as children stirred something in his heart. If a peaceful era could truly exist, the members of his clan could grow up safely instead of being sent to the battlefield for the sake of the clan at the age of six or seven, like he had been.

"No, Madara, believe me. As long as the two of us join forces, we can definitely bring peace to the world."

"Then we'll build an enormous village here. Besides the members of our two clans, many others will live there too. No one will have to worry about the flames of war reaching them. Children will play happily in the streets, everyone will have enough to eat, and no one will starve to death again."

"Believe me, Madara! I truly, truly want to create peace in the Ninja World together with you! As long as we can let go of the hatred between the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan, the other ninja clans will see hope. They'll be willing to trust us, sit down and reconcile, and create true peace with us!"

Having witnessed the Warring States Era's incomparably cruel conditions and seen his young brother die on the battlefield, Senju Hashirama likewise understood the importance of strength.

But in Senju Hashirama's heart, becoming stronger was meant to create peace—to build a village where everyone could live together, enjoy peaceful days, trust one another, and no longer fear war.

Uchiha Madara pondered before saying, "You're too naive. If the future of two clans could be decided by just a few words from you and me, then they would never have fought from centuries ago until now."

Uchiha Madara still did not believe they could truly trust one another. On one hand, he keenly understood how cruel the Warring States Era was. Trying to change the current situation with only two clans was nothing more than a fantastical dream.

On the other hand, nearly every member of the Uchiha Clan had a blood feud with the Senju Clan. Their hatred could not be set aside with just a few words.

Likewise, although the Senju Clan called itself the "Clan of Love," in truth, none of its ninja were soft-hearted. On the battlefield, it was either kill the enemy or be killed.

Therefore.

The bodies of Uchiha Clan ninja were stained with the blood of Senju Clan ninja.

The hands of Senju Clan ninja were covered in the blood of Uchiha Clan ninja.

If the hatred between the two clans could be easily talked away, their conflict would not have lasted for centuries.

Senju Hashirama knew it would be difficult, and he understood even more clearly just how unrealistic his idea was—more fantastical than fantasy itself.

Uchiha Jobu did not know what Senju Hashirama would say to Uchiha Madara, but based on his understanding of Senju Hashirama from the story he had read, he could easily guess that Senju Hashirama wanted to bring up the future he had imagined with Uchiha Madara as a child and persuade him to lead the Uchiha Clan in letting go of its hatred.

How should he put it?

Such naive idealism deserved to die.

They were supposed to let go of a thousand-year blood feud with just a few words? Then what had all those Uchiha clansmen who died at the hands of the Senju Clan given their lives for?

Perhaps the greatest culprit was Black Zetsu, the most sinister bastard in the entire Ninja World. But they did not even know where Black Zetsu was now. Uchiha Jobu had no desire to waste time searching for him and would rather spend that time improving his strength.

Once the time came, Black Zetsu would appear. Whether it was to manipulate Uchiha Madara or lay out other schemes, he would always leave traces behind.

The silence between Uchiha Jobu and Tobirama Senju continued until Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara returned together.

Uchiha Madara said, "Let's go. We're returning to the clan."

Uchiha Jobu did not ask Uchiha Madara what he had discussed with Senju Hashirama. It was probably close to what he had guessed anyway—nothing more than hatred, peace, and dreams.