Seeing Itama collapse, the anxious Senju brothers rushed forward to catch him, cradling him in their arms as they examined him carefully.
Shingetsu immediately took Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya to another room so they would not hear the discussion that followed.
After all, some things were not suitable for children to know.
The air remained tense for some time. Once Tobirama finished his examination, he let out a worried sigh.
"He passed out from sheer fright."
What exactly Itama feared was already clear from the scream he had just let out.
Watching Itama twitch in his unconscious state, both Madara and Izuna looked guilty.
They both knew something of what had happened to him.
After all, Itama had been the son of the Senju clan head back then. Even if he was only a child, killing him had been considered good news, a major event worth celebrating throughout the clan.
Madara fell silent for a moment, the complicated emotions in his eyes unreadable. Only after a long while did he look apologetically at Hashirama and the Itama in his arms.
"I'm sorry about your little brother."
"It wasn't your fault, Madara!"
Hashirama's expression was heavy with sorrow. The entire room grew cold, and most of the warmth and happiness of their family dinner vanished in an instant.
Even so, he did not blame Madara or Izuna.
"You weren't the one who killed Itama."
His lips moved hesitantly. After a long pause, he added:
"Your little brothers died at the hands of my clansmen, too."
Silence. Silence. It felt as though the entire world had fallen silent.
Their past hatred might have been sealed away, but that did not mean it had ceased to exist.
It had always been there, an eternal scar across their hearts. Every mention brought another raw,