"During the Second Shinobi World War, Kagami was carrying out a secret infiltration mission in Kirigakure, but they still discovered him, and in the end..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi left the last part unsaid, but both Hashirama and Tobirama knew what he meant.
"Sigh..."
"I understand, Monkey..." Tobirama closed his eyes, his thoughts unknown.
"Teachers, I betrayed your trust! I failed to protect the Senju Clan, failed to protect the village, and failed to protect my old comrades. I've let you both down!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi thought through all the saddest moments of his life until, at last, tears streamed down his face as he spoke, and he dropped straight to his knees.
"Monkey, get up! This outcome wasn't your fault!"
Hashirama, too, grieved for the members of the Senju Clan, but seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi blame himself so deeply, he felt that Hiruzen had done his best.
At the same time, Hashirama was also filled with self-reproach.
As the saying went, facts spoke louder than words.
The ideals Hashirama had upheld had been utterly shattered by reality.
Madara, Feng Yao, was I really wrong...?
"Monkey, get up. We're not blaming you. If anything is to blame, it's the cruelty of this shinobi world!" Tobirama shook his head.
He pulled Hiruzen Sarutobi to his feet, but Hiruzen still wore an expression of grief and self-reproach.
"That's right, Monkey. Rest assured, keeping Konoha alive was already a fine achievement!"
Hashirama nodded as well.
"Lord First, Teacher..."
"Enough, Monkey! Stop acting like a woman. You're the Third Hokage now!" Tobirama snapped.
"Yes!" Only then did Hiruzen Sarutobi drop his earlier display.
"I'll deliver the things to En shortly. After that, Big Brother and I will go to Amegakure and see whether we can rescue the wandering herdsman!"
"All right. Thank you for your efforts, Lord First,