Tsubasa stood quietly atop a tall building in the center of Konoha, his eyes fixed on the harrowing clan exterminations unfolding below. His thoughts churned like storm-tossed waves: this was nothing like the Naruto story he knew. The clans being slaughtered before his eyes had never left a trace in the original story. A terrifying thought quietly took root in his mind. Could the unnamed clans that had vanished by the middle and later parts of the original story all have been wiped out by the Senju Clan? As a transmigrator from a peaceful age, he found it impossible to accept such atrocities after witnessing the tragedy firsthand. He thought it would be wiser to devote himself to Immortal Cultivation. Even if he could understand all these complicated schemes, he could never take part in them. Yet the ropes of fate had already bound him: Hashirama Senju had personally named him the successor to the clan head, which meant he had to plan a bright future for the Senju Clan's thirty-five branches. He racked his brains. Apart from knowing what happened later in Naruto, his only advantage was the method of Immortal Cultivation he had stumbled into learning. But how could he possibly lead the whole clan in Immortal Cultivation and turn the Senju Clan into an Immortal Cultivation faction? He could not teach anyone his method. After all, he had only embarked on the path of Immortal Cultivation because he had been reborn as a baby. Where in this world could he find another reborn person, let alone a newborn who could understand a method of Immortal Cultivation?
While Tsubasa was lost in his tangled thoughts, a familiar, steady figure quietly appeared beside him. It was Hashirama Senju. With a gentle smile, Hashirama asked softly, "Tsubasa, what do you think, seeing a clan extermination like this for the first time today?"
Tsubasa frowned slightly and said solemnly, "Master, I feel more and more that the way ninja do things is completely at odds with me. I can't accept wiping out an entire clan over a disagreement. Those who commit evil deserve to be punished, but there are also many people who are completely innocent and know nothing about it, even infants in swaddling clothes and young children who don't know any better. They aren't capable of doing anything, yet they're slaughtered too. At this rate, whenever a great clan produces a single evil person, the whole clan will face destruction. Countless innocent people will pay with their lives because of the actions of a few evildoers. I could never accept that, not in my entire life."
Hashirama Senju sighed softly, a trace of weariness and helplessness appearing on his face. "Never mind you. I've watched scenes this cruel all my life in the Shinobi World. How could I accept them either? That's why I've always cherished a dream: to build a country without war. I gathered all the ninja in the Land of Fire who wiped out entire clans at will in Konoha. I wanted to use rules to restrain them, limit their freedom, control their resources, and give all ninja a different way of life, so they could no longer do as they pleased and slaughter civilians like livestock. Yet although the killing in the Land of Fire has decreased, the bloodshed in Konoha has never stopped. How many ninja with extraordinary power would willingly live ordinary lives? I disbanded the clan and had its members scatter to every corner of the village, concealing their names and identities. I wanted the Senju Clan to become a shackle on all of Konoha, binding this monstrous beast of ninja who could run out of control at any moment and keeping them from bringing disaster to the world. But I never expected the Senju Clan to become a thorn in their side instead. Ever since Konoha was founded, they've been targeting the Senju in secret. Whenever a Senju begins to distinguish themselves, they think of assassinating the men and marrying the women into their own families to improve their bloodlines. There were two reasons Tobirama resorted to such swift, ruthless exterminations after taking office. First, he wanted to establish his authority, so the many clans in Konoha wouldn't dare carry out assassinations so readily again. Second, he wanted to lay the groundwork for reforming Konoha."
A flicker of curiosity and puzzlement crossed Tsubasa's eyes, and he quickly asked, "Then how exactly will Konoha be reformed, Master?"
Hashirama Senju tilted his head slightly and gazed into the distance, his eyes full of hope. "That is for Tobirama to think about and put into practice. I can only hope he succeeds. After all, every generation has its own mission. But a Hokage should have all the people of the world in his heart and strive to let everyone live in a world that is as fair as possible. The strong should shoulder the responsibility of protecting the weak, and the weak should hold respect for the strong. This world should be filled with understanding and tolerance, becoming a truly peaceful world. Every Hokage may have a different way of doing things, but as long as they all forge ahead toward that goal and ultimately achieve it, they will be worthy of the title of good Hokage."
Tsubasa nodded emphatically and said with conviction, "Master, your ideals are so great. With you leading Konoha, you'll surely succeed in creating that peaceful world!"
Tsubasa reflected to himself that the Hokage who came later in Naruto all seemed to work tirelessly for social stability, restraining Konoha's ninja and having them form squads and make a living in a profession resembling that of mercenaries and soldiers. Konoha had gradually evolved, too, from an extraordinary organization that punished evildoers, checked the powerful, and aided the weak into a place where ninja with extraordinary powers and civilians could live together in harmony. Could this be the Hokage's way of thinking that his master upheld?
Hashirama Senju wore a warm smile, his eyes full of hope for the younger generation as he spoke earnestly. "Tsubasa, I'm telling you all this because I want you to understand that protecting peace in the human world is a Hokage's true mission. A Hokage bears responsibility for the peace of all people under heaven. That burden is as heavy as a mountain." He paused, looking toward the battlefield where the stench of blood had yet to fully dissipate, and his expression grew grave. "I brought you here to see this tragedy today not to frighten you, but to make you understand clearly that the Shinobi World is an extremely cruel place. Here, strength is the foundation of everything. It is what determines life and death, survival and destruction, right and wrong. If you want to achieve the great ambition of maintaining world peace, you must possess sufficient strength. Otherwise, no matter how many great ideas you hold in your heart or how beautiful a future you plan, the moment you encounter someone far stronger than you, everything could collapse in an instant, be ruthlessly overturned and destroyed, and vanish without a trace, just like these exterminated clans."
Tsubasa listened carefully to every word Hashirama Senju said, deeply moved. He bowed his head deeply and bent in a respectful salute, sincere and resolute. "Master, I understand. Strength is the foundation for realizing one's ideals. I won't be lost anymore."
Hashirama Senju looked at the sensible young man before him and smiled with relief. He raised a hand and patted Tsubasa's shoulder, his broad, warm palm seeming to convey endless strength and encouragement. "Good. I'm glad you understand. Come, let's return to the Senju Clan Compound. From now on, you must devote yourself to training without distraction. I hope you'll grow up soon, become a pillar of the Senju Clan, and shoulder the great responsibility of protecting peace in the Shinobi World." With that, Hashirama Senju led the way, Tsubasa following close behind. Master and disciple gradually disappeared into the night.