"Well... let's talk about peace!"
Jiraiya, ever thick-skinned, simply laughed off Tsunade's pointed look, brushing the moment aside as if nothing had happened.
Despite the skeptical glances thrown his way—especially Tsunade's amused smirk—Toshiro remained unbothered. Instead of getting defensive, he simply addressed their doubts and then motioned for everyone to take their seats.
As for the rumors circulating about him? He hardly cared.
True, some of them had taken on a life of their own, but at their core, they weren't entirely wrong. He was somewhat hands-off as a leader. But he wasn't so thin-skinned that a few whispers could rattle him.
Without another word, he pulled out several documents, handing them to the others before leaning back in his chair, waiting.
In the ninja world, wars and bloodshed have persisted for thousands of years.
Deep down, everyone longs for peace.
Yet, they all understand that peace is nothing more than a fleeting illusion—an anomaly in a world where conflict is the norm.
No matter how powerful one may be, they can only protect a single village or country. Beyond the reach of their influence, they are powerless.
After the death of the First Hokage, why didn't Madara rise to unify the world? Why did he choose instead to pursue the Tsuki no me plan?
One reason was age—his time was running out. But more importantly, he understood that he could never truly subdue the entrenched powers of each nation.
These forces were deeply rooted in their lands, woven into the fabric of their societies. Even if he resorted to mass slaughter, it would be meaningless. If his enemies couldn't defeat him, they would simply retreat and wait. He could never eliminate them all.
Now that he had become Hokage, it was his responsibility to bring change—to build a world where his fellow shinobi would suffer less loss, less separation, and less death.
Of course, there was another reason.
As Hokage, he could delegate most government affairs to Tsunade, but issues like border disputes, territorial skirmishes between villages, and intelligence infiltration still required his direct attention.
These matters often came at a cost—sacrifice.
At his level, he had long accepted that sacrifice was inevitable. However, as Hokage, he also bore the responsibility of consoling the families of fallen shinobi.
No matter how much he steeled his heart, he couldn't entirely detach himself. After all, he had come from the modern world. Each time he faced grieving widows and orphans, a sense of guilt gnawed at him.
"This..."
After reading the document, no one in the room spoke immediately. Instead, they silently weighed the feasibility of the plan.
Even Tsunade, who had been skeptical from the start, furrowed her brows in deep thought.
A long silence followed.
"This proposal... it might actually work."
The first to break the silence was Uchiha Hiruko, the eldest among them and a prominent leader of the Uchiha clan's moderate faction.
Not only was Toshiro's plan well-structured and aligned with his own values, but even if it hadn't been, Hiruko might have still supported it—simply because it came from him.
"How about... giving it a try?"
As Uchiha Hiruko spoke, Mimura, standing beside him, was quick to chime in, unwilling to be left out of the discussion.
He, too, believed that the Hokage's proposal was worth pursuing.
If successful, it might not completely eradicate war, but at the very least, it could significantly reduce conflicts across the ninja world.
The best part was that Toshiro's approach didn't demand excessive resources or require unnecessary commotion.
Even in the worst-case scenario, failure wouldn't result in significant losses.
"It's worth a shot."
Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged glances before nodding in agreement.
Tsunade, in particular, found herself looking at Toshiro with newfound complexity.
She had never expected that the man who constantly dumped responsibilities onto her would come up with such a plan for peace.
Had she misjudged him all this time?
Maybe... he wasn't just avoiding work. Maybe he had been contemplating something far greater—something that could change the world.
Her gaze drifted to Jiraiya beside her, and an odd thought crossed her mind.
'Could it be... that all perverts secretly yearn for peace?'
It wasn't just Tsunade—everyone in the room regarded Toshiro with complex expressions.
Among them, Hiruko's face reflected a mixture of excitement, relief, and pride.
Despite Toshiro holding the title of Hokage, there had always been a lingering sense of doubt surrounding his legitimacy.
After all, he hadn't earned the position through unanimous support—he had taken it by force, compelling the Third Hokage to step down with sheer strength rather than winning the people's approval.
But if he succeeded in this endeavor, his right to the title would become undeniable.
—
Stepping outside the Hokage building, Sarutobi Hiruzen took in the sight of the village he had once led.
The familiar structure still stood, unchanged—yet the person in charge had been replaced.
Glancing around at the Konoha shinobi, most of whom now carried a look of anticipation, he felt an unfamiliar sense of distance.
Even the streets beyond remained as lively as ever.
For the first time, the truth settled heavily upon him.
The world would move forward, with or without him.
Even a Hokage—no matter how long he had reigned—was not indispensable.
Even without him, Konoha would continue to thrive—perhaps even flourish.
"Hiruzen, do you really believe the nonsense Uchiha Toshiro is spouting?"
Utatane Koharu, standing beside Sarutobi Hiruzen, scanned the surroundings, noting how people actively avoided them. Her voice carried an unmistakable edge of resentment.
"Peace for the ninja world? Nothing but a lie. We've preached the same rhetoric countless times while in office."
Wasn't it just empty talk?
As a former Hokage advisor, she had delivered similar speeches more times than she could count. Yet, never before had she seen the Konoha shinobi respond with such enthusiasm.
"And now these people have the audacity to ignore us? This must be Uchiha Toshiro's doing—manipulating these opportunists to treat us like this!"
In the past, she had commanded respect wherever she went.
Now?
Not only were the Konoha ninjas indifferent to her presence, but even the younger members of her own clan came to her with complaints.
A simple bar scuffle, a drunken dispute—before, such matters would have been dismissed without a second thought.
But now, even a minor altercation resulting in injury led to swift arrests by the Security Force.
Many clan-run shops were struggling, their businesses nearly collapsing under the pressure from neighboring competitors.
Koharu had personally gone to the Hokage Building and the Security Force headquarters to investigate the situation, yet she was met with indifference. The sheer disregard she faced was an eye-opening experience, giving her a taste of Konoha's current bureaucratic efficiency—or lack thereof.
What infuriated her even more was that they didn't even bother to address her concerns seriously. Instead, they brushed her off, sending a couple of inexperienced recruits to deal with her inquiries. The blatant disrespect was unbearable.
"If we had known sooner, we should have sent all these opportunists to the front lines as cannon fodder."
In the past, such trivial matters never required her attention—those beneath her rank would have handled them swiftly and discreetly.
These issues would never have even reached her ears.
"Koharu, this is reality."
The Sandaime sighed, his voice heavy with understanding. He was far more aware of the situation than she was.
For years, they had sat in positions of power, shielded from the shifting undercurrents. Their subordinates had concealed much from them, either out of loyalty or self-interest.
And under their protection, their clansmen had grown complacent—spoiled even—creating trouble without fear of consequences.
After his resignation, old grievances resurfaced, and many individuals were swiftly imprisoned.
That, however, was only a minor issue.
The real problem lay in the village's supply chains—many of which had previously been controlled by their clans—now needing new providers.
Their clans's income plummeted, and a significant number of their members were purged from government offices and key management positions.
Having grown accustomed to a life of comfort, many of them were now unfit for the high-intensity combat missions required of active shinobi. Left without positions or purpose, they lingered idly within the clan.
"We'll have to get used to this new way of life," Sarutobi muttered.
There was no other choice. They were no longer the ones in power, and the privileges that never truly belonged to them had inevitably slipped away.
"Though our clan is struggling more than before, at least the Hokage hasn't gone out of his way to suppress us—that's something to be grateful for."
After all, they knew better than anyone how they had treated the Uchiha in the past.
During the Uchiha clan's most difficult times, their financial resources had been completely drained. They were so strapped for funds that even purchasing kunai and shuriken from Granny Cat had to be done on credit.
Now that the Uchiha were in power, it was a testament to Hokage Toshiro's restraint that he hadn't retaliated in kind.
"You should also advise the clansmen to conduct themselves properly. After this, the Hokage's tolerance toward us won't last forever," Sarutobi Hiruzen warned.
He understood the situation well—Toshiro had only recently taken office, and launching a purge against his political opponents would have been neither wise nor practical. For now, he had chosen restraint.
But as time passed and his position solidified, that patience would wane.
If certain individuals continued to stir up trouble and remain in Toshiro's sights, there would be consequences. Severe ones.
With that, Sarutobi Hiruzen tightened his grip on his pipe, turned away from his old allies, and disappeared into the bustling streets.
Those left behind—once powerful but now stripped of authority—stood in silence, exchanging uncertain glances, their sense of loss and helplessness unmistakable.
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