After Danzo's awkward summary of Jinghang and Tsunade's "love story," Hashirama and Tobirama Senju finally pieced together the family connections.
Hashirama, ever the optimist, didn't even think about the war at first. Instead, he gave Jinghang a thorough once-over.
The kid looked… pretty good. Bright eyes, confident posture, sharp but respectful. Honestly, he seemed clever and full of energy. For his gambling-addict granddaughter, Tsunade, he wasn't a bad match.
Hashirama even had a stray thought—maybe Tsunade had gambled away Sunagakure's fortune, and now they were here for revenge?
"Since we're all family—"
Sensing his brother was about to derail things, Tobirama cut in sharply.
"Why have you brought an army against Konoha?!"
Now that was a loaded question. Family or not, why come here to fight? Tobirama's eyes flashed cold, arms crossed, index finger raised ever so slightly—a clear threat.
So that's how it is? Jinghang's irritation started to simmer.
He'd been respectful from the start, calling them "grandpa" at every turn. Now Tobirama was acting like he was ready to throw down, all because of "attacking Konoha." Who was he trying to scare? Jinghang wouldn't have backed down from the living Tobirama, let alone a reanimated one.
His expression hardened. "Lord Tobirama, it seems you haven't caught up on the situation yet. Why don't you ask your Fourth Hokage, Danzo Shimura, who started this war?"
"Hm?"
Hashirama and Tobirama turned their attention to Danzo.
Danzo's eyes darted away. The script had completely spun out of his control. This wasn't how Orochimaru's Living Dead Plan was supposed to go. Weren't they supposed to fight first and ask questions later? Instead, they were trading family ties and arguments—would the next step be a dinner party to settle old grudges? If talking solved everything, why bother summoning the Senju brothers?
Danzo tried to wriggle out, but Jinghang—master of the verbal battlefield—wasn't about to let him get a word in.
"A year ago, Konoha allied with Iwagakure to launch an unprovoked invasion of Sunagakure. Over thirty thousand ninja attacked our borders in three columns. Our people fought desperately for a year. Our counterattack into Konoha was pure self-defense—payback, plain and simple!"
"Hm?"
Hashirama and Tobirama looked at Danzo again, who was now sweating bullets, like a kid caught sneaking online.
"That… that's because your Sunagakure doesn't honor the Six Paths inheritance, doesn't respect ninja tradition…"
"Cut the crap."
Jinghang cut him off, zero patience for Danzo's tired excuses.
"What nonsense. You do your missions, I run my business—live and let live. Sunagakure doesn't owe you anything. How we survive is none of your business! Not every ninja who's different from you deserves to die!"
Danzo, realizing he couldn't win the argument, switched to pure stubbornness.
"Your Sunagakure abandoned the Sage's way, undermined the ninja lifestyle, followed crooked paths, shirked proper duties, and now you want to drag the whole ninja world into ruin. You're evil! You're reactionary!"
The speed, the drama, the wounded pride—Danzo's rant was worthy of a soap opera.
Jinghang didn't bother to respond, just threw an arm around the Third Raikage and watched Danzo's solo performance with a smirk. They were all old foxes—everyone knew how these games were played.
Hashirama and Tobirama finally understood. Konoha's current leaders had picked a fight with Sunagakure, lost, and now summoned them to clean up the mess. Embarrassing didn't even begin to cover it.
The two brothers exchanged a look and sighed.
What kind of karma was this? Even in death, they had to bail out these idiots.
But the problem still needed solving. Konoha was their legacy, after all.
"Enough!" Hashirama barked, cutting off Danzo's endless rant. Instantly, Danzo shut up.
Hashirama turned to Jinghang, his tone much warmer.
"Um… grandson-in-law?"
He couldn't quite remember Jinghang's name.
Jinghang straightened, respectful. "My name is Jinghang."
Hashirama nodded. "Right, Jinghang. I think I get the gist. Konoha was in the wrong, but war is never a good thing. In the end, it's the civilians who suffer. I came up through the Warring States era—I know how precious peace is. For my sake, could both sides lay down arms and make peace? I'll even bow to you as an apology…"
He bent his knees, about to bow.
Jinghang moved in a flash, stopping him. No way was he letting the God of Shinobi bow to him—Tsunade would kill him for that alone.
"Don't embarrass yourself, bowing to a junior," Tobirama said, quickly coming over to help his brother up. He eyed Jinghang with new interest.
Why did that movement look so much like my Flying Thunder God?
Maybe the kid really did have some skills.
"Can't we just stop fighting?" Hashirama's face was practically mournful.
"Big brother, can't you talk like a normal person?" Tobirama grumbled, then turned to Jinghang.
"Jinghang, do you intend to destroy Konoha?"
Now that was the right question—straight to the heart of the matter.
Jinghang glanced at the Third Raikage, who just shook his head and shrugged.
"We have no such intention."
Tobirama relaxed, lowering his hands. "Wars have to end eventually. No matter whose fault, there has to be negotiation, right?"
Jinghang spread his hands. "Nobody said we couldn't talk! Our Wind-Cloud Alliance has been camped outside Konoha for over half a year, just waiting for you to come to the table. You can't expect the victim to come knocking, can you?
Ask Danzo over there—did he ever send anyone to negotiate? No, he just kept launching attacks on our camps. Isn't that a message that he wants to fight to the bitter end?"
Hashirama and Tobirama looked at Danzo again.
How were they supposed to play this hand?
Danzo stiffened, refusing to back down.
"You Wind-Cloud Alliance have our village surrounded, and you've bombed Konoha with flying puppets over and over. You haven't shown the slightest sign of wanting peace. How could we negotiate?"
Jinghang just smiled.
"If you don't send envoys, that means the war isn't over. So I can only assume you mean to fight to the end. In that case, I'll keep fighting. You're not my son—I have no reason to spoil you."
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