Izuna Uchiha broke away from Madara's side, his eyes burning with intensity as he looked directly at Hashirama Senju.
"Brother Hashirama, do you still remember," Izuna began, his voice steady but filled with restrained fury, "when the Hidden Leaf Village was first established, you and that bastard Tobirama were discussing my brother Madara's candidacy for Hokage in your office?"
Hashirama paused, his brows furrowing as he searched his memory. After a moment, he nodded slowly, recalling faint traces of that day.
"Yes… I remember. What of it?"
Izuna's eyes darkened further, his voice now sharper. "At that time, didn't you want my elder brother Madara to become Hokage? But that bastard Tobirama accused you of making the decision alone. He told you your opinion wasn't enough, that the choice must follow democracy—that the voices of the people had to decide!"
He clenched his fists, his Sharingan glowing faintly.
"More importantly, Tobirama said something unforgivable: that for the Uchiha clan, the stronger the hatred, the stronger the power—especially the Sharingan! He implied that if Madara were chosen as Hokage, no one could predict how the Uchiha clan would react!"
Hashirama's lips pressed into a thin line. He remembered Tobirama's warnings well, but hearing them again from Izuna made his heart ache.
Izuna's voice grew louder, echoing with bitterness. "And Tobirama also said that you, Hashirama Senju, were the greatest contributor to the founding of Konoha. Even the Uchiha clan thought so. Therefore, he claimed it was impossible for my elder brother to become Hokage. He said Madara could only be nominated as a candidate, but the final choice would be left to the Land of Fire's Daimyō and the other leaders of the village!"
Hashirama's shoulders stiffened as the memory came back in full. Yes… he and Tobirama had quarreled fiercely that day about Madara's right to the Hokage seat.
Izuna's voice cut through his thoughts. "Brother Hashirama, did you not sense at the time that someone was outside the window?"
Hashirama's eyes widened slightly—he had already guessed where this was going.
Izuna turned toward Tobirama, glaring. "Yes. It was my elder brother Madara. He was standing outside that window. He heard everything you and Tobirama said!"
Hashirama inhaled sharply.
Izuna sneered with disgust, his voice shaking. "At that time, Hashirama, you even asked Tobirama if he had sensed anyone nearby. Tobirama replied that he hadn't used his chakra senses. A blatant lie!"
His finger pointed like a blade at Tobirama.
"Do you really believe that? Tobirama knew my brother was there. He deliberately allowed him to hear those words!"
Hashirama's heart pounded. His memory flashed: the open window, the leaf with a hole in its center. He had picked it up, only to find it sliced in half.
Hashirama turned toward his younger brother, his voice trembling with anger.
"Tobirama… what Izuna says—is it true?"
Tobirama exhaled slowly, his face cold and unyielding. He didn't deny it.
"Yes," Tobirama admitted flatly. "I sensed him. And yes, I said those words on purpose. But tell me, was I wrong? Look at the countless disasters the Uchiha clan has brought to the world!"
"Enough!" Madara snapped, pulling Izuna back. "Izuna, stop!"
But Izuna shoved Madara's hand away, his eyes blazing. "No! I'm going to say it!"
He turned back to Hashirama, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion.
"Hashirama, after your persuasion, my brother still hoped to become Hokage. He wanted to dedicate himself to protecting the village—to transform the guilt and burden of the Uchiha into a desire to safeguard Konoha! But Tobirama… Tobirama's hatred was too deep. To avoid embarrassing you, my brother disappeared."
Izuna's words hit Hashirama like kunai to the chest.
"And you know what happened after that!" Izuna shouted. "Because Madara stepped away, Tobirama seized power. The Uchiha were forced into becoming the Police Force. The people of the village grew fearful, alienated us, treated us as a curse! Eventually, the Uchiha planned a coup—and what was the result? Our clan was exterminated!"
His voice cracked with fury and grief. "So tell me, Hashirama… whose fault was it?!"
Madara turned his back, his silence speaking louder than words.
Yes. He had been outside that window, listening. Every poisonous word had pierced his heart. Tobirama's deep prejudice against the Uchiha had shattered him. To spare Hashirama further conflict, he had abandoned his dream of Hokage, disappearing from Konoha.
Hashirama clenched his fists, staring at Madara's back. He knew Izuna spoke the truth.
"Damn it!" Hashirama growled, his body trembling with regret. He stormed toward Tobirama, rage overtaking him.
"Tobirama! Go to Madara and admit your mistake!"
Tobirama's eyes narrowed, his voice sharp with defiance.
"Admit my mistake? What mistake? I wanted to protect Konoha! What's wrong with that? Wasn't I right? The Uchiha themselves are cursed by hatred. They are born evil!"
"You still dare say that?"
Hashirama's anger exploded. With a furious roar, he slapped Tobirama across the face.
Smack!
The sound echoed through the chamber.
Tobirama froze, stunned. His Edo Tensei body felt no pain, but the humiliation cut deeper than any wound.
His elder brother—Hashirama—had never struck him, not even when alive. And now, in death, in front of others, he had been slapped.
His pride burned.
"You…" Tobirama's voice shook with fury as he pointed at Izuna. "Fine! Everything he says is right. Then recognize him as your brother instead!"
Without another word, Tobirama's form flickered away in a Body Flicker, vanishing from sight.
"Nidaime!" Hiruzen Sarutobi reached out, desperate to stop him, but Tobirama was already gone.
Minato Namikaze sighed heavily. "The grudges between Konoha's founders… run far too deep."
Madara walked up to Hashirama, his expression unreadable. "Hashirama, go after him. This rift between you two cannot remain."
But Hashirama shook his head, still trembling with anger. "No. Let him go. He's no child. He made the mistake, and still refuses to admit it! I will not chase after him."
Turning to Izuna, his eyes softened with sorrow.
"Izuna, I'm sorry. As his elder brother, I failed to guide him properly. I should have restrained him. I should have restrained your brother. If only I had stopped him then… there would have been no chaos in the ninja world. No tragedy for the Uchiha clan…"
Izuna exhaled slowly, recognizing the sincerity in Hashirama's tone.
"Brother Hashirama, you are kind and honest. But sometimes, you listen too much to others. With your strength, combined with my brother's… the two of you together could have crushed the Four Great Nations with ease. Instead, you allowed Tobirama's words to weigh too heavily on your heart."
Madara chuckled softly at his brother's bluntness. "He's right. You're far too peace-loving, Hashirama. You're willing to sacrifice everything for harmony, even if it makes you look weak."
Hashirama rolled his eyes. "You two brothers… always ganging up on me."
Izuna and Madara exchanged a glance, then laughed quietly.
But Madara's face turned serious again as he looked Hashirama in the eye. "Still… go speak to Tobirama. He is the Second Hokage. You humiliated him in front of the Third and the Fourth. His pride won't allow this wound to heal easily."
Hashirama, however, was still consumed with anger. "No. He must reflect. His prejudice poisoned this village from the very beginning. His hatred for the Uchiha tainted everything, and his influence spread to those who followed him."
His fists trembled. "Sarutobi was at least tempered by compassion. But Danzo… Danzo was Tobirama's true successor. His obsession with protecting the village at any cost was Tobirama's legacy. That obsession is what ultimately destroyed the Uchiha clan."
Hashirama bit his lip, regret washing over him.
"If only I had known Madara was outside that window… I would have forced him to become Hokage. I would have kept him close, where his love for the village could grow. With me by his side as his adviser, Black Zetsu would never have ensnared him. The Uchiha would have been integrated, cherished, instead of cast aside. Everything could have been different!"
His voice cracked, his eyes full of pain.
Madara sighed deeply. "Then I'll go. There is a deep misunderstanding between Tobirama and myself. It should be me who resolves it."
Neither Izuna nor Hashirama objected, though their expressions remained troubled.
Meanwhile, far outside the village, Tobirama walked alone down a dirt road, his steps heavy with anger and humiliation. His mind replayed the slap over and over.
His foot caught on a stone, and he nearly stumbled.
Snarling, he turned and kicked it aside with all his frustration.
"Damn Uchiha… cursed from birth… born evil!"
His bitter words echoed into the lonely night.
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