An ANBU ninja swiftly located Senju Hashirama, who was leisurely wandering outside the village as if he had nothing important to worry about. Without a word, the masked ninja gestured toward the Hokage Office, signaling him to follow.
Hashirama blinked, then nodded cheerfully and walked inside.
The moment he stepped through the door—
Bang!
The heavy wooden doors slammed shut behind him with lightning speed.
Outside, the ANBU ninja straightened his posture, standing guard with eyes lowered. In his heart, he repeated the sacred creed of survival:
I see nothing. I hear nothing. I know nothing.
After all, this involved Hokage-sama and Tobirama-sama.
Getting involved in disputes between those two brothers was a shortcut to an early grave.
---
Hashirama was startled by the sudden noise and instinctively turned around. Before he could speak, his gaze landed on the figure sitting behind the desk.
Senju Tobirama.
Or rather—
"Old Ghost Senju."
Tobirama sat upright, fingers interlocked, elbows resting lightly on the table. His posture was impeccable, radiating authority. His sharp crimson eyes were locked onto Hashirama with a cold, oppressive stare.
The atmosphere was heavy.
Oppressive.
Dangerous.
Hashirama immediately sensed that something was wrong.
Under normal circumstances, whenever Tobirama wore that expression, it meant only one thing—
He was about to be scolded into isolation.
Hashirama scratched his head awkwardly and forced a laugh.
"Tobirama, what's with that face? You just got back and you're already working? You should rest a bit. Health is important, you know!"
"Big Brother."
Tobirama's voice was calm, but the chill in it made the air feel colder.
"Stop dodging the issue."
"While I was away from Konoha, did something happen here… something you deliberately hid from me?"
"Do you have any idea what kind of consequences your actions could bring to Konoha's future?"
Hashirama stiffened.
Then, as if suddenly struck by inspiration, he waved his hands quickly.
"Ah—no, no! Nothing like that! I haven't even gone to the gambling houses recently!"
Tobirama's eyes narrowed.
Enough.
He slammed his palm lightly onto the desk.
"Did you secretly release the assassin from Takigakure?"
The room fell silent.
Hashirama's smile froze.
"You are the Hokage of Konoha," Tobirama continued, his voice rising with restrained fury.
"You represent Konoha's authority and dignity!"
"Takigakure dared to send an assassin to kill you—and you chose to conceal it?"
"What if something had gone wrong?!"
"What would Konoha have done then?!"
Tobirama's patience had clearly reached its limit.
This matter had to be pursued to the end.
Who planned it.
Who ordered it.
Who carried it out.
Every single person involved had to be dragged into the light—and executed.
Konoha's authority was not negotiable.
"Tobirama… I'm fine."
Hashirama raised both hands placatingly.
"I didn't mean to hide it from you."
He sighed and rubbed the back of his head.
"At that time, negotiations between Akatsuki Ninja Village and Kumogakure were at a critical stage. If news spread that the Hokage of Konoha was nearly assassinated by a Takigakure ninja…"
"Who knows what kind of chaos it would have caused?"
"That's why I had no choice but to suppress the information."
Hashirama wasn't foolish.
He was simply kind.
During the Warring States Period, if a clan leader was targeted for assassination, retaliation was inevitable. Blood would be repaid with blood.
And that was precisely what he wanted to avoid.
After speaking, Hashirama laughed heartily and flexed his arm theatrically.
"See? Perfectly fine!"
"I didn't even lose a hair."
Tobirama looked at him.
And felt utterly helpless.
"Big Brother… I don't want to hear your explanations."
"You're always like this."
He closed his eyes briefly, then reopened them.
"This matter will be handled seriously."
"I will take full responsibility."
"You don't need to interfere. Just watch."
Hashirama's smile slowly faded.
"…Then what do you plan to do?"
He already knew the answer.
"According to the rules of the Warring States Period," Tobirama said coldly,
"Unauthorized assassination of a clan leader is an act of war."
"Even if Ninja Clans have become Ninja Villages, that rule has never changed."
"Konoha must declare war on Takigakure."
Hashirama's eyes widened.
"War?!"
"Tobirama, isn't that too extreme?"
"I wasn't even injured!"
"Akatsuki and Kumogakure only just stopped fighting. The Ninja World has finally regained peace."
"Do you really want to destroy it with our own hands?"
"Why not negotiate first? Maybe there's a misunderstanding!"
Tobirama stared at him in disbelief.
"Big Brother… when will you finally wake up?"
"This is a life-and-death issue!"
"Konoha's dignity has been trampled."
"If we don't retaliate, how will Konoha's ninja survive in this world?"
"With our strength, Takigakure can be crushed in days."
"The scale is controllable."
"This war will be brief."
Hashirama shook his head violently.
"No. Absolutely not."
"Anything but war."
"The civilians and ordinary ninja of Takigakure are innocent."
"War will only create more hatred."
"Punish the ringleaders—that is enough."
His voice was firm.
This was the nightmare of the Warring States Period.
Strong clans bullying weaker ones.
Hatred breeding hatred.
An endless cycle.
He had ended that era once.
He would not stain his hands again.
Konoha's power existed to protect, not to oppress.
After a long silence, Hashirama spoke again.
"If Konoha needs an explanation…"
"Let Takigakure execute those truly responsible."
"That will end this."
Tobirama fell silent.
Ringleaders?
He almost laughed.
The assassin was nothing more than a disposable pawn.
The true masterminds were Takigakure's leadership.
Sacrificing one ninja meant nothing.
What Tobirama wanted was prestige.
The kind forged through blood and fear.
Just like Akatsuki Ninja Village.
Just like Uchiha Makoto.
Big Brother's plan was naïve to the point of absurdity.
Yet—
Tobirama said nothing.
Hashirama had already made up his mind.
Negotiations.
Dialogue.
Understanding.
Foolish fantasies.
The world did not operate that way.
If a powerful village didn't use its strength, what was the point of having it?
Tch.
Big Brother…
You don't look like a Hokage at all.
"Tobirama?" Hashirama asked carefully.
"What do you think?"
Tobirama forced a calm expression.
"I'll… think about it."
But inside, a plan was already forming.
If news of the assassination spread—
If public opinion ignited—
The villagers would demand blood.
And when that happened…
What choice would the Hokage have?
Forgive me, Big Brother.
All of this… is for Konoha.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)