Hiruzen's idea was a good one. Even Tobirama had to admit it was more honorable than whatever half-baked scheme Danzo was cooking up. When Hiruzen proposed it, everyone in the tent nodded in agreement.
Konoha, after all, was supposed to be on the side of peace. And really, it wasn't technically using Lord Emiya... The man was a pacifist, wasn't he? He'd surely jump at the chance to stop a war.
"Speaking of which," said Akimichi Torifu, his chubby face wrinkling up like a steamed bun, "what kind of favor did Iwagakure owe Lord Emiya, anyway?"
"Just a case of his overflowing, and frankly, misplaced sympathy," Danzo grumbled, clearly annoyed at the memory. "Back in the day, Iwagakure tried to seal the Four-Tails for the first time. It went about as well as you'd expect. The beast went on a rampage, lots of casualties."
"So Lord Emiya treated the injured?"
Danzo nodded, his displeasure obvious. "If I'd known this would happen, I would have told him to let them sort it out themselves. Hmph."
A hollow threat, of course. The ones who came begging for help were the current Second Tsuchikage, Mu, and his pint-sized, melon-headed apprentice. As if Danzo could have influenced Shirou's decision anyway.
"Then let's go with Hiruzen's idea for now," Tobirama said, already writing a letter. He was confident Shirou would agree to mediate.
"Lord Hokage!" Just then, a ninja burst in. "An envoy from Kumogakure has arrived!"
A ripple of surprise went through the tent. The forces of Kumo, Iwa, and Konoha were currently locked in a three-way standoff, each village just waiting for an excuse to pounce on the other two. Iwagakure had the numbers, which was why Konoha was so keen to avoid a direct conflict.
The Kumo envoy's arrival was... unexpected. Sure, Hashirama had helped them out with Madara and the Eight-Tails once, but in a war like this, past favors weren't worth as much as cold, hard interests.
"Let him in," Tobirama said, sealing his letter. "It seems Iwagakure's troop count isn't just our problem." As expected, the Kumo envoy's purpose was to propose an alliance. With Iwa's massive army, the war had spun out of control, and Kumo was feeling the heat.
"The Second Raikage is very grateful for the First Hokage's past kindness," the envoy began, his posture surprisingly deferential. "He hopes our villages can unite to maintain peace on this continent. Kumogakure is prepared to announce an alliance ceremony to the public."
It sounded sincere. In this era, no country took its credibility lightly, especially not the economically booming Land of Lightning. The terms were too good to refuse.
"Konoha agrees," Tobirama said, his voice unusually gentle, though still laced with its characteristic gravity. "This alliance is very beneficial to the peace of the ninja world. That peace will now depend on you, Your Excellency."
After the envoy left, a stunned silence fell over the tent. "So," Mitokado Homura finally said, "if we're allying with Kumo, what's next?"
"Send this to Lord Emiya," Tobirama said, handing the letter to an ANBU. "An alliance with Kumogakure gives us more leverage. Lord Emiya's favor will be the perfect excuse for Iwagakure to back down without losing face."
He glanced at the young shinobi around him. "Monkey, Danzo, Koharu, Homura, Torifu, Kagami. Get ready. You're coming with me to the ceremony." This was his Hokage Guard, the future of Konoha. He wanted Kumo to see the talent Konoha was fielding.
Meanwhile, at Konoha Hospital, things were quiet. Tsunade and Sakumo were both busy, leaving Shirou with a rare moment of peace. It was broken by Tobirama's letter. As he read it, his brow furrowed.
For the sake of my belief in peace, he wants me to persuade Iwagakure to a truce?
"Who wrote this?" Shirou asked the ANBU, genuinely questioning the sender's intelligence, and by extension, what the sender thought of his intelligence
. Have I started to look like a fool? Or has victory gone to this guy's head?
"Lord Second Hokage wrote it himself, sir," the ANBU replied, a little confused.
Did he forget to sign it?
"His handwriting is good," Shirou said, folding the letter. "Go back and tell Tobirama I've received it." After the ANBU relayed the news of the Kumo alliance and left, Shirou felt a familiar presence. A black shadow slowly emerged from the ground.
It was Black Zetsu, practically vibrating with impatience.
Shirou, however, just waved the letter. "Black Zetsu," he said, a rare, sunny smile on his face, "it seems this war is finally coming to an end."
"This is not the end, it is the beginning," Black Zetsu's voice was a sinister, hoarse whisper. "This war has only demonstrated how short-sighted these chakra-wielding monkeys are."
"The real chaos has just begun. Just as the Warring States began after Asura's death, a new era will begin after Hashirama's. A Great Ninja War. Greed will be unleashed, human nature will become more and more distorted, and precious lives will become more and more cheap."
As it spoke, a sick pleasure filled Black Zetsu. It loved criticizing this era in front of Shirou, just as it had criticized the Sage and Asura for the thousand-year Warring States period.
It could almost see the suppressed pain deep in Shirou's eyes. What a wonderful taste! It was a delicacy it had been waiting to savor.
Don't expect humanity to save itself! Only the Rabbit Goddess can change everything!
Even if Shirou saved a hundred, a thousand people, the war would repay his efforts with the deaths of ten thousand more.
"War never ends," Black Zetsu concluded. "When humans hold sharp weapons and start the first war, the smoke of the next has already begun to rise."
Shirou sighed. He kind of regretted it. Black Zetsu was getting more and more long-winded, nagging him at every opportunity.
Does this guy have no one else to talk to?
It seemed he really didn't. No wonder he was always in Shirou's non-existent ear.
Fortunately, Black Zetsu finally got to the point. "Wei Yuan, Madara Uchiha has been wanting to see you. From the first day of the war. He is more eager than ever before! He's hiding at the tombstone on Konoha's back mountain! Let's go meet him. Only we can change this twisted world."
Shirou didn't really want to. Black Zetsu hadn't said why, but he could guess.
Probably wants to gloat over Hashirama's grave and mock his naive ideals.
That fellow Madara didn't seem to have many people to talk to either.
The facts proved Shirou right. Madara was even more rampant than he'd imagined, his wild laughter echoing through the cemetery. "Do you see, Hashirama! The people you wanted to protect are dying in the war we tried so hard to end! Your precious order is nothing but a pile of rubble!" How could he not gloat at a time like this? He knew Konoha was an empty city right now; no one could stop him.
After a long while, his laughter subsided. He wiped the dust from Hashirama's tombstone, cleaning the photo. "How fragile, Hashirama. What a pity you're already dead. Even mocking you now feels... meaningless."
A wicked smile played on his lips. "But don't worry. I will change this world. I will achieve true peace, just as we promised as children. A peace ten thousand times more solid than the castle you built on sand." He looked at the smiling photo. "Hmph. Forget it. You won't argue with me anymore. Staring at a dead thing is getting dull."
Just then, footsteps. Madara wasn't surprised. He knew who it was. "Has the busy Lord Emiya from Konoha Hospital finally found time to visit Hashirama?" he said with a light smile. "I wanted to see you at the beginning of the war, but it seems you were busy with the casualties."
"You should have chosen to stand on my side. You've done enough for Hashirama. At least I, like him, also want to achieve peace." His words came to an abrupt halt. Shirou's expression was solemn. He held a bouquet of white flowers, which he placed carefully in front of the tombstone.
"I am leaving Konoha," Shirou said, his voice soft, as if speaking to both Hashirama and Madara. "Tobirama sent a letter. He wants me to help persuade Iwagakure to a truce."
"Hmph. That insidious villain's use of you has truly reached its peak," Madara sneered. "A meaningless act. A war will not stop just because of a few words from you."
He paused, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "Even if this war subsides, hatred will remain. The next war is ultimately unavoidable."
Shirou just looked at the photo. "I know," his gaze was serene. "But one has to do something, right? I will soon return to the Pure Land. If the last sight I see of this world is its fragmentation, it would be... regrettable."
"Lord Emiya," Madara began, his frustration evident, but Shirou cut him off.
"I know what you want to say." A hint of blackness appeared at Shirou's fingertips, growing deeper, flowing like liquid, and finally detaching from his arm. "Don't worry, Madara. I know what you want. My medical arts are probably of no interest to you. Perhaps the only valuable thing I have left is the advantage of being born in the ancient era."
"I have condensed a wisp of my past thoughts into this creation of Yin-Yang Release. It was once my will to change the ninja world. Consider it a gift. Whether it's my research on the Rinnegan or the secrets of the ancient era, it should be enough to benefit you."
A look of wild joy flashed in Madara's eyes. This... this would save him from so many detours!
"Its name is Black Zetsu," Shirou said calmly, telling Madara a colossal, magnificent lie. "It is my past will to change the ninja world. Its abilities are very special and should be able to help you."
His gaze moved from Black Zetsu to Madara. "Madara, I hope you can surpass Hashirama and change this world that he and I were powerless to change."