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Chapter 272 - The Hokage Are Divided

"Otherwise, the Sage of Six Paths could have acted personally and suppressed the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren."

After saying that, Hashirama could not help showing a faint smile of relief.

What else could he say?

When he had previously been revived through the Edo Tensei arranged by the Great Toad Sage, he had already witnessed how terrifying Uchiha Ren was.

Now, after being revived again by Madara, he had not expected Ren to grow to this level in just a few years.

Even the Sage of Six Paths did not dare appear casually and had instead sent the Great Toad Sage to seek cooperation with Madara.

Because of that, Hashirama felt strangely proud.

Konoha was better than ever.

The Fifth Hokage was stronger than ever.

As Konoha's First Hokage, how could Hashirama not feel pleased?

In truth, Hashirama had always felt as if someone was watching him.

Back during the Warring States era, he had actually considered leading Konoha to unite the entire shinobi world, merging Iwagakure, the Hidden Rain Village, Kirigakure, Sunagakure, and Kumogakure to create lasting peace.

But for some reason, whenever that thought appeared, he would feel an invisible sense of danger.

It was as if unifying the shinobi world would bring disaster upon him and Konoha.

So Hashirama had wisely hidden his ambition and even distributed the tailed beasts among the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Only then did that faint sense of being watched slowly disappear.

Now that he thought about it, that feeling had likely come from the Sage of Six Paths.

It had been a warning.

If Hashirama tried to unify the shinobi world, he would die.

But now, Uchiha Ren had appeared as an anomaly.

Even the Sage of Six Paths was helpless against him and had to send the Great Toad Sage to seek Madara's cooperation.

What a joke.

In simple terms, the Sage of Six Paths had manipulated the shinobi world from behind the scenes for so many years.

In the end, Uchiha Ren had overturned the entire game.

"Hahaha! Brother, you're right."

Tobirama immediately laughed.

"Konoha has the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren. No wonder even the Sage of Six Paths has a headache."

"More than a headache."

Minato smiled faintly, then added, "To make Mount Myōboku stand against Konoha, the Sage of Six Paths really does have some ability."

After saying this, Minato's expression clearly became displeased.

After all, he had learned Sage Mode from Mount Myōboku.

Yet now, the Great Toad Sage had chosen the Sage of Six Paths' side and was preparing to stand against Konoha.

Minato found that difficult to accept.

But the truth was right in front of him.

Whether he accepted it or not, he had to.

"Hmph."

Hiruzen Sarutobi snorted coldly, a trace of resentment flashing through his eyes.

Unlike Hashirama, Tobirama, and Minato, who clearly leaned toward Uchiha Ren, Hiruzen had already chosen Madara's side.

After all, his reputation in Konoha was already ruined.

And with that giant screen hanging overhead, he might soon become a public disgrace, hated by everyone in the shinobi world.

So when he saw that even the Sage of Six Paths had acted, Hiruzen was excited.

In his eyes, with the Sage of Six Paths, the Great Toad Sage, and Uchiha Madara, three Six Paths-level forces together should be enough to suppress Uchiha Ren.

Perhaps Hashirama heard that cold snort.

His good mood instantly vanished.

Before Hiruzen could react, Hashirama appeared in front of him and slapped the left side of his face.

"Monkey, you really are stubborn beyond saving."

Seeing his brother move, Tobirama did not hesitate either.

He flashed forward and slapped the right side of Hiruzen's face.

Another crisp sound rang out.

Under countless gazes, two visible palm marks appeared on Hiruzen's face.

Hiruzen was stunned.

Completely stunned.

He stared blankly at Hashirama and Tobirama, opened his mouth, and wanted to speak, but no words came out.

He had been slapped.

In front of everyone.

If it had been anyone else, Hiruzen would already have exploded.

But against Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, no matter how angry he was, he could only endure it.

The only thing that made Hiruzen feel slightly better was that his body was an Edo Tensei body.

The palm marks disappeared after a few seconds.

"I didn't want to bother with what you've done," Hashirama said coldly. "But you really deserve to be taught a lesson."

"You truly brought shame to Konoha."

Tobirama's voice was even colder.

"I…"

In the end, Hiruzen lowered his head in humiliation.

He could not afford to provoke them, so he could only avoid them.

Deep down, however, Hiruzen still refused to accept it.

He still wanted to see Konoha destroyed by the combined power of the Great Toad Sage and Madara.

Of course, watching this little interlude, the Great Toad Sage, Fukasaku, and Shima all looked toward Hashirama, Tobirama, Hiruzen, and Minato with complicated expressions.

The Hokage of Konoha…

were truly not united at all.

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