These words from Obito made Senju Hashirama frown too, but compared to Senju Tobirama, he was much more rational in such matters.
He only asked, "Why must you start a war? Isn't a peaceful life better?"
Obito suddenly had the urge to change Hashirama's mind.
He imitated the mannerisms of the past Five Kage Summit, slowly sitting down, "Originally I was just here to drop someone off and leave, but now, let's take our time to talk."
Senju Hashirama couldn't help but glance at Tobirama. He wasn't sure if Tobirama was willing to wait.
However, surprisingly, Tobirama had no objections this time, only saying, "Then let's take our time to talk."
As someone with extremely high intelligence, Tobirama immediately realized one issue: Obito, who possessed extremely powerful space-time ninjutsu, would cause immense destruction on the battlefield.
And since he was the one who started the war, at this very moment, stalling him was more important than anything else.
Hashirama was stunned. He hadn't expected his usually decisive younger brother to be so agreeable.
However, Obito had already guessed Senju Tobirama's thoughts, but he didn't mind, and simply began to speak.
"First Hokage, I must first acknowledge one thing: back in the chaotic Warring States period, your idea to end the chaos, establish a village, and maintain peace was truly admirable."
"But there's a problem here, have you ever thought about what the fundamental foundation of your ability to end the war and build a village was? Was it your ideology of peace… or your unparalleled, overwhelming strength?"
Senju Hashirama hadn't expected Obito to ask such a question and couldn't help but ponder.
Afterward, he still said, "Though strength can't be ignored, I believe what truly earned people's acceptance was the ideology."
Obito nodded, "That's not wrong, after all, pure strength can't accomplish everything."
"But…"
Obito continued, "The other four great nations also followed your example and established their own villages. They negotiated peace with Konoha and eventually agreed to your requests. Do you think it was because they accepted your ideology, or because they were intimidated by your strength?"
Senju Hashirama replied honestly, "Of course they accepted my ideology. I even kowtowed to them using the same method I tried to reform Madara."
This sentence made Senju Tobirama's expression turn strange.
Obito chuckled lightly, "Is that really how it was?"
Senju Hashirama laughed, "Of course!"
Obito said, "Then did you ever think about the consequences if they refused your request?"
Senju Hashirama replied in confusion, "If they refused, we'd just keep talking. I wouldn't hurt them."
Obito sighed, "First Hokage, you've never been on the weaker side. You've never understood the mindset of the weak."
"You kowtowed, yet in the eyes of the rulers of the other four great ninja villages, that was an enormous pressure. If they continued to oppose you, it would be seen as not knowing their place."
"Besides, even if you were easy to talk to, Uchiha Madara wasn't. What if negotiations broke down and Madara attacked them directly?"
"In such a situation, could you stop it?"
Without thinking, Senju Hashirama said, "Of course I could."
However, he immediately lost confidence.
Obito said, "If you could, Madara wouldn't have left the village later on, and wouldn't have come back with the Nine-Tails to attack the village."
"First Hokage, human hearts aren't as simple as you imagine, even Madara's."
Hashirama nodded, acknowledging his mistake, "You're right. In that regard, I was wrong."
Obito continued, "That's the only thing you were wrong about?"
He suddenly said, "Why did you capture the Nine Tailed Beasts? Seal them and enslave them?"
Senju Hashirama replied, "Because the power of the Tailed Beasts is too strong. While I can manage it, not everyone has my power. I couldn't just let them run wild in the ninja world."
Obito's tone grew more mocking, "As far as I know, the nine Tailed Beasts were created by the Sage of Six Paths himself. Like the Sage, they are innately kind and love peace. Compared to humans, who have waged wars from ancient times to now, they've actually caused very little destruction to the ninja world, living quietly and freely."
"When you captured them, did you ever think about this? Did you ask for their opinion? You always talk about loving peace, yet you personally attacked beings that also love peace. How domineering, tyrannical, and unreasonable that was."
Senju Hashirama froze, 'They're just beasts, right? Do you really have to reason with them?'
He couldn't help but refute:, "But the Nine-Tails…"
Obito interrupted, "The real troublemaker was Uchiha Madara. The Nine-Tails was controlled by him, what evil intent could it possibly have on its own?"
"Hashirama, I'll ask you again, why did you capture the nine Tailed Beasts? Repeat what you just said."
Senju Hashirama suddenly felt guilty, "Because… they possess powerful strength, and I wasn't sure…"
Obito mocked, "Exactly. As long as one possesses great power, regardless of whether they desire peace, in your eyes, they are unstable elements that must be enslaved and oppressed."
After pausing for a moment, Obito said loudly, "Senju Hashirama, your power is too great, especially your Hashirama cells, which are extremely dangerous. Several of Konoha's crises can all be traced back to someone obtaining your cells."
"So for the peace of the ninja world, and the stability of Konoha, you should have been captured back then, smashed to pieces, ground to dust, and nothing should have been left behind."
At the side, Senju Tobirama angrily shouted, "You evil Uchiha, you—"
However, Senju Hashirama looked a little dejected and said, "Tobirama, was I really wrong?"
Senju Tobirama was instantly speechless. After a while, he said, "Big Brother, you weren't wrong. But at the time, the four great ninja villages did indeed submit to your power. As soon as you died, they couldn't wait to start another war."
Senju Hashirama said, "Then what about the matter with the Tailed Beasts…"
Tobirama glanced at Obito and coldly said, "Powerful strength must naturally be controlled by ourselves. Otherwise, no one can guarantee whether it will become a threat to us. Big Brother, you weren't wrong."
However, having understood part of Obito's logic, Senju Hashirama began to reflect, "So, in others' eyes, I also count as powerful strength. Should I be controlled by them for them to feel at ease?"
Senju Tobirama hurriedly said, "Big Brother, don't fall into the enemy's rhetoric. After all, everything you did was to protect the village's peace!"
At this time, Obito interrupted, "First Hokage, your actions weren't wrong. What was wrong was that your thoughts and actions didn't match."
"You clearly practiced the way of power, yet you kept preaching peace. You clearly had your own stance and interests, yet you insisted on dragging everyone else to think from your perspective and interests."
"First Hokage, in the physical knowledge compiled by Konoha's scientists, I saw a core principle, force is mutual."
"You, who were called the 'God of Shinobi,' could bear that title only because… you regarded yourself as a god, standing high above and looking down on everything."
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y