Uchiha Ryun dragged Utakata, who was like a dead dog, out of Tsunade's courtyard and into the main compound of the Senju clan grounds.
Hashirama Senju frowned, his expression darkening as he looked at Uchiha Ryun. Uchiha Madara stepped in front of Ryun upon seeing this, and only then did Hashirama turn his head away, unable to bear the unpleasant sight.
But Uchiha Ryun laughed. "What? Has Lord Hashirama still not figured it out? Why don't you go ask the various clans whether they support or despise what I've done!"
"Hmph, needless to say, your actions have completely destroyed Konoha's image in one fell swoop!" Hashirama snorted coldly.
Tobirama Senju hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself. On one side was his naive older brother, on the other was Uchiha Ryun, who aligned with his own tastes. It was truly a difficult choice.
He could only sigh and say nothing. Not supporting his brother was already a form of support for Uchiha Ryun.
Uzumaki Mito frowned. "Hashirama, haven't you caused enough trouble? Why has Ryun done all this? Wasn't it all for your granddaughter and for Konoha?" She was helpless; her husband was stubborn to a fault.
"Konoha has always valued harmony above all. How could we do such a thing!" Hashirama snorted coldly.
Uchiha Madara became furious. "Enough! Hashirama, put away your unrealistic dream of peace! Do you still naively believe other nations will treat us as friends? Villages have no friends, only interests!"
Uchiha Izuna also nodded. "Hashirama, this child Ryun—we usually can't bear to scold him, because all his decisions benefit his own people."
"If a village always harshly criticizes its own people while currying favor with outsiders, then I think such a village has no reason to exist." Izuna's contemptuous words shocked everyone present.
But Uchiha Izuna didn't care. His own eldest grandson, whom he couldn't bear to scold—what right did you, Hashirama Senju, think you had?
Tobirama Senju nodded secretly in agreement. Everything Izuna said resonated with him. His older brother was indeed going too far!
At that moment, Uchiha Ryun laughed. He laughed heartily, then threw Utakata on the ground and stomped his head, crushing it.
Red and white matter splattered all over him, but he showed no reaction. Hashirama Senju, however, widened his eyes in shock. Uchiha Ryun had taken the tailed beast and then killed its host? This child's bloodlust was too heavy!
"Lord Hashirama, since I began leading troops in battle in the Land of Rain, I have fought in countless large and small battles. The blood on my hands exceeds ten thousand, yet the villagers do not despise me. On the contrary, they hold me in high esteem."
"Everyone recognizes me, recognizes Uchiha Ryun's philosophy: strike hard externally, unite and cooperate internally. Through war alone, Konoha has plundered nearly 3 billion ryo in funds."
"May I ask, without me, how long would it take for Lord Hashirama to obtain that amount without stealing or robbing? To put it another way, would you have to sell the Senju clan lands to scrape together 3 billion?"
Uchiha Ryun's words showed no mercy toward Hashirama Senju. Earlier, he had wanted to point at Hashirama's nose and curse. Bowing for peace, selling the hard-won tailed beasts—what kind of brain-dead move was that?
Hashirama Senju shook his head. "You are too obsessed with power. Peace obtained this way is not eternal. What happens after you die? When Konoha declines, you will be just as powerless. Only mutual understanding between people can…"
Before Hashirama could finish, Uchiha Ryun interrupted. "First, my Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan's ability is immortality. As long as my soul remains undestroyed, I am undying. Therefore, Konoha will be the strongest for generations to come!"
"Second, even if I weren't immortal, as someone of this generation, I would fight all the wars for the next generation, and the generation after that. I would batter the other nations into resource scarcity while ensuring Konoha's prosperity!"
Uchiha Ryun spoke resolutely. These words stirred tidal waves in the hearts of everyone present except Hashirama.
Fighting all the wars in this generation so that future generations could enjoy peace! What a lofty ideal—it made one's blood boil with excitement.
Uchiha Madara curled the corners of his mouth upward and snorted. "As expected of my eldest grandson. Your great-grandfather supports your idea. If anyone dares to cause trouble, I will personally deal with them."
After speaking, Uchiha Madara glanced at Hashirama Senju, his eyes filled with disappointment. Even after dying once, did Hashirama still not understand that the ninja world spoke the language of power? How disappointing.
Tobirama Senju broke his silence. He slowly walked toward Uchiha Izuna and Uchiha Madara, then turned to look at Hashirama Senju. Though he didn't speak, his actions had already made his stance clear.
"Brother, this time you are wrong. Uchiha Ryun's ideas align with mine. Please forgive your unfilial younger brother for siding with the Uchiha this time!" Tobirama thought to himself.
Hashirama Senju felt as if struck by lightning. He couldn't understand why his younger brother, who had always respected and loved him, who had always hated the Uchiha clan, would today side with Uchiha Ryun and the Uchiha clan because of Ryun's philosophy!
Uzumaki Mito glanced at Hashirama Senju, a trace of disappointment flashing in her eyes. She slowly walked toward Uchiha Ryun, pinched his cheek, then turned to look at her husband, Hashirama Senju.
Hashirama remained silent, but his expression remained stubborn. He wasn't wrong. He just wanted to make friends with other nations! He wanted an era of mutual understanding between people!
Nawaki Senju had just returned from training when he saw this scene. He froze. Why was everyone standing behind Uchiha Ryun, with no one beside his grandfather?
Tsunade had also grown accustomed to the jinchūriki's power and walked out smiling, but upon seeing this, she frowned. She asked Nawaki what had happened, but Nawaki also shook his head.
Then Tsunade looked at Uchiha Ryun. Uchiha Ryun smiled slightly and explained what had just happened factually, without exaggeration.
Tsunade fell silent. She looked at her grandfather, Hashirama Senju, took a deep breath, and said, "Grandfather, I'm sorry. If things are truly as Ryun says, then I also support Ryun."
After speaking, Tsunade walked toward Uchiha Ryun, took his hand, and smiled at him. "You and I are of one mind!"
Uchiha Ryun's gaze softened. "You and I follow each other in life and death."
Uchiha Izuna also laughed. "Welcome, granddaughter-in-law, to our Konoha prosperity faction!"
"Grandfather Izuna…" Her face flushed. Why did Ryun's grandfather seem so improper?
Hashirama Senju looked at his grandson Nawaki, hope in his eyes. He remembered that Nawaki admired him the most, right? So he should agree with his philosophy, right!
Nawaki Senju gritted his teeth. He looked at Hashirama Senju, first bowed, then walked toward Uchiha Ryun.
"Grandfather, not everyone is like you, possessing peerless power. Ordinary people on the battlefield face dangers you probably can't even imagine."
"Not long ago, during the battle with Sunagakure, if it weren't for the blast-proof suit Big Brother Ryun gave me, I probably would have been blown to bits by a trap of explosive tags!"
"Other nations won't go easy on you in war just because you were once powerful. War is war, not child's play. If you weren't the God of Shinobi, if you didn't have such strong power, I think you would support Big Brother Ryun too."
"Because he leads from the front, prioritizes the village, wins against greater numbers with fewer, reduces village shinobi casualties, and shows no mercy to enemies. It is because of his appearance that the village has gradually prospered and the clans have continuously integrated into Konoha."
"So, forgive me, Grandfather. Your dream is too idealistic, too naive." After speaking, Nawaki walked to Uchiha Ryun's side, stood behind him, and looked at his grandfather with firm resolve.
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