On the soil of the shinobi world—
Seeds sown by idealists can only blossom; before fruit can ever ripen, the flowers have already withered!
The clans' stance has always been clear!
Senju Hashirama is indeed powerful, but if he cannot win more benefits for the clans, if he retreats on key interests, they will vote with their feet.
What they need is a rational, thick-skinned Hokage who can distribute the village's benefits fairly and fight for gains outward. Unless things spiral beyond control to the point where Hashirama must flip the table, the clans prefer having Senju Tobirama uphold justice.
...
The result of the council completely exceeded Hashirama's expectations. He had not imagined Konoha's clans would stand one-sidedly with his younger brother Tobirama.
Hashirama's imagined scene was not this; the clans should have supported him overwhelmingly, Tobirama would finally realize his mistake, then repent on his own and go with him to make a public apology to the villagers.
This one-sided situation left Hashirama unable to accept it.
"Big brother, you've seen the council's result, but thinking it over, I admit I went too far this time. I shouldn't have sent ANBU to beat the villagers, much less hauled them all into ANBU."
"I was wrong!"
"Now let's go together to ANBU to reassure the villagers and offer them our sincere apology!"
No joy showed on Tobirama's face; instead he wore sincere remorse as he admitted fault (delivering a victory speech).
His taking the initiative now to apologize to the villagers was not the same as being forced by his brother earlier to apologize.
Because the matter had already been defined by all of Konoha's clans!
I, Senju Tobirama, am without guilt!
Now, apologizing to the villagers is no political stain; it is political highlight!
The Shadow Hokage, Konoha's Nine-Thousand-Year, is preserving the Hokage's face!
The younger brother is preserving the elder's face!
The Senju brothers embody brotherly amity and the younger's deference!
Only that it made a few clownish moments for those who voted.
But the clans did not care at all.
This time everyone played the clown together, so no one could laugh at anyone else. More importantly, they had shown their stance.
Face is nothing compared to tangible interests.
They had chosen the perfect side!
Under Tobirama's exquisitely staged performance, they all applauded to witness a classic scene of fraternal harmony.
"Tobirama… I didn't expect…"
"As expected of you, Tobirama… I'm truly moved…"
Hashirama had been standing there awkwardly, unable to step down, even imagining his brother sneering at him. But life rose and fell too fast; the situation swung back.
His not-so-clever brain froze for a moment.
Tobirama's self-reproachful confession made Hashirama overjoyed.
Though the process differed a bit from what he imagined—since the clans had stood with Tobirama—in such a case Tobirama still understood him, offered heartfelt contrition, and was willing to go apologize with him to the villagers… truly the good younger brother he had always trusted.
"Big brother, I've always supported your ideals. Let's build Konoha well together!"
Tobirama stepped to Hashirama's side with moving words. His seamless performance dissolved the rift that had just formed between the brothers.
Big brother, be good!
I know you're foolish; no one can blame a simpleton. You wanted my social death, but I won't hold it against you.
Though you like to lean outward and keep causing me trouble, there's no help for it—you are my brother.
Consider it a debt I owed in a past life.
This time, it wasn't my mistake; I'm only sparing your face.
Let's hope you wise up next time!
As for those villagers—
Each and every one should stay in ANBU for ideological instruction. But for big brother's sake, we'll let them go for now after a token apology.
However—
This did sound an alarm for Tobirama: Konoha must set up a dedicated department for managing villagers and shinobi. In the past, each clan sent people to patrol separately.
This time the situation was urgent.
He had no choice but to deploy ANBU. With a dedicated department for daily administration, such gatherings could be strangled in the cradle…
This must be put on the agenda quickly.
The Police Department…
Though that job offends people. The Uchiha… they've always liked patrolling the village and having a post to flaunt their authority.
Tobirama thought quietly, and the meeting drew to a close. Uchiha Setsuna, who had wanted to watch a spectacle and see the Senju brothers tear each other apart, was full of disappointment… He had hoped for blood.
In the crowd, Uchiha Madara—
Left the chamber silently.
One simple council
let him see Tobirama's influence in Konoha, and realize Tobirama was as cunning as he'd imagined. Perhaps only a dullard like Hashirama would believe Tobirama's contrition.
Madara's heart grew heavy. His stance and Hashirama's had diverged. He was no longer sure whether the effort he and Hashirama had made to found Konoha could realize their childhood dream.
And Tobirama—
Such a dangerous man, managing daily village affairs under Hashirama's support, had quietly gathered so many clans' backing. If the Uchiha continued to live in Konoha
Would they…
The bright moon shone in the sky.
Madara walked alone down the dim street, heading slowly toward the clan grounds.
In the night
an inconspicuous shadow lay in wait, moving silently.
.........…
The storm subsided quietly.
The next day
the villagers beaten by ANBU and locked up were all released.
They were also received by Hashirama and Tobirama. At a reception, Tobirama offered a sincere apology.
The villagers, unsurprisingly, accepted it.
Only—
The plaques reading "Do Not Discuss Village Affairs" still hung throughout Konoha.
At the same time—
News of Konoha's official deployment spread.
After all the tossing and turning
Tobirama knew he could delay no longer and formally marched to the Land of Lightning front.
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