"Makoto, I heard you cut down the First Raikage, and Kumogakure has already paid a huge price… It's time for this war to end!"
"Makoto, the First Tsuchikage sent word to me… He loves peace… and Konoha loves peace as well!"
"I believe you and Akatsuki love peace too!"
"As the First Tsuchikage said, too many ninja have died because of war; too much ninja blood has been shed. Many conflicts can be solved by dialogue, negotiation, and discussion… Big Brother founded Konoha to end ninja wars… the Will of Fire…"
"So Konoha hopes your Akatsuki can look at the bigger picture… for the peace of the ninja world, end the war unconditionally."
Senju Tobirama began his performance.
The First Raikage has already been killed by you, Uchiha Makoto, and Kumogakure has paid dearly.
The war can stop here!
The First Tsuchikage's words make perfect sense!
It seems he loves peace!
Konoha loves peace too.
Even his Big Brother loves peace.
And that still wasn't enough…
Tobirama hauled out Senju Hashirama again and preached the Will of Fire. The logic was all laid out… In short, Uchiha Makoto, surely you and Akatsuki can't be against peace?
"Sly."
Uchiha Makoto sneered inwardly.
Senju Tobirama!
You really are a naturally evil Senju old ghost!
You used the First Tsuchikage and your big brother Hashirama as shields the whole time and kept yourself spotless, perfectly non-stick!
Also!
Damn it!
I killed the First Raikage because his strength fell short—don't make it sound like I didn't risk my life. I'm still laid up here like a patient… even if most of these bandages are fake.
You trot out that trash excuse…
Believe it or not, if Uchiha Madara heard this…
He'd glare at you tonight with his Mangekyō Sharingan to avenge his brother Izuna!
Yet Makoto couldn't refute a single word: trash pretexts mixed with absolute political correctness—this was the giant pit Tobirama had prepared for him to fall into.
So Makoto didn't answer at all. He simply tossed the question to Uzumaki Shinji: "The Uzumaki are Akatsuki's allies. Your clan also took part in this war. Let's ask his opinion first."
All eyes turned to Uzumaki Shinji.
"Uh…"
Under the sudden spotlight, Shinji's mind froze for a moment.
He hadn't expected such a sharp question to be thrown at him.
Konoha or Akatsuki—where do you stand?
No doubt: Akatsuki!
Withdraw unconditionally now?
We of the Uzumaki and Akatsuki have shed blood here for nearly four months, withstanding Kumo's near-mad assaults, losing so many ninja. We've taken their First Line and Second Line; a third of the Third Line is destroyed; the First Raikage has just been cut down by Uchiha Makoto.
Kumogakure can barely hold on. The situation is absolutely in Akatsuki's favor; now is exactly when Akatsuki, Konoha, and the Uzumaki should press together and take Kumo to enjoy the spoils!
Just because Iwa suddenly intervened…
Just a few pretty words…
We end the war for free, unconditionally?
Is Konoha aiming to backstab us now?
At Konoha's stance…
Uzumaki Shinji felt a chill.
"This is far too flippant. We've fought this long—does Kumo think they can give nothing and end the war unconditionally?"
Shinji spoke.
Though deeply displeased with Konoha's attitude, he calmly stated his position.
Ending the war is fine!
But absolutely not unconditionally.
Kumo must cough up something. Yes, they're miserable… but losers in war don't get a say.
"I think Shinji has a point."
Uchiha Makoto smiled at Senju Tobirama.
He smiled brilliantly.
He smiled so brightly Tobirama wanted to hit him.
At the same time…
Tobirama felt a headache.
Because of the closeness between the Senju and Uzumaki.
He'd reflexively forgotten to account for the Uzumaki's stance and had failed to sound out Shinji beforehand. Still… Tobirama did harbor some resentment toward the Uzumaki.
He felt Konoha and the Senju had treated the Uzumaki quite well.
When Konoha was founded—
The Senju had invited the Uzumaki to join first—three times, in fact. Tobirama had never intended to bring the Uchiha into Konoha's core of power.
If the Uzumaki had joined, they might have ranked after the Uchiha in name, but in reality… they'd be ahead—Konoha's true number two. The Senju and Uzumaki could have shared Konoha's core authority as blood allies… and suppressed the Uchiha together.
But the Uzumaki still chose to found their own village. Fine—Konoha and the Senju respected that and immediately formed an alliance; the Uzumaki were still under Konoha's and the Senju's protection!
And yet!
What did the Uzumaki do?
Without so much as informing Konoha and the Senju, they went and allied with Akatsuki—and even sealed a political marriage with Uchiha Makoto… That left a knot in Tobirama's heart.
Still, given all the years between Senju and Uzumaki, and with sister-in-law Uzumaki Mito, Tobirama had chosen to turn a blind eye to the Uzumaki's fence-sitting.
As for this Akatsuki mess—
If Uchiha Makoto wanted to go crazy and start a war with Kumo, let him do it alone. Why did the Uzumaki have to meddle?
He couldn't say some things out loud.
But Tobirama thought he'd made himself clear enough in his reply to Shinji… Hurry back to Uzushio and live a quiet life.
Shinji had treated it like wind in his ears… (Uchiha Makoto: Don't underestimate 3.68 billion bonds.)
And now…
Tobirama felt that, although he hadn't sounded Shinji out, this was about choosing sides. What are you Uzumaki little brothers trying to pull?
Shouldn't you be absolutely loyal to Konoha?
Aren't you a bit too cozy with Akatsuki?
Today, if you keep in step with Konoha—
We won't reward you openly, of course, but… in the dark there will certainly be rewards!
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