Through Sasuke Uchiha's eyes, everyone could see the heavy expressions on Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju as the story reached this point.
Even though they had been dead for many years and were later brought back through Edo Tensei, the two Hokage still couldn't let go of that regret.
At only seven years old, in this era, he likely wouldn't even have graduated from the Ninja Academy yet.
Hashirama's voice carried deep sorrow.
"I hate war. Every war comes with the grief of burying our own kin. Back then, even though I had already been fighting for years, I was still just a twelve- or thirteen-year-old child."
"Ninja aren't allowed to cry. Even if the most important family members or friends die in battle, we can't cry. Ninja are born to die. If you can retrieve even part of a body, you should already be grateful."
"This was the belief our fathers taught us. It was the way ninja survived during the Warring States Period."
"When Kawarama died, he was only seven. I asked my father when this war would finally end. His answer was that war would only end when every last enemy was wiped out."
"But I didn't want Itama and Tobirama to die meaninglessly after Kawarama. Even if it meant talking back to my father, I told him his actions were no different from the cruelty he accused the Uchiha of—just a group of adults brutally forcing a child to his death."
When the names Kawarama and Itama were mentioned, the Second Hokage glanced at his elder brother. That pain would never fade with time. Instead, it had all been poured into the creation of Konohagakure, in the hope that with the passage of time and the arrival of peace, such tragedies would disappear.
"Even a baby is an enemy worth guarding against if it's holding a weapon."
"Killing and being killed, never knowing when someone starts to hate you, living in a world so dangerous that you can't even give your real name… that kind of ninja world is wrong."
Hashirama Senju continued, "I once argued with my father so badly that he nearly beat me to death."
…
At the time, Tobirama, still the younger brother, stepped in front of him.
'Father, my brother isn't in a good mood today. Please spare him.'
…
"Adults are so foolish. If you want the war to end as soon as possible, why not just sign a ceasefire with the enemy?" Hashirama said. "Tobirama and I both thought that way, but most of the clan—including Itama—believed that if we agreed to a truce, then the parents and siblings who had already died would have sacrificed themselves for nothing."
Tobirama said, "As long as ninja suppress their emotions and strictly follow established rules, many tragedies can be avoided. That's the principle my brother and I have always believed in."
Those ironclad rules engraved into a ninja's heart were the principles the Second Hokage later established.
Konoha's ninja were required to memorize them during their time in the ninja academy and act according to them.
Listening to the two Hokage speak, the Konoha ninja had never once thought about the circumstances under which those rules had been created.
Now they finally understood. These ideas had begun forming back when the two Hokage were still children, after they lost their brothers.
"During the Warring States Period, whether ninja or civilians, the average lifespan barely exceeded thirty," Hashirama said, seated within the Uchiha Shrine, his voice low. "Ninja often died on missions while still young, just like Kawarama and Itama."
"Not long after that conversation, our youngest brother—Itama, who wasn't even seven yet—also died on the battlefield against the Uchiha. When I arrived, he was already dead. From then on, the only one left who could call me 'brother'… was Tobirama."
So was it because only one younger brother remained that he felt he had to protect him at all costs?
Those trapped in the illusion watched from Sasuke Uchiha's perspective as the First Hokage sat in the shrine, speaking about ninja, villages, clans, and the history of that era, and couldn't help but think so.
"The war eased for a time. But because I couldn't let go of the deaths of my two younger brothers, I met Madara again at the place where we last ran into each other."
…
"My brother died…" Standing there, watching the river flow endlessly past, it felt like the knots in my heart were being washed away. "Madara, do you have any brothers?"
"My family used to have five children."
"Used to?"
…
"Like me, Madara originally had four brothers. Three of them died in the war."
"The ones who killed them…"
"…were ninja from the Senju clan."
Uchiha: …
Konoha ninja: So that means… it balances out.
No—this wasn't something that could ever be weighed or balanced.
"Madara once said that we're all ninja. We never know when we'll die. If there's any way to stop this cycle, then the only option is to face our enemies honestly, hide nothing from each other, drink sake together, and swear brotherhood despite different surnames."
Young Obito: That really does sound like something one of Konoha's founding ancestors would say.
Young Kakashi: It's not that easy. Hearts are separated by distance. How can people truly understand each other? They might even hate one another without realizing it.
Hashirama Senju said, "When I was young and learned that Madara had also been searching for a way to make people let go of hatred… I knew it then. Madara was a revelation sent to me by the heavens."
"Even though our ideas didn't completely align, after that, we started meeting more and more often. Without knowing each other's surnames or the hatred between our clans, we became friends."
…
"Ah, it really stopped."
"I told you not to stand behind me while I'm peeing!"
"Found Madara's weakness~"
"Shut up! Believe it or not, I'll throw you into the river I just peed in! Try my Water Release!"
"Ahhh! Don't! That's disgusting!!"
…
"Above the Hokage Rock was where we often trained together."
It was probably something even Tobirama didn't know about.
"After training, Madara and I would look out over the forest beneath the rock and talk about our future dreams…"
Dreams?
The Konoha ninja and the Uchiha were stunned. Somehow, they felt—
"No matter what happens, no matter the cost, I will protect my last remaining younger brother."
"That was the vow Madara and I made on top of Hokage Rock."
As he spoke of it, the First Hokage looked faintly lost, as if caught between past and present. The Second Hokage's slightly surprised expression suggested he hadn't known about this either.
"Back then, Madara and I each had only one younger brother left. We would sit together on the rocks beneath Hokage Rock, imagining the day we grew up and became strong…"
"…and built a village in the forest below, gathering our brothers there and protecting them properly."
"So children wouldn't have to kill each other anymore."
"We'd build an academy, where they could grow up safely and learn ninjutsu."
"And after that, missions would be assigned based on ability and experience, with proper ranks—no more sending children to the front lines to gamble with their lives!"
As Hashirama Senju spoke, everyone's minds filled with the image of two twelve- or thirteen-year-old boys sitting atop Hokage Rock, facing the morning sun and the forest, talking endlessly about the future.
It was precisely because of those painful experiences that the dream and resolve to build a village were born.
Ōnoki: Creating ninja villages was an unbelievable achievement. It completely changed the relationships between the many clans and brought an end to the Warring States era. It gave ninja—who once held an extremely low status—the leverage to negotiate with daimyō and nobles.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: That's why the First Hokage is called the God of Shinobi. Not just because of his strength, but because of his vision and his contributions to the ninja world.
Compared to those two teachers, I really have accomplished nothing.
That thought left the Third Hokage feeling quietly dejected.
"If the village was truly built, I wanted to place my younger brother here—where he could look out over the entire forest—and protect him properly."
"You might find it hard to believe, but that was the original dream Madara and I had when founding Konoha. No grand ideals, no lofty ambitions…"
"Using everything we had, no matter the cost, to protect our most important younger brother—that was our greatest wish as older brothers."
"That forest is what became Konohagakure. And the place we're standing on now is the Hokage Rock."
Suigetsu said, "Isn't that great? Konoha was founded, and your brother also—"
He glanced at the massive Second Hokage beside the First. "Even though he's dead now, he clearly lived to adulthood, right?"
Tobirama Senju said flatly, "…Do I need to remind you that I am the Second Hokage?"
"Ah." Thinking back to the earlier scene of the First and Second Hokage flaring their chakra, Suigetsu shook his head meekly. "No need. Thanks."
"Hmph."
Hashirama looked at his younger brother and sighed, a mix of affection and helplessness in his eyes.
"Because our frequent meetings were eventually noticed by our fathers, Madara and I finally learned each other's surnames."
"Senju. Uchiha."
"The brothers most important to us… were all killed by the other's clan."