Chapter 270: Merits for the Present Age, Benefits for a Thousand Autumns
A moment later, Tobirama spoke again, his tone calmer than before, even carrying a trace of the near-ruthless precision unique to a strategist:
"Actually, just as that kid Naruto said himself.
A war of unification—its merits are for the present age, its benefits for a thousand autumns.
Trading short-term, acute pain for long-lasting stability for future generations... from a long-term perspective, this deal is worth making."
He stopped writing, looked up, and fixed his sharp gaze on Hashirama, who still seemed somewhat lost in thought:
"However, if you ask me..."
Tobirama paused slightly, the corner of his mouth curving into a smile that was nearly 'radical' and did not match his usually stern image.
"That kid Naruto is still too merciful, or perhaps, too 'rule-abiding'."
"Merciful?"
Hashirama was taken aback, snapping back to attention.
Naruto, who wanted to start the Fourth Great Ninja War, was being called 'merciful' by his brother?
"Correct."
Tobirama affirmed:
"When he discussed it with us before, he said he would give at least four hours for the evacuation of civilians before each attack, and he planned to 'declare war' at a Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron...
These steps, while certainly intended to secure the moral high ground, divide the enemy, and reduce unnecessary civilian casualties, also give the enemy time to react and unite.
Moreover, it will put financial pressure on Hidden Leaf Village, though his choice is correct—people are only valuable if they have land."
As he spoke, Tobirama stood up from his seat and walked over to the wall in the Hokage Office where a huge map of the Ninja World hung.
He didn't look at the original standard map on the wall. Instead, he went straight to a nearby filing cabinet, carefully retrieved another, clearly thicker, leather map with slightly worn edges from a locked drawer.
He unfurled it, laying it over the original map.
Hashirama's gaze followed. This new map was densely covered with arrows, annotations, symbols, and small characters in various colors.
Red arrows for attack routes, blue marks for containment and interception points, green lines for logistical supply routes, yellow for key strategic nodes.
Estimates of enemy forces, and even analytical summaries marked with special symbols regarding the personality weaknesses and internal conflicts of important figures in various countries!
This was clearly an extremely detailed, multi-variable considered, rough draft of a strategic offensive plan to annex the entire Ninja World.
And judging by the ink and annotation style, it was by no means the work of a single day. Tobirama had obviously already given this deep thought and conducted secret simulations!
"Big brother, look."
Tobirama's finger first pointed to the location of the Hidden Sand Village in the Land of Wind, which was prominently circled with a conspicuous red mark.
"If you ask me, what we should do most is not slowly attacking some Grass Ninja Village, nor waiting for some Five Kage Summit."
Tobirama's tone was resolute.
"We should take advantage of the precious window of opportunity while the other four great nations haven't fully reacted or even confirmed the intel's authenticity, concentrate absolutely superior force, and with lightning speed, first annihilate one or two of the great hidden villages!"
"And the primary target is here, the Hidden Sand Village!"
His fingertip tapped heavily on the map.
"There are three reasons: First, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, died recently. The internal power transition in the Hidden Sand is unstable, and morale is low.
Second, the Hidden Sand just suffered heavy losses in the recent joint invasion of Hidden Leaf Village during the Chunin Exams. Their strength and morale are at a low point.
Third, the Land of Wind has a harsh environment, relatively scarce resources, and limited strategic depth. To protect their village from sandstorms, they reside within a canyon.
Whether it's that kid Naruto's Ninjutsu or your Wood Release, big brother, both could easily destroy the Hidden Sand Village. If necessary, I could prepare for a bit longer and flood them out with Water Release."
His finger traced a sharp red arrow on the map, plunging from the Land of Fire straight into the heart of the Land of Wind: "Moreover, we can press on relentlessly. With Naruto, you, and me at the core, supported by Hidden Leaf Village's elite forces, we can completely crush the Hidden Sand Village before they even have time to send an effective request for aid to their allies.
The Kazekage is dead, they lack high-end combat power, and the One tail's Jinchuriki is young and unstable. The chances of success in this battle are extremely high!"
"After destroying the Hidden Sand Village..."
Tobirama's finger moved unhesitatingly towards the Iwagakure in the Land of Earth.
"...we immediately turn our forces and aim straight here.
Iwagakure is currently suffering from a severe generational gap.
Although the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, inherited the Dust Release, which poses a huge threat, the backbone of Iwagakure's forces has a serious break. The new generation lacks anyone who can shoulder the heavy responsibility."
He marked a few points on the map: "Iwagakure's defenses are strong, but not impregnable.
At that time, Minato or I could use high-speed mobility, long-range containment tactics like the Flying Thunder God or Water Release to specifically tie down or even force back Ōnoki, preventing him from effectively supporting and commanding the overall situation.
As long as Ōnoki is briefly contained, Iwagakure, deprived of its supreme commander and strongest fighter, would also be no match for a frontal assault by Naruto, you, big brother, and Hidden Leaf Village's main forces!"
"Once we successfully break through the two great hidden villages of the Hidden Sand and Iwagakure in succession..."
Tobirama's gaze swept over the Hidden Cloud Village in the Land of Lightning and the Hidden Mist Village in the Land of Water on the map, his tone brimming with confidence.
"...even if the remaining Hidden Cloud and Hidden Mist, upon receiving the news, immediately choose to ally, or even rally all the minor countries they can, they would absolutely no longer be a match for our Hidden Leaf Village!"
He turned to face Hashirama.
"Big brother, this is the most efficient, most economical approach. We must defeat them one by one, giving our opponents no chance to unite or catch their breath."
"This will not only minimize Hidden Leaf Village's Ninja casualties to the lowest possible level but also, to the greatest extent, ensure reduced casualties among Ninja from other countries."
Tobirama emphasized: "What we must do is use thunderous means to destroy the core of their resistance and their will, forcing them to surrender, to accept integration into a new order led by Hidden Leaf Village. Not to wage a long, brutal war of attrition, and certainly not to exterminate them completely."
"Those who surrender will gain living space and even opportunities for development under the new order; those who stubbornly resist will face destruction.
Clear rules and formidable power of execution—that is the Righteous Path to quickly end the chaos and reduce overall casualties."
"In comparison, Naruto's plan to attack the Grass Ninja Village first, then declare war at a Five Kage Summit... while full of Aura, does indeed give the major nations more time to prepare and may prompt them to ally earlier.
From a purely strategic efficiency standpoint, it is somewhat merciful."
Hashirama stared blankly at his brother.
Was this still the Tobirama he knew before?
"Tobirama, tell me, have you been thinking about this since you were first brought back by the Edo Tensei?"
Tobirama showed no intention of hiding it, nodding frankly.
"Big brother, during my lifetime, when I was in charge of Hidden Leaf Village, establishing the Ninja Academy and the Anbu system, this idea had already appeared more than once in my strategic simulations."
He turned back, looking once more at the densely annotated map. His fingers lightly brushed over the symbols representing the great hidden villages, his gaze profound:
"I witnessed firsthand how, at the end of the Sengoku era, the great Ninja clans gradually formed conglomerates with hidden villages as their units amidst the slaughter.
I also participated in the founding of Hidden Leaf Village, deeply understanding the immense advantages brought by integrating scattered power.
Then, a very natural logical extension is: since integration at the 'national' level brings greater power and relative peace than at the 'Family' level...
...then, by further integrating 'Ninja' to form a single, Ninja World-covering 'Ninja Union,' could it bring about ultimate, larger-scale peace and the Peak of power?"
"Unfortunately, you were already gone by then."
Tobirama continued: "Hidden Leaf Village was newly founded. Our brothers were at our Peak. Although Uchiha Madara was extreme, his power was also peerless.
Sadly, at that time, due to Izuna, and Itama and Kawarama, as well as the generational feud between our clans, our opinions differed.
If the three of us had truly been of one mind, combined with the foundation Hidden Leaf Village had accumulated, sweeping across the Ninja World would not have been impossible.
Perhaps, if we had resolved to unify the Ninja World back then, the subsequent Great Ninja Wars would never have happened."
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