Konoha.
Conference Room.
Representatives of Konoha's major ninja clans gradually filled the meeting room.
They had been urgently summoned by ANBU dispatched by Senju Tobirama, and rushed over without delay.
As for the topic of this emergency meeting—
Most of them could already guess it.
After all, the conflict sparked by Kumogakure had been aggressively publicized by Akatsuki Village and was now known throughout the shinobi world.
The meeting followed a familiar pattern.
Senju Hashirama sat in the seat of honor, effectively serving as a figurehead, while Senju Tobirama presided over the meeting and prepared to speak.
Soon, the clan heads noticed a subtle difference from previous meetings.
There was one extra person present today—
Uzumaki Mito.
The Hokage's wife almost never attended gatherings like this.
But considering her recent string of actions, her presence no longer felt strange.
Even though, by shinobi tradition, many clan heads were dissatisfied with Mito's "overstepping," the combination of Hashirama's position and Mito's own formidable strength left them no choice but to suppress their objections and engage in quiet, passive resistance instead.
Once everyone had arrived—
The meeting officially began.
"Regarding the joint Konoha–Akatsuki squad clashing with Kumogakure in the Land of Rice Fields," Tobirama began coolly,
"resulting in the deaths of one chūnin from Konoha and two chūnin from Akatsuki Village—a total of three chūnin casualties—I trust everyone here has already heard the news."
"The Hokage believes that the conditions proposed by Akatsuki Village are excessively harsh and are clearly intended to escalate the situation, possibly even provoking a war."
"For the sake of peace in the shinobi world, Konoha firmly opposes Akatsuki Village's approach and is currently seeking active communication with them."
"Before that—"
"I ask all clan heads present to restrain your clan members."
"Do not allow the spread of dangerous rhetoric within Konoha that could further inflame the situation."
Tobirama skipped all pleasantries and went straight to the point.
Hashirama wanted to contain the incident and prevent escalation into war.
But public opinion had already been hijacked by Uchiha Makoto.
To cool down the boiling emotions, the only remaining option was something akin to a total gag order.
Of course, such an order could never be issued in the Hokage's name.
So the burden had to be shifted onto the clan heads—
Each clan would silence its own members.
It was an "ostrich strategy," no doubt.
But there was no better alternative.
Someone had to shoulder the blame.
Hashirama, as Hokage, couldn't.
Tobirama, as the future Second Hokage, certainly couldn't.
Madara… was best left unmentioned.
So the suffering had to be shared.
That was the true purpose of this emergency meeting—
to force the clan heads to return home and muzzle their people in the name of their clans.
After Tobirama finished speaking—
The room fell into silence.
Everyone present understood Konoha's current emotional climate.
Public opinion overwhelmingly supported Akatsuki Village's actions.
Even some of the clan heads themselves felt that Akatsuki Village's behavior—while arrogant—was not entirely unjustified.
Damn it!
A great ninja village should have the dignity of a great ninja village!
Konoha's ninja hadn't gone out bullying others—
yet now they'd been killed on a mission.
If Konoha didn't stand up for them, what kind of great village was it?
Of course, there were also many clan heads who agreed with Hashirama.
Peace had come at great cost.
Escalating matters and potentially starting a war over three chūnin was simply unwise.
Tobirama's request was clear—
he wanted the clan heads to collectively participate in silencing public discourse.
Some agreed.
Some didn't.
But none of them rushed to voice their stance.
Instead, their gazes slowly shifted toward one man.
Uchiha Madara.
That man hadn't spoken yet.
Until he did—
No one wanted to commit.
After all, Akatsuki Village's Hokage was an Uchiha.
The terms imposed on Kumogakure were so extreme that most of the clan heads—veterans of political survival—didn't believe for a second that Konoha's Uchiha Clan had not been informed in advance.
It was just that—
Akatsuki Village hadn't consulted the Senju.
Who knew whether this was an internal power struggle between the Senju and the Uchiha over control of the village?
And either way—
They couldn't afford to offend either clan.
Better to wait and see.
"Uchiha Madara," Tobirama said, noticing where everyone was looking,
"what is your stance?"
"Hmph."
Madara turned his head away, offering Tobirama no face whatsoever.
Who do you think you are?
Have Hashirama ask me himself.
"Tch—truly an innately wicked Uchiha Madara!"
Tobirama seethed internally.
He had no choice but to look toward his brother, shooting him a look that clearly said:
Hurry up and deal with that innately wicked Madara.
"Madara," Hashirama quickly interjected,
"this peace hasn't come easily. We can't allow war to return to the shinobi world."
However—
This time, Madara did not stand with Hashirama.
In truth, he hadn't cared much about this incident at first.
Not until—
Uchiha Makoto stirred up public opinion.
Only then did Madara truly begin paying attention.
Those essays Makoto wrote—
They struck a deep chord with him.
As expected of an Uchiha.
Konoha ninja had been killed.
Someone had to be held accountable.
As for Kumogakure?
Madara believed he could wipe them out by himself if he wanted.
But more importantly—
This incident forced Madara, who had grown accustomed to peaceful life, to think again.
And everyone knew—
An Uchiha, especially one with the Mangekyō Sharingan, should never think too deeply.
The era of clan warfare had ended.
The era of ninja villages had begun.
Yet in such a short time, friction between villages had already surfaced.
So what about the future?
The answer was obvious.
These conflicts would only become more frequent.
In the past, it was clans clashing over missions, escalating into wars.
Now it was ninja villages clashing over missions—
and it would inevitably escalate into wars between villages.
So—
Did what he and Hashirama had done really matter?
Had true peace actually arrived?
Probably not.
Before the meeting—
Even now—
Madara's mind was consumed by this question.
Perhaps… this is an opportunity.
If wars between villages were inevitable—
Then why not go further?
A bold idea surfaced in Madara's heart.
"I want to unify the shinobi world."
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