"Lord Madara is so pitiful…"
"Yeah… the First Hokage had a wife, children, even his brother… but Lord Madara was all alone…"
"If not for Lord Madara's broad-mindedness, Konoha might not even exist…"
Whispers spread through the theater, filled with sympathy for Uchiha Madara.
Uchiha Ren had deliberately shaped Madara into a tragic hero—someone who lost everything, yet still clung to hope, never forgetting his promise with Senju Hashirama, steadfast in his ninja way.
And honestly…
That wasn't far from the truth.
Tragic heroes always left a deep impression.
Just like Xiang Yu in his previous life—though defeated, people still remembered him with regret.
Madara was no different.
"Do you think… Madara leaving Konoha was because the Second Hokage killed his brother?"
"Such a shame… if only the Second Hokage had shown mercy…"
"Shh! Keep your voice down—you want to die?!"
Crack… crack…
With a shinobi's sharp hearing, every whisper reached Senju Tobirama clearly.
His teeth clenched, grinding audibly.
Uchiha Ren's intentions were obvious!
He was blatantly trying to whitewash Uchiha Madara!
Back then, Madara had been completely crushed by Hashirama—what "evenly matched battle" nonsense was this?!
If Madara had just been killed, the rest of the Uchiha wouldn't have been a problem.
Konoha would still have been founded!
And now this movie credited everything to Madara?!
Outrageous!
And those ignorant villagers—
Questioning why he hadn't spared Uchiha Izuna?
That had been a life-and-death battle!
Either Izuna died, or he did. There was no room for mercy.
But the worst part—
If Madara was the hero…
If Hashirama was the saint…
Then who was the villain?
"…Me?!"
Tobirama's expression twisted.
He had become the villain?!
Human nature loved gossip.
And now—
He could already hear dangerous theories forming around him.
Meanwhile, the movie continued.
The scene shifted—
A wide field.
Two massive banners bearing the crests of the Senju and Uchiha.
Hashirama and Madara stood before their clans.
Then—
They clasped hands.
A thousand-year feud ended in that moment.
Together, they built the village beneath the hill where they once dreamed as children.
With the support of the Fire Daimyo, the village flourished rapidly.
On the hill—
Hashirama spoke:
"The leader of the ninja who protect the Land of Fire from the shadows… how about we call them Hokage?"
Then—
"I want you to be Hokage."
He invited Madara.
Madara refused.
"I couldn't even protect my own brother… you're more suitable."
He gave up the position.
…
Silence filled the theater.
But the implications—
Were enormous.
The name "Konoha" came from Madara.
The First Hokage position—
Madara had given it away.
A man who bore all the pain alone…
Who didn't cling to power…
What kind of character was that?
The villagers were stunned.
"Lord Madara… truly a role model…"
"How could someone like that defect from Konoha?"
"Don't tell me it really was because of the Second Hokage…"
"Shh! Stop talking!"
Admiration replaced sympathy.
Tobirama's face turned red with fury.
Praise Madara all you want—
But why drag him into it?!
Madara leaving Konoha had nothing to do with him!
…Well.
Maybe a little.
But definitely not the main reason!
This was slander!
Blatant slander!
If this rumor spread—
His spotless reputation would be destroyed!
Uchiha Ren watched him with a "kind" smile.
Tobirama nearly lost control.
You reap what you sow.
This was karma.
As Hokage, Uchiha Ren needed to clean up history.
Madara's defection was a stain.
And what better way to fix it—
Than a movie?
At least he had shown restraint.
Otherwise—
He could have included the scene where Tobirama rejected Madara's candidacy for Hokage.
And then—
Later—
Appointed Sarutobi Hiruzen directly.
No election.
No process.
Compared to that—
Uchiha Ren had actually held a proper Hokage election.
Anyone qualified could compete.
Strength decided everything.
If that truth were exposed—
Tobirama's reputation would truly collapse.
Uchiha Ren considered himself generous.
After all—
If he pushed too far, Tobirama might actually go on strike.
And Konoha's development…
Still depended on him.
—
On screen—
Hashirama, wearing the Hokage robe, stood before all of Konoha.
"I hereby declare—Konoha is founded!"
Thus—
The film ended.
"…That's it?"
"They didn't explain why Madara left?"
"Isn't it obvious? The Second Hokage forced him out!"
"The First Hokage promised him the position—but what happened?"
"Tobirama became Hokage, and Madara left!"
"What?! Really?!"
"Of course. I'm Uchiha."
"Ohhh… no wonder you're so bold…"
"Is it true the First Hokage promised Madara the position?"
"Of course. The elders all say so."
"So that's what the Second Hokage was like…"
…
Tobirama's face turned dark green.
Who was that Uchiha?!
Why was he still slandering him?!
And worse—
He was telling the truth?!
But under Uchiha Ren's control, Tobirama couldn't move.
He could only sit there, glaring furiously.
After the movie ended, they left the theater.
Tobirama took several deep breaths before calming down.
"You bastard… did you make this movie just to smear me?!"
He glared.
It was the perfect strategy—
Destroy the previous Hokage's reputation.
Erase his influence.
"Of course not!"
Uchiha Ren looked righteous.
"Did the movie say a single bad word about you?"
"…It didn't."
Tobirama frowned.
He couldn't find any direct slander.
But then—
He realized.
"You elevated Madara… to indirectly tarnish me!"
Uchiha Ren sneered.
"Hmph. Tobirama, everything shown was the truth."
"If you're being criticized, maybe reflect on yourself."
"Didn't you oppose Madara becoming Hokage?"
"How did you become Hokage yourself? Don't you know?"
Tobirama fell silent.
He had opposed it.
Completely.
But still—
He tried to argue.
"I became Hokage through proper election!"
"Not like you—who seized power!"
Uchiha Ren almost laughed.
"Seized power?"
"You dare say that?"
"When you appointed Sarutobi Hiruzen as Third Hokage, where was your election then?"
"Didn't you say the Hokage should be chosen by the people?"
"You broke your own rules first!"
"Your so-called last will meant nothing!"
"At most, it gave Hiruzen eligibility to compete!"
"I gave him that chance—he just lost!"
"And you're still barking?"
"You naturally prejudiced Senju old man!"
The barrage left Tobirama speechless.
…He couldn't refute it.
It had been… inconsistent.
But saying "it was an emergency decision" now—
Would only invite ridicule.
"…Hmph!"
He turned and walked away.
No point arguing.
"Where are you going?"
"Back to the lab!"
"Next time, I'm coming out alone!"
"You're nothing but bad luck!!!"
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