thefictionvixens Chapter 257 Clash of Ideologies: Hashirama vs. Madara!
Chapter 257 Clash of Ideologies: Hashirama vs. Madara!
Chapter 257 Clash of Ideologies: Hashirama vs. Madara!
Hashirama Senju's eyes were filled with barely suppressed anger and disappointment.
"Madara! Why did you do that to the Iwagakure delegation?!"
His question echoed with resentment.
Danzo, who was standing to the side, immediately realized what was going on when he heard Hashirama's question.
It turns out that Hashirama was anxious because of the incident with the Iwagakure delegation last time.
Danzo curled his lip dismissively, thinking that Hashirama Senju was making a mountain out of a molehill.
In his opinion, Madara Uchiha's handling of the Iwagakure delegation last time was perfectly fine, even decisive and just right!
Faced with Hashirama Senju's angry questioning, Madara Uchiha remained remarkably calm.
He looked relaxed and nonchalant, and said with a faint, cold laugh, "Why—"
"Hmph! Because they don't know what's good for them!"
As he spoke, his gaze suddenly sharpened.
"How dare a mere Iwagakure (Iwagakure Village) presume to sign an equal agreement with Konoha? This in itself is a provocation against Konoha and against me, Uchiha Madara!"
He chuckled as he spoke, then glanced at Hashirama Senju with an increasingly arrogant and domineering look, his gaze haughty and proud.
"I'm simply using the most direct method to show them, and other ninja villages, who the rule-makers are, and what the consequences will be for those who dare to challenge Konoha's authority!"
As Madara Uchiha finished speaking, the entire arena fell into a deathly silence.
Upon hearing this, Hashirama Senju's expression changed drastically, and he gritted his teeth, becoming even more enraged.
Uchiha Izuna stood beside Madara, and after listening to his brother's words, a matter-of-fact expression appeared on his young face.
He nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with Ban's approach completely.
As expected of his elder brother, so strong and decisive!
On the other side, Danzo, who had initially been dismissive of Hashirama's anger, was now filled with fervor upon hearing Madara Uchiha's domineering declaration, and his whole body trembled slightly with excitement.
He had long since forgotten his slight displeasure at Ban's indifference earlier, and his heart was filled with fervent worship and admiration.
"Lord Uchiha Madara truly lives up to his title as the strongest Hokage!"
Danzo admired him sincerely from the bottom of his heart, his gaze burning with passion.
"This is the true demeanor of a strong person! This is the attitude Konoha should have: looking down upon the world, Konoha setting the rules for the ninja world!"
[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Shimura Danzo have been detected! Emotional value +500!]
in the audience.
Those watching this scene witnessed the young man's domineering attitude and couldn't help but discuss it amongst themselves.
In the crowd, Edo Madara coldly looked down at himself and Hashirama in the arena.
He raised his eyebrows slightly.
I was too naive when I was young.
Such peace is only temporary.
He and Hashirama will also grow old one day.
Only the Infinite Tsukuyomi can offer the ultimate salvation to the ninja world.
"This dream is actually quite interesting!"
As Madara Uchiha sighed, he gave a mysterious snort and made a comment with a half-smile, it was unclear whether he was speaking to Obito or Black Zetsu.
Upon hearing this, Black Zetsu's heart sank, and he knew something was wrong!
[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Black Zetsu have been detected! Emotional value +800!]
Why would Madara Uchiha be interested in this dream?
Will he become like Obito?
This is bad!
Seeing this, he hurriedly said nervously, "My lord, this place is definitely not worth mentioning compared to the Infinite Tsukuyomi you are about to realize! How could it possibly catch your eye, haha—"
"Hmph, of course!"
Madara Uchiha's voice was indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger.
Black Zetsu, seeing that Madara Uchiha didn't seem to share Obito's relief, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
However, he quickly noticed that Madara Uchiha's attention had shifted to Obito, who was standing silently to the side.
Obito seemed to sense Madara's sharp gaze, his body stiffened, but he remained silent, shrinking into the shadows of his seat.
His face, hidden by a tiger-striped mask, showed no expression, but his breathing sounded slightly heavier.
[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Uchiha Obito have been detected! Emotional value +500!]
A fierce glint flashed in Madara Uchiha's eyes, and his pupils suddenly turned icy cold.
It seems that what Black Zetsu told me before was all true.
That brat Obito has indeed developed ulterior motives!
on the screen.
The scene returns to the training ground, where the confrontation between the two legendary ninjas continues.
"you--!"
Hashirama Senju snapped out of his daze, his chest heaving violently with rage.
His lips trembled slightly, and he was almost speechless for a moment. He pointed directly at Uchiha Madara, looking at him with a disappointed expression. "Madara! Do you know how much effort I put in, how much hard work I put in, to barely persuade the other Kage to sit down and talk about the possibility of peaceful coexistence?!"
"Your actions have rendered all my efforts futile! Once trust is broken, rebuilding it is incredibly difficult!"
However, Madara Uchiha just looked at him coldly, his disdain growing stronger.
"Hmph, boring."
He gave a disdainful snort, crossed his arms, and looked at Hashirama's thoughts with contempt.
"The peace you've painstakingly and humbly begged for is nothing but a fragile castle in the air, utterly meaningless!"
"True peace depends only on strength!"
The two men's diametrically opposed ideas clashed fiercely on stage.
The argument, with each side sticking to their own version of events, reached the ears of several young ninjas nearby.
On the sidelines, the still-inexperienced Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, his face showing deep understanding and worry.
Looking at Hashirama Senju's anxious expression, he felt a sense of agreement.
Lord Hashirama is right. How easy is it to pursue peaceful coexistence?
A brief period of peace requires countless efforts and sacrifices, and the slightest misstep could undo all that progress.
Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but sigh, his eyes filled with worry.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Kagami, standing beside Hiruzen Sarutobi, had a complex expression.
He glanced at Hashirama Senju, whose face was full of indignation, and then at Madara Uchiha, the clan leader, whose expression was indifferent. He felt very conflicted.
He understood Lord Hashirama's ideals; the peaceful prosperity of Konoha was everyone's wish. However, he could not completely deny the powerful methods displayed by the clan leader.
In this world, the strong prey on the weak, and power dictates authority. The clan leader's actions have their reasons.
Uchiha Kagami frowned, torn between his own thoughts, unsure which side he should support.
Compared to Sarutobi and Kagami's dilemma, Danzo's reaction was completely different.
Danzo stood to the side with his arms crossed, his eyes filled with disdain and even contempt for Hashirama.
"Nonsense!"
He sneered inwardly and muttered to himself.
Peace cannot be obtained by begging.
Only power is the eternal truth!
Lord Madara did the right thing!
Danzo watched the argument between Hashirama and Madara with a cold eye, showing no surprise at Hashirama's actions.
After all, Lord Hashirama was capable of even kowtowing to people at the negotiating table—
Those who don't know the truth might think that Konoha is a weak ninja village that can be easily manipulated!
Hmph, in Danzo's opinion, one should be like Uchiha Madara.
Those who obey will receive one slap; those who disobey will receive two slaps; those who dare to openly oppose will be forcefully suppressed!
Only in this way can the world be made to submit!
Madara Uchiha was unaware of Danzo's thoughts at that moment. His gaze suddenly shifted away from Hashirama, looking away unnaturally, his eyes slightly unfocused, and his voice lowered.
"Hashirama, instead of wasting time doing useless things outside, you should just stay in Konoha."
He paused briefly at this point, his expression becoming somewhat unnatural.
"When you're not in the village—I find it much less interesting."
in the audience.
Upon hearing Madara Uchiha's words, everyone was stunned for a moment, then their expressions became subtle, and they all cast meaningful glances at the equally silent Edo Madara in the stands.
Jiraiya blinked, his gossip-loving spirit burning brightly.
He quietly nudged Hiruzen Sarutobi beside him and asked in a low voice, "Could it be that the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha—"
He didn't finish his sentence, but the ambiguous smile on his face and the playful teasing in his words spoke volumes.
Kakashi nearly collapsed upon hearing this, quickly clearing his throat to interrupt: "Jiraiya-senpai, what you're saying—"
He utterly disagreed. How could the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha possibly have that kind of relationship?!
Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled twice, neither nodding nor denying, pretending not to have heard his apprentice's joke.
He would never get involved in anything like scheming against the First Generation.
Upon seeing this, Madara Uchiha's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
He glared at Jiraiya and the others, his eyes sharp and threatening, "You guys don't want your eyes anymore, huh? I'll gouge them out for you?"
Madara Uchiha crossed his arms, turned his face away arrogantly, and his ears seemed to be slightly red.
"Hmph! Dreams are just dreams after all! These details are completely unreliable!"
[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Uchiha Madara have been detected! Emotional value +00!]
on the screen.
On the training field, Hashirama Senju was taken aback at first, then sighed helplessly, rubbing his forehead.
He looked at his enigmatic friend with a complicated expression.
"Ban! What time is it?! You—you're still saying things like that?!"
Hashirama Senju was both angry and anxious, but he didn't know how to change Madara Uchiha's mind. He felt utterly defeated, like talking to a brick wall.
"Don't you really understand how serious the consequences of this are? If this continues, it could really trigger a new Shinobi World War!"
Seeing that Hashirama not only ignored his kind words, but also seemed to be taking them too seriously.
Madara Uchiha's nonchalant expression gradually disappeared, replaced by a rapidly darkening face and a pair of eyes that suddenly became sharp and terrifying.
He stared coldly at Hashirama, interrupting him in a deep voice, "Hashirama! I am the Hokage!"
With that sound, a tremendous pressure suddenly surged forth from Uchiha Madara!
The air in the entire training ground seemed to suddenly drop to freezing point, and the dust on the ground was shaken and swirled up by this terrifying aura.
Senju Hashirama sensed this astonishing killing intent, and his originally gentle expression slowly darkened.
"Mada, you—"
Just as the atmosphere was tense and about to erupt, a voice suddenly broke the deadlock.
"You're the one in the wrong, Lord Hashirama!"
Suddenly, Danzo, who had been watching from the sidelines, stepped forward and stood directly between Hashirama and Madara!
The scene before him had stirred up some painful memories in his heart.
His eyes were fixed on Hashirama, trembling slightly with emotion, but he said firmly, "Lord Hashirama Senju, you are the one in the wrong!"
This sudden turn of events startled everyone present.
Hashirama Senju looked at Danzo, the boy who had suddenly appeared and blocked his way, with a look of surprise on his face, and was at a loss for what to do.
At this moment, Danzo felt the pent-up frustration in his chest for many years suddenly erupt.
The scene before him stirred up some painful memories.
In his memory, the figure who always stood in front of him, claiming to be the Hokage, repeatedly told him, "Danzo! I am the Hokage!"
'
No matter how hard Danzo argued, he could only be suppressed by this statement and watch helplessly as his proposal was rejected.
He'd heard that phrase enough.
But this time—it's different!
This time, Danzo felt his blood boiling and his confidence soaring.
Because right now, he's on the side of the "Hokage"!
[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Shimura Danzo have been detected! Emotional value +800!]
However, before Hashirama could respond, Madara Uchiha's expression changed drastically.
"presumptuous!!"
Madara Uchiha roared, his voice booming like thunder throughout the entire training ground!
Madara Uchiha coldly replied, "Who do you think you are?! How dare you criticize Hashirama here?!"
Suddenly, his eyes widened, revealing a murderous intent in his scarlet Sharingan. The terrifying pressure that had enveloped the entire area instantly surged towards Danzo like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea!
An overwhelming pressure surged like a raging wave. Danzo felt a tightness in his chest, his face turned deathly pale, and large beads of cold sweat instantly rolled down his forehead.
[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Shimura Danzo have been detected! Emotional value +1000!]
His body swayed violently, his legs went weak uncontrollably, and his knees almost fell to the ground!
"Nisan!"
Seeing his disciple Danzo's pale face, Izuna Uchiha, who was standing beside Madara, became very anxious and shouted, preparing to plead for Danzo.
But there was a figure who was even faster than him!
Before Izuna could even utter a word, a gust of wind suddenly arose, and Hashirama Senju's figure appeared in front of Danzo with lightning speed.
Hashirama's broad back stood firmly between Danzo and Madara.
He didn't unleash any astonishing chakra, nor did he reveal the slightest killing intent. He simply stood there quietly, as steady and unwavering as a towering mountain.
However, this mountain-like, heavy aura easily dismantled Ban's terrifying, potentially deadly pressure, much like a gentle spring breeze and nourishing rain.
Madara Uchiha's pupils contracted slightly, and his expression turned even more grim.
He stared coldly at Hashirama, his displeasure evident in his eyes.
After Hashirama Senju stood still, his gaze remained calm and composed, showing no sign of anger or resentment.
He didn't even glance at Madara Uchiha, but turned around and concernedly supported Danzo, who was still panting heavily behind him, saying in a deep voice, "Child—"
Hashirama Senju's voice was calm and gentle, a stark contrast to Madara's fury just now.
He patted Danzo on the shoulder, gave him a kind smile, looked him in the eye, and asked earnestly, "You just said—"
I was wrong. Okay, then tell me, exactly where did I go wrong?
Hashirama acted as if he were genuinely seeking guidance from a junior, without showing any sign of anger or embarrassment.
Under that peaceful gaze, Danzo was initially still somewhat shaken, his chest heaving violently.
But soon, he forced himself to take a deep breath and calm down.
He knew his chance had come!
This was an opportunity he had been waiting for—an opportunity to articulate his ideas in front of the First Hokage, Hashirama!
Danzo straightened his back and declared loudly, "Lord Hashirama! I believe that peace gained through compromise and concession is destined to be false and fragile!"
Upon hearing this, Hashirama Senju frowned but did not interrupt, listening quietly.
Danzo continued, "Such peace will not bring true tranquility; on the contrary, it will send the wrong signal to the outside world, making other villages think that Konoha is weak and easily bullied, and afraid of war!"
"Once other ninja villages get this misconception, they will only become more aggressive and demanding! They might even exploit our desire for peace to blackmail and coerce Konoha!"
Upon hearing this, everyone around paled.
They were clearly stunned by Danzo's words.
Even Hashirama Senju himself showed a slight change in expression, a thoughtful look on his face.
"this--"
Danzo's eyes gleamed, and he spoke in a clear, forceful voice, enunciating each word distinctly, "That is the true spark that will ignite the next Shinobi World War!"
Tuanzang's words were firm and resounding, echoing throughout the hall.
As he got emotional, he couldn't help but recall those humiliating memories from his past that were etched into his heart.
He seemed to see again the arrogant faces of those black guys from the Hidden Cloud Village in reality.
Konoha was clearly innocent, but those bastards from Kumogakure were certain that Hiruzen Sarutobi, that coward, wouldn't dare to fight. They took advantage of the situation and extorted money from Konoha, even demanding that Konoha grovel and apologize!
This feeling of humiliation and resentment, once recalled, would transform into a strong surge of indignation and humiliation in Danzo's heart!
A fierce glint flashed in Danzo's eyes.
Hmph! Just like in real life! The scoundrels of Kumogakure, despite being in the wrong, took advantage of the Hokage's weakness and dared to extort Konoha!
This is the disastrous consequence of blindly pursuing superficial peace!
Thinking of this, Danzo's clenched fist bulged with veins.
He raised his head and looked around at the two legendary ninjas, Hashirama and Madara, and said with increasing fervor, "The reason why other ninja villages still maintain some respect for Konoha and dare not act rashly is because you two possess absolute strength that can crush everything!"
"They didn't take action not because they were bound by any peace agreement, nor because they suddenly became kind and righteous, but simply because—"
Fear! It was a deep-seated fear of Konoha and the two adults!
Danzo's voice echoed in the air, his eyes burning with fervor. He raised a hand high, then clenched his fist, continuing with fanaticism, "Therefore, only by making the world fear Konoha's power! By making them dread the consequences of challenging Konoha! By making them not even dare to entertain the thought of starting a conflict! This is the only way to achieve true, lasting peace!"
Danzo's resolute and forceful arguments resonated throughout the room, like the sound of a morning bell and evening drum.
After hearing this, Hashirama Senju swayed slightly, his brows furrowed, and he fell into deep thought.
He could not deny that the terrible consequences of the weak seeking peace, as described by Danzo, were indeed a cruel reality.
He had no way to refute these words.
However, this logic runs counter to his lifelong commitment to the path of peace.
For a moment, Hashirama's mind was in turmoil, filled with confusion and struggle.
Madara Uchiha, who was standing to the side, slowly lowered his arms, which he had been crossing over his chest.
A flicker of surprise crossed his originally cold eyes, followed by a faint hint of appreciation.
Madara Uchiha never expected that the kid he had just regarded as an ant could so clearly articulate his own ideas.
"Nisan, look!"
Uchiha Izuna had been closely observing his brother's changing expressions. Seeing a glint of excitement flash in Madara's eyes, he immediately smiled with excitement, leaned closer, and whispered in Madara's ear, "I told you, didn't I? Danzo has excellent judgment; he's a rare talent!"
"snort!
"9
Madara Uchiha's thoughts were exposed by his younger brother's words, and a barely perceptible embarrassment flashed across his face.
He coughed lightly, trying to cover it up, then put on a stern face and gave a forced, cold snort: "So-so—it's barely passable! At least it's a little better than some people with unrealistic and naive ideas."
Madara glanced meaningfully at Hashirama when he mentioned "some naive ideas."
Hashirama Senju was deep in thought with his head down when he heard Madara's barbed words, and his expression became even more somber.
After saying this, Madara Uchiha strode towards Hashirama.
As he approached, he suddenly reached out and patted Hashirama Senju's shoulder forcefully.
"Haxi Hot Mom, you better think this through carefully."
Hashirama felt a weight on his shoulders, and when he came to his senses, he looked up and met Madara's gaze. Madara Uchiha stood tall and proud, his long black hair flying in the sunlight, his expression exuding an indescribable air of confidence and triumph.
"Danzo's words, though blunt, are not without merit!"
"With you and me here in Konoha, do we really need those empty documents to ensure our safety?"
Ban glanced around and let out a hearty laugh.
"Haha! Tell me, in this ninja world, which fool dares to provoke both of us at the same time?!"
Despite his friend's boisterous laughter, Hashirama's mood grew increasingly heavy.
He moved his lips, but found himself speechless.
Seeing that Hashirama did not answer, Madara Uchiha sneered to himself, slowly raised his right hand, and suddenly clenched his five fingers into a fist.
"True peace depends on this!"
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly clenched his fist, making a crisp cracking sound, like the beating of a war drum, which was awe-inspiring.
"—!"
Hashirama Senju's pupils trembled slightly as he stared at Madara's clenched fist, speechless for a moment.
His feelings were complicated and hard to describe. On the one hand, he was very clear that every word Ban said was a cold and cruel truth.
On the other hand, he vaguely felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.
Hashirama Senju remained silent for a long time before finally lowering his head slowly.
Sunlight streamed down on him, casting a long shadow on the ground.
At this moment, this man, who once vowed to exchange love and trust for peace, is experiencing a fierce clash of two beliefs.
He gently closed his eyes, letting the breeze caress his face, but it couldn't dispel the sorrow that had settled between his brows.