Considering that Kazekaze was only seven years old, Hashirama deliberately omitted some details when recounting his past with Madara Uchiha.
For instance, he did not mention that Madara's younger brother, whom he wanted to protect, was killed by Tobirama. Nor did he mention that he and Madara had their final battle in the Valley of the End, where he personally killed his closest friend to protect the village.
None of these details were revealed to Kazekaze.
From a certain perspective, Hashirama was portraying the light of Konoha. Because he hoped that Kazekaze would become a Hokage like the light—someone who would inherit both his and Madara's ideals and eventually find the correct answer. Though the path to that answer would be arduous, filled with thorns, Hashirama was willing to believe in it.
If it was Kazekaze… He could definitely accomplish it!
After all, he was his grandson!
The reason Hashirama chose to tell Kazekaze these things now was because he felt that he did not have much time left. He was afflicted with a terminal illness, and his body was deteriorating day by day.
At any moment, his condition could suddenly worsen. If he did not tell Kazekaze now, he might never get another chance.
Though his younger brother Tobirama was highly capable and ambitious, making him the most suitable candidate to inherit the title of Hokage, his methods were at times... extreme.
If Kazekaze were to be raised entirely under Tobirama's influence, Hashirama worried that… one day, the Uchiha clan would become Konoha's greatest issue.
Thus, Hashirama hoped that Kazekaze could come to understand the Uchiha clan, to believe in them.
Even Madara Uchiha once had ideals.
Even he had people he wanted to protect.
Even he had once dreamed of ending war.
Even he... had wanted to establish a ninja village.
To create a world where children could grow up without fear!
The Uchiha clan was never inherently at fault. They simply lacked someone capable of guiding them.
"You're telling me all this so suddenly... I'm only seven, you know." Kazekaze couldn't help but complain, though in his heart, his impression of Hashirama had begun to change.
In the original story, Hashirama had always seemed a bit goofy. Despite being the strongest ninja below the Sage of Six Paths, he was often restrained by Tobirama's decisions. His decision to distribute the Tailed Beasts had also seemed irrational.
Many people had even joked that with Hashirama's overwhelming strength, he could have easily crushed the entire ninja world and enforced unity.
Even Kazekaze had thought Hashirama was a Hokage with power but lacking political skill.
However, looking at things now… Perhaps that wasn't the case. With just a few words, Hashirama had exposed Konoha's hidden truths.
Most importantly… His words made it very clear—he wanted Kazekaze to lead the Uchiha clan, to make them his strength.
The Senju and the Uchiha were Konoha's two most powerful clans. And he himself was Hashirama's grandson—a pure-blooded Senju.
Even though Hashirama's policies had led to the gradual abandonment of the Senju surname and encouraged intermarriage with other clans, true Senju lineage would never be easily discarded.
As long as Kazekaze took the initiative, the Senju would undoubtedly rally behind him. And if he could also control the Uchiha clan… Not even the Daimyo would be able to shake his position!
"Grandfather Hashirama," Kazekaze hesitated for a moment before asking, "I heard that during the Five Kage Summit, you distributed the captured Tailed Beasts to other villages. Why?"
In truth, this matter was no secret. It had been the first Five Kage Summit in history! A monumental event that had shaken the entire ninja world!
Kazekaze knew there was nothing strange about it. He was simply curious to hear Hashirama's own reasoning. However, Hashirama had not expected Kazekaze to bring it up.
"Hahaha! As expected of my grandson! Other children at your age only care about toys and games. But you, Kazekaze, are already thinking about something as complex as the distribution of the Tailed Beasts." Hashirama's eyes narrowed slightly, his emotions stirred.
To him, Kazekaze was still just a child, yet he already possessed a mindset that most of his peers lacked. He was capable of contemplating peace, the Tailed Beasts, and the structure of the ninja villages.
This was truly rare!
However, the reality was… Kazekaze now understood Hashirama's reasoning. The Tailed Beasts were a double-edged sword. The power granted to a Jinchūriki was undoubtedly immense, but if they lost control, the destruction they could bring upon a ninja village was devastating.
The loss of just one Hokage due to the Nine-Tails was proof of that.
Not every Kage possessed Hashirama's strength. Not everyone could dismiss the risks with a casual, "What, the Nine-Tails can actually kill people?"
And even if Hashirama had not collected the Tailed Beasts, did that mean other ninja villages wouldn't have tried to?
The Hidden Cloud Village had been coveting the Nine-Tails since the Warring States period—they had simply failed to capture it. Rather than waiting for the other villages to accumulate strength and fight over the Tailed Beasts, wasn't it better to distribute them and maintain a balance?
Not to mention, he had made a lot of money in the process. As for the debate between distribution and unification, Neither approach truly mattered. In the end, everything had relied solely on Hashirama's personal power to maintain order.
The moment he died, regardless of the political structure in place, conflicts would inevitably erupt and escalate into war. The only real difference was whether history would label it a Ninja Village War or a Ninja World Civil War. Just like how the empire built by the Conqueror King had shattered into multiple warring states the moment he died.
Kazekaze had only asked to verify his own understanding.
However, at that moment, Hashirama fell silent. He lifted his sake cup, drained it completely, and then slammed it heavily onto the table.
"Because... every person eventually dies."
Kazekaze: "???"
"Even if I hadn't fallen ill, my lifespan was still limited. The balance of the Tailed Beasts... the peace agreements... they were all just delaying the inevitable war." A bitter smile crossed Hashirama's face.
Deep down, he understood all too well. The peace of the ninja world had an expiration date. And that expiration date… Depended entirely on his own lifespan. Furthermore...
The wars of the Warring States period had been fought on a clan-by-clan scale. But now, with countless clans uniting into villages, the next war would be fought on a village-by-village scale. And when that war inevitably came, it would be far more terrifying than anything that had come before.
That was why he had devised the "Tailed Beast Balance" strategy— To ensure that, even after his death, every village would fear the power of the Tailed Beasts. So that none of them would dare to escalate conflicts into full-scale war.
Tobirama, despite his cunning and political skill, lacked one crucial quality… Raw power. He was not strong enough to serve as the guarantor of peace.
"So that is why... I want you to become Hokage before I die!" Hashirama slammed his palm onto the table.
"Participate in the Chunin Exams in one week, Kazekaze!"
Kazekaze had never expected Hashirama to say something like that. It seemed that he truly had high expectations for him! But somehow, this whole speech made it sound like Tobirama was... kinda useless...? Before Kazekaze could respond—
[System Notification: The cooldown period for the Check-In System has ended!]
[Please confirm—would you like to check in?]
"Hmm? I can do my fourth check-in already? I am willing to exchange ten years of Madara Uchiha's life for..."
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