"Grandfather, even though you never personally went to the battlefield, the very foundation of Konoha was laid by your own hands!"
"You built the village, gathered the clans, stabilized logistics, established systems, and planned for the long term."
"None of us could match those achievements even if we tried our hardest.", Uchiha Tajima spoke first, his tone filled with respect.
As he spoke, Tajima stepped forward and bowed deeply, "You are the true chief architect of Konoha."
"We are nothing more than warriors who charge into battle. The position of the First Hokage should have been yours to begin with!"
As soon as his words fell, Senju Hashirama immediately agreed. He strode forward and said, "Uncle Tajima is right! I also think the Grand Elder becoming the First Hokage is completely justified!"
"The contributions you've made to Konoha are greater than all of ours combined!"
"Without the few of us, Konoha might still have come into being. But without the Grand Elder, Konoha would never have been born. Without the Grand Elder, there would be no Konoha Village."
Senju Tobirama's voice was calm. His gaze swept across everyone before finally landing on Arisu, a trace of admiration hidden deep in his eyes.
In his view, among all the Uchiha, only this Grand Elder Arisu was completely different.
Rational and steady, resourceful and calculating, never acting on impulse, never obsessed with fighting bravely or showing off strength. The Arisu before him no longer resembled an Uchiha in the slightest.
Tobirama even suspected that Arisu might not be an Uchiha at all.
Uchiha Madara and Izuna exchanged a glance, both silently agreeing.
In their eyes, Arisu taking the position of First Hokage was only natural.
There was no need to say more.
"Great-Grandfather, managing the village is what you're best at!"
"We'll be the sharpest blades in your hands, clearing away all obstacles for you!"
Uchiha Izuna stepped forward quickly and hugged Arisu's arm in a familiar, affectionate manner.
Seeing that everyone shared the same stance, Arisu slowly raised his eyes, a faint smile forming at the corner of his lips as he spoke, "Since that's the case, then I won't refuse."
'Same as always...'
Arisu: 'I won't stand on ceremony.'
"We pay our respects to the First Hokage!!!!"
"We pay our respects to the First Hokage!!!!"
Everyone bowed together, their voices so loud that even the wooden pillars of the office trembled slightly.
"There's no need for such formality."
Arisu waved his hand, his smile gentle.
At that moment, several Anbu members escorted the tightly bound Senju Butsuma into the room.
The ropes dug into his arms, veins bulging from the strain, yet even as he was shoved forward, his neck remained held high.
Senju Butsuma suddenly raised his eyes, first glaring fiercely at Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama beside him, his gaze filled with venom. Then, it landed on Arisu, who sat at the head seat.
"You old bastard! Kill me or cut me up, do as you please!"
Senju Butsuma roared, his voice hoarse, carrying a defiant edge.
"You still have a bit of backbone."
Arisu glanced at him lightly, his tone flat, giving away no emotion.
"Hmph! Of course!"
Senju Butsuma sneered coldly. "I'm not like those sons of mine, spineless enough to surrender to outsiders like you!"
"….."
Arisu continued to look down at him, his fingers lightly tapping the table in a steady rhythm, as if waiting for something.
At that moment, with a "thud," Senju Hashirama suddenly dropped to his knees, his forehead pressed tightly against the cold ground, his voice choked yet earnest.
"Grand Elder! Please spare my father's life!"
Hashirama suddenly raised his head, his eyes red, yet he still insisted stubbornly, "I know this request is disrespectful, but I really can't bear to watch my father die like this… punish him with hard labor, deal with him however you see fit, alright?"
Everyone was shaken by the scene, all of them turning to look at Arisu, each with a different expression.
Uchiha Madara stood to the side, the corner of his lips lifting ever so slightly as he thought to himself, 'Hashirama's nature… in the end, he just can't be ruthless.'
Senju Tobirama's heart also trembled.
It wasn't that he hadn't thought of pleading for his father, but Senju Butsuma, as the clan leader of the Senju, held a special status.
Konoha had only just been established. If he wasn't executed immediately as a warning, the other major clans might harbor rebellious thoughts in the future.
If it were him, he would definitely have ordered the execution.
Arisu had already expected this. If Hashirama didn't plead, then he wouldn't be Hashirama.
With Hashirama's nature, there was no way he could remain unmoved when facing the life of a close relative.
"So, what do the rest of you think?"
Arisu raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping across everyone as he asked calmly.
Seeing this, Uchiha Madara immediately walked to Hashirama's side and knelt down as well, bowing respectfully to Arisu.
"Lord Hokage, since my father is still alive, there's no need to take Senju Butsuma's life."
Senju Tobirama quickly followed, saying, "That's right. We ask Lord Hokage to show leniency."
Arisu turned his gaze to Uchiha Tajima and asked lightly, "Tajima, what's your opinion?"
Uchiha Tajima chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in his tone. "I don't have any objections. Killing that old Senju Butsuma would actually be letting him off too easily."
Tajima raised his eyes to look at Senju Butsuma. "I want him to watch with his own eyes how the Senju clan gradually integrates into Konoha, to see your Senju clan completely become part of Konoha."
Arisu nodded inwardly.
Tajima's thoughts aligned perfectly with his own.
If Senju Butsuma were killed, the leaders of the other clans would surely feel uneasy, afraid of meeting the same fate.
It was better to spare him and let him witness his clan fall from its pedestal, gradually being assimilated into Konoha's system. That was far more intimidating than a simple execution.
"Senju Butsuma."
Arisu slowly raised his hand and waved his sleeve. His voice suddenly grew heavier.
"Since everyone is willing to spare your life, I, as Hokage, will let you live. You are sentenced to imprisonment in Konoha, where you will serve a full term of labor reform!"
Senju Butsuma's eyes widened suddenly, his gaze fierce, his chest heaving violently.
How could he not understand? This wasn't mercy. It was the ultimate humiliation.
He would rather die gloriously as the clan leader of the Senju than live like this, watching his clan become a subordinate of Konoha step by step.
Soon after, Senju Butsuma was dragged out.
"Great-Grandfather, there are still isolated islands overseas, like the Land of Whirlpools. They're distant relatives of the Senju clan."
"Should we cross the sea and eliminate them to prevent future trouble?", Uchiha Madara said, his fighting spirit surging.
"I think we might as well unify the entire ninja world!"
Uchiha Izuna was even more bold.
But both suggestions were quickly rejected by Arisu, "That's not possible right now. Konoha has just absorbed so many ninja clans internally."
"We need time to digest them. If we continue waging war, the newly absorbed clans might take the opportunity to rebel."
Arisu rejected them directly.
Hearing this, Izuna immediately calmed down and found it reasonable.
"As for Uzushio Village, their system is similar to ours. They've also established a village. I believe we can send a diplomatic envoy to persuade them to coexist peacefully with us."
"In the face of the overall situation, Uzushio Village will not attack us for the sake of the Senju.", Arisu said calmly.
The Uzumaki clan had also formed a village, though it was one clan forming one village, unlike Konoha with its many clans.
"Then who should we send as the diplomatic envoy?", Senju Tobirama asked.
Arisu looked directly at Senju Hashirama.
"Hashirama, you're the most suitable. You go."