"The facts have already proven that when war is still just an abstract concept, most people will beat their chests and claim they're willing to fight."
"But once that cruelty becomes real, once it means sending your son, your father, the family you treasure more than your own life onto the battlefield, suddenly no one is willing anymore."
"Not to mention, Konoha has absolutely no experience with large-scale warfare. This is no longer the era of individual ninja clans fighting separate battles."
"Logistics, strategic deployment, control over the overall battlefield, we've never fought a war on the scale of the entire ninja world, nor are we familiar with lands beyond the Land of Fire.", Izuna's expression was dark as he spoke each word.
"Izuna? Don't tell me these peaceful days have gone to your head and made you lose the bloodlust you once had standing before enemy blades?"
Uchiha Madara frowned deeply as he spoke, "With Hashirama's strength and mine, we might not even need to mobilize the entire ninja world. Besides, war inevitably requires sacrifices. That's unavoidable."
"Brother."
Izuna lifted his eyes and looked directly at Madara, asking in return, "Then what if that necessary sacrifice... was me?"
"This..."
Madara instantly fell silent, opening his mouth only to stop himself from speaking.
Yes.
Once sacrifice stopped being some vague, generalized concept, and instead became his only precious younger brother, all those grand-sounding justifications collapsed in an instant.
Madara said, 'War requires necessary sacrifice.'
But what if the one sacrificed in that war was Izuna?
Madara thought: 'Absolutely not.'
"Mhm, Izuna's right!"
Hashirama nodded gently, his expression warm and mild as he looked at Izuna in full agreement.
Madara's face darkened slightly. He sat back down in silence, visibly displeased, an oppressive mood surrounding him.
Watching his older brother's gloomy expression, Izuna lowered his voice and tried persuading him again.
"Brother, the Mangekyo Sharingan possessed by the two of us simply can't sustain a war spanning the entire ninja world..."
This was another core reason why Izuna firmly opposed war.
The strain and side effects of the Mangekyo Sharingan had already become a fatal hidden danger that could no longer be ignored.
Izuna didn't want to see his brother go blind.
The moment those words were spoken, Madara's body stiffened sharply, his hand at his side clenching tightly.
Izuna had reminded him of something.
The deterioration of his Mangekyo Sharingan had already become increasingly severe.
His vision had long since become terribly blurry, almost like extreme nearsightedness.
If he entered a ninja world war in that condition, it would undoubtedly become a massive weakness, perhaps even a fatal flaw.
Even though he kept insisting he was fine, that was just stubborn bravado.
Back then, whenever he wanted to spar with Hashirama, he'd casually activate the Mangekyo and go fight him.
Now he couldn't anymore.
Because the Mangekyo truly couldn't be used recklessly now.
"Madara, our lifelong dream was to protect peace in the ninja world. Now that wish has already come true, why should we take the initiative to start another war and destroy this hard-earned stability?"
Hashirama softened his tone and tried persuading him gently.
Madara turned to look at Hashirama and let out a heavy sigh before finally voicing the worry buried deep in his heart.
"I'm afraid that once you and I die, this peace will prove to be nothing more than a fragile illusion."
"You and I both know perfectly well what the hearts of people in the ninja world are really like..."
Hearing this, Hashirama also fell silent instantly, the warmth on his face gradually fading.
"Brother, the various ninja villages may not all be benevolent. There are plenty of forces harboring malicious intentions and coveting Konoha.", Tobirama spoke calmly.
"One may not intend to harm others, but one must still guard against being harmed. We may have no desire to scheme against anyone else, but what if they set their sights on Konoha?"
Hearing this, Hashirama's expression suddenly turned solemn and sharp, his entire aura sinking heavily as he spoke in a deep voice, "If they dare raise arms against Konoha, I, Senju Hashirama, will show absolutely no mercy!"
———
[Night Time]
Hashirama, Madara, Izuna, and Tobirama got off work together, walking shoulder to shoulder.
"I'm telling you, Madara, stop thinking about war all the time. Think about something else for once. If I remember correctly, you still don't have a wife, right? You're not exactly young anymore..."
Hashirama said with a grin while patting Madara on the shoulder.
"Exactly, brother. You still refuse to get married. I'm honestly getting worried for you.", Izuna puffed out his cheeks from the side as he spoke.
Madara crossed his arms, his face reddening slightly.
"Hmph. It's just that I don't think any woman in the world is worthy of me, Uchiha Madara!"
"Come on, brother. Madara probably just isn't suited for marriage. Even with my vivid imagination, I can't picture him married...", Tobirama said slowly from the side.
Izuna immediately became dissatisfied.
"And I can't imagine what you'd look like after getting married either, Tobirama."
After getting off work, the atmosphere between them was obviously much more relaxed, and their conversation became far more casual.
"Hm? There's actually a restaurant newly opened on Central Avenue ahead. Perfect timing, I'm starving. How about we go try it?"
Hashirama suddenly looked up and pointed toward Ichiraku Ramen in front of them.
"Suit yourself," Madara replied indifferently.
Tobirama added, "I was getting hungry too."
———
Inside Ichiraku Ramen, Kakuzu stood behind the counter with a huge grin on his face, happily counting money.
"Hehehe..." Kakuzu let out a rather obscene laugh.
"Kakuzu, I've really been wanting to ask. Why do you like money so much? For ninja, shouldn't strength matter more?", Arisu sat in his seat and asked slowly.
Truthfully, he genuinely didn't understand why Kakuzu in the original story loved money that much.
Hearing this, Kakuzu curled his lips into a smile, "Old man, the reason I like money is because I enjoy the feeling of earning it."
"That sense of security when money lands in my hands. The satisfaction of watching what I've accumulated keep growing larger and larger."
Arisu instantly understood and laughed.
"So you're actually the farming type."
Kakuzu froze for a moment, then shook his headz, "No, I don't like farming."
"That's not what 'farming' means.", Arisu stroked his chin as he spoke.
At that moment, a voice rang out.
"Shopkeeper!"
Arisu turned his head, only to see the Konoha F4 already standing at the entrance.
"Hehe, hello there, shopkeeper.", Hashirama greeted him warmly with a smile.
Madara merely glanced at Arisu indifferently before finding a seat and sitting down.
"It's the Hokage!"
Kakuzu was startled and subconsciously glanced at Arisu with concern.
Could it be that their identities had been exposed?
Was that why Konoha's strongest figures had come here?
Yet Arisu's expression remained calm as he smiled and said, "What would the four of you like to order?"
"Bring us four bowls of your signature dish.", Hashirama answered kindly.
Arisu nodded and looked toward Kakuzu.
Kakuzu immediately understood and went to make the ramen.
Once they reached the kitchen area, Kakuzu lowered his voice and spoke quietly to Arisu, "Should we drug them or something? Just to make sure they don't recognize us."
Arisu froze for a moment, then his expression stiffened as he waved a hand dismissively, "There's no need. They won't recognize me."
Hearing that, Kakuzu couldn't help feeling that the strength of the man before him was truly unfathomable.
'Such absolute confidence.'