Chapter 117: You Call This Sacrifice?
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"Hashirama-senpai, my name is Senju Takuya," said Takuya softly.
"Senju?!" Hashirama asked in surprise. "Are you a member of the Senju clan?"
"That's right," Takuya nodded.
Hearing his words, Hashirama's expression changed from surprise to joy. "Very good! I never expected a genius like you to appear in the Senju clan. It seems that fate still favors us," he laughed heartily.
He felt very happy that a ninja that even Madara admired was from his family. "Madara, did you see it? He is a member of our Senju clan. Your Uchiha are being compared again, aren't they?" Hashirama winked at Madara.
"Hashirama, you really should thank this brat. If it weren't for him, the Senju clan might have completely perished," Madara snorted coldly.
"What do you mean? Was the Senju clan attacked?" Hashirama asked in confusion.
"Hashirama, you have too many questions. I'll tell you everything from the beginning," Madara said impatiently, deciding to explain everything that had happened over the years to stop Hashirama from asking so many questions.
"Madara, you are so kind," Hashirama said, looking at Madara with eyes full of relief.
"It's just to kill the boring time on the road," Madara replied casually.
Immediately, both of them looked at Takuya. "Takuya, shall we go to Konoha?" Hashirama asked.
"Well, let's talk while we walk," Takuya nodded. It seemed like a good choice to personally observe Hashirama and Madara's interactions.
Then, the three of them headed slowly towards Konoha. On the road, Madara spoke slowly. "Hashirama, to understand everything, let's start with a woman named Ōtsutsuki Kaguya..."
Under Madara's narration, Hashirama slowly understood the origin of the ninja world. "It turns out this is the truth of everything. It's really scary. Madara, you almost made a big mistake. If Ōtsutsuki Kaguya was accidentally released, the entire ninja world could have been doomed," Hashirama said solemnly.
Madara nodded in agreement. If it hadn't been for Takuya, it's hard to say what the ninja world would be like now.
"By the way, tell me what happened after my death," Hashirama asked with curiosity. He already understood why Madara's ideas were flawed. Now, he was interested in understanding the shortcomings of his own thinking. Was the system of one country, one village really so unreasonable?
"Let Takuya explain that," Madara suggested lightly. He believed Takuya's insights would be more profound and might help Hashirama recognize his mistakes more clearly.
"Takuya, please enlighten us," Hashirama requested with a smile.
"Certainly. Hashirama-senpai, you might not realize that the system you established later created issues for future generations," Takuya explained calmly.
"Really?" Hashirama was taken aback. Even if his idea had flaws, it couldn't be that detrimental, could it? Could his system truly have caused so many problems?
"At the time, you relied on your strength to establish the system of one country, one village. However, you elevated the status of the daimyo too high. Under their influence, ninjas became mere 'tools' at the bottom of the hierarchy. Even for minor tasks, ninjas had to risk their lives. Those who failed were labeled as trash and scum. I can't even count how many families were torn apart because of this," Takuya detailed.
"In many subsequent wars, the daimyo were the instigators. After wars, they would shake hands and make peace, but the ninjas were left with only their names on memorial tablets. Because the daimyo were untouchable, they could enjoy their lives without fear of repercussions. This lack of accountability led to their reckless attitude towards war. The lives of ninjas were nothing more than bargaining chips," Takuya continued.
Hashirama fell silent. Back then, establishing the Ninja Village required financial support from the daimyo. To secure these funds, he had agreed to many conditions. He hadn't realized this would create such hidden dangers.
"See? You should have listened to me from the start. Politicians don't deserve any respect," Madara grumbled.
Hashirama sighed, not bothering to argue. With Hashirama silent, Takuya carried on.
"Furthermore, in an attempt to maintain a balance of power among the ninja villages, you distributed the tailed beasts to other villages. But you failed to consider that only an absolute gap in strength can ensure peace. A balance of power only fosters confidence to wage war. After your death, Konoha lost its dominant power, and other villages, seeing themselves as equals, quickly waged war. Less than a year after your death, the ninja world was plunged into chaos. This is clear evidence," Takuya added.
Both Hashirama and Madara's eyes widened with realization. A balance of power could never ensure stability; only absolute dominance could. This new understanding enlightened them.
The reason for the initial peace in the ninja world had been their combined strength's ability to overwhelm everything.
Hashirama and Madara exchanged regretful glances. If they had understood this earlier, many issues might have been avoided.
Their admiration for Takuya grew. Despite his youth, his insights were deeper than their own.
"Takuya, continue," Hashirama said.
Since your death, there have been a total of three great ninja wars in the ninja world.
"Almost all the ninja villages in the world have been involved in the conflict."
"Even your brother, Tobirama Senju, died returning from negotiations with another village."
Takuya said slowly.
"T-Tobirama is dead too?"
Hashirama couldn't help but sigh.
"So much time has passed."
"Hashirama-senpai, when you first established the one-country-one-village system, what was your original intention?"
Takuya asked.
"My original intention?"
"Of course, it was to achieve peace in the ninja world. To ensure that children no longer die easily on the battlefield!"
Hashirama said solemnly. From a young age, many of his brothers had died in battle. This conviction drove him to join forces with Madara to create the current structure of the ninja world.
"But... because of your system, not only has war not disappeared, but it has become many times more tragic than before."
"During the Ninja World Wars, children as young as six or seven were on the battlefield."
"The casualties were much higher than during the Warring States period,"
Takuya continued.
During the Warring States period, although the ninja world was far from peaceful, the battles were often limited to clan feuds, involving a few thousand people at most. But after the establishment of the one-country-one-village system, battles involved tens of thousands of people, leading to far more tragic scenes than before.
"So many things happened after I died,"
Hashirama said. "It seems I was too naive. Madara, now that I think about it, I should have considered the suggestions you made back then."
"I made mistakes back then. Those ideas were definitely a little radical,"
Madara said, taking the initiative to excuse Hashirama.
"Hahahaha... everything is over now."
"Stop talking about this."
"Takuya, tell me what happened next. Why did Madara just say that the Senju clan was almost extinct?"
Hashirama calmed down and smiled again.
"What is past is past. No matter how hard I struggle, I can't change anything."
"After your death, Tobirama succeeded you as Hokage. To consolidate the power of the Hokage and suppress the power of the ninja clans, Tobirama encouraged some members of the Senju clan to voluntarily give up the Senju surname and integrate into Konoha."
"With the Senju clan setting an example, Tobirama had a reason to target other ninja clans. The Uchiha clan, Hyuga clan, and other powerful families gradually withdrew from Konoha's core power."
Hashirama touched his chin. "This approach is indeed in line with Tobirama's temperament. So, the demise of the Senju clan was due to giving up the surname?"
Hashirama smiled generously. Giving up a surname seemed trivial in the larger scheme of peace.
"Hashirama-senpai, you're wrong. The demise of our Senju clan was a true demise, not just about giving up the surname,"
Takuya continued.
"After Tobirama died, his disciple Hiruzen Sarutobi became the Third Hokage. Sarutobi Hiruzen was a standard politician. He was neither as powerful as you nor as iron-blooded as Tobirama."
"Facing joint attacks from other ninja villages, he stepped up suppression of various ninja clans. The Senju clan was the first among them. Even those who had given up the Senju family name were not spared."
"After only two ninja wars, the Senju clan was reduced to just me and Tsunade."
Hashirama nodded silently. He had already guessed what happened from Takuya's description.
"...I didn't expect that the little monkey would do such a thing,"
Hashirama sighed.
"Even inside Konoha Village, darkness prevailed."
He realized his failure. "... Is Tsunade okay? Are you two the only ones left in the Senju clan?"
Hashirama asked.
"Tsunade is fine. The Senju clan has become prosperous again. You don't have to worry about that,"
Takuya said calmly.
"Huh? Didn't you just say that you and Tsunade are the only ones left in the Senju clan? Why is it becoming prosperous again now? What do you mean?"
Hashirama asked in confusion.
"Hahahaha... Hashirama, let me explain,"
Madara laughed.
"To be honest, I'm a little envious of you. I admit this time that you, a junior, have completely outclassed the Uchiha clan."
Madara then detailed Senju Takuya's "wife selection plan" to Hashirama.
"You mean... the Senju clan now has more than a hundred children? All Takuya's alone?"
Hashirama asked in disbelief.
"That's right. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I can even think of such a method. Despite how it seems, this method is the most effective way to restore the Senju clan's population quickly."
"Takuya, you're a werewolf,"
Hashirama couldn't help but give Takuya a thumbs up.
Let's not talk about having children for now. Just handling so many women makes him an idol for all men.
"Hashirama-senpai, I will be embarrassed if you praise me like that. It's all for the Senju clan. It's appropriate for me to make a little sacrifice,"
Takuya smiled modestly.
Seeing him like this, Hashirama and Madara were speechless.
You call this a sacrifice?
Good grief,
Such a sacrifice,
We also want to try it!
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