Chapter 180

"Senju Hashirama is bottomless. When it comes to fighting in the Shinōbi World, he's not someone to mess with," Kakuzu said emotionally, sitting across from Hitoshi in his house.

"Uchiha Madara is a narrow-minded individual, but he can see it clearly. Senju Hashirama is different. He always gives you the feeling that you can work harder, that you can strive for more. Even if you worked hard for eight lifetimes, you still wouldn't be able to match him," Kakuzu continued, his face contorted with a mix of admiration and bitterness.

"Shōdai Kazekage and others believed that by working hard, they could compete with Senju Hashirama. They each put in their best efforts, only to be worn down in the end. Uchiha Madara believed that he could bridge the gap between himself and Hashirama through hard work. He caught the Nine-Tails and went to fight against Senju Hashirama. And what happened? He lost," Kakuzu explained, his voice filled with a hint of sorrow.

"Hashirama is truly exceptional. He saved face for everyone, and yet he himself suffered," Kakuzu lamented.

"He saved face for a whole bunch of people," Hitoshi added.

"If he were to dominate the world, I would never dare to challenge him," Hitoshi mused.

"The reason I challenged him was because everyone thought I could give it a try," Hitoshi continued.

"And the result... well, everyone knows what happened," he concluded.

Sitting at the table, enjoying a massage and sipping fruit juice, Hitoshi listened intently as Kakuzu regaled him with tales from the Sengoku period. Hitoshi couldn't help but acknowledge Kakuzu's storytelling prowess. Despite being a logistics company's president or a teacher, Kakuzu had a knack for spinning captivating tales. He had accumulated a wealth of knowledge over the years and had a unique understanding of the people and world of Shinōbi.

Hitoshi realized that Kakuzu was a man with stories to tell. He needed comfort, not further hardship. Kakuzu had lost many contemporaries, one after another, and needed something to invigorate himself.

"You don't need to handle government affairs. Just chat with me about nonsense every day," Hitoshi suggested, sensing Kakuzu's weariness.

"You declared that you were seriously injured and dying. How can you go out and attract attention?" Hitoshi added.

"Hmph, it's just laziness, claiming to be seriously injured and dying," Kakuzu replied disdainfully, giving Pakura a glance. She blushed and silently lowered her head, understanding the silent message conveyed by Kakuzu's look.

After Pakura left, Kakuzu advised Hitoshi on the importance of taking care of his body while he was still young. Kakuzu emphasized the need to maintain oneself for the sake of others, as one's body was not just for personal use.

"Also, young man, rebooting will help you go further in the future. Look at Senju Hashirama. Uzumaki Mito was incredibly beautiful, but there's no news that he was addicted to beauty," Kakuzu imparted his wisdom.

Hitoshi found Kakuzu's lectures on rebooting and maintaining oneself irritating. He couldn't understand why Kakuzu felt the need to comment on his personal life. What was wrong with enjoying the beauty of life? His wife was beautiful with an amazing figure. Just one glance at her legs was enough to keep him satisfied for three years. Kakuzu, on the other hand, had been single for several decades, practicing Ninjutsu generation after generation. What qualifications did he have to lecture Hitoshi?

"Mr. Kakuzu, do you know why you have such a miserable life? Do you know why you've been targeted?" Hitoshi asked, a slight smirk on his face.

"Why?" Kakuzu asked, caught off guard by Hitoshi's question.

"Because being single for a long time can lead to a warped mind. It's easy to develop mental illnesses like depression and psychosis," Hitoshi replied matter-of-factly, leaving Kakuzu speechless.

Observing Kakuzu's shocked expression, Hitoshi felt satisfied. His words had hit home, and Kakuzu couldn't refute them.

"I have something to attend to. I'll take my leave," Kakuzu said finally, forcing a smile before disappearing instantly, leaving Hitoshi bewildered.

"I must have struck a nerve. It must be true," Hitoshi whispered to himself.

He believed he was right. Uchiha Madara had no focus, which ultimately led to his downfall. Senju Hashirama had a clear purpose. He became the village leader, married a perfect woman, and reached the pinnacle of his life. Senju Tobirama lacked focus and died after a few years. Sarutobi Hiruzen had a wife and child, and his Hokage position spanned several decades. Namikaze Minato had the qualifications to become Hokage because of his wife. Moreover, he acquired forbidden Sealing Jutsu through her. Hitoshi realized that the main characters who brought about significant change all had wives and children. The biggest difference between heroes and villains was having a wife. The Akatsuki organization consisted entirely of singles or highly eligible bachelors. On the other hand, the positive characters who brought them down, such as the Konoha Twelve, were all married to noble Eldest Misses. Hitoshi concluded that after transmigrating, he needed to find a wife to prevent himself from becoming abnormal and falling into the villain's role designated by the universe.