Chapter 111

Title: End 5

...

"I'm afraid that question is a little bit ambiguous." Hashirama said and sat down on the floor. "However, I feel like I know...no, I understand what you're trying to ask."

"Big brother...why are you sitting?" Tobirama barked at his brother but Hashirama waved his hand at him.

"Come now, the boy came to us for answers. The least I can do is clear his confusion." Then turning to Sasuke, he continued. "You remind me so much of my friend."

"Uchiha Madara."

"That's right. I'm glad you know of him."

"Who wouldn't?"

"Hahaha. That's right...who wouldn't know of Uchiha Madara..? You know...of us both, he loved the most. I haven't told this to anyone, not even Tobirama, considering his immense hatred of them...The Uchihas...they're a clan of great love."

"Even if you didn't tell me, I was already aware." Tobirama snorted at his brother. "Why do you think I put them in such an important position?"

"Wasn't it to keep a better watch on them?"

Tobirama shook his head and replied. "It was to inculcate in them the feeling of belonging. If they were to be in charge of protecting the safety of the villagers, wouldn't they feel included?"

There was a moment of silence before Mikoto snorted and disdainfully looked at Tobirama. "For all your intelligence, you're such a fool. But of course... Wisdom and Intelligence aren't really the same."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It's simple. How do you expect the masses to appreciate and feel at peace with a clan known for their notoriety serving as the village judge, jury and executioners of the law?"

"That's not what they do. Their only duty is to do the same thing the Chinioke Clan does in Hanagakure." Tobirama defended himself.

"Which is what in particular?" Mikoto asked with a smirk.

"To protect the Civilians," Tobirama replied but Mikoto shook her head.

"The Police Department of Hanagakure only protects the peace. They do nothing to take matters into their own hands. But your village system was flawed... right from it's creation."

"Enough of that. We're already dead and all this is in the past." Hashirama said loudly.

"But your mistakes led to this scenario today. God knows what other effects your past mistakes had brought upon your village...or maybe the world."

"Yeah. Yeah. We're all Humans, we exist to make mistakes. And those mistakes are then left to the next generation to rectify." Hashirama said not minding her tone and continued.

"But you see, young Sasuke, the love your clan bears in its abundance...is the very reason why my brother deems you all as dangerous."

"Are you of the same mind?" Sasuke asked but Hashirama shook his head.

"The dream we had...Madara and I...was to create a world where we won't have to lose any loved ones." Hashirama said.

"But that's impossible."

"Exactly. It's impossible. Death is a constant in this world. As someone once told us, Wherever there is light-"

"There will also be darkness to be found." Sasuke completed it.

"Exactly. In the same way, wherever there is life, death is just a step away. It's the law of the world." Hashirama said sadly. "The only thing we could do was protect the little we could, but alas...War."

"Hmm. But that doesn't answer my question though." Sasuke said.

"Your question...Why did we let it come to this...Well, what can I say? In my time, there was peace. A Strained and Pretentious Peace, but peace nonetheless." Hashirama said and then pointed to the other Kages, he continued. "We all had one thing in common back then...we were tired of wars."

"Not me, I just didn't want my sister to be sad." God Anel quipped, causing all eyes to turn to him. "Sorry, carry on."

"Anyways, we all sought to protect the little we had, but subsequent Kages weren't content with their lot." Hashirama continued. "When one feels discontented with what they own, they turn to another's."

"It's that very Vice... Greed that led to where we are now." Tobirama added. "My brother's era had one thing we didn't have though."

"Absolute Power."

"What are you trying to say brat? You think Hashirama is stronger than I am?" Anel roared.

"Even I feel that was unwarranted, Senju."

"Hohoho, seems like we're being looked down upon."

"What an idiot."

Ishikawa, Byakuren and Reto said in order, but Tobirama didn't bat an eye at them.

"The Tengoku Clan. Tengoku Kuchiki, the First Kage in name, had an absolute suppressive power on the world back then. Not even my brother had the confidence of winning."

"Oh, so that's what you meant."

"True."

"I don't doubt that."

"The Tengoku Clan...are they really strong?"

"Of course! The Ten-"

"Anyways!" Before Mikoto could begin her rant on how strong and mighty her clan was, Tobirama interrupted. "With Kuchiki stepping down, Hanagakure didn't care about what happened to the mainland, as long as we didn't affect their borders."

"The only thing connecting us to the mainland are the Four other clans." Mikoto said with a harrumph.

"Exactly, so in a way...we didn't let anything happen. It just happened due to the way the world is." Tobirama said. "Although, in my personal and irrational opinion, all the problems lie with the Tengoku clan and Hanagakure in general."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Mikoto asked.

"Well, if you guys cared for anything other than yourselves and your interests, the world would be a far better place."

"Well, although I can't help but agree with that, I learnt something very important about Humans as a species." Itachi suddenly said.

"Who are you?"

"Another Uchiha I presume."

"Duh...can't you see the resemblance?"

"Let the boy speak." Hashirama said with a sigh, causing Tobirama, Mikoto and Yuki to keep quiet and turn to Itachi.

"Uchiha Itachi." Itachi said succinctly.

"Umu, and what did you mean by that?"

"It's quite simple. I have a friend from the Tengoku Clan...the Current Head of the Clan in fact. He always had this idea that; Humans had to go through what he calls a culling before they could learn and then evolve."

"A culling. An apt word for it." Mikoto said with a smile. "As expected of the Clan Head, he's insightful."

"You haven't even met him." Tobirama snorted.

"I don't need to. Kuchiki had the same idea when he witnessed the first war. Although he acted to save the Uzumaki clan before the second world war, he was only acting under the Clan's ancestral teaching." Mikoto said.

"So a culling is it? What does he say about it."

"That humans had to feel and understand each other's pain in order to truly come together, and only when they fight a common enemy could such a scenario come to be." Itachi said.

"So? How does this affect the Tengoku clan and their selfishness." Tobirama asked.

"The Tengoku Clan became what they are today due to the Wisdom of the Ancestors. He understood that with a new form of Energy, conflicts will arise. He worked towards preserving his clan...Why should the clan care about others?" Itachi asked.

"From a logical point, they don't owe us anything. Hashirama had the wisdom to create the Village, why didn't anyone else have that idea for over 200 years of the Warring Era? In the same way, Would you have cared if other Villages go to war when it doesn't affect your Village?" Itachi asked.

"Wow...as expected of someone who can be the Clan head's friend. Truly a fine mind you've got there." Mikoto said in praise. She was truly impressed by what Itachi had just said.

In this world, rarely would anyone care for others not of their own. Normally, when interests clash, conflicts arise, but as a third party, what has any of that got to do with them?

They were content with their lot and didn't seek to get a piece of the pie that was the mainland. And as though their ancestor was aware, the Island their country was built upon lacked nothing in terms of natural habitat.

It experienced all the seasons of the year and missed none. It was abundant in nature: Both Plant and Animal. Chakra ore veins were also in their abundance so they didn't import nor see a need to export..

The reason being that they didn't really need the money.

"Anyways...I've been meaning to ask...this is Konoha right?" Yuri suddenly asked during the conversation to which Orochimaru nodded.

"It's an old and abandoned Uzumaki shrine Within Konoha. Yes."

"Then has Konoha grown so weak over the years or is something interesting going on?" She asked.

"Now that you mention it." Tobirama also muttered as his senses extended to the area outside the hall.

"No need to think too much about it. They're probably at war... Again." Mikoto said with a snort. "But not just Konoha...If I'm not mistaken, this should be a World war...right?"

"What makes you say that?" One of the Kages asked.

"Well, according to an ancient prophecy...they would likely be a collision of an era, or eras. In that era, the Red Clouds would wage war on the World…am I right?" Mikoto said and looked at Orochimaru.

"Very much so. In fact, we've already been fighting for so long." Orochimaru said.

"So your ancestor already foresaw this? Does it mean there's a hand manipulating everything from behind the scenes?" one of the Kages asked.

Hashirama stood up with a serious expression and said. "Whether manipulation or not. I can't possibly stand aside while my people fight against a suspicious group called the Red Clouds. Tell me…where's the battlefield?"

Minato, who has also been quiet, looked at Itachi and said. "Your eyes..they look tired."

"Its nothing hokage-sama. Everything worked out well in the end." Itachi said with a smile which caused Minato to smile sadly.

"I see. I'm sorry I wasn't there." He said and turned to look at Sasuke. "I don't know if you know my son…he should be about your age now."

"Hmm. I'm aware. Naruto. He's a friend. A good one." Sasuke said, causing his group to gasp in shock, much to Sasuke's embarrassment.

"It seems Shun did a good job raising him. Since he has someone like you as a friend, I'm glad." Minato smiled happily. "And about–" as he was about to ask about his wife, Tobirama said.

"We should head for the battlefield field. Everyone should be there right?" He asked and Itachi nodded.

"Every Shinobi was called up for this battle. If we lose, we lose our freedom forever…so yes, everyone should be there."

'Naruto too. I hope he's alright.' Minato thought and clenched his fists.