A minute later, inside the Hokage office, Wakato and Hashirama faced each other while outside, Tobirama was eavesdropping like a curious child. Hashirama noticed his brother's antics and said, a bit helplessly:
"Do you need soundproofing?"
"No need," Wakato replied without hesitation. He wasn't concerned if Tobirama overheard; the important thing was convincing Hashirama. If he could sway the First Hokage, there was no way Tobirama would go against his older brother.
"So, what do you want to discuss?" Hashirama asked, breaking the silence.
Wakato paused before beginning his prepared speech. "Let's talk about the future of the entire ninja world."
"Is that so?" Hashirama's curiosity was piqued.
"Let's take turns asking questions—one at a time. That way, it's fairer. You don't have to answer if you don't want to," Wakato suggested. He figured an honest approach would work better with Hashirama.
Hashirama relaxed slightly, appreciating the straightforward proposal. "Very well. You go first."
"Your eyes—what are they?" Hashirama asked, clearly concerned.
"They're the Rinnegan," Wakato replied frankly. The legendary eyes would certainly add weight to his words and negotiations.
"So, the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths, the pinnacle of the three great dōjutsu, really do exist! It seems the legends weren't just fairy tales. What's your connection to the Sage of Six Paths?"
"I know of him, but we're not close," Wakato responded, playing into his knowledge as a fan of the Naruto series, though it came across as if he had some personal acquaintance with the Sage.
Hashirama's shock was evident. This man claimed to know the Forefather of Ninja! Could he have lived since that legendary era? It was hard to believe, but the authenticity of the Rinnegan was difficult to doubt.
"And who exactly are you?" Hashirama asked, his curiosity deepening.
"I'm an immortal who doesn't belong to this era," Wakato said, revealing just enough to keep Hashirama intrigued. Technically, he was on a mission to achieve immortality, which made him a "preparatory immortal."
The First Hokage was again taken aback. He began to think of ways to confirm Wakato's identity without being disrespectful.
"It's my turn now," Wakato said, switching gears.
"Go ahead," Hashirama replied.
"Are you not in a hurry to meet your dear friend?" Wakato asked, teasingly referencing Madara.
"You mean Madara? No rush, no rush. He'll wait for me," Hashirama replied confidently, trusting in his deep bond with his old friend.
Wakato chuckled and then got straight to the point. "Senju Hashirama, what kind of world do you truly wish to create?"
Hashirama's demeanor shifted as he became serious. "I want a world of peace where children don't have to go to war."
"And you believe that can be achieved through this ninja village system of allied clans?" Wakato questioned.
"Yes! Konoha, founded by Uchiha and Senju, has gained recognition. Iwagakure has emerged, and other countries are following suit. This system will replace the chaos of the Warring States era. At least, ninjas will no longer have to serve only wealthy families, and there will be fewer senseless conflicts," Hashirama said earnestly.
He had experienced the darkness of the Warring States firsthand. Even the powerful Senju clan had not been immune to the losses; Hashirama had lost two brothers during that era. The brutality of the Warring States, where children barely lived past ten, had driven him to seek change.
"But how can you ensure that this village system is the right path? What if larger wars between villages break out in the future?" Wakato pressed.
"I can't guarantee the future. But for now, this system is the most effective way to end the chaos. I'm also working on ways to regulate the villages," Hashirama answered sincerely, clearly troubled by the same concerns.
"Tailed beasts, then?" Wakato asked.
"I'm considering it, but right now, the village is still being built. I plan to deal with the tailed beasts once we're more stable," Hashirama said.
"Last question: do you want to protect the village, or your family?" Wakato challenged.
"Of course..." Hashirama hesitated. A year ago, he would have answered without hesitation, but now he wasn't so sure.
"Don't rush to answer," Wakato said, "First, let me tell you about Konoha's future."
"In the 17th year of Konoha, the First Shinobi World War will break out."
"In the 37th year, the Second Shinobi World War."
"In the 45th year, the Third Shinobi World War."
"And in the 68th year, the Fourth Shinobi World War."
"In less than seventy years, there will be four world-altering conflicts, each as brutal as the Warring States Period. Is that the peace the village system will bring?" Wakato's words hit Hashirama like a hammer to the heart.
He had expected some turbulence in the future, but the sheer scale and frequency of the wars were shocking. Could this man see the future with the Rinnegan? Was he lying?
"Are you sure about this? Can you really predict the future?" Hashirama asked, his voice trembling.
"Do you want to believe me?" Wakato countered.
"I don't want to, but..." Hashirama began, but Wakato interrupted.
"You died in the 16th year of Konoha. A year later, the First Shinobi World War broke out."
"That's impossible!" shouted Tobirama, bursting into the room. He refused to believe that his brother would die so soon. No one could match Hashirama's strength.
"Tobirama, enough!" Hashirama scolded, clearly frustrated.
Wakato turned to Tobirama. "Do you want to know how you die?"
"What?" Tobirama was taken aback.
"You were killed by a group of Kumo-nin," Wakato said, casually dropping the bombshell.
"Ridiculous! You liar! There's no way I would fall to a few Kumo-nin!" Tobirama fumed, listing his arsenal of jutsu to himself.
Meanwhile, Hashirama's anger was palpable as his chakra flared, causing the floor to crack. His protective instinct for his brother was second to none.
"Can you explain more clearly?" Hashirama asked, his voice heavy with emotion.
"I can do better. I can show you," Wakato replied.
"Show me?" Hashirama questioned.
Before he could get a proper response, Wakato activated one of his system abilities.
In an instant, Wakato and the First Hokage disappeared from the Hokage office. The ability allowed him to bring the leader of a bound faction with him to another parallel world for an hour.
It was time for Hashirama to witness firsthand how his dear brother was defeated by the Yun nin.