Hashirama's sudden shift in stance threw Madara completely off, leaving him stunned and uncertain.
I've been gone only half a day.
How did Hashirama change so much in that time?
Could he have anticipated my intentions and is now using the Hokage position to try to stabilize me?
No, there's no way Hashirama could be so cunning!
Or maybe… is this just some elaborate joke?
"Hashirama, this joke isn't funny."
Hashirama immediately vowed, "Madara, I'm not joking. I'm serious!"
"I've decided—you will inherit the position of Hokage!"
"Tomorrow, I'll make it official. I'll notify the Fire Nation and the other clans that you'll take over as Hokage after me. No one will be able to contest it!"
Yes, this may be an autocratic move, not a democratic one.
But in Hashirama's eyes, the village's safety far outweighed the need for democracy...
Madara stared hard at Hashirama, searching for even the slightest hint of insincerity in his eyes.
But Hashirama remained steadfast and genuine.
From his understanding of Hashirama, Madara could tell that he was absolutely serious this time!
And when Hashirama is serious, no one—not even his brother Tobirama—can sway his decision!
Madara took a deep breath and replied quietly,
"I had already decided to leave Konoha."
"A few days ago, I gathered my clansmen to join me in leaving, but no one was willing to come. The long, brutal Warring States Period exhausted them, and now they value this hard-won peace even more."
"I never expected you to make such a move, Hashirama. You've really caught me off guard!"
Hashirama was shocked.
This truly was the future—Madara was already planning to leave Konoha.
"Madara, you..."
"Hashirama, you've just taken on the Hokage role. Although the village holds high hopes for you, if you immediately announce the Second Hokage, there will be significant resistance. It might even harm your reputation as Hokage..."
"I don't care!"
"As long as you stay. You're like a brother to me, and I sincerely hope you'll continue to help me!"
Hashirama pleaded earnestly.
He didn't want Madara to leave, let alone to end up fighting Madara himself one day.
The mere thought was painful.
He couldn't let that future come to pass!
Madara fell silent, moved by Hashirama's open-hearted sincerity. It filled him with a warmth he hadn't expected.
It was like a wife on the verge of leaving her husband over a petty argument, only to be overwhelmed by his wholehearted love, willing to change and stand against everyone for her sake.
Who could resist such earnestness?
Madara couldn't help but feel shaken...
"Hashirama, tell me, what brought about this sudden change in you? This isn't like you..."
Hashirama hesitated for a moment, but then, seeing no reason to hide it, spoke bluntly.
"Madara, you can't leave the village. If you do, we'll only drift further apart, and someday, it might even lead to me being forced to kill you myself!"
"Haxi Lama, what did you say? Do you really think you can defeat me?"
Madara flared up, raising his voice.
Their friendship was real, but so was their rivalry. Being challenged by Hashirama's confidence didn't sit well with him.
Hashirama spoke as though he was certain of his own strength.
How could Madara let that slide?
"Madara, calm down—I didn't mean it that way."
"Then what did you mean?"
"It's like this. Today, I was unexpectedly aided by an immortal and traveled to the future. I saw terrible events that shouldn't come to pass. Many of them involve you..."
Madara: "Huh?"
Even with his strength of mind, Madara couldn't help but feel utterly bewildered by such a bizarre explanation.
Could Hokage himself have been fooled?
Or maybe he was still dreaming and hadn't yet woken up?
Hashirama wasn't angry at Madara's reaction; he knew how unbelievable it sounded.
He then motioned for Madara to sit down, and the two settled in.
With great care and seriousness, Hashirama began to recount all his experiences and knowledge to Madara.
...
...
As Madara listened, he grew more and more disturbed.
Considering the future course of the ninja world, he couldn't help but feel a shiver of dread.
Though some parts of the future sounded utterly absurd, they aligned so well with the personalities and motivations of everyone involved.
In fact, much of it even coincided with Madara's own suspicions about what might unfold.
Madara couldn't help but start to believe.
Especially about his own path: rebelling against the village, capturing the Nine Tails, attacking Konoha again…
Although Madara wasn't entirely certain, these thoughts and plans had indeed been forming in his mind. He'd never confided them to anyone, but now they lay bare before him in Hashirama's recounting.
This revelation alone proved plenty.
After all, Hashirama could never dream up such a wildly realistic story all on his own...
"Hashirama, is this why you've changed? What an impressive story!"
"Madara! This isn't a story; this is the real future, and I've seen it with my own eyes!"
"True or not, I'll judge that for myself."
"Madara, please believe me! I truly need you here. According to what I saw, I'm likely to die in fifteen years. By that time, Tobirama won't be able to keep the peace."
"But you're different. As long as you stay in the village and become the Second Hokage, the First Ninja War might not happen at all."
"The peace of the ninja world can be upheld. Only you can make that happen!"
Hashirama implored him.
This was the solution he came up with after seeing the future.
As long as Madara remained in Konoha and took on the role of Hokage, with his influence and power, the First Ninja War might be averted!
As for Tobirama?
Well, his little brother, who nearly fell at the hands of two 'human foxes,' is quite irritating!
For the village's future, Tobirama would simply have to step aside.
"Hashirama, you're too naive! Even if I take on the role of Second Hokage, how long can I last? Once I'm gone, the war will break out anyway..."
"I know! But it would still give us more time to find other solutions that might promote peace."
"And what kind of solution?"
"Are you and that fool Tobirama going to divide up the tailed beasts in some grand plan to maintain a power balance among the villages? Such a naive, foolish notion!"
"But it does seem very much like something you would do."
Madara sneered.
To him, this was utter foolishness.
To hand over strategic 'weapons' like the tailed beasts to rival villages?
Is that preserving peace?
It's practically digging one's own grave!
Instead of promoting peace, it would only ignite the ambitions of other villages, leading to an arms race.
Much like the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
Atomic bombs, neutron bombs, hydrogen bombs, dirty bombs...
A relentless escalation, each weapon more fearsome than the last!
In the Ninja World, it would mean relentless research into tailed beasts, constantly pushing the boundaries of their power. The essence would be the same...
Hearing this, Hashirama felt a tinge of embarrassment.
He knew that this plan to divide the tailed beasts was indeed his idea in the future.
"This plan has obvious flaws and definitely needs refining. I'm still reflecting on it..."
"Hashirama, your biggest mistake is placing all your faith in the short-sighted people of the future!"
"Madara, you shouldn't talk about our successors that way! It's our duty to guide and mentor them. There will be exceptional young ninjas in the future!"
"Hashirama, you're as naive as ever!"
This, perhaps, was the core difference between them.
Both longed for peace.
But Hashirama believed in the power of love and entrusted the future to the next generation, hoping to instill the "Will of Fire" and achieve peace through "mutual understanding and deterrence."
Madara, on the other hand, trusted only himself. He dreamed of obliterating all threats singlehandedly to bring about lasting peace.