Tension filled the Hokage residence that evening. Senju Hashirama stood with arms crossed, brows furrowed with disappointment, while his younger brother Tobirama sat stiffly across the room, looking equally stubborn. The two brothers—who once united the warring nations—were now stuck in the middle of an argument that had escalated far too quickly.
Hashirama sighed heavily for the tenth time.
"Tobirama, you must apologize to the villagers. Some of them were hurt. They deserve an explanation."
Tobirama's expression twisted as if he'd swallowed poison.
"Big Brother, must you cling so stubbornly to this naive idea? Those villagers were not victims—they were troublemakers! If I apologize now, it will undermine the authority of the Hokage's office and ruin the village's order."
The friction between them heightened instantly.
Uzumaki Mito, sitting nearby with a composed expression, rubbed her temples. For the entire afternoon she had listened to their bickering, and at this point she felt she could recite both their arguments word for word.
She knew everything that had happened:
Villagers had gathered, spreading rumors and disrupting order. Tobirama had deployed ANBU and dispersed them through force, then detained them for "ideological correction." Rough, yes—but to Mito, entirely necessary. If unrest among civilians was allowed to grow unchecked, Konoha would one day face consequences far worse than a few bruises.
But Hashirama… her husband had always been too kind.
He envisioned a village where ninja and civilians lived harmoniously, where children could play freely without fear. He had sworn that no child should grow up with the same bloodshed and trauma he and Tobirama had suffered. And because of that vow, he believed any conflict—no matter how reckless the villagers were—should be resolved peacefully.
A beautiful dream… but not always compatible with reality.
And so the two brothers clashed again.
Hashirama clenched his fists. "Tobirama, don't you see the problem?! If the villagers felt pushed to the point of protesting at the Hokage's door, that means they are suffering—"
"Suffering?!" Tobirama snapped.
"Brother, with all due respect, what they suffer from is boredom! They gather, complain, and stir trouble because they are too used to your kindness! If we let them run wild, do you know what will happen in ten years? The village will fall into chaos. A leader cannot bend every time someone cries!"
Hashirama took a step forward, eyes blazing.
"Tobirama!"
"Tobirama!"
Mito's voice rose sharply, her tone filled with the dignity befitting the first jinchūriki of the Nine Tails. "Enough. Both of you sit down."
Hashirama flinched slightly. Tobirama obeyed instantly.
Mito continued, "Since neither of you can agree, and this matter concerns the harmony and governance of the entire village… then the best solution is to call an emergency council meeting."
Both brothers paused.
Hashirama blinked. "A meeting?"
Tobirama nodded thoughtfully. "Let the clan leaders judge the matter?"
"Exactly," Mito said. "Konoha was built on unity between clans. Let them discuss and determine what should be done."
Tobirama immediately agreed. He had long grown tired of his brother's emotional arguments. If the clans judged fairly using logic and governance principles, the result was obvious.
Hashirama hesitated—but eventually nodded. "Very well. We will follow the result of the meeting."
Tobirama's lips curled into a rare satisfied smile. "Then we agree that whatever the meeting decides… will be final."
Hashirama nodded firmly. "Agreed."
Tobirama smiled even more brightly. For a moment, he couldn't hide the relief in his eyes.
Just you wait, Brother. If you want to debate with me, do it within the system I built. Konoha's rules, its management, its departments… I designed all of them.
Let's see if your naïve ideals can win in my territory.
---
The Meeting Begins
Word of the emergency assembly spread like wildfire.
Clan leaders put down their chopsticks mid-meal and rushed to the meeting hall. Whatever the reason, if the First Hokage called unexpectedly, it had to be important.
Inside the grand hall, Tobirama scanned the room. Familiar faces filled the seats—Sarutobi Sasuke, Shimura clan elders, Aburame, Ino-Shika-Cho heads, the Hyuga patriarch, and of course, several Uchiha representatives including Madara and Setsuna.
Tobirama's eyelid twitched when his gaze brushed across the Uchiha side.
These bastards… they must be eager to see me fall.
He quickly looked away.
Everywhere else, however, he saw reassuring glances. Clan heads nodded subtly at him, silently conveying:
"Lord Tobirama, don't worry—we understand."
They already knew the real situation.
They knew Tobirama had acted to maintain order.
They knew the villagers had overstepped.
They knew this meeting was essentially Hashirama's idealism versus Tobirama's cold logic.
And they knew exactly where their interests lay.
After all…
Who managed the village's affairs daily?
Who structured the systems that ensured their clans prospered?
Who held the power to make or break their missions, their funding, their operations?
Senju Tobirama.
Konoha's Shadow Hokage.
Hashirama, though beloved, was too gentle.
Tobirama, though strict, ensured stability.
No clan leader with a functioning brain would oppose him lightly.
---
Hashirama Presents His Case
As the meeting commenced, Hashirama stood at the front of the hall. Despite the calm tone he attempted, the disappointment in his voice was unmistakable.
"Everyone, this afternoon Tobirama deployed ANBU to disperse villagers. Many were injured and taken to ANBU Headquarters. I believe his actions were excessive and harmful to the harmony between civilians and ninja. Therefore, I believe Tobirama should personally apologize."
The room remained silent.
Hashirama continued, "I speak for the Will of Fire—every life in this village is precious. We must care for the people. If we allow such force, how can the villagers trust their protectors?"
He spoke from his heart.
His sincerity moved some.
But sincerity alone could not overturn the deeper truths of governance, fear, and power.
The clan leaders nodded politely while he spoke.
But their eyes revealed something else:
"We hear you, Hokage-sama… but we don't agree."
---
The Vote
When Hashirama finally asked:
"What are your opinions?"
The first to rise was Sarutobi Sasuke.
"Hokage-sama," he said firmly, "I believe Lord Tobirama did nothing wrong. His decision was resolute, appropriate, and necessary."
Hashirama froze.
Shimura clan head stood next.
"I agree. Those villagers acted out of line. Lord Tobirama protected Konoha's order."
One by one, the votes came.
"Ino-Shika-Cho support Lord Tobirama."
"The Aburame clan agrees."
"The Yamanaka clan agrees."
"The Akimichi clan agrees."
"The Nara clan agrees."
Then even the slippery Hyuga patriarch stood.
"Hokage-sama, Lord Tobirama's decision was justified."
Voices layered one after another—unanimous support.
Even clans who respected Hashirama deeply refused to oppose Tobirama.
Because they knew:
Tobirama was the one who held Konoha's structure together.
Hashirama dreamed.
Tobirama built.
And the clans lived inside what Tobirama built.
Choosing between them was no choice at all.
Unless they wished to be destroyed.
---
Tobirama's Quiet Triumph
Throughout the meeting, Tobirama said not a single word.
He simply watched.
Watched his brother struggle.
Watched the clans support him.
Watched his years of silent work acknowledged.
He felt a satisfaction he rarely experienced.
Brother… you always act recklessly, guided by emotions and dreams. If I had no preparations, one day your decisions might truly get me killed.
But here, today, everything he'd built stood behind him.
The clans, the systems, the loyalty, the order…
All pointing to one truth:
Konoha relied on Senju Tobirama.
And no one could afford to push him down.
Hashirama's shoulders sank slightly as each clan sided against him. He realized—painfully—that his ideals alone could not override reality.
Yet he did not resent Tobirama.
He only felt the heavy weight of a leader trying to protect everyone.
When the vote finished, the conclusion was very clear:
Tobirama would not apologize.
The villagers were at fault.
The ANBU's actions were justified.
The meeting ended as swiftly as it had begun.
Tobirama stood, turned to his brother, and bowed respectfully.
"Big Brother, with the meeting's outcome, I trust we can put this matter to rest."
Hashirama closed his eyes for a long moment… then nodded.
"Yes."
Mito exhaled deeply, relieved that neither brother chose to escalate further. This was the best outcome she could have hoped for.
---
A Shadow Hokage Nine Thousand Years Old
As Tobirama walked out of the hall, the clan leaders bowed subtly in acknowledgment.
Not to flatter him.
But because they understood:
This man—strict, cold, unyielding—held up the sky of Konoha.
While Hashirama illuminated the village like the sun, Tobirama was the silent pillar that kept the foundation firm.
Shadow Hokage.
Konoha Kyūsennansai.
A man who bore everything so his brother could dream.
And tonight, as the moon hung above the village, Senju Tobirama finally allowed himself a small, victorious smile.
For once…
He had won.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)