Chapter 103: The Great Way of Benevolence
The logic was as stark as it was inescapable. If these negotiations failed, the only outcome was their collective annihilation. Senju Hashirama alone could contain their entire force, and the two powerful Uchiha at his side—Madara and the unnervingly versatile Raizen—could deliver the killing blow with terrifying efficiency.
"Very well, let us proceed," Nara Haruyu conceded, his voice a model of pragmatic calm. "Madara-sama is… direct. But his point is taken. Please, Hashirama-sama, outline your vision."
Hashirama's face lit up with earnest passion. "My idea is to establish a village, a true settlement composed of all our clans. There will be a single leader, which I propose we call 'Hokage,' the Fire Shadow. The other clans will hold important ministerial positions, forming a council. Major decisions will be made by vote. Each ministerial position holds one vote, and the Hokage holds three, ensuring leadership while maintaining a balance…"
He laid out the plan he and Madara had privately discussed, though it was Hashirama who gave it voice and soul.
"What you are describing," Nara Haruyu interjected, his mind racing, "is not a hierarchy with us as your vassals. You are proposing a cooperative, an alliance of equals within a single political entity."
"Exactly!" Hashirama beamed. "In the future, the concept of individual clans should fade, replaced by our shared identity as villagers! We are all of the Land of Fire; we should have been one family all along. The long era of the Warring States Period has twisted us into what we are today. What I want to do now is eradicate the hatred between us. I want to end the pain of losing loved ones. The Uchiha and I have reached this consensus. You must understand, the hatred between our two clans was deeper and more bitter than any grievance in this room. Yet, we have chosen to lay it down and strive for this future together. So, I implore you all to consider… what has the Warring States Period truly given us?"
Even Uchiha Raizen was taken aback by the speech. Here was a man with absolute power, yet he took the time to patiently explain, to persuade, to unite. His actions weren't for personal gain; they were driven by a genuine, almost naive, desire for collective peace. The Hokage wouldn't be an absolute dictator but a leader elected and checked by a council. It was the vision of a natural leader, one whose charisma could make even the most hardened warrior lower their blade.
"That's all well and good in theory," Inuzuka Tsume barked, her feral eyes narrowed. "But when a truly irreconcilable conflict arises, won't it still come down to who has the strongest fist?"
"Patriarch Inuzuka," Hashirama replied, his tone gentle yet firm. "Let me ask you a question. Are all your clansmen present here today?"
"They are. What of it?"
"If they were to die, would you feel pain?"
"Is that a threat?!" she snarled, rising to her feet.
"It is not a threat," Hashirama said, his voice softening further. "I am simply asking you: would it cause you pain?"
"Tch! Of course it would!" she admitted, reluctantly sitting back down.
"In truth, the village and your clan are the same," Hashirama explained, his gaze sweeping across all the leaders. "Once you become accustomed to peace, anyone who seeks to harm the village will face the collective wrath of everyone, not just you alone. Furthermore, if rule is based solely on strength, what happens when that strong leader eventually dies? What becomes of his family then? Do you understand?"
His words, simple and heartfelt, struck a deep chord. Every leader in the tent had lost family. They knew the pain intimately. Hashirama wasn't speaking in abstracts; he was speaking to a universal wound they all shared.
A heavy silence filled the tent as the weight of his vision settled upon them.
"The Sarutobi Clan," Sarutobi Fujiki declared, standing and breaking the silence, "is willing to join this village."
"The Shimura Clan," Shimura Nao added, rising beside him, "also pledges to join."
Uchiha Raizen observed this with a knowing clarity. Of course. These two had already made their decision before this meeting, likely swayed by Hashirama's earlier overtures and the undeniable display of power. Their swift agreement now was a calculated move, forcing the hand of the remaining clans. To hesitate now would be to risk being sidelined in the new power structure that was forming before their very eyes. Hashirama hadn't just defeated them in battle; he was masterfully outmaneuvering them in diplomacy. The foundation of Konoha was being laid not just with power, but with profound political savvy.
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