Chapter 103

Humans are truly such a wondrous species!!

Sometimes they possess a quality that lets summoning beasts place their trust in them,

and sometimes they make people feel they are far too greedy!!

Therefore,

the Slug Sage's attitude toward humans is also deeply conflicted!!

Once, the Slug Sage was willing to trust humans,

willing to help her human companions,

but thousands of years of endlessly repeating history left the Slug Sage profoundly weary!!

Their efforts failed again and again,

falling into a strange cycle,

and within this,

most of the causes stemmed from the greed of humans themselves.

"What our predecessors could not accomplish, I believe I can accomplish."

"The era they could not bring about, I will surely bring about!!"

"Because I am destined to be stronger than any of them!!"

"So long as my strength surpasses everything, then every difficulty naturally will not be a true difficulty!!"

Hashirama Senju's tone carried incomparable confidence!!

He firmly believed,

that he would surely surpass everyone,

and become the strongest existence!!

And the Slug Sage was also infected by his spirit.

Indeed,

the reason those predecessors failed,

not being strong enough was indeed one of the reasons...

But the Hashirama Senju before her eyes,

his current strength had already surpassed every human the Slug Sage had ever seen.

As for how far Hashirama Senju could go in the future,

the Slug Sage held deep anticipation,

perhaps he could surpass the Sage of Six Paths of old!!

【Fourth Raikage: Well said!! This is the First Hokage in my heart!! So long as one's strength is powerful enough, then every difficulty can naturally be resolved; if it cannot be resolved, it only proves your strength is not strong enough!!】

【Madara Uchiha:... This Hashirama, does he really talk this arrogantly? But, I like it. A Hashirama like this is far more fitting as my true opponent!】

【Hashirama Senju: I think what he said is a bit too extreme — can strength alone truly resolve everything? People and people should stand in an equal relationship...】

【Tobirama Senju: Big brother, your ideas are too idealistic. Countless years of human history — has it still not made you understand these true principles??】

【Jiraiya: I think a First Hokage like this has likely already gone astray. Force cannot solve any problem; it will only bring more hatred and misunderstanding!!】

【Orochimaru: People understanding one another??... Then may I ask, First Hokage, what is your view on the matter of the Fourth Hokage?? The Hokage's son was treated as a monster within Konoha?? This is the Konoha you built.】

【Shimura Danzo: It seems everything I have insisted upon was not wrong; what I carry through is the true Will of Fire. So long as one possesses sufficiently powerful strength, leading Konoha to sweep away all enemies — that is what a Hokage should do!!】

"However... are you so certain that I will definitely help you?"

"If I deny your ideals, and deem the world you speak of unrealistic..."

"then what should you do next?"

The Slug Sage gazed curiously at the Hashirama Senju before her.

Hearing this,

Hashirama Senju curled his lips,

revealing his pearly white teeth.

"Honestly, I don't have the confidence to believe that you, Slug Sage, will accept what I'm saying..."

"But there are some things I am quite clear about."

"If we cannot be friends, then we must be enemies..."

"When facing enemies... the most direct way is to utterly destroy them..."

Looking at the bright smile on Hashirama Senju's face,

the Slug Sage could not help but feel a tremor in her heart!!

Such a powerful killing intent!!

She could clearly sense that Hashirama Senju was not joking with her,

if she had just now refused and denied the words from Hashirama Senju's mouth,

it would be the same as placing the Wet Bone Forest in opposition to him,

and Hashirama Senju truly might have chosen to destroy the entire Wet Bone Forest!

This Asura was truly different from the Asuras of the past,

he was far too extreme!!

This was more like the way of Indra,

destroy what one cannot obtain.

The Slug Sage silently made an estimate in her heart,

estimating just how vast the gap in strength between herself and Hashirama Senju was!!

In the end, it led him to a despairing truth—

If Hashirama Senju wanted to make a move against him and the Shikkotsu Forest!!

Then the entire Shikkotsu Forest,

and even himself might not be able to escape from his hands!!

His odds of victory against Hashirama Senju were zero,

and his probability of survival was also basically zero!!

What kind of monster was this Asura before him?!!

As long as he didn't reveal any hostility,

the Slug Sage could still see a few traces of Asura on him.

But once he revealed extremely strong hostility,

the Slug Sage could only feel unparalleled darkness and bloodlust from him!!

【Jiraiya: Is this really the Three Great Sanctuaries I'm familiar with… even the Slug Sage is chickening out…】

【Rasa: This looks completely normal; facing this kind of First Hokage, no one can possibly not be afraid!!】

【Fourth Raikage: The gap in strength is too vast, and this First Hokage's killing intent is even heavier than Madara Uchiha's; the Three Great Sanctuaries have no choice but to submit!!】

【Tsunade: Phew… good thing, good thing the Slug Sage didn't choose to clash with Grandpa.】

"Young man… you really are honest…"

"You don't have the slightest intention of concealing your thoughts."

The Slug Sage said with a bitter smile.

He hadn't expected Hashirama Senju to be so blunt—

if he himself was unwilling to hand over senjutsu,

and the Shikkotsu Forest was unwilling to acknowledge his ideas,

he was prepared to destroy the Shikkotsu Forest outright!!

And the Slug Sage believed Hashirama Senju could do exactly that.

Looking at the Slug Sage's helpless appearance,

Hashirama Senju didn't feel the slightest surprise.

For those three old monsters of the Three Great Sanctuaries who had lived for who knows how many years,

what could truly conquer them was naturally his own strength!!

Because his own strength was strong enough, it made them feel afraid.

Otherwise, no matter how beautiful the future world he described in words might be,