Chapter 243

He couldn't even stand steady.

His body suddenly collapsed to one side in a kneel.

Madara Uchiha looked at this companion he both revered and despised,

his own expression equally complex.

He spoke in a low, heavy voice.

"Hashirama… I told you long ago, your path is wrong."

"Though now it seems my own path has also been set with traps…"

"But I can be certain: your path is destined to be a wrong one."

"The ideal nation you founded was built upon a castle in the air from the start; when you leave, it will collapse—only a matter of time."

Madara Uchiha looked at Hashirama Senju, who had lost his fighting spirit, and let out a soft sigh.

His feelings toward Konoha were deeply complex.

On one hand, it was Konoha, created jointly by him and Hashirama Senju,

and on the other,

he knew there was no place for him in Konoha,

and that Konoha's founding had already deviated from their original vision.

Hashirama Senju turned his head to glance at Madara Uchiha,

then lowered his head again.

The gloomy sky framed his now-despondent face, "Four-Nine-Zero,"

making the God of Shinobi appear even more despondent.

What had transpired on the screen struck a crushing blow to his confidence,

causing him to harbor doubts about his future path.

After witnessing the power of the Nine-Tails today,

Hashirama Senju indeed held this thought:

after capturing the Nine-Tails,

he would capture the other Tailed Beasts as well,

then distribute them among the other nations.

Though he had not yet reached this step,

Hashirama Senju understood himself well,

and believed he would surely do it,

yet the future that unfolded was unbearable to accept!!

…

The white screen gradually dimmed.

A black screen lit up, beginning to play another chapter of Hashirama Senju's life.

Everyone held various thoughts,

temporarily suppressing their own,

focusing intently on the other Hashirama Senju's life.

After comparing the two Hashiramas,

they were now even more curious about what the other world would become.

And their other God of Shinobi,

how far would he go?

…

"I wonder if all of you have made your decision?"

"Now that we have come this far, there is no turning back."

"From this moment on, you and I are allies bound by life and death."

"If anyone wishes to withdraw now, there is still time… but once the operation begins, withdrawal will be impossible."

The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning sat up straight,

scanning the other three nations' Daimyo!!

His expression was utterly grave.

Upon hearing his words,

the other three Daimyo exchanged glances and silently nodded.

The fact that they had come here

meant they had already made their decision,

and there was no path left to retreat.

Moreover, all of them knew

that even if they wished to retreat, it was already too late.

After revealing the plan against Hashirama Senju,

they had burned all bridges behind them,

and if anyone at this moment showed signs of wanting to withdraw from the plan,

he would face the united retaliation of the other three Daimyo,

no one could guarantee…

These four of us withdrawing now,

could there be a traitor among Hashirama Senju's inner circle?!

"Good… it seems all of you have made your decision."

"It's more or less what I imagined."

"Then let us begin discussing how to deal with Hashirama Senju…"

Seeing no change in the expressions of the other three,

the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning nodded in satisfaction.

This was the outcome he wanted,

had their alliance shown hesitation or doubt from the very start,

success would have been impossible!!

They would never be a match for Hashirama Senju!!

"Hashirama Senju's speed is simply too fast."

"Before we could react, he had already seized control of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and swiftly established a new system."

"Otherwise, we could have aided the Daimyo of the Land of Fire to stabilize the situation."

"Things wouldn't have escalated to this point."

He lightly tapped the table before him,

and the Daimyo of the Land of Earth shook his head, sighing.

"Yes… previously, the Land of Fire's power, though strong,

did not greatly surpass our four nations…"

"Had the Daimyo of the Land of Fire still controlled it, the threat would not have been this great…"

"This Hashirama Senju is simply terrifying…"

The Daimyo of the Land of Wind propped his head in his hand,

also wearing a look of helplessness.

Now, whenever the name Hashirama Senju is mentioned,

all four Daimyos of these nations are utterly exhausted!!

If the Daimyo of the Land of Fire was a dove,

then Hashirama Senju is certainly a hawk!!

Though none of them liked the Daimyo of the Land of Fire,

they could only admit,

that under the Daimyo of the Land of Fire's control,