Chapter 57

【Jiraiya: The Lord of the Land of Fire, a man of such stature, should die with dignity—even in death. To display such a pitiful spectacle is utterly contemptible.】

【Naruto Uzumaki: So this is the highest-ranking man in the Land of Fire? I thought he'd be something extraordinary, but he looks no different from an ordinary person—and he's even more cowardly…】

【Shikamaru Nara: It seems the books were right after all—the higher one's status, the more afraid they are of death…】

【Madara Uchiha: Only true power is real. Without strength, even the highest position will eventually collapse!!!】

Looking at the Lord of the Land of Fire, his face streaked with snot and tears.

Hashirama Senju smiled.

He revealed a smile he believed to be utterly benevolent.

"My Lord, rest assured—I would never kill you?"

"We've known each other for some time. Do I look like a man who abuses violence or commits murder?"

"The Land of Fire can lose anyone—but it cannot lose you, My Lord."

Seeing that Hashirama Senju showed no intention of killing him,

the Lord finally exhaled in relief.

As long as his life was spared, everything else could be negotiated.

All other matters could wait!!!

This time, he had trusted others too easily,

and thus failed to grasp the true situation,

misjudging Hashirama Senju's power and causing total disaster!!!

Next time, he would never be so careless again!!!

"But… My Lord… for the sake of our friendship."

"For the alliance between the Senju clan and the Lord's household."

"I'm afraid… you'll have to endure some hardship this time."

Staring at Hashirama Senju's faint smile, the Lord grew increasingly uneasy.

He forced out a smile uglier than crying.

"…If it's within my power…"

"I will do my utmost."

…

"Hmph!!! Why make things so complicated?"

"Just kill this guy and take his place as Lord of the Land of Fire."

"Keeping such a weakling in that position… is a waste."

Madara Uchiha slowly stepped out from the shadows, his expression sour.

"Each to his own specialty… I can manage a clan fine, but governing an entire nation? I'm not sure I'm suited for it."

"And once seated as Lord, I'd be buried in trivial affairs—this might interfere with my cultivation…"

"Now isn't the right time… let him stay in place and handle affairs for us…"

"Using your Mangekyo Sharingan's genjutsu to control him won't take long."

This was precisely why Hashirama Senju had invited him along.

To have Madara Uchiha use his Mangekyo Sharingan's genjutsu to manipulate the Lord of the Land of Fire,

while the two of them operated from behind the scenes, issuing orders!!!

Indeed,

according to Madara's method,

Hashirama Senju could have simply killed the Lord and taken his place himself.

But that would have,

likely triggered strong backlash within the Land of Fire,

at the very least causing severe damage!!!

That was not the outcome Hashirama Senju desired,

he wished to obtain a complete Land of Fire—not a shattered ruin.

49. This era is named Hashirama Senju!!

【Tobirama Senju: I never expected this elder brother could go this far… Back then, he outright refused even the idea…】

【Madara Uchiha: This is the correct approach. The future of the Land of Fire should not be entrusted to the weak—only the strong can properly chart its course!!!】

【Hashirama Senju: …I think this Senju is acting too darkly… The power of the Sharingan—if it slips out of control—its destruction will surpass all imagination…】

【Orochimaru: I find this First Hokage seems more decisive… This is what a truly qualified ruler looks like.】

【Hiruzen Sarutobi: Come to think of it, the relationship between Lord and Hokage is indeed awkward… The Lord wants to use ninja power, yet fears it…】

【Tsunade: For the future of Konoha, these ancestors of the Shimura clan have died a worthy death!!】

【Raikage: Next, other nations' days won't be easy—this First Hokage is immensely powerful and acts without restraint, wielding methods even harsher than the Uchiha clan!!】

【Obito Uchiha: A world full of lies—ninja were a mistake from the start. They should never have existed!!!!】

As the plot of another world unfolded further,

Obito Uchiha's spirit grew ever more immersed in the live broadcast.

Hashirama Senju was the person he once revered most!!!

But after Rin's death, everything changed—he came to despise this false world!!!

And now, the First Hokage of this other world, Hashirama Senju,

seems utterly unlike the First Hokage of his own world,

Does that mean another world would have different changes?!

If everything is different from the very root,

would the subsequent developments also be different?

Would the tragedies of these people never have happened?

Regardless, Obito Uchiha also wanted to know whether this world might still hold other possibilities.

……

As the scarlet windmill in Madara Uchiha's eyes turned.

The daimyo of the Land of Fire's pupils also gradually lost focus.

"Alright… From now on, no matter what you tell him to do, he will do it."

"He has completely become a puppet in our hands."

Madara Uchiha glanced at the daimyo beside him with disgust.

For him,

using the Mangekyo Sharingan on a daimyo was simply an insult!!!

Only the strong were worthy of him using the Mangekyo Sharingan!!!

"It seems things are going more smoothly than we imagined…"

Hashirama Senju glanced at the daimyo, whose eyes had lost their light and who stood like a puppet, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Madara… It seems the day we realize the dream from our youth isn't far off."

Hearing this, Madara Uchiha, standing to the side, also revealed a smile.

He had also waited a very long time for that day to arrive!!!

This was also why he had been cultivating so diligently!!

Besides wanting to catch up to Hashirama Senju's footsteps and have even more exhilarating battles,

the most fundamental reason was still that he wanted to put an end to this detestable era!!!

He had already lost too many brothers and friends in wars without cause!!!

"Hashirama… Do you think a true era of peace, where people trust one another, really exists?"

"Even though we've grown so much stronger than before."

"But why… do I still feel it's somewhat unlikely?"

Although in the current shinobi world,

Madara Uchiha believed that apart from Hashirama Senju,

basically no one else was his opponent.