Chapter 266: Striking at the Heart
Uchiha Yasushi laughed maniacally, his face contorting, eyes nearly splitting, his Sharingan practically leaping from their sockets.
"Why should I accept your apologies?"
"You committed wrongs. Apologizing is expected, isn't it?"
"During the massacre, you screamed 'evil Uchiha.' Now that you can't win, you offer a few weightless apologies seeking reconciliation?"
"Can your apologies resurrect the dead?"
"Can your apologies let my parents see me one more time?"
"Can your apologies let my brother taste his favorite takoyaki again?"
"What's the actual worth of your apologies?"
Everyone stared in shock at Yasushi's outburst. No one had expected his previous amiability was all an act—he'd never intended reconciliation.
They'd all been played!
"Lord First!" Third's fury erupted. Unable to restrain himself any longer, he raised the Adamantine Staff, pointing it toward Yasushi. "You witnessed this yourself. It's not Konoha Village refusing reconciliation—this 'evil Uchiha' rejected peace."
He was genuinely enraged. After enduring humiliation for so long, he'd only received more degradation.
Unable to maintain his hypocritical mask any longer, the phrase "evil Uchiha" spilled out.
Previously he'd never used such insulting terminology.
"Exactly, Lord First! He's toying with us, never wanted reconciliation!"
"Suppress him, Lord First!"
"Kill him! Avenge our fallen comrades, Lord First!"
Konoha's shinobi erupted in clamor, pointing at Yasushi with fervent emotion, inciting Hashirama to attack.
Hashirama felt deeply disappointed. Though Yasushi's accusations had moved him greatly, that didn't excuse being manipulated.
He was willing to bow for peace, but not through bottomless concessions. When concessions failed to achieve peace, the "God of Shinobi's" iron fist would follow.
He inhaled deeply, stepping forward to let Yasushi experience his "love (Wood Release) and sincerity (Sage Mode)."
But Yasushi's twisted expression suddenly relaxed, revealing a radiant smile.
"Say, Lord First—you witnessed it."
"I merely tested them simply to determine whether they'd truly repented."
"Look at them now, desperate to kill me. Do they seem like people who've recognized their mistakes and begun regretting them?"
Hashirama froze, slowly turning his head to see those behind him hadn't yet concealed their expressions.
He clearly saw everyone's faces twisted with savagery—not much different from Yasushi's earlier appearance, only differing in degree.
"You..." Hashirama had an epiphany.
Yasushi had deliberately used this method to make him realize what kind of people these descendants were.
To show him clearly—under Sarutobi Hiruzen's leadership—what Konoha Village had deteriorated into.
Konoha's decline to its current state wasn't without reason. It had inevitable causes.
Hashirama was straightforward and easily trusted others, but he wasn't genuinely foolish.
"Lord First, you understand—the Uchiha are a clan of great love." Yasushi spoke from behind Hashirama with an ethereal quality.
"We spend our lives loving others and seeking others' love."
"If Konoha's people had truly repented, truly recognized their errors, truly apologized sincerely to the deceased seeking forgiveness..."
"Then not only I, but these deceased behind me would willingly forgive them."
"But we want genuine repentance, not this manufactured performance."
"We don't need such apologies!"
"I'm telling you directly now—I reject reconciliation with Konoha Village. I will inevitably destroy Konoha in the future."
"If you have any objections, come at me. Battle the Uchiha clan and see whether we've ever feared anyone!"
"Well said!" The Uchiha behind him immediately ignited with passion, raising their arms while shouting:
"Exactly right!"
"We don't need such fake, pretentious apologies!"
"If you want to fight, then fight! See whether the Uchiha clan fears anyone!"
Facing this scene, Hashirama froze completely, standing dazed while regarding Sarutobi Hiruzen with heartbroken, disappointed eyes.
"Lord First, don't be deceived by this man!" Sarutobi Hiruzen hastily urged: "All of this was deliberately designed by him to trick us!"
"I know." Hashirama nodded heavily yet still pressed relentlessly, asking directly:
"But I'm asking you—have you truly repented?"
"I..." Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately fell speechless.
"Sigh!" Hashirama sighed heavily, speaking with gravity: "I said it so many times before—we must exchange sincerity for sincerity."
"Only sincerity earns sincerity. False sentiment cannot deceive others."
Third's heart trembled. He couldn't speak. But many shinobi behind him still hadn't grasped the key point, continuing to shout:
"Lord First, don't believe him!"
"He never planned to reconcile with us! Even if we use sincerity, we'll only waste it. He'll still deceive us!"
Hashirama was too tired to explain further. He sighed, waving dismissively.
"That's enough. Take everyone back to the village."
"How future events develop depends on yourselves."
"I'm already dead. I can't manage you living people's affairs anymore."
"Lord First..." Seeing their greatest support showing disinterest and abandonment, Konoha's side immediately panicked.
"You can't do this, Lord First!"
"Uchiha Yasushi just deceived you! How can you let him off so easily?"
'Weren't you the ones who deceived me first?'
Hashirama shook his head wordlessly, no longer acknowledging them. He turned toward Tobirama instead.
Matters requiring thought should still be left to Tobirama. He was better suited for fighting.
Oh, I'm already dead. Never mind then.
Going back to sleep!
Konoha Village... if it's gone, so be it!
Hashirama and Tobirama both transformed into light and vanished.
"Ahahahaha..."
Yasushi burst into wild laughter, pointing at Konoha's people while shouting loudly:
"Brothers, now comes revenge time!"
"Everyone with grudges, take revenge! Everyone with grievances, settle them!"
"Attack!"
"Yes! Slaughter them all!" The Uchiha Edo Tensei immediately grew excited, brandishing blades while charging toward the opposite side like tigers among sheep.
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