Chapter 265: Yasushi Considered Carefully
"Kill him!"
"Kill him!!"
"Kill him!!!"
Seeing Itachi kneel in confession, willing to accept death, the Uchiha behind Yasushi erupted into frenzy again, shouting demands for Itachi to pay with his life.
But Yasushi waved his hand, silencing the clamor.
"Stop constantly focusing on killing!"
Yasushi turned back, scolding irritably:
"Do I look like someone who enjoys murder?"
"Who have I killed?"
"Isn't Obito doing just fine now?"
"Not only didn't he die, he gets to live happily with his dream lover."
"I'm such a magnanimous person who repays evil with kindness. Don't ruin my reputation."
The Uchiha exchanged glances. No one spoke.
They'd seen Obito's current state. That miserable appearance made even these Uchiha he'd killed feel somewhat unable to bear it.
Even those who hated Obito most no longer harbored that hatred, acknowledging he'd received appropriate punishment.
Compared to that, perhaps killing Obito would actually grant him release.
The crowd fell silent, directing pitying gazes toward the kneeling Uchiha Itachi.
If Itachi could be made into the same wretched state as Obito, not killing him seemed... acceptable!
Konoha's side remained unaware of these Uchiha's thoughts. Seeing Yasushi and these Uchiha victims willing to spare Itachi from death, they relaxed considerably.
Their greatest fear had been getting stuck at Itachi after all this effort.
After all, aside from Third Hokage and Danzo, Itachi bore the greatest enmity with the Uchiha clan.
If the Uchiha could even forgive Itachi, wouldn't Yasushi reconciling with the village have much higher success rates?
Hashirama happily approached to thank Yasushi and the Uchiha clansmen.
"Thank you so much!"
"Your willingness to forgive Itachi is wonderful."
"Actually, Itachi was also a victim in this matter. Those who should truly bear responsibility are the village decision-makers."
Hashirama turned back, pointing while shouting loudly:
"That's right! I mean you, Hiruzen. Hurry over and express gratitude again!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen thought everything had concluded. Instead, First singled him out once more.
No choice remained. He approached again, apologizing earnestly yet another time.
"My deepest apologies. Everything was my fault."
"I failed as Hokage. I deserve death."
Since he was already dead anyway, acknowledging one more capital offense didn't matter.
Yasushi regarded them with an ambiguous smile, his gaze sweeping between them before suddenly asking:
"Say, Lord First—can hatred between people truly dissipate?"
"Mmm..." Hashirama didn't answer immediately. He lowered his head, thinking very seriously before responding:
"Hatred, once created, dissipates with great difficulty."
"Especially since events causing hatred inevitably involve the parties' closest, most important, most cherished people or matters."
"Expecting hatred to vanish with a simple verbal pardon is nearly impossible."
"But I equally firmly believe that as long as parties are willing to abandon the past and choose to embrace a beautiful future..."
"Then through mutual understanding and sincere treatment of each other, past hatred will eventually fade bit by bit over time through genuine interaction."
"Back when Konoha Village was first established, internal resentments ran deep. But through collective effort from everyone desiring peace, all difficulties were gradually smoothed over, ultimately creating Konoha Village's existence."
"Is that so?" Yasushi suddenly grinned—a smile brimming with malice.
"Lord First, I killed your granddaughter Tsunade. Did you know?"
"Are you truly willing to set aside such enmity?"
"Tsunade?" Hashirama momentarily froze, involuntarily recalling that mischievous, adorable little girl.
"So she died too?"
"I didn't see her among the Edo Tensei bodies. I thought she'd remained in the village."
Hashirama sighed, his expression deeply sorrowful. But he quickly rallied himself, slapping his cheeks before looking directly into Yasushi's eyes with utmost seriousness:
"Let past matters remain in the past!"
"Our most important focus now is facing the future!"
"I deeply regret Tsunade's death, but I'm willing to set aside this enmity and stop mentioning revenge for her."
The same words from someone else's mouth would sound utterly false—obviously insincere platitudes from someone unaffected.
But these same words spoken by Hashirama carried extraordinary persuasive power, making people involuntarily want to believe him.
"You truly are a remarkable person!"
Yasushi stared intently at Hashirama's face for some time before his gaze slid toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"What about you?"
"I killed your son Asuma, killed your grandson Konohamaru, and destroyed the Sarutobi compound."
"You don't hate me either?"
Damn it!
Targeting me endlessly, is that it?
Sarutobi Hiruzen's teeth ached with hatred. He clenched his fists tightly within his sleeves, yet his gaze naturally lowered toward his toes, allowing true emotions to hide behind downcast eyelids.
"They're all past matters. Why mention them?"
An aged voice finally squeezed through Sarutobi Hiruzen's tightly pressed lips.
"I see..."
Yasushi adopted an expression of deep comfort before turning toward Itachi, still kneeling on the ground.
"Itachi, I cut off Sasuke's head, you know~"
"What are your thoughts on that?"
"Don't you hate me?"
"Sasuke..." Itachi's heart suddenly ached. He involuntarily clutched his chest clothing tightly, bunching it into a ball, as though something inside squeezed forcefully.
Such a familiar yet seemingly distant name!
Blood suddenly trickled from his lips. In a daze, he seemed to hear Sasuke's affectionate "nii-san" once more.
But quickly his heart hardened again.
Brothers are precious, but the village costs more.
Now, what he needed was satisfying Yasushi, allowing the village to regain peace.
"Someone like me has no right to hate anyone." Itachi answered woodenly with lowered head.
"Hahaha..." Yasushi finally burst into laughter, tears spilling from his eyes.
"Well said!"
"So perfectly said!"
"I've genuinely felt your sincerity!"
"You're all truly Konoha people, sharing that inherited Fire Will!"
"You're all so magnanimous, willing to write off past hatred completely!"
"You're all willing to forget the past and embrace the future!"
Yasushi spread his arms wide, loudly praising all of Konoha's people. But just as relieved smiles finally began appearing on Konoha villagers' faces, Yasushi's tone suddenly shifted as he roared:
"However..."
"I can't do that!"
"I'm an extremely petty person!"
"I cannot forget what's already happened!"
"I cannot write off past hatred!"
"So after careful consideration just now, I ultimately decided..."
"To reject your reconciliation!"