Hearing his younger brother's words, Hashirama Senju fell silent.
Uchiha Madara was about to say something, but to his surprise, the first one to speak up against Hashirama wasn't him—it was that annoying Tobirama Senju!
Hashirama clearly hadn't expected his own brother to call him out like that.
"But… Tobirama…"
"Big brother, shut up!"
Tobirama finally let loose, his voice firm. He'd been dying to say that for ages! He couldn't keep giving his brother a pass just because that evil Uchiha was standing there, right?!
Besides, Hashirama's way of thinking was clearly flawed. Back when the Leaf Village was first founded, Tobirama had never fully agreed with his brother's kindness and leniency. Hashirama had even gone so far as to give away the nine tailed beasts to other villages! Tobirama had warned him that move would cause endless trouble down the line.
And sure enough, the moment Hashirama died, the First Great Ninja War broke out!
"Big brother!" Tobirama pressed. "The Fourth Hokage's right here. Why don't we let him tell us what happened to the ninja world after I died? Did it find true peace?!"
Minato Namikaze hadn't expected Tobirama to suddenly put him on the spot. He froze for a moment, then saw Hashirama's hopeful, puppy-like eyes. Shaking his head, Minato spoke.
"Peace? No… After the First Great Ninja War, we only got a brief moment of calm. Then the Third Hokage took over, and the Leaf Village enjoyed a short period of peaceful growth. But soon after, the Second Great Ninja War broke out…
The Leaf Village poured everything into that war—we nearly got wiped out!
After the second war ended, there was another fleeting peace… until the Third Great Ninja War came along.
That's where I made my name, earning the title 'Yellow Flash of the Leaf' and racking up enough achievements to become the Fourth Hokage."
With every word Minato spoke, the light in Hashirama's eyes dimmed a little more.
By the end, his entire demeanor was heavy with gloom.
"To think… in just a few decades, the ninja world went through three great wars…"
Hashirama turned to Madara, his voice trembling. "Madara… were my choices back then really a mistake?"
He looked to his old friend for answers. "Madara, our dream was to build a peaceful place where kids wouldn't have to go to war, where everyone could live happily and safely… But did we actually achieve that?"
Seeing Hashirama so dejected, Madara felt an unexpected pang of sympathy.
He reached out, placing a hand on Hashirama's shoulder.
"Haxi-lama… we tried our best back then. Sure, we didn't bring true peace to the ninja world, but at least the Leaf Village is still standing!
I know you're all about kindness, about avoiding war and death…
But real peace often comes with bloodshed. Only when people feel the pain of war—blood and fire—will they value the peace that follows.
I believe unifying the ninja world is the only true path forward. Like that kid Ito Hirofumi said, if someone pulls it off, even if ambitious people rise up later, their goal will just be to keep the world united!"
Hashirama sank into self-doubt at Madara's words. Using his Wood Release, he conjured a small stick in his hand and crouched down, glumly drawing circles in the dirt.
Mito Uzumaki couldn't bear seeing her husband so down. She quickly spoke up to change the subject.
"Hirofumi, I think it's a bit early to be talking about all this.
Weren't we just discussing what benefits you get from summoning us? Is there anything else besides what you've already mentioned?"
Hirofumi didn't linger on the heavy topic either. It was too soon to expect these legendary figures to fight for him—they needed time to build trust. Right now, he was probably closest to Madara.
But he was confident that, in time, they'd all be willing to lend him their strength.
"You're right!" Hirofumi said. "There is one more benefit!
To be honest, it's my biggest secret. But since you're all my seniors, I figure it's safe to share with you."
Hashirama's gloom vanished as quickly as it came. The moment the topic shifted, he forgot his earlier brooding, tossed the stick aside, and looked at Hirofumi with eager curiosity.
"What is it? What is it?! Don't worry, kid, my lips are sealed! Tell me your secret, and I swear I'll keep it safe!"
WHACK!
"Ow! Madara, why'd you hit me?!"
"Hmph! Shut up! You, tight-lipped? Your mouth's as loose as an old lady's waistband!" Madara snapped.
Hashirama pouted, clearly hurt. "Madaraaa… All I did was tell people about that time you were stuck in the bathroom for hours, constipated and unable to—ow! You don't have to hold a grudge for that long!"
"Damn it!" Madara roared. "You filthy dog, shut your mouth! I'll kill you! I'll kill you right now!"
The atmosphere turned awkward in an instant.
Tobirama had heard rumors about this before, and Mito had caught wind of it too. But Minato, Fugaku Uchiha, and Hirofumi? They had no idea!
Even Hirofumi, who'd read the original Naruto story, had never come across anything about Madara being constipated!
Good grief! he thought. Was Hashirama camped outside the bathroom door while Madara was struggling in there?!
"Madara, stop hitting me! I'm sorry, okay?! I won't talk about your constipation anymore!"
"You—! You're still talking about it?!"
Madara tackled Hashirama to the ground, pummeling him with a flurry of punches and kicks.
Mito covered her mouth, barely hiding a smile.
Tobirama pretended not to notice his brother's embarrassing predicament.
But Hirofumi, Minato, and Fugaku? Their eyes were wide, soaking in every second of this ridiculous scene.
Thud!
A sealed scroll fell out of Madara's robes.
His face flushed as he scrambled to pick it up and hide it, but Hashirama, quick as ever, snatched it first.
"Madara! What's this?!"
"Give it back! That's mine!"
"Oh, come on, Madara! What's mine is yours, what's yours is mine—why split hairs?"
Hirofumi recognized the scroll instantly. Wasn't that the blank scroll he'd given Madara before? Had Madara turned it into a sealing scroll?
Wait… were those pig trotters sealed inside?!
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