Chapter 803: Chapter 22: "Madara, You Should Be Hokage! Hashirama Isn’t Up to It...
"I have already thought of a name for the new village... It will be called Konoha, and as a founding organization in the Land of Fire, the leader will be called Hokage."
"You, Uchiha Madara, are the one I plan to fully support as the First Hokage... Only you can take on this responsibility."
Tobirama lavishly praised the already bewildered Uchiha Madara:
"You have an enterprising spirit, a ninja with strong observational and leadership abilities, and possess the wisdom and vision of an experienced strategist..."
"By comparison, Hashirama is more suitable as the second-in-command to temper your sharpness but is absolutely not fit to be in the spotlight."
Tobirama patted Uchiha Madara on the shoulder, smiling as he said: "Do you believe? If we defeat the leaders of other regions and make them submit..."
"With Hashirama’s character, he might pull each of them aside to apologize, and may even embarrass us further by putting us in a very passive situation."
Uchiha Madara silently nodded.
Indeed, he imagined that scenario, and based on Hashirama’s behavior, it might really happen...
Actually, Tobirama was already sparing Hashirama’s dignity.
During his participation in the first Five Kage Summit, the one dubbed the God of the Ninja World, Hashirama, took off the Hokage Kasa, and with tears in his eyes, hit his head on the table, filled with emotion over today’s peace...
This kind of behavior left Tobirama at a loss for words.
However, regardless, as the leader of a Hidden Village, no matter how pure and beautiful Hashirama’s hope for peace might be, such behavior is unbecoming of his position.
In the past, many times, Tobirama fantasized about a scenario— "If back then, it were him and Uchiha Madara attending the first Five Kage Summit, would things have turned out differently?"
If that were the case, the nine Tailed Beasts would never have been traded away and would have gathered in Konoha.
And the other Hidden Villages would not have been given the chance to lie low and recuperate due to Hashirama’s mercy; they would have likely had to surrender a significant amount of resources to strive for peace.
This would be the normal situation...
Upon reaching the Otherworld, Tobirama finally had a chance to rectify the unresolved regret from the past...
Why not make Uchiha Madara the Hokage? Let him be!
After all, Uchiha Madara is not an outsider... he’s family!
"You... you might be Hashirama’s biggest critic?" Uchiha Madara was stunned for a long time before he finally forced out this statement:
"I really didn’t expect you to see Hashirama this way, you are his brother!"
"No, precisely because I am his brother, I understand him... With Hashirama’s personality, he would be more suited to be a cheerful teacher in the schools we are building for our children’s future, or a high-ranking figure who mingles with the lower-level ninjas..."
Tobirama shook his head, looking earnestly at Uchiha Madara as he said:
"Do you feel that even within the Uchiha Clan, some clansmen fear you? Therefore, you think your affinity is insufficient and that you are unsuited to be in the spotlight..."
Uchiha Madara was startled!
This was something he hadn’t even told Izuna!
Perhaps it was because Uchiha Madara had killed many people, or perhaps because of his harsh demeanor and the fierce gaze of his Dojutsu.
Within the Uchiha Clan, Madara indeed had a terrifying presence... most clansmen, when they have issues, would be more willing to discuss them with Izuna and wouldn’t dare approach Madara.
Even lively children, upon seeing Uchiha Madara, would fall silent as if they had encountered a terrifying monster.
Madara knew all this... but he had never spoken of it to anyone.
Yet, Senju Tobirama was able to see through it!
"You... don’t let your imagination run wild! The Uchiha Clan is my mother’s clan..." Uchiha Madara retorted, feeling guilty, though his voice was loud, there was a lack of confidence.
"I am also an Uchiha, the Uchiha Clan is my mother’s clan too..." Tobirama raised an eyebrow, revealing the Mangekyo Sharingan within his eye sockets:
"To be honest, I have faced similar issues myself..."
Uchiha Madara was taken aback; Senju Tobirama faced similar issues? But upon thinking about it, it seemed quite reasonable.
After all, someone who studies Kinjutsu daily, and whose ordinary gaze is sharper than the Sharingan’s, would inevitably be misunderstood similarly.
"Whether it’s a clan or the village we are about to establish, it is just like what the Uchiha Stele says: on a grand scale, the balance of yin and yang can encompass all phenomena..."
Tobirama’s words carried a certain strange magic, making the Uchiha Madara, who initially wanted to pretend not to listen, now abandon any resistance and listen intently.
"On a smaller scale, it is like a shirt... it requires both a surface and a lining... Someone has to be responsible for showcasing affinity, and someone else has to carry out actions in the torrential darkness of night..."
"Just as in our future village, Hashirama joyfully playing with children is built upon the foundation of actions you took the night before, is it not?"
"For people like us, who handle the inner workings, we just need to know that what we are doing is right; as for others’ misunderstandings and fears, it’s actually beneficial for us."
Tobirama spoke in a haunting tone: "Just like in a family... there needs to be a strict figure, to whom the children will show reverence and curb their behavior, and also another figure to provide warmth and alleviate negative emotions..."
