Looking at Tobirama, everyone was unsure whether to feel bitter or amused.
After all, dying... is indeed a mistake everyone makes!
At the same time, Tobirama continued: "I died, leading to the failure of my policies!"
"I failed to see through how much Danzo truly despised the Uchiha. He fully inherited my views on Uchiha Madara, but did not inherit my magnanimity as Hokage."
"Thus, he brought about the Uchiha's current situation!"
"Big brother, this is indeed my mistake. I do not deny it!"
Tobirama addressed Hashirama.
Looking at Tobirama, Hashirama also fell silent.
He looked somewhat pained at his younger brother, unable to say anything.
Because, did you think Tobirama was admitting fault?
Wrong. He was the Second Hokage. What 'admitting fault'? This was clearly sarcastic!
Because that whole speech by Tobirama earlier had already dragged Hashirama into it!
Committing an unforgivable mistake... dying himself... wasn't that also a mistake Hashirama had made?
So, Hashirama really had nothing to say now.
Because Tobirama's meaning was crystal clear: 'If it weren't for you, big brother, dying so early, leaving me with a pile of mess to deal with, would I have ended up like this?'
And this was the point Hashirama couldn't refute.
He actually didn't have to die… he himself knew this.
However, Minato, standing to the side, wasn't aware of all these convoluted implications.
Looking at Tobirama, Minato thought he was genuinely admitting fault.
Seeing this, Minato quickly tried to console him: "Second Hokage-sama, this isn't your fault either. It's us, the later generations, who failed to do our jobs properly!"
"Back then, I also saw the conflict between the Uchiha and the village. Therefore, I specifically had Kushina befriend Uchiha Mikoto, the wife of the Uchiha Clan's Head, Uchiha Fugaku. I myself also had a good relationship with Fugaku."
"And if the parents are friends, then when the next generation is born, they can become friends too. The relationship between the Uchiha and the village would naturally grow closer!"
"But unfortunately, I also made a mistake..."
At this point, Minato scratched his cheek, somewhat embarrassed!
Seeing this, Hashirama was puzzled: "Was your mistake... the same one?"
"Yes!" Hiruzen, standing nearby, accurately quipped: "The Fourth died during the night of Nine-Tails Attack, sealing the Nine-Tails with his life!"
"Hah!!?" Hearing Hiruzen's words, Hashirama was very confused: "Sealing the Nine-Tails?"
"You can die from that?" Hashirama's face was full of bewilderment.
'That Nine-Tails... isn't it something you can just casually handle?'
"Uhhh…" Hearing Hashirama's humble-brag, everyone fell silent.
Tobirama couldn't take it anymore: "Big brother, don't assume everyone has your level of strength, okay?"
"Uhh…" Under his younger brother's reprimand, Hashirama stopped talking.
And this small interlude concluded with Tobirama's words.
Tobirama turned his gaze back to Danzo.
"You just mentioned the night of Nine-Tails Attack. I suspect this is also a crucial part of the Uchiha's annihilation?"
"Correct!" Danzo nodded: "Although I coveted the Hokage's position, I must admit that the Fourth Hokage's brilliance was the most dazzling among all the Kage. If the Fourth Hokage hadn't died, he truly could have led Konoha to new heights!"
"But unfortunately, the Nine-Tails Attack came!"
"That night, an unknown Uchiha infiltrated Kushina's, the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki's, delivery room, kidnapped her, and released the Nine-Tails!"
"And the Sharingan in the Nine-Tails' eyes was something everyone witnessed!"
"After the Nine-Tails Attack, the Fourth Hokage fell in battle. Naturally, the Uchiha came under suspicion. We took the opportunity to relocate the Uchiha outside the village, placing them in the outskirts of Konoha."
"And this was the beginning of the Uchiha's destruction!"
Danzo narrated...
Hearing Danzo's words, Tobirama roughly understood.
But looking at Danzo's right eye, Tobirama could guess some additional things: "Just this is still not enough for the Uchiha's annihilation!"
"Correct!" Danzo nodded: "As expected of Sensei, hitting the nail on the head!"
"Your policies over the years were also effective. There were indeed Uchiha who leaned towards the village. And Hiruzen's attitude had always been one of appeasement!"
"But unfortunately, Konoha still had me!" Under Hiruzen's vaguely moved gaze, Danzo gave a cold laugh.
"Among the Uchiha, there was one named Uchiha Shisui. He leaned towards the village and constantly mediated between the village and the Uchiha! He had also awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan!"
"His Mangekyo Sharingan's Dojutsu was called Kotoamatsukami, its effect being to alter another person's thoughts. Shisui told me he could use this Dojutsu to modify Uchiha Fugaku's thinking at the most critical moment."
"But how could I possibly let him succeed?"
"And the power of Kotoamatsukami was too dangerous. What if he used it on me?"
"So I... I ambushed Shisui again! Seizing one of his Mangekyo!"
Danzo said with a sinister tone.