When Even the Villagers Ignore the Orders of Konoha's "Nine-Thousand-Year Regent," Then Only a Heavy Hand Will Do
"Brother, at a time like this, Konoha absolutely cannot allow the situation to escalate."
"We must publicly call on both Akatsuki and Kumogakure to exercise restraint, and then dispatch Konoha shinobi forces to the battlefield under the banner of mediation—intervening to prevent the conflict from spiraling further out of control."
"However," Tobirama continued calmly, "since Akatsuki is our ally, within Konoha we will announce that we are forming a shinobi force to support Akatsuki."
"Support in name—mediation in reality."
Senju Tobirama had made up his mind.
This was how he would protect Konoha.
The first plan that came to his mind had already been discarded without hesitation.
Because Tobirama knew perfectly well—
Hashirama would never agree to it.
So only a compromise remained.
Hashirama wanted to be the peacemaker.
He wanted to smooth things over.
For the sake of Konoha—
This time, Tobirama would indulge him.
As for this so-called "mediation plan," Tobirama himself knew very well:
It was complete nonsense.
Only someone as naïve as his brother would believe mediation could actually work.
Akatsuki had just achieved a crushing victory and held overwhelming momentum—why would they stop now?
Kumogakure, on the other hand, had lost over a thousand shinobi in a single night—how could they possibly swallow such humiliation?
That was impossible.
Akatsuki's victory was built on surprise and overwhelming preparation.
Impressive, yes—but Tobirama knew better than anyone:
Kumogakure was a Great Village, the sole hegemon of the Land of Lightning.
It was not made of clay.
Once Kumogakure recovered from the shock, their retaliation would be savage beyond imagination.
This war had only just begun.
Sooner or later—
Both sides would fight until their brains spilled out.
Akatsuki claimed to be avenging their fallen chūnin.
As an ally, Konoha should have stood unconditionally at their side.
But—
That was precisely what alarmed Tobirama.
Akatsuki's demonstrated strength had already exceeded his expectations.
If this continued unchecked, Akatsuki would grow into something Konoha could no longer restrain.
So Akatsuki had to be contained.
And this war—
Was the perfect opportunity.
Let Akatsuki and Kumogakure grind each other down.
Slowly. Relentlessly.
Like boiling a frog in warm water.
Let both sides bleed away their strength.
What did Konoha need to do?
Delay.
Forming a shinobi army required time.
Negotiating with clans required time.
Purchasing supplies required time.
Establishing logistics required time.
As for "supporting Akatsuki"—
Of course Konoha would support them.
But selectively.
Carefully.
Scientifically.
Strategically.
With "efficient assistance,"
"targeted deployment,"
"elite shinobi support,"
"capable clans in leadership roles,"
and "flexible operational arrangements."
Excuses?
Tobirama could produce dozens without thinking.
The only thing that truly concerned him—
Was public opinion inside the village.
He feared that the sentiments he had only just suppressed would flare up again.
This was not the first time.
Nor would it be the last.
If Uchiha Makoto and the Uchiha clan succeeded once—
They would succeed again.
And after that?
Would they start interfering in Konoha's internal governance?
And after that—
Would they attempt to influence the selection of the next Hokage?
Just thinking about it made Tobirama uneasy.
Such a thing could never be allowed to happen.
He had already decided—
He would be the Second Hokage.
The titles "Shadow Hokage" and "Konoha's Nine-Thousand-Year Regent" were not empty words.
The ANBU?
He built it.
The Ninja Academy?
He designed it.
Who was it that worked day and night in the Hokage's office?
Hashirama?
Madara?
Or some other Uchiha?
The clans all saw it clearly.
And that one hundred billion ryō of fiscal authority obtained from the Fire Daimyō?
That wasn't just decoration.
In Konoha—
In Akatsuki—
In the entire shinobi world—
Whoever controlled the treasury
controlled the voice.
Those loyal to the Nine-Thousand-Year Regent received priority funding.
Those who pledged loyalty
received resources.
Tobirama understood power perfectly.
Give enough benefits—
And even those who were not his people
would become his people.
The Senju clan went without saying.
The Sarutobi clan and Shimura clan were already his most reliable supporters.
When Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō had caused catastrophic trouble—
It was Tobirama who had asked Hashirama to clean up after them.
That debt could never be repaid.
To secure their loyalty completely, Tobirama had even taken the two of them as his disciples.
Not only out of politics—
But also because they truly had potential.
Hiruzen and Danzō trained day and night.
They took missions relentlessly.
They hoarded money to repay their debts.
They treated a single day as two.
Tobirama saw all of it.
Young people made mistakes.
Even very large ones.
But those who knew their errors and corrected them—
Had a future.
Beyond them—
The Ino–Shika–Chō clans had core members eager to follow him.
So did the Aburame,
the Inuzuka,
and many smaller clans.
All were potential supporters.
Konoha could only have one voice.
One will.
That of the Hokage.
If Hashirama refused to manage affairs—
Then as Shadow Hokage, as Konoha's Nine-Thousand-Year Regent—
Tobirama would decide everything.
How could he allow disruptive voices to interfere with Konoha's operation?
With his plans?
With Konoha's future?
Those low-level shinobi bewitched by Uchiha Makoto.
Those ignorant villagers swept up by propaganda.
Tobirama usually cared about his reputation.
But now—
He had made his decision.
Some feathers could be discarded.
This was for Konoha's future.
If the time came—
And those villagers and low-rank shinobi refused to obey Konoha's will—
Then they were no longer ordinary villagers or shinobi.
And Tobirama would show no mercy.
For such people—
Only a heavy hand would suffice.
Everything—
Was for Konoha.
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