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"The results speak for themselves," Izuna said, resting one hand on the survey.
"When war is still an abstract idea, most people will swear they're ready to fight. Ask them to send their son, their father, or someone they love onto the battlefield, and suddenly no one wants it anymore."
He glanced at everyone at the table. "Konoha has never fought a war that big. The time when each clan handled its own fights is gone. If we went to war across the Shinobi world, we'd need supply lines, organized armies, careful planning, and leaders who can manage several battlefields at once..."
"...We don't know how to do any of that, and we hardly know anything about the lands outside the Land of Fire."
Madara frowned. "Izuna, have these peaceful years made you forget what it means to be a shinobi? If Hashirama and I lead the attack, we might not even need to call on the whole village. And every war requires sacrifice. That's just how it is."
"Brother. What if I'm the sacrifice?" Izuna met his eyes.
Madara fell silent.
He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
War always needed sacrifice, but when it was Izuna's life at stake, the answer was different.
"Izuna has a point," Hashirama said, nodding.
Madara gave him an annoyed look and leaned back, unhappy that the argument had shifted against him so fast.
Izuna watched his brother for a moment, then lowered his voice. "There's another reason I oppose this. Our Mangekyō Sharingan can't support a war against the entire Shinobi world."
"..." Madara's hand tightened beneath the table.
His eyesight had been getting worse for years. Faraway things looked blurry, small details faded, and every time he used the Mangekyō, he got closer to going blind. He always said he was fine, but that was just his pride.
When he and Hashirama used to spar almost every day, Madara would use the Mangekyō whenever he wanted. Now he couldn't risk using it just for practice.
Izuna knew exactly how bad it had become!
He didn't want his brother to lose his sight!
"Madara, our dream was to bring peace to the Shinobi world," Hashirama said. "We finally have that peace. Why start another war and destroy everything we worked for?"
Madara looked at him and sighed softly. "I'm worried this peace will end when we're gone. You know how people are, Hashirama. Right now, the other villages act carefully because Konoha is stronger and we're both still here. But what happens after we're not around anymore?"
The warmth faded from Hashirama's expression.
Tobirama spoke before he could answer. "Madara's concern is reasonable. We may not want anyone else's land, but that doesn't mean the other villages feel the same. Some of them are already watching Konoha and waiting for us to show weakness."
"We shouldn't attack without cause," he continued, "but we'd be fools to assume no one will ever attack us."
"If anyone marches on Konoha, I won't spare them!!" Hashirama's face stiffened.
Whatever else they disagreed on, that much was settled.
..............
Night had fallen by the time the meeting ended.
Hashirama, Madara, Tobirama, and Izuna left the Hokage Tower together. As soon as the doors shut behind them, everyone relaxed.
"Madara, stop thinking about war for five minutes." Hashirama threw an arm around his shoulder.
"Think about something useful, like getting married. You're not exactly young anymore."
Izuna looked at Madara with exaggerated concern. "You've shown no interest in marriage at all. I'm starting to worry."
Madara folded his arms, but the faint red on his face ruined the effect. "Hmph. I have yet to meet a woman worthy of Uchiha Madara."
"Leave him alone, Brother," Tobirama said.
"Madara might not be the marrying type. Even with my imagination, I can't picture him as anyone's husband."
"I can't picture you married either!!" Izuna turned to him right away.
Tobirama looked at him.
Izuna stared right back.
Hashirama burst out laughing. When they were off duty—the four of them talked much more freely. Even Madara and Tobirama could handle a joke now and then without causing a diplomatic incident.
Then Hashirama noticed the new restaurant ahead.
"Hey, when did that place open?" He pointed at Ichiraku Ramen. "I'm starving. Let's try it."
"Fine," Madara said.
"Why not," Tobirama added.
Izuna didn't object, so Konoha's F4 went inside.
..............
Behind the counter, Kakuzu counted the day's earnings, grinning like he was much too pleased with himself.
"Heh heh heh…"
"Kakuzu, I've been meaning to ask." Manji sat nearby, stroking his mustache. "Why do you care so much about money? Isn't strength more important for a shinobi?"
He had wondered about that even in his previous life. The original Kakuzu acted like money was the only honest thing left in the world.
Kakuzu stacked another pile of coins. "It's not just about the money. I like earning it. When it's in my hand, I feel secure, and watching the pile grow is satisfying."
Manji understood.
"So you just like watching the numbers go up."
Kakuzu paused. "I'm not addicted to farming."
"I didn't mean real farming. I meant building something up little by little."
Kakuzu still looked confused, but before Manji could explain the webnovel genre to someone born centuries too early, a familiar voice called from the entrance.
"Shopkeeper!" Manji turned and saw Konoha's F4 standing in the doorway.
"Good evening." Hashirama greeted him with a relaxed smile.
Madara gave Manji a quick look before picking a seat. Tobirama and Izuna followed, not paying much attention to the restaurant's middle-aged owner.
Kakuzu's grin disappeared.
'The Hokage?' He glanced at Manji. Had someone exposed them? Was that why Konoha's four strongest men showed up together?
Manji remained calm. "What can I get for you?"
"Four bowls of whatever you recommend," Hashirama said.
Manji nodded at Kakuzu, who understood and went into the kitchen. As soon as Manji followed him out of sight, Kakuzu leaned in and lowered his voice. "Should we drug them?"
"..." Manji stared at him.
"Just enough so they won't recognize us," Kakuzu explained.
"No need." Manji waved the idea away. "They won't recognize me."
Kakuzu studied him for a second, then nodded.
The old man had faked his death, made himself young again, and opened a restaurant in the middle of Konoha without his own family noticing.
Confidence probably wasn't the problem.
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