Yūshin had no idea that elsewhere in the Shinobi World, a scene of "Sasuke beating up Sasuke" was currently unfolding. Back at the field hospital, just as the Sarutobi Clan had done earlier, each ninja clan was taking away their wounded.
The Fireflies ninja were packing up, preparing to withdraw from this place. For them, the war was over. As for cleaning up the battlefield and tallying spoils... given that their side hadn't participated in the brutal fighting, they'd leave those minor benefits to their allies. The Fireflies members should demonstrate magnanimity here.
The other sides had made so many sacrifices in the war—they deserved the right to distribute war spoils. The Fireflies forces were noble and high-minded, needing nothing.
The bloodshed and sacrifice of allied ninja had value.
Yūshin's left hand rested lightly on the large scroll behind him, presenting the image of a worldly sage unconcerned with petty gains... Yes, this wasn't wrong—he definitely didn't care about trivial benefits.
But while the wounded had left, Tobirama Senju hadn't departed yet. He still had important matters to discuss with Yūshin.
"What happened today will soon spread throughout the entire Shinobi World. The Hagoromo Clan's destruction isn't a small matter. More importantly, many ninja will realize the power of uniting together because of this."
Tobirama Senju knew the so-called joint action in this war was actually just coincidental timing, but the resulting combat effectiveness was absolutely real... Things that clans like the Sarutobi could realize, those other ninja clans Yūshin had brought as extras could also understand.
"This is ultimately a better direction for development, isn't it?"
If the ninja village system could be established early, it should be a good thing. At least under the one-village-one-nation system, within its encompassed territory, the flames of war would be extinguished.
Yūshin actually had no institutional innovation ability. The Shinobi World's development had its own inherent patterns. More importantly, the person leading an era's order and rules wasn't Yūshin... Strength reigns supreme—nothing more to say.
So ninja villages it is—quite good, no problems.
"Uniting together—including myself, quite a few people have envisioned such things. It's just that you were the first to attempt it. Even our clans' coincidental joint action was orchestrated by you..."
Tobirama Senju seemed to be speaking in circles, expressing certain meanings very tactfully, so much so that while Yūshin sensed hidden implications, he couldn't understand the specific meaning.
"What are you trying to say? Be as direct as possible."
"What I mean is, if clans like the Senju, Hyuga, Uzumaki, and Sarutobi form a ninja village, what do you Fireflies plan to do? At that time, only one voice can exist in a region. Frankly speaking, I don't want to be your enemy."
So that's what this was about. Previously, Yūshin might have been troubled by this, but now he'd learned to accept things. Moreover, he'd already been spoiled... After all, the "future people" who came to this world had said the Fireflies were an organization within Konoha.
But Yūshin still felt Tobirama Senju was oversimplifying things.
The difficulty of integrating major ninja clans versus integrating small and medium clans was different. Yūshin's side went smoothly because while the ninja clans under him each had unique characteristics, they all lacked scale. Each clan's leader was very rational, without so much petty scheming.
But what about the major ninja clans?
"The person capable of integrating the major ninja clans must be someone with extremely strong power and unique personal charisma. But is the current ruler of your Senju Clan such a person? Your father is someone with extremely rigid thinking, difficulty accepting new things, and unwillingness to abandon established concepts."
"The Senju Clan's development has indeed reached a crossroads. You know which path is correct, but can you make the Senju Clan walk that path? Can you do it? If not, then stop talking nonsense."
"Who is the obstacle to the Senju Clan and even this land—I think you understand better than I do."
Never mind anything else—Sasuke Sarutobi knew to come specifically thank Yūshin. What about Butsuma Senju? He merely showed his face here and didn't speak a single extra word to Yūshin.
Tobirama Senju was neither the top leader nor could he represent the top leader's will. What qualifications did he have to discuss recruiting talent here?
Seriously speaking, Tobirama and Yūshin's positions weren't even equal.
Yūshin continued pressuring this guy: "In a certain sense, the Uchiha Clan that lost their allies actually has broader operational space than you do, because the one currently leading the Uchiha is Madara Uchiha—he's not exactly a blockhead, is he?"
So who counts as a blockhead?
Tobirama Senju felt extremely uncomfortable—he couldn't even refute this. Clearly his big brother was the so-called person with extreme personal charisma. As long as big brother became clan leader, Tobirama's series of alliance plans could be implemented. However...
According to certain universal theories, any problem that can be solved by eliminating people isn't a complex problem, especially for ninja.
But analyzing specific problems specifically, the so-called "general solution" didn't apply to Tobirama... No matter how conscienceless he became, he couldn't plot to eliminate his own father, right? Here he should thank his fate of not having Sharingan.
After this exchange, Yūshin nearly gave Tobirama depression. The Senju Clan's future seemed incredibly broad, yet was tripped up by an unsolvable stumbling block.
Did Butsuma Senju have the qualifications to become "lord of multiple clans"? Stop joking—everyone had been dealing with each other for so many years, knowing each other inside and out. What kind of person Butsuma Senju was, how could they not understand?
In fact, high-level members of clans like the Hyuga and Sarutobi could all guess how Butsuma would operate.
Day one: multi-clan alliance. Day two: strengthen the trunk, weaken the branches. Day three: civil war.
Yūshin patted Tobirama's shoulder, then ended this topic.
Just wait—this was the so-called "Without Hashirama's emergence, what can be done for the people?"
But really, Hashirama's one-village-one-nation system was only slightly better than the chaotic world.
Having chosen a topic extremely unfavorable to himself, Tobirama Senju's intelligence was completely suppressed by Yūshin. At this point, he could only silently walk away without a word, going to help Chihori pack luggage.
Immediately after, he became cheerful and talkative.
Yūshin: "..."
This guy really disgraces our resourceful duo's reputation.
Let's go quickly—staying here one more second lets that bastard be happy for one more second.
...
Sasuke Sarutobi's palm was charged with ultra-high-intensity Lightning Release as he pressed against the attacking "righteous man's" wrist... This was the first and only ninjutsu used by the five-element-mastering Sasuke Sarutobi in this battle.
Uchiha Sasuke was restrained, and at this moment he found the situation somewhat incomprehensible.
Techniques like Chidori or Raikiri naturally weren't forbidden from being dodged by enemies. Even having ninja tank this move head-on wasn't impossible. But forcibly interrupting his ultra-high-speed Lightning Release technique like this—wasn't something a bit off?
Having Chidori stopped bare-handed—wasn't that a bit ridiculous?
Looking at Uchiha Sasuke's young face, Sasuke Sarutobi felt both admiration and regret. Such a heroic act at such a young age, but unfortunately the other was an enemy... Hmm, he deserved better.
Showing mercy was impossible. Admiration was admiration, but this era had no soft-hearted ninja. In fact, after developing admiration, Sasuke Sarutobi's next approach was to increase the dosage.
Though the so-called righteous man's righteousness was all Sasuke Sarutobi's imagination, did this have positive effects on his combat?
Three tomoe emerged from Uchiha Sasuke's pupils as he immediately cast a genjutsu on his enemy.
However, the moment Sasuke Sarutobi saw the Sharingan, he released Uchiha Sasuke's hand. As the latter cast his genjutsu, Sarutobi's hand seals were already complete.
The genjutsu did take effect, but Sasuke Sarutobi instantly broke free. Simultaneously, he used the Summoning Technique.
A monkey even taller and more robust than him appeared at his side, then this monkey child used transformation jutsu to become a staff.
Hmm? This ninja's appearance and fighting style seemed somewhat familiar?
But Uchiha Sasuke had no time to think carefully. This staff danced up and down, combining feints with real strikes. For a time, he only dared dodge and couldn't defend at all.
But these were all probing moves. After briefly testing Uchiha Sasuke's taijutsu level, Sasuke Sarutobi felt slightly disappointed. His staff shook once, then came crashing down like a ghost, smashing toward Uchiha Sasuke's forehead.
At this moment, the Sharingan's insight finally played its role. Uchiha Sasuke knew this move couldn't be dodged or blocked.
"Susanoo"
Besides using his ultimate technique, he had no other options.
Bang!
The staff struck Susanoo's skeletal frame, seemingly causing no damage, but Sasuke Sarutobi didn't mind. Based on the rebound force, he readjusted his attack strength.
He suddenly retracted his staff, changing from striking to thrusting. The attack was brief yet sharp—the staff's tip instantly and fiercely pressed against the just-struck position.
Crack.
With both impacts combined, this chakra-formed rib instantly developed a fissure.
Absolute defense once again demonstrated its actually not-so-absolute nature.
Next, Sasuke Sarutobi's attacks came like a violent storm. Honestly, this kind of forceful dismantling of enemy defensive measures could make one feel a unique pleasure in battle, so Sasuke Sarutobi felt increasingly good as he fought.
Uchiha Sasuke excellently played the role of a punching bag.
Seeing Susanoo about to be completely dismantled by his opponent, Uchiha Sasuke could only use another ultimate move!
Black flames rushed straight toward Sasuke Sarutobi, but he maintained focus and easily dodged with a simple flash step.
Dismantling could continue.
Uchiha Sasuke had always been confident in his strength, but facing this ninja's impenetrable attacks, he felt like his abilities couldn't be displayed. Besides using Susanoo and casting Amaterasu, he seemed unable to do anything.
Need to think about this? He was being completely suppressed, and the enemy was only using taijutsu.
But Uchiha Sasuke wasn't without progress. To prevent Susanoo from being violently dismantled, at this very moment, he finally comprehended black flame control techniques!
Uchiha Sasuke used his right eye's power, controlling black flames with "Kagutsuchi", coating them onto Susanoo.
I'm burning myself—let's see if you're afraid.
Sasuke Sarutobi's attacks suddenly stopped. He could sense the danger of black flames.
"Righteous man, your ocular power is nearly exhausted. How long can you maintain this state?"
Seeing the other's gasping appearance, Sasuke Sarutobi wasn't anxious to determine victory. Just wear him down—that's all. The Mangekyō Sharingan was indeed powerful, but how long could it last?
Uchiha Sasuke was now very awkward. If he exhausted his ocular power, he'd lose control of the black flames, and would face a death very fitting for the "Four Laughing Maniacs"... burning himself to death.
But just as he was caught between advancing and retreating, with a "poof" sound, his figure disappeared from the spot without warning.
"Ah? Running so fast... Are you really a righteous man?"
Sasuke Sarutobi was somewhat puzzled. He looked at the staff in his hand and roughly understood how the other had escaped.
Simply put, this battle between the two Sasukes ended with Uchiha Sasuke's victorious strategic withdrawal, while Sasuke Sarutobi's despicable two-on-one (summoned beasts count too) achieved no results.
...
Yūshin led the Fireflies organization's ninja back to the village, no longer bothering with the ninja clan allied forces.
Their searching was too meticulous—they'd started licking the ground inch by inch. Who knew when they'd complete battlefield cleanup work?
After returning to Fireflies Village, Yūshin and company began organizing their gains.
The secret technique scroll he'd obtained indeed recorded training methods for two types of nature transformation, plus many specific Swift Release and Storm Release ninjutsu.
But these two nature transformations were Kekkei Genkai after all. The training methods were only theoretical—ninja without the proper bloodline would likely gain nothing from training.
This kind of thing could only let everyone try learning, using a wide-net approach to see if anyone was lucky enough to learn... But one thing: with training method support, some people could quickly use both nature transformations.
Specifically, those in the organization who could master the Cursed Grudge Fear secret technique, because they already had Hagoromo Clan hearts that could originally synthesize Storm Release or Swift Release. Previously they couldn't use Kekkei Genkai because they lacked specific methods—now methods were available.
Yūshin scratched his head, feeling like all good fortune went to guys like Nara Hideyuki. Even he was getting somewhat unbalanced.
Comparatively, the ordinary scrolls he'd looted were actually more meaningful to the organization's regular ninja. Now when they wanted to learn any ninjutsu or practice any chakra nature transformation...
Come, everyone come—come and you'll have it.
Seeing everyone had opportunities for progress, Yūshin felt both happy and urgent. Just as he'd told Tobirama before, his strength hadn't improved during this period, and this feeling was very unpleasant.
Like fitness addiction, Yūshin was addicted to strength improvement—not progressing made him uncomfortable.
Thinking back, Yūshin still had an unsettled account with Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, so next he planned to find opportunities to return to his old trade... Hmph, I'll use others' power to become the Ninja King.
This feeling of constant progress—not everyone could experience it, right?
Could Hashirama Senju have this feeling? Besides emptiness, what else could someone at the peak have?
Look at Yūshin—how fulfilled he was.
Won—no need to ask—Yūshin had beaten Hashirama Senju.
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