"Big brother, I support you becoming the village's leader!"
"The entire Senju clan supports you becoming the village's leader!"
"And even the Uchiha clan's members—they would support you becoming the village's leader as well!"
Senju Tobirama stated his position firmly.
Strength, prestige, and that pure, earnest desire to bring peace to the shinobi world—
Hashirama possessed countless virtues. Tobirama knew this better than anyone.
Even if his big brother was… occasionally lacking in brains, he was more than qualified to serve as the village's leader.
As his younger brother, Tobirama would simply make up for Hashirama's shortcomings in thinking.
"I still think Madara is more suitable than I am."
Despite Tobirama's full-throated support, Hashirama pondered for a moment and still concluded that Uchiha Madara was the better choice.
The reasons were complicated.
It wasn't just that Hashirama felt unsuited for administration—
a large part of it was guilt.
In Hashirama's eyes, Madara had paid far too great a price to achieve reconciliation between the Senju and the Uchiha.
The Senju clan—and Hashirama himself—owed Madara far too much.
Tobirama, you too…
You owe Madara more than you realize.
Hashirama wanted to take this opportunity to compensate him.
Madara, I see everything you've sacrificed.
You didn't betray me—so I will never betray you.
By both emotion and reason,
Madara had every qualification to become the village's leader.
That was what Hashirama believed.
In that instant—
Resignation, frustration, helplessness, and rage at wasted potential flooded Tobirama's heart.
No matter how brilliant Tobirama's strategies were, no matter how his plans could pacify the entire shinobi world—
His big brother had already surrendered first.
Hashirama wasn't cooperating. He was actively dragging him down.
"Madara, Madara, Madara—that's all you ever think about!"
"What's so great about that naturally evil Uchiha Madara?!"
"I should've regretted it back then—!"
Tobirama muttered endlessly in his heart, then forced himself to face reality.
Uchiha Madara absolutely could not become the village leader.
"Big brother, I won't argue with you right now."
"But I refuse to agree to letting Uchiha Madara become the village leader."
"Let's vote."
With no other choice, Tobirama proposed a compromise.
Since his brother wouldn't cooperate, then he would push Hashirama into the leadership position through a democratic vote.
"…Alright."
Hashirama nodded.
If Tobirama insisted any further, his brother really would explode in rage.
Besides, Hashirama felt the method was fair.
He firmly believed that, with Madara's abilities, Madara would naturally earn everyone's support and become the leader anyway.
"Then it's decided."
Tobirama finally let out a long breath.
Big brother… you're finally listening to me.
Let me personally help you ascend to the position of village leader.
That night, Tobirama did not sleep.
He spent the entire night thinking about how to ensure that Hashirama would win the leadership position by an overwhelming margin.
First, Tobirama needed Hashirama—and everyone else—to believe that Hashirama was more suitable than Madara to lead the village.
To that end, before holding the official democratic vote, Tobirama decided to conduct a questionnaire survey within the village.
He would use the survey results to build momentum for his brother.
As for the Senju clan, Tobirama wasn't worried.
Hashirama's prestige within the clan was immense—
if it came to a vote, the Senju would unquestionably support him.
The real problem was the Uchiha clan.
Although Hashirama's strength and character had already won over some Uchiha members, there was still a large faction within the clan that firmly supported Madara.
They were the key battleground.
To be safe…
Tobirama decided to guide the survey results.
How should the results be guided?
Directly falsifying the data was out of the question.
That would be crude, disgraceful, and far too easy to expose.
Tobirama immediately rejected that approach.
After careful thought, a brilliant idea emerged.
The next day—
Tobirama dispatched a gentle, alluring older sister, dressed in black stockings and fishnet tights, deep into Uchiha territory to conduct the survey.
She approached Uchiha clan members, questionnaire in hand.
Surveyor:
"Sir Uchiha, are you worried about the increasing number of unemployed shinobi?"
Uchiha #1:
"Of course. If shinobi can't find work, they might start robbing civilians. That would harm ordinary people."
Surveyor:
"Are you concerned about the rising likelihood of children being sent to the battlefield?"
Uchiha #2:
"Yes. I don't want our children going to war. They deserve a better future."
Surveyor:
"Do you think shinobi discipline has been declining?"
Uchiha #3:
"Absolutely. The cruelty of war has destroyed discipline."
Surveyor:
"Do you believe young people welcome authority and leadership?"
Uchiha #4:
"Of course they do!"
Surveyor:
"And do you think they're ready to face challenges?"
Uchiha #4:
"Yes!"
Surveyor:
"Then if Senju Hashirama were to become the village leader, would you support him?"
Uchiha #4:
"…I suppose I would."
Surveyor:
"Thank you for supporting our survey. Please sign here."
After a full day of work, the surveyor returned with a thick stack of completed questionnaires and submitted them to Tobirama.
In his office—
Tobirama eagerly picked up the surveys and read through them from beginning to end.
Just as he had anticipated, the results showed that support for Hashirama becoming village leader had surpassed fifty percent—
in fact, it reached eighty percent.
All that remained was to present the results to his brother.
Of course, the earlier, irrelevant questions would be removed—
only the final question would remain.
Ordinarily, any reputable, ethical surveyor would never do such a thing.
But this was for the sake of the village.
And for that reason, Tobirama felt perfectly comfortable bending his principles just a little.
In high spirits, Tobirama even opened a bottle of alcohol.
As a proper shinobi, he almost never drank—
But today was an exception.
This was worth celebrating.
"Big brother…"
"I've truly exhausted myself for your sake."
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