Konoha Village
Kakashi and his three companions disguised themselves before quietly entering Konoha.
"Oh!"
Senju Hashirama, who had been in a low and gloomy mood earlier, suddenly became much more cheerful. His eyes sparkled as he took in the sight before him. "Konoha is thriving! It's developed so much since my time."
Before arriving, he had seen chaos everywhere in the Land of Fire—bandits and rogue ninjas plundering at will. But as they approached Konoha, those sights became rare. Instead, there were bustling trade caravans and a peaceful atmosphere.
Upon stepping into the village, he was met with the sight of lively streets filled with thriving shops, a stark contrast to the unrest outside.
"It's been over forty years since your passing, Lord First." Kakashi commented. "Naturally, Konoha has undergone many changes. It remains the strongest of the Five Great Ninja Villages, and the Land of Fire is still the wealthiest country in the ninja world."
Hashirama's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Let's take a stroll around the village!"
Obito and Kakashi exchanged glances but had no objections. Under Kakashi's lead, the group wandered through the streets of Konoha.
As they walked, Hashirama looked around, a puzzled expression forming on his face. "The layout of Konoha is completely different from what I remember."
"That's due to the Nine-Tails attack," Kakashi explained, his voice subdued. "The destruction caused by the Nine-Tails was immense. Afterward, the village underwent large-scale reconstruction. Even some of the major clans were relocated."
Hashirama's expression darkened slightly. "The ninja clans were relocated? What about the Senju and Uchiha?"
Kakashi hesitated before responding. "The Senju clan... well, they were disbanded during the Second Hokage's time and fully integrated into the village."
Hashirama nodded slowly. This was something his brother, Tobirama, had mentioned before his death. He had always believed that dissolving the Senju clan and merging them into Konoha would solidify the village's unity.
But still, hearing it confirmed now left a strange feeling in his heart.
"What about the Uchiha?" he asked.
Kakashi's expression became more solemn. He turned and gestured toward a distant river flowing through the village. "After the Nine-Tails attack, the Uchiha were moved to the outskirts of Konoha."
Hashirama frowned. "That far? Someone forced them into isolation, didn't they?"
It was a stark contrast from the past. The Uchiha clan had once been at the heart of Konoha, alongside the Senju. They had helped build the village. To hear that they had been pushed so far from the center was alarming.
"This decision was made because the Nine-Tails was seen under the influence of the Sharingan during the attack," Kakashi explained. "As a result, the Uchiha were relocated for security reasons… and to be monitored."
Hashirama's expression twisted in disbelief. "Monitored? The Uchiha?"
Even with their pride, the Uchiha had accepted such treatment? It was unthinkable.
Kakashi sighed. "Yes. The Uchiha were under surveillance. I was in Anbu at the time, and I was personally assigned missions to monitor them."
Hashirama clenched his fists, his anger bubbling to the surface. "So this is how Sarutobi treats his fellow villagers?"
Forcing them to relocate was bad enough, but to subject them to surveillance on top of that?
"This wasn't entirely unreasonable," Kakashi muttered, though even he didn't sound convinced. "The Nine-Tails was definitely under the control of a Sharingan. There was reason for suspicion."
Hashirama shook his head in frustration. "That's ridiculous! I know the Uchiha! Do you think they would tolerate such humiliation if they were truly guilty? The fact that they didn't rebel outright tells me everything I need to know!"
A sudden thought struck him. "Did the surveillance uncover any proof that the Uchiha were behind the attack?"
Kakashi hesitated before answering. "No… nothing was ever found."
Hashirama exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Unbelievable. So Sarutobi forced them to move, put them under surveillance, and in the end, nothing was even discovered?"
His expression darkened.
It was beyond unfair—it was unjust.
Not only had the Uchiha been treated as criminals without evidence, but they had also tolerated it for years.
Hashirama could hardly believe it.
And yet, the Uchiha were gone now.
The infamous clan, one of Konoha's founders, had been completely wiped out.
For what?
What a disaster.
His earlier excitement about visiting Konoha had completely faded.
With a heavy heart, the group abandoned their sightseeing and instead headed toward a bookstore Kakashi frequented. There, they found a history textbook used by the Academy.
Hashirama flipped through the pages eagerly, searching for details about Konoha's history.
"Hmm… The chapters are divided according to each Hokage…" He raised an eyebrow as he scanned the table of contents. His name and Tobirama's barely had a few pages.
Meanwhile, the Third Hokage's tenure dominated the book.
"That's odd," he muttered, flipping through the pages.
As he read, his frown deepened.
"Under the leadership of the Third Hokage, Konoha produced legendary figures such as the White Fang, the Sannin, and the Yellow Flash—ninjas whose fame spread across the entire ninja world.
During the Third Hokage's reign, Konoha reached its peak in both military strength and prestige.
This era is widely regarded as the strongest Konoha has ever been, a testament to the wisdom and leadership of the Third Hokage—acknowledged as the strongest Hokage of all time."
…
Hashirama blinked.
"…The strongest Hokage of all time?"
He scratched his head, rereading the passage to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
The Third Hokage—Sarutobi Hiruzen—was being called the greatest Hokage in history?
"Did I read that right?" Hashirama turned the book toward Kakashi. "Sarutobi? The strongest?"
Kakashi nodded awkwardly. "Yes… that's how history views him."
Hashirama let out a long sigh.
What a joke.
He had left behind a vision for Konoha, and now, decades later, this was the result?
A village where the Uchiha had been ostracized and eliminated?
A Hokage whose leadership led to the extermination of one of Konoha's founding clans?
And this was considered the peak of Konoha's strength?
"…I need to sit down."
Obito chuckled. "Not what you were expecting, huh?"
Hashirama rubbed his temples. "Not in the slightest."
He didn't know whether to laugh or be furious.
Sarutobi, the strongest Hokage?
History was written by the victors, after all.
But it seemed Konoha had lost something far more important than just the Uchiha clan—
It had lost its way.
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