"Tobirama, my trip to the Akatsuki Ninja Village was not in vain."
"I've learned a lot of advanced experience... These are the insights I've written down based on the policies of the Akatsuki Ninja Village. I think we can organize them and promote them in Konoha!"
Senju Hashirama said this as he took out his notebook.
He then extended his hand to pass the notebook to Senju Tobirama, his eyes fixed on Tobirama's face, fiery and earnest, eagerly awaiting his brother's approval.
This notebook was the culmination of the painstaking efforts he had made in the Akatsuki Ninja Village during this period.
However, as a hands-off manager...
Senju Hashirama knew that if he wanted to implement the good policies he had borrowed in his notebook, the first person he had to convince was Senju Tobirama. If Tobirama refused to agree no matter what, then these matters would most likely fall through.
Looking at the expectant look on Hashirama's face, Senju Tobirama's head began to ache.
His brother was a hands-off manager. What kind of good policies beneficial to Konoha could he possibly come up with?
However, Tobirama did not immediately dampen his brother's enthusiasm.
After all, his brother had been idling away in Konoha, messing around with that naturally evil old demon, Uchiha Madara. It was a rare occasion for him to want to do something serious!
This kind of spirit should be encouraged!
So, although a bad feeling had already begun to creep into his heart, Senju Tobirama chose to give his brother some respect on the surface.
"Then I'll take a look..."
With a slight sigh in his heart, Tobirama took the notebook from Hashirama's hand and opened the first page, which was filled with words.
"Ask, when will the smoke of war finally clear? Grieve, for the fields are covered in white bones, and the heart finds no peace..."
Such unfamiliar literary style and phrasing.
Senju Tobirama was instantly captivated by the realization on the first page of Hashirama's notebook.
A wave of melancholy for the state of the nation and its people washed over him.
But these words... didn't seem like something his brother's brain could produce.
"Brother, did you write this?"
"You mean this... I copied it from Uchiha Makoto... I feel it fits my ninja way... I like it a lot... so I wrote it down in my notebook!"
—That explains it!
However, although that naturally evil Uchiha brat, Uchiha Makoto, had some talent, he didn't seem like the kind of person who could write such words.
What Uchiha Makoto wanted to do was to subvert the order of the ninja world. Although he hadn't caused any major disturbances yet, if he was allowed to continue acting recklessly, he would sooner or later stir up a storm of blood and gore in the ninja world—that's right, killing nobles until the fields were covered in white bones and rivers of blood flowed!
With this thought in mind, Senju Tobirama continued to flip through the pages.
As he read, his brows furrowed involuntarily.
He had to admit, Senju Hashirama had been very diligent—the notebook was densely packed with what he had seen, heard, and thought in the Akatsuki Ninja Village.
To what degree of detail?
Take the Akatsuki Ninja Village's orphanage, for example.
Hashirama had measured, calculated, and clearly marked everything, down to the average number of pounds of rice and bunches of vegetables consumed each day, the number of bars of soap and bags of salt distributed each month. Almost every single detail was written down on the paper.
Even when Senju Tobirama had conducted his own commercial inspection in the Akatsuki Ninja Village, he hadn't been as meticulous as Hashirama.
In addition, there were ninja benefits... benefits for disabled ninja...
Outrageous...
How could there even be postpartum care for ninja beasts?
They even guarantee that!
The Akatsuki Ninja Village is truly rich!
Senju Tobirama quickly flipped through more than half of it, utterly dumbfounded. He hadn't expected Uchiha Makoto to not only buy the hearts of people but also the hearts of ninja beasts.
If this continued, the Akatsuki Ninja Village's reputation in the ninja world would surely soar. It was likely that ninja from all over the world would be scrambling to join them.
"It's truly enviable!"
To be honest.
Senju Tobirama also wanted to spend money like Uchiha Makoto, to buy his way into universal acclaim in Konoha.
If he could do that, then no matter how powerful Uchiha Madara was, he could never compete with him in Konoha!
People were just that pragmatic!
The problem of food was always the most important problem!
Unless... Uchiha Madara seized power by force, but his brother would never allow Madara to flip the table like that.
But what a pity... Konoha didn't have that much money right now!
Although the cost of each measure recorded in his brother's notebook seemed small, when added up, it would be a huge expense.
How could Konoha possibly squeeze so much money out of its budget!
Even the funds for Konoha's current reforms were borrowed from Uchiha Makoto after Tobirama had "humbled himself"!
This money could not be spent carelessly on other things under any circumstances. It had to be used to make more money!
They couldn't possibly go and rob the Daimyo, could they?
That wasn't entirely out of the question... ahem... borrow... yes, borrow... but his brother would definitely not agree!
In short... Konoha currently could not afford such a financial drain. If they were to forcibly implement these policies now, they would have to rob Peter to pay Paul, which would ultimately drag Konoha's finances down!
So, these policies were honey for the Akatsuki Ninja Village, but for the current Konoha, they were arsenic!
Fortunately...
Senju Tobirama was already mentally prepared and didn't have a strong emotional reaction to this—his brother had always been an idealist, his ideas often detached from reality... He was used to it, used to it!
But to prevent Konoha's finances from being dragged down by these impractical actions, he had to stop his brother's "naive and ridiculous" ideas!!
Senju Tobirama then casually closed the notebook, thought for a moment, and slowly said:
"Brother, I can see that you've been very diligent this time. Every measure you've proposed is very constructive. As your younger brother, I am truly gratified. So, I will consider them carefully."
"Alright, since I've already looked at your notebook... if there's nothing else, you can leave now, brother."
"I still have a lot of work to do."
Senju Tobirama chose to first provide his brother with a wave of emotional validation, praising his efforts and promising to carefully consider his suggestions... and then there would be no 'and then'!
To implement welfare benefits similar to Akatsuki's, the first prerequisite was to be as rich as Akatsuki.
But Konoha didn't have that much money.
Without money, what was there to talk about welfare?
It was definitely impossible for Konoha to achieve this in the next few years.
So... Brother, you should hurry up and go mess around with Uchiha Madara, or go home and spend some time with sister-in-law Uzumaki Mito.
In short... don't disturb my work here!
When Senju Hashirama heard Tobirama's words, a joyful smile immediately appeared on his face. He completely missed the subtext in Tobirama's words.
He subconsciously thought that Tobirama completely agreed with his ideas.
So, at this moment, Senju Hashirama had no intention of leaving.
Konoha's orphans, disabled ninja... these vulnerable groups were by no means small in number. In the past, he had not realized the plight of these people in the village.
This was a dereliction of his duty as Hokage!
Fortunately, he had a timely awakening after his trip to the Akatsuki Ninja Village!
It's never too late to mend the fold. There's no time to delay. These matters must be implemented as soon as possible.
Thus, Senju Hashirama spoke with great excitement:
"Tobirama, I knew you would agree with my ideas."
"So when does Konoha start implementing them... the orphanage, disabled ninja, ninja beasts, and medical care... Konoha has been too... completely neglected in the past!"
"These things need to be done as soon as possible."
Seeing that Hashirama showed no sign of leaving, Tobirama could only delay and prevaricate again:
"Next time, next time... Brother, I'm very busy right now. At least wait until I've finished the work at hand..."
"....."
"Sister-in-law has been waiting for you at home for a long time. You've been away for so long, the first thing you should do when you get back to the village is to go see her!"
"Otherwise, sister-in-law will get angry again, and you don't want to be locked in a room and given a stern lecture by her as soon as you get home, do you?"
"...."
Senju Tobirama tried to persuade him again with kind words.
To get Hashirama to leave quickly, Tobirama even brought up Uzumaki Mito's name.
Unfortunately...
The effect was still very poor!
"Tobirama, how can these documents be as important as what I'm talking about? Mito won't mind this little bit of time. For the sake of Konoha, I'm not afraid... Uchiha Makoto said that to manage a village well and become a qualified Kage... uhm... ah... one must learn to grasp the primary and secondary contradictions!"
"These urgent matters are the primary contradiction right now and need to be resolved immediately!"
"....."
Senju Hashirama recalled the golden phrase Uchiha Makoto had once told him.
He felt that what Makoto said was very right. The documents and Mito were secondary contradictions. The most important thing was to deal with the primary contradiction at hand!
Listening to the words in his ear, Senju Tobirama felt a little speechless.
It was true that Uchiha Makoto had said those words, and Tobirama had heard him say them too, but... Brother, are you even using them in the right context?
Sigh... Konoha... what would you do without me?
Internally, the Uchiha clan is eyeing us covetously, wanting to cause trouble. Externally, Uchiha Makoto harbors ill intentions, wanting to stir up waves. And my own brother is a...
Brother, you went to the Akatsuki Ninja Village and only learned how to spend money. Who doesn't know how to spend money?
Don't I know how to spend money? Don't I know how to use money to win over people's hearts?
The key is that Konoha doesn't have that much money right now!!
And what about me?
I went to the Akatsuki Ninja Village and learned how to make money like Uchiha Makoto.
The difference between us is clear as day!
And Uchiha Madara, that naturally evil old demon of the Uchiha, is just like my brother!
So... who else but me could be the Second Hokage of Konoha?
And you, brother, the most urgent thing for you to do right now is to get out of my Hokage's office!
"Brother, the matters I have on hand are also very important!"
"Stop being unreasonable!"
"Me, unreasonable? Tobirama, I am very seriously discussing Konoha's problems with you!"
"I know, I know, but now..."
"...."
"Tobirama, Uchiha Makoto also once said... a qualified Hokage must create a safety net for every ninja and villager from the cradle to the grave, so that infants are nurtured, children are educated, and the elderly are cared for, and no one falls into desperation due to accidents or old age!"
"I think Uchiha Makoto is very right!"
"Tobirama, you should also learn from Uchiha Makoto. You can't still hold on to your old ways of thinking... You know I've always trusted you, confidently handing Konoha over to you. Look at the gap between Konoha and the Akatsuki Ninja Village now..."
"I heard from Uchiha Makoto that you still want to be the Second Hokage. Acting so timid and hesitant, you don't have the look of a Hokage at all!"
"???"
At first, Senju Tobirama wanted to speak nicely to his brother.
But not only was Hashirama being stubbornly "unreasonable," he was also constantly bringing up Uchiha Makoto's "golden rules" to argue, as if he had been thoroughly brainwashed.
And that was not all!
Uchiha Makoto was a naturally evil Uchiha brat with a sharp tongue, most skilled at manipulating people's hearts. It was inevitable that his brother would be deceived... If it were just that, he could still treat his brother like an idiot and not argue with him.
But...
Senju Tobirama also detected a hint of complaint in Hashirama's words, as if Konoha's lagging behind the Akatsuki Ninja Village was all his fault!
How could this be blamed on me?
This is outrageous!!
I work my ass off every day, processing documents in the office, occasionally having to drink with those wealthy merchants until I puke, and I have to be constantly vigilant against the Uchiha clan. I can't even rest at night, having to do my own experiments in the lab. I'm already working multiple shifts, exhausted to this state!
And you, brother, you don't even say a single word of appreciation!
I'm only putting up with you because you're my brother and an "idiot," and I'm still giving you emotional validation.
And now you can say such things to me?
Brother, I have a temper too!
Senju Tobirama... feeling wronged!
But Senju Hashirama was still chattering on.
I'll endure it, I'll endure it... Damn it, I can't endure it anymore!!
"Uchiha Makoto, Uchiha Makoto... all you know is Uchiha Makoto!!"
"Even if you praise Uchiha Makoto to the heavens, hailing him as the greatest ninja of all time, he will never become a ninja of Konoha!!"
"Brother, let me tell you the truth. All that stuff you wrote in your notebook is useless. I just didn't want to point it out bluntly. Every single item costs money. How can Konoha's finances possibly afford such a huge expense!"
"Konoha's annual budget is only so much. You want to start welfare projects, I want to as well! You're the hands-off manager, and you expect me to do it for you, spending money on every whim!"
"And it was you who asked me to run this house of Konoha. Now that I'm inferior to Uchiha Makoto in every way, you complain that I'm timid and hesitant, that I don't have the look of a Hokage... Is it because of that guy Uchiha Madara... You can let Uchiha Madara inherit the position of Second Hokage right now. Open your eyes and see how obedient your little brother is!"
"I'm washing my hands of it completely! Let's see if Uchiha Madara can run this house of Konoha!!"
Senju Tobirama's eyes widened as he spoke, seething with rage.
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