Senju Tobirama pointed his finger at Senju Hashirama's head and unleashed a torrent of verbal abuse, venting his rage uncontrollably.
His expression was like that of a crazed beast of burden of a worker.
It couldn't be helped...
Senju Tobirama had been mentally and physically exhausted recently. During the day, he processed documents in the office, occasionally had to drink with those wealthy merchants until he puked, had to be constantly vigilant against the Uchiha clan, and couldn't even rest at night, having to do his own experiments in the lab. He was already working multiple shifts, like an uncomplaining workhorse toiling away for Senju Hashirama. He worked so hard in the hopes that Hashirama would see his efforts and support him in becoming the Second Hokage of Konoha in the future.
But Senju Hashirama showed no consideration for Tobirama's hard work at all.
A mere trip to the Akatsuki Ninja Village had made him feel "awakened," treating Uchiha Makoto's nonsense as "golden rules."
The remarks about the Second Hokage were particularly heart-stabbing for Tobirama.
Was there anyone in Konoha more suitable to be the Second Hokage than himself?
All his brother knew was how to favor outsiders. Uchiha Madara was only a bit stronger, but Konoha already had his brother, so Madara was not irreplaceable.
And he was his brother's own hardworking, uncomplaining younger brother, yet now he was being told that he, Senju Tobirama, didn't have the look of a Hokage?
Isn't that an insult!!
—Brother, I have a temper too!
Senju Hashirama, on the other hand, was startled by Tobirama's sudden outburst.
He had always understood his younger brother's personality very well. Tobirama was usually shrewd and cautious, rarely losing control of his emotions. For him to be this angry now was a situation even Hashirama had never seen.
"Brother, what's wrong with you?"
"I just said a few words about Uchiha Makoto being a tiny bit stronger than you, and brought up the matter of Konoha's future Second Hokage... It's not like you can't be Hokage... the Third... Is it necessary to get this angry?"
This was what Senju Hashirama was thinking.
He truly hadn't expected that just by mentioning Uchiha Makoto a few times and saying a few good words about him... he could make his younger brother so angry.
Wasn't this making a mountain out of a molehill?
But at this moment...
Senju Hashirama was no fool. He didn't say what he was thinking out loud... His brother Tobirama was already this furious. If he were to provoke him further, who knew what would happen?
So he decisively backed down, continuously pleading for forgiveness.
"Tobirama, I get it... I get it..."
"It's my fault, it's my fault. I was too hasty."
"Don't be angry anymore... what if you ruin your health?"
However, Tobirama was not buying it at all right now, and the verbal barrage continued.
"Hmph, brother, now you're worried about me ruining my health... Then what were you doing when I was working in the office every day?"
"All you know is how to mess around in Konoha with that bastard Uchiha Madara, not doing a lick of real work... Does Uchiha Madara look like Hokage material... Just messing around with you every day is enough for him!"
"I don't expect you to help me, but at least don't cause trouble for me. And what do you do... It's one thing to do nothing, but you even go to the casino to play a few rounds from time to time, and then you have me secretly use money to reimburse you... Aren't you the Hokage of Konoha... When sister-in-law teaches you a lesson with her Adamantine Sealing Chains, don't ask me to plead for you!"
"Speaking of which, I'm getting angry... and..."
"Do you have any idea how much money Konoha's treasury has right now... You just come up with ideas off the top of your head... If your brain isn't working well, go sunbathe more. If your skin gets a little darker, no one will call you an idiot!"
"Ahem... a little quieter... there are people listening outside... Tobirama, don't be angry!"
"It's all my fault!"
Senju Hashirama was at a loss for words, scratching his head with an extremely awkward smile. His little bits of dark history were now all being exposed by Tobirama.
But everything Tobirama said was the truth... Hashirama didn't even have the ability to refute it!
There was no other way.
Senju Hashirama could only continue to use kind words to try and soothe Tobirama's emotions.
Gradually...
After a barrage of fire, a lot of the anger in Tobirama's stomach was vented.
So his mental state also eased a little—Tobirama knew his brother was an "idiot," and one had to be more tolerant towards "simpletons."
"Hmph, brother... Uchiha Makoto is absolutely not a good person. Sooner or later, you will understand why I say this."
"You must be cautious with him!"
"Otherwise, brother, you will definitely regret it!"
Senju Tobirama emphasized this once again.
That naturally evil Uchiha brat, Uchiha Makoto, was a great-ambitionist who wanted to completely subvert the order of the ninja world. It was just that the time was not yet ripe, so he hadn't shown his fangs.
But sooner or later, Uchiha Makoto's ambition would be exposed.
At that time...
Brother, you will definitely regret it!
I'm afraid it will even take my effort to make a complete break with the Akatsuki Ninja Village!
After hearing these words, Hashirama immediately felt dissatisfied. How could Uchiha Makoto be as dangerous as Tobirama made him out to be? Clearly, everything Makoto had said and done was worthy of Konoha's learning.
Otherwise, the Akatsuki Ninja Village wouldn't be so much more prosperous than Konoha.
Tobirama, why are you still the same?
Your prejudice against the Uchiha clan is still so deep.
Senju Hashirama really wanted to say: "Enough, Tobirama, I am the Hokage."
But at this moment, he didn't dare to provoke Tobirama any further—an angry Tobirama was truly terrifying!
"Alright, alright, brother, hurry up and go. I still have a ton of things to do!"
"I don't want to spend more time working overtime in the office... I have a ton of things to do at night too!"
As his anger gradually subsided, Senju Tobirama directly ordered Hashirama to leave, wanting him out of his sight... He had wasted so much time with his brother just now; today's work would be delayed again, and he would have to work overtime for a while!
But even though Tobirama said this, Hashirama still didn't leave the Hokage's office. He was still fixated on the Akatsuki Ninja Village's welfare safety net policy.
The information written in the notebook was something he had painstakingly collected. It was the fruit of his labor in the Akatsuki Ninja Village recently, and now it was all dismissed by Tobirama with a single phrase: "no money."
Senju Hashirama was truly unwilling to accept it!
"Ahem... Tobirama, can't we really discuss this further... I think a welfare safety net is very necessary."
"Brother, were you not listening to me just now... No money... Konoha has no money... Konoha's books might even be in the red this year, and I've even taken out a foreign loan to reform Konoha's internal affairs..."
As soon as Senju Hashirama spoke.
Tobirama's recently subsided anger was about to flare up again.
—Brother, are you really an idiot?
How many times have I said it? Konoha has no money right now!
Without money, what's there to talk about welfare?
Moreover, Konoha's books were currently in the red, and a part of the large low-interest loan from Uchiha Makoto was due for repayment next year.
Of course, for the sake of his own face.
Senju Tobirama only said that he had borrowed money from the outside, too embarrassed to say that the money was borrowed from Uchiha Makoto.
After all, he had just been badmouthing Uchiha Makoto.
Borrowing money from Makoto and then cursing him behind his back... it was too shameful to say out loud.
But... this was all for Konoha!
—Politics is just this dirty!
"Ah... this... alright... Tobirama..."
After all the fuss, having thoroughly understood Konoha's current financial situation.
Senju Hashirama could only temporarily give up on his anticipated welfare policy. His expression visibly darkened, looking even sadder than when Tobirama had exposed his dark history earlier.
Letting the ninja and villagers of Konoha live a peaceful and prosperous life was the goal Senju Hashirama had strived for.
If this could be achieved, he would even be willing to offer his own life.
Unfortunately... this was just Hashirama's wishful thinking.
Konoha's finances currently had no spare capacity to implement welfare policies like the Akatsuki Ninja Village.
As for the future...
At least in the original Naruto plot, the First Great Ninja War broke out a few years after Senju Hashirama's death, followed by three more Great Ninja Wars. Even Konoha's main headquarters was attacked several times, suffering heavy losses.
Overall, Konoha didn't have many peaceful years; it was basically either at war or on the way to war.
But even if all of Senju Hashirama's efforts were in vain, it didn't prevent the world from holding him in high regard—it was mostly his methodology that was flawed.
Seeing Hashirama's dejected expression, Tobirama's heart softened.
"In any case, it's definitely not possible in the next few years. But brother, I promise you, Konoha will sooner or later become as prosperous as the Akatsuki Ninja Village. At that time, I will establish a welfare safety net policy even more perfect than Akatsuki's."
To comfort his brother, Senju Tobirama still made him a promise—when Konoha became prosperous, he would establish a welfare safety net policy even more perfect than the Akatsuki Ninja Village's.
"En, Tobirama, I believe you... Then I'll go first, so as not to disturb you."
"Oh... I almost forgot... If Konoha's finances are short, I have some money here. Even if it can't cover the whole of Konoha, it's good to allocate a little more funds to the orphanage... Take this five million Ryo."
Senju Hashirama nodded and was about to leave. Just before he left, he suddenly remembered the five million Ryo that Uchiha Makoto had given him. This was his payment for his first seed-breeding mission in the Akatsuki Ninja Village.
Since Konoha's treasury couldn't spare the extra money, using his own money for funding should be fine.
Although five million Ryo was a drop in the bucket for all of Konoha, if donated to the orphanage, it was a considerable sum. The lives of the children in the orphanage could be improved.
"I know, brother. Don't worry, I will personally handle this money."
Senju Hashirama then took out the sealing scroll he carried with him, which contained five million Ryo, and placed it directly on the desk in front of him.
Senju Tobirama reached out and picked up the sealing scroll, solemnly promising Hashirama that not a single Ryo of this five million would be spent on anything other than the operation of Konoha's orphanage.
But soon...
Senju Tobirama immediately realized something was wrong.
Brother, you haven't really done any missions in the past year. All you do is mess around in the village with Uchiha Madara, living entirely off your Hokage salary and what the clan gives you... but all that money is taken home by sister-in-law.
And to make you quit gambling, sister-in-law only gives you a tiny bit of pocket money, barely enough to eat out at a restaurant.
Brother, where did you get five million Ryo?
"Brother, where did this five million Ryo come from... Is it private money you've been hiding all this time? To have saved so much?"
"Does sister-in-law know about this?"
"It can't be winnings from the casino... no, how could you win money from a casino... it must be private money."
Driven by curiosity.
Senju Tobirama couldn't help but ask Hashirama a few questions.
In his opinion.
This money was either private money that his brother had been secretly saving up, or it was won from gambling. But considering his brother's heaven-defying bad luck at gambling, it would be a feat if he could just not lose money and bring his principal back from the casino intact. It was probably private money he had hidden away before.
Now, his conscience had finally kicked in, and he had donated the money.
"Oh... of course not, how could I hide private money... hahaha... Don't talk nonsense!"
"If Mito hears about it... I'll be hung up again... Gambling is even more impossible... The Akatsuki Ninja Village strictly prohibits gambling..."
"This money was given to me by Uchiha Makoto. It's payment for a mission, I guess."
"Makoto was very generous. I really made out big!"
Senju Hashirama chuckled foolishly, revealing the origin of the five million Ryo.
Senju Tobirama's brows immediately furrowed.
Huh?
This five million Ryo was from Uchiha Makoto, and it's payment for a mission.
Is that even right?
The Kōkage of the Akatsuki Ninja Village gave the Hokage of Konoha payment for a mission?
And you made out big?
Did you really make out big?
Brother, what the hell have you been doing in the Akatsuki Ninja Village behind my back??
Didn't I warn you a thousand times, ten thousand times, not to listen to any of Uchiha Makoto's slander!
Especially on matters like cooperation between Konoha and the Akatsuki Ninja Village. No matter how good it sounds, you absolutely must not agree!!
"Brother, how exactly did you get this five million Ryo!"
"You have to explain it to me clearly!!"
Senju Tobirama's expression was grim, his voice almost a roar.
At the same time, a bad premonition suddenly rose in his heart.
Whenever this feeling appeared, nine times out of ten, it meant someone was about to be screwed over by Uchiha Makoto.
But this time, the person Uchiha Makoto had screwed over was not himself, but his own brother.
But... that wasn't okay either!
If his brother was deceived, it would definitely harm Konoha's interests indirectly!
Uchiha Makoto, you naturally evil Uchiha brat, I knew you would dig a pit for my brother in the Akatsuki Ninja Village!
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