"Hashirama. I have felt your sincerity."
"Everything I do now is for the sake of the Uchiha."
The eyes of Madara Uchiha locked onto Ron. The blood feud between the Uchiha and the Senju could not be allowed to continue. For the sake of a long term peace, Madara knew he had to suppress any dissenting voices within his own family.
Chakra surged violently within the body of Madara. An invisible and suffocating pressure crashed down upon Ron in an instant.
"Lord Madara, have you forgotten the final request of Lord Izuna?"
"We were supposed to avenge him. We were supposed to have our revenge against the Senju!"
Faced with that crushing aura, Ron felt his breathing become ragged. He immediately invoked the name of Izuna Uchiha. Izuna had died at the hands of Tobirama Senju. Even if Madara was willing to abandon his grudge because of Hashirama, the loss of Izuna would always be a source of eternal pain in his heart.
The moment Izuna was mentioned, the expression on the face of Madara shifted. Within a few seconds, the heavy pressure weighing on Ron began to fade.
It worked. The memory of Izuna was the ultimate leverage against Madara. It was the only thing strong enough to counter the strange and hypnotic charisma of Hashirama. Ron realized he had to keep this tool in mind for the future.
While Madara stood in silence, Ron focused on his own goals. He needed to build his reputation. If he planned to leave the clan and survive as a rogue ninja to start his own village, he needed to play his cards perfectly. He would use his position within the future Konoha to gain whatever he could.
"Izuna. I am sorry, Izuna."
"Hashirama is willing to die for the sake of peace between our clans."
"I cannot avenge you. I am sorry."
Madara took a deep breath and buried his hatred deep in his soul. He looked past Ron and began to address the gathered Uchiha members.
"Clan members, Izuna was my beloved brother. He was killed by Tobirama Senju. I once swore to take the head of Tobirama and offer it at the grave of my brother. But I am letting go of that vow. Killing him will not bring Izuna back. It will only result in more death. We have fought for too long. It is time to end this."
"Hashirama and I share a dream!"
"I dream of a day when the Senju and the Uchiha sit together as brothers. I dream of a day when our children grow up under the protection of a village instead of dying in the dirt. You may disagree with me now, but one day, our clans will walk hand in hand as family."
The voice of Madara was deep and full of power. He painted a picture of a beautiful future for his people. Though Ron found the speech familiar, it clearly moved the hearts of the Uchiha.
The war had been going on for too long. It was so brutal that even small children were forced onto the battlefield. Parents wanted their children to grow up in safety, not perish in the woods. If the cycle of hatred continued, their descendants would meet the same fate. This was a future the Uchiha could no longer accept.
Continuous slaughter and a losing war effort had left the clan exhausted. If things could truly be as Madara described, perhaps peace was acceptable. The living had to look toward the future.
The mood of the crowd shifted instantly. This was exactly what Ron expected. Madara was the leader and the strongest warrior. If he set a course, the majority would follow.
The Uchiha were in a desperate position. Their losses on the front lines were undeniable. If they continued to fight against the Senju, they would be destroyed. The power of Hashirama and the speed of Tobirama were threats that could not be ignored.
"It seems your mind is made up, Lord Madara," Ron said with a look of hesitation on his face. He acted as though he was struggling to let go of his own anger.
"However, I still do not trust the Senju."
"If you want to stay safe, you must watch your back. You can only truly know a person when you stand behind them."
"There are snakes among the Senju. A thousand year hatred will not vanish because of a few words."
Ron was not talking about Hashirama. Hashirama was a man who could be trusted. But Ron knew the history of this world. He knew that Madara would eventually be stabbed in the back by his friend, and later by the shadows of history.
Ron was specifically warning him about the snake in the Senju clan: Tobirama.
Tobirama Senju was a cold and calculating man. He viewed the Uchiha as a volatile threat. He believed their power was born from mental instability and extreme emotions. To Tobirama, the Uchiha were a danger to the stability of any village. He would always be watching. He would always be waiting for a chance to strike from the shadows.
….
(⁎⁍̴̛ᴗ⁍̴̛⁎)