Chapter 172: Hashirama: ...Sorry to bother you, just pretend I didn’t ask.

When Hashirama was halfway through his escape, he caught up with Senju Koichi and Senju Momoka, who had retreated earlier than him. The two were evacuating to a distance with their companions who had also been promised to go to the battlefield. When they noticed Hashirama's movements, they were nervous for a while, and only calmed down after they recognized the family pattern engraved on the armor.

"That's great, Hashirama, you're okay too," Senju Momoka's eyes were still red, but her voice sounded more relaxed, "This way, no one of our peers will be missing!"

Senju Hiroichi also seemed to be relieved, and looked at the direction where Hashirama came from with full vigilance, "I really don't know how that evil star sneaked in without anyone noticing, there should be a warning spell behind..."

Hashirama supported his knees with his hands, panting heavily, and felt that his physical strength was about to reach its limit. However, after hearing what Senju Koichi said, he couldn't help but look up, "Huh... What evil star?"

"It was that Uchiha Ling. After the battle broke out, we wanted to evacuate the wounded first, but we ran into him coming out of the wounded placement area..."

Hashirama's breathing stagnated, and his pupils shrank suddenly, "...were all the people who were healing killed?"

Senju Koichi and Senju Momoka both fell silent, but sometimes, silence is the best answer.

Hashirama couldn't help but clench his fists, but he knew that if it were him, he would most likely not hold back on those who had lost their mobility but were still a threat, but he was still annoyed in his heart -

[Why do we have to do such meaningless things to continue the hatred between each other? Why can't everyone understand each other a little bit? As long as someone can take the first step, peace will come. Is it wrong to want peace? ]

"Hey, Hashirama, are you okay?" Senju Hirokazu waved his hand in front of Hashirama, "I know you are very tired, but we can't mourn for the deceased here anymore. We should at least do something for the living ones."

Senju Momoka took out a can of water and handed it to Hashirama. Her eyes looked even redder. "Drink some water. You'll feel better."

Hashiraka took the bamboo tube, looked up at his peers in front of him, and said in a somewhat dry voice, "Hey, how do you think we can achieve world peace?"

The young Senju were stunned for a moment. They obviously didn't expect to be asked such a question. But it was clear that this question didn't require much thought. Half of their outspoken peers answered in unison - "World peace? At least all the Uchiha have to die, right?"

Then the other half added, "The trouble-making Hyuga clan must also be wiped out."

"You're right, those guys are crazy too. It's impossible to survive in a world with crazy people around."

Hashirama: ...Sorry to bother you, just pretend I didn't ask.

Hashirama sighed, and couldn't help but think of Ling's words again - [As long as ninjas still exist and continue to perform their duties, then there will be no peace like you mentioned. ]

[Why does fulfilling one's duty as a ninja prevent peace from coming? 】

Hashirama's mind was in a mess and he couldn't figure it out, but he knew that the fact that Ling could say such words meant that he had a more comprehensive understanding of "peace" than he did.

[I need to become stronger faster. Only in this way can I ensure that I don't lose my life when questioning...] Thinking of this, Hashirama remembered his malfunctioning perception and became discouraged. [How about asking Brother Yi to help me? No, no, Brother Yi will complain to my father...]

Wow, no, I really have to become stronger first - but wars are so frequent, will that Uchiha Ling die before I succeed in growing up? After all, a war maniac like him should not give up any opportunity to go to the battlefield...】

Seeing that Hashirama was daydreaming again, Senju Hiroichi couldn't help but slap Hashirama on the back and slammed him to the ground. "If you can still run, come with us for help. If you can't run, find a place to hide. Stop talking nonsense and being in a daze here!"

Hashirama glanced at Senju Koichi with resentment, then got up from the ground with a grin on his face, "Why are you so fierce? I'm just leaving... But now that I think about it, Uchiha Ling is really terrifying."

"You met the executioner?!"

Hashirama glanced at the agitated Senju Momoka and nodded, "Well, when I was leaving the front battlefield just now, I ran into him who was going to disrupt the logistics. Since I couldn't sense any bad intentions, I escaped in a very embarrassing way. If it weren't for the large-scale ninjutsu that interfered with his perception, I think I would have died this time."

"No ill intentions? Impossible, right?" Senju Hirokazu looked quite surprised. "How could a guy who could sneak into the rear before the battle and slaughter all the wounded have no ill intentions towards our clan?"

Hashirama thought carefully about the situation and shook his head. "Let alone malice, except for the moment we met, I didn't even sense any murderous intent afterwards. It was so bad that it must be... huh?"

"What's going on?" Senju Taohua came up immediately, "Did you find the executioner's weakness?"

"Eh? Um... No, I just remembered that I felt murderous intent before..." Hashirama muttered, looking a little suspicious, "Does that mean it's normal for him to have murderous intent before he takes action? I was able to escape because he didn't intend to kill me this time? But that doesn't make sense? He clearly said last time that he wouldn't let me go next time..."

Seeing that the patriarch's silly son started to talk nonsense again, the little Thousand Hands present looked at each other, and tacitly left him and ran towards the nearest gathering point.

Hashirama was puzzled, but when he saw his companions leaving without any reluctance, he immediately came to his senses and followed them, "Eh? No, wait for me!"