Chapter 18 The Source of Cowardice

Xia You did not hesitate, and with a snap of his fingers, he activated [World Teleport] again.

He took Tobirama back to [World of Naruto No. 2].

It was still the same forest, and the same battlefield ruins.

When Tobirama returned again, he felt a little refreshed, and everything he had just witnessed seemed to be just a dream!

Did he and his elder brother really travel to the future together and witness a ‘Nine-tailed Rebellion’?

It couldn’t be all an illusion, right?

No, no, no, that was too real!

Tobirama looked at ‘Xia You Immortal’ beside him, and the body of Kinkaku that was crushed into a meat paste in the distance, and immediately shook his head with a smile.

It was obvious that these were all facts, not an illusion dream.

“Sir, wait a moment.”

Tobirama took a deep breath, drew out his samurai sword, and used a teleportation technique to flash into the center of the battlefield and came to the dying Ginkaku’s side.

Without hesitation, he chopped off Ginkaku’s head with one knife, killing the beast completely.

Even if we put aside the enemy's position, Tobirama looked down on this kind of animal who betrayed his village and leader!

"Huh——!"

Tobirama shook off the blood on the samurai sword, activated his perception ability again, checked the entire battlefield, and put away his weapon after confirming that there were no remaining enemies.

He picked up the five [Six Paths Ninja Tools] left by Kinkaku and Ginkaku, and returned to Xia You.

He thanked him again solemnly:

"Thank you, sir! Without you and my brother, I might really die here."

Xia You waved his hand casually, indicating that he didn't need to thank him.

"Excuse me, sir, do you need me to do anything?"

Unlike the silly Hashirama, Tobirama went straight to the point and asked.

He had no doubt that Xia You was powerful enough to easily take himself and his brother through time and space! But no matter how powerful a being is, he will not love others for no reason.

It is more likely that he will not help others selflessly.

He wanted to know what this [Yudao Sage] really needed? What did he ask for?

Can he and Konoha afford this price?

If he doesn't figure this out, he won't feel at ease!

In this regard.

Xia You didn't rush to answer, but asked back:

"Do you have an answer to the question just now?"

What question?

Tobirama suddenly remembered.

[You chose to stay behind with your life, is it really right? ]

If Tobirama could respond without hesitation half an hour ago, his choice would definitely be right.

In order to preserve the outstanding younger generation ninjas, to inherit the will of fire and the position of Hokage, to ensure that the news is brought back to the village...

He has too many reasons, and none of them can be abandoned.

The most important thing is:

As Hokage, as the second generation who inherited the will of his eldest brother, he simply can't abandon his disciples, abandon his subordinates, and flee alone...

But now.

After going to the world 34 years later and seeing the future Sarutobi and Konoha Village.

The sharp and intelligent Tobirama naturally saw some clues.

This made his answer hesitate.

Xia You smiled lightly and said frankly:

"I believe you can see it. The future third generation Sarutobi Hiruzen and your current Sarutobi are quite different, right?"

Tobirama nodded.

The difference between the two is indeed huge, of course, this difference does not only refer to the change in appearance.

It refers to a deeper change in temperament and belief...

"Monkey, he has indeed changed a lot..." Tobirama murmured with emotion.

He died early, and I don't know what Sarutobi has experienced in the past thirty years, and he has become so 'cautious and timid'.

"The reason is here."

"It was in this battle."

"Senju Tobirama, you stayed behind alone and did save the lives of Sarutobi and others."

"But the price is not low."

"Your death directly broke Sarutobi's faith and courage!"

Facing the second generation Hokage that he admired and respected the most, he died tragically at the hands of the enemy, and he and others were forced to escape in a cowardly way.

This blow is not something that every ninja can bear.

Or to say:

It's not just Sarutobi.

The other guards of Tobirama, except for Uchiha Kagami who died in the battle long ago, and Akimichi Tofu who was killed by the Nine-Tails.

The remaining few people, Sarutobi, Koharu, Mitomon, and Danzo.

All of them had their "spirits" broken in this battle.

They lost their courage and faith. They turned from brave and good elite ninjas into cowards hiding in the village.

Such changes not only affect individuals.

As the Hokage and senior officials of the village, all the decisions they made based on cowardice will affect the entire village.

During the entire period of the three generations' rule, Konoha was timid and more and more cowardly.

So much so that.

In the subsequent wars, the entire Konoha was afraid of Kumogakure.

Even after the three wars, in the 54th year of Konoha: Kumogakure sneaked into Konoha, kidnapped Hinata, and wanted to borrow a [Baiyan] from Konoha to play with.

The head of the human family, Hyuga Hiashi, dared to resist Kumogakure and take back Hinata.

But Sarutobi and other Konoha high-ranking officials did not dare to rush Kumogakure, and even suppressed the Hyuga clan internally, forcing Hizashi Hizashi's younger brother Hizashi to commit suicide, and voluntarily handed over Hizashi's body.

Just thinking about it makes me feel depressed, depressed to the point of panic!

It is enough to show that Sarutobi and others are afraid of Kumogakure.

Since the second generation Tobirama was killed, it has never dissipated, and it has lasted for decades, indirectly making Konoha cowardly for decades!

It's like a nightmare!

…

Tobirama suddenly realized that he didn't need too many hints, he understood it immediately.

He had always been thinking about how to protect Sarutobi and others, how to pass on the title of Hokage and the village.

But he had greatly ignored his death in battle, which was a blow to Sarutobi and others!

Put yourself in their shoes.

If your most trusted and admired elder brother, Hashirama, was killed by an enemy from a certain village one day, and you escaped like a mouse.

What would you become?

Would you still have the courage to challenge a powerful enemy that even your elder brother couldn't defeat?

Maybe, or maybe not...

Tobirama himself was not sure, let alone Sarutobi and others.

His position in their hearts was probably not lower than that of his elder brother Hashirama in his heart, right?

No wonder!

No wonder Sarutobi lost his courage and the ruthlessness of being a Hokage. It turned out that the problem was with himself, in this cowardly battle!

"I understand."

"Ah!"

"But I have no other choice..."

Tobirama sighed and said helplessly.

Although he realized this huge drawback and mistake. But if he had to choose again, he would still choose to stay alone and sacrifice.

Even if it caused Sarutobi and the others to have nightmares and lose their courage; it was better than leading Sarutobi and the others to die in battle...

A cautious and cowardly Hokage was better than the position of Hokage being vacant!

Who said that the next generation of Konoha ninjas had not grown up yet...

"No other choice? Don't you dare to stay with Sarutobi and the other six to fight to the death with the Kinkaku Force?"

"That's too dangerous! I can't bet. The Kinkaku Force is too strong..."

"You mean the Kinkaku Force that was almost wiped out by you alone?"

Xia You pointed to the entire battlefield, and there seemed to be a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

A seriously injured Tobirama could almost wipe out the Kinkaku Force; if the six Sarutobi, who were at least elite jonin, were added, it would be impossible to wipe them out.

There is even a great chance of turning defeat into victory!

"This..."

"Senju Tobirama, is it possible that you are the one who is really timid?"

Xia You's words hit Tobirama's heart like a heavy hammer, making him startled.

"I..." Tobirama lowered his head and hesitated.

The one who really changed is not only Sarutobi decades later, but also himself!

If it were Tobirama in the Warring States period.

Would he still negotiate peace and alliance with the Hidden Cloud Village?

What the hell!

He directly raised his knife and flew up to the Thunder God to chop and chop.

When did he learn to compromise? Become a dove?

When Konoha was established?