Crazy Shinobi: Rise of the uzumaki Clan

Chapter 27: Diverging Paths

Shinsui's POV

The night air was cool, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant trees. The torches lining the streets of Konoha flickered softly, casting long shadows on the ground. I walked alongside Hashirama, our footsteps the only sound breaking the quiet. It had been two years since Konoha was established, yet even now, there was an underlying tension in the air.

"You've been quiet," Hashirama finally said, his voice light but carrying the weight of unspoken thoughts. "That's not like you, Shinsui."

I smirked slightly. "I could say the same about you. You've been running yourself ragged, making sure everything runs smoothly. If you keep this up, you'll be dead before you see Konoha flourish."

He let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "I can't help it. This village… it's our dream, Shinsui. We finally did it. No more senseless bloodshed between the Senju and Uchiha. No more children being sent to die before they even understand what they're fighting for."

I glanced at him, my expression unreadable. "You think this will last?"

Hashirama stopped walking, turning to face me fully. "What do you mean?"

I met his gaze, eyes sharp and unwavering. "As long as there are multiple powers, conflict will never truly end. Right now, Konoha stands strong because it is united. But what about the other clans? The other nations? They will look at what we've built, and they will either fear it or want it for themselves."

Hashirama frowned, his brows furrowing. "That's why we need alliances, diplomacy. We have to set an example, show them that peace is possible."

I sighed. "You're still as naive as ever."

"Shinsui—"

"No, listen to me," I cut in. "Peace built on balance is an illusion. A fragile dream that will shatter the moment someone decides they want more power. There will always be a faction that disagrees, a group that feels wronged, an ambition that refuses to be contained."

Hashirama looked at me intently, waiting for me to continue.

"The only way to achieve true peace," I said, "is to unify the world under one banner. To eliminate the possibility of war by ensuring there is only one power—one ruler, one law, one order. As long as people have the option to fight for more, they will."

Silence stretched between us.

Hashirama exhaled, his expression troubled. "That… isn't peace, Shinsui. That's control."

I smiled slightly. "And what is peace if not control? If peace is to be maintained, it must be enforced. Look at Konoha—we brought peace by uniting the strongest warring clans. That's control, Hashirama. The only difference is that you refuse to admit it."

He shook his head. "No. That's not the way. If peace is forced, then it's not true peace. People need to choose it, not be made to submit to it."

I sighed again. "Then your dream will crumble. Eventually, this village you've built will become the very thing you tried to avoid—a battlefield."

"I won't let that happen," Hashirama said firmly.

"You won't always be here to stop it," I replied.

He fell silent at that, his lips pressing into a thin line. The thought of his mortality was not something he liked to dwell on.

"I know you mean well, Shinsui," he said after a moment. "But I can't agree with this. We're not meant to rule the world—we're meant to protect it."

I gave a small chuckle. "I knew you'd say that."

He looked at me again, this time with something akin to sadness in his eyes. "You're my friend, Shinsui. I don't want to stand against you one day."

I smirked. "Neither do I, Hashirama. Neither do I."

The conversation ended there, but the air between us remained heavy with unspoken thoughts.

Meanwhile…

A shadow slipped away into the darkness, barely making a sound as it vanished into the night. Hidden within the trees, someone had been listening. A lone figure, cloaked and silent, had heard every word spoken between me and Hashirama.

And now, they were on their way to tell someone else.

To Be Continued…