NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 18: The Source of Cowardice
Lux didn't hesitate, snapping his fingers, and activating World Teleportation again.
He brought Tobirama back to Parallel World 2.
It was still the same forest, and still the same ruins of the battlefield.
When Tobirama returned again, he only felt his energy flickering. Everything he had just witnessed seemed like a dream!
Did he and his brother really travel to the future together and witness the Kyuubi Rampage?
It couldn't be that it was all just an illusion, could it?
No, no, no, it was too realistic!
Tobirama looked at Lux beside him and the corpse of Ginkaku, crushed into meat paste in the distance, and immediately laughed and shook his head.
It was clear that it was all real and not an illusionary dream.
"Sir, please wait a moment."
Tobirama took a deep breath, drew his katana, and dashed to the middle of the battlefield using teleportation techniques, reaching the dying Kinkaku.
Without hesitation, he beheaded Kinkaku with his katana, killing him completely.
Even setting aside the position of the enemy, Tobirama still hated the kind of person who betrayed his village and his own leader!
Tobirama brushed the blood off his katana, reactivated his perception ability, and checked the entire battlefield to ensure there were no remaining enemies before putting away his weapon.
And he took the five Rikudo Sennin Ninja Tools left by Ginkaku and Kinkaku and returned them to Lux.
"Thank you, Sir! Without you and your brother, I might have truly died here."
Lux waved casually, indicating that it was nothing.
"Excuse me, Sir, is there anything I need to do?"
Tobirama, unlike the naive Hashirama, went straight to the point and asked.
Being able to easily bring him and his older brother through space and time, he didn't doubt Lux's power! But no matter how powerful a being, the other party wouldn't ever love someone without a reason.
There was a greater possibility that the other party wouldn't help others unconditionally.
He wanted to know, what exactly did Lux need?
Could he and Konoha pay this price?
If he didn't understand this, he really wouldn't feel comfortable!
To this, Lux didn't rush to answer, but asked first: "Do you have an answer to the question earlier?"
Tobirama suddenly remembered.
"Is it true that you chose to use your life to survive and end the war?"
If Tobirama could answer without hesitation half an hour ago, his choice was indeed right.
To preserve the outstanding young ninjas, to inherit the will of fire and the position of Hokage, to ensure that the news was brought back to the village. He had too many reasons, and none could be let go.
Most importantly, as Hokage, as the Second Hokage who inherited his brother's will, it was impossible for him to abandon his students, abandon his subordinates, and run away alone.
But now, after traveling around the world 34 years later, seeing the future of Hiruzen and Konoha Village, the sharp and intelligent Tobirama naturally saw any subtle clues.
This made him hesitate in answering.
Lux smiled softly and said frankly:
"I'm sure you can see it too. There's a huge gap between Sarutobi Hiruzen in the future and Sarutobi Hiruzen now, isn't there?"
Tobirama nodded.
The gap between the two was indeed enormous. Of course, the gap didn't only refer to the change in appearance.
Instead, it referred to a deeper change in temperament and beliefs.
"Saru has changed a lot." Tobirama muttered with emotion.
He died young, and he didn't know what Hiruzen experienced in the next thirty years, which made him so cautious and timid.
"That's the reason. This is the battle."
"Senju Tobirama, you saved the lives of Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others by leaving them alone. But the price shouldn't be cheap either."
"Your death directly destroyed Sarutobi Hiruzen's confidence and courage!"
Facing the Second Hokage he admired and respected the most, he tragically died at the hands of the enemy, yet Hiruzen and the others were forced to flee for their lives.
Not all ninjas could withstand this blow.
It wasn't just Hiruzen.
Tobirama's other personal guards, except for Uchiha Kagami who had long been killed in battle, and Akimichi Torifu who was killed by the Kyuubi.
The remaining people were Hiruzen, Koharu, Homura, and Danzo.
They were all defeated in this battle.
They lost courage and confidence. They transformed from brave and skilled elite ninjas into cowards hiding in the village.
This change didn't just impact individuals.
As Hokage and senior leaders of the village, all the decisions they made based on fear affected the entire village.
During Hiruzen's reign, Konoha became timid, increasingly shrinking and cowardly.
In subsequent battles, the entire Konoha feared Kumogakure.
Even after the Third World War, Konoha 54: Kumogakure secretly attacked Konoha, kidnapped Hinata, and wanted to take the Byakugan from Konoha for fun.
The head of the Hyuga Clan, Hiashi, dared to fight Kumogakure and reclaim Hinata.
However, Hiruzen and other senior Konoha officials didn't dare to confront Kumogakure, even internally suppressing the Hyuga Clan, forcing Hiasbi's younger brother, Hizashi, to commit suicide, and taking the initiative to hand over Hizashi's body.
Just thinking about it made people feel sad.
It was clear that Hiruzen and the others were afraid of Kumogakure.
Since Tobirama was killed, it never went away for decades, indirectly shaming Konoha for decades!
Like a nightmare!
Tobirama suddenly realized that he didn't need too many orders.
He always thought about how to protect Hiruzen and the others, and how to inherit the Hokage and the village.
But he ignored the blow of his own death in battle on Hiruzen and the others!
Put yourself in their shoes. What if Hashirama, whom he trusted and admired the most, was one day brutally murdered by the enemy in a certain village, but he ran away with his life like a rat.
Then what would happen to him?
Would he still have the courage to challenge a powerful enemy that even his older brother couldn't defeat?
Probably not.
Tobirama himself wasn't sure, let alone Hiruzen and the others.
His status in their hearts might not be lower than Hashirama's in his own heart, right?
No wonder!
No wonder Hiruzen lost his courage and ferocity as Hokage. It turned out the problem was with himself, in this cowardly battle!
"So that's it."
"But I had no other choice."
Tobirama sighed and said somewhat helplessly.
Despite realizing this shortcoming and major mistake. But if he had to choose again, he would still choose to stay alone and sacrifice himself.
Even if it caused Hiruzen and the others to have nightmares and lose courage, it was better than causing them to die in battle.
A cautious and cowardly Hokage was better than an empty Hokage position!
Who said the next generation of Konoha ninjas weren't mature.
"No other choice? Didn't you dare to take them and continue fighting Ginkaku and Kinkaku's forces to the death?"
"That's too dangerous! I can't gamble. Ginkaku and Kinkaku's forces were too strong."
"You mean Ginkaku and Kinkaku's forces that were almost wiped out by you alone?"
Lux pointed to the entire battlefield, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
The heavily injured Tobirama almost wiped out Ginkaku and Kinkaku's forces, if Hiruzen and the others who were elite Jonin were added to that, it would be impossible to wipe them out no matter what.
There was even a great chance to turn defeat into victory!
"This..."
"Senju Tobirama, could it be that you are the truly cowardly one?"
Lux's words were like a heavy hammer hitting Tobirama's heart, making him stunned.
"I.." Tobirama lowered his head and hesitated.
The one who truly changed wasn't just Hiruzen decades later, but himself as well!
If it were Tobirama during the Warring States Period, would he still negotiate peace and alliances with Kumogakure Village?
Tobirama immediately raised his sword and left using Hiraishin no Jutsu to slash.
When did he learn to compromise?
When was Konoha founded?
At the time of the first Five Kage Conference?
Or after Hashirama's death?
He had truly changed!