Though Madara made no effort to hide his disdain for Tobirama's taciturn thinking, he was, in his own way, pleased with the shift he saw.
"You used to talk just like Hashirama, didn't you?" he said, tone half-teasing, half-serious. "Always going on about mutual respect and understanding… Looks like you finally get it. The enemy won't show you mercy."
Tobirama's eyes narrowed.
He didn't deny it.
He had never fully believed in Hashirama's idealistic worldview—but back then, he had still tried to support it, for the sake of his brother. He did what he could to patch things up when negotiations with other nations fell apart. He let diplomacy take precedence, even when it grated against his instincts.
But now?After suffering betrayal from Kumogakure, after surviving the ambush of the Four Nations—any lingering softness had been burned away.
His methods had sharpened. His patience had thinned.
"I don't need a lecture from you, Madara."
Madara merely chuckled, unbothered by the sharp reply. He leaned back, as if enjoying himself.
"You still don't see it, Tobirama. This world… it's built on contradiction."
He spoke with a quiet gravity that cut deeper than his usual sarcasm.
"Where there is light, there must be shadow. Try to force peace out of selfishness, and you'll only spark war."
"To protect love... hatred is born."
"This cycle can't be broken. Not by you. Not even by Hashirama."
It wasn't just a philosophy. It was something Madara had lived.
If not for Kai's interference, Madara would've already left Konoha long ago—convinced that his ideals could never align with Hashirama's. In the original timeline, that very divide had led to bloodshed between them.
Even the closest of friends, even brothers-in-arms, had limits to how far their understanding could go.
So how could villages, countries, and clans—built on centuries of conflict—ever find peace?
Tobirama's voice rose in frustration.
"You talk like you've figured everything out."
"Then tell me, Madara—how would you solve it?!"
"Love and hate can't be severed, sure. But people can be! You can eliminate the source of the hatred!"
He paused, his own words echoing in his mind.
They sounded harsh. Brutal, even.But not wrong.
If he'd had Hashirama's power, he would have crushed the other Kage when they launched their assault on Konoha. None of them would've dared to provoke the village again. They would've bowed—or begged for mercy.
Madara raised an eyebrow.
Tobirama was finally starting to talk like him.
Kai, standing off to the side, chewed silently on a rice cracker, enjoying the back-and-forth.Madara's counter-rhetoric skills really were on par with Naruto's talk-no-jutsu.
Madara's ideas weren't flawed. In fact, Kai believed if not for Black Zetsu's manipulation, Madara might've succeeded in uniting the shinobi world under the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
It was just... he'd placed his trust in the wrong things.
And Tobirama?
He was furious, but also out of arguments.
"I suppose someone like you—who only sees power—can't understand what it means to run a village."
"Managing people, nurturing growth... ruling isn't the same as conquering."
Madara smirked, tempted to reveal that he, in another world, had already taken up the mantle of Second Hokage.
But he held back.
That moment would be sweeter later—when his Konoha had flourished and he could throw the proof right in Tobirama's face.
Managing a village? How hard could it be?
Once Izuna was revived, they would lead together.Stronger. Smarter. Better than any Senju.
Madara scoffed.
"And you call yourself Hokage? You were nearly killed by two savage beasts from Kumogakure. Doesn't exactly scream 'worthy,' does it?"
"Say that again!" Tobirama snapped, rising to his feet, chakra flaring.
"Hmph." Madara shrugged, pleased with himself. "Too late. I already completely destroyed Iwagakure."
"…What?!!"
Tobirama froze.
"You what?!"
"You heard me. I erased Iwagakure. Gone. Wiped off the map."
Tobirama's face paled. "That can't be… How could my brother allow—?"
"He doesn't know yet," Madara interrupted calmly. "And even if he finds out, it changes nothing."
Tobirama stood there, stunned.
His thoughts scrambled to process it.
Madara, ruthless as ever.
Still, part of him had to admit—it wasn't necessarily bad news. With Iwagakure out of the picture in Madara's timeline, there would be one less threat when the next war erupted.
Then again…Could anyone really count on Madara staying on Konoha's side?
That was the problem.
And Madara saw the doubt in Tobirama's eyes.
"Now do you see the difference between us?"
Tobirama scoffed, voice rising again. "Don't act like you've won anything. Give me a little more time, and I'll wipe out my Iwagakure just as cleanly!"
"Sure you will," Madara said, half-mocking.
"And just like that," he added, "Iwagakure's luck runs out again. Always the one to suffer."
Tobirama said nothing.
The reason he'd set his sights on Iwagakure was simple:
Kirigakure was isolated by sea, impossible to invade without a drawn-out campaign.
Kumogakure had just been destabilized by Kinkaku and Ginkaku's rampage, but their new Raikage was a battle-hardened tactician. The village would be on high alert.
Sunagakure? Poor, resource-starved, and barely worth occupying.
The minor countries weren't even in the conversation.
Only Iwagakure had the size, resources, and vulnerability that made it worth the risk.
In other words—It wasn't Tobirama's fault.Iwagakure was just too damn unlucky.
"Enough with the pissing contest," Kai finally said, stepping between the two.
"Let's talk about the real plan."
He turned to Tobirama. "You're really set on joining forces with Sunagakure for the assault?"
Tobirama nodded without hesitation.
"We must bring them in."
Kai gave a knowing look. "Afraid they'll stab you in the back while you're focused on Iwagakure?"
"Exactly," Tobirama replied. "If we act alone, they'll take advantage of Konoha's exposed rear. I'm not handing them an opening."
"Better to tie them into the mission. Divide the Land of Earth between us, and share the burden of retaliation."
There were no eternal allies—only mutual interests.
After getting burned by Kumogakure once, Tobirama wasn't about to make the same mistake.
Dragging Sunagakure into the battle would bind them to Konoha's momentum, whether they liked it or not. Once committed, they'd have no choice but to stand against the backlash of the other villages.
That kind of leverage was far more reliable than a diplomatic agreement.
Besides, considering how poor they were, Tobirama figured they'd jump at the chance to raid Iwagakure for loot.
If they really did refuse?
Then maybe the next target wouldn't be Iwagakure.
Kai leaned forward.
"So who are you sending to convince the Sand?"
"I'm assigning Kagami and Danzo."
"Huh? Both of them are injured."
"The wounds aren't life-threatening. And they're still the most capable choices I've got."
Sarutobi had to remain in the village to maintain order.
Mitokado and Koharu lacked the strength to survive a mission like this, and Akimichi Torifu wasn't the sharpest tool when it came to diplomacy.
Kagami had the Sharingan—perfect for dealing with traps and illusions.Danzo was hungry for achievement and well-versed in Wind Release. He'd push the mission forward with everything he had.
"They're the best I have," Tobirama concluded.
Kai nodded, then smiled slyly.
"Alright then. But before you send them off… you might want Madara to upgrade Kagami first."
"…Upgrade?"
Both Tobirama and Madara blinked, confused.
Kai's smile deepened.
"Oh, you'll see."