Hashirama Reborn

The atmosphere in the meeting hall was extremely weird. Hashirama stood in the middle of the hall, feeling uneasy as the gazes from all around him pierced his back. Those complex looks contained expectation, confusion, and even a little subtle teasing, which made him want to use the earth escape technique to escape from this suffocating atmosphere.

Cough

The third elder's dry coughs broke the silence. He narrowed his eyes, and seemed satisfied that he had successfully attracted everyone's attention. Then he turned to Hashirama with a smile, and his tone was a little playful: Hashirama, I called you here because I want to discuss something important with you. In front of your father, we old men would like to take this opportunity to ask you a few questions.

You and Mito are cousins, of similar age, and you've been hanging out together a lot these days, so you must have gotten to know her a little better. What do you think of her?

Upon hearing this, the corners of Hashirama's mouth twitched unconsciously. He of course knew the elders' intentions, which were nothing more than trying to bring him and Mito together in order to achieve a marriage between the Senju clan and the Uzumaki clan.

Unfortunately, he didn't want to.

Thinking of this, Hashirama took a deep breath and tried to make his voice sound calmer: I understand what the elders mean, but I treat Mito as my sister, and there is no relationship between us that goes beyond this.

As soon as he finished speaking, the meeting room fell silent again. No one expected that Hashirama would directly point out their intentions and refuse, leaving them at a loss for what to do.

Several elders looked at each other with complex emotions in their eyes. Matters like marriage were usually decided directly by the elders. Because of Hashirama's special strength and status, they were specifically called over to ask for their opinions. Who would have thought that he would be rejected directly? This made the elders, who had never dared to oppose, feel particularly unhappy.

Even if they are the clan leader's children, it's too much of a disregard for them.

The third elder, who was the first to propose the idea of ​​marriage and had a particularly close relationship with Uzumaki, took the lead in attacking. He glared at Hashirama with anger on his face and said dissatisfiedly: Hashirama, this is a family decision. As a member of the family, you should not refuse for the benefit of the family.

If Hashirama was not in a hurry, he would first calmly look around the room and take in the expressions on the elders' faces - dissatisfaction, confusion, anger, and questioning. He then turned his gaze to the Senju Butsuma who was sitting in the high seat, and faced with his father's expressionless serious face, he sighed helplessly in his heart.

Everyone thought that he should accept the arranged marriage obediently. No one cared about his and Mito's thoughts. If he had not demonstrated his Wood Release strength early on and relied on the deal with the puppeteer, Mizunotsuki, it would probably be the same as in his previous life. Even if he was the son of the clan leader, he would still be forced into a marriage he was not willing to marry without knowing it.

Is strength really the most important?

Hashirama smiled self-deprecatingly. Facing the angry Third Elder in front of him, the last time he saw him flashed through his mind.

At that time, the battle of the Valley of the End had just ended. Madara faked his death and escaped, while he himself was seriously injured and recuperating. Konoha, which had lost its powerful combat power, urgently needed the power of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to ensure the safety of the village and its status as the strongest ninja village. The ones who had the ability to do this were the Senju's relatives, the Uzumaki clan.

Everyone thought that this was something that could be accomplished easily. No one expected that the Uzumaki clan would take advantage of the decline of Konoha and the Senju clan and force the two clans to marry. Not only did they get the position of the Hokage's wife and the most powerful Nine-Tails, they also directly took away part of the village's rights from the Senju clan, allowing the Uzumaki clan to enter the core layer of Konoha overnight.

At that time, the third elder was the only remaining elder of the Senju. Although he was old, he was still very energetic due to his Senju physique and his status in the early days of the village. He liked to take walks in the newly established Konoha Village and scold every little Senju who did not practice well. The children privately said that the third elder was a fierce and weird old man.

When was the last time they saw each other? Hashirama thought absentmindedly, it seemed to be the day he married Mito. Because of Madara's death and injury, he spent a long and noisy day in a daze. When no one was paying attention, he sneaked out of the room to wake up for a while. It was in the quiet corner of the backyard that he saw the third elder for the last time.

The old man stood in the corner with his back hunched, his cloudy eyes staring straight ahead. Hashirama paused and subconsciously bowed to admit his mistake: "Third Elder, I, I'm just a little tired. I came out to get some fresh air and will be back soon!" After saying that, he turned around and wanted to leave.

and many more!

Hashirama's breathing stagnated, and he waited stiffly for a scolding. The Third Elder had been displeased with him for a long time because he had been dragging on the matter of the arranged marriage. Now that he was caught sneaking away on the night of the wedding, he would definitely not be let off easily.

Between the pillars.

Here it comes, Hashirama closed his eyes in despair and comforted himself, "Haha, go ahead and curse me, at least I don't have to go back and face Mito."

There was silence behind him for a long time. Just when Hashirama thought that the other party was kind enough to let him go, the voice of the third elder sounded again.

Why did you run out? Don’t you... like Uzumaki Mito?

Hashirama was stunned and opened his mouth, but found that he couldn't say a word.

...After a long time without a reply, the Third Elder continued: Hashirama, how is your health?

Hashirama blinked and replied dryly, "It's okay." With the response, the third elder seemed to have more confidence and whispered hurriedly: If you like it, stay outside for a while and don't rush back.

Hashirama looked down at the kimono with the Senju symbol on it and said softly: Wouldn't it be bad to keep Mito waiting for a long time?

what!

This sentence seemed to have aroused strong emotions from the Third Elder. The old man came over from behind, and his old face full of resentment and anger directly confronted Hashirama, and he said angrily: What's wrong with asking her to wait a little longer? It was Uzumaki who rushed to marry us, so it is Uzumaki Mito's duty to take good care of you! This is what she should do!

Uzumaki Mito?

Hashirama was a little dazed. The third elder had always affectionately called the other party Mito before, but now he has become the unfamiliar Uzumaki Mito?

Why? Because Uzumaki betrayed Senju's kindness? Betrayed Senju's feelings? No, that's not right. It should be because he robbed Senju of his interests. That's why the Third Elder, who had always been friendly to Uzumaki, suddenly changed his attitude.

Human beings always seem to be like this. Because of interests, friendship can turn into hatred in an instant, and blood relatives can turn into enemies in an instant.

Looking at the twisted face of the old man in front of him, Hashirama tilted his head slightly, his long black hair blending into the night, no emotion could be seen in his dark pupils, and he thought expressionlessly, I am no different. For the benefit of Konoha, can't I kill Madara without hesitation?