Spoilers for the latest Naruto chapters till chapter 623.
I had to write something because, damn, I'm just feeling this emotional shit Kishimoto is putting us through and I think he is brilliant.
That and how do I even begin to forgive Hiruzen? Especially after Hashi's speech about his hopes and don't ask a kid to murder his family, okay Hiruzen, you just don't. If you have to go against the entire council with the decision, so be it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
.
.
"Let's build our settlement here. Let's make a place where children don't have to kill each other. We'll build a school where children will be taught how to grow and get strong. Missions will be chosen depending on personal skills and strength. Seniors will assign the proper level. In our village, children won't be sent to the violent battlefields."
Senju Hashirama, Naruto 623. .
.
.
.
This was not what Hashirama had envisioned.
Konoha was not supposed to be like this.
"How old was Uchiha Itachi when he was ordered to assassinate the Uchiha clan?" Hashirama asked, all traces of humour gone from his face. He was looking at Hiruzen, eyes narrowed, and mouth pulled into a frown.
Hiruzen stood before him, eyes trained at the ground as though he found the cracks lining the stone of utmost interest. He looked much older than Hashirama now; old enough to be his sensei in fact. But appearances did not matter. Sarutobi Hiruzen was and would always be his disciple.
"How old?" Hashirama pressed again.
"He was thirteen, but it had to be done," answered Hiruzen in a quiet voice, finally raising his eyes to meet Hashirama's glare.
"Had to be done," Hashirama repeated slowly, pausing between each word. "Do you know why we built the village, Hiruzen?
"A place where children are not made to kill. A place where children are not sent to the frontlines of battle. A place where we protect their innocence, their childhood," his words were laced with anger he could almost taste.
"That's enough, brother," Tobirama spoke from behind him, and Hashirama turned on him so fiercely that he almost took a step back.
"It is not enough. I did not make a village for this Tobirama. I did not put my sweat and blood and everything I had to hold the village together only for it turn into the very thing I stand against. I do not want to see my village built upon the bones of our children.
"Do you see what you have done, Hiruzen?" he said, turning back to his disciple. "Do you see the destruction you have created? What you are doing will only create hatred and feed fuel to fire. You destroyed the Uchiha, made one of their own cut down every last one of them, and for what? Where is the peace you brought?"
With that, he stalked out of the stone chamber after the result of yet another childhood lost; Uchiha Sasuke.
.
.
.
A/N No chapter next week.