What do you mean Shodai(1st)-sama only had strength and no brains?
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s mind short-circuited for a moment.
The people of Konoha, and even the entire Ninja World, generally maintain respect and awe for the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, if not outright worship.
And the children of Konoha, especially those born there, grow up under the legacy of Senju Hashirama—the legendary figure who pacified the chaotic times and ended the Sengoku era—and are all filled with admiration for this First Hokage.
“Little Hinata, Shodai(1st)-sama is a legend who ended the chaos of the Sengoku era, pushing the Ninja World from the Age of Ninja Clans into the current Age of Ninja Villages.”
“He is a hero worthy of respect.”
“Why do you think Shodai(1st)-sama was just a brute with only strength?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Hinata in great surprise.
He wanted to know why Hinata’s evaluation of the First Hokage was so low.
Even if Hinata admired the Second Hokage, she should have extended that respect to Senju Hashirama as the First Hokage.
Furthermore, Hiruzen Sarutobi intended to correct Hinata’s incorrect perception of the First Hokage.
Accompanying Hiruzen Sarutobi as they walked along the lakeside, Hinata pointed a finger at herself in response to his words and said:
“I read it in a school book. It said Shodai(1st)-sama established Konoha so that children would no longer have to go to the battlefield.”
“But the Village has gone through three Great Wars, and many children have died on the battlefield.”
“The Village’s Ninjas basically graduate at twelve and have to go to the battlefield at twelve. And then there’s that genius Kakashi from the Village, who went to the battlefield before he was even ten.”
“Shouldn’t Shodai(1st)-sama be considered a failure?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression froze upon hearing this.
Except for the First Ninja World War, he had led Konoha through both the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars.
Hinata’s words were almost like pointing at Hiruzen Sarutobi’s nose and cursing him.
“But this has nothing to do with Shodai(1st)-sama; all of this is my fault…”
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head with a complex expression.
Ninjas basically graduate at twelve to become Genin, but isn’t a twelve-year-old still a child?
One must know that the standard for adulthood in the Ninja World is twenty.
“No, this isn’t Grandpa Hokage’s fault either.”
Hinata shook her head, her pure eyes looking toward the base of a nearby tree.
“Look.”
Hinata pointed at a patch of soil under the tree and trotted over.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was puzzled and walked over to look where Hinata was pointing.
He saw a group of ants fighting under the tree.
Squatting down and pointing at the two ant colonies, Hinata said:
“To prevent their own colony from being harmed, they all come out in full force. Both big ants and small ants have to fight the other colony.”
“And the other colony does the same, because if they don’t, their home will be gone.”
“If the home is gone, both big and small ants will die.”
“So Grandpa Hokage, who wants to protect Konoha, is not wrong.”
Hinata looked up at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had also squatted down to watch the ants.
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a slight stir in his heart upon hearing this.
To be honest, during his administration, there were indeed individuals who attacked him for letting children go to the battlefield.
And their most powerful weapon was the philosophy of Konoha established by the First Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi could not refute this and could only choose to ignore it.
He hadn’t expected that Hinata, at only six years old, could see the essence of the problem through the fragments of written records in school books.
This made Hiruzen Sarutobi feel somewhat emotional.
As expected of an heir to a great clan.
It was true for Uchiha Itachi back then, and it is true for Hinata now.
At seven years old, Uchiha Itachi was praised by Hiruzen Sarutobi for having the mindset of a Hokage.
Now it seemed that the six-year-old Hinata was just as impressive.
“If that’s the case, then what does it have to do with Shodai(1st)-sama?”
Encouragement flowed in Hiruzen Sarutobi’s eyes; he wanted to hear why Hinata belittled Senju Hashirama so much.
“It’s simple. Shodai(1st)-sama was once the largest and strongest ant in this group.”
“He could have made these two ant colonies into one, avoiding this conflict that could have been avoided.”
“But he didn’t do it.”
Hinata pointed at the fighting ants and spoke clearly.
Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s face showed no emotion.
He didn’t know how to refute Hinata’s words.
The facts were exactly as Hinata had stated.
Back then, if Senju Hashirama could have unified the Ninja World and used his absolute power to suppress it, countless conflicts could have been avoided.
Even the worst-case scenario would have been better than the constant succession of wars now.
If Senju Hashirama could have unified the world…
If Senju Hashirama could have harbored great ambitions…
Unfortunately, there are no ‘ifs’.
But these words, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not and should not say.
“So then, why does Hinata admire Nidaime(2nd)-sama?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt the topic was becoming a bit dangerous and shifted it from Senju Hashirama to Senju Tobirama.
“Because Nidaime(2nd)-sama is amazing.”
Hinata answered very bluntly.
This made Hiruzen Sarutobi find it a bit amusing.
If his teacher knew that he had such a little fangirl many years after his sacrifice, he would probably be grinning from ear to ear.
“Shodai(1st)-sama could achieve nothing without his strength, but Nidaime(2nd)-sama could achieve many things even without such overwhelming power.”
“Like his famous Flying Thunder God Technique and Mutual Multiplication Explosive Tags.”
“He invented them all himself.”
“The books say the Academy was also established by Nidaime(2nd)-sama, while Shodai(1st)-sama only held the title of the First Principal.”
Looking at Hinata, Hiruzen Sarutobi was speechless.
He couldn’t find any reason to argue.
“Uh, but Shodai(1st)-sama wasn’t completely useless.”
“At least…”
“At least his philosophy resonated with many people.”
“That’s why Konoha could be established.”
Seeming to feel that her bashing of the First Hokage had gone a bit too far, Hinata scratched her head and forced out these words.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly in his heart.
Philosophy?
No, it was the First Hokage’s power.
With only philosophy and no power, the Konoha of back then could never have been founded.
He already understood why Hinata admired the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, so much.
As an ordinary member of the Senju Clan, he didn’t have world-unrivaled strength like his elder brother, nor did he have the talent for all Five Elemental Releases like Hiruzen himself.
He could have lived a peaceful life under his brother’s protection, yet through his own wisdom, he became a top-tier combatant in the Senju Clan, second only to Senju Hashirama.
This is The Fastest in the Ninja World, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.