After listening to the woman's description, Madara was the first to speak:
"Tsk! They killed these commoners in your name? Hashirama, do you understand? This is the consequence of your fondness for those parasites."
Madara crossed his arms, looked at Hashirama, and sneered as expected.
Although he didn't expect the nobles to be so cruel and depraved, he was well aware of the evil nature of humans long corrupted by those parasites.
This was entirely consistent with the behavior of those parasites.
And Madara's mockery was like a hammer striking Hashirama's heart, causing his anger to flare.
"Tobirama!"
Hashirama's roar almost scared Tobirama to death!
Unlike the previous mischief, Tobirama knew full well that his brother was truly angry this time!
"Brother, I really didn't know about this!" Tobirama immediately defended himself.
At this time, he and Hashirama and the others were basically staying in the Imperial Palace at the center of the Daimyo's Prefecture, and didn't pay much attention to what was happening outside.
Of course, he didn't know that the nobles were collecting taxes in the name of the Hokage.
If he had known, he would have killed all those nobles long ago, let alone agreed to it!
Why would he wait until now?
"Did you really not know? I'm only asking once!"
"Brother, you know me well! How could I be so cruel and insane?"
Tobirama also had his reasons.
He was greedy for money only to build his own village and to disgust the high officials of the Land of Fire who had previously made things difficult for him.
But it was truly impossible to disregard one's own interests just for money!
Previously, Tobirama was the first to want to wipe out the Daimyo and the others in one go. How could he collude with them again?
"Huft--!"
Hashirama sighed in relief, confirming that his brother was not involved.
But the anger in his heart still burned.
On one hand, there was anger towards those greedy and cruel nobles.
On the other hand, he also felt regret towards himself and Tobirama for taking the initiative to start this bandit suppression plan.
Although the girl's father was not directly killed by him, the nobles of the Daimyo's Prefecture, and their samurai and henchmen were the ones who killed so many people.
But the main reason was that he controlled the Bijuu to rob the Daimyo's Palace, which led to a series of subsequent tragedies.
He should not have agreed to Tobirama's outrageous plan!
Hashirama unconsciously blamed himself and felt annoyed, which was also due to his personality.
When encountering problems, he would not blame others first, but reflect on his own mistakes and issues.
This was not common. Ordinary people like to curse their teammates when playing games. But how many people can truly reflect on themselves unconsciously?
"Tobirama, I should not have agreed to this plan from the beginning."
"Brother, it's not your fault. Who could have expected them to be so insane?"
"So it's your fault?"
"You can't completely blame me! I just wanted to make money to develop the village."
"We still have to blame those beasts. Even if we didn't come, they would still exploit and oppress these commoners until they were forced to death. In their eyes, these people are not even slaves."
Tobirama was not a fool, so he naturally distinguished the main contradiction from the secondary one.
The Bijuu attack was just an excuse for the nobles to intensify their exploitation.
Even if there were no Bijuu, would they not continue to exploit?
A tax rate of 70% was so high that even Megatron would exclaim, "Impressive!"
Born in the turbulent times of the Warring States Period, the lives of ninjas were already hard and exhausting, but the lives of commoners would be even harder and more exhausting.
"Why..."
Hashirama sighed and glared at Tobirama again.
"I'll teach you a lesson later!"
"Ah?"
"Take good care of them and their child, and wait for me to return."
"Where are you going, brother?"
Hashirama looked at Madara, who immediately raised the corner of his mouth and understood, then set off with Hashirama and walked in the opposite direction towards the Daimyo's Palace.
"Go and deal with some people and some things!"
Now that things have come to this, there is no use in regretting, and Hashirama is not the type of coward who will wallow in regret.
What he should do now is to make up for everything as quickly and as well as possible!
The Daimyo and a group of nobles still owe Konoha 10 billion!
It is estimated that similar extortion and forced exploitation are still happening everywhere. It is unknown how many more people will be killed and how many families will be destroyed.
This must all be ended immediately!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
On the way back, Hashirama and Madara were very fast.
Like two arrows shot from a bow.
In just a dozen seconds, they crossed thousands of meters of road and arrived at the Daimyo's Palace.
This is the Daimyo's Palace that was destroyed by the Bijuu and then rebuilt by Hashirama.
Seeing Hashirama and Madara return, the servants immediately rushed to inform the Daimyo.
But Hashirama and Madara were faster. They passed the servants and aides and directly rushed to the hall and found the current Daimyo.
When he saw Hashirama return, the Daimyo was immediately delighted.
He immediately descended from the throne and greeted Hashirama with great joy and respect.
Like those nobles, after witnessing Hashirama's strength with his own eyes, the Daimyo would more or less remain in awe for a while.
"Hokage-sama, why have you returned? Is there anything else you need?"
The Daimyo asked cheerfully. Now, whatever Hashirama needed, he was willing to do his best to fulfill it.
Moreover, after spending a few days together, he basically understood Hashirama's character. He was a very good person.
As long as the bottom line was not touched, this Hokage was easier to talk to than other ninjas.
Otherwise, his palace and entire residence would not have been rebuilt so quickly.
The Daimyo was most adept at dealing with good people like this!
"Daimyo, I have some questions I want to confirm with you."
Hashirama's face was cold as he got straight to the point.
"Please ask, I will tell you everything I know!"
"A few days ago, officials and nobles from the entire Daimyo's Prefecture forcibly collected what is called suppression wages in the name of the Hokage. Do you know about this?"
The Daimyo was stunned, then became angry:
"Is there such a thing? I don't know at all!"
"Do you know that these people collected large taxes and killed people?"
"I don't know. How could such a thing happen? How does the Hokage know about it?"
Hashirama looked at the Daimyo, trying to find flaws in his face, but the Daimyo showed a surprised expression, as if he was completely unaware.
"Daimyo, I will ask once more, do you know?"
"I—"
"Don't rush to answer, please think carefully before speaking! You are the ruler of the entire Land of Fire and the spiritual symbol of this country. If you know and are willing to admit it, everything can be fixed. Everyone makes mistakes, I understand!"
Hashirama looked at him and warned him word by word.
Very serious and very firm.
This was not only a torture to the Daimyo, but also a torture to the last bit of morality and justice in one's heart.
"..."
A trace of panic flashed in the Daimyo's eyes, but he finally gritted his teeth and denied it:
"I really don't know! If this is true, I will severely punish the criminals! Give an explanation to the Hokage!"
"Do you really not know?"
"Daimyo, ninjas have many ways to know the truth. If so, I can only offend."
"Madara, do it."
Hashirama turned and called Madara, which was also the reason why he brought him along.
Seeing that the situation was not right, this Konoha ninja seemed to really dare to offend him.
The Daimyo was also a little panicked.
"What do you want to do? I am the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, the ruler of the entire country!"
"Why bother talking nonsense? It would be much easier to kill him."
Madara frowned and complained, but still cooperated with Hashirama, directly casting an illusion that confused the Daimyo.
Ordered him to tell all the truth he knew.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Dozens of seconds later, after saying everything, the Daimyo suddenly woke up.
When he remembered everything that had just happened, he realized that he had told the truth.
His face suddenly turned pale and he fell to the ground.
Clearly, he lied!
He really knew!
Although he was not the mastermind behind this matter, and this matter was proposed to him by a group of nobles and officials, he finally agreed to it of his own will!
If you can do it without spending a single penny from your own pocket, you only need to make the untouchables who are not even considered livestock suffer.
How great is it to collect a commission of 3 billion?
You might even get a little more, isn't that great?
After all, those untouchables can't turn the world upside down.
Even if there is a rebellion or something, we can just use their money and entrust ninjas to suppress the rebellion.
Really very easy!
They can even collect taxes in the name of the Hokage; this can not only damage the reputation of the Hokage and the ninjas, but also pocket all the profits.
Isn't that like killing two birds with one stone?
Although the Daimyo had some rationality, he finally succumbed to greed and agreed to and even condoned the extortion carried out by the nobles.
He even deliberately detained Hashirama and the others in the Daimyo's Palace to prevent them from contacting the outside world and reduce the risk of exposure. Who would have thought that after he happily sent Hashirama and the others away, they immediately came back to interrogate him.
This is clearly a secret that has been exposed!
But the Daimyo still refused to accept his fate. He thought that by refusing to admit it, he would not bring disaster upon himself!
Considering Hashirama's kind-hearted personality, it should be easy to fool him.
At worst, he could push a few nobles to take the blame and kill them, and that would be the explanation.
But who would have thought that ninjas also have illusion techniques!
Of course, all of this is now exposed.
"How disgusting! Hashirama, I told you long ago, didn't I? Parasites like this don't need to exist at all. It would be much easier to just kill them."
When he heard Madara wanted to kill him, the Daimyo panicked and begged for mercy:
"Wait! Don't kill me! You can't kill me!"
"I am the Daimyo. How can you ninjas kill the Daimyo? Kill the ruler of this country?"
"If you dare to attack me, the entire Land of Fire will not let you go!"
"You can't do this..."
"Please let me go, I beg you?"
"I am willing to make amends. I will execute all the nobles and officials involved. I will compensate for everything."
"I am willing to pay double compensation."
"Hashirama-sama, please let me go this time!"
"I will definitely support Konoha Village and more ninjas with all my strength in the future!"
The Daimyo threatened and begged at the same time; his eyes were filled with tears and he cried sadly, as if he had truly realized his mistake.
He also promised to do his best to make amends.
He only hoped that Hashirama could save his life.
Madara frowned and looked at him coldly, so disgusted with the bastard that he didn't even want to bother glancing at him.
"Hashirama, you don't mind doing it, do you? Let me do it for you."
"No, I will do it myself!"
Hashirama had an empty expression on his face and was very firm.
With a clap of his hands, sharp wooden thorns emerged from the ground.
Without waiting for the Daimyo to react, they pierced him completely from bottom to top!
The great Daimyo of the Land of Fire died suddenly on the spot!
His eyes were filled with fear and astonishment after death, as if he still couldn't believe it, couldn't imagine that these ninjas really dared to kill him!
Looking at the Daimyo's corpse, Hashirama did not regret anything.
He had given the other party a chance, and it was the last chance, a chance to atone for his sins that had touched the bottom line of morality.
Unfortunately, the other party still did not take that chance.
Until the last moment, he was still deceiving him.
Do you really think that a liar who has no remorse and thinks he can get away with it until death can turn over a new leaf? Turn over a new leaf?
That is truly impossible!
Hashirama is sometimes silly, but he is not really stupid.
This selfish Daimyo who treats human life as worthless is a cancer to the entire Land of Fire and does not need to exist at all.
As the Hokage, Hashirama certainly has the real determination to eradicate this cancer!
"Tsk, it's better for this person to die like this. It's a pity that my eye technique is not Tsukuyomi, otherwise, I could let this person go to the illusion world to torture him for ten days and ten nights before he dies!"
Madara looked at the Daimyo's corpse without regret, even feeling that it was too easy for such a creature.
He really made his opponent die quickly. Hashirama is really too kind!
And Hashirama looked at the Daimyo's body, clearly filled with emotions.
For him, killing the Daimyo of his own country was a double violation of morality and principle.
"Madara, am I really wrong?" Hashirama murmured.
"Wrong? You mean killing this borer?"
"No. I want to ask if the path I am taking is wrong? Can people really understand and care for each other?"
This made Hashirama very aware.
These high-ranking Daimyo and nobles have completely regarded the lower class as another species, even worse than animals.
Arbitrary exactions and extortion and the power of life and death.
Can these two types of people really understand each other?
Can we tolerate each other?
Hashirama could not see the answer or hope, he only saw endless oppression and exploitation in the future.
"Of course it is wrong. It is completely wrong. Hashirama, you must understand that not everyone can feel the love you convey like me!"
Madara raised the corner of his mouth. No one understands Hashirama better than him, not even Tobirama!
"Sigh..."
Hashirama sighed, with a slight tone of fatigue in his voice.
"What? Are you ready to give up on yourself? This is not the Hashirama I know. Is it necessary to grieve over the death of these parasites?"
"No. But I still need your help."
"Explain."
"Help me control the servants outside and have them summon all the officials and nobles in this city!"
"Hashirama, have you found the answer?"
Madara was happy and felt a little more excited.
He had clearly guessed that Hashirama was preparing for a massacre.
"Maybe you are right. Killing cannot solve all problems, but at least it can solve most problems!"
"This is a mistake I made, Tobirama, and Konoha. To atone for the innocent people who died tragically, only I must bear this sin!"
Hashirama raised his head, with a little kindness and more determination in his eyes.
It seemed that he had completely returned to the state of the "God of Ninja" feared by the world during the Warring States Period.
Hashirama may be kind, but when he becomes very cruel, even Madara is inferior to him.
It's not that honest people don't get angry, but they don't get angry easily.
When he really becomes cruel, he is ten times more cruel and decisive than those seemingly fierce people!
Today, all the nobles and high-ranking officials involved in this matter will not be able to escape!
This Daimyo's Palace built with Wood Release will become the grave of all of them!