Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled triumphantly after hearing that, "Hehe, I know! It's First Hokage-sama's Will of Fire!"
Hashirama patted Hiruzen's head with satisfaction. "That's right, Monkey. This is my Will of Fire."
"But what about your own Will of Fire?"
Everyone was momentarily stunned. It seemed none of them had ever truly considered this question.
"Your will is our will, Hokage-sama," Danzo responded seriously.
Torifū caught Danzo's expression from the corner of his eye. The boy standing before him was far from the future 'Darkness of the Shinobi World.' Though he rarely smiled, there was still a light in his eyes.
"No," Hashirama said sternly, his tone causing everyone present to straighten up in shock. "You must have your own will!"
"Go home and reflect on my words. Find your own Will of Fire! A week from now, I want to hear your answers."
Hashirama's imposing presence overwhelmed the young students. They had no choice but to nod in agreement, though Torifū, unaffected, feigned apprehension to avoid standing out.
Torifū had already guessed the intent behind his teacher's words. As for his own Will of Fire, he had long since found it.
"Kagami, what do you think Hokage-sama meant by that?" Akimichi Torifū asked between mouthfuls of snacks. He had thought about it briefly but concluded that he had no personal Will of Fire.
Kagami pondered for a moment. "I think Hokage-sama doesn't want us to just follow his vision for the village. If we did, we'd be nothing more than puppets carrying out orders."
Akimichi Torifū nodded in realization. It made sense. If everything went as expected, Tobirama would surely be the Second Hokage. Hashirama trusted his younger brother completely. But the Third Hokage would likely be chosen from among them.
If the chosen person was a Hokage who only developed according to the ideas of his predecessors and didn't know how to be flexible, then the village would definitely have problems.
If that person were merely a follower of past ideals without the ability to adapt, the village would face serious problems.
Danzo, overhearing their conversation, fell into deep thought. Hashirama's words had struck a chord within him.
All his life, he had upheld the First Hokage's will, even fantasizing about his future as Hokage.
'My own Will of Fire?'
He wasn't sure. Since childhood, he had followed the teachings of both Senju brothers. Their ideals had seeped into his very being.
Not only Danzo—aside from Torifū and Naori, the rest of the group wore varying degrees of confusion on their faces.
Hiruzen, in particular, darted between his teammates, bombarding them with questions until Koharu finally lost patience and gave him a good beating.
Hashirama, watching, felt a tinge of worry. This was a test he had set for them. If they succeeded, the future would be bright.
But in a way, he had only himself to blame. If he had realized this sooner, he wouldn't have had to put this burden on the next generation.
"Don't rush it, children. Take your time to think it over," Hashirama reassured them. "Today's test is difficult, so there will be no additional training. You're dismissed."
For Hiruzen and the others, learning jutsu was no longer the top priority. Strengthening their combat skills mattered more.
Normally, Tobirama would arrange training exercises, but since his elder brother had spoken, he followed suit.
Hiruzen and the others drifted down the mountain, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Torifū and Naori stayed behind for additional taijutsu training under Hashirama. Both gained significant insights from the session.
Regardless of their individual strengths, both shared a common weakness: their taijutsu was lacking. Thus, Hashirama focused on honing their close-combat skills.
The morning session was exhausting, but neither complained. After all, this was the quickest way to grow stronger.
By midday, Hashirama dismissed them to rest.
…
"Big Brother, why pose such a question today? You never used to say things like that," Tobirama finally voiced his curiosity.
Having mentored Hiruzen and the others for years, Hashirama had always expected them to inherit his will. But today, he had suddenly changed his stance.
Hashirama laughed heartily, hands on his hips. "It's all thanks to my disciple."
Tobirama frowned. "That kid? He influenced your ideology?"
Seeing his brother's skepticism, Hashirama decided to explain.
"Last night, I had a private conversation with Torifū. Originally, I was just asking about his training with Cloud Release, but his words gave me a revelation."
"Oh?"
"He told me that his clan's ancestors had left behind a detailed Cloud Release training method. The scroll documented the precise chakra ratios needed for each technique."
Tobirama nodded. It was common for clans to preserve their secret arts in such a way.
"But despite following the scroll's instructions perfectly, Torifū couldn't master Cloud Release. In the end, he had to experiment on his own and find his own way to succeed."
Hearing this, Tobirama immediately understood what his brother was going to say.
"The succession of Hokage is not so different from Torifū's clan," Hashirama continued. "I am like the Cloud Clan's ancestor, leaving behind a fixed Will of Fire to guide future generations in running the village. Perhaps for many generations, my ideology would suffice."
"But what if something unexpected happens? If my Will of Fire can no longer protect the village, and the Hokage lacks the ability to adapt? Just like Torifū failing to master Cloud Release by following the scroll—if a Hokage clings blindly to my teachings without innovation, the village could be doomed."
"Perhaps, after many generations, someone like Torifū would emerge and lead Konoha forward. But by then, the damage would be immeasurable!"
The more Hashirama spoke, the more passionate he became. He refused to accept the possibility that the village he loved, the village he had sacrificed everything to protect, could one day vanish from history.
Just like the many clans that had perished in the warring era, leaving not even a ripple in the grand scheme of the world.
"I spent an entire night debating whether to test them like this. My teachings alone could ensure prosperity for a few generations, but in the end, I chose to believe in them."
Tobirama remained silent for a moment before patting his brother on the shoulder. No matter what decision Hashirama made, he would support him. But he had his own criteria.
"If they cannot pass this test, then they are not fit to inherit the village."
At first, Tobirama had wanted to fulfill his brother's dream. But as he watched the village grow, he, too, had come to love it.
Thankfully, they still had time—to nurture these fledgling shinobi until they were ready to spread their wings.
Hashirama gazed up at the noonday sun, a warm smile spreading across his face.
"Believe in them. The young people always hold infinite potential."
[T/N: 30 years west, 30 y*