Hashirama finishes the story: he and Madara ended up fighting on the ground, with their own weapons, at the Valley's End. Hashirama had his armour broken. They charged towards each other, and Madara got to stab him first. Hashirama said he will protect the dream, while the Uchiha is confident because now his rival is on the ground. But suddenly, Hashirama attacks Madara from the back, and fatally stabs him on his heart. It's revealed that the other was a wood clone. He told that no matter what, he'd protect his village. He still believes it's the best way to protect the children, the ninjas. He will face anyone who turns against it, even if they are his friends, comrades, sons. That day, he decided to be strong to watch over the village. Madara gave his last words, saying that his old friend changed, that he confused the goal with the methods. One day, this will turn into darkness and affect the village. Madara fell on the water, seemingly dead. Hashirama remained sad, as the rain was pouring. Now, he doesn't know how he revived, but he was sure that he killed his friend, to protect the village. The village. He tells that the village was the place to unite the clans, a cornerstone to turn chaos into order, to avoid senseless fights and protect children. A place ruled by peace. Yet, it ended creating the darkness that Itachi had to carry on. Hashirama thinks that maybe Madara was right, and predicted what would happen. He holds himself responsible, as he thought that he was doing the right thing. He says that the ninjas are persons who grow stronger, hold on, to achieve their goals. But they can change if their goals turn different. Like Madara and him. He tells Sasuke that his goal was the village, but Madara found something else. When he ponders what Orochimaru referred when he said that Madara revived and wanted to eliminate everyone, Sasuke tells about the Infinite Tsukuyomi, the genjutsu to place all the people to control them. All what Itachi, and Hashirama tried to protect will become nothing. Sasuke remembers his brother, and says that he held on much more than the 1st Hokage, he inherited his will without knowing, and died being a proud shinobi of Konoha. He claims it's ironic that an Uchiha was the one who really understood Hashirama's will. But Tobirama says that Itachi wasn't the only one. One of his subordinates Kagami Uchiha should be included too. Sasuke thought that the Nidaime hated the Uchiha, but he denies it, he only was careful of the clans that could threat the village, and the Uchiha were obviously one of them. Tobirama also praises the compromise of the Uchihas, as there were many like Kagami or Itachi, who surpassed their clan frontiers and made a lot for the village. He tells that Hashirama thought that the village would erase the frontiers between clans, but at the end wasn't so simple. He adds that his brother was soft, and Madara dangerous, so his role as the 2nd was to be an intermediary to protect and guard Konoha. Hiruzen tells that Shisui, Itachi's friend, was the son of Kagami Uchiha, so there were many who inherited the will of Fire. But he berates himself for being the softer of everyone, as he couldn't handle the work Tobirama left, and left Danzo to deal with the darkness of the village. Sasuke says that he killed Danzo for revenge, who said he'd do anything to protect the village. Hiruzen is saddened but not surprised, and keeps blaming himself for the mistakes he made. Minato comforts him, as he did what he could. He also berates himself for not fulfilling his expectatives as he died during the Kyuubi incident. Orochimaru takes the chance to say that he was a better option to be the sucessor (actually, Never). Minato ponders if he could have solved the coup d'etat issue on a different way (without doubt, Yes). Then, Orochimaru asks Sasuke to make a decision. Sasuke starts remembering all the memories, good and bad, from Itachi, until his last words, and decides to enter the battle to protect all what he died for. Hashirama is glad, and tells his brother to prepare. Hiruzen asks his former pupil what he is going to do, and is told that he will follow Sasuke. They go outside, and the Shodaime enjoys the view of his village. Suddenly, Karin appears and starts hitting Suigetsu who tried to get away, shouting at Sasuke for trying to kil her. The Uchiha apologizes to her (he seemed honest), so they reunite with Orochimaru. The Sannin says that Sasuke is still her weakness, and recalls that he was stabbed too, but now he is cooperating with him, which she accepts too. Tobirama tells his brother that she is surely from Uzumali clan given her chakra. Suigetsu describes them as a comic relief: the four most powerful zombies, three monsters, and an idiot. When Hiruzen asks Orochimaru why he follows Sasuke, he says that Kabuto failed by trying to emulate him, so now he is choosing a different path. The four Hokages soon get ready to go, Minato is glad that he will see his son and give him what he couldn't as a father. Hiruzen wants to battle again, while Hashirama and Tobirama are eager to see Madara again. Before leaving, the four stand over their respective Hokage's rock faces.
Here there were happy moments, some simple decisions, and what surely should have been the definitive step for Sasuke's path to redemption. But first, I have to comment the end of the story. The fight had a great ending. Hashirama finally took the hard but right decision to eliminate Madara. It's unclear how Madara survived, even if he took a piece of cell tissue, his heart was damaged. The magic of story I guess. Then, I don't think Hashirama was responsible for what happened later and the darkness that Itachi carried. The Kyuubi incident, which indirectly led to the Uchiha massacre was caused by Obito, who acted as Madara wished. Hashirama said he'd protect the village from anyone, but he also gave a legacy of love, family, prioritize the safety of children, union between clans, tolerance, which was passed to the next generations. Indeed, Kagami, Shisui, Itachi, the Sarutobis, Minato, Sakumo Hatake, the Uzumakis, the Naras, Akimichis, Yamanakas, and others inherited this. The 1st didn't left darkness in the village. Madara created that with Obito. Tobirama himself praised the Uchiha's compromise in Kagami and others, implying that he accepted them into the village. That's why I think that the only flaw of this chapter was to not consider Minato's story of the Kyuubi incident. If the 3rd and the 4th linked their stories, they would have learned the real truth behind the causes of Konoha discrimination and the Uchiha's intended coup d'etat. Then, Sasuke's decision was pretty simple. If he chose to attack a defenseless Konoha, the Tsukuyomi would still be on the run. He only had one choice. Still, given what he learned from the Hokages, looks like he finally could understand Itachi's devotion to Konoha. One of the main goals was to protect the children from war and death. Who could be against that? This proved that he needed the guide of wise old people, or a father that he lost, not influenced by context. To finish, Orochimaru's change is hard to buy. He has his own goal, and actually, the presence of the character is useless now. The Hokage's were resurrected, so I don't get for what else he is needed for.
Here there were happy moments, some simple decisions, and what surely should have been the definitive step for Sasuke's path to redemption. But first, I have to comment the end of the story. The fight had a great ending. Hashirama finally took the hard but right decision to eliminate Madara. It's unclear how Madara survived, even if he took a piece of cell tissue, his heart was damaged. The magic of story I guess. Then, I don't think Hashirama was responsible for what happened later and the darkness that Itachi carried. The Kyuubi incident, which indirectly led to the Uchiha massacre was caused by Obito, who acted as Madara wished. Hashirama said he'd protect the village from anyone, but he also gave a legacy of love, family, prioritize the safety of children, union between clans, tolerance, which was passed to the next generations. Indeed, Kagami, Shisui, Itachi, the Sarutobis, Minato, Sakumo Hatake, the Uzumakis, the Naras, Akimichis, Yamanakas, and others inherited this. The 1st didn't left darkness in the village. Madara created that with Obito. Tobirama himself praised the Uchiha's compromise in Kagami and others, implying that he accepted them into the village. That's why I think that the only flaw of this chapter was to not consider Minato's story of the Kyuubi incident. If the 3rd and the 4th linked their stories, they would have learned the real truth behind the causes of Konoha discrimination and the Uchiha's intended coup d'etat. Then, Sasuke's decision was pretty simple. If he chose to attack a defenseless Konoha, the Tsukuyomi would still be on the run. He only had one choice. Still, given what he learned from the Hokages, looks like he finally could understand Itachi's devotion to Konoha. One of the main goals was to protect the children from war and death. Who could be against that? This proved that he needed the guide of wise old people, or a father that he lost, not influenced by context. To finish, Orochimaru's change is hard to buy. He has his own goal, and actually, the presence of the character is useless now. The Hokage's were resurrected, so I don't get for what else he is needed for.
