Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 163: If Not for You, I Wouldn’t Have Understood That This World Is Beyond Saving

Tobirama's reaction was too strange.

He wasn't shocked that Shigen was connected to a rogue ninja organization.

Nor was he surprised that Shigen had harmed Tsunade.

"Tobirama..."

Hashirama's expression darkened, a suspicion creeping into his heart.

"Why...?"

"..."

Tobirama remained silent.

The truth was...

This was a difficult thing to say.

The fact that the greatest medical ninja in history had become the leader of a dark organization—

Was, in large part, a consequence of his own actions before his death.

However...

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This burden—

Wasn't his alone to bear.

"This does have something to do with me," Tobirama finally admitted, turning his gaze toward Shigen.

"But the real culprit... is Madara."

At that moment—

Tobirama suddenly realized many things.

He even pieced together the most crucial part of it all.

"Madara?"

Hashirama was caught off guard.

How had this matter—

Once again led back to Uchiha Madara?

"Uchiha Madara?"

The name instantly sent a wave of tension through everyone present.

The mere mention of the man who had once rivaled Hashirama made their expressions turn grim.

Especially Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As someone who had witnessed Shigen and Madara's interactions in his youth, he had long suspected that Akatsuki was connected to Madara.

"Tobirama, what is going on?"

Hashirama pressed his brother for answers.

"How did Shigen become entangled with Madara?"

"Big Brother..."

Tobirama exhaled slowly.

"After you died... Madara sought out Shigen more frequently."

"He never gave up on using Shigen for his schemes."

"In fact... before I died, Madara had already succeeded in deceiving him, convincing him to aid in his hidden, sinister plans."

Tobirama couldn't keep the truth from someone who had been wronged so deeply.

But he also wouldn't hide his own role in what had happened between him and Shigen.

Of course—

He couldn't fully blame Shigen either.

Because Hashirama knew exactly what kind of person Shigen was.

In the past, he had been a universally respected medical ninja.

Even Tobirama himself had to acknowledge that—

Shigen was once, without a doubt, a truly good man.

"So that's how it is, Shigen?"

Hashirama scratched his head.

If it was because of Madara's deception...

Then this really was a bit awkward.

Well—

If Madara was the cause...

Then perhaps he could help.

Hashirama wasn't great with words, but he resolved to do his best to make Shigen understand the dangers of his old friend.

"No."

"Madara didn't deceive me."

Shigen shook his head calmly, speaking in defense of someone who wasn't even there.

"To be precise... I was the one who guided Madara."

"I showed him the path to true, eternal peace."

"That's what led to Akatsuki's creation."

"Eternal peace?"

Hashirama's frown deepened.

Shigen guiding Madara didn't surprise him.

After all, he himself had once been guided by Shigen.

Back then—

Shigen had never hesitated to share his wisdom with the younger generation.

Many of the doubts and struggles Hashirama had once faced were resolved through Shigen's words.

He had no doubt that Madara had also sought answers from him.

And he also knew—

That the answers Madara received were not ones the world would accept.

"Eternal peace..."

"That was something both you and Madara once sought..."

Shigen gazed at Hashirama, his expression distant, lost in memory.

And he did not hide the real reason his beliefs had changed.

"Hashirama, you once carried the hope for eternal peace."

"I once foresaw two possible futures for this world."

"One was tied to you."

"The other lay within Madara's Sharingan."

"Madara never deceived me."

"When you died, a great war erupted across the Shinobi World."

"That war proved that placing my hopes in you had not been the right choice."

"So I decided to see whether Madara's path could succeed instead."

"And your brother..."

Shigen's gaze slowly fell upon Tobirama.

The coldness in his eyes made Tobirama shudder involuntarily.

"Tobirama's actions only further proved something to me."

"Perhaps I should have chosen Madara from the very beginning."

"You claim to be protecting peace..."

"But all you have done is stray further and further from it."

"Madara's path was the right one."

"That's why I chose to guide him in finding another way for this world."

"!!!"

Hashirama turned sharply toward Tobirama.

"Tobirama..."

A sense of unease gripped him.

Just what had his brother done?

"So that's how it is..."

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, speaking in a low voice.

"So... is this because the Second Hokage used Shigen's abilities for war...?"

"Or is it because Madara helped Shigen put an end to the First Shinobi World War?"

"..."

Tobirama furrowed his brow.

And then, in a stern voice, he said,

"Madara only helped Shigen end that war to gain his trust."

"To learn more of his secrets and power."

This was not baseless slander.

It was a logical deduction, based on Tobirama's understanding of Madara.

As for his own use of Shigen—

That had been unavoidable.

To protect Konoha...

He had to do whatever was necessary.

And he was willing to bear the consequences of those decisions.

However—

There was one thing Tobirama couldn't deny.

At the moment of his death, he had—

He had made a fatal mistake toward Shigen.

"...I apologize, Shigen."

Tobirama hesitated, then spoke in a low, steady voice.

"To prevent Madara from using you against Konoha and the Shinobi World..."

"Before I died, I attempted to use the Reaper Death Seal to imprison your soul within the Shinigami."

"!!!"

Hiruzen's pupils shrank.

Even Minato looked shocked.

Because the Reaper Death Seal—

Was a forbidden technique used as a last resort.

It denied the enemy's soul the right to rest.

In this world, respect for the dead was absolute.

To imprison someone's soul for eternity—

Was the ultimate sacrilege.

Wait...

The Second Hokage...

This wasn't just an "offense" against Shigen.

This was something far worse.

Especially—

Against a man like him.

"Second Grandpa..."

Even Tsunade, still gravely injured by Shigen, looked shaken.

She had never known that her granduncle's conflict with Shigen had gone this far.

"No wonder..."

Even Orochimaru's eyelid twitched slightly.

Now he understood why Tobirama's soul had been trapped within the Shinigami.

"Tobirama, you!"

Hashirama's face was filled with both frustration and helplessness.

He knew his brother well.

Tobirama had always seen Madara as an enemy.

Especially after Madara unleashed the Nine-Tails upon Konoha.

But—

Tobirama had gone too far!

Even if he wanted to stop Madara...

There was no need to go this far against Shigen!

In Hashirama's last memories before his death,

The world still told stories of Shigen's kindness.

Shigen had never cared about politics.

He had healed all who needed him—

Even Madara himself.

And just to prevent Madara from using him...

Tobirama had tried to erase him completely?

That was...

Too much.

If he had first revived Shigen through Edo Tensei—

Only to then try sealing him away forever...

That was beyond cruel.

"Doesn't matter."

"I no longer care."

Shigen glanced at Tobirama, his eyes lifeless and hollow.

"If not for you..."

"Perhaps I would have never truly realized that this world is beyond saving."

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