Madara's Struggle

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"Really?"

Hearing this, Hashirama was first delighted. "I didn't expect Tobirama to change so quickly! That's a good thing!"

"I hope he can reach the contract standard as soon as possible."

"Once he does, I hope you can put aside past grievances and make a contract with Tobirama, then revive him.!"

"No problem!" Kaito didn't hesitate and nodded in agreement.

The sooner he contracted the Second Hokage, the better. That way, he could trust him more and entrust him with more responsibilities—turning him into an even more reliable workhorse.

Hashirama, unaware of Kaito's true thoughts, beamed with joy upon hearing his response.

Then, he thought about Madara and sighed. "As for Madara, I'll do my best to persuade him... but I feel like it'll be really tough! I'll have to take it step by step."

"Sigh, that guy is so stubborn!"

Well, that was a common trait among the Uchiha.

At least, it was for the Uchihas of the past.

Now, because the entire clan was under contract and had practiced the meditation technique, the mental and personality-altering effects of unlocking the Sharingan had essentially been eliminated.

In a few more months, once the newly contracted Uchiha mastered the Sharingan Meditation Technique, the influence of their eye awakening on their psyche and personality would be completely eradicated.

By then, the Uchiha Clan would be reborn.

"If he wasn't stubborn, he wouldn't be Madara."

"Just let things happen naturally. There's no need to rush."

Kaito chuckled and shook his head.

"Yeah, I suppose that's all we can do."

Hashirama nodded and decided to stop worrying about it for now. Instead, he stretched out his arms and moved his body. "Haha! I'm finally fully revived! Now I can officially start training in Life Force techniques and refining my chakra again!"

Just thinking about it filled him with motivation.

After chatting for a while longer, everyone dispersed.

Hashirama immediately ran off to find Madara.

— — —

"Huh? Hashirama, you..."

Before Hashirama could even start boasting, Madara had already noticed something drastically different about him. His pupils shrank as he stared intensely and asked, "You've been fully revived? Did you guys find my Rinnegan?"

Otherwise, there was no way to explain why Hashirama was completely revived.

The thought that his Rinnegan had fallen into Kaito's hands made Madara feel even more conflicted.

He both hoped and feared this was the case.

He hoped it was true because it meant Black Zetsu's schemes had failed—right now, Black Zetsu must be seething.

He feared it because he had his own plans, and if Kaito had the Rinnegan, getting it back would be incredibly difficult.

"Huh?"

Hearing Madara's assumption, Hashirama scratched the back of his head in confusion. "No, why would you think that?"

"Oh!"

Before Madara could ask further, Hashirama suddenly realized something. "You think I was revived using your Rinnegan, don't you?"

"Is that not the case?" Madara looked at Hashirama in disbelief.

"Haha! Of course not!"

Hashirama laughed heartily, hands on his hips. "Kaito and the others haven't found your Rinnegan yet. And none of them have awakened the Rinnegan either!"

"The reason I'm alive is that Kaito developed a true resurrection technique based on Edo Tensei."

"Just now, he used this forbidden jutsu to bring me back!"

Technically, this was highly classified information that Hashirama shouldn't be revealing to Madara or anyone else.

But considering his revival was impossible to hide from Madara, unless they were to prevent the two from meeting entirely, Kaito had permitted Hashirama to disclose this to Madara and Tobirama.

It was also a way to build goodwill with them.

Who knew? Maybe their desire for resurrection would make them more inclined toward Kaito.

"What?!"

Hearing Hashirama's words, Madara's expression changed drastically. "You're saying that brat, Kaito, created a true resurrection technique? And that's how you were revived? How is that possible?!"

This was actual resurrection!

To Madara, that was something only Six Paths-level beings could achieve.

Just like his Rinnegan.

It wasn't something mere mortals should be able to grasp.

Yet now, he was being told that Kaito, a kid, had taken hold of this power on his own?

Madara found it utterly absurd.

But he knew Hashirama well enough to recognize that he wasn't lying.

So, what he just said... must be true.

This realization shook Madara to his core.

"Looks like I've really underestimated that brat..."

"No wonder he managed to orchestrate my downfall at just ten years old, achieve so much, and hold such grand ambitions."

"With talent like that, I suppose it's not surprising."

Madara sighed in admiration.

Then, a new thought entered his mind—could Kaito also resurrect him?

He knew Hashirama had been bringing up Kaito frequently, trying to change his view of the boy and push him to Kaito's side completely.

Before, Madara had scoffed at the idea.

But now... if it meant getting resurrected...

Maybe playing along wouldn't be such a bad idea.

As for truly changing his mind and fully siding with Kaito? Madara wasn't thinking that far yet.

He admitted the kid had some skills, but that alone wasn't enough to make him completely work under him.

His pride wouldn't allow it.

With that in mind, Madara decided to test the waters and asked Hashirama, "So, is there a chance for me to be revived as well?"

"If I could be revived, I wouldn't mind standing on Kaito and Konoha's side to some extent and lending a hand."

Hearing this, Hashirama felt delighted, but he still shook his head and said, "In theory, as long as you truly and sincerely want to stand with Kaito, reviving you would be as simple as a single word from him."

"But the key is that you must be genuinely sincere."

"If you're not truly sincere, then forget it."

"So, you should change your opinion of Kaito as soon as possible and fully recognize and support him!"

"Otherwise, I don't know when you'll actually be revived."

Rules couldn't be broken.

"Huh?" Madara was dumbfounded. "How do you guys even measure whether I'm sincere or not? Is this something that can be quantified?"

He felt like he was being brushed off.

Hashirama had changed.

However, Hashirama then added, "Maybe others can't, but Kaito actually can!"

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to be revived just now."

"What?" Madara was even more stunned. "You're saying that kid, Uchiha Kaito, can actually test if someone is truly sincere toward him?"

"Yes! Absolutely!" Hashirama nodded firmly. "So, don't even think about pretending or trying to exploit loopholes—it won't work."

"Only if you are truly willing to stand on Kaito's side will he fully revive you. And you'll return at your peak strength."

"Otherwise, you'll just have to remain in this Edo Tensei form and keep working for him!"

"Besides," Hashirama's expression suddenly turned serious as he looked at Madara, "given your strength in life, you should be well aware that the Edo Tensei body isn't truly immortal!"

"Not to mention its weaknesses against sealing techniques;"

"Simply being in this undead state constantly consumes your soul and mental strength."

"Your soul is being slowly eroded."

"If you stay in this form too long, your soul could eventually deteriorate to the point where you start losing memories, and in the end, your soul will completely collapse, making resurrection impossible."

"Kaito has already confirmed this through extensive practice with Edo Tensei."

"A soul has its limits, too!"

"So, Madara, if you want to be revived, you should change your attitude toward Kaito sooner rather than later!"

"Otherwise, before your soul is too damaged, I'll have to ask Kaito to release your Edo Tensei form and send you back to the afterlife."

"Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll lose you forever, my friend."

He wasn't joking—he genuinely meant it.

Madara's expression grew complicated as he looked at Hashirama, hesitating before muttering, "Hashirama, you... really are impossible to hate."

"I'll keep what you said in mind. I'll think it over."

"Enough talking, let's get back to work."

"Otherwise, that annoying brat Kaito will just make me do the work against my will!"

He hated that feeling of being controlled.

"Alright! Get to it! I'll keep trying to persuade Tobirama!" Hashirama nodded and got back to work as well.

However, without the infinite chakra from Edo Tensei, he couldn't continuously use Wood Release to construct buildings as he had before.

In a way, he even felt weaker now.

But Kaito knew this and had no regrets.

Slowing down the reconstruction of Konoha was acceptable, but having Hashirama regain his full strength through training was far more important.

He needed a Sage of Six Paths-level fighter to remove the final obstacles ahead.

Hearing Hashirama bring up Tobirama again, Madara scoffed, "Don't even mention that bastard to me. I'd rather he never gets fully revived, and his soul gets completely erased."

He could forgive almost anyone—but not Tobirama.

Unless Uchiha Izuna was revived and willing to forgive Tobirama himself.

Otherwise, it was impossible.

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