At the Uchiha Clan Leader's estate—
The first rays of morning sunlight fell upon the courtyard, where a bare, muscular figure moved with practiced grace. The beads of sweat gleamed like crystals on his skin as he exhaled a long breath, marking the end of Uchiha Madara's morning training.
"Where the hell is Izuna? Still not up?"
Madara slowly opened his eyes, glancing around the empty training ground with a frown.
He had clearly reminded Izuna last night to wake up early for training, but now the sun was already out and there was no sign of him.
"Ha~"
Just as Madara was on the verge of getting angry, Uchiha Izuna finally appeared, yawning as he arrived late.
"Izuna, you—!"
Madara's expression darkened, about to scold him, but then he noticed the obvious exhaustion on Izuna's face—particularly the dark circles under his eyes.
"Aniki… sorry, I was working overtime last night," Izuna said with an apologetic tone. "There was a report of a loud explosion near the clan's grounds, so I led a squad to investigate."
"Explosion? Was it an enemy attack?"
Madara's tone softened a little once he heard Izuna had been on duty. He even showed a hint of concern. "You weren't hurt, were you?"
"Uh… no enemy was found. Actually, before I arrived, I ran into Father." Izuna scratched his head, clearly evasive. "He said he was testing a new jutsu and lost control of the power."
"I see… thanks for the hard work, Izuna."
Madara, now putting on his clothes, missed the strange expression on his younger brother's face. After a few words of encouragement, he waved and said, "Let's go. Cousin said we're doing special training at the Nanga River today. Don't be late."
"Yes, Aniki."
Izuna breathed a sigh of relief. In truth, he hadn't returned all that late. He had just spent too much time hiding his… magazines. And then he'd gotten a bit too absorbed in a newly acquired issue and ended up staying up all night.
"I wonder what kind of special training cousin has in store for us."
Despite looking worn out, Izuna followed Madara and mused. He knew Gin's strength was so-so, but the guy was full of weird ideas. There'd definitely be some unusual stuff today.
"We'll see when we get there," Madara replied coolly. He didn't expect much from Gin's training. At most, it would be a kind of family outing.
They arrived in a flash at the familiar riverbank. The waters of the Nanga River flowed gently. As Madara looked around, old memories surfaced.
So much time had passed, and so many things had changed. He remembered when he and Hashirama had been just two cheerful boys, training and sparring here daily, dreaming of the future. It was a precious, unforgettable time.
Thinking of the first time they met and skipped stones together, a faint smile tugged at Madara's lips.
He wondered if Hashirama had improved his stone-skipping skills, and as the thought came, he bent down and picked up a stone to test the waters.
"Whoosh… plop, plop, plop, splash."
His stone barely skipped a few times before sinking.
"Whoosh… plop, plop, plop, plop, plop, plop…"
Just then, a familiar voice echoed in his mind. Madara looked up in shock—another stone flew from the opposite bank, skipping cleanly over the water and landing right at his feet.
"Hahaha! Madara! I win again!"
That cheerful, familiar voice stunned Madara. His eyes widened as a familiar figure emerged slowly from the trees on the opposite bank. His shock gave way to joy for a moment, but he quickly remembered the present reality, and his expression hardened.
"Hashirama! How dare you show your face here?"
This time, Senju Hashirama didn't wear his iconic red armor. Instead, he wore a yellow-brown haori over a dark green inner robe and light gray hakama.
"I've got a lot to say to you, Madara."
Hashirama waved with a smile, looking more like the friendly boy-next-door than the mighty battlefield juggernaut.
"Hmph! I've got nothing to say to you."
Madara raised a hand to stop Izuna from drawing his blade. Despite his initial happiness, his frown returned. He looked warily at Hashirama and warned him coldly.
"Really? That breaks my heart~"
Hashirama pouted like a kicked puppy, his expression making Madara feel oddly nervous.
"Pah! You bastard! After what you did to my brother, you dare act all chummy in front of us?!"
Izuna wasn't having any of it. Enraged by Hashirama's cheeky face, he leapt forward, drawing his sword in a flash, intent on slicing down the man who had "taken" his brother.
"Wait! Hashi—I mean, Izuna, be careful!"
Madara had let his guard down for a second, and Izuna had already dashed forward. Madara slapped his leg in frustration.
"Die!"
Izuna's blade gleamed coldly as it swung toward the unarmed Hashirama with deadly intent.
But Hashirama didn't flinch. Instead, he rolled his eyes internally.
Completely calm, he raised a hand, and a burst of bluish-purple chakra enveloped his body.
Clang! Crack!
With just one hand, he stopped Izuna's full-powered strike. Then, using sheer strength, he snapped the sword in two.
"Don't hurt my brother!"
Madara wasn't admiring Hashirama's body anymore. He drew his own blade and leapt forward to save Izuna.
"Madara, you know I hate fighting."
Hashirama gave Madara a helpless look before clapping his hands together.
Madara's eye twitched. He'd been tortured by this move too many times. He clenched instinctively.
Boom—
From the ground erupted massive wooden branches that surged toward Madara, circling past Izuna and aiming directly at him.
"Aniki, look out!"
Izuna's eyes turned scarlet as he quickly formed hand seals, unleashing a massive fireball.
"Mizuton: Suijinheki (Water Style: Water Formation Wall)!"
A cold voice rang out, and a flash of blue armor appeared—Senju Tobirama.
With his signature scornful expression, he spewed water to extinguish the flames, mist covering the battlefield.
"Aniki, I told you—there's no reasoning with Uchiha scum."
Tobirama folded his arms and glared coldly at Izuna, full of contempt.
"Tobirama, stay out of this. This is between me and Madara."
Hashirama, all the while controlling the wooden branches, scolded his brother.
"Heh. Then let's see how you convince that hard-headed fool."
For once, Tobirama didn't argue. He stepped back and watched with crossed arms.
"Hashirama!"
Madara ran.
"Madara!"
Hashirama chased.
Swish—
Izuna was about to jump in when a kunai landed at his feet.
"Move, and I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life."
Tobirama smirked, his voice full of menace.
"Heh, Senju Tobirama… you think I'll fall for that?"
Izuna's Sharingan spun as he studied Tobirama, looking for a flaw.
"Hmph. Those eyes of yours are worthless."
Tobirama scoffed and taunted him with a finger wave.
"If you really don't care about their lives, then go ahead."
"…What do you mean?"
Izuna narrowed his eyes.
"Come out. Show them."
From the trees emerged four unfamiliar figures—clearly from the Senju Clan. But what stunned Izuna was the sight behind them.
Two tied-up Uchiha—Gin and Chiri.
"Chiri? Cousin Gin?!"
Izuna choked down the fire in his mouth and was speechless.
"Tobirama! You better not hurt them! Or I swear, even if I have to crap on your grave, I'll get revenge!"
"Looks like you're not cooperating, huh?"
Tobirama sneered and dragged Chiri forward, removing her gag.
"You brat, talk some sense into that fuzzy-headed idiot over there."
Chiri gasped for breath, then glared at Tobirama with hatred.
"We were supposed to meet Cousin Gin for training… but he never showed up. This creep ambushed us!"
"What? But Cousin Gin should've—"
"Already captured before I got there," Chiri interrupted, coughing. "Forget about us, help the clan leader!"
"Ha! I love breaking stubborn little girls."
"Bring it, Senju! I won't even flinch. If I do, I'll change my name to Senju!"
"You're next… but first, a warning."
Tobirama turned to Gin and raised him up.
"Look, Izuna. This is what happens when you resist."
The four creepy Senju behind him hissed and licked their lips with disturbing glee.
"Ugh…"
Even Tobirama was creeped out.
"See? Totally broken."
"Senju Tobirama!! I'll kill you!!!"
Izuna's rage was peaking. His Sharingan was spinning rapidly, almost fusing.
Tobirama, seeing this, smirked. Perfect. Just as planned.
Meanwhile…
"Hahaha! Hashirama! Can't catch me!"
Madara twisted nimbly through the vines.
"Madara! Once I catch you, you're in big trouble!"
Hashirama chased with relentless vines.
"Madara! Do you want your relatives tortured to death?!"
Tobirama yelled from afar, dragging Gin's limp body.
"Cousin?! You despicable—%…&¥&*!"
Madara's anger exploded. His eyes turned blood red, pressure emanating from him.
"Hashirama! This is your peace?! %*&%$#—"
"Madara."
Hashirama's face darkened, then brightened again. "I'll let them go, but…"
"Spit it out!"
"I want… you!"
"Ha??"
Even Izuna and Chiri screamed in shock.
On a distant hill, Tajima spit out his tea. "Gin? This wasn't in the script!"
"Trust me. My actors are all professionally trained~"
…
"Aniki, no! They want to take you hostage!"
"What do you mean?"
Madara frowned, puzzled.
"Uh… my wedding is coming up…"
Crack
"Huh? What was that sound?"
Everyone looked around.
"Aniki, what was that?"
"Nothing… just the sound of my heart breaking."
"You're getting married? To who?"
"…The Uzumaki broke off the engagement."
Crack
Another heart mended and broke again.
"Hahahaha! I knew no one would marry you, you idiot!"
Madara laughed with tears of joy.
"I really need a spouse now."
"So you chose me?!"
"No way!"
"Thought so. That's why I brought this guy."
Hashirama pointed at Gin. "You don't agree, I'll take him."
"He's thirty!"
"No problem. He's got mature charm~"
"Guh… guh…"
In the corner, forgotten Chiri's eyes turned red—her Sharingan awakening.
"Enough, Aniki! This has gone too far!"
Even Tobirama was cringing. This fake persona was too real!
"Sorry, Madara. Got carried away."
Hashirama smiled, then his expression turned cold. "If you don't come with me… then this guy's useless."
He reached for Gin.
"Don't you dare!"
Madara slashed toward him—
Snap! Roots shot out, grabbing him mid-air.
"Not good!"
Izuna rushed in, only to be caught too.
"Let us go!"
Bound in vines, drained of chakra, both brothers collapsed.
"Haa… Hashirama, I know I'm who you want. Let them go. I'll go with you."
"Especially that curly-haired weakling. Waste of food."
Thanks… I guess?
"Who do you think you're commanding?"
Tobirama stepped up and slapped Madara.
"Bastard!"
Izuna struggled, biting his lip.
"Let's kill the loudmouth."
"Fine."
Hashirama raised a sharp wooden spear toward Izuna.
Gin, long forgotten, smiled.
"Alright, my turn, as the real protagonist…"
(End of Chapter)
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