Chapter 117: Hashirama's Dilemma – Can't You Just Live with Madara?

Faced with the angry face of Uzumaki Mito, the First Hokage scratched his head awkwardly.

"He-heh! It's just a habit! A habit!"

"By the way," he turned and squinted at Hikari, puzzled. "Why do you look so familiar?"

Hikari rolled her eyes.

"I'm Uchiha Hikari. We've spoken many times before! Honestly, Hashirama, you're really forgetful."

"Oh! It's you!" Hashirama clapped his hands as realization hit. "Now I remember! You're the genius from that Teach woman—always arguing with Tobirama and driving him insane!"

"I didn't think you'd grow this powerful! Impressive!" He gave her a thumbs-up.

Hikari had never hidden her strength. And with Hashirama's keen perception, it was obvious to him that she had surpassed the Kage level.

Of course, the First didn't use the term "above Kage," but he understood well enough—he and Madara had long stood beyond what any standard Kage could achieve.

Now, both Hikari and Uzumaki Mito stood at that same level. They still had room to grow, but reaching this height was already astonishing.

Only those above the Kage threshold truly understood how difficult it was to cross that invisible line.

"Hmph."

Hikari only offered a faint smile, declining to comment further.

Tsunade and the others stared at her in disbelief—none of them expected Hikari to have once been someone who could verbally spar with Tobirama and get away with it.

Impressive.

"What's going on here?" Uzumaki Mito turned with annoyance toward Hashirama. "Resurrecting you was our joint decision—mine, Hikari's, and Gin's. We need your help to deal with Uchiha Madara."

"What?" Hashirama froze, along with Jiraiya, Hatake Sakumo, and Nara Shikaku, who had also been in the dark.

"Didn't Uchiha Madara die a long time ago?" Jiraiya asked, puzzled.

"Yeah, I thought so too," Hashirama added, eyes narrowing.

"Clearly, he didn't," Mito said sharply. "And you must've suspected something. Don't tell me you didn't know. Even Tobirama found that Madara's body had vanished."

"Mm…" Hashirama scratched the back of his head, sheepishly. "Honestly… Tobirama never told me anything. If I had known, I would've gone looking for Madara myself!"

After all, if they had become enemies, leaving Madara alive was a threat to Konoha. Had he known the truth, Hashirama would've hunted Madara down to the ends of the earth, even while sick.

"So that's how it is?" Mito narrowed her eyes. "Tobirama must've hidden it from you on purpose. He feared you'd go fight Madara and die too early. And he probably didn't want the public to know Madara was still alive—it would've thrown Konoha into chaos."

"That… makes sense," Hashirama nodded grimly. "So Madara didn't die? You fought him recently, didn't you? I can still sense the remnants of his chakra… though it's strange—it has my wood release signature?"

He sniffed the air, confused.

"Do you have a dog's nose now, Grandpa?" Tsunade couldn't help but tease.

For a moment, she regretted the decision to bring him back—this was not the majestic hero she remembered. Judging by Jiraiya and the others' expressions, his legendary image was crumbling fast.

Before he could respond, Mito looked sternly at him and confirmed:

"You're right. We just fought a clone of Madara's made from your cells."

She explained how Gin had destroyed a surprise clone made from Hashirama's flesh. But the real Madara had become something far more dangerous.

Back during their legendary duel at the Valley of the End, Madara had bitten off a piece of Hashirama's flesh in secret.

Hashirama rubbed his chin, surprised. "Yeah… he did bite me. It hurt like hell. Took forever to heal! But how could he steal my power just from a bite? And why would the proud Madara do something so low?"

"Because," Mito said, "he was manipulated by something not even human. It filled his head with the idea that combining your DNA with his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan would awaken the Rinnegan—the power of the Sage of Six Paths."

"What?" Hashirama blinked in disbelief. "Rinnegan?"

Jiraiya and the others looked equally shocked. They had never experienced this many world-shattering revelations in a single day.

"Exactly," Mito nodded. "Next time we face Madara, it will be with the Rinnegan in his eyes."

Hikari added, "He's much stronger now than he was at the Valley of the End. The only good news is that he's nearly at death's door. He's using forbidden means to cling to life. If we find him and push the battle long enough… we can win. But if he recovers fully, he could surpass even his peak."

"That's why we need your strength."

Hashirama's face darkened.

"Can't we talk to him first? Does it have to be a battle to the death? Madara will die anyway, so why not try one last time?"

"Idiot!" Mito shouted. "You think we brought you back because we want to kill him? He's the one instigating wars, manipulating from the shadows! He even sent a clone to assassinate Gin, Hikari, and me! He will destroy Konoha. If we don't strike first, we'll all be wiped out!"

She was furious—how could this man still care so much about Madara?

"Is… is that really true?" Hashirama's voice was faint.

Hearing this, Hashirama's entire demeanor changed. His playful air vanished, replaced by deep solemnity.

"So Madara truly lost his way… Worse than ever before. The Madara I knew hated sneak attacks. He never hurt children. He wouldn't kill someone just because of their potential. If he's changed that much, then I have to stop him. I must."

He turned to Mito with conviction.

"Where is he?"

Even in silence, his charisma returned. Jiraiya and the others—once disillusioned—now saw again the great First Hokage.

"He's at the Mountain Graveyard, north of the Land of Snow," Mito replied. "If we act now, we can ambush him before he disappears again."

"Alright!" Hashirama nodded—but then scratched his head. "Wait, how do we get there? Did someone place a Flying Thunder God mark?"

Mito furrowed her brow slightly.

"Of course. I, Gin, Hikari, and Tsunade all mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique."

It was true.

All except Tsunade had learned the true version of the technique, not just dimensional gate transfers.

Thanks to the contract linking their consciousness to other worlds, both Gin and Hikari had rapidly developed in spatial manipulation. Gin even improved the Flying Thunder God, making it easier to learn.

They knew future techniques would likely be built atop it. Without mastering the basics, even prodigies couldn't ascend.

Hashirama blinked in amazement. "You all mastered it? Incredible! Even you, Mito? I remember you had no talent for space-time ninjutsu!"

"We managed it because Gin refined the technique," Mito explained. "Tobirama's version was too rough—he didn't care if others could use it. He made it for himself."

And she wasn't wrong.

All of Tobirama's techniques—Flying Thunder God, Shadow Clone, Mutual Multiplying Explosive Tags, and even Edo Tensei—were incredibly difficult for others to replicate.

Even his Water Style jutsu had the same problem. Tobirama could cast Water Dragon Bullet with just three hand signs. Others needed 44.

Fortunately, for water-based jutsu, he created multiple versions—making them teachable. But his most advanced techniques? Never simplified.

Hashirama laughed.

"That was just like Tobirama! I did the same thing. My wood release doesn't use hand seals anymore—just claps! If I hadn't wanted others to learn it, I wouldn't have written down any hand signs either."

"Enough chatter," Mito said, stepping up and placing a hand on Hashirama's shoulder. "Let's move out before Madara slips away again!"

She turned to Tsunade and the rest.

"You handle the battlefield cleanup."

"I already know the situation from Gin's shadow clone. Great work out there. Regroup at the forward camp. Once we return from dealing with Madara—we celebrate."

And with that, Uzumaki Mito and Hashirama vanished.

Hikari nodded at Mikoto and the others, then disappeared.

"I'll go too," Gin said, and was gone in a flash.

Only Tsunade, Mikoto, Jiraiya, and the others remained.

"So…" Jiraiya and Sakumo exchanged glances. "Should we really just stay here?"

"Forget it," Tsunade snapped. "We're nowhere near strong enough. That's Madara Uchiha we're talking about—possibly stronger than ever. Going now is suicide."

"Alright. Let's return to Amegakure, collect supplies, and head to the forward camp."

As for the peace treaty, alliance terms, and compensation, Nara Shikaku and the others had already handled it.

Konoha had officially allied with Amegakure. Though they wouldn't publicly admit it yet, it was a long-term move for future integration and dominance.

"…Alright," Jiraiya muttered, gaze downcast.

It wasn't Tsunade's decision that bothered him—it was their own weakness. They couldn't help at all.

They had always thought they were strong… but now they knew better.

They had to keep training.

Sakumo remembered his sword technique exchange with Gin.

"I need to finalize that deal… maybe fusing our styles will help me break through."

He was close to his limit—he could feel it. If not for the Uchiha Clan's strengthening pills, his vitality and upper limit would've already plateaued.

End of Chapter 117