Chapter 404: A Classic Konoha "Tradition"
After the technique was installed, Uchiha Madara sat in his wheelchair and took a deep breath.
A long-lost sensation of pain.
Before this, even though he could tell his body was weak and frail, it had all felt hollow and unreal, there had been no actual sensation to match it.
Now, this was real.
No wonder Pain had kept going on about "pain, pain" before.
As the original owner of the Rinnegan, Madara himself had a similar inclination, he also enjoyed the sense of reality that pain brought.
In the original timeline, after being revived during the Fourth Great Ninja War, the first thing Madara did was bite himself. Later, he even deliberately took attacks, laughing wildly as he felt the pain.
"Mm."
While Madara closed his eyes and breathed deeply, Senju Hashirama had already grabbed the snacks he bought and started eating. He didn't forget to stuff a grilled sausage into Madara's mouth as well.
Madara didn't refuse. Enjoying the taste of food was also a way of experiencing what it meant to be alive.
Although he wasn't truly revived yet, this was just a sensation produced by a technique, something akin to a genjutsu illusion.
Still, Madara believed that true resurrection was not far off.
Hashirama pushed his wheelchair out of the research facility.
After all, this wasn't a dining hall. Stuffing themselves with food there would be a bit inappropriate.
Hashirama then headed toward the Flying Thunder Formation team's location, preparing to take Madara to Konoha.
"Oh right, Madara, should we use the Transformation Technique? With the way we're dressed, we're way too conspicuous."
As they walked, Hashirama suddenly made a suggestion.
The two of them were still wearing deep red Warring States-era armor, completely out of place in this era.
More importantly, their appearances were far too iconic. The statues at the Valley of the End had already become famous landmarks.
Even people not from their era could recognize them just by visiting that site.
And even without that, in Konoha, just looking up at the Hokage Rock would be enough to recognize Hashirama.
On top of that, there were the obvious traits of Impure World Reincarnation.
All of these would interfere with their plan to quietly observe Konoha and enjoy their "trip."
"That's fine, but…"
Madara raised his hand. His arm trembled for a moment before dropping back onto the armrest of the wheelchair. "I can't use any jutsu on my own right now."
He completely agreed with Hashirama's suggestion.
If they could use the Transformation Technique, then they should.
In his current frail state, sitting in a wheelchair while still bearing the face of Uchiha Madara, it was nothing short of humiliating.
It was beneath him.
Better to transform.
Besides, his reputation was too great. If some hot-blooded fool in Konoha wanted to make a name for themselves by defeating him and insisted on challenging him, that would be even more troublesome.
"No problem. I'll do it for you."
Hashirama grinned.
With a Transformation Technique, he turned himself into his younger self, then placed a hand on Madara's shoulder and transformed him into a younger version as well.
However, compared to the real young Madara, this version had been modified slightly, with dark circles under his eyes and sunken cheeks, making him look like a frail, sickly boy whose body had been drained.
That way, sitting in a wheelchair wouldn't seem strange.
Knowing Madara's chakra was weak, Hashirama also infused extra chakra into the transformation to keep it from dispelling.
And just like that, the two arrived in Konoha.
Hashirama excitedly pushed Madara around, wandering everywhere.
Although Konoha had only been an excuse in Madara's original plan, the true goal being Sunagakure, as that strange song Hashirama had played before suggested, Konoha was still, in the end, his hometown.
Madara couldn't help but take a proper look around.
As they walked, a burst of commotion came from ahead.
"There's something interesting going on! Let's go!"
Hashirama immediately rushed over, pushing the wheelchair with enthusiasm.
There, they saw the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, announcing the results of a competition within the Nara clan.
Nara Shikamaru had taken first place. From now on, he could enjoy the clan's full support and live a completely laid-back life, no missions required, free to do whatever he wanted.
Nara Shikaku came in second and was doomed to continue serving as clan head.
Only at the next clan competition, or upon retirement, would he have a chance to escape that fate.
As Tsunade announced the results, the crowd below watched with great interest.
Shikamaru then began recounting how he had completed his mission, incidentally fulfilling his real task of spreading the story.
As he spoke, he eventually mentioned Uchiha Sasuke's Rinnegan.
It was through the abilities of that eye that Sasuke had managed such an unbelievable method.
After hearing this, Madara simply took note of it silently.
If possible, he would naturally prefer to reclaim his original Rinnegan.
But if Nagato's power and influence were too great, he could consider taking Sasuke's Rinnegan first, regaining some strength before going to retrieve his own.
Of course, all of this depended on one prerequisite: he had to be revived first.
In his current condition, he couldn't even defeat Sasuke, let alone deal with the defenses that would surely include Tobirama.
"Dad, how about our clan holds an eating contest too?"
"Good idea! The winner can get priority access to the best ingredients in the clan!"
"Yay!"
Nearby, members of the Akimichi clan watched the Nara clan's event with sparkling eyes, already thinking of hosting a competition of their own.
Though their goal wasn't really to compete for anything.
What they truly wanted… was an excuse to eat their fill.
After watching the spectacle, Hashirama ran off again to buy more food, leaving Madara behind.
At this point, Madara was starting to suspect that Hashirama might somehow be related to the Akimichi clan, why else would he be so gluttonous?
"Hey, where are you from? I've never seen you in the village before."
A child's voice interrupted Madara's thoughts.
Madara glanced over. Just an ordinary Konoha brat, no forehead protector, probably still a student at the ninja academy, with a group of similar kids behind him.
Madara ignored him and closed his eyes.
"Take this!"
Seeing that Madara not only ignored him but also looked at him with disdain, the boy grew angry and kicked him straight out of the wheelchair.
"Boss, nice one!"
"Stupid sickly outsider! Coming to Konoha to beg and still acting so arrogant!"
"Everyone, get him!"
Amid the children's shouting, they rushed forward and began beating up Uchiha Madara.
The Transformation Technique on Madara had been reinforced by Hashirama.
A powerful shinobi could make a transformation withstand a certain amount of damage without dispelling.
Given Hashirama's strength, the transformation easily withstood the attacks of a few academy kids.
And so, Madara found himself experiencing a "classic Konoha tradition" that many others had gone through before him,
Being bullied, just like Uzumaki Kushina, Might Guy, Uchiha Obito, Uchiha Itachi, Hyuga Hinata, Uzumaki Naruto, and many others.
(End of this chapter)