Chapter 407: Chiyo Is a Young Girl
"Me? Where would I even get that? Don't forget what state we're in right now."
When Hashirama heard Madara say that, he didn't suspect any hidden scheme. He just thought Madara had gotten so angry his mind wasn't working properly.
They were clearly in Impure World Reincarnation bodies. Where would he possibly get any "Hashirama cells" from?
"You and Tobirama are both close to your former strength. Doesn't that mean each of you has some of your power mixed in?"
Madara spoke in a low, lingering tone.
Back when he was alive, he had never been interested in Impure World Reincarnation. The reason was simple: the original version developed by Tobirama was far too weak.
It didn't enhance combat power at all. It was practically something Tobirama, that "inherently evil" man, created just to disgust people.
How weak were Impure World Reincarnation summons? So weak that Tobirama even had to develop a self-destruct technique, the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, specifically to pair with it.
But even that weakest initial version… if Madara had it now, he would gladly take it.
Hashirama and the others were specially made, the highest-quality vessels.
As for him, he was also specially made… just the lowest-quality one.
It was outrageous.
"…Well…"
Hashirama froze for a moment upon hearing this, then hesitated.
He could indeed sense that both Tobirama and himself contained a large amount of his own cells. The problem was, he couldn't take them out.
While Impure World Reincarnation was active, aside from the outer appearance, their bodies were essentially made of paper. Even if their insides were destroyed, it was just layers of paper that would automatically regenerate.
Even if he reached into his body and pulled out a few "sheets" for Madara, setting aside whether it would even work, the moment he let go, those papers would just fly back into place.
"Forget that for now. We're leaving Konoha!"
Hashirama had just been about to explain when he suddenly heard the sound of shinobi rapidly approaching from behind. Without hesitation, he rushed forward, picked up Madara, and fled into the distance.
He didn't even bother with the wheelchair, it was left behind on the spot.
A few seconds later, Yamato, who possessed Hashirama cells, arrived at the scene. He helped Moegi up from the ground and began asking what had happened.
"Yamato-sensei, aren't you going after those two?"
Moegi was still anxious, pointing in the direction Hashirama had just fled.
"They left very quickly. Even most jonin wouldn't be able to catch up. Let them go."
"If we want to find out who those attackers were, I can apply to the Hokage later and ask Sasuke to help track them down."
"If we chase them now, we'll only force them into taking innocent villagers hostage."
Yamato shook his head and rejected her suggestion.
"I see… is that how it works?"
Moegi hadn't expected that perspective at all. She immediately felt like she had grown a little.
Moegi's life had always carried a kind of plain, understated tragedy.
When she was young and didn't understand things, she, as a girl, would accompany Konohamaru in using the "Sexy Technique."
Let's just say, anyone who fell for Moegi's Sexy Technique deserved to be dragged over and zapped by Kakashi's Lightning Blade.
It didn't matter if the outward appearance of the technique looked like an adult. Internally, it wasn't, so getting shocked was only fair.
By the same logic, someone like Freya from a certain kingdom might look like a white-haired little girl, but she's actually very old. So having thoughts about her wouldn't warrant getting zapped.
And what about Moegi after she grew up?
Before long, she ended up like "a relic of the era", just like Uchiha Sasuke, becoming practically a vegetable.
If you wanted a villain with Wood Release, why not use Yamato? Sacrifice an old character if you must and let Yamato take the role. Why turn a member of the new generation like her into a template for the antagonist?
---
"Madara, no time to waste. Let's head to the next ninja village."
"As for those kids, I'm sure there are more like them. Even if I dealt with them now, it wouldn't solve anything. Afterward, I'll discuss it with Tobirama and Shiromo… their minds are sharp. Let's see what solutions they come up with."
Hashirama ran westward at full speed, carrying Madara the entire way.
Their identities had already been exposed. If they turned back now, even if they dispelled their Transformation Jutsu, they still risked being recognized.
After all, the Inuzuka clan's sense of smell was just too practical.
Impure World Reincarnation bodies normally had no scent, but Hashirama had been carrying bags full of snacks earlier.
Madara said nothing, lying there like a corpse.
He didn't care at all about Konoha's future.
In his view, once he was fully revived and regained his power, whether it was the Infinite Tsukuyomi or a violent revolution, he would accomplish it alone. There was no need for discussion.
In fact, Hashirama's actions suited his purposes perfectly.
This way, he didn't have to worry about Hashirama lingering in Konoha for too long and wasting time.
The longer they delayed, the more likely Tobirama would notice something was wrong.
---
A few days later.
Land of Wind, Sunagakure Village.
"Today's expenses are all on Madara-sama!"
Amid the cheers of the villagers, another extravagant day came to an end.
Because of what had happened earlier, Hashirama felt guilty toward Madara and had been reduced to acting as his wallet and servant.
Every day, he accompanied Madara as if he were some domineering CEO, delivering gifts to Granny Chiyo.
At first, Hashirama was confused.
A few days ago, when Madara stared at Pakura on the road, he thought Madara had been suppressing something. Later, he realized he had misunderstood.
And now this?
This time, Hashirama stayed cautious, afraid of misunderstanding again.
But after carefully asking about it, he was horrified to discover that it was actually true.
Hashirama asked Madara, "Why do you like an old lady?"
Madara responded with confusion, "What old lady? Hashirama, you need to get your age straight. Think about how old we actually are. Chiyo isn't an old woman, she's a cute young girl."
Hashirama suddenly had an epiphany.
That's right.
If you really wanted to talk about "old women", then even his granddaughter Tsunade would count.
So Madara's behavior wasn't strange at all.
When Madara was still alive, Chiyo really was just a cute little girl!
"No problem at all. Totally makes sense."
As for Granny Chiyo?
Some time ago, in order to stage a performance for Naruto, someone had specifically informed her to cooperate, just in case.
The setup was that she had kidnapped Sakumo's son, Kakashi, and that the two were in love and were even going to have a child together.
But then the whole matter suddenly disappeared.
Chiyo waited for a long time but never got her moment to appear, so she asked someone about it.
Amegakure Village naturally couldn't reveal the true purpose. They only vaguely stated that Kakashi now had another mission, something related to "Uchiha Madara."
The real situation was that Kakashi's role had been changed to targeting the "masked man, Uchiha Madara's grandmother."
But Chiyo didn't know that.
Not long after being brushed off, she actually encountered Uchiha Madara.
Of course, she would do her best to cooperate.
Chiyo had always been something of a playful old child. With something this interesting, she was more than happy to enjoy herself.
What's more, this might actually be the real Uchiha Madara, something she absolutely couldn't miss.
As for how she figured it out?
She couldn't tell just by looking at Madara. But the chakra and presence of Senju Hashirama beside him were unmistakably real, so that frail-looking Madara couldn't be fake either.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
"Oh no, oh no! Obito, this is bad! The person you care about the most has fallen!"
White Zetsu rushed into the cave in a panic, shouting toward the masked man inside, who was eating curry rice.
(End of this chapter)