Hashirama's face crept closer and closer to Tobirama's.
Truth be told...
When Hashirama first saw 'Seisui,' he had thought he'd somehow traveled back to the Warring States Period and run into an old acquaintance again—Madara's younger brother, Izuna...
But plant people had a special kind of intuition.
Setting aside that face, which was almost identical to Izuna's, Hashirama's eyes seemed to see straight through flesh and skin, down to the bone structure and soul beneath...
In truth, even Tobirama's soul had been reforged and altered.
Yet Hashirama seemed to possess some sort of radar. He was intimately familiar with his own younger brother's particular feel—or perhaps some kind of presence unique to him.
Not even wearing Izuna's face as a disguise had been enough to hide it...
Tobirama's heart skipped a beat.
At that moment, he finally understood Madara on a spiritual level.
If running away had been an option, he genuinely would have used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport straight back to the village...
Hashirama was putting him under far too much pressure...
With Hashirama's huge face looming closer, Tobirama desperately wanted to plant a hand on it and roar, 'Big Brother, stop sticking your nose into everything!'
But there was now a thick barrier separating Tobirama from Hashirama.
One was a former Hokage.
The other was merely a junior member of the Uchiha Clan...
He couldn't casually put his hands on the First Hokage anymore!
If he inherited Senju Tobirama's reputation in the shinobi world along with his identity, then this second playthrough of his life would basically be ruined...
Hiruzen watched the scene with a cheerful smile.
'As expected, even Tobirama-sensei gets uncomfortable when he's dealing with Hashirama-sama...'
'But how exactly did he sense it?'
'His soul? His chakra? Or simply the bond between brothers?'
Hiruzen pondered the cause while enjoying the show from the sidelines.
The whole reason he had called over the trio of Danzō, Isshin, and Fugaku, with their arms around one another's shoulders, was to bail Tobirama out. Together, they could help fool Hashirama...
In Hiruzen's experience, Tobirama had little trouble fooling anyone else. Hashirama alone was difficult for him to deceive...
For everyone else, it was usually the opposite. Hashirama was relatively easy to fool; Tobirama was the hard one.
"Hokage-sama, I'm Uchiha Isshin!"
When Hashirama asked that rather pointed question, Isshin cleared his throat, stepped in front of Tobirama, and bowed slightly with extraordinary respect.
"Do you still remember me? I'm Uchiha Setsuna's younger brother. I'm now the head of the Uchiha Clan and a Council Member of Konoha..."
Hashirama blinked.
He had no idea what a Council Member of Konoha was, but it certainly sounded like the sort of position given to someone who had contributed to the village...
After thinking for a moment, Hashirama actually managed to find a memory of Isshin. He enthusiastically slapped him on the shoulder.
"You were still a young man when I died..."
"And now you've grown so old you look older than me! Hahaha!"
Isshin smiled helplessly and thought, 'Just like I heard back then. The First Hokage really does have the guileless sincerity of a child...'
He really did have absolutely no filter...
"With all that white hair, you must have poured your heart and soul into Konoha, haven't you? You've worked hard, Isshin..."
Hashirama's expression suddenly turned serious, and his voice grew solemn.
"I knew it. The Uchiha are good people. The Will of Fire burns fiercely in their hearts..."
Isshin froze.
An indescribable warmth welled up inside him, and he replied earnestly, "Nothing we do for Konoha and the Will of Fire could ever be considered a hardship, First Hokage-sama!"
Whether it came naturally to him or whether he had done it deliberately...
That little turn from Hashirama instantly won over Isshin, Fugaku, and even the surrounding Uchiha shinobi.
The First Hokage really did care about them just as the stories said!
Hiruzen silently watched the scene.
He felt as though he finally understood why, despite Hashirama having beaten the Uchiha far more brutally than Tobirama ever had...
Most of those red-eyed fellows still adored Hashirama...
The man really knew exactly what to say—and every word of it was heartfelt!
Tobirama listened speechlessly and gave a dry laugh to himself.
There he goes with that same old routine again!
Handing out the Will of Fire wholesale.
"Hashirama-sama, this is Fugaku. He'll be the next head of the Uchiha Clan. He's also a Council Member of Konoha and the current head of the Police Force..."
Fugaku hurriedly greeted Hashirama again and again.
"It's an honor to meet you, First Hokage-sama!"
Hashirama nodded with a broad smile.
Isshin continued introducing Konoha's current Uchiha.
"This is Tomie, a candidate for the Konoha Council. She's made outstanding contributions to the village's scientific research and has even been personally commended by the Third Hokage."
"The three of us have all awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
In front of Hashirama, Tomie's usual unhinged persona melted away like snow. She became every inch the refined lady as she respectfully greeted him.
"It's an honor to meet you, First Hokage-sama! Clan Head Isshin gives me far too much credit. I've only used my Mangekyō abilities to help the village with what little I could..."
"The actual implementation of the research projects, and ensuring that the village's shinobi could benefit from them, was mainly thanks to Hokage-sama's guidance and the combined efforts of the other shinobi in the Research Department."
Both Izuna and Tobirama stared at her in stunned silence.
Who was this woman?
Seriously, who was this woman?!
Wait...
What happened to the Tomie who, ever since awakening her eyes, never stopped bragging in the Research Department that her Mangekyō abilities could do anything?
What's with this meek, courteous, modest act?!
Why don't you try picking a fight with the First Hokage and Sarutobi Hiruzen?!
You only know how to bully the two of us, don't you?!
What Tobirama and Izuna didn't know was that Tomie was sharper than anyone.
The moment she'd seen Hiruzen's status panel filled with question marks, she'd understood that there was always someone stronger out there.
Bickering all day with mediocre talents like Orochimaru, Shio, and Seisui was perfectly fine...
But when someone genuinely terrifying showed up, you kept your head down!
The instant Hashirama had been revived, Tomie had secretly taken a peek at the First Hokage's status panel as well.
That was when she'd understood that yet another incomprehensible Hokage had appeared...
At the mention of the Mangekyō, Hashirama's heart stirred, and he exclaimed in delight,
"Oh my, that's wonderful! Wonderful..."
Hashirama turned toward Hiruzen, who was smoking with a smile, and shouted, "Hiruzen! I knew you could do it! You're so much better at this than Tobirama!"
If, in Hashirama's eyes, the Uchiha Clan were a bunch of adorable cats who occasionally hissed at people...
Then Mangekyō Uchiha were even more adorable cats with even worse tempers—and unusually colored eyes.
An exceptionally rare breed!
If even Mangekyō Uchiha had learned to speak so pleasantly and were using their precious ocular power and abilities to contribute to Konoha, then it meant the clan of the war fan had truly become part of the village...
It was something Hashirama had fought for throughout his life, yet had never lived to see.
One of his greatest lifelong regrets.
After Madara left and Tobirama succeeded him as Second Hokage, Hashirama had essentially given up hope of ever seeing it happen.
He might have been cheerful and a little simplehearted, but he wasn't stupid...
From Hashirama's perspective, Hiruzen had practically pulled Konoha back from the brink, transforming relations between the village and the Uchiha Clan from an all-time low into something even better than they had been when Konoha was first founded!
"It's really your reputation at work. Everyone has gathered beneath the banner of your ideals..." Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke and said with a cheerful smile.
"I won't take credit for it, Hashirama-sama."
"Tomie's research, Isshin's work designing the village's public security system, and Fugaku's..."
Hiruzen paused briefly.
"Fugaku's valor on the battlefield. He also has a deep understanding of education and has selflessly been teaching people throughout the village about Magnet Release..."
"Hokage-sama, you give me too much credit!" Fugaku said excitedly.
As expected, Hokage-sama was the only person in the entire village who truly understood his wisdom and recognized his profound grasp of education...
"You understand education too?" Hashirama asked in delighted surprise.
"Only a little, First Hokage-sama..."
Fugaku puffed out his chest, pinched his thumb and forefinger close together, and indicated the tiniest possible amount.
"Once this war is completely over, I'm planning to write a book so I can discuss my understanding of education with everyone in the village..."
"I'll follow the example of Jiraiya, Hokage-sama's student, and become a bestselling author!"
Fugaku had originally been obsessed with magnetic combat arts, determined to cultivate the image of a pure warrior.
But after seeing Jiraiya's identity as a man of letters, he'd become terribly envious and developed another obsession—though the Sage of Six Paths' interference had been the main cause.
Because Fugaku had discovered that Itachi, whom he'd sent off to be raised by Seisui and Isshin, was reasonably talented. Barely enough to call him average, perhaps...
But compared to his younger son Sasuke, whom Fugaku had personally raised, Itachi still fell quite a bit short!
As for how Fugaku had educated Sasuke, he'd simply given the young Uchiha plenty of money.
Then he'd let him do whatever he wanted. Most days, Sasuke simply hung around Ichiraku Ramen working as a kitchen helper...
The amusing part was that Isshin had once been furious about this and accused Fugaku of being irresponsible toward his younger son!
But after comparing Sasuke and Itachi, Isshin had been shocked to discover that Sasuke's talent was downright terrifying. He could practically compete with Naruto, Minato's son, despite all the resources that had been poured into Naruto!
Isshin couldn't make sense of it no matter how hard he tried, while Fugaku simply began styling himself as an advocate of hands-off parenting...
No one... understood how to bring out his younger son's talent better than Uchiha Fugaku!
Hiruzen, for his part, didn't see anything particularly strange about it.
After all, he really had watched Fugaku teach through his crystal ball and learned the Magnet Release bloodline ability from him.
He thought Fugaku was actually quite good at explaining things. His lessons were accessible without sacrificing substance, though he did skip a few steps here and there. Hiruzen could still follow along, however.
Beside him, Isshin secretly stepped on Fugaku's foot and shot him a warning glare.
Keep talking and you'll expose yourself!
If anyone could actually learn the things Fugaku taught, it was purely because that person was absurdly talented!
As for Fugaku's other forms of education, such as the way he raised Sasuke, all Isshin could say was that it felt as though some invisible hand were rigging the whole thing, leaving him utterly exhausted...
It simply didn't follow any objective logic!
Hashirama took a deep breath, looking thoroughly content.
Three Uchiha with Mangekyō Sharingan had emerged to serve the village...
And Hiruzen was such an excellent student—good with words and capable of getting things done...
Hashirama suddenly felt that Impure World Reincarnation might not actually be such an evil kinjutsu after all. Being brought back from the Pure Land and getting to witness something like this in the shinobi world could almost be considered a blessing!
Even though he was an Impure World body...
Hashirama was practically glowing with happiness, even more delighted than he'd been when Tsunade was born!
Only Tobirama and Izuna remained silent.
Go ahead, enjoy yourselves!
Keep flattering each other with that big idiot. They'd just sit over here and curse the lot of them...
"This boy's name is Seisui..."
Isshin and Fugaku crowded around Hashirama and lowered their voices.
"First Hokage-sama, your instincts really are incredible. He actually is connected to the Second Hokage."
"This boy is descended from both Young Clan Head Izuna and the Second Hokage..."
Hashirama's eyes widened in shock.
"Huh? Tobirama combined his cells with Izuna's?"
Tobirama, who had been listening intently from the side, felt his heart lurch.
Wait...
You actually guessed that?!
You're unbelievable, Big Brother...
"No, no..." Isshin hurriedly explained.
"The boy's father was Tobirama-sama's illegitimate son, while his mother was Izuna-sama's daughter. Because of some of Tobirama-sama's policies, the two of them eventually left the village..."
"After leaving, they were captured by those hyenas from Kusagakure. Later, Hokage-sama personally led a team to rescue them and freed the captives from the other hidden villages while he was at it."
Hashirama listened in bewilderment.
Tobirama had an illegitimate son?
He didn't believe that at all...
Wait. Actually, that would explain a few things...
No wonder Tobirama had always refused the marriage meetings Mito and Hashirama arranged for him!
As for Izuna having children no one knew about, Hashirama found that perfectly plausible...
"It really is a bizarre story. We thought it was ridiculous too, but the people involved personally confirmed it..."
Isshin lowered his voice further.
"One of my Mangekyō abilities is healing, while the other calls upon the blessings of one's ancestors through their bloodline. I used the latter on Seisui, and it summoned Young Clan Head Izuna's soul..."
"Young Clan Head Izuna should be inside Seisui right now. What he told me matches the story."
"Seisui inherited the Second Hokage's talent for research, yet like Young Clan Head Izuna, he also believes in the Great Clan Head's ideals. He's the perfect union of Senju and Uchiha—the Will of Fire made flesh..."
"You can't judge him with preconceived notions!"
Hiruzen looked up at the sky.
Mm...
The weather was nice today.
A good day to bring the war to an end...
He hadn't had anything to do with this whole mess, anyway. None of it had anything to do with the Hokage...
The Uchiha and Hashirama could sort it out themselves!
"Something like that actually happened?" Hashirama's eyes widened.
If Seisui himself had stood there with Tobirama's bones beneath Izuna's face and told Hashirama all this, Hashirama's suspicions would immediately have gone through the roof...
His younger brother was simply far too good at pulling things like this!
But this was different. Other Uchiha had approached Hashirama first and were explaining everything to him.
The signal to Hashirama's Tobirama-detection radar had effectively been jammed...
Especially because two particularly important people were involved...
Madara and Izuna.
Hashirama simply couldn't imagine Tobirama possibly acting in Madara's name...
And there was no way Izuna could fail to recognize Tobirama.
All that could be said was that the Hokage's methods carried a certain authority. He had successfully set a trap for these old relics from the Warring States Period!
Fugaku hurried forward and quickly recounted the love story of Seisui's parents that had become popular throughout the Land of Fire and even across the shinobi world.
Hashirama listened in stunned fascination, his face caught between gossip-fueled curiosity and emotional turmoil.
A tragic romance between an Uchiha and a Senju really was painful to hear about.
Isshin added one more thing.
"Mito-sama and Advisor Danzō have both confirmed it as well."
"As for what happened with the Konoha Police Force back then, the Uchiha Clan was partly at fault too. We can't put all the blame on the Second Hokage. But all of that is in the past now. It doesn't matter anymore!"
Hashirama had nothing left to say after that.
When it came to detecting Tobirama's schemes, Mito was actually even more reliable than Hashirama himself.
Hashirama remembered Danzō as well—a kid who loved imitating Tobirama...
"So that's what happened..."
"What a mess..." Hashirama sighed, voicing exactly the same sentiment Izuna had back then.
"That little bastard Tobirama... Just wait until I talk to Mito and figure something out. I'm going to find him in the Pure Land. I have to make sure he understands the authority of his big brother!"
Tobirama gave a dry laugh from the side.
Go ahead and look!
Even if you turned the entire Pure Land upside down, you'd never find the fastest shinobi in the world...
"Don't be in such a hurry. Tobirama-sama might actually..." Isshin was about to say that Tobirama might still be alive—for instance, the one who had just been putting on an act with the Wood Dragon.
Isshin couldn't really be blamed for getting it wrong.
Because absolutely no one in the shinobi world could have imagined...
Uchiha Madara was operating under Senju Tobirama's name, while Senju Tobirama had become a young Madara...
Those two had once been utterly irreconcilable. Merely hearing the other's name had been enough to set them off...
But when Isshin noticed Hiruzen standing nearby, he ultimately kept quiet.
He still had to show the Hokage some consideration...
"As for Tobirama-sama, you can ask Mito-sama after you return to the village." Isshin cleared his throat. "It's a little complicated. We can't really explain it properly in just a few words here..."
Better to leave it to Mito-sama!
Isshin truly wanted to see the day Tobirama's identity was exposed...
What Isshin hadn't realized, however, was that if the mysterious man behind the mask turned out to be Madara rather than Tobirama, the entire Uchiha Clan would suddenly find itself in an extremely awkward position...
Hiruzen was thinking about the same issue.
However, ever since Kaguya had warned him that Uchiha Madara also seemed to have been subjected to some kind of deus ex machina, with an abnormal presence inside his body, Hiruzen had already worked out a rough explanation.
Madara wasn't the problem.
The abnormal entity possessing him was simply too evil!
'Following that logic, even the Battle of the Valley of the End could be explained away...'
'Why did he suddenly turn against Hashirama? Because Uchiha Madara had actually been possessed from that point onward. Everything that followed was a process of him simultaneously trying to seal the entity while gradually being assimilated by it...'
'In essence, he was using his own body to contain an entity that threatened the entire shinobi world.'
Hiruzen rapidly ran through the explanation in his mind and found that it held together reasonably well.
Essentially, all the blame for the shinobi world's problems could be gathered in one place and dumped onto whatever entity had possessed Uchiha Madara...
As for exactly when Madara had been possessed—recently or decades ago—that was no longer important.
They could adjust that detail as circumstances required.
By this point, although Uchiha Madara's actions toward Konoha did not conform to the Will of Fire, objectively speaking, they had driven the village to make tremendous progress. He had actively built the stage and created numerous opportunities.
The Land of Water and Kirigakure were one example.
Ever since Gengetsu had been brought back through Impure World Reincarnation, Hiruzen had understood why the Third Mizukage, Kiritori, had looked down on Konoha so much back then and chosen to mobilize his entire force...
At a glance, it was obvious Madara had manipulated the situation. Otherwise, as a Kage, Kiritori should at least have possessed that much basic judgment.
So Hiruzen was still willing to give Madara a hand.
Madara's own combat power and his unique position within Konoha gave Hiruzen ample reason to bring him back into the fold.
Of course, all of that depended on one thing:
The Hokage had to be the one who came out on top.
The loser had no right to a share of the spoils.
'First, I need to build a good relationship with this mysterious woman. I can't rush it, but I still need to move quickly. I should learn as much of the information in her head as possible and exchange some training methods with her...'
'Second, while continuing to develop the Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration Seal, I need to talk with Duy. I'll use the Lightning Release finger thrust's method of stimulating the body as a starting point and master the Eight Gates as soon as possible...'
'After that, with Hashirama back in Konoha, I'll try to get him to vigorously promote the use of Hashirama cells and Cursed Seals. The goal is to achieve a qualitative improvement in natural energy and everyone's overall physical capabilities, which will in turn feed back into my own strength.'
'Finally, I'll use chakra aggregates like the Dragon Vein to push forward the development of information technology and stimulate creativity throughout the shinobi world.'
Although the war wasn't over yet, Hiruzen went over everything he intended to do afterward and compiled a detailed checklist in his mind.
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