"Who?" Uchiha Madara asked immediately, interest piqued.
"Tsunade!"
Uchiha Hikaru bit down hard on the fried egg in her bowl, as if venting her frustration.
"…Tsunade."
Madara paused.
Hashirama's granddaughter?
That made perfect sense.
In his mind, a scene instantly formed—
A destined clash.
A prodigy of the Uchiha and a prodigy of the Senju, meeting one afternoon as if fated, just like he and Hashirama once had. Fighting, arguing, clashing for a lifetime.
"This… is the fate of Uchiha and Senju."
Madara took a sip of broth, looking every bit like a seasoned veteran.
Back then, he and Hashirama had been the same.
Hot-blooded, stubborn, constantly wanting to crush the other with their own hands.
"…Did you beat her?" Madara asked, cutting straight to the point.
Victory.
That was what mattered.
"Of course!"
Hikaru lifted her chin proudly.
"I've fought her thirty-two times. Won every single one."
"In arcade games too—"
"Hahaha!"
Her mood instantly brightened.
No matter how you looked at it—
She was stronger.
Better.
Superior.
"Good! Good!"
Madara nodded in satisfaction.
"As expected of Uchiha."
Back in my day…
He coughed lightly.
…I only tied with Hashirama.
But that was because I held back.
"Then what's the problem?" he asked.
"You should be satisfied."
"If I could beat Hashirama every time…"
Madara's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I'd have been the happiest man alive."
For his entire life—
He had never truly enjoyed a decisive victory over Hashirama.
Even leaving Konoha had been driven by that lingering frustration.
Now, though—
Hashirama's ideals were clearly wrong.
Infinite Tsukuyomi hadn't been tested yet.
Which meant—
I'm still right.
"…It's not that simple," Hikaru muttered, lowering her gaze.
"You wouldn't understand."
Madara's expression stiffened.
"Wouldn't understand?"
"I'm your senior!"
"This kind of thing—I know it well."
He crossed his arms, fully confident.
"Let me guess."
"You and Tsunade… disagree on something fundamental."
"…Yeah. Pretty much."
Hikaru nodded after a moment.
I'm the one best suited for Uchiha Ren.
But Tsunade doesn't think so.
She wants to compete with me.
Madara nodded knowingly.
"As expected."
"Senju are always like that—stubborn, naive."
"Exactly!"
Hikaru's eyes lit up.
"You really get it!"
"Tsunade is exactly like that—stubborn and naive!"
The two exchanged a look.
Mutual understanding.
Kindred spirits.
"So," Hikaru leaned forward slightly, "what should I do?"
Madara froze for a split second.
Advice?
…That was a problem.
He replayed his entire life.
Had he ever persuaded Hashirama?
No.
They fought.
He lost.
Then got dragged into founding Konoha.
That didn't count.
"…This is a long war," Madara said slowly.
"You may never convince her. Even when you're old."
"…That won't work!"
Hikaru immediately shook her head.
"I can't wait that long!"
"Ren won't wait either!"
"…Ren?"
Madara blinked.
"Wait."
"What does Uchiha Ren have to do with this?"
Hikaru froze.
Her face flushed red instantly.
"…I…"
Steam practically rose from her head.
Before she could answer—
The ramen shop owner suddenly spoke up from the side.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"These two girls are love rivals."
"They both like the Fire Shadow."
Silence.
Hikaru lowered her head slightly.
Embarrassed—
But not backing down.
She clenched her fists.
"…Yes!"
"I like Uchiha Ren!"
"Tell me—how do I defeat Tsunade?!"
A direct strike.
Unfortunately—
She aimed it at the wrong person.
Madara fell silent.
Love rival?
…Was that even the same kind of "fate" as Uchiha vs Senju?
Maybe.
But—
He had absolutely no experience.
None.
Zero.
His youth had been spent fighting Hashirama.
Not… this.
"…Speak!" Hikaru urged.
"Didn't you say you understood?"
"You're so old—you must've been in love before!"
Madara's expression stiffened.
Love?
What's that?
He had never even held a girl's hand.
…This was bad.
He'd talked too big.
But backing down now wasn't an option.
He thought quickly.
Hashirama…
Did Hashirama understand?
Well—
Hashirama and Uzumaki Mito had been arranged.
But—
They did talk about it once.
That smug expression in the forest—
Madara still remembered it clearly.
Damn it.
So Hashirama actually understood.
Then—
He had no choice.
If Hashirama can do it, so can I.
Madara cleared his throat.
"Let me think."
"You like Uchiha Ren."
"Tsunade likes him too."
"You're rivals."
He paused.
Then suddenly—
Caught something important.
"…Wait."
"What about him?"
"Does Uchiha Ren like you?"
Hikaru froze.
She thought about it.
They had done many things together—
Walking hand in hand.
Eating together.
Watching the stars.
"The moon is beautiful… and so are you."
That had to mean something.
"…I think he does."
Her voice lacked confidence.
Madara smiled faintly.
He had found it.
The key.
"I see."
"Then it's simple."
"If it's not certain—then it's not."
Hikaru's heart tightened.
Madara continued calmly—
"Uchiha value strength."
"Ren won't like the weak."
He spoke with absolute certainty.
After all—
If it were me…
My partner would have to be the strongest woman in the world.
"At least… someone on Hashirama's level."
"…Then what should I do?" Hikaru asked urgently.
Madara narrowed his eyes.
"There's only one sure method."
"Defeat Uchiha Ren."
"…What?"
"Defeat him," Madara repeated.
"Then take him completely."
"If a woman could defeat me…"
"…I might actually like her."
Hikaru went silent.
Defeat Ren?
She had tried.
She lost.
"…Is there another way?"
"…I can't beat him."
Her eyes grew misty.
Madara shook his head.
"No."
"You have potential."
"I can feel it."
His gaze sharpened.
That power—
Hidden beneath her small frame—
Was no ordinary Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
He had already investigated her.
A returned Uchiha.
Given high status.
Protected.
Respected.
There were only two possibilities—
She had the potential for Mangekyō.
Or—
She already awakened it.
This is easy.
With her talent—
Plus his guidance—
Taking down Uchiha Ren was only a matter of time.
"…Really?" Hikaru asked softly.
Madara took a sip of soup, calm and composed.
"In my youth…"
"I was strong."
"I'm just old now."
Hikaru nodded seriously.
He's definitely not ordinary.
Ren was right.
If you're lucky—you'll meet a hidden master.
She straightened.
This—
Was her moment.
"…Master!"
"Please teach me!"
"Teach me how to get stronger—"
"And how to win in love!"
Madara paused.
The combination of those words felt… strange.
But—
It didn't matter.
"…You and I are fated."
"I accept."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
This girl—
Had talent.
Had spirit.
Hated Senju Tobirama.
Very good.
Very Uchiha.
And just like that—
Uchiha Madara gained a disciple.
A disciple seeking strength—
And love.
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