"My will? If it were truly your will, you wouldn't resist now—you'd obediently be sealed according to it."
Uchiha Madara used his dōjutsu to seal Black Zetsu into a black sphere he had created. This was the power of his Rinnegan with magatama, elevating the sealing technique several levels. Once sealed, only the same dōjutsu could unlock it.
"Lord Madara?"
White Zetsu, seeing Black Zetsu sealed, didn't know whether to flee. He was afraid, but running was futile against Madara's Wood Release, and he had no destination in mind.
"None of your concern. The Otsutsuki Kaguya wouldn't have such a foolish will. Continue gathering information."
Madara crushed the black sphere and tossed the powder aside. The sphere was merely a vessel; Black Zetsu had been sealed in another space.
"In fact, I've already located the Three-Tails Jinchuriki. You won't guess where."
Seeing Madara show no intent to attack, White Zetsu reverted to his usual frivolity. Without Black Zetsu to interfere, he became even more careless.
"Speak."
Madara ignored his teasing. Using Susanoo, he launched a chakra blade, slashing White Zetsu's face as a warning.
"They live together in a Sand Federation hospital with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki," White Zetsu cried, revealing the intelligence he had gathered.
"Monitoring them was difficult; I lost two clones to confirm this information."
"Good. It saves me from checking place by place." Madara paid no heed to White Zetsu's clones—defective creations from Hashirama Cells—death meant nothing.
"But that Hyuga Mirai is strong, Lord Madara," White Zetsu continued. "Obito nearly died trying to rescue someone from him. That guy's eyes… seem on the same level as the Rinnegan."
"An anomaly that even the Sage of Six Paths in the Pure Land notices… of course I will too."
Madara spoke and left using Wood Release.
In his calculations, Hyuga Mirai's strength was as the Sage had predicted. With Yin-Yang power, he was unconcerned about this heretic. With the Rinnegan, he could collect the tailed beasts and become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki. Without hidden manipulation, as Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, he would be the strongest.
After Madara departed, White Zetsu clicked his tongue: "Lord Madara now… looks exactly like Obito back then. Hope the outcome isn't the same."
He then burrowed underground and headed toward Konoha, relying on his clones to gather intelligence and witness the unfolding events.
"Tsunade, isn't this too cruel?"
Senju Hashirama saw Tsunade sending 134 Fire Country nobles to mine labor, feeling uneasy. In recent days, seven noble families had already been wiped out.
"Grandfather, I told you, don't judge by appearances. These people obstruct the unification of the two nations. See for yourself."
Tsunade handed Hashirama a file detailing the nobles' misdeeds: forced trades, harassment, and more. In their territories, these were minor issues—otherwise, they were relatively benevolent. Crucially, they raised armies, planning to cause trouble for Konoha and dispatching agents to the Land of Earth and Land of Lightning.
Allowing them to continue would incite local unrest. These entrenched families had existed longer than Konoha itself. If provoked, Konoha ninja would have to violently suppress them.
Hashirama said nothing, conceiving thoughts of killing. Normally, noble affairs were left to the Daimyo, but these villains' crimes justified direct action.
"Grandfather, help me process these new documents when you have time. The pile keeps growing; your granddaughter might collapse under the workload."
Tsunade's resentment almost formed a clone. She had seven working across Fire Country, while Kabuto Yakushi nagged her daily, making her the most overworked Hokage ever.
Hashirama declined firmly: "Tsunade, I barely understand current Konoha. As former Hokage, intervening now isn't wise."
Tsunade pouted, considering: "Maybe call Second Grandpa to help?"
"No, Tsunade. Tobirama is strong-willed; conflict may arise. He also holds grudges longer than me. Let him be."
Hashirama knew Tsunade had endured hardship; she finally had stability. Tobirama intervening could create chaos.
"Hold on a bit, Tsunade. Things will improve."
Tsunade scoffed: "Grandfather, your persuasion is half as effective as Hyuga Mirai's."
At that moment, Kabuto Yakushi knocked and entered. Tsunade tensed, fearing more work.
Instead, Kabuto reported: "Lady Tsunade, Kakashi's Sharingan was stolen."
"What?" Tsunade asked, surprised. "Who did it… I see. Bring Kakashi back, and ask if he wants a normal eye or the Sharingan."
Seeing Kabuto's expression, Tsunade realized it involved Obito Uchiha. Previously, Obito had left the Sharingan with Kakashi, seemingly unconcerned, but now he reclaimed it urgently to boost strength.
"Understood. Should we track Obito? His Mangekyō is troublesome; even Jonin struggle against him."
Tsunade furrowed her brow: "Akatsuki could have united villages, but now with Madara resurrected, it's useless. Obito may disagree with Madara, hence reclaiming the Sharingan. Kabuto, redistribute teams to six per group."
Two major threats existed: Madara and Obito, both unstable and capable of threatening Konoha and Sand Federation.
Tsunade considered: "I'll ask Hyuga Mirai. He should know how to handle Obito. His space ability isn't a threat to Mirai; he'll find a solution easily."
Boom! A massive sound followed by tremors like an earthquake shook the area.
"What's happening!?"
Tsunade steadied herself. An ANBU appeared, half-kneeling: "Hokage-sama, enemies are at the village gate."
"What enemies?"
Tsunade looked toward the gate. A towering Susanoo loomed, dwarfing the village walls.
"That's… Madara's Susanoo. He's arrived at Konoha."
Hashirama recognized it immediately; it seemed larger than before.
Tsunade, furious: "Madara thinks Konoha will let him bully us? Grandfather, protect the villagers while I teach him a lesson!"
"No, Tsunade, let me go."
"Grandfather, I'm the Hokage now!"
Feeling empowered, Tsunade leaped from the window toward the gate.
Kabuto cautioned: "The gate area is damaged. If Wood Release is used, it can protect villagers during evacuation."
"I understand. Leave this to me."
Hashirama nodded, recalling the devastation when he fought Madara before—he nearly sank the continent across the sea. Without protection, Konoha would be destroyed.
Tsunade, enraged from accumulated administrative stress, now saw Madara threatening Konoha and resolved to confront him—and if possible, eliminate him to prevent further chaos.
She entered Sage Mode, lifting the Yin seal on her forehead. She no longer needed chakra to maintain youth; the seal's purpose now was solely combat.
"Konoha has changed. Hashirama may come out to fight."
Madara, atop Susanoo, observed: only Hashirama could have opposed him a few days ago, but now resurrected, even Hashirama cannot stop his plan.
"Hashirama is slow. Before he arrives, let's give Konoha a greeting."
Seeing the second Hokage rock statue, Madara felt it obstructive. Susanoo's right hand condensed several Yasaka beads.
"Obstruction should be removed."
"Bastard! What do you intend to do to Konoha!?"
Madara heard the shout and saw a figure rushing at Susanoo.
"Want to die foolishly?"
Madara struck with Susanoo. Against the might of the Uchiha, such individual heroics were meaningless.
Boom! Susanoo's palm collided with the figure, creating a tremendous impact. Madara adjusted Susanoo to prevent toppling hundreds of meters high.
Bang! Bang! Just two steps backward, Susanoo destroyed much of the surrounding forest, angering Tsunade further.
'What immense power… who is this?'
Madara stabilized Susanoo and observed Tsunade, noting her resemblance to the last Hokage rock statue and recalling White Zetsu's intelligence, forming a suspicion.
"You are Hashirama's granddaughter, Fifth Hokage, correct? Where is Hashirama? Why doesn't he appear?"
(End of chapter)