"Mm... old man, why are you here?"
At Senju Tobirama's residence, Renya blearily looked up to see a figure standing before him.
When his vision cleared and he recognized who it was, wasn't it none other than that old man, Senju Tobirama?
"Didn't you promise not to nap in the afternoon?" Tobirama's face darkened as he stared at Renya, who was still half-asleep in his chair.
This kid never listens!
Renya immediately sat up, scratching his head awkwardly.
"Haha, I only slept for half an hour."
"If you've got nothing to do, then go take on some missions." Tobirama's tone was serious.
"You're letting me go out?" Renya looked stunned.
He never thought Tobirama would personally suggest that he leave the village!
After all, this old man had always refused to let him leave before. For him to suddenly change his mind now...
When something's that out of character, there's always a reason behind it!
But Renya couldn't figure out what that reason was—he could only assume Tobirama was tired of seeing him lazing around all the time.
"Sending you on missions is better than you sleeping all day," Tobirama said solemnly. "You can use the missions to break your habit of taking naps."
If he let Renya keep napping, that guy would just keep popping up to annoy him.
The only way was to deal with the problem at its root—and then find a way to eliminate that thing inside Renya later.
After all, that kind of issue couldn't be solved overnight.
"You're young—you should be full of energy, not gloomy and lifeless like this…" Tobirama lectured patiently.
"Got it, old man." Renya couldn't stand his nagging and finally gave in.
Besides, this was a good chance to visit Hashirama-san and Madara-sama.
It had been a long time since he'd seen them—he wondered what they were up to lately.
"I hope when you come back, you'll have kicked that bad habit of napping."
Renya: "..."
Since when did taking naps become a bad habit?
Whatever. You're the Hokage—so whatever you say is right.
"Pack your things and go pick up a mission," Tobirama instructed. "I'll head back to the office to check on Hiruzen and Danzo's paperwork."
"Mm, got it."
Renya went to the mission hall and accepted a long-term S-rank mission. He'd already calculated the timing—by the time he returned, the new batch of ninja academy students would have just graduated.
...
Hokage's Office.
Senju Tobirama stood at the window, quietly watching Renya's back as he left the village.
If he could eliminate that being inside Renya, he would never have let him leave the village on a mission.
Now that the kid was gone, no one would bring him meals anymore.
But there was no other way. This was the only chance to break Renya's napping habit.
Only this way could he buy himself some time.
"Sensei, Renya seemed... a little strange," said Sarutobi Hiruzen timidly.
He'd noticed that Renya seemed completely different from before—almost like he was another person.
Shimura Danzo felt the same. He looked at their teacher curiously, waiting for an explanation.
"You're just imagining things," Tobirama said without turning around. "You've been working on documents for too long—it's making you see things that aren't there."
Hiruzen and Danzo exchanged a glance, both seeing the confusion in the other's eyes.
Was it really just their imagination, like their teacher said?
Clearly, they didn't believe him—but they knew better than to press further.
Since Tobirama didn't want to talk, they could only bury their doubts deep in their hearts.
Perhaps... one day, they would learn the truth.
...
Somewhere in the forests of the Land of Fire.
Renya cautiously surveyed his surroundings. Once he confirmed no one was nearby, he formed hand seals and summoned Scar.
"Kid, you haven't summoned me in ages, meow!" Scar appeared and immediately glared at Renya in irritation.
Ever since that one journey ended, Renya had stopped contacting him.
Sure enough, aside from Izuna and Madara-sama, no one could be trusted!
Especially this guy—Renya treated him like a tool cat, summoning him only when he was useful, and tossing him aside when he wasn't.
"Haha, long time no see, fat cat." Renya pinched the chubby cat's face, only for Scar to slap his hand away with a paw.
"Talk if you want to talk—don't touch me," Scar grumbled unhappily.
Did this brat really think he was one of those gullible little ninja cats?
As if! He'd long since seen through Renya's vile nature.
Humans—such hypocritical creatures!
"I'll treat you to grilled fish tonight."
"Meow~ meow~!"
Scar's cold, aloof expression instantly vanished, replaced by eager fawning.
No—by licking-cat mode.
His aloofness was just a façade; deep down, he respected his summoner!
"Take me to find Madara-sama," Renya said, squeezing the fat cat's cheeks again.
"No problem. Follow me," Scar replied, immediately leading the way.
It had been years since Renya last saw Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara. He wondered which hidden corner they were holed up in now.
Come to think of it—how was Hashirama-san still alive?
Not that Renya wished him dead, but his continued survival really defied common sense.
By all rights, with his physical condition, he should've died years ago. Yet somehow, he was still alive.
Renya couldn't help but wonder what Madara-sama had done to make that possible…
If Madara hadn't yet awakened the Rinnegan, Renya would've suspected he was using the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to sustain Hashirama's life.
...
Inside a cave somewhere in the ninja world.
"Hashirama, you look... pathetic," said Uchiha Madara, his face expressionless.
Senju Hashirama lay weakly on a wooden bed, forcing a bitter smile.
"Madara, it seems... I can't hold on much longer."
"Sorry... Madara, I might have to... go ahead of you."
"With me here, you won't die." Madara's cold voice cut through the air. "Before that, you'll sleep for a bit."
He activated his Sharingan, pulling Hashirama into a genjutsu.
Then Madara drew the short blade from his waist and, without hesitation, sliced open his own left arm.
Blood gushed out, yet his brow didn't even twitch.
Using the blade, he carved out a piece of flesh, blood dripping from his fingertips.
He grabbed Hashirama's chin, forcing his mouth open, and shoved the bloody chunk inside.
The unconscious Hashirama tasted the metallic sweetness as the flesh slid down his throat—then a surge of cold, unfamiliar chakra exploded within him, clashing violently with his own Yang Release chakra.
Hashirama's body trembled violently as the two opposing forces raged and intertwined within him—until, at last, they began to merge and settle.
His pale face slowly regained color.
"The fusion of Yin and Yang Release... temporarily restoring his life force," Madara murmured softly as he looked down at his unconscious friend.
Years ago, when Hashirama was on the brink of death, Madara had recalled what was written on the stone tablet.
If he could awaken the power of the Six Paths by fusing Hashirama's cells, then logically, Hashirama should also survive by fusing his.
With nothing to lose, Madara fed him a piece of his own flesh—
—and miraculously, Hashirama's life force had briefly returned!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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