After saying those words, Madara left the meeting hall without another glance, abandoning the chaos for Gin and Izuna to clean up.
"Sigh~ Little cousin, you calm the clan. I'll go talk to big cousin," Gin said, shaking his head as he stood and quickly followed.
Unnoticed in the hall, one inconspicuous clansman slipped out as well, eyes gleaming with strange light.
…
Outside, Gin soon caught up to Madara. His cousin walked like a guilty child waiting for punishment, head hung low, silent and helpless.
"Let's go. This isn't the place to talk," Gin sighed, gesturing toward the courtyard pavilion.
They sat. Gin looked at him seriously.
"You're leaving to find the Kyūbi, right?"
"…Big cousin, how did you know?"
"Please. You just asked me about bijū a few days ago, and now you're running off. If you aren't going after the fox, I'll cut my own basket and serve it to Kawarama with sake."
"Ugh…"
Madara winced. Harsh words, but true. Gin knew him too well.
"Would it kill you to just follow the road I paved for you? Everything was set—you only had to wait," Gin groaned, rubbing his temples.
Unless… it wasn't just Madara.
Gin's eyes narrowed. Indra's chakra again? That obsessive cycle with Asura never ended. Even in this lifetime, it must be whispering in his ear: fight, prove yourself, defeat Hashirama.
"Well, if there's filth like that clinging to you, no wonder you can't help yourself," Gin muttered.
Madara blinked. "…Do I look dirty somewhere?" He checked his robes, confused.
"Anyway. Slipping out silently is low. At least say goodbye to Hashirama."
"No need. If all goes well, I'll be back in a few days."
"That's not up to you."
Gin pointed to the sky, where a black speck plummeted.
Boom!
Hashirama landed like a meteor, robes of the Hokage billowing, face pale with panic.
"Madara! Why do you want to leave me?!"
"I'm sorry, Hashirama. I must." Madara gritted his teeth, forcing the words out.
"You're my brother. My right hand. Stay and support me!" Hashirama begged, stepping closer.
Madara only lowered his eyes.
"Ten years then! No—five! In five years, you'll be Second Hokage!"
Madara's lips curled in disdain. "You think I want your charity? I'll earn my place with my own strength."
"Then why leave the village we built together?"
"I'll come back."
"When?"
"…I don't know."
The vagueness stabbed deeper than the refusal.
"At least give me a reason."
"Can't." The Kyūbi was his trump card. He wouldn't reveal it.
"Gin-nii, say something!" Hashirama pleaded.
Gin spat out a melon seed husk and shrugged. "My cousin's stubborn. Even ten bijū couldn't drag him back."
"Then what? Let him become a missing-nin?!" Hashirama's chakra flared uncontrollably, eyes sharp as blades.
Madara's eyes bled red in response, fighting spirit boiling.
"Both of you, calm down," Gin cut in, stepping between them. "You're overreacting. Let him take a walk."
"He's Hokage's aide. He can't just leave," Hashirama argued.
"Not unless… it's for a secret mission," Gin hinted, raising a brow.
Hashirama paused. "…True. If it were an undercover mission, he could."
"Perfect. Madara, any long-term missions lately?"
"No. Those don't go through the mission hall. Only the Hokage issues them directly."
Swish!
Blue lightning split the air. Tobirama materialized behind Hashirama, scarlet eyes flashing with eagerness.
"Brother! I was right! Madara's rebelling, just like all evil Uchiha! I'll—"
Three pairs of eyes stared at him. Tobirama coughed awkwardly, hiding his blade. "Ahem… so he hasn't left yet?"
"You damn white-hair! I'm not rebelling, just leaving briefly!" Madara roared.
"Leaving your post is treason!" Tobirama snapped back, emboldened by Hashirama's presence.
Madara seethed, unable to reveal his true plan. His silence only made Tobirama crow louder.
"See! He can't even deny it! Arrest him, Brother!"
"Enough, Tobirama," Hashirama said helplessly. "Madara has business."
"Then report it! I'm not unreasonable. With proper grounds, I'll approve it," Tobirama huffed, adopting a pompous air like a self-important bureaucrat.
Gin rolled his eyes. "Argh."
"Anyway," Tobirama continued, "I've drafted a proposal about the so-called Beast Riders. Brother, review it."
"…Not now," Hashirama muttered.
"I'll read," Gin said smoothly, snatching the document.
"Eh? Well… fine," Tobirama relented.
Gin's grin spread as he read. "Ohhh, perfect timing. Big cousin, your task has arrived."
"…What?" Madara blinked.
"This mission. Turns out even White-Hair can do something useful."
"…What nonsense are you talking?" Tobirama frowned.
Gin explained: "You need someone to secretly inspect the four nations, ensure they're obeying the peace pact, and gather intel on Beast Riders, right?"
"Yes," Hashirama nodded.
"Needs someone powerful, loyal, respected, intimidating, right?"
"Yes."
"Then isn't Madara the perfect choice?" Gin smiled.
Tobirama froze. "Wha—"
Hashirama eagerly took the scroll, read, then handed it to Madara with delight.
Madara skimmed, lips twitching upward. For once, Tobirama had done him a favor.
The plan: a secret S-class mission to covertly survey the great nations and collect intelligence on Beast Riders.
"Forget a team. I'll go alone," Madara said firmly.
"…Are you sure? Accepting this mission means disappearing in darkness. Until you return, the village will slander you as a deserter. Only when you succeed can we clear your name," Tobirama warned.
Madara's eyes hardened. "I understand. It's my duty as Hokage's aide."
"You have three days to reconsider," Tobirama added.
Madara said nothing, staring at the parchment.
When the Senju brothers left, Gin sighed and clapped his cousin's shoulder.
"See? You should've waited for this instead of jumping the gun."
"…Yeah." Madara regretted blurting his plans to the clan. Now, no matter what, suspicion hung over him.
"Forget it. Let's eat. Ramen?" Gin stretched.
"…Fine."
But when they opened the heavy hall doors, their hearts sank.
The corridor outside was packed with kneeling Uchiha, foreheads pressed to the floor, voices thunderous:
"Please, Clan Head, don't leave us!"
The plea shook Madara's chest. Faces he knew—comrades, kin—all begging him to stay.
"If you must go, then take us with you!" someone shouted, sparking a wave of cries.
Madara's eyes wavered. So many willing to abandon peace just to follow him. His heart throbbed.
"Silence!"
He straightened, crimson eyes blazing. He couldn't drag them into his mess.
"Bringing you along would only burden my plan. Don't follow. You'll die."
Gin smacked his forehead with a groan. "This idiot… he really needs a copy of The Art of Speaking Like a Human."
(End of Chapter)
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