Deep within the forest, the dust of their earlier skirmish had only just settled. Tobirama Senju and Izuna Uchiha, two prodigies bound by rivalry, sharpened by clan hatred, yet united by a brand-new, burning curiosity, raced toward their respective clan grounds.
Their hearts pounded with urgency.Their minds churned with one overwhelming thought:
Ishiki's gadgets.Gadgets that their elder brothers supposedly possessed.Gadgets far beyond anything their clans had ever seen.
They needed answers.
Tobirama sprinted into the Senju compound, ignoring the surprised glances and polite bows from passing clan members. His sandals kicked up dust as he headed straight for the inner quarters.
He didn't knock.
BANG!The door flew open.
Hashirama, dozing lightly on his futon, jolted awake with a snort.
"Huh, Tobirama? What happened? Why are you storming in like this?" Hashirama asked, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
Tobirama was panting, leaning against the doorframe, eyes glowing with barely contained excitement.
"Brother," he gasped, "I learned something from Ishiki today. He said… You have one of his gadgets. Show it to me. Immediately."
Hashirama stared at him for a moment, then burst into warm laughter.
"So that's what this is about! Ishiki really is… something else."
He reached over to his bedside table and lifted a sealed container filled with thick, amber-colored liquid, glowing faintly, unnaturally. A straw jutted from its top.
"Here it is," Hashirama said, holding it out. "Drink it quickly."
Tobirama didn't hesitate.He trusted Hashirama completely.
He downed the thick golden liquid in one continuous gulp.
And then,
WHOOOM.
His entire body warmed, chakra flooding into every limb like a blazing river.His muscles tingled.His fatigue vanished.His mind sharpened.
Tobirama's eyes widened in awe.
"Brother… what is happening to me!?"
Hashirama grinned proudly.
"This is Ishiki's gadget, Concentrated Food. You feed the device pure chakra, and it converts it into this liquid. Drink it, and your chakra instantly recovers, your stamina skyrockets, and your injuries heal much faster."
Tobirama stood straighter, feeling stronger than he ever had.
"Incredible… How does Ishiki invent such things?" he whispered, astonished.
Hashirama scratched the back of his head, chuckling sheepishly.
"Honestly? I have no idea. But it works, and that's enough."
Tobirama muttered privately, "He must be a genius… He's powerful, too. And… I still can't figure out his real purpose."
Hashirama raised an eyebrow.
"Tobirama," he teased, "don't think I didn't hear that. So that's why you've been disappearing every day. You made a bet with Ishiki!"
Tobirama's cheeks flushed instantly.
Hashirama laughed and ruffled his little brother's hair.
"But you're wrong about something," Hashirama said, voice softening. "Ishiki wasn't born gifted. When we first met him, he was half dead. Your Fire Jutsu nearly burned him alive."
Tobirama winced.He remembered.
"He didn't even know how to refine chakra. His reservoir was tiny. He has no elemental affinities. Everything he has now… strength, stamina, skill… all of it came from brutal, relentless training."
Tobirama's eyes widened further.
He knew Ishiki was strong.He knew Ishiki was strange.But hearing this, he finally understood Ishiki's impossible growth.
"But brother," Tobirama asked, "how did he get THIS strong so quickly? He told me he blew up his own arm today while training some new jutsu."
Hashirama's expression darkened instantly.
"What happened?" he demanded. "Tell me everything."
Tobirama quickly recounted the failed Rasengan attempt, the injury, and the miraculous healing with yet another strange gadget.
Hashirama let out a long breath. Relief washed over his features.
"That Doctor's Kit is beyond anything we have… If he's healed, then good. But still… that boy trains harder than any of us."
For a long moment, Hashirama fell silent, deep in thought.He wasn't just impressed, he was challenged.
He needed to train harder, too.
Tobirama finally broke the silence.
"Brother… if I train with everything I have, can I defeat him?"
Hashirama lifted his eyes.
"You can't defeat him right now," he said honestly. "But I will personally train you. I will help you improve until you can win that bet."
Tobirama's face lit up with joy.
"Thank you, brother! I, "
Hashirama held up a hand.
"But under one condition."
Tobirama blinked.
"You won't win alone," Hashirama said firmly. "If you truly want a chance… you must work together with Izuna Uchiha."
Tobirama's joy evaporated instantly.
"What!? Join forces with THAT Uchiha brat? Never!"
At that exact moment, far across the valley, another heated exchange unfolded.
Izuna stood before his elder brother, Madara, hands clenched, face red with fury.
"So?" Madara asked, arms crossed. "I assume Ishiki told you about my gadget."
Izuna exploded.
"He said I have to defeat Ishiki within one month! And now you're telling me to team up with that Senju pike-head!? NO WAY!"
Madara exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples.
Just as Hashirama had predicted, the Uchiha younger brother reacted the same as the Senju younger brother.
Madara muttered under his breath:
"Tch. So predictable."
Izuna puffed up angrily.
"That Senju dumbass? Work with him? NEVER!"
Across the valley, in two different clan households, two elder brothers stared at their younger siblings.
Two younger brothers crossed their arms.
Two voices rang out simultaneously:
"No. Never."
Hashirama sighed.Madara sighed.
Tobirama scowled.Izuna scowled.
And somewhere in the middle of the forest, Ishiki sneezed without knowing why