Uchiha Madara remained silent for a long time.
Outside the cave, the completely suppressed Nine-Tails lay curled up quietly. Its huge body rose and fell slightly with each breath, but there was no trace of its former ferocity.
The night wind blew in through the cave entrance, stirring the black hair on Madara's forehead. He stood at the entrance with his back to Uchiha Akira, his Sharingan slowly turning in the darkness, as if he were thinking, or perhaps weighing his options.
"Nameless...", He repeated the word in a low voice, with a strange quality that was hard to detect.
The records about that weapon in the clan history were extremely vague, almost enough to be dismissed as a legend.
It had once been the sharpest blade the Uchiha possessed on the battlefield, yet it had completely disappeared in some unknown era, and even its exact form was unclear.
When Madara was young, he had read those ancient scrolls, but he had never truly taken them to heart.
In his view, true power had always belonged to people themselves, not external objects.
But things were different now.
He had just controlled the Nine-Tails, yet he was also clearly aware that relying on his own strength and a Tailed Beast alone was still far from enough to completely rewrite the rules of this world.
Hashirama's Wood Release, the Senju's power, and the deep-rooted hatred and suspicion throughout the entire shinobi world were not things that could be erased easily.
If "Nameless" really existed...
Madara slowly turned around, his gaze falling on Uchiha Akira.
The young man stood some distance away. His one-tomoe Sharingan was still open, and his eyes held both tension and an almost stubborn determination.
"Are you sure?", Madara asked, his voice still indifferent.
Uchiha Akira nodded without the slightest hesitation. "Yes. My father once mentioned that the weapon was sealed in the ruins of an ancient shrine somewhere near the border of the Land of Fire, in the direction of the Land of Rain. As for the exact coordinates... I remember roughly."
He actually remembered it very clearly.
In the memories of his previous life, the setting for "Nameless" had only been mentioned in certain materials and fan works, but at this moment, he had to put forward this matter as a clue that truly existed.
If he had not remembered incorrectly, Uchiha Hikaru was more or less sealed there.
As long as it could give Madara a little more power and a little more possibility, it was worth taking the gamble.
Madara stared at him for a long time.
In the end, he nodded lightly.
"Good."
"Then let's go."
The two simple words made Uchiha Akira relax all at once.
He almost smiled, but forced it back down, only respectfully answering, "Yes, Lord Madara."
The next morning, the two of them set out.
Madara did not bring the Nine-Tails with them.
He temporarily left the completely controlled Tailed Beast in an extremely concealed valley, sealing it with multiple layers of genjutsu and barriers.
He knew that the Nine-Tails made far too much noise. If they brought it along the whole way, their whereabouts would easily be exposed.
And the location of "Nameless" was already remote. Bringing the Nine-Tails would only become a burden.
The two hurried through the mountain forests.
Madara's speed was extremely fast, and Uchiha Akira could barely keep up even after using all his strength.
Along the way, Madara would occasionally stop and scan the surroundings with his Sharingan, making sure there were no pursuers.
He still had doubts about the appearance of the Anbu yesterday, but he did not question Akira again.
Because Akira looked too sincere.
So sincere that it was almost impossible to suspect him.
At the same time, in the shadows, Black Zetsu was quietly watching everything.
He was in no hurry to act.
Madara agreeing to Akira's proposal was itself the best opportunity.
As long as he sent the information that "Uchiha Akira took the initiative to leak Madara's whereabouts to Konoha" to both Senju Tobirama and Senju Hashirama, everything that followed would develop naturally.
The corners of Black Zetsu's mouth lifted slightly.
He circulated his chakra once again, precisely imitating Uchiha Akira's handwriting and tone, and wrote two letters.
The first was still sent to Senju Tobirama.
The letter read...
[To Lord Tobirama.]
[Lord Madara has decided to travel to the ruins of an ancient shrine somewhere on the border of the Land of Fire to search for the ancient Uchiha weapon known as 'Nameless.' The exact location is... We are expected to arrive in three days. I will continue to follow him and report back when I have the opportunity.]
[Please make preparations early.]
The signature was still "Uchiha Akira."
The second was sent to Senju Hashirama.
Black Zetsu deliberately made the tone more urgent.
[To Lord Hashirama.]
[I, Uchiha Akira, am currently following Lord Madara. Lord Madara has recently decided to go somewhere to search for the ancient weapon 'Nameless.' The location is... I know that you and Lord Madara share a deep friendship, and I do not wish to see the two of you completely break apart. Therefore, I have taken the risk of informing you. If you are willing to come personally, there may still be a chance to turn things around.]
[Please decide quickly.]
The two letters were sent out using special means.
One fell into Tobirama's secret chamber, while the other was sent directly to Hashirama through a more secret channel.
———
Konoha, the secret chamber behind the Hokage's wooden office.
The candlelight continued to flicker.
When Senju Tobirama received the second letter sent by the Anbu, his brows almost knitted into a frown.
He quickly scanned the contents, his knuckles lightly tapping against the tabletop.
"Uchiha Akira again..."
Senju Tobirama muttered under his breath, a complicated look flashing through his eyes.
The intelligence regarding the Nine-Tails from a few days ago had already been confirmed. Now, the location of "Nameless" had suddenly been thrown out as well.
This child was either sincerely pledging his allegiance, or playing an extremely dangerous double game.
Tobirama placed the letter on the table and remained silent for a long time.
In the end, he slowly let out a breath.
"Do not make a move."
The Anbu was slightly stunned. "Lord Tobirama?"
"Continue monitoring the Nine-Tails' possible routes of movement, as well as any unusual activity toward the border. But do not take the initiative to attack for now.", Tobirama's voice was steady.
The Anbu acknowledged the order and withdrew.
Tobirama sat there alone, his gaze resting on the letter, never moving away for a long time.
He had chosen the safest approach: wait and watch.
On the other side, however, the situation was completely different.
When Senju Hashirama received the letter, he was resting alone in a wooden house outside the village.
A Senju confidant responsible for special communications respectfully presented the letter to him.
Hashirama had assumed it was a report on village affairs sent by Tobirama, but after opening it, his entire body froze.
"Akira...?"
He quickly read the entire letter, and his expression instantly became solemn.
Madara was going to find "Nameless."
Although he did not know who Nameless was.
Hashirama's fingers tightened slightly, crumpling the paper.
He knew Madara too well.
Once Madara obtained even greater power, he would never turn back.
And if "Nameless" really was as terrifying as the clan history described, the consequences would be unimaginable.
More importantly, the letter mentioned that "there may still be a chance to turn things around."
Hashirama suddenly stood up.
He barely hesitated.
"Make some preparations. I'm leaving the village."
The Senju confidant froze. "Lord Hokage? Should I notify Lord Tobirama?"
"No need."
"I'll handle this myself. Tell Tobirama that I've gone into seclusion in the mountains for a few days. He doesn't need to worry about it."
Hashirama shook his head, his voice carrying a rare trace of urgency.
He gave no one a chance to object.
That very night, Senju Hashirama left Konoha alone and rushed toward the coordinates written in the letter.
His speed was extremely fast. Wood Release kept extending beneath his feet, allowing him to cross the mountain forests almost in a straight line.
His attachment to their old friendship left him with no room for caution.
He only wanted to try one more time.
To persuade once more the brother who had once fought alongside him.
———
[Three Days Later]
The border of the Land of Fire, in the direction near the Land of Rain.
A shrine ruin almost completely swallowed by vines and ancient trees stood quietly in the valley.
The broken torii gates leaned crookedly in different directions, while moss covered the stone steps.
Uchiha Madara stood at the entrance of the ruins, his Sharingan slowly scanning the surroundings.
"This is the place?" Madara asked.
Uchiha Akira nodded, his voice slightly tense. "Yes. My father said that the seal is beneath the main hall, at the very deepest part."
The two entered the ruins.
The air grew colder and colder. Ancient Uchiha clan crests remained on the walls, but most of them had already become blurred beyond recognition.
Madara's steps were steady, but he remained highly alert the entire time.
He could sense that some kind of powerful force really was sealed here. Although it was dormant, it had not completely vanished.
Just as they were about to reach the main hall...
Madara's body suddenly stopped.
His Sharingan spun sharply.
An extremely familiar chakra, yet one that made his heart sink, was rapidly approaching from a distance.
That chakra was immense and gentle, yet carried a sense of pressure.
Senju Hashirama.
Madara's brows instantly furrowed.
"How is that possible..." Uchiha Madara muttered, genuine confusion in his voice.
He had deliberately avoided every route that might expose his whereabouts and had even left the Nine-Tails far away.
Why would Hashirama suddenly appear here?
Uchiha Akira beside him also sensed that chakra, his face instantly turning pale.
"Lord Madara... that's..."
"Hashirama."
"He's here."
Madara spoke calmly, without turning around.
Uchiha Akira's mind was in chaos.
In the original story, the final battle between Hashirama and Madara took place at the Valley of the End. That only happened after Madara took the initiative to launch a surprise attack on Konoha with the Nine-Tails.
Hashirama had never taken the initiative to seek out Madara after his defection... at least, there was no such record in the public accounts.
But now, Hashirama had appeared here with pinpoint accuracy.
"Why... would Lord Hashirama know our location?"
Uchiha Akira unconsciously asked aloud, a trace of panic in his voice that even he had not noticed.
Madara did not answer.
He simply stood there quietly, waiting as that chakra drew closer and closer.
A moment later, a figure rushed through the forest and landed in the open space at the entrance to the ruins.
Senju Hashirama wore simple shinobi clothing, with no Hokage hat on his head.
The moment he saw Madara, his steps paused slightly.
"Madara..."
His voice carried a complicated emotion.
Madara did not respond at once. He only looked at him coldly.
"How did you know I was here?"
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