Uchiha Ren spoke with a grave expression.
"Konoha… the entire shinobi world…"
Those words alone made Senju Tobirama's heart tighten.
…Was this familiar madness?
Everything in Konoha was progressing steadily.
As long as he and Ren continued working together—
Within ten years—
Even if the other four great villages united—
They wouldn't stand a chance.
It wouldn't be like the First Shinobi War—
That humiliating struggle.
Back then—
Uchiha Madara had left Konoha at its peak—
Only to return with the Nine-Tails and fight Hashirama to the death.
Completely irrational.
"...What exactly happened?"
Tobirama's tone softened unconsciously.
With Madara as precedent—
He had learned his lesson.
He couldn't provoke an Uchiha who might be losing control.
Right now—
Ren's prestige in Konoha was overwhelming.
Even Tobirama himself couldn't suppress him.
If Ren went mad—
And dragged Konoha into ruin—
Everything would collapse.
"…Perhaps…"
"The ghost of the Uchiha has returned."
Tobirama frowned.
The ghost of the Uchiha?
What kind of cryptic nonsense was that?
"Speak clearly."
"What ghost?"
"I'm a ghost too, you know."
Ren looked at him.
"…Uchiha Madara may not be dead."
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!!"
Tobirama exploded instantly.
Like a startled animal.
"I personally handled his corpse!"
"I studied his Sharingan myself!"
"I buried him with my own hands in Konoha's back mountain!"
His voice rose uncontrollably.
The fear—
Still lingered.
After Uchiha Izuna's death—
Madara had attempted to assassinate him more than once.
Every time—
A brush with death.
"Calm down."
"I'm not even this worked up."
"You're already dead. What are you afraid of?"
"You… don't actually fear Uchiha Madara, do you?"
"Ridiculous!"
"I would fear him?"
Tobirama snapped back immediately.
Even if—
There was the slightest trace of that fear—
He would never admit it.
"Then listen."
Ren smirked faintly.
"The reason Madara dared to fake his death…"
"…because he knew you wouldn't destroy his body."
"You'd study it."
"You'd keep it."
Tobirama's expression darkened.
"Fake death?"
"You think I can't distinguish between the living and the dead?"
"Don't insult me."
Ren's smile turned sharper.
"Tobirama…"
"You should regret not having the Sharingan."
"You've underestimated its power."
A familiar phrase.
For a split second—
Tobirama recalled Uchiha Izuna saying the exact same thing.
"…Hmph."
"And what of it?"
"My brother defeated Madara."
"I killed Izuna."
"Both had Mangekyō Sharingan."
"It's not as invincible as you claim."
Ren clicked his tongue.
Typical.
Dismiss it because you don't have it.
If Tobirama had a pair—
He'd abuse them more than anyone.
"You don't understand."
"Especially the Mangekyō Sharingan…"
"When you use it…"
Ren let the sentence hang.
Then continued.
"It can pre-set techniques."
"Seal them within the eye."
"Trigger them at a specific moment."
Tobirama narrowed his eyes.
"…So?"
"You're saying it can bring someone back from the dead?"
Ren smiled.
"Yes."
"We actually have that."
"…What?"
Tobirama's composure cracked.
"There exists a forbidden technique within the Uchiha."
"Created during an internal war."
"A technique that can rewrite reality."
"Izanagi."
"It turns unfavorable events into illusions."
"Even death—can be undone."
"The cost…"
"One eye."
Silence fell.
Ren continued calmly.
"At the time, the clan fell into chaos."
"Ambition ran rampant."
"You know how Uchiha are."
Tobirama didn't respond.
But he did know.
Very well.
"With Izanagi—"
"Each user essentially had multiple lives."
"In battle, that's decisive."
"So they lost control."
"Madness spread."
"Until another technique was created."
"Izanami."
"It stopped the chaos."
Tobirama leaned forward slightly.
"…And what does Izanami do?"
Ren looked at him.
Eyes narrowing.
"You're thinking of countermeasures again, aren't you?"
"…No."
"Just curiosity."
Tobirama waved his hand casually.
Ren chuckled.
"Both techniques were sealed afterward."
"Only clan heads know them."
"And at the time—"
"The clan head…"
"Was Uchiha Madara."
A pause.
"If Izuna had known Izanagi…"
"The one who died…"
"Would've been you."
Tobirama's expression didn't change.
"On the battlefield—there are no 'what ifs.'"
"I survived."
"He didn't."
"That's all that matters."
Simple.
Cold.
Final.
But—
A thought surfaced.
Izanagi.
Rewriting death.
Then—
"…Madara…"
"…might really be alive."
Tobirama's face stiffened.
"…Damn it."
"If that's true…"
"Konoha is in danger."
His mind raced instantly.
"If he's alive…"
"He's been watching."
"Waiting."
"And now—"
"He might already be here."
Ren shrugged slightly.
"…Maybe."
"I can't confirm."
Tobirama shook his head.
"It doesn't matter."
"As long as he's alive—"
"He's a ticking bomb."
"And his behavior…"
"Doesn't add up."
"If he could've killed my brother—why didn't he?"
"Why fake his death?"
"What was he planning all this time?"
Tobirama's gaze sharpened.
"…His goal isn't Konoha."
"…It's something bigger."
Ren smiled faintly.
"No need to guess."
"I know his goal."
Tobirama's eyes locked onto him.
"…Speak."
"Uchiha Madara…"
"I want true peace."
Silence.
Then—
Tobirama exploded.
"Are you joking?!"
"This is not the time for nonsense!"
"You're the Third Hokage!"
"If you're not fit for it—step down!"
"I'll take over again!"
Ren waved his hand.
"Relax."
"I'm serious."
"Madara… is like Hashirama."
"A man who truly desires peace."
"If it meant achieving it—"
"He'd sacrifice himself without hesitation."
"The Uchiha…"
"Are a clan that understands love."
"And Madara's love…"
"…extends to the entire world."
Tobirama scoffed.
"If that were true—"
"He wouldn't have fought my brother."
"That battle—"
"Killed them both."
"And triggered the First Shinobi War."
"He bears responsibility."
Ren tilted his head.
"…And?"
"Do you think Hashirama could've lived forever?"
Tobirama fell silent.
Ren continued.
"When Hashirama was alive—"
"The world was already a powder keg."
"Everyone was waiting."
"For him to die."
"The war—"
"Was inevitable."
Tobirama clenched his jaw.
He knew that.
But still—
"…Why did Madara leave?"
"Why did everything collapse?"
Ren looked at him calmly.
"Because they were wrong."
"Both of them."
Tobirama's eyes narrowed.
"…What do you mean?"
Ren's tone turned sharp.
"The current state of the world—"
"Hashirama bears primary responsibility."
A pause.
Then—
He stared directly at Tobirama.
"Tell me."
"Do you really believe in that 'one village per country' system?"
"…Tobirama."
"Don't tell me…"
"You've never thought about it."
Ren's gaze burned.
"Unifying the entire shinobi world."
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