Heaven's Chosen * Takes a Disciple

After listening, Ban's face remained expressionless; he merely raised his chin and said, "You don't seem like a kind person."

You chuckled and said frankly, "There are times when people have to act impulsively and take a gamble for the greater good."

"So, what do you plan to do?" Madara asked. "The Wūwū Clan currently in the Land of Lightning. No matter how powerful I am, I can't possibly rush to that place and bring them out."

"There's no need for that." Yu shook his head. "After the assassination, you just need to follow the script and bring the Chinoike Clan out of the Land of Lightning under the guise of revenge. There's just one problem: Wūwū Liánběi doesn't know about this."

"It doesn't matter, he can't hurt me." Madara said dismissively. "But why should I help the Chinoike Clan? If the Land of Lightning is trying to start a war, I don't mind fighting back."

"You!" Yu's expression changed.

Ban beckoned to her. "I need some compensation, don't I?"

You smiled, her eyes sparkling, "Then I will serve you, sir..."

"Besides this," Madara interrupted her.

"Honestly! You clueless bastard!" Yu curled her lip. "The Chinoike Clan is at your mercy, isn't that enough?"

"Not enough," Ban said calmly.

Yu tilted her head and looked at Ringo Hayato beside her. Ringo, who was pretending to be dead, noticed Yu's gaze and looked back warily. "Why are you looking at me?"

"Bring this man the Seven Ninja Swordsmen Ninja Blade," Yu said.

Ringo almost jumped up. "Aren't you giving me a little too much credit!"

Madara raised his hand. "No need, I don't want that kind of knife."

Upon hearing this, Ringo: "..."

This guy is utterly contemptuous! Damn it, he's infuriating!

Yu withdrew her gaze and looked at Madara again. "So, what do you want?"

Madara seemed to think seriously for a moment, then said, "I want the Divine Artifacts of the Land of Lightning: the Gold Rope, the Seven Star Sword, the Benihisago, the Banana Palm Fan, and the Amber Purifying Pot."

Yu glared at him, managing to squeeze out, "Aren't you overestimating me a little?"

Ringo Hayato couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Ban raised an eyebrow. "If you can't do it, you're useless."

"Wait a minute!" Yu exclaimed anxiously, "I can only get you two!"

Ban smiled with satisfaction, "Deal."

Yu belatedly pursed her lips, realizing she had been tricked.

Madara casually tossed out a Kunai, Kunai precisely severed the ropes binding the two men and slammed into the ground.

"You can go now," Ban said, looking at them. "Remember your promise."

The next second he turned into a puff of smoke and disappeared.

Ringo Hayato rubbed his wrist, looking somewhat bewildered. "No? This is just a clone?"

You sat on the ground, staring at the plume of smoke. She touched her forehead and realized that it was covered in fine sweat; she must look terrible.

She muttered, still shaken, "Luckily, this person was in a good mood."

Otherwise, she would have been dead the moment they met.

Madara, who was stirring up trouble at sea with Hashirama, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

The water beneath his feet rippled gently as he stopped abruptly, the ripples spreading outwards before being swallowed by the sea breeze. Hashirama also stopped, turning to look at him. "What's wrong?"

Ban frowned slightly, and after a moment said, "I may have learned something terrible."

"What?"

"Something's really going to happen at the Summer Festival." Madara looked at him. "It's an assassination attempt."

Hashirama was taken aback at first, then sighed, "Izuna was right... How did you know?"

"I used to have a fiancée, didn't I?"

"Yes, did she come to you for help?"

"It's less of a plea for help and more of a pledge of allegiance," Madara said. "The people she hired came to deliver her message, handing me the assassination list in exchange for me leading the Chinoike Clan out of the Land of Lightning."

"An assassination list, huh..." Hashirama mused. "Then, this way, we can prevent things from happening in advance, right?"

Ban didn't answer; he turned his head away, the sea breeze ruffling his hair.

Hashirama looked at him. "Madara? What's wrong?"

The man with the high ponytail gazed at the distant sea and suddenly chuckled softly, "I don't think there's anything wrong with letting the world descend into chaos."

Hashirama frowned. "Madara."

"Don't they want war? Then let's just fight until they have no desire for it anymore."

"Ban, peace has just begun."

"So what?" Madara turned to look at him. "Now that Konoha is on the right track and the various clans are much more harmonious, there's no need to compromise and feign compliance with those who try to destroy all of this. Even if we say we want to fight, no one will object."

"That's the same!"

The two stood there on the undulating sea, neither of them moving.

"I understand." Ban finally backed down. "I'll tell you the list when we get back."

Hashirama, however, did not relax. He stared at Madara, as if trying to find something on his face. "Madara, do you wish to eliminate this threat forever?"

That's right.

"But that's impossible," Hashirama said. "Even if we manage to stop them this time, they'll always stir up trouble again. There will definitely be more battles after that."

"At least while we're around, we should prioritize ensuring people have a good life," Ban said. "Is that idea wrong?"

Hashirama gently shook his head. "We can use a gentler method."

You're always like this.

"If we don't do this, the original purpose of establishing Konoha will be changed."

Ban's eyes suddenly turned dangerous. "Are you sure you want to bring this up with me?"

Hashirama froze.

"Wasn't our initial goal to protect our younger brother? In the end, my Izuna is dead, and your brother is the murderer. Our dreams have long been shattered by reality."

Hashirama didn't speak, he just stood there silently, the seawater rising and falling over his ankles.

For a moment, only the sound of the waves echoed all around.

After a moment, Madara sighed and said, "I won't say it's all your fault. Izuna went to his death willingly. It was my mistake that I wasn't prepared."

"But Hashirama, ever since then, I've actually looked down on you a bit. You talk about peace, yet you're unwilling to use any forceful means; you talk about protecting something, yet you're always sacrificing something in the process. You yourself have said that people are all troublemakers."

Hashirama finally spoke, "I'm sorry, but this is my creed. Even you, I will not change my principles."

"I know," Madara said. "So, before Izuna came here, I actually wanted to leave."

Hashirama's breathing quickened. He asked, "To complete that so-called Infinite Tsukuyomi? But isn't that Black Zetsu's scheme?"

"But that's feasible. As long as the harmful parts are removed, Infinite Tsukuyomi is the legendary utopia where everyone can find happiness in the world of Genjutsu."

"But that's just an illusion!" Hashirama tried to convince Madara, "It's just a hallucination!"

Ban didn't deny it. He raised his head and looked at the horizon. "To live a life of happiness and hardship, isn't that everyone's ultimate dream? Rather than living in a world where all those you wanted to protect have passed away, and where the future is filled with despair, it's better to indulge in illusion and live happily ever after."

Hashirama pursed his lips. He disagreed with Madara's idea, but couldn't find the words to refute it. He could only repeat himself dryly, "Madara, Genjutsu is just Genjutsu. People always have to live in reality."

Madara chuckled, turning his head to look at him with a faint smile playing on his lips, "That's right, Genjutsu is ultimately Genjutsu. But Hashirama, you don't really know why you say that, do you?"

Hashirama breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Hashirama agreed, then scratched the back of his head somewhat awkwardly. "Uh, I really didn't know... but I know that becoming addicted to Genjutsu is bad."

Ban laughed heartily. The laughter carried far on the sea breeze, even causing the seawater at his feet to ripple several times.

Hashirama looked at him, puzzled, but couldn't help but want to laugh at his smile.

"Sigh!" Ban stopped laughing, let out a long sigh, and looked up at the horizon. "How boring my life would be without you."

Hashirama paused for a moment, then smiled. "That's what I thought too. Without Madara, I probably wouldn't have had the Yūki to pursue peace. You are my Heaven's Chosen."

Ban got goosebumps from those words: "How cheesy... What Heaven's Chosen? How can you talk like that?"

Hashirama replied earnestly, "But the person who gave me direction when I was lost was you, Madara. You are the inspiration that God gave me."

"How cheesy!" Ban looked at him with disgust. "Don't say things like that, especially in front of others! Or I'll break off our friendship!"

Hashirama, seeing Madara's disgusted expression, was deeply shocked. "I never expected to be rejected by Madara..."

"Do you have to be so somber about something like this?!"

"That spotted one! I still want to call you Heaven's Chosen!"

"No!"

"Sandal—please—"

Ban's expression was strange. "Do you really want to call me that word?"

Hashirama nodded seriously.

Ban couldn't help but smile, then turned his head away, his ears turning bright red, "Whatever you want."

Hashirama grinned, "I knew you were the best! Madara!"

Ban waved his hand. "Alright, alright, let's go back."

"Alright!" Hashirama replied, and the two of them, without lingering, skimmed across the sea in the direction they had come from.

The setting sun cast their shadows long, like two ink lines, rising and falling with the waves.

Izuna and Tobirama were walking back to the Inn.

A night breeze blew in from the Yukawa, carrying the dampness of the river and the aroma of grilled fish wafting from distant vendors.

The two stood one behind the other, about half a step apart.

As they crossed the bridge where two people once leaped across in a single day, Izuna suddenly asked, "Speaking of which, has Madara's Summoning Beast found its child yet?"

"Don't you know?" Tobirama turned to look at him.

"I don't know, I just fell asleep." Izuna shrugged. "You know that, don't you?"

"I'm speechless. Didn't you even bother to ask around afterwards? Wasn't it you who suggested finding the baby?"

Izuna turned his head, looking innocent. "Didn't a lot of things happen after that? I forgot about it too, so, you found it?"

"Found her. Apparently, she's at one of the Hiroyama Family's strongholds," Tobirama said. "There seemed to be several people watching the child there; one was dark-skinned, one had red hair, and the other was probably the young lady from the Tsuchigumo Family that day."

"Huh, red hair? Could it be Enma?"

"As for the Uzumaki Clan in this country, it only consists of him and that middle-aged man."

"But how did they meet?"

"Who knows. Anyway, after learning that the child was Namikaze Sōichi's son, their people sent the child to the Hiroyama Family. Namikaze Sōichi even paid a visit after that. Of course, you were flying in the sky at that time, and I was too lazy to look for you, so you didn't see him."

"Well, that doesn't matter, as long as the child is alright."

The two crossed the bridge and turned into a slightly dark alley. Tobirama suddenly slowed his pace and turned to look at Izuna: "Speaking of which, I actually have something I wanted to ask you."

"What?"

"What did you mean when you said you'd find me an apprentice?"

Izuna paused for a moment, then resumed his usual pace, his tone light and deliberately cheerful. "Well... well... maybe it's because I feel we have a connection?"

"Could it be that you've seen me teaching that child?" Tobirama asked quickly.

"No, not at all."

Tobirama stopped, then suddenly turned to face Izuna: "You're from the future?"

Izuna blinked, thinking to himself that he had given himself such an obvious flaw, how come Tobirama only realized it now?

"Izuna, are you from the future?"

Izuna had a bad feeling, so he continued walking forward, "I don't know, don't ask me about that kind of thing."

But Tobirama persisted. "When? How many years ago was that?"

"That's why I have no memory!"

"He has no memory of it, yet he knows I will take on a disciple in the future?"

"You didn't take him on as a disciple! It's just that this child might have talent, and I wanted you to teach him!" Izuna explained halfway through, then suddenly realized something was wrong.

"Maybe? Why is it possible? And what is talent?" Tobirama in front of him and stared at him, his red eyes appearing particularly sharp in the dim light of the alley.

Izuna was startled. "Ah! I didn't know!"

After saying that, he turned and ran.

"Uchiha Izuna! You stop right there!" Tobirama chased after him.

Izuna's clothes fluttered in the night wind as he ran, turning back to shout, "I really don't know! Don't chase me!"

"Stop talking nonsense! You know everything but say nothing! Are you trying to fool us?!" Tobirama's voice came from behind, clearly filled with gritted teeth.

The two chased each other through the narrow alley, startling several dozing stray cats into scattering in all directions.

Izuna wanted to shake off Tobirama, but Tobirama was already on par with Izuna in Tobirama, and since Izuna hadn't learned how to counter tracking, it was even more difficult for him to escape.

Moreover, Tobirama had already placed the Flying Thunder God mark on his clothes so that he could find this guy who was always flying around in time.

Seeing that he couldn't catch up and that Izuna was veering further and further off course, Tobirama decisively activated the Flying Thunder God Technique in an attempt to capture Izuna.

But Izuna reacted incredibly quickly, dodging the attack the instant Izuna made his move, and the grappling attempt turned into a full-blown fight.

Izuna and Tobirama fought for more than a dozen rounds in the forest.

It was called a fight, but it was more like a farce of chasing each other.

Izuna didn't want to hurt Tobirama, and Tobirama didn't go for the kill, but neither was willing to stop first.

The Flying Thunder God allowed Tobirama to appear and disappear unpredictably, while Izuna, relying on the Tengu's agility, was always able to slip away at the last moment.

The two chased each other from the alley into the woods, sending grass and twigs flying everywhere, startling several roosting birds into the night sky.

"What are you doing?! I already told you I don't know!"

"You call that ignorance?" Tobirama forward, his hand already reaching for his shoulder. "You say I didn't take on any disciples, yet you say that child is talented. You must explain yourself clearly today: why did you insist on sending the Namikaze family to Konoha!"

"Ugh! You're so annoying!"

Izuna seized the opportunity, dodged Tobirama's hand by sidestepping, and was about to run out of the forest with a light step.

But Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Kunai had already embedded itself into the tree trunk in front of him.

He dodged and blocked Izuna's path, and the two exchanged a few more blows between the old cedar trees.

Finally, Izuna caught Tobirama with his Tobirama, and the two stepped back a few paces, stopping deep in the forest.

Both of them were panting, their hair and clothes in disarray.

Just as Izuna was figuring out how to escape, a low tremor suddenly came from afar.

They turned their heads at the same time, and the blue Giant rose from the ground, bursting through the tree canopy, and stood majestically in the moonlight.

Izuna's eyes widened. "Madara-nii?!"

But the Susanoo only appeared for a few breaths before it quickly dissipated like a tide, leaving only the ripped tree shadows and a lingering Chakra fluctuation.

Izuna stared blankly in that direction. "What happened... how could they disappear so quickly?"

Tobirama frowned as well. "What's wrong with Madara Uchiha?"

The two exchanged a glance, forgetting their earlier argument, and simultaneously rushed in that direction.

After walking through a grove of trees that had been trampled and bent over, they stopped in front of a scene of utter devastation.

The ground looked like it had been plowed, several old trees were leaning to one side or the other, and traces of Chakra burning could still be seen in the night.

In the distance, a Shrine lies quietly behind the shadows of the Torii, only the vermilion lacquer on its torii gate gleaming faintly in the moonlight.

Tobirama gestured with his chin in that direction. "There seems to be a Shrine over there."

Izuna looked in the direction he was pointing and nodded. "Let's go ask."