Pumping "Izuna" for Information

During the long month, in this world

Takamagahara descended upon Bishamonten

Warriors drifting to the ends of the earth

If there is disaster, sin, or defilement

I implore you to remove and kill.

May God hear my wish.

Izuna and Tobirama entered the Shrine.

Upon arriving here, Izuna and Tobirama first went to the washroom to cleanse their hands and rinse their mouths before continuing along the approach.

They did this because of what Mokushō had said to them before.

You must "wash yourself clean" before entering the Shrine, otherwise you will smell bad and pollute the Shrine's environment.

If they hadn't done that, Mokushō would have stood far away, and the little foxes wouldn't have come near them either; it seemed they really did have a scent.

Mokushō would never do that outside...

Izuna seemed lost in thought.

They did not go directly into the Main Hall, but waited for a while by the entrance until a Miko carrying a broom came out of the building.

Izuna stepped forward and explained his purpose, his posture much more upright than usual.

The Miko nodded after hearing this and quickly led Benzaiten.

Benzaiten walked out through the side door, his face still showing signs of weariness.

She saw Izuna and Tobirama, paused slightly, then sighed, "You've come because of the trouble that's about to happen, haven't you? Come with me."

The three entered the Reception Room.

The Miko served tea and then withdrew. Izuna and Tobirama sat on either side, while Benzaiten sat in the main seat.

"Madara Uchiha did come tonight," Benzaiten said. "He fought with two people in the woods behind the Shrine, captured the two assassins, and questioned them. I don't know what happened after that."

"An assassin?" Tobirama frowned. "What kind of person?"

"A man and a woman. The woman was around thirty years old, with blackened teeth, looking like a married woman. The man was younger, with red hair, and carried twin swords. Madara Uchiha tied them up, saying he would handle it himself. He apologized and said he would come back another day to reimburse me for the cost of the trees and the repairs to the courtyard wall."

Izuna blinked, readily took out his money pouch, and handed it to Benzaiten.

Benzaiten's previously displeased expression softened slightly.

Tobirama continued, "Where did they go?"

Benzaiten shook his head slightly. "I didn't see that. I don't want to know more, so I don't know what happened afterward."

Tobirama frowned, deep in thought.

"Thank you for informing me." Izuna Benzaiten bowed slightly and stood up.

Tobirama also stood up.

The two left the Shrine and headed back towards the Inn.

The night breeze was cooler than when I arrived, rustling the grass along the roadside. In the distance, the waters of the Yukawa shimmered and flickered in the moonlight, like someone had scattered a handful of silver fragments into the river.

"That was quite a hassle," Tobirama said, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice. "I didn't expect you to bring me back just when we were almost at the inn."

"Haha... I didn't expect that either." Izuna chuckled dryly, his voice slightly weak. "By the way, what happened to Madara? Why would two people make him use Susanoo?"

Tobirama glanced at him sideways. "I think your brother is probably too lazy to deal with the two people he captured."

"Eh..."

"A complete brute," Tobirama said.

Izuna blinked. "Uh, wouldn't it be even more troublesome if they got away?"

Do you think those two have a chance to escape?

"... without."

"He has plenty of ways to quietly capture people," Tobirama said calmly, "But he chose to use Susanoo. Besides causing us financial losses by carving a trench behind the Shrine, it also makes it easier for him to scare people... But none of that matters now. I just want to know something else."

Izuna paused in his steps.

"Have you thought of an excuse yet?" Tobirama didn't stop or look at him, but continued walking forward. "Why do you think that Namikaze Sōichi's child might possess some kind of talent that I would value, to the point that you would want me to take him as your apprentice?"

Izuna remained silent.

"I know you won't tell the whole truth, and I don't expect it anyway." Tobirama spoke calmly and deliberately. "Just give me your excuse. As long as it sounds plausible."

"You..." Izuna muttered under his breath.

"The last chance," Tobirama said.

Izuna sighed and resignedly said, "Because this child's son, who is also the grandson of Namikaze Sōichi, has learned your Flying Thunder God Technique."

Tobirama stopped abruptly. He turned and stared directly at Izuna: "... Are you telling the truth?"

"As for how I know, that's none of your business."

"Wait a minute." Tobirama frowned, as if forcing himself to accept the information. "If you wanted to know this, you'd have to be at least eighty years old, right?"

How could an eighty-year-old be in the state of Izuna, who looks like an underage brat?

"Who's eighty?!" Izuna almost jumped up. "Do you think an eighty-year-old would still be thinking about flying around everywhere?!"

Tobirama remained silent. "You know you're childish, don't you?"

Izuna was taken aback, turned his head away, and whispered, "Anyway, that's the information. I don't know where I got it from, I just know it."

Tobirama finally looking away and continuing on his way, "Fine, I'll let you go this time."

Izuna breathed a sigh of relief and quickly followed. The two of them didn't speak again. The night breeze gently pushed their shadows along the alleyway all the way to the stone steps in front of the Inn.

"But to be able to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique, what kind of person is that?"

"Hmm, I'm not telling you." Izuna pouted. "You're trying to trick me into telling you something again."

"Since you're the one recommending it, you have to give me a reason, right?"

He flies faster than you.

"Really?"

"Yes, and in later generations he became famous, known as the Yellow Flash. Other countries were afraid of him, saying that if they encountered him, they could abandon their missions without being punished."

Fame and fortune? Other countries? Tobirama pondered. It seemed that in Izuna's mind, the Izuna Chunin World War was something that would happen, or rather, something that had already happened...?

Seeing his pensive expression, Izuna couldn't help but sigh, "Sigh, you've managed to get something out of him again."

Tobirama asked him, "In your memory, is the great war something that has already happened?"

"Let me put it this way," Izuna said after a moment's thought, "To me, these are all just settings."

"Set up?"

"For example, you, Tobirama Senju, know the Flying Thunder God Technique, once used the Flying Thunder God Slash to severely injure Uchiha Izuna, are skilled in Water Release Ninjutsu, and have researched a bunch of Forbidden Techniques. That's your character setting."

Tobirama's expression froze.

For example...

"You... know?"

Izuna was about to give more examples, paused. "What?"

"You know I killed..."

Izuna blinked, then his expression changed drastically, "Holy crap!"

Tobirama Izuna's utterly devastated expression, Tobirama's initial bitterness vanished instantly. He sighed, "You didn't even consider this?"

Izuna dared not speak, and could only face Tobirama with a distorted expression, which almost made Tobirama laugh in anger.

"Hey, you shouldn't be so reckless; you should at least consider how other people feel!"

Izuna's lips moved, his gaze darting around. "Ah... um... this..."

"Didn't your Tobirama never do this?"

Izuna fell silent.

In the world he created, Izuna and Tobirama had a good relationship, so such a thing couldn't have happened. Tobirama's serious injury to Izuna, which indirectly led to his death, was an old story in that world. But the problem is, as someone who came to this world after that, he shouldn't know about it.

Tobirama sighed again. "Izuna, speak."

Izuna managed to squeeze out a few dry words. "This is the setting."

Tobirama smiled helplessly, "You little idiot."

Izuna didn't refute, only feeling as if he were dying.

"So, in the established setting, Namikaze Sōichi's grandson will learn my Flying Thunder God Technique?"

Izuna remained silent.

"So, you think his father, who is now Namikaze Sōichi's son, might also have this talent. Is that right?"

"... Um."

"Don't be so tense," Tobirama softened his tone. "Given how confused your memories are right now, I won't force you to say anything more."

Izuna suddenly turned his head. "Really?"

"Really," Tobirama joked cheerfully, "After all, I'm not going to argue with a fool."

Izuna: "... You're the idiot! Your whole family are idiots!"

Enraged, Izuna took off from the spot.

Without even spreading his wings, he floated into the air, like a leaf lifted by the wind, gliding away into the distance with the night breeze.

Tobirama stood at the alley entrance, looking up at the increasingly smaller dark figure, lost in thought.

Can't he fly without wings? So his wings are just for show?

But how can you fly without wings?

I'm very interested.

When Tobirama returned to the inn, Hashirama and Madara were already back, looking as if they had just taken a shower. Both of them were dressed in the simplest white clothes and were sitting cross-legged at a low table playing shogi.

When Madara saw him push the door open and come in, he looked up and asked, "Where's Izuna?"

"Don't worry, it won't be lost." Tobirama he walked over. He glanced at the Go board, and while Hashirama was Hashirama in thought, he reached out and picked up a Go stone, moving it to a favorable position.

Hashirama's eyes lit up. "Ah! This is it! Thank you, Tobirama!"

Ban clicked his tongue. "Hey, you're cheating."

Hashirama chuckled, "If you're so capable, get Izuna to help you."

Madara, recalling Izuna's terrible move, refused with a strange expression. "No thanks."

Tobirama didn't get involved anymore. He went to the front desk, got some pre-meal snacks, ate a few bites, and then took a shower.

After showering, he put on an overcoat and reviewed documents in the corridor.

They waited until dinner time, but Izuna still hadn't returned.

Before Madara could say Tobirama, Tobirama stood up, raised his hand to indicate that he understood, and disappeared from the spot the next second.

A flash of light and shadow, and he was already outside a Shrine.

The night breeze stirred the Torii, and all around was quiet.

Bishamonten the Northern Heavenly King among the Four Heavenly Kings who protect the world in Buddhism.

Clad in armor and holding a pagoda, he is both a war god who protects Buddhadharma and safeguards battles, and a wealth god who governs riches and bestows blessings.

In the Land of Hot Water, he was revered along with six other gods of fortune.

What is Izuna doing here?

Izuna stood directly below the Torii, his back to him, motionless.

"Hey, go back for dinner," Tobirama said.

Izuna did not turn around.

Tobirama took two steps closer. "Hey, Izuna."

"Tobirama?" Izuna's voice was very soft, as if it were drifting from a great distance, lacking its usual lively energy.

Tobirama paused, sensing that something was amiss.

He stopped a few feet away, looking at the young man whose back was to him.

The night breeze gently lifted the hem of Izuna's robe, the shadow of the Torii fell at his feet, and a faint scent of incense wafted from the depths of the Shrine, mingled with the smell of dew and moss.

The moon overhead was frighteningly clear, illuminating the entire path of the temple in a blinding white light.

Tobirama became alert and asked, word by word, "Who are you?"

Izuna finally turned around and looked at him.

Those eyes were golden.

A nearly transparent, cold, and bright gold, like the eye of a lizard or snake, beautiful yet eerie.

It was Izuna from that time. Why did he reappear?

Izuna didn't answer his question, but only sighed softly and muttered to herself, "It really can't be opened. But I can't let him remember it either, what should I do..."

His tone of voice was the same as Izuna's, with a soft ending, but it was precisely because of this that Tobirama his spine.

Without saying Tobirama immediately activated the Flying Thunder God Technique in an attempt to subdue Izuna.

His speed was so fast that almost no one in the Shinobi World could react to it, but just before his Kunai about to touch Izuna's clothes, countless Vines suddenly sprang up from the ground and tightly bound him.

The Vines were as thick as arms, their surface covered with fine cracks, exuding a damp, cold vitality, like living things growing from the soil.

Tobirama attempted to activate the Flying Thunder God almost simultaneously, but could not sense it.

He could not sense the Flying Thunder God's mark.

His pupils contracted, and a chill crept up the back of his neck. But he quickly regained his composure.

If someone wanted to kill him, he wouldn't be able to resist, but the other party didn't try to kill him, which at least shows that he's still somewhat useful.

"What do you want to do?" he asked, staring into those golden eyes.

"Izuna" tilted his head, seemingly deep in thought about the question.

Two seconds later, he said, "By the way, Tobirama, trust me."

"Ha?"

"Believe me, I am Uchiha Izuna."

"What the hell?" Tobirama frowned. "Why would you make such a request?"

"Izuna" laughed, "Because I am your old rival. Tobirama, don't you recognize me?"

Tobirama's pupils dilated slightly.

He looked down at the Vines wrapped around him.

The Vines became translucent at this moment, losing their sense of reality.

Tree Binding Death? Genjutsu!

This was one of the Genjutsu that Uchiha Izuna was most skilled at!

The moment the thought crossed his mind, the person in front of him seemed to dazzle for a moment, his outline swaying gently like the surface of water ruffled by the wind. Then he smiled.

"Thank you."

The next second, the space behind Izuna, framed by the Torii gate, shattered into countless pieces of light, which then quickly reformed.

A vast and ancient aura surged from the crack, causing the Tobirama of Tobirama's robes to flutter in the wind.

Inside was another world, the moonlight was brighter, the tree shadows were deeper, and the path to the temple was more ancient, as if once you went in, you could never come back.

Among them stood a person.

A disheveled man in tattered clothes.

Just as Tobirama was trying to see more clearly, everything went black before his eyes.

The world was plunged into darkness.