Interlude: Questions

Fear made Madara's eyes widen slightly.

Now that Hashirama is dead, what about me?

Where am I?

Could it be... that I...?

He almost dared not think any further.

His chaotic thoughts crashed against his reason like icy waves.

Various unpleasant thoughts flooded his mind, but no matter what he thought, he couldn't imagine what could possibly kill Hashirama as powerful as Hashirama, someone even he had to acknowledge as powerful.

"Ban, I'm going to check on Yūki."

Hashirama's deep voice pulled him back from his momentary shock.

Hashirama had already stood up and was walking anxiously towards the backstage area.

"Together." Madara stood up as well. "I have something to ask Izuna."

The two walked quickly through the passageway at the edge of the audience seating area, one after the other, and headed backstage.

As they drew closer, faint sobs and whispers could be heard.

The backstage area was a bit chaotic, with the actors hurriedly changing their makeup and costumes, tidying up their props, and preparing for the next scene.

In a relatively secluded corner, Izuna's Shadow Clone was crouching down, gently patting Yūki's back.

Yūki had shed some of its armor, leaving it only in its undershirt; it was curled up, its shoulders still twitching uncontrollably.

The face of that fifteen-year-old boy was streaked with tears, his foundation was washed away, revealing skin reddened from the intense emotional turmoil.

He was no longer the bewildered Koremori on stage, but simply a child crushed by immense fear.

Izuna's Shadow Clone spoke in a very soft, reassuring voice, "... It's alright, it's all over, it was just acting. Take a deep breath..."

It was indeed his Suggestion.

Just as Ban predicted, how could a boy who grew up happily under the protection of his father's love and had never truly experienced loss and despair deeply understand the fear and helplessness of Taira no Koremori as his empire was about to collapse?

So he subconsciously chose to Suggestion Yūki —what would happen if his father were gone.

After all, in the original story, Hashirama Senju did indeed die young, just like Taira no Shigemori, leaving behind an unstable foundation and a young heir.

But he didn't expect that the power of this Suggestion would be so great, almost causing his Yūki to collapse on stage, and even after he went offstage, he was still unable to get out of character for a long time.

He doesn't recall giving such a strong Suggestion.

Could it be that this child is inherently afraid of this?

"Yūki!"

Hashirama's voice came through, filled with urgent concern.

Yūki, she raised her head and, through her teary eyes, saw her father's familiar figure. Her tears finally broke free.

He staggered forward and threw himself into his father's broad, strong embrace, clutching the dark green clothes of the Hashirama, burying his face in them and bursting into tears.

"Father... Father...!" He sobbed incoherently, crying like a child.

Hashirama's heart tightened at his son's unprecedentedly intense reaction. He immediately embraced his son, clumsily but gently patting Yūki's back, repeatedly saying, "It's alright, it's alright, I'm here, it's alright, it's alright..."

Seeing this, Izuna's Shadow Clone sighed, stood up, and nodded to Spot as he approached.

Looking at Yūki, who was sobbing in his father's arms, he hesitated for a moment, then suggested, "Hashirama, it seems that the scene just now had too much of an impact on Yūki. How about... we let the actor who was previously chosen to play the adult Koremori take over for the next part? Yūki can rest for now."

This suggestion is reasonable. After all, Koremori still has a significant role to play, especially in the more serious parts later on.

However, Yūki, nestled in her father's arms, abruptly shook her head, her voice thick with emotion, yet she resolutely refused. "No... I want to act."

He lifted his tear-streaked face; his eyes, though still red and swollen, had rekindled a stubborn light.

The outburst of tears he had just vented most of his pent-up fear, while his father's warm embrace gave him new strength.

He looked at Izuna, his gaze intense. "I can act well. I know... I know how to act."

Izuna raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at the boy who had quickly struggled to his feet after his collapse, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration.

But he still worriedly advised, "Alright then. But don't push yourself too Yūki, okay? If you feel uncomfortable, you can step down anytime, and someone else can take your place."

Yūki hastily wiped his face with his sleeve, trying to make his voice sound more steady, "Lord Izuna, please don't treat me like a child."

"Only fifteen years old, what else could he be but a child?" Izuna chuckled, his tone lightening and easing the previous tense atmosphere.

Hashirama didn't speak, but simply held his son quietly, letting Yūki calm down in his arms.

Only when Yūki let go of his hand, took a half-step back somewhat embarrassed, bowed to him, and prepared to return to the stage area, did Hashirama raise his hand and gently ruffle his son's hair.

"Go ahead." He didn't say anything, only offering the simplest form of support.

Yūki nodded vigorously, took a deep breath, turned around, straightened his still somewhat thin back, and walked towards the brightly lit stage.

Watching his son leave, Hashirama's gentle expression gradually faded. He turned to Izuna's Shadow Clone, his expression turning serious. "Izuna."

Madara stepped forward, silently gazing at Izuna, an invisible pressure spreading out.

Izuna seemed to have expected this. He scratched his face with his finger, looking helpless. "Sigh... I didn't expect it to be so powerful..." This was tantamount to admitting it.

"What kind of Suggestion did you give?" Hashirama asked in Hashirama voice, his tone containing not accusation, but more confusion and worry.

He couldn't understand what kind of Suggestion could elicit such a strong reaction from Yūki.

You know, his son's emotions are usually very stable, this is the first time he's cried like this.

Madara then said softly, "Is this Suggestion of Hashirama's death?"

Hashirama froze, then abruptly turned to look at Madara, seemingly not understanding the meaning of his words.

Izuna's Shadow Clone: "..."

The confident expression on his face froze instantly.

Holy crap! How did Ban Ge guess that?!

Izuna instinctively leaned back slightly.

Madara's calm eyes, and Hashirama's gaze that gradually sharpened after his initial surprise, made him almost want to turn around and run away.

Oh no, how am I supposed to explain this?!

Are you suggesting I say, "Oh, because in one version of the story I know, Hashirama, you really did die quite young, so I just used that as material"?

If I said that out loud, I'd probably get hammered into the ground!

His mind raced, and he forced a smile to try and get away with it, "Brother Ban, your guess is a bit too..."

"Looks like I guessed right." Madara interrupted him, his voice not loud, but enough to make Izuna swallow back the rest of his excuse.

"Why would you use this? And why was it Hashirama who died?"

Hashirama finally recovered from his initial shock. His brow furrowed as he looked at Izuna, his tone unusually serious. "Izuna, I need an explanation. Why... this kind of Suggestion?"

He could understand the need for emotional manipulation in acting, but the level of fear—the fear of "father's death"—directed at the age of fifteen, was clearly overstepping his bounds.

Moreover, he knew what Madara was trying to say.

Why would you make such Suggestion? Do you think Hashirama Senju is already dead in your world?

Izuna felt a tingling sensation on his scalp.

The sounds of props being moved and actors whispering from afar backstage were exceptionally clear, making this corner seem even more silent and increasing the pressure.

He glanced towards the stage.

The performance continued, Yūki had returned to form. Although his eyes were still a little red, the heaviness and struggle that belonged to Taira no Koremori had reappeared in his every move, even more profoundly than before.

The child was concentrating intently on completing his part.

We can't cause a scene now. We can't let it affect the performance.

This thought helped Izuna regain his composure.

He took a deep breath, avoiding Hashirama's burning gaze, and turned to look at Madara, his eyes filled with earnestness.

"Madara-nii, Hashirama," he lowered his voice, following Hashirama's lead, "I'm sorry about this matter. It was my oversight; I didn't handle the Suggestion well. The specific reasons... are rather complicated."

He paused, noticing Ban's slightly narrowed eyes, and immediately quickened his pace. "But I assure you, I absolutely did not mean to hurt Yūki! As you've seen, he's actually more immersed in the role now, and... he seems to be overcoming this emotion himself. The performance is currently underway; it's everyone's hard work, Yūki is putting in the effort too."

He observed the expressions of the two men, especially Madara. Madara's face was expressionless, but the invisible pressure emanating from him didn't seem to be increasing, which made him breathe a slight sigh of relief.

"So," Izuna's voice was softer and more serious, "Could we... talk about it after the performance is completely over? I promise I'll give you a clear explanation then. For now, let's bring this show to a smooth conclusion, okay?"

His gaze fell on Hashirama, filled with apology. "Hashirama- nii, I'm sorry for making Yūki experience such negative emotions. But I swear in the name of the Uchiha that I will never let him be traumatized by this. After the performance, I will personally apologize to him and undo all the damage."

Hashirama looked into Izuna's sincere eyes, then glanced at his son on the stage, who, though young, was unusually focused.

His brows were still furrowed, but his stern expression had softened somewhat. He turned to look at Madara, clearly waiting for Madara's decision.

Madara remained silent. His gaze lingered on Izuna's face, sharp as a knife, as if assessing the truthfulness of his words.

The backstage lighting was dim, casting shadows on his sharply defined profile, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

Time seemed to stand still for a few seconds.

Finally, Ban closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the turbulent undercurrent in his eyes had subsided, leaving only a deep calm.

He sighed almost inaudibly.

"... Watch the performance first." Madara's voice returned to its usual indifference, tacitly approving Izuna's request. But he added, his gaze fixed on Izuna, "After the performance, I want to hear the whole thing."

This isn't an explanation, it's the whole story.

Izuna's heart skipped a beat. For a moment, he didn't understand what Madara was talking about, but he quickly nodded, "Yes, Madara-nii. I'll explain everything clearly after this is over."

Seeing Hashirama, Hashirama nodded, then turned his worried gaze back to Yūki on the stage, and said in a low voice, "Alright. Let's leave it at that for now."

The tense atmosphere eased temporarily, and the three of them refocused their attention on the stage.