Beast, Submit to Me!

"Little Renye, long time no see..."

A few months later, Renye had just returned home after completing a mission when he saw Hashirama Senju sitting in the courtyard, smiling as he greeted him.

"Uncle Hashirama, what brings you here?" Renye asked in surprise.

As everyone knew, aside from the Fourth Hokage, all the other Hokage were extremely busy.

For Hashirama Senju to come in person, something must have happened while Renye had been away on his mission.

Hashirama Senju sighed and explained, "I don't know why, but I've been feeling strange lately. I don't even have an appetite when I eat."

During this time, he occasionally felt his heart palpitate.

It was as though an invisible pair of hands were silently tightening the threads of fate.

The feeling made him deeply uncomfortable.

Mito Uzumaki had noticed Hashirama's changes. She believed her husband had developed anorexia from overwork, so she suggested that he eat a meal cooked by Renye.

After learning what had happened, Renye smiled. "So that's how it is. Uncle Hashirama, I'll come cook for you later."

"Haha, I'll have to trouble you, Little Renye." Hashirama Senju forced out a smile.

Renye did not think much of it, assuming it was caused by Hashirama's loss of appetite.

He planned to make several dishes Uncle Hashirama enjoyed and see whether he could restore the man's appetite.

If that still did not work, there was nothing he could do.

Renye looked puzzled. "Come to think of it, can someone as strong as Uncle Hashirama really get anorexia?"

This might not be anorexia.

It was heartache...

After leaving, Hashirama Senju did not return home. Instead, he went alone to Hokage Rock.

Below him, smoke curled from Konoha Village's chimneys. Vendors' cries and the laughter of chasing children pierced the thin mist, weaving together a vivid scene of mortal life.

His wooden sandals crushed the fine gravel atop the rock, and the sensation beneath his feet suddenly felt familiar—the hollowed grooves and raised stone ridges were exactly like a scene from his memories.

Images from years ago surged forth like a tide. Back then, he had stood here with Madara, planning the village's future.

Back then, Madara had stood in the same spot, pointing at the barren land below and saying, "Let this place bloom with white flowers of hope."

Now, Konoha's cherry trees were in full bloom, yet their pink and white petals left him stunned.

The wind carried the voices of vendors and children past his ears. He suddenly reached into empty air, as though trying to grasp his dearest friend.

"Madara..." Hashirama Senju's expression was complicated.

He did not understand why his good friend had chosen to leave. Was this not the village they had built together?

He stood quietly atop Hokage Rock, not knowing what he was thinking.

It was not until night fell that Hashirama Senju finally came back to himself. Gazing into the distance, he murmured, "Madara, what are you doing right now?"

Hashirama Senju's Residence.

"Sister-in-law, why hasn't Elder Brother returned yet?" Tobirama Senju swallowed as he looked at the dishes on the table.

Not only did Elder Brother like this food, he liked it too.

If this had not been Elder Brother's home, he would have already started devouring it.

Mito Uzumaki could not help frowning. "Hashirama, honestly... making so many people wait for him..."

Ever since Hashirama had left that morning, he had not returned home. She had no idea where he had gone.

Renye was somewhat confused. What exactly had Hashirama Senju gone to do?

He had come here that afternoon to cook.

Yet after he finished cooking, he discovered that Uncle Hashirama was not home.

Renye had thought Hashirama Senju would return soon, but after waiting the entire afternoon, he still had not seen him.

He had lost track of how many times he had reheated the dishes on the table.

After a long wait, Hashirama Senju finally arrived late.

"Hahaha, sorry to keep you waiting."

"Where have you been all this time?" Mito Uzumaki stepped forward, grabbed Hashirama by the ear, and demanded.

"Ah, that hurts, that hurts! Mito, let go!" Hashirama Senju hurriedly pleaded.

Mito Uzumaki snorted coldly before finally releasing him.

Hashirama Senju rubbed his reddened ear and explained, "I went to Hokage Rock to enjoy the scenery and accidentally lost track of time."

Mito Uzumaki rolled her eyes irritably. She truly did not know what to say about her husband.

Renye and Tobirama Senju's mouths twitched.

They had thought uncle/elder brother had gone to handle official business. They never expected he had gotten so caught up in the scenery that he lost track of time.

That was indeed something Hashirama Senju would do.

"Little Renye, please heat the dishes again," Mito Uzumaki said softly.

"Okay, Aunt Mito."

Renye picked up the dishes and headed for the kitchen.

Before long, he had reheated them.

Hashirama Senju sat at the head of the table. Looking at the fragrant dishes before him, he still had no appetite.

He held his chopsticks over the miso soup for a long while, the rising steam blurring his vision.

His favorite Tempura sat before him, but its golden, crispy coating could not stir even the slightest desire to eat.

"Is this really anorexia?" Hashirama Senju murmured softly.

"Elder Brother, why aren't you eating?" Tobirama noticed the change in his elder brother and asked in confusion.

"I don't have an appetite." Hashirama sighed.

Renye watched silently from the side without speaking.

His intuition told him that something major was about to happen...

Renye sank into thought. What could happen during this period?

Just then, the faint rumble of thunder rolled in from afar, startling the wind chimes beneath the eaves into a chaotic clatter.

Hashirama Senju suddenly felt an uncomfortable tightness in his throat, and even breathing became heavy.

He stood and walked to the door. Looking at the dark clouds in the sky, he murmured, "Could it be you, Madara...?"

His intuition told him this matter was related to Madara.

Hearing those words, Renye's body stiffened, and he immediately realized what was happening.

If something were going to happen during this period...

Then it could only be the Battle of the End Valley.

Somewhere in the Shinobi World.

"Beast, I finally found you!"

The instant lightning split the dark clouds, Madara Uchiha's long hair whipped wildly in the wind, his crimson Sharingan resembling two Blood Moons in the darkness.

The Nine-Tails' roar shattered the heavens. Its nine enormous tails swept in like mountain ranges, shattering rocks wherever they passed. The flying debris, wrapped in violent Chakra, streaked through the air in red trails.

Madara Uchiha flashed aside, easily evading the tails' attack.

He looked at the massive Nine-Tails and nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad. You'll make a fine pet!"

Hearing that, the Nine-Tails was instantly enraged. It wanted to tear the human before it to pieces!

Facing the furious Nine-Tails, a cold curve formed on Madara's lips. His Three Tomoe spun madly before finally taking the shape of a Mangekyo.

He cast a Mangekyo genjutsu on the Nine-Tails.

"Beast, submit to me!"

Madara's Chakra surged into the Nine-Tails' body like a tide.

The Nine-Tails struggled and roared in fury, but it could only watch helplessly as its body gradually slipped beyond its control.

Three Tomoe appeared in its eyes.

The Nine-Tails was completely controlled by Madara Uchiha.

Madara stood atop the Nine-Tails' head and looked into the distance.

"The first step of the plan is complete."

"Next, execute the second step."