The Promise

Madara Uchiha left with effortless grace.

The current Madara Uchiha was truly carefree, because he had found a path that belonged to him—a path worth casting aside everything from his past.

However...

The Konoha Ninjas were not in such a good mood.

Take the two boys who had been terrified by Madara Uchiha. For Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, this had been the closest they had ever come to death.

Even as Shirou Emiya helped untie the ropes binding them, he could see that their bodies were still trembling with tension.

"About what happened today..."

"We must report it to the First Hokage."

The panic on young Sarutobi Hiruzen's face gradually settled.

The boy recalled how his father had once been severely injured by Madara Uchiha. He now understood why his father, Sarutobi Sasuke, had lost to Madara Uchiha.

Before that man...

Even trying to keep calm was a luxury.

Madara Uchiha had not even released his Chakra, nor had he revealed the slightest hint of imposing presence, yet merely seeing him was enough to make people uneasy.

Not to mention...

Having to fight that man in such a state of mind.

"We..."

"Should return to the village..."

"And report what happened today... to Lord Tobirama."

Young Danzo's face was still tense, but when he saw Sarutobi Hiruzen's calm expression, he forced himself to suppress his panic and remain composed.

If his hand had not been unable to even grip his ninja blade, no one might have noticed that he was merely trying to put on a brave face before Sarutobi Hiruzen.

That was perfectly normal.

Konoha Ninjas had always feared Madara Uchiha.

Even when Madara Uchiha had still been one of Konoha's founders, the children of Konoha had been deeply afraid of that perpetually fierce, cold face. Now that he had become Konoha's most terrifying enemy, one whom even the First Hokage could not kill, their fear had only grown.

After losing sight in one eye...

Madara Uchiha looked even more frightening.

"You two don't need to rush."

Shirou Emiya casually comforted the boys and looked into the distance. "If nothing unexpected happens, Konoha's ninjas should be arriving soon..."

As Shirou Emiya said this, as though he knew nothing about Hashirama Senju and the Konoha Anbu who had been following them all along, he sighed softly. "Madara told me that after we left Konoha, a team of Konoha Ninjas had been following behind us..."

"!!!"

Young Danzo's heart immediately tightened again!

This was bad...

Lord Tobirama's plan had been discovered!

How were they supposed to carry out the plan now?

Wait...

Did that mean...

Madara Uchiha had not killed those Anbu ninjas?

Even so, the Anbu ninjas certainly could not continue following Shirou Emiya. If he carried out this mission himself, he would surely still face danger...

Even without Madara Uchiha, a Small Shinobi Village like Waterfall Village had sent people to attack them. Shirou Emiya, a Medical Ninja, did not seem particularly reliable either—Waterfall Village's ninja had pierced straight through his heart with a single blow.

But...

Should he stay, or should he leave?

Young Danzo began to waver. He was afraid that he might die on this mission, but he was also afraid that returning would make him seem too cowardly.

Fortunately.

Young Danzo did not have to struggle for long.

Hashirama Senju soon arrived with a group of Anbu ninjas. Danzo had no right to speak at all and could only quietly await the Hokage's orders.

When Hashirama Senju saw that Shirou Emiya, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Shimura Danzo were all safe and sound, his heart finally calmed down.

But...

Hashirama Senju's calm lasted only a moment.

That was until he learned from the two boys that Madara Uchiha had indeed come, and had left behind a promise that he would not start another war for the time being.

"No war for some time?"

Hashirama Senju was somewhat puzzled by Madara Uchiha's promise.

Though he was happy that Madara Uchiha was willing to preserve peace, Madara Uchiha seemed to intend only a temporary peace.

"The duration of this peace..."

"Should be until Madara's eye recovers."

Shirou Emiya reminded Hashirama Senju, candidly revealing some facts. "Madara's blind eye will still take some time to recover..."

"That's not good..."

Hashirama Senju's heart rose into his throat again.

Once Madara's eyes recovered, he would regain the strength he possessed at his peak. He might even surpass his former peak, because Madara had also awakened the Wood Release Bloodline Limit!

At that time...

If Madara Uchiha once again started a war to destroy Konoha...

Even without the Nine-Tails' help, Hashirama Senju could not help but worry. Only he truly understood Madara Uchiha's strength!

"There's no need to worry..."

Shirou Emiya noticed Hashirama Senju's mood and hurriedly comforted his patient. "The situation isn't that bad, actually..."

"Oh?"

The unease in Hashirama Senju's heart eased slightly.

"Don't worry."

"For that blind eye to recover..."

"It will probably take at least twenty years."

Shirou Emiya patted Hashirama Senju on the shoulder, indicating that he need not worry too much. "If I fail to find a way to cure you, you only have ten years left to live. Even if he wants to start a war, it will happen after your death..."

"Ah..."

Hashirama Senju's already precarious heart died completely.

That consolation was utterly useless!

It even made Hashirama Senju more worried about Konoha's future!

Hashirama Senju had thought Shirou Emiya would suggest some kind of solution. He had not expected him to comfort him by telling him not to worry about what happened after his death...

How could he not worry?

Although Hashirama Senju had always respected others, he also knew very well the state of the Shinobi World's strongest fighters. Once he died ten years from now...

All of Konoha...

No, perhaps no one in the entire Shinobi World would be able to stop Madara!

"I'll track down Madara."

Hashirama Senju raised a hand to his forehead, threading his fingers through his hair as he worried over Konoha's future fate. "No matter what, I must find Madara within ten years. I must seize this opportunity to kill him once and for all!"

This was the only opportunity.

Hashirama Senju firmly believed that future generations would be able to protect Konoha.

The trouble was Madara Uchiha alone...

Hashirama Senju did not believe future generations could solve that problem.

Konoha's First Hokage had no choice but to embark on a journey to track down Madara Uchiha. He would use the last ten years he had left in the Shinobi World to find Madara Uchiha and prevent him from starting another war.

"We'll return to Konoha first."

Hashirama Senju immediately prepared to head back to Konoha with the Anbu ninjas. He needed to discuss the matters following his departure from Konoha with Tobirama Senju.

"These two children..."

Hashirama Senju looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo.

Shirou Emiya's gaze also fell upon them. He sighed softly. "I thought this era would at least maintain respect for Medical Ninjas, but it seems ninjas of this era act without restraint. I'm worried that the journey ahead will be dangerous..."

"I'll work hard to become stronger and protect Lord Shirou!"

Young Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke with great spirit, even nudging the companion beside him. "Danzo, are you going back with the Hokage?"

"You don't need to tell me that!"

Young Danzo's face immediately turned furious, and he snapped back with a fierce expression, "My mission isn't finished yet! I'll work hard to become stronger and protect Lord Shirou too!"

Although young Danzo had not yet made up his mind.

That bastard Sarutobi Hiruzen had selfishly declared that he would stay. Was Danzo supposed to admit that he feared danger and cowardly choose to return to Konoha?

"They're both such good children..."

Hashirama Senju rubbed their heads, his expression becoming especially solemn. "Then I'll have to entrust these two children to Lord Shirou in the future..."

"Within ten years."

Shirou Emiya nodded and agreed seriously. "If I cannot find a solution to your lifespan within ten years, I'll bring them back to Konoha."