Seisui Couldn't Sleep, So Tobirama Senju Wouldn't Sleep Either

Seisui warily swept his gaze over his surroundings.

When he stared at the glaring Target of Confrontation in the system—Madara Uchiha—and confirmed it was neither a nightmare nor an illusion, he honestly didn't know whether to be happy or upset. His feelings were incredibly complicated.

Setting aside the fact that the name itself sounded like the Ninja Asura...

Could someone tell him why the emotion was "possessiveness"? How the hell was he supposed to interpret that?

Holy shit!

Damn it, old man. Perverted old man!

The kind called the Ninja Asura, at that!

What was he supposed to do? Waiting online, urgently!

Seisui slowly rubbed his face, carefully retracing his recent behavior and the story between Madara Uchiha and Obito Uchiha.

"Calm down... Why did Madara Uchiha notice me and become my Target of Confrontation?"

"First possibility: Madara Uchiha sees me as an upgraded version of Obito Uchiha. Compared to Obito's simple good deed of helping an old man, my current persona is overflowing with the Will of Fire. Does he think the kindness in my heart can give rise to a deeper darkness?"

Given Madara Uchiha's personality, he would choose a more powerful Uchiha as his spokesperson.

After all, his plan wasn't something an ordinary Mangekyo Uchiha could easily accomplish.

Tempered by Madara Uchiha's schemes and meticulously tutored one-on-one, Obito Uchiha had pushed his dojutsu, Dojutsu, and ninjutsu talent to their absolute limits. Yet he could only barely impersonate Madara Uchiha; in reality, it was still a tremendous struggle.

The title Ninja Asura wasn't something one could casually uphold.

And between Seisui and Obito, who was stronger? Who had greater talent?

Anyone with eyes could answer that.

But the problem was, possessiveness wasn't an emotion Madara Uchiha should have if he wanted to corrupt him...

When Madara Uchiha chose Obito Uchiha, could he possibly have felt possessiveness?

That made no sense.

Several question marks appeared above Seisui's head.

After a long while, Seisui narrowed his eyes and thought of an outrageous yet seemingly plausible possibility. His expression rarely cracked.

"Could it be that when I beat up Uchiha Yashiro, I tried using the Uchiha Clan's way of fighting to better win people over, and Madara Uchiha happened to see it, so he became interested in me?"

"With White Zetsu around, the premise for that possibility holds."

"Tobirama's emotions were off that day too. Looking at it now, my posture must have resembled Uchiha Izuna somewhat. If that's the case, then that so-called possessiveness can be reasonably explained. Madara Uchiha wants to turn me into a little Izuna, doesn't he..."

The more Seisui thought about it, the more he felt his guess was close to the truth. He frowned.

This uninvited old man, who had proactively applied for a confrontation, had somewhat disrupted the rhythm of his plans.

Madara Uchiha wouldn't directly come charging into Konoha, but from now on, Seisui would have to take this man's existence into account before doing anything.

As for Madara Uchiha, hidden away in the valley, Seisui had no intention of making direct contact before he was certain he possessed sufficiently reliable means of self-preservation.

Although this mastermind of the Shinobi World was already incredibly old by this point, and the Rinnegan he had awakened with such difficulty was no longer in his possession.

The problem was, he was Madara Uchiha...

Even in the final year before his death, Madara Uchiha had still been able to subdue the Three-Tails, seal the rampaging Tailed Beast inside Rin Nohara, place a Curse Tag on her, and incidentally control a group of Kirigakure Anbu—possibly even including the Third Mizukage.

If anyone truly regarded him as an old man who needed tubes stuck in him at all times and struggled even to move, they would be a complete joke.

And at this point in time, his death was still far away... If Madara Uchiha could solo a Tailed Beast shortly before dying, then how strong was he now?

Seisui didn't know, and he didn't want to rashly test it.

After thinking for a long time, Seisui suddenly smiled. The heavy feeling in his chest eased considerably.

If he looked at it from another angle...

Although attracting Madara Uchiha's attention was dangerous, risks and opportunities coexisted.

Madara Uchiha had set his sights on Seisui, but that also meant Seisui had set his sights on Madara Uchiha.

If he could stir this man's emotions, even a tiny fraction of the rewards dropped by this strongest old man would be enough to greatly increase Seisui's strength.

Then how could he make Madara Uchiha's emotions fluctuate...

Seisui slowly narrowed his eyes. The answer seemed obvious. Madara Uchiha had offered him a substitute for the real thing, some replacement fantasy, and Seisui intended to catch it with both hands.

Wasn't it just Uchiha Izuna? He would become him!

However, Seisui's understanding of Uchiha Izuna wasn't actually very deep. He only had a few scattered bits of knowledge from his memories.

Thinking of this, Seisui shouted toward Tobirama Senju inside him. "Tobirama, stop sleeping. I need something from you!"

"Brat, disturbing my sleep in the middle of the night instead of sleeping..." Tobirama Senju slowly opened his eyes and yawned helplessly.

Though Tobirama Senju was in a soul state, he still needed rest. Seisui had even thoughtfully conjured a comfortable bed and blanket for him, so he could sleep with some sense of ceremony.

"I can't sleep. Tell me a story..."

Seisui spread his hands and said with a grin, "We're one body, after all. If I can't sleep, you won't sleep peacefully either."

Tobirama Senju's expression froze, and he couldn't help admiring Seisui's thick skin.

Were they really that close? Just a few days ago, they had been mocking each other. Now Seisui couldn't sleep and had come to ask him for a bedtime story?

We're enemies! Brat, I'm still evaluating you. I haven't acknowledged your Will of Fire!

Though that was what he thought, Tobirama Senju said something else. "What do you want to hear?"

"Tell me about Uchiha Izuna and you... That day, I heard Uchiha Yashiro mutter that I resembled him, but I clearly trained with you as my template."

"Could he be very similar to you? I remember that in the legends, you were sworn enemies..."

Seisui sat cross-legged at the foot of Tobirama Senju's bed. Ignoring the look of utter disgust on his face, he spoke as familiarly as if they were old friends.

"Hurry up. I really want to hear your story!"

"Nonsense. How could he possibly resemble me? There isn't any story to tell..."

Tobirama Senju waved his hand instinctively, but then paused for a moment. A nostalgic look surfaced in his eyes.

It seemed that perhaps, maybe, possibly, their styles and temperaments had been a little similar?

And stories... if their hundreds of mutual attempts to kill each other counted, then perhaps there were some.

"Fine. Consider it a history lesson."

"Uchiha Izuna, Madara Uchiha's younger brother, was the Uchiha Clan's actual leader and battle commander during the Warring States Period. He was an exceptionally difficult enemy and was once called a perfect ninja without flaws."

Tobirama Senju didn't belittle him, instead giving an impartial assessment.

"Of all the enemies I've encountered, he could be called the most troublesome. After he awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, I was once at a disadvantage and in a very sorry state."

"And Uchiha Izuna's trouble didn't lie solely in his strength. He possessed a sharp mind and a cold personality, yet he also had a gentle side toward his clansmen. He united the Uchiha Clan's hearts. That method you used to win over Uchiha Yashiro was one of his old tricks."

"His ninjutsu talent, Dojutsu, taijutsu, Kenjutsu, and intellect were all first-rate."

"From the age of nine, he and I became opponents. Whenever we encountered each other on the battlefield, we fought to the death, until I developed the Flying Thunder God Technique to counter his Mangekyō Sharingan and personally gravely wounded him."

"I sometimes wonder whether, if he had survived then, he might have seen the overall situation clearly. Perhaps Konoha's future would have been better, and Madara Uchiha might not even have defected from the village..."

As Tobirama Senju spoke of the past, his tone carried a trace of wistful emotion.

But then his tone changed, and Tobirama Senju became forceful. "But in the end, I was still stronger."

Seisui looked at Tobirama with eyes that seemed to shine, like a devoted fan listening to his idol recount glorious deeds. "Tobirama, what was your first fight with him like?"

"That year, I was nine, and he was nine as well..." Tobirama Senju slowly said. "It was in a forest in the Land of Fire..."

"What about the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth times?" After listening with lingering fascination, Seisui continued asking.

"Who remembers that? Brat, I'll tell you about a few I remember. Stop asking nonsense!" Tobirama Senju snorted and slowly began recounting stories from the past.

Seisui listened intently. He intended to boldly test his hypothesis.

If Madara Uchiha had truly bound himself to Seisui because he thought Seisui resembled Uchiha Izuna...

Then why not make it real?

Seeing his younger brother as if he had come back to life, that old man probably wouldn't be stingy with his emotions, would he?

And if Seisui wanted to resemble the real Uchiha Izuna, he needed to draw material from Tobirama Senju's stories.

In the Shinobi World, the person who understood someone best was always their enemy...

During tonight's Tobirama story session, under Seisui's mixture of flattery and sincere praise, Tobirama Senju told many stories about himself and Uchiha Izuna.

From hairstyles, clothing, and unconscious gestures to offensive and defensive habits, familiar ninjutsu, and ways of using the Sharingan.

It even included what Uchiha Izuna liked to eat, because Tobirama Senju had once considered poisoning him...

"In short, brat, although I don't like an Uchiha brat imitating my fighting style, your talent in Water Release is, honestly speaking, not inferior to mine..."

"So don't waste your talent learning from Uchiha Izuna. My ninjutsu alone is enough to serve you for the rest of your life..."

After finishing, Tobirama Senju gave that summary.

At present, Seisui's impression in Tobirama Senju's mind was still complicated. It couldn't simply be described as good or bad.

But when he saw Seisui showing signs of developing in Uchiha Izuna's direction, Tobirama Senju took the opportunity presented by Seisui asking for stories to vigorously promote his own strengths.

In Tobirama Senju's view, regardless of Seisui's true position or thoughts, Konoha would be better off with another Uchiha Tobirama than another Uchiha Izuna...

And after listening to stories all night, Seisui finally discovered a problem.

Tobirama Senju and Uchiha Izuna were simply far too alike.

They were equally cold and intelligent, warm-hearted beneath the surface, and obsessed with their older brothers. Both excelled at Kenjutsu, the Body Flicker Technique, and all kinds of ninjutsu...

Setting aside the Mangekyō Sharingan and the Flying Thunder God Technique, as well as Water Release and Fire Release, the two of them were practically carved from the same mold. Only their appearances differed.

If they had swapped souls and origins, there wouldn't have been the slightest sense of incongruity. Their personas were exactly the same...

At that moment, Seisui also understood something.

When he fought Uchiha Yashiro with Tobirama Senju's mannerisms, then shifted his fighting style from Water Release to Fire Release combined with Kenjutsu...

Didn't that make him resemble Uchiha Izuna?

If Madara Uchiha saw that, the old man really would lose his head over it. That was understandable.

"I understand, Tobirama. I only couldn't sleep and wanted to hear stories about your past, to get to know you better..." Seisui nodded, his eyes darting around.

"Although I'm a little sleepy now, I still want to ask one last question."

"Go ahead."

"Who's stronger, you or Madara Uchiha? Did he ever beat you back then?"

From Target of Confrontation Tobirama Senju, you have obtained Sealing Technique: Five Elements Seal!

"Evil Uchiha brat, I'll—"

Seisui laughed. "Good night, Tobirama."

And at the instant his figure faded away, Seisui vaguely saw that Tobirama Senju's lips seemed to curl upward...

While Seisui and Tobirama were holding a late-night tea session.

The White Zetsu Madara Uchiha had sent to fulfill Obito's dream encountered an accident.

A mass of dense black matter wrapped around the White Zetsu and devoured the Yin-Yang Release Chakra inside it that represented Madara Uchiha's will...

Kaguya Otsutsuki's Third Son seized this opportunity. Before the combination of White Zetsu and Madara Uchiha's will could replace Rin Uchiha, it acted first and used itself to replace Madara Uchiha's will...

Black Zetsu lurked within the White Zetsu and whispered excitedly, "I thought I would have to wait until that maddeningly stupid spokesperson plan began before I had a chance to approach this generation's awakened Indra..."

"Very good, very good. Whether it is that Seisui Uchiha or Obito Uchiha, both will be excellent helpers in reviving Mother."

"Still, Madara Uchiha's plan really is in poor taste. He actually wants White Zetsu to date Obito Uchiha. What a pitiful boy, to be targeted by that old man."

Although Black Zetsu spoke as though he pitied Obito Uchiha, its smile was somewhat strange. "Is the first task I complete for Indra to date an Uchiha brat? How interesting."

"Let me, Black Zetsu, allow him to experience the beauty of love..."

"Then, at the very moment he yearns for it most, I will violently destroy that love so beautiful it feels unreal... The Dojutsu born in such a way will surely be wonderful..."

Black Zetsu slowly raised its head and solemnly gazed at the moon in the night sky.

For its mother, Black Zetsu was willing to give everything...

That night.

Seisui was thinking about how to disguise himself as Uchiha Izuna, and happily chatting with Tobirama.

Black Zetsu was thinking about how to date Obito, silently killed the original owner, and became the one and only Rin Uchiha.

Madara Uchiha was thinking about his younger brother, his mind filled with memories.

Everyone seemed to have a bright future ahead of them...

Combined chapter... 4K!

I need to sort out the outline... How am I supposed to mass-release chapters after it goes premium without an outline...

But the good news is, tomorrow is a day off!

A working stiff's carnival day! Time to write like crazy!

P.S. In the original work, Black Zetsu first appeared when Madara Uchiha "created" it with Yin-Yang Release in front of Obito. I just felt that no matter how senile Madara Uchiha became, he wouldn't fail to distinguish his own will...

So I added some settings. Here, Black Zetsu devoured Madara Uchiha's will instead. It feels better that way... orz