Seisui Couldn't Sleep, So Tobirama Senju Wouldn't Sleep Either (Combined Chapter)

Chapter 28: Seisui Can't Sleep, So Tobirama Senju Won't Either... (Two-in-One)

Seisui scanned his surroundings warily.

When he stared at the glaring target in the system—Madara Uchiha—and confirmed it wasn't a nightmare or hallucination, he didn't know whether to be happy or upset. His mood was tangled.

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

Who could tell him why it was an emotion of "possessiveness"? How was he supposed to interpret that?

Holy crap!

Damn it, old man, a perverted old man!

And the kind called the Ninja Asura at that!

What now? Asking online, really urgent...

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

"Calm down... Why did Madara Uchiha take notice of me, and why did he become my target?"

"First possibility: Madara sees me as an upgraded version of Obito Uchiha. Compared to his simple good deed of helping an old man, my current persona is maxed out on the Will of Fire. Does he think my kindness can breed deeper darkness?"

Given Madara's personality, he'd pick a stronger Uchiha as his spokesperson.

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

Obito Uchiha, honed by Madara's schemes and meticulous one-on-one training, had his Dojutsu, eye power, and ninjutsu talent pushed to their limits. Yet even he barely managed to impersonate Madara—it was still a stretch.

The title of Ninja Asura wasn't something you could just casually uphold.

And who was stronger and more talented, Seisui or Obito?

Anyone with eyes could see that.

But the problem was, "possessiveness" didn't seem like the emotion Madara should have if he wanted to corrupt him...

When Madara chose Obito, was his thought possessiveness?

That didn't add up.

Question marks floated over Seisui's head.

After a long pause, Seisui narrowed his eyes, landing on a ridiculous but seemingly plausible possibility. His expression cracked a little:

"Could it be that when I beat up Uchiha Yashiro, I tried to resolve the fight in the Uchiha Clan's way to better win people over, and Madara happened to see it, getting interested in me?"

"With White Zetsu around, that possibility's premise holds up."

"Tobirama's mood was off back then too. Looking at it this way, my stance probably resembled Uchiha Izuna's. If that's the case, this 'possessiveness' makes sense—Madara wants to mold me into a little Izuna, right..."

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

This uninvited old man, who'd volunteered to target him, had thrown off his plan's rhythm.

Even if Madara wouldn't directly storm into Konoha, Seisui now had to consider his existence with every move he made.

As for the Madara hiding in the valley, Seisui didn't want direct contact until he was sure he had enough self-preservation ability.

Though this mastermind of the ninja world was ancient by now, having even lost the Rinnegan he'd awakened through immense effort.

But the thing was, he was Madara Uchiha...

Even in his final year before death, Madara could still subdue the Three-Tails, seal the rampaging Tailed Beast inside Rin Nohara with a curse, control a bunch of Mist Anbu, and possibly even the Third Mizukage.

If you really treated him like an old man stuck on life support, barely able to move, that'd be a joke.

And at this point in time, he was still far from dying... So if Madara could solo a Tailed Beast shortly before death, how strong was he now?

Seisui didn't know, and he didn't want to find out recklessly.

After thinking for a long time, Seisui suddenly broke into a smile, his heavy mood easing.

If he looked at it from another angle.

Being noticed by Madara Uchiha was dangerous, but risk and opportunity went hand in hand.

Madara had his eyes on Seisui, but that also meant Seisui had his eyes on Madara.

If he could stir this old man's emotions, even a little bit of the gold coins this strongest old man dropped would be enough to boost Seisui's strength.

So, how could he make Madara Uchiha's emotions waver...

Seisui slowly narrowed his eyes. The answer seemed obvious. Madara's whole substitute, stand-in narrative—Seisui planned to lean into it hard.

Wasn't it just Uchiha Izuna? He'd play the part!

But Seisui's understanding of Uchiha Izuna was shallow, just fragments from memory.

Thinking this, he shouted to Tobirama Senju inside him: "Tobirama, stop sleeping, I need to talk to you!"

"Kid, it's late at night, don't disturb my rest..." Tobirama slowly opened his eyes, yawning helplessly.

Though Tobirama was a soul, he still needed rest. Seisui had thoughtfully conjured a comfortable bed and blanket for him, giving his sleep some ceremony.

"Can't sleep. Tell me a story..."

Seisui spread his hands and grinned: "We're one and the same anyway. If I can't sleep, you won't rest easy either."

Tobirama Senju's expression froze, and he couldn't help but admire Seisui's audacity.

Were they really that close? Just a few days ago, they were trading insults, and now he was coming to him for bedtime stories because he couldn't sleep?

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

But despite thinking that, Tobirama Senju said something else: "What do you want to hear?"

"Tell me about you and Uchiha Izuna... The other day, I overheard Uchiha Yashiro muttering that I'm like him, but I've been modeling myself after you."

"Is he really that similar to you? I remember in the legends, you two were sworn enemies..."

Seisui sat cross-legged at the foot of Tobirama Senju's bed, ignoring his look of utter disgust, and acted as if they were old friends:

"Come on, I really want to hear your story!"

"Nonsense, how could he and I be alike? And there's no story to tell..."

Tobirama Senju waved his hand instinctively, but then froze for a moment, a hint of recollection flickering in his eyes.

Actually... maybe... perhaps... roughly... in terms of style and temperament, there's a slight resemblance?

As for a story, if you count those hundred-plus times we tried to kill each other, I suppose that counts as something...

"Fine, let's just call it a history lesson."

"Uchiha Izuna, Madara Uchiha's younger brother, the de facto leader and battle commander of the Uchiha Clan during the Warring States Period. He was an extremely troublesome enemy, once called a flawless perfect shinobi."

Tobirama Senju didn't belittle him but gave a fair assessment:

"Of all the enemies I've ever faced, he was arguably the most difficult. When he awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, I fell behind and was in a pretty sorry state."

"But Izuna's difficulty wasn't just about strength. He had a sharp mind and a cold personality, yet he also showed a gentle side to his clansmen, uniting the Uchiha Clan's hearts. That trick you used to win over Uchiha Yashiro? That was his old game."

"Ninjutsu talent, Dojutsu, taijutsu, swordsmanship, intellect—he was top-tier in every aspect."

"From the age of nine, he became my rival. Every time we met on the battlefield, we'd clash, until I developed the Flying Thunder God Technique to counter his Mangekyō Sharingan and personally gravely wounded him."

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

As Tobirama Senju spoke of the past, his tone carried a hint of wistful reflection.

But then his tone hardened: "But in the end, I was still stronger."

Seisui's eyes seemed to shine as he looked at Tobirama, like a devoted fan listening to his idol recount glorious deeds: "Tobirama, tell me what your first fight with him was like."

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

"And the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth times?" Seisui asked, still hungry for more after listening.

"Who remembers that? Kid, I'll pick a few I recall and tell you, stop asking random questions!" Tobirama Senju snorted coldly and slowly began recounting stories from the past.

Seisui listened intently. He planned to take a bold gamble based on his guess.

If Madara Uchiha really saw Seisui as resembling Uchiha Izuna and that was why he was tied to him, Then why not make it a reality...

If an old man sees his little brother come back to life, he probably won't hold back his emotions, right?

And to truly resemble the real Uchiha Izuna, he had to draw material from Tobirama Senju's stories.

In the ninja world, the one who knows a person best is always their enemy...

At tonight's Tobirama Story Hour, with Seisui's mix of flattery and genuine praise, Tobirama Senju recounted many tales about him and Uchiha Izuna.

From hairstyles, clothing, subconscious gestures, to offensive and defensive habits, familiar jutsu, and the use of the Sharingan.

He even covered what Izuna liked to eat—because Tobirama Senju had once considered poisoning Uchiha Izuna...

"Anyway, kid, while I don't like an Uchiha brat copying my fighting style, your talent for Water Release is, honestly, no less than mine..."

"So don't waste your talent learning from Uchiha Izuna. My jutsu are more than enough to serve you for a lifetime..."

After finishing his stories, Tobirama Senju summed it up.

At this point, Seisui's impression in Tobirama Senju's mind was still complicated—not something that could be simply described as good or bad.

But when he saw Seisui trending toward developing in Uchiha Izuna's direction, Tobirama Senju took the chance Seisui gave him to tell stories and heavily promoted his own strengths.

In Tobirama Senju's view, no matter what Seisui's true stance or intentions were, Konoha would be better off with another Uchiha Tobirama than another Uchiha Izuna...

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

Tobirama Senju and Uchiha Izuna were far too alike.

Both were cold, sharp, yet warm inside, both were brother-obsessed, and both excelled at swordsmanship, the Body Flicker Technique, and various ninjutsu...

Setting aside the Mangekyō Sharingan and Flying Thunder God Technique, Water Release and Fire Release, these two were practically cut from the same mold—the only difference was their faces.

If you swapped their souls and origins, there wouldn't be a hint of dissonance; their character designs were identical...

At that moment, Seisui also figured something out.

When Seisui fought in Tobirama Senju's style against Uchiha Yashiro, and then switched his combat method from Water Release to Fire Release combined with swordsmanship...

That would look exactly like Uchiha Izuna!

If Madara Uchiha saw that, the old man would definitely lose his cool. I can understand that now.

"I understand, Tobirama. I'm just having trouble sleeping and wanted to hear your old stories, to know you better..." Seisui nodded, his eyes darting around.

"Even though I'm a bit sleepy, I still want to ask one last question."

"Go ahead."

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

From your sparring target, Tobirama Senju, you have obtained Fuinjutsu: Five Elements Seal!

"You evil Uchiha brat, I'll—"

Seisui laughed heartily. "Good night, Tobirama."

And just as his figure began to fade, Seisui vaguely saw the corner of Tobirama Senju's mouth twitch upward...

#

Meanwhile, as Seisui and Tobirama were having their late-night chat session.

The White Zetsu sent by Madara Uchiha to fulfill Obito's dream had run into an unexpected incident.

A thick, dark substance enveloped the White Zetsu, devouring the Yin-Yang Release chakra within it that represented Madara Uchiha's will...

Kaguya Otsutsuki's Third Son had seized this opportunity. Before the White Zetsu and Madara's will could replace Rin Uchiha, it struck first, replacing Madara's will with itself...

Black Zetsu lurked inside the White Zetsu's body, speaking in a low, excited voice: "I thought I'd have to wait until that idiotically insane Spokesperson plan began before I could get close to this generation's awakened Indra..."

"Excellent, excellent. Whether it's this Seisui Uchiha or Obito Uchiha, both are good helpers for reviving Mother."

"But Madara Uchiha's plan is truly twisted—having a White Zetsu fall in love with Obito Uchiha. What a pitiful kid, getting targeted by that old man."

Though Black Zetsu spoke as if he felt sorry for Obito Uchiha, his smile was eerie: "My first task for Indra is to fall in love with an Uchiha brat? How amusing."

"Let me, Black Zetsu, let him taste the sweetness of love..."

"Then, at the moment he's most full of hope, I'll shatter that beautiful, unreal love in the most violent way... The Dojutsu born from such a method will surely be exquisite..."

Black Zetsu slowly raised his head, staring solemnly at the moon in the night sky.

For his mother, Black Zetsu would give everything...

That night.

Seisui was thinking about how to disguise himself as Uchiha Izuna, enjoying his chat with Tobirama.

Black Zetsu was thinking about how to fall in love with Obito, silently killing the original and becoming the one and only Rin Uchiha.

Madara Uchiha was thinking about his brother, his mind full of memories.

Everyone seemed to have a bright future ahead...

A two-in-one chapter... 4K!

Time to sort out the outline... How can I burst out chapters without an outline after going premium?

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

A working man's holiday! Time to write like crazy!

ps: In the original work, Black Zetsu first appeared when Madara Uchiha "created" him in front of Obito using Yin-Yang Release. I feel that no matter how senile Madara Uchiha got, he wouldn't fail to recognize his own will...

So I added some lore. Here, Black Zetsu devours Madara's will. That feels better... orz