First Meeting with Senju Hashirama

A few words nearly talked Uchiha Madara into limping away.

The Dance King was probably deeply shaken right now. If the timing had been right, he would have run off immediately to share it with his friends.

"I knew I hadn't misjudged you." Young Madara excitedly patted his shoulder.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he tossed out a "Wait for me" and returned to his own camp.

As the clan head's son and the future ruler of the Uchiha Clan, Lord Madara also commanded a force that stood ready to obey his orders at any time.

He and Kyosuke would set out together in a week to resist the Uzumaki Clan's increasingly fierce offensive.

"Looks like Tajma is about to notice something strange about his son."

"No, more accurately, he's probably already become suspicious. It's just not time to make a move yet."

As he pondered, a sharp whistle suddenly came from the distance.

Looking up, a glint flashed through Kyosuke's eyes. He raised an arm and easily caught the incoming object.

It was a long sword still sheathed. When he drew the blade, its surface gleamed coldly beneath the moonlight.

Chakra pulsed faintly, and a layer of pale blue fluorescence immediately spread across it—the distinct manifestation of visible Chakra.

Normally, metal weapons such as Kunai could also conduct Chakra.

However, their transmission rate was extremely low. Of ten parts of Chakra put in, less than two actually took effect.

That was why few people did it. The cost-effectiveness was simply too poor.

If one could find a special metal with a high transmission rate, the power of Chakra infusion could be greatly improved.

Like the weapon in his hand. Its transmission rate reached an astonishing sixty percent.

With even a little study into nature transformation, it could perfectly manifest it.

Perhaps it could not raise Kyosuke's upper limit of strength, but it could greatly enhance his baseline combat ability.

Simply put, dealing with ninja of the same level would become much easier for him from now on.

As for those weaker than him, he could end fights as easily as chopping melons and vegetables.

Its raised lower limit of strength would also help conserve energy in battle.

He could not exactly alternate between the Body Flicker Technique and Chidori against every opponent. No amount of Chakra would be enough for that.

"Thanks." He accepted the weapon without the slightest politeness, treating it as Madara's return gift.

Ideological education came with a price, too.

In the distance, Uchiha Madara approached step by step, clad in armor.

Hearing that utterly insincere thanks, he smiled faintly. "Don't thank me. Father ordered me to take the weapon from the clan's treasure vault."

The Uchiha Treasure Vault. Kyosuke's expression shifted slightly. That place was a trove with countless treasures.

There was no way Madara had gone in there solely to fetch him a weapon.

Kyosuke looked him up and down suspiciously. Only when the Dance King's body had grown somewhat stiff did he slowly withdraw his gaze.

Whew. Uchiha Madara let out a long breath, feeling as though he had been seen through.

After visiting the clan treasure vault, there was no way he could have left empty-handed.

In truth, Kyosuke's arrival had already changed many things.

In the original story, Lord Madara's strength eclipsed that of his peers. Though he had never slacked off, his drive to become stronger had always been somewhat lacking.

Now, stimulated by Kyosuke, he felt a tension he had never experienced before.

He needed to train hard, develop his bloodline limit diligently, and even his weapons could not fall behind.

After entering the treasure vault, he quickly picked out a gift for Kyosuke. Then, he began rummaging through boxes in search of divine weapons and sharp blades for himself.

In the end, the legendary Ninja Tool passed down through generations—the Uchiha Gunbai—had likely emerged six or seven years early.

Subconsciously touching the storage scroll at his waist, Uchiha Madara coughed lightly, made up an excuse, and ran off.

Somewhat puzzled, Kyosuke simply gave up on investigating. After some thought, he decided to visit Izuna, whom he had not seen in a long time, and catch up.

That night, intense sounds reportedly rang out repeatedly from the second young master's training ground.

The clan members sighed in admiration. Uchiha Izuna truly was a hardworking youth, still training so diligently at such a late hour.

Little did they know, Izuna had been turned into a punching bag and become Kyosuke's test subject for his new sword.

After Kyosuke left in satisfaction, the bruised and battered boy could only lick his wounds alone.

"You bastard, one day I'll surpass you."

"And Big Brother too. I, Izuna, am the one with the greatest talent."

If Kyosuke had heard that bold declaration, he would surely have regretted hitting him too hard.

How had he managed to knock him stupid?

The next day, with nothing better to do, Kyosuke planned to find Madara for a rematch.

Izuna was too weak. He could not have a satisfying fight with him. Fighting the Dance King was much more exhilarating.

However, when he knocked on the door, the butler informed him that the Young Clan Head had entered the mountains to train early that morning.

Something's fishy. Kyosuke narrowed his eyes and followed the trail.

In the mountains, beside a small stream.

Young Madara idly skipped stones across the water, his mind filled with Kyosuke's words.

It really is a good way to resolve conflict, but Father would never agree to it.

But it doesn't matter. As long as Kyosuke and I are here, we'll definitely be able to achieve true peace someday.

As he thought, Madara suddenly felt the urge to pee. He undid his pants and began relieving himself into the river.

Suddenly, a figure silently appeared behind him.

"Hey~"

The stream of water instantly stopped. No matter how hard he tried, he could not continue enjoying himself.

"Hashirama!!!"

Ignoring his friend's furious roar, the honest-looking young man with a bowl cut stared at him in astonishment. "Madara, so you weren't lying. You really do forcibly stop."

"I told you already! I'm the kind of person who can't pee when someone's nearby, you bastard!"

"You have to see it with your own eyes before you can believe it~"

After bickering for quite some time, the two finally returned to normal. Madara then took the chance to tell him about Kyosuke's idea.

"Using time to dissolve hatred..." Hashirama's eyes lit up, and he felt as though he had found a kindred spirit.

In the past, he had only pursued it vaguely, not even sure whether peace could truly be achieved.

He had never expected a member of Madara's clan to possess such insight.

Nervously rubbing his hands together, Hashirama desperately wanted to meet that person in person, though he knew doing so would entail great risk.

Neither he nor Madara was foolish. They merely left many matters unspoken.

If an outsider truly got involved, Hashirama feared it would ruin the friendship they had worked so hard to build.

As he silently agonized, the bowl-cut youth's expression abruptly tightened. He turned to look toward the woods behind him at an angle.

Two seconds later, Uchiha Madara also sensed something, his demeanor turning guarded.

From the shadows of the forest, Uchiha Kyosuke, dressed in black combat attire, stepped out one pace at a time.

Madara relaxed slightly at the sight. As long as it was not one of Father's men, it would be easier to handle.

But he soon tensed up again, because Kyosuke's footsteps never stopped.

His hand rested on the hilt at his waist. His Sharingan opened, and his gaze locked onto Senju Hashirama, whose expression had drastically changed.

The next second, the blade was already closing in on him.