The True Path to Peace

"Fog?"

Madara Uchiha walked through the forest. Though he hadn't been back to Konoha in many years, he couldn't remember the forest on the outskirts ever being this foggy.

"No, there's Chakra in the fog." Madara spoke calmly. It had taken him only a few moments to see through the fog's true nature.

Still, he continued at an unhurried pace. He knew this forest intimately; even with thick Cloud Mist obscuring his vision, he wouldn't get lost.

"Since when did Konoha's shinobi learn the Mist Concealment Technique?"

His Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated, but he still couldn't see through the forest beneath the fog.

"The Mist Concealment Technique can obscure the Sharingan, but this is far too thick."

A vision of an old man suddenly flashed through his mind.

"Was it that old man from the Kumonaka Clan? But he should have been on the verge of death by the time I left."

As he walked, Madara considered who might have created this thick fog. He had no ulterior motive; he was simply bored.

Although Madara had left the village long ago, he knew all the important figures in the village. He also knew that the old man from the Kumonaka Clan had a useless son.

So he didn't suspect Kumonaka Yama. It never occurred to Madara that Yama's son, a mere seven-year-old child, had created this dense fog.

When he reached a spot not far from Konoha, Madara stopped. He wanted to look up at the moon that night, but the thick fog obscured it.

"Then... Summoning Technique!"

Hashirama sat atop Yanyan, enjoying the evening breeze. At this hour, everyone was making dinner, and smoke curled from the chimneys of Konoha, giving the village a peaceful air.

"Where are you now, Madara?"

A few leaves blew wildly through the air. Hashirama casually plucked one and toyed with it in his hand.

Then he noticed a hole in the leaf where some insect had gnawed through it, and held it up before his eyes.

"What convictions did you hold back then?"

Remembering how the two of them had been full of ambition as they built their own village beneath this cliff, Hashirama couldn't help feeling wistful.

The village was still here, but he was the only one left.

Hashirama wasn't a pessimistic person. After a brief moment of reminiscing, he returned to his usual state of mind.

Even alone, he could still protect the village and everyone in it.

Just then, several small white birds came flying slowly from the distance. Only when they reached him did Hashirama recognize them as Torifu's Cloud Release Technique.

The little birds circled around Hashirama's ears, bringing a slight chill with them. Then they one by one turned into wisps of Cloud Qi and slipped into his ears.

"Master."

"Madara Uchiha is back."

At that, Hashirama sprang to his feet, his face brimming with joy. For a moment, he even forgot to wonder how Torifu knew Madara.

"Madara's back!"

His good brother had finally returned after several years apart. He had to make sure they were properly prepared.

Hashirama was about to head home and ask Mito to prepare a fine meal when Torifu's next words made his heart sink.

"Madara Uchiha came from the forest."

"He comes with hostile intent."

How could that be? That was Hashirama's first thought. Madara had built this village with him. How could he come with hostile intent?

Still, Torifu's words brought Hashirama back to his senses. It had been many years since they'd last met. Though he trusted his brother, he had to prepare for the worst.

Without hesitation, Hashirama leaped from the cliff, landed steadily on the ground, and ran toward home.

"What's going on, Big Brother? Why are you in such a hurry?" Tobirama asked, puzzled.

Seeing her husband like this, Mito Uzumaki felt uneasy. She had rarely seen him so flustered.

"Mito! Get my armor on me, quickly. Madara's back!"

The words rang like a thunderclap in Tobirama and Mito's ears. They hadn't heard the name Madara Uchiha in a long time.

It seemed they had deliberately avoided mentioning it, so as not to make Hashirama sad.

"Big Brother, how do you know?" Tobirama asked, unable to believe it. A shinobi who had been away from the village for years wouldn't suddenly return just for a cup of tea, would he?

"Torifu sensed him. He said Madara comes with hostile intent."

While the brothers spoke, Mito kept busy. She took out the armor that had been unused for a long time and quickly helped Hashirama put it on.

This armor had accompanied Hashirama through a lifetime of battles. He had thought he'd never need it again, but now he was wearing it once more.

"Then I'll gather the shinobi!"

Tobirama turned to leave, but Hashirama caught his hand. "Ordinary shinobi can't stop him. Only I can. Besides, he might not harm the village."

Hashirama forced a smile. Deep down, he still trusted Madara, but he had to prepare for the worst.

"Have your clan members patrol the village. We can't let anyone with ill intentions take advantage of this moment to harm the village!"

Tobirama nodded and immediately set off. He knew he was no match for Madara Uchiha. Protecting the village was his responsibility.

Those Hawks in the Uchiha Clan might make a move tonight!

"Evil Uchiha Clan! You'd better behave yourselves!"

Suddenly, a tremendous boom came from outside the village, and a violent cloud of white smoke erupted!

Then, within the smoke, nine orange-red tails whipped about wildly. A monstrous Nine-Tails appeared outside the village, roaring furiously at the sky!

"The Nine-Tails!" Hashirama stood on the roof, gritting his teeth.

Madara Uchiha's intentions were now clear. Summoning the Nine-Tails outside the village could only mean he was declaring war on Konoha!

"Madara, how could you make such a choice? This is our village!"

Hashirama leaped from the roof and shot straight into the air.

Madara Uchiha stood atop the Nine-Tails' head, directing it as it advanced toward Konoha.

"Wood Release—Wood Dragon Technique!"

A wooden dragon suddenly appeared in midair, caught Hashirama securely, and flew toward the Nine-Tails.

The people of Konoha all heard Lord Hokage's voice and hurried outside to see what was happening. But by then, many members of the Senju Clan were going door to door, warning the residents not to leave their homes, no matter what happened.

The Senju Clan commanded great respect in Konoha. The people realized that something was happening that night, so they returned to their homes and firmly locked their doors.

Seeing the wooden dragon in the sky, Madara Uchiha laughed. "Hashirama! You've finally come!"

"Why?" Hashirama stood atop the wooden dragon, his voice edged with accusation.

"Why attack the village? Do you want to destroy the peace we worked so hard to achieve?"

Madara Uchiha smiled disdainfully. "What village? What peace? They're all just illusions."

The Three Tomoe in his eyes spun and changed shape. A pair of eyes with a strange pattern appeared—Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan!

Madara's face was calm, without joy or sorrow, as he looked at Hashirama. He spoke softly. "Hashirama, with these eyes, I've seen the true path to peace!"