Madara, Do You Want to Dance Too?

Thinking of Madara Uchiha's domineering declaration in the original story, he felt his blood start to boil.

"Ding! The God Selection System has detected the host's smug thoughts and activated."

[Option One: On your first battlefield, make a name for yourself by using Wood Release right away. Awe the Uchiha Clan and make them marvel at the Senju Clan's strength. Perhaps they'll even surrender on the spot. Mission reward: a sound thrashing from Hashirama Senju.]

[Option Two: On your first battlefield, help Tobirama Senju kill Izuna Uchiha. Awe the Uchiha Clan and make them surrender completely. Mission reward: Madara Uchiha's murderous fury, a Mangekyō awakening on the spot, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, and a sound thrashing.]

[Option Three: On your first battlefield, look at Madara Uchiha and say, "Do you want to dance too?" Shock everyone. Mission reward: Talk no Jutsu, with an eighty percent increase to your persuasion success rate.]

Just then, Senju Fujima thought of Madara Uchiha, and the system immediately hit him with another selection. He was utterly speechless.

"System, I know you're just here to screw me over, but aren't all three of these options basically the same?"

"If I go up to Madara and say, 'Do you want to dance too?' how is that supposed to help me bring peace? Won't my old man just beat me to a pulp?"

"So, basically, you're not happy unless you see me get beaten up, right?"

Senju Fujima stared at the giant screen in front of him, nearly furious enough to drop dead. This system had to have been designed specifically to drive him to his grave, he berated it.

But the system remained silent, as if that were confirmation enough.

"Everyone, hold your positions. No one moves forward without my command."

At last, they reached the battlefield. The Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan faced each other from a distance. Hashirama Senju quickly stopped and called to the clansmen behind him.

"Yes, Clan Leader!"

The Senju clansmen immediately halted and stood at the ready, watching the Uchiha Clan opposite them in case they charged in to fight.

"Tobirama, Fujima, come with me."

Hashirama Senju looked at the two of them, then hurried forward.

To negotiate today, Hashirama Senju hadn't even brought the giant scroll of toilet paper he usually carried on his back. He went off empty-handed with Tobirama Senju and Fujima.

"Big Brother, what are they trying to do? Why is that man charging straight at us?"

Izuna Uchiha activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and watched the three Senju charging toward them, puzzled.

"I don't know. But Hashirama isn't one to scheme, so he must have something in mind."

"But why bring that little kid along? Judging by his appearance, he must be Hashirama's son, Fujima, right?"

Madara Uchiha watched the three Senju charging toward them, his brows furrowed. He knew Hashirama well: the man wasn't one for schemes, so he must have a reason for this. What that reason was, though, Madara couldn't say.

And seeing Hashirama bring his son along only made him more confused.

"Let's see what he's up to."

Madara Uchiha spoke calmly to his younger brother, Izuna Uchiha, then set off, leaping high into the air.

"Everyone, stay where you are. Don't make a move until we give the order."

Izuna Uchiha gave a slight nod, turned to the Uchiha clansmen behind him, and spoke. Then he followed Madara Uchiha forward at a run.

"Yes."

The Uchiha clansmen were quite obedient. After hearing Izuna Uchiha's orders, they too stayed where they were, on guard just like the Senju.

"Hashirama, what are you trying to do?"

Madara Uchiha made a dashing entrance. Wearing dark gray armor with a sword strapped to his back, his spiky hair framing his blood-red Mangekyō Sharingan, he fixed Hashirama Senju with a steady gaze and asked.

"Let's put an end to all this!"

"Only if the strongest clans in the Ninja World, the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan, join forces."

"No other country will have a clan capable of standing against us. The war will finally come to an end."

"Come on!"

Hashirama Senju had now reached Madara Uchiha with Tobirama Senju and Fujima. Looking at Madara, he tossed the sword from his hand onto the ground and spoke solemnly. Then he met Madara's gaze with sincerity and held out his right hand.

"Hm?"

"Hm?"

Madara Uchiha and Izuna Uchiha were stunned by Hashirama Senju's actions. For a moment, the entire battlefield seemed to freeze as the two clan leaders stared at each other, each wondering what the other was thinking.

Remembering the promise he and Hashirama Senju had made back when they were friends, Madara Uchiha felt a stir in his heart. He was just about to take a step forward and reach for Hashirama's hand.

"No, Brother!"

Seeing his brother hesitate, Izuna Uchiha quickly drew his sword and glared at Hashirama Senju with bloodshot eyes, gritting his teeth as he spoke.

"Izuna."

At Izuna Uchiha's words, Madara Uchiha came to his senses. He looked at his younger brother, uncertain.

"Don't be fooled by them. This war won't end so easily. As long as even one of our two clans remains, becoming the strongest clan is the only way to settle everything."

Izuna Uchiha looked at Hashirama Senju, distrust flashing in his eyes. They had killed so many of his brothers and sisters, and now they were talking about peace and laying down their arms?

"Izuna, I..."

Madara Uchiha was a kind man at heart. He shared Hashirama Senju's dream, but his greatest wish was to protect his younger brother from being bullied or killed.

He trusted Hashirama Senju, his friend, but a flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes.

"Brother, our clansmen, our brothers and sisters, even our younger brothers were killed by them. Have you forgotten?"

Izuna Uchiha knew his brother had always dreamed of peace. He didn't want to crush that dream, so he had always told him that if they wiped out the Senju Clan, the Uchiha Clan could become the strongest in the world.

Then peace would be easy to achieve. Madara Uchiha believed him, so he had kept fighting the Senju Clan alongside his younger brother.

"Right! They..."

Madara Uchiha was moved. He looked at his younger brother, knowing their clansmen's anger couldn't be quelled just yet.

But the more they fought, the more he realized this wasn't a long-term solution. Only by joining the two clans could they become truly strong. Then he and Hashirama could make their dream come true. There was no need to keep fighting and killing.

Just then, Senju Fujima slowly walked between them. He looked at Madara Uchiha and saw that he was hesitating. This was the perfect moment.

"Do you want to dance too?"

Senju Fujima's gaze was resolute as he walked up to Madara Uchiha and glared at him, putting on a fierce expression.

Although he looked pretty ferocious, he was still just a kid. Madara Uchiha nearly burst out laughing.

"You little brat. You dare mock me?"

Madara Uchiha looked at Senju Fujima, his brows drawing together. But seeing the boy's expression, he couldn't help finding it a little funny. He spoke coldly.

"Ding! The host has successfully chosen an option and completed the mission. Reward: Talk no Jutsu."

After Senju Fujima finished speaking, the system's notification rang out. He suddenly felt as though his throat had been modified, but he couldn't tell if anything had changed.

"Fujima, what are you doing? Come back."

Hashirama Senju saw Senju Fujima step forward and say those words. His brow furrowed. He had no idea what his son was thinking, but saying that could easily anger Madara Uchiha, so he hurriedly scolded him.

"I'm not mocking you. I'm just saying, don't you want to see world peace too? Everyone living together in the village, singing and dancing."

"There'd be no fighting and no smoke in the village, just happy lives."

"We could build a school in the village, where all the children could go and learn ninjutsu."

"After they graduated, they could take on missions suited to their abilities, complete them, and earn rewards to support themselves."

"Wouldn't that kind of world be better? Do we really have to keep fighting and killing? Just look at how long we've been fighting. Thousands of years of war—how many of our clansmen have died because of it?"

"If there were no war, would they have died? Would your brothers and sisters have died?"

"Would our Senju brothers and sisters have died? This is all because of war. That's why my father wants to join forces with you and put an end to this era of chaos."

"I know you're good friends, brothers even. That's why I dared to come here and speak to you like this."

"I'm still young, so I long for that kind of life too. Don't you think the children in your clan want peace?"

"How many children have lost their parents because of war? How many have been left as orphans, with no family and no one to keep them company?"

"Why has all this happened? It's because of war, and that's why no one can live happily."

"Can't we let go of our hatred, so our descendants can live happy lives?"

Senju Fujima ignored Hashirama Senju and launched into his speech. He felt as if his words had some kind of magic, leaving all four of them stunned.

He'd also managed to explain what he meant by "Do you want to dance too?" That should save him from at least one beating.

If he failed to persuade Madara Uchiha and Madara still led his younger brother into battle, Fujima would definitely get beaten when he got home.

"And you, Izuna Uchiha."

"You knew your brother hoped for peace. But what did you and your father do? My grandfather and Second Uncle did the same thing, of course."

"But you dragged two people who had both longed for peace onto opposite sides, and the war carried on, all the way to the present."

"If you hadn't stopped them back then, my father and your brother might have ended the hatred the moment they became clan leaders."

"Go ask your clansmen. Do they want peace?"

"I asked them yesterday. They all want peace. That's why the three of us came here: to ask whether you want peace too."

"If you do, then let's join hands and build a wonderful village together."

"Wouldn't it be better if our clansmen could all live together happily?"

Senju Fujima pressed his advantage. Only by bringing the two clans together in peace could he marry a girl from the Uchiha Clan. He'd been craving those Uchiha girls for ages.