"You, you, me? Me?"
Izuna Uchiha was completely baffled. Everything Senju Fujima said seemed to make sense, as if he really had been wrong all these years. He looked at Fujima, wanting to say something, but after a long moment, he couldn't get a single word out.
Had I really been wrong all these years? Was I the reason our people had died one after another?
Izuna Uchiha began to spiral into self-doubt, as if Senju Fujima's words had some kind of magic.
"That's right! If I'd negotiated with Hashirama when I became clan head, so many people wouldn't have had to die. Was all of this our fault?"
I wanted a home, a village I loved. I wanted to protect my village, my people, and my little brother.
Wasn't that what I used to believe? That I could build the peace we deserved alongside Hashirama, and let the children grow up happy.
Isn't that what I've always wanted?
Madara Uchiha was nothing like the man he would become. He was kindhearted and yearned for peace. After Senju Fujima's words, he was overcome with guilt, and the path ahead seemed to grow clearer.
"Heh, this kid's really learned how to talk. And he's not wrong, either. He's even managed to move your old man."
Senju Hashirama watched Senju Fujima with a slight smile. He'd been so quick to blame him, thinking he was trying to sabotage things.
Now, hearing what he said, Hashirama felt incredibly proud.
Tobirama Senju had also come to yearn for peace, so he felt no resistance. He looked at his nephew, feeling pleased as well.
"Uncle Madara, Uncle Izuna, don't you agree?"
"Let's build a new home together. What do you think?"
Senju Fujima gazed at Madara Uchiha and Izuna Uchiha with the most sincere expression he could manage.
Hearing Senju Fujima's words, Madara Uchiha glanced at Izuna Uchiha beside him, as if he wanted to hear his opinion.
After all, the person Madara Uchiha cared about most was his little brother. Whenever he had to make a decision, he usually asked what his brother wanted.
"Brother, maybe I really was wrong all these years."
"I've often heard our people say they wanted peace and were tired of fighting, but I never paid attention."
"Now that I think about it, they were right. Where would the cycle of revenge end? If we kept fighting, more of our people would only die."
"Brother, I'm sorry. I've been standing in the way of your dream all this time. Let's make peace!"
Izuna Uchiha looked at his brother, finally recognizing how wrong he'd been. The power of a silver tongue really was something.
But Madara Uchiha had always loved peace, which was why he was so easily swayed.
"Mm, Izuna, it's all right. We've realized it now, and it's not too late."
Madara Uchiha smiled gently at Izuna Uchiha before him. He loved his little brother deeply, and would give him whatever he wanted. Even if his brother said he wanted to fight the Senju Clan, Madara would set aside his own dream and fight alongside him.
That was the love of the Uchiha Clan. They were willing to give up everything for the love they held dear, even their lives.
"Madara, we're friends. We were before, and we still are. Let's bring peace to the entire Ninja World together!"
Hearing that Madara Uchiha and Izuna Uchiha agreed, Senju Hashirama was thrilled. His eyes shone with optimism as he smiled at Madara.
"Mm."
Izuna Uchiha glanced at his brother and gave him a small nod.
"Heh."
Madara Uchiha smiled at Izuna Uchiha, then stepped forward and clasped Senju Hashirama's hands. At last, they had reached an agreement to make peace.
From then on, the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan never fought again. The two clans joined together, declaring their strength to the world.
"Heh! Now that's a happy ending!"
Senju Fujima watched Madara Uchiha and Senju Hashirama clasp hands and end the fighting, and his lips curled into a slight smile.
"By the way, Uncle Madara, I think there's something else we can do to bring our clans even closer. Tell me what you think. It's just a suggestion, heh!"
At last, Senju Fujima showed his true colors. He looked around at everyone and grinned.
"Oh?"
Senju Hashirama looked at Senju Fujima, his son who kept surprising him. He wondered what the boy was plotting, but didn't think too much of it. The clans had already made peace, so there was no harm in letting him speak.
"Heh, you little rascal."
"Hashirama, you've got yourself a fine son!"
Madara Uchiha had made peace with Senju Hashirama, and the two were friends once more. He smiled at Hashirama as he spoke.
"Heh! You could have one too. You're not getting any younger."
Senju Hashirama joked as he looked at Madara Uchiha.
"Haha."
Madara Uchiha laughed, a rare hint of red appearing on his face.
"Go on, then. What's your suggestion?"
"Your uncle is all ears."
Madara Uchiha had accepted that he was Senju Fujima's uncle. He looked at him and asked.
Izuna Uchiha was curious too. The ten-year-old was certainly extraordinary, and he wanted to know what Senju Fujima would say next. Tobirama Senju felt the same.
All four of them stared at Senju Fujima, making him feel a little embarrassed. But for the sake of his own happiness, he'd go for it.
"Uncle Madara, since the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan have joined forces, I think we should allow marriages between our clans. What do you think?"
"Only if the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan unite completely will our alliance be unbreakable. Then no one will ever be able to drive our two clans apart."
"Other clans certainly won't want us to unite, and they might try to meddle. That's why I think we should intermarry and bring together the powerful bloodlines of our two clans."
"What do you think of my idea?"
Senju Fujima's ultimate goal was to marry a pretty girl from the Uchiha Clan. Now that he could make it happen, he was proposing that members of the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan marry one another.
Good grief, it was almost unbelievable. Neither Madara Uchiha nor Senju Hashirama had ever thought of that.
"Hmm?"
"This could work, but I'm afraid the clan members might not agree."
Madara Uchiha thought Senju Fujima's suggestion was viable, but he figured their clan members might not accept it.
After all, their clans had passed down their bloodlines for generations and had rarely married outside the clan, with a few exceptions.
"I think Fujima's right, Madara."
"We should do our best to persuade our people to accept it, even if not everyone agrees."
"We only need some of them to agree. That will be enough. Once the two clans begin intermarrying, they'll be bound closely together."
"They'll become inseparable. This will put an end to our enemies' hopes of making us turn against each other again."
"I'll talk to my people. You two will have to speak to yours. What do you think?"
After hearing him out, Senju Hashirama nodded. He thought the plan was an effective way to bring the two clans together quickly.
"Izuna, what do you think?"
Madara Uchiha looked at Izuna Uchiha, unsure what to decide, and asked him in a tentative tone.
"Mm, we can give it a try, but whether it works depends on what our people think."
"After all, our two clans have been around for so long, and we've hardly ever married outside the clan."
"But we can try. I'm sure some of our people will be willing."
Izuna Uchiha frowned, lowered his head, and thought for a moment. In the end, he agreed, deciding the idea was worth trying.
"Good. Then it's settled. I'll go tell our people that the two clans are uniting and will begin intermarrying."
Hearing his brother's words, Madara Uchiha smiled, then turned to Senju Hashirama.
"Heh, go ahead. I'll wait here."
Senju Hashirama was sure his people wouldn't object. He had a lot of influence within the clan and was confident he could persuade them. He smiled at Madara Uchiha.
"Uncle Madara, I'll set an example. Go ask them if anyone's willing to give his daughter in marriage to me."
"Don't underestimate me! I've already awakened Wood Release, heh!"
Seeing Madara Uchiha about to leave, Senju Fujima hurriedly called out with a smile. He made it sound as if he were making some great personal sacrifice for the clan, setting an example for everyone.
"Oh? You'll set an example? Heh!"
"Not bad. You really are your father's son—just like Hashirama, willing to do anything for peace."
"All right, I'll do it. I'll go ask if anyone is willing to marry their children into the Senju Clan, or marry one of the Senju into their family."
Madara Uchiha looked at Senju Fujima, surprised by how noble the boy was, willing to set an example for the sake of uniting the clans. He reached out, patted his shoulder, and spoke.
"Heh, it's nothing. It's all for peace."
Senju Fujima chuckled and scratched his head, pretending to be a simple-minded boy, though inside he was already over the moon.
Heh heh! Nice! My beautiful Uchiha girls, just wait—your big brother's going to marry you! Gah ha ha...!
Senju Fujima was already cheering inside as he watched Madara Uchiha and Izuna Uchiha head toward their camp.
Before you continue