"Hashirama, what do you mean?"
Madara Uchiha understood Hashirama Senju's suggestion: have the two of them awaken the Rinnegan directly. That might let them stand against Black Zetsu, but he couldn't help feeling surprised.
"Big Brother, for now, we don't know whether the ancient book is accurate."
"If we act rashly, could something go wrong?"
"After all, no one has ever tried this before. If something really happens while you two are transplanting bloodlines, it could be dangerous."
Tobirama Senju was stunned when he heard Hashirama's idea. He hadn't expected his big brother to become so willing to go to any lengths to protect Madara Uchiha and the village.
After seeing the ancient book, he was already planning to have the two of them experiment and see whether they could awaken the Rinnegan. It was a terrifying idea. What if something went wrong? What would they do then?
"That's right, Big Brother! If both of you undergo the experiment and something goes wrong, how are we supposed to deal with it?"
"The ancient book might not even be true. We can't be sure that what it says is fact."
Izuna Uchiha frowned deeply, agreeing with Tobirama Senju's words as he hurried to dissuade them.
"Dad, Uncle Madara, Second Uncle, Uncle Izuna."
"I think Dad's suggestion is a good one. Let's set aside for now whether it might put you and Uncle Madara in danger."
"We can experiment with the bloodline transplant first. Once the experiment succeeds, we can decide whether to go ahead with the transplant."
"But we can't just ignore the danger, either. What if a powerful being like this really is watching us from the shadows?"
"Then we'd be in a very passive position. After all, what kind of strength would an immortal have? None of us knows."
"Are we really going to pretend none of this exists?"
"If we just count on luck, and the Konoha we worked so hard to build is destroyed as a result, I don't think Dad and my uncles would be able to accept that, would they?"
Hearing what the others said, Senju Fujima hurried to offer his opinion. After all, he knew that once Madara Uchiha fused with his father's bloodline, he could awaken the Rinnegan.
And if Hashirama Senju fused with the bloodline of the Uchiha Clan, he would definitely awaken the Rinnegan, too. It went both ways. Both men were reincarnations of the third Otsutsuki, so there would be no danger.
"That's right. Fujima makes a good point."
"I won't let anyone hurt you, and I won't let anyone harm the villagers."
"I agree with Hashirama's suggestion. Let's go ahead with the experiment."
Hearing Senju Fujima's words, Madara Uchiha furrowed his brow. At last, determination flashed in his eyes, and he made up his mind.
As someone who doted fiercely on his younger brother, he had to eliminate anything that might put him at risk. He didn't want even the slightest danger to befall him.
So he decided to experiment alongside Hashirama Senju and see whether they could really awaken the Rinnegan.
"But..."
Tobirama Senju and Izuna Uchiha saw how resolute Madara Uchiha was and didn't know how to dissuade him.
They both had valid points, but wasn't this too dangerous? And yet, they couldn't seem to find a reason to argue against them.
"That settles it. You two, stop arguing."
"Madara's the Hokage, so I'll go first and be the one to undergo the experiment!"
"With my Sage Body, there shouldn't be any mishaps."
"Once we're certain there are no problems, then Madara can undergo the experiment."
A determined glint flashed in Hashirama Senju's eyes. His love for the village and his devotion to it ran deep. He wouldn't let anyone destroy it.
Against an ordinary opponent, he could rely on his own strength to win. But he had no confidence against the Rinnegan, the legendary Eye of God.
The Sage of Six Paths was a god of legend. Hashirama didn't consider himself a god; at most, he was a powerful mortal.
But if he awakened the Rinnegan, he might become a godlike being. Then perhaps he could stop Black Zetsu.
"No, Hashirama. I'm the Hokage, so I should undergo the experiment first. Stay out of it."
Hearing Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha realized he was competing with him and hurriedly shook his head.
He was the Hokage of Konoha, so he naturally had to do his part for the village. That was why he was fighting Hashirama Senju for the chance to undergo the experiment.
"No, I'll do it."
"I'm the Hokage. I call the shots. I'll do it."
"I'm the Hokage, too. I call the shots. I'll do it."
What followed was a ridiculous scene. The two fought fiercely over who would undergo the experiment first, gritting their teeth and rolling up their sleeves as if they were about to come to blows.
"Uh..."
Senju Fujima looked at his father and Madara Uchiha. Why did they seem like a pair of idiots? A huge bead of sweat rolled down his forehead. At a loss for words, he turned to Tobirama Senju and Izuna Uchiha and spread his hands.
"Those two really are..."
Tobirama Senju slapped his forehead and shook his head with a wry smile.
"Heh, this is a rare sight! Ahahaha..."
This was the first time Izuna Uchiha had seen his brother act like this. He gave Tobirama Senju an awkward smile.
A quarter of an hour later.
"All right, Dad, Uncle Madara. Let's settle it with a vote."
If you can't find the book by its title, try searching for the author. Maybe the title just changed!
"Majority rules. The three of us will vote, and each of you gets one vote."
"How does that sound?"
Senju Fujima was at a loss for words. Then he looked at Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju and offered his suggestion.
"I agree."
"I agree, too."
Tobirama Senju and Izuna Uchiha agreed with Senju Fujima and raised their hands in approval.
"Fine, we'll decide by vote. Izuna, vote for me. And Fujima, you have to vote for me, got it?"
Madara Uchiha sat down in the recliner, puffing out his cheeks as he spoke to Izuna Uchiha and Senju Fujima.
"Hmph."
Hashirama Senju snorted, then sat down in his own seat.
"Haha! Then let's vote!"
"Second Uncle, Uncle Izuna, let's get started!"
Seeing the two of them acting like children, Senju Fujima couldn't help laughing. Then he turned to Tobirama Senju and Izuna Uchiha.
"All right."
"Mm."
Tobirama Senju and Izuna Uchiha nodded.
"Now, everyone in favor of Uncle Madara going first, raise your hands."
Senju Fujima called out.
As soon as Senju Fujima finished speaking, silence fell. Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha stared at the three of them without blinking.
"All right, the result is in. Uncle Madara got zero votes."
"That means the winner of this vote is Deputy Hokage-sama."
Senju Fujima looked at Tobirama Senju and Izuna Uchiha. Not one of them had raised a hand. He looked at Madara Uchiha and smiled.
"Izuna, Fujima, you two...!"
"Hmph."
Madara Uchiha accepted the result, but when he saw that neither Izuna Uchiha nor Senju Fujima had raised a hand, he snorted and turned away, deeply unhappy.
"Hehe, hahaha..."
"I told you I was the obvious choice for the experiment. Hahaha!"
Seeing Madara Uchiha lose, Hashirama Senju burst out laughing.
"Hmph, you just got lucky. A bunch of traitors—you're driving me crazy."
Hearing Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha snorted in disdain and glared fiercely at Izuna Uchiha.
Izuna Uchiha just smiled back, unbothered.
"Big Brother, you're the only hope for our clan. You can't afford to get hurt. Forgive me for choosing this way."
That was what Izuna Uchiha was thinking. When faced with an unknown danger, he naturally didn't want Madara Uchiha to take the risk.
It might be unfair to Hashirama Senju, but his brother's life mattered most to him.
"Big Brother is strong, so there probably won't be any mishaps. But we absolutely can't let Madara Uchiha go first."
"Otherwise, if Madara Uchiha succeeds and awakens the Rinnegan, he might get carried away. If he thinks himself invincible, we could be in trouble."
"Big Brother, you have to do your best!"
Tobirama Senju had his own concerns. Though he now trusted the Uchiha Clan, he still feared the unknown and didn't dare entrust his clan's fate to that trust.
If Madara Uchiha got the Rinnegan and became arrogant, thinking himself invincible, that could lead to trouble.
So it was better to let his big brother experiment. Besides, he himself loved studying forbidden techniques and thought this shouldn't be too difficult.
"All right, the result is settled."
"Dad will undergo the experiment."
"But, Uncle Madara, you said it takes the eyes of a close relative to turn the Sharingan into the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan."
"Do you think your father's eyes could be used to improve your Sharingan?"
"Even if we don't awaken the Rinnegan afterward, the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan would still make you a high-level fighter."
Senju Fujima then turned his attention to Tajima Uchiha. Awakening the Eternal Mangekyo only required the eyes of a close relative.
So why couldn't they use Tajima Uchiha's eyes? The eyes of his deceased younger brothers could be used, too.
"What? No, Fujima, those are my father's eyes. I... I..."
Hearing Senju Fujima's words, Izuna Uchiha froze for a moment, then shook his head. He was deeply reluctant. Their father was already dead, and naturally he didn't want to use the only eyes they had preserved.
Because the Uchiha Clan had a special bloodline, the Sharingan of Uchiha who died in battle or from illness were removed and carefully stored.
After all, if someone else dug up their bodies for research, the Uchiha Clan's bloodline—or their Sharingan—might fall into the wrong hands.
So after every battle, they cleared the battlefield by taking all their clansmen's bodies with them and removing their eyes for safekeeping.
Otherwise, who knew how many Sharingan from the Uchiha Clan would end up in the hands of other clans or civilian shinobi across the Ninja World?
Before you continue