From the sky, two small black figures could be seen strolling one behind the other through the streets of the Uchiha clan grounds. Yet perhaps it was an illusion, but compared to before, the Uchiha clan's territory seemed to have grown much broader?
Uchiha Gen appeared to be in a good mood, humming a jumble of nonsense tunes. As for his earlier question to Uchiha Madara about putting on an act, Hashirama had interrupted them, and he never brought it up again.
"I'm home. Thank you, Clan Head, for seeing me back."
Watching Gen leave, Uchiha Madara remained where he was. His Adam's apple moved slightly, as though he still had something to say, but the words vanished down his throat.
The moment he pulled open the door and shut it behind him, Uchiha Gen dashed toward the bedroom at top speed. Ignoring the dust and travel-weariness on his body, he threw himself straight onto the soft bed.
A dried quilt had been spread over the bed, giving off a distinctive, fresh scent like grass and trees.
As Uchiha Gen's breathing gradually steadied, the muscles in his face relaxed as well, leaving him with a peaceful, settled air, as if he had finally received some long-awaited rest.
After a long while, Uchiha Gen turned over and slowly opened his eyes. He stared quietly at the ceiling, as though pondering something, then murmured, "Then... how exactly did Hashirama Senju die?"
At some point, the system had stopped speaking to him. He could no longer see its interface either. It was as though the system that had brought him here and allowed him to die and revive again and again had never existed from the very beginning.
"..."
Knock, knock, knock... Knock, knock, knock...
Mm—
Someone was knocking. Lying on the bed,