Madara's Final Curtain
Land of Fire - Valley of the End
Hashirama sat cross-legged beside Madara, his hands resting naturally on his knees, his dark-colored robes spread out on the ground, covered in dust.
He didn't say anything, he just sat there, quietly watching Ban.
"Aren't you going to say anything, Hashirama?"
Ban forced his gaze to look at his old friend beside him, his voice even weaker than before:
"Say what you want to say, while I still have the interest and time to listen to your rambling."
"Uh, sorry, Madara."
Hashirama scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly.
"I actually had a lot I wanted to say to you, but for some reason, I can't say anything now, uh hahaha..."
"Sigh, I'm not surprised at all that such a stupid thing happened to you."
Ban looked at his old friend speechlessly and sighed.
He shifted his gaze from Hashirama's face, looking back at the quiet starry sky above, and casually spoke:
"But it doesn't matter. There's no need for a sad farewell between us anyway."
"To see your stupid face one last time... is enough for me."
Ban's lips twitched slightly, forming a faint smile:
"I had a great time, Hashirama."
"Whether it's fighting you or that brat Kou."
"... Ah, me too."
Hashirama looked at Madara, a forced, bright smile appearing on his lips:
"To be able to say goodbye to you in the end, not as an enemy, but as a close friend..."
For me, there is nothing happier than this.
"Hmph, that's not entirely true."
Madara turned his gaze from the starry sky and looked in the direction Kou had left:
What do you think of that kid?
"Knock?"
Hashirama followed Madara's gaze, a genuine emotion flashing in his eyes:
"Of course he's an exceptionally talented junior. Even among all the people I know, Kou is probably the most special and capable one."
"If it's him, he can definitely do it... the dream we couldn't achieve before."
He paused, then turned his gaze from the distance to Ban's face, and said with certainty:
"To bring true peace to the Ninja World."
"Heh, perhaps."
"But I won't be able to see that kind of future."
Ban slowly closed his eyes, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly, the curve containing a hint of self-mockery, and also a touch of candor:
That's why I say, dreams are best realized by your own hands.
"Even though I'm a loser, I don't have the right to be picky."
"Don't say that, Madara."
Hashirama looked at Madara and chuckled softly:
"In my opinion, you're not a loser."
"After all, in a sense, that child was raised by you."
Ban didn't open his eyes or say anything; he just slightly raised the corners of his mouth.
Hashirama stared blankly at Madara's closed eyes for a moment.
"Is Madara... too weak to even open his eyes now?"
He paused for a moment, suppressing the emotions welling up inside him, and forced a smile at Madara:
"Ban, don't worry, I will stay by Kou's side, helping and witnessing his path."
"After it's all over, let's have a drink together in that world."
"You stay in that world and wait for me—"
The words in the Hashirama grew softer and softer until they finally fell silent.
Ban's faint breathing had ceased.
His face was calm and serene, with the faint, upward curve of his lips still lingering.
Uchiha Madara —is dead.
Hashirama Madara's corpse, speechless for a long time.
The moonlight shone on his profile, making his slightly haggard face appear even paler.
Hashirama sat there quietly for a long time, as if accompanying this old friend with whom he had been entangled for a lifetime on his final journey.
After a long while, Hashirama slowly shifted his gaze and looked towards Konoha.
His senses pierced through the night, across the moonlit mountains, and reached the two approaching, massive, and chilling Chakra within Konoha...
--
Konoha was brightly lit after nightfall.
The night market on the street was bustling with activity. Children chased and played in the alleys, and drunken laughter came from the izakayas. No one noticed anything strange.
Above the village, Obito sat cross-legged atop the Fourth's Kage Rock.
His posture was very casual, with one leg crossed and the other dangling over the edge of the Kage Rock.
His dark robes fluttered gently in the night breeze. Obito's face remained expressionless as he quietly gazed down at Konoha.
Behind him, rows of corpses lay flat on the Kage Rock.
The corpses included men and women, young and old, dressed in various clothes, with peaceful expressions.
And in the position closest to Obito, lay three corpses.
Minato's blond hair gleamed darkly in the moonlight, his face serene, as if he were asleep.
Kushina lay beside him, her long red hair scattered on the rocks of Kage Rock, and there was no sign of pain on her face.
Beside them lay a young girl.
The girl was young, looking no more than a teenager, with short brown hair and a pretty face, as if she were having a long, beautiful dream.
Obito glanced at the girl's corpse out of the corner of his eye, a genuine tenderness appearing in his eyes.
He gazed at the girl's delicate face for a long time, until a gentle breeze swept by.
Obito's clothes fluttered slightly, and the girl's short hair swayed gently in the breeze.
As if realizing something, Obito reluctantly shifted his gaze from the girl and slowly turned his head away.
A young man with black hair came into his line of sight.
Kou stood at the other end of Kage Rock, his Six-Tomoe Rinnegan slowly sweeping over the row of corpses, his brows furrowed tightly.
Among the numerous corpses, there were familiar figures as well as unfamiliar ones.
Civilians who died in the Nine-Tails Incident, Uchiha on the Night of the Uchiha Massacre, former Akatsuki members including Nagato and Yahiko...
Kou's gaze lingered briefly on the corpses of the Minato couple and Rin before slowly turning to the figure sitting cross-legged on the edge of the Kage Rock, with his back to him.
"Has he finally arrived? knock"
Obito looked at the incredibly familiar young man before him, a stiff smile appearing on his lips.
"Oh, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, you idiot."
He spoke calmly, but a complex mix of emotions welled up inside him.
At this moment, Obito's weathered face was gradually overlapping with the image of the boy in his memory, sitting on the steps of his house waiting for him to return...
That was a hope I had long since given up on.
"Ah, it really has been a long wait."
Obito gazed at the full moon in the night sky, a radiant smile slowly appeared on his face, which had long since lost its boyish innocence.
Just like that pure-hearted boy he was back then.
"This is your day of true honesty."