Chapter 33

Madara still wore a faint smile, his tone seemingly casual. But Izuna, who had been by his brother's side since childhood, knew how resolute he was. With no other choice, Izuna stopped trying to dissuade him.

He was Madara's younger brother, but also a Uchiha under Madara's leadership. Proposals could be discussed further, but decisions could not be changed—the clan head's authority must not be challenged.

Madara spun something between his fingertips. Several dark blades folded together into a hair ornament with edges like flowing water, which he slid into his hair. Its dark blue metallic sheen complemented the sea-blue cloud threads hanging among his black locks. He nodded at Uchiha Tai. "Let them handle the Ming Society matter themselves. If force is needed, have the Fifth Elder assign the men. As for everything else... I'll have Yan send the arrangements to you. Go take care of it."

Uchiha Tai bowed and took his leave. Madara took his younger brother by the hand, his smile growing warmer. "What's this? Still puffing out your cheeks like a little dumpling?"

Izuna's eyes widened at that. He reached up and felt his face. "I'm not, big brother! You're teasing me again!"

"Heh. Don't be childish." Madara lightly poked his forehead. "My clothes are soaked with sweat. I'll go bathe and change first. Wait for me in your room. We can talk about anything else then, all right?"

Izuna's lashes fluttered at his words. He lowered his gaze, his voice turning a little bashful. "I want to do it like we used to... Um, bathe with you, big brother."

Before Madara became clan head, he and Izuna had always lived together. After the clan grounds were expanded and rebuilt, Madara moved into the Clan Head Residence. The residence had a southern and a northern section: the south was for official business, while the north was their private quarters, linked by a garden courtyard. As Madara's younger brother, Izuna had a sizable private courtyard in the northern section. But as their duties grew ever more demanding, the brothers had fewer and fewer chances to spend time together.

Madara enjoyed the rare chance to indulge in his younger brother's affection now that he was grown, and readily agreed. "Sure. In that case, let's use the hot spring."

Madara had never been one to deny himself life's pleasures. The Clan Head Residence had a fully equipped hot spring, heated by natural geothermal energy and fed with spring water. Many flowers and plants bloomed there out of season. Ornate screens stood in staggered rows from the entrance to the pool. The pool's edge was exquisitely carved from jade, smooth and polished, while a thin mist hovered over the water. It still fell short of Madara's extravagant standards—"glazed jade and luminous pearls"—but to an ordinary person, it was already like a fairyland.

They hung their white bathrobes on the nearest carved rack, then undressed and slipped into the pool.

It was rare for them to be so exposed to each other as adults, and Izuna felt a little self-conscious. Madara, however, casually let his cloud threads fall and his long hair loose, then leaned against the edge of the pool and drew his younger brother close. He showed not the slightest embarrassment.

"Here, this is yours." Madara draped a towel over his brother's head, though his gaze fell on Izuna's body.

As one of the clan's main fighters, Izuna had far more scars than Madara. The clan's scar-removal ointment had done as much as it could, and a few years ago the Nara Clan had sent them their own special scar-removing medicine. Madara had spared no expense in using it on his brother, but many wounds had still left faint marks.

Madara's fingertip brushed over a red scar on Izuna's shoulder. He sighed. "You've worked hard, Izuna."

"That's just how it is for a ninja. It's nothing." Izuna shook his head and smiled. "Besides, I'm happy I can do things for you, big brother."

His smile was gentle and genuine, and his dark jade eyes held nothing but pure sincerity.

Madara pressed his lips together. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

The memories of his past life were both an advantage and a shackle. They had let him start from a higher point than anyone else, but also made it impossible for him to treat people with the same pure sincerity as Izuna.

Weighing each person's value and usefulness, considering what he could gain from their feelings, planning carefully, laying out his schemes, and always keeping a backup plan... It had practically become second nature to him. He didn't need to believe in anyone or count on their loyalty. He exploited the corruption of human nature, and every scheme he made had a way out.

But a lifetime of glory and splendor, remembered and revered by all, was no more than something external. Once everything else was cast aside, all that remained was himself. No matter how he manipulated events and turned the world upside down, pursued the greatest ambitions, or lived in the height of luxury, he had always known that the inevitable end would be desolate.

He had sneered at the loveless obsession of ninjas, the hypocrisy and greed of nobles, and the ignorance and cowardice of commoners. When he turned around, he found that he, too, was utterly alone.

...To exist in another person's heart is that person's soul. This is your true self, the thing your will depends on to breathe, to be nourished, and to find joy throughout your life. This is your soul, your immortality, and your life living on in others.

Yes. Your existence is the greatest joy in my life.

So... I've always been an ordinary person after all.

"Izuna..." Madara sighed and drew his younger brother close. In that moment, he suddenly felt that losing the brother bound to him by blood, losing someone who truly cared for him, would make even ruling the world meaningless.

Izuna hugged Madara tightly around the waist, resting his forehead against his shoulder. "Big brother..."

—Live well.

—Please come back safe.

After their bath, the Uchiha brothers' cheeks were flushed by the steam, their skin glowing even more softly. Madara casually threw on his bathrobe, leaving the collar loose enough to reveal a glimpse of his chest when he leaned over.

But neither of them had time to notice.

"Money, a change of clothes, weapons, food, compressed water..." Madara checked the things he needed to take. To avoid giving away his whereabouts on this trip to the Land of Fire, he couldn't make a public appearance at his own businesses as he usually did. Besides, the Uchiha had withdrawn most of their businesses from the Land of Fire, so his preparations were far more complicated than usual.

Luckily, his thoughtful younger brother had prepared everything himself... But wasn't this a little too much?

Never mind the food and water. He had packed a whole thick stack of money alone. And there were more than a dozen outfits: bathrobes, formal clothes, hunting robes, feather-patterned robes, and ninja clothes. Weapons—well, a large assortment of hidden blades, and... "What's this fan?" Madara picked up the huge fan and gave it a wave. To his surprise, the gust of wind it raised cut right through the tea table.

"It's a new design from the research department. It's called the Flame Fan!" Izuna said with a beaming smile, pointing at the clan crest on it. "I had them make it especially for you. It can amplify the power of Fire Style, and you can also use it to cut people. It has other uses, too!"

Madara was a little put off by the fan's design. But when he turned and saw Izuna's sparkling eyes, the refusal on the tip of his tongue vanished. He set down the fan and picked up the stack of clothes. "And what about all these clothes? Why are there so many?"

"Of course they're for you to wear a different set each day, big brother." Izuna looked entirely serious. "How could I let you wash your own clothes? Just throw them out after you wear them. It's so much easier. If that's not enough, I'll have them prepare more. You can take as much as you want with the 'Space Eater.'"

Unable to contradict his beloved younger brother, Madara set the clothes back down and counted the thick stack of money. "...Five million?"

"No, four million five hundred and fifty-five thousand five hundred and fifty-five—including small change. I was worried the Land of Fire might not be as prosperous as the Land of Lightning, so I made sure you'd have change for the larger bills."

So... thoughtful. Madara gave a soft laugh and sighed. "This is too much stuff. I'm going to fight, not go on vacation."

Izuna's eyes dimmed. "I can't help you with your work, so I can only try harder in other ways."

Madara felt a warmth in his heart. Not wanting to continue the somewhat heavy conversation, he turned to give him some instructions. "I'll leave the clan to you. If anything comes up, discuss it with the elders. The Nara Clan can be trusted, too. And there's no need for you to handle the Ming Society matter yourself."

Izuna pouted a little, just as he had when he was a child. "You still don't trust me, big brother?"

Madara knew he was trying to lighten the mood. He pinched Izuna's cheek with a slightly callused hand and chuckled. "Izuna, you've grown up."

"Running away won't solve anything. If there's an uncertain factor, you have to eliminate it in time."

"So I have to go."

Izuna tilted his head slightly at that, his voice quiet. "...It's already evening. You're leaving now, big brother?"

"Why not?" Madara looked up at the sky, where clouds stretched across it in gold and crimson. "It's the perfect time to enjoy the sunset."

"Only for the sun to set soon..."

After his last cup of clear sake slid down his throat, the man sat cross-legged on the cliff's edge and gazed at the point where sky and earth met. His eyes were dreamy, but not because of the alcohol.

Spring in the Land of Fire was more lush and magnificent than in any other country. Endless green mountains stretched into the distance, and scattered lakes and streams shone like crystal and gemstones. During the day, they reflected the sky like sapphires. Now they were gilded by the sunset, dazzling beyond compare. The evening breeze lifted his long hair, soft as a caress, tender and lingering.

Peaceful, serene, tranquil.

So beautiful...

Madara took his time enjoying the scenery along the way, and only reached the meeting place he'd arranged with Hashirama more than ten days later.

By then, the sky had already darkened. The sunset had gone from golden to crimson, then turned dusky yellow mingled with deep purple. The trees all around were faint and indistinct. Even so, the moment Madara looked up and saw the man sitting at the edge of the cliff, he recognized him at once.

The afterglow outlined the man's features, bathing him in the fading light. His gaze shifted down to Madara, dressed in a light blue outfit in the evening breeze. "You're here, Madara."

"Yeah. It's been a long time, Hashirama."