Chapter 41

After their house was destroyed, the First allocated them a new one. It was much larger than the original, divided into two floors. Madara claimed the second floor without a hint of hesitation; as for the first? Naturally, they would share it.

The first floor was partitioned into a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and their respective bedrooms. Hashirama found it strange—since all the necessities for daily life were on the first floor, what could Madara possibly need the second floor for?

Their daily routines were precise. They woke up just before dawn, washed up, and then Hashirama would head out for morning training while Madara, still in his pajamas, would go upstairs to do who knows what. Despite his inner curiosity, Madara didn't volunteer the information, and Hashirama wouldn't pry—as long as they weren't enemies, Senju Hashirama was indeed a very considerate and magnanimous man.

Tap, tap, tap... The sound of footsteps on the stairs grew closer. Madara finally descended from the second floor. His long hair was loose and uncombed, and he was still draped in the yukata he'd worn the night before, the sash tied loosely around his waist. He dragged his wooden sandals past the kitchen, happening to catch Hashirama busy cooking.

Madara had a very picky palate and rarely touched anything bought from outside. After a few instances, Hashirama had no choice but to cook for the pampered young master himself. Madara was the first person to ever have Senju Hashirama serve as his personal chef.

"Is lunch ready yet?" Madara leaned against the doorframe, asking lazily.

"Almost!"

Madara hummed, continuing to watch the man cook. Hashirama's technique for chopping vegetables was unique, bearing a striking resemblance to the Senju clan's close-quarters shuriken combat style. Thud, thud, thud—as the blade flashed, the vegetables on the cutting board were transformed into perfectly uniform pieces.

How domestic... Madara thought, not unkindly.

Having a roommate who was a master of all household chores saved a lot of trouble. Otherwise, he would surely be burning through money like water; this world didn't have the Uchiha clan—the wealthiest in the continent—to serve as his infinite ATM. One had to remember that the monthly living allowance provided by the First barely covered what Madara used to spend in a single day. To prevent two top-tier ninjas from starving to death before the end of the month, Hashirama had personally taken over the finances.

Madara tilted his head and smiled. "Does this count as living together?"

At these words, Hashirama's hand slipped, and he nearly sliced his finger. "Madara, what are you saying!"

Catching a glimpse of Hashirama's reddening ears, Madara teased with a smirk, "I really don't know whether to call you innocent or impure." These days, teasing Senju Hashirama had become one of his favorite pastimes. Watching someone usually so steady and warm become so flustered while trying to maintain a facade of composure was a sight he never grew tired of!

In the face of his teasing, Senju Hashirama could never learn to remain calm or indifferent.

The aroma of food drifted out of the kitchen, and Hashirama set the table. Madara scanned the spread: four dishes and a soup, all perfectly prepared to his specific tastes.

"Your skills have improved again!" Madara praised after taking a bite.

Hashirama smiled. "I'm glad you like it."

Ninjas were accustomed to eating quickly, and Hashirama's bowl was soon empty, while Madara continued to pick at his food at a leisurely pace. Hashirama waited for him to finish so he could wash the dishes, remaining seated at the table.

The weather today was exceptionally fine. Outside the half-open window lay a clear blue sky with wisps of clouds drifting by, and the afternoon breeze carried the warmth of early summer along with the melodic chirping of birds.

This intoxicating peace, this relaxed and leisurely life—how many years had it been since he had experienced such a thing?...

"What are you spacing out for?" A hand waved before his eyes. He snapped back to reality, realizing he had been lost in thought for quite a while. He blinked and turned to Madara. "Finished?"

The facts required no answer; the empty bowls stacked on the table were waiting for him. Hashirama's lips twitched silently, and he resignedly carried them off to be washed.

Listening to the sound of splashing water from the kitchen, Madara sipped his lemonade and asked, "Hashirama, how much money do we have left this month?"

"What are you planning to buy now?" Hashirama's hands paused, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

It was common knowledge that when economic conditions were poor, one should prioritize basic needs. Yet, with Madara's spendthrift nature and penchant for the finer things, he had actually gone to that Ino Flower Shop on the very first day they received their allowance?! Hashirama had been left speechless by the potted plants and fresh flowers Madara brought home, and it was amidst this deep sense of helplessness that he had taken over the finances, with Madara as his sole client.

"Hmm, I've taken a fancy to a painting sold at that shop, Hayakawa!" Madara said, resting his chin on his hand with a smile. "It would look great hanging in the living room, don't you think?"

In that instant, Hashirama suddenly understood the sorrow of his own advisor, Elder Koharu...

"Madara." Hashirama finished washing the dishes and dried his hands, deciding to have a serious talk with him. "It's only been ten days this month, and we've already spent half the allowance. We still have to live for the next fifteen days!"

Madara's smile didn't waver. "Mm, I know. But you don't spend much on groceries anyway!"

Unlike Madara, who rarely left the house, Hashirama had become familiar with everyone in Konoha within half a month. The people of Konoha had accepted the fact that there were currently two Lord Hashiramas and two Lord Madaras in the village with incredibly strong psychological resilience. The ninjas who knew more of the inside story had complicated feelings—could one imagine running into Lord Hashirama buying groceries during morning training? Could one imagine Lord Madara sitting in a flower shop, smiling and chatting up the girl at the counter? Especially the latter—the contrast in his image was just too much!

The common folk didn't think that much; to them, both were Senju Hashirama. Thus, the enthusiastic market ladies always gave Hashirama a fifty percent discount and would even toss an extra bunch of greens into his basket before calling it a day.

"Even if it's less, it's not free. Because you spent a huge chunk at the beginning of the month, what's left is barely enough for food."

Madara wore an expression of utter entitlement. "What are you afraid of? You're Senju Hashirama!"

This sentence was excellent and powerful, immediately rendering him speechless. Looking at Madara's unchanging, faint smile, Hashirama suddenly had a flash of insight. "...You're happy to see me troubled, aren't you..."

"You caught me." Madara admitted with a grin. "In such a boring life, how could I get by without having a little fun at your expense?"

"Boring, huh..." Hashirama fell silent for a moment. "But I think that this... is already quite good."

Madara chuckled. "Don't be intoxicated by appearances. Slaughter and war occur in every corner of the world; otherwise, why would ninjas even exist?"

"At the very least, the Senju Hashirama here is already able to protect the peace of this land." His own world, however, had been spared almost nowhere. Hashirama said in a low voice, "You once asked me a question: 'What kind of existence is a ninja? An executioner or an arbiter?' I've thought about it for a long time."

"And you have an answer?" Madara looked up at him.

"I once did, but then I didn't."

If they were arbiters, how could ninjas, who were killers themselves, be qualified to judge others? As executioners, it didn't quite fit either, and many ninjas with integrity had their own principles—such as not killing women, children, or the elderly, or refusing missions against certain nations.

Fairness, justice, peace, patriotism... what exactly was the standard for judging a ninja? These words sounded beautiful, as if holding them meant standing on the moral high ground. Yet, when ideals collided with reality, the problems involved were so complex that one could spend a lifetime without solving them.

"You have an answer, don't you, Madara?" He looked straight into the other man's ink-black eyes.

Madara watched him steadily for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "You've grown quite a bit, Senju Hashirama."

He poured himself a cup of green tea and pushed another toward him. The elegant movement made Hashirama vaguely recall the scene of their first formal meeting in the Land of Snow. "I've never liked considering such questions; you won't get an answer by asking me." Seeing the other man's eyes widen slightly, Madara gently swirled the tea in his cup, turning his head to look at the sky outside the window. "You and I... are fundamentally different. We are merely walking the same path with different purposes."

After a long silence, Hashirama said earnestly, "But I am very glad to be walking it with you."

Madara raised an eyebrow slightly, half-joking. "Because there's one less enemy?"

Hashirama's smile softened. "Yes, standing on the opposite side of you is truly a terrible thing."

The two looked at each other and smiled, the stagnant atmosphere instantly becoming lively. Madara leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "I am glad, too."

Hokage Building.

After knocking three times as a courtesy, Hashirama opened the door.

"You're here." The First nodded at him. Tobirama happened to be there as well, looking at Hashirama awkwardly, unsure of how he should address him.

Hashirama was also taken aback, greeting Tobirama, "Good afternoon."

Tobirama let out a sigh of relief, scratching his hair as he replied with a smile, "...Good afternoon."

Hashirama looked toward the First, who handed him the mission documents: "Then I'll leave it to you."

"It's nothing." Hashirama tucked the documents away. "Leaving tomorrow?"

"Yes, it would be best to finish before the end of the month. I will cover all the expenses for this mission." Before embarking on a major mission, a ninja could receive a certain amount of travel allowance from the village treasury, with the amount tiered based on the mission rank and location. The First's words meant he would not limit the travel allowance, as the other party was doing him a favor, after all.

Hashirama nodded slightly. "Understood." He hesitated for a moment before adding, "While I'm away, please help look after Madara."

Tobirama asked curiously, "Look after?" The word was quite subtle; even if he came from another world, he was still Uchiha Madara! How could he possibly need looking after!

Hashirama explained helplessly, "He spends money like water, is picky about his food, and never does any housework."

The First and Tobirama were left speechless. "I understand..."

It seemed they would have to increase that Madara's allowance? Hmm, worth considering.

"I suggest you don't increase his living expenses; no matter how much you give him, it's useless." Seeing what the First was thinking, Hashirama's mouth twitched—he absolutely did not want to return to face a Madara who spent money even more recklessly! He said to the First, "His past extravagance is beyond what an ordinary person could imagine. Unless you plan on selling Konoha to support him."

Tobirama muttered, "The Uchiha clan in that world must be very wealthy..."

The First was struck by Tobirama's remark: "How about having him stay with the Uchiha side?" They shared the same surname, so they should be able to handle him... right?

"Eh? Won't Uchiha Madara fight him?" Before Hashirama could speak, Tobirama raised the question first.

The First smiled gently: "You mean Madara? I told him last time: Konoha's finances are a bit tight right now, so if he causes any more trouble or destroys public property without reason... he can certainly try!"