Chapter 46

The Hokage Building fell into a long silence.

Inside the room, the only sound was the rhythmic, unhurried tapping of Madara's fingers against the tabletop. The First leaned back in his chair, contemplating the other's words.

The difference between this First and the Senju Hashirama of the other world was that he had been tempered by more of reality's hardships, allowing him to more rationally abandon certain things. This reality was not war, but the grand strategic level that ninjas rarely touched. In politics, necessity was not about holding fast to morality, but focusing on the objective. Of course, this did not mean politics lacked morality; it simply meant the realm of the big picture had its own set of moral standards, using appropriate means and a benevolent ultimate outcome as the yardstick. In this regard, the First, hardened by layers of reality, was more cold-hearted and resolute than Hashirama.

What one calls resolution can also be termed a form of stubbornness.

There were some things Madara might not be able to convince Senju Hashirama of, but he could certainly convince the First, because the man had become somewhat similar to himself: using objectives and results as the final measure for action.

"...How did you come to know such intelligence?" After a long time, the First spoke.

This was a critical question, yet one easily overlooked. Madara had never left Konoha Village and his range of movement was limited; how could he have obtained the latest intelligence in such a short time?

"The most valuable intelligence is often hidden in plain sight." Knowing the other's suspicion, Madara cleared his name without a trace. "Moreover, as far as the reality of this world is concerned, I believe the ordinary people living here have more of a say." Those merchants traveling between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire, the florists who went to various places to stock up every year, the painters who toured the nations... a single person was an intelligence station; it all depended on how one dug and filtered the information.

Hashirama nodded silently. "Then... the union Madara-kun spoke of refers to the Land of Wind, and the half being controlled is the Land of Lightning, correct?"

Hearing this counter-question, Madara knew the other had reached a clear conclusion in his mind.

"Yes. I believe the Hokage can handle the rest and gauge the scale appropriately." Madara smiled meaningfully. "Therefore, I will not participate in what follows."

"Thank you for your advice; I will take it into consideration at my discretion."

At his discretion, take into consideration... It seemed the First had not fully adopted Madara's ideas. However, Madara did not mind; he was merely paying off a favor to settle a promise.

"There have been many things lately, but I will make arrangements by the end of next month." The First said, then smiled as if remembering something: "You arrived at a perfect time; you can just catch our Konoha's first Summer Festival!"

Stepping out of the Hokage Building, the sun was gradually sinking west, the white daylight slowly staining into a hazy golden hue.

The summer breeze made one feel refreshed. Facing the tipsy light, Madara narrowed his eyes slightly. He was quite satisfied with this exchange of interests; as expected, dealing with smart people was worry-free—a single hint was enough to make each other's intentions understood.

"Uchiha-kun."

Madara followed the voice and looked over; a woman stood in the shadows not far away.

The woman wore a dignified white kimono, her dark red hair parted to both sides and tied into small buns, with a diamond-shaped mark on her forehead—a look characteristic of the Uzumaki Clan. The gentle kimono could not hide the extraordinary temperament that only a powerful female ninja possessed.

Someone from the Uzumaki Clan, appearing alone near the Hokage Building... Madara understood in his heart and nodded slightly: "Hokage's Wife, good day."

Uzumaki Mito was stunned. "...Sorry, I mistook you for someone else."

Madara had never set foot in the Hokage Building before, and after moving out of the Uchiha compound, the clothes he wore looked much simpler. From the back, he looked exactly like the Uchiha Madara of this world... So, Madara, all those things you did in the compound were just to provoke the Uchiha here, right!

"It is of no consequence." Maintaining a perfectly measured smile, Madara said politely, "Is the Lady heading into the Hokage Building? The First is inside right now."

The other pursed her lips and shook her head.

Although he did not know what could worry this typically strong woman, Madara had no intention of giving her his attention. Her spirit seemed fine, though her complexion was a bit pale. With a single glance, Madara discovered a fact that surprised him slightly: "The Hokage's Wife's health seems to be poor?"

Uzumaki Mito was startled. "You—how did you know?"

Madara was uncharacteristically choked for words. How was he supposed to continue? Principles of traditional medicine? Look, listen, ask, and feel? Or could certain female ailments be "seen"? The topic was too easy to fall into awkwardness. Madara coughed lightly: "I just noticed the Hokage's Wife's complexion seems a bit poor; you should rest more."

A bitter smile appeared on the corners of Uzumaki Mito's lips: "It's an old ailment from many years ago, it's nothing." She then said with relief: "You really are different from... him."

"There would never be two completely identical people to begin with." Not understanding why the other mentioned the Uchiha Madara of this place, Madara followed her lead and replied, "Everyone has their own unique destiny; different destinies make different people. Why dwell on the question of whether they are alike or not?"

This woman was probably feeling depressed by the two "Senju Hashirama"s! Madara thought uncharitably.

"Uchiha-kun is right." Not wanting to expose her inner thoughts to others, Uzumaki Mito regained her calm and composed air, nodded slightly to Madara, and said, "I won't disturb Uchiha-kun any further. Farewell."

Since coming to this world, Madara had never paid attention to this woman used for a political marriage. No matter how powerful she was, she was merely a "token" of the alliance between the Senju and the Uzumaki. The status of Hokage's Wife brought her reverence, but also limited the scope of her life.

If she were allowed to stand on her own, she would likely be a dazzling woman, not inferior to the male ninjas of the same era.

It was a pity she loved the First too much...

A sliver of meager sympathy was quickly cast to the back of his mind; regardless, Uzumaki Mito was just an irrelevant person. Madara headed straight back to their temporary home.

Faint sounds of water came from deep within the house. Passing the bathroom, the sign on the door had been flipped. "In use..." Madara read aloud. Inside, Hashirama pulled the door open, draped in a bath robe. "Madara, you're back."

Madara had not deliberately restrained his aura, and the moment he stepped into the house, Hashirama had sensed him.

"Finished washing so quickly?" Madara glanced inside, where white steam was permeating the air.

The house provided by the First counted as a small mansion, with a standard Japanese-style layout and an independent hot spring bath embedded inside. It required one to prepare the hot water themselves, and even if it couldn't compare to the extremely luxurious large natural hot springs Uchiha Madara enjoyed, it was not something ordinary people could afford.

Hashirama's damp long hair was spread over his robe, and water droplets still clung to his wheat-colored skin. His handsome face was slightly flushed from the steam. Hearing Madara's question, he fell into a suspicious silence for a moment: "...Yes..."

"Is that so." Madara raised an eyebrow, noncommittal.

Hashirama turned his head and asked: "You went to the First... did you succeed?"

Madara glanced at the person who seemed to be changing the subject. "He promised that the Altar could be opened after the Summer Festival."

Hashirama raised a long-hidden question: "Are you sure relying on the Nine-Tails will succeed?" Whether it was the Nine-Tails' chakra or that space ring of Madara's, it was all just their speculation so far.

"How would I know if I don't try! I don't want to stay in this dead-end place. I spent over a month dismantling and studying the incantations in the ring and found that it forms something like a 'key' that can locate space." Madara rubbed the 'Space Eater' on his thumb. "The specifics still need a few tests. But there is a seventy percent chance that injecting the Nine-Tails' space-type chakra into the 'key' will open the space to our world."

Hashirama's mouth twitched: "Research...? When did you do that?"

"Otherwise, what do you think I was doing going upstairs every day?" Madara said with a mocking smile.

Hashirama turned his head away silently. Could he be blamed? You would go upstairs in your pajamas, hair disheveled, eyes bleary with sleep, and come back down at mealtime just as bleary-eyed, living no differently than a decadent shut-in... who could tell which shut-in was a tech-geek?

It was better not to mention it; at the mention of the First, Madara thought of Uzumaki Mito, and his gaze toward Senju Hashirama became a bit more subtle.

"By the way, Hashirama, you've been here for so long, have you seen your future son?"

At these words, Hashirama, who was in the middle of drinking water, nearly spat it out.

"What son?!"

Madara's mischievous streak flared up. "Eh, you didn't know? The Senju Hashirama here has a wife named Uzumaki Mito, and a son whose name I don't know—seems he's out on a mission. What a pity, I can't meet him!"

Ignoring that shameless fellow Madara, Hashirama—a mature, unmarried man with a relatively clean private life—felt a bit awkward and flustered when discussing such topics, especially when facing Madara.

"That is the First's family; it has nothing to do with me." Hashirama set down his teacup, his tone carrying a hint of nervousness he didn't even notice himself.

"That's not necessarily true." Rubbing his chin, Madara speculated with great interest, "Perhaps your future will be much the same!"

Hashirama's mouth twitched. "Don't overthink it. We are two different people, just like you and the Uchiha Madara of this place."

Madara feigned surprise. "You don't know Uzumaki Mito?"

"...I do. She is the daughter of the Uzumaki clan leader."

"And you wouldn't consider a political marriage?" Madara asked with a grin.

Hashirama was speechless. "There's no difference between the two, is there..." Marriage or a political alliance, isn't the result the same?

"There is. One is based on mutual affection, the other is a necessity of the situation." Madara curled his lips. "I feel like you're the type to sacrifice yourself for the greater good... Hmm, maybe 'sacrifice' isn't the word; Uzumaki Mito is quite good-looking."

"I only see her as a younger sister; it's impossible for me to marry her." Hashirama hurriedly explained. The clan elders had suggested marrying into the Uzumaki family, but he had rejected them all. He didn't want Madara to misunderstand anything!

"What if it were for the greater good?"

"Although I am the head of the Senju clan, I am also Senju Hashirama." He stared steadily at Madara and said, "There are many ways to handle the greater good. I have taken on the responsibilities, but I also have the right to preserve my dignity as a strong man. To compromise in a marriage for the sake of profit is an insult not only to me but also to Uzumaki Mito—she is a good girl."

Madara chuckled and sighed. "As expected, you are different."

The First here would accept certain things for the sake of the greater good; his spirit of dedication made everyone look up to him. Yet, Hashirama had learned to make different choices to preserve what he truly wanted.

Fate has many crossroads; perhaps from the moment he met him, Senju Hashirama was no longer the future First.

I believe you all leave comments after reading the three updates... I'm already prepared for a plummet in replies... Cruel fate! Come at me with all your might!

ps: Second update