Chapter 46

The Hokage Building fell into a long silence.

The only sound in the room was Madara's fingers tapping the desktop, unhurriedly. The First leaned back in his chair, considering what Madara had said.

The difference between the First and Senju Hashirama from the other world was that he had weathered more of reality's hardships, so he was better able to rationally let certain things go. These hardships hadn't come from war, but from the broader affairs that shinobi rarely dealt with. Politics wasn't about sticking to one's principles when necessary; it was about focusing on the goal. Of course, that didn't mean politics had no need for morality. It was just that the world of high-level affairs had its own standards of morality, guided by suitable methods and benevolent outcomes. In this regard, the First, hardened by the trials of reality, was more resolute and hard-hearted than Hashirama.

What people called resolve could also be called an obsession.

There were things Madara might not have been able to persuade Senju Hashirama to do, but he could certainly persuade the First. He had already come to resemble Madara in some ways: weighing actions by their aims and outcomes.

"...How did you learn the relevant intelligence?" After a long while, the First finally spoke.

It was a crucial question, but an easy one to overlook. Madara had never left Konoha, and his movements were limited. How had he obtained the latest intelligence in such a short time?

"The most valuable intelligence is often hidden in publicly available information." Aware of the other man's suspicions, Madara subtly cleared his name. "Besides, given the reality of this world, I think the ordinary people who live here have a greater say in the matter." The merchants traveling between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire, the flower shops that restocked from various places every year, the painters who journeyed through different countries... Each person was an intelligence station. It was all a matter of how you gathered and evaluated the information.

Hashirama nodded silently. "Then... by the alliance you mentioned, Madara-kun, you mean the Land of Wind, and by the half you intend to manipulate, you mean the Land of Lightning, right?"

Hearing this question, Madara knew the other man had already reached a clear conclusion.

"Yes. I trust Lord Hokage to handle the rest and keep things within bounds." Madara smiled meaningfully. "So I won't be involved in what comes next."

"Thank you for your advice. I'll take it into consideration."

Take it into consideration... It seemed the First hadn't fully accepted Madara's proposal. But Madara didn't mind. He'd only meant to repay a favor he owed.

"There's a lot going on lately. I'll make arrangements by the end of next month," the First said. Then, as if remembering something, he smiled. "You've come at just the right time. You'll be able to attend Konoha's very first Summer Festival!"

When Madara left the Hokage Building, the sun was sinking in the west, its white light slowly tinged with a hazy gold.

The summer breeze lifted his spirits. Bathed in the mellow light, Madara narrowed his eyes slightly. He was quite satisfied with the exchange of favors. As expected, dealing with clever people was effortless. A hint was all it took for them to understand one another.

"Uchiha."

Madara looked toward the voice. A woman stood in the shadows not far away.

She wore a dignified white kimono, her dark red hair parted in the middle and styled in two small buns, one on each side. A diamond-shaped mark adorned her forehead, and her features bore the distinct look of the Uzumaki Clan. Her gentle kimono couldn't hide the extraordinary presence of a powerful kunoichi.

Someone from the Uzumaki Clan, appearing alone near the Hokage Building... Madara understood at once. He gave a slight nod. "Good afternoon, Hokage's Wife."

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

Madara had never set foot in the Hokage Building before. Since moving out of the Uchiha Clan Compound, he'd been wearing much plainer clothes. From behind, he looked exactly like Uchiha Madara of this world... So all that stuff you did at the compound was just to provoke the Uchiha here, wasn't it, Madara?

"It's all right." Maintaining a pleasant smile, Madara said politely, "Are you going into the Hokage Building? The First is inside."

She pressed her lips together and shook her head.

Madara didn't know what could be troubling this usually strong woman, but he had no interest in sparing her any attention. She seemed energetic enough, though her face was a little pale. One glance was enough to reveal something that surprised him. "Is the Hokage's Wife not feeling well?"

Mito Uzumaki stared at him in astonishment. "How did you know?"

For once, Madara was at a loss for words. How was he supposed to continue? Explain the principles of traditional medicine? Inspection, listening, inquiry, and palpation? Or tell her that certain women's ailments could be detected just by looking? The topic could get awkward very quickly. Madara gave a light cough. "Your complexion seemed a little pale. You should get more rest."

A wry smile touched Mito Uzumaki's lips. "It's been bothering me for years. It's nothing." Then she said with a look of relief, "You really are different from... him."

"There's no such thing as two completely identical people." Not understanding why she'd brought up Uchiha Madara of this world, Madara simply followed her lead. "Everyone has a destiny of their own. Different destinies make different people. Why get caught up in whether we're alike?"

She'd probably been troubled by the two "Senju Hashiramas," Madara thought uncharitably.

"You're right, Uchiha." Unwilling to let a stranger see what was on her mind, Mito Uzumaki regained her composure and gave Madara a slight nod. "I won't keep you, Uchiha. Farewell."

Since arriving in this world, Madara had never paid any attention to this woman, who'd been used for a political marriage. No matter how powerful she was, she was still just a "token" of the alliance between the Senju and Uzumaki Clans. Her status as the Hokage's Wife had brought her respect, but it had also limited the scope of her life.

If she'd been allowed to stand on her own, she might have been a dazzling woman, no less remarkable than the men of her era.

It was a shame she loved the First so much...

He quickly put aside that trace of sympathy. Whatever the case, Mito Uzumaki had nothing to do with him. Madara went straight back to their temporary home.

A faint sound of running water came from deep inside the house. As he passed the bathroom, he saw that the sign on the door had been flipped over. "In use..." Madara read aloud. Hashirama opened the door, wearing a bathrobe. "Madara, you're back."

Madara hadn't bothered to conceal his presence. Hashirama had sensed him the moment he entered the house.

"You've finished bathing already?" Madara glanced inside. White steam billowed through the room.

The house the First had given them was a small mansion, laid out in a standard Japanese style, with a private bath built inside. They had to provide their own hot water. It couldn't compare to the luxurious natural hot spring Uchiha Madara had enjoyed, but it was still beyond the means of ordinary people.

Hashirama's long, wet hair hung over his bathrobe. Water droplets still clung to his wheat-colored skin, and the heat had brought a faint flush to his handsome face. At Madara's question, he fell suspiciously silent for a moment. "...Yeah..."

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

Hashirama turned his head and asked, "Did things go well with the First?"

Madara glanced at the man who seemed to be changing the subject. "He promised we could open the Altar after the Summer Festival."

Hashirama finally asked a question he'd been holding back for a long time. "Are you sure we can succeed by relying on the Nine-Tails?" Whether it was the Nine-Tails' chakra or Madara's space ring, so far it was all just speculation.

"We won't know unless we try! I don't want to stay in this hopeless place. I spent over a month dismantling and studying the formulas in the ring. I found that they formed something like a 'key' that could pinpoint a space." Madara rubbed the "Space Eater" on his thumb. "We'll need to test it a few times to be sure. But there's a seventy percent chance that injecting the Nine-Tails' space-type chakra into the 'key' will open a passage to our world."

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

"What did you think I was doing upstairs every day?" Madara asked, smiling faintly.

Hashirama silently turned his head away. Could he really be blamed? Back then, Madara had gone upstairs in his pajamas, with his hair a mess and his eyes half-closed, then come back down at mealtime looking just as drowsy. He'd acted like a slovenly shut-in... How was anyone supposed to tell which shut-in was a tech geek?

Mentioning the First reminded Madara of Mito Uzumaki. He looked at Senju Hashirama with a more curious expression.

"By the way, Hashirama, you've been here for so long. Have you met your future son?"

Hashirama, who'd been drinking water, nearly spat it out.

"What son?!"

Madara's mischievous streak kicked in. "Huh, you didn't know? Senju Hashirama here has a wife named Mito Uzumaki, and they have a son whose name I don't know. I think he's on a mission. What a pity we can't meet him!"

Ignoring the shameless Madara, Senju Hashirama—an older bachelor with a fairly clean private life—felt awkward and flustered whenever the subject came up, especially when he was talking to Madara.

"She's the First's family. It has nothing to do with me." Hashirama put down his teacup, his voice touched by a nervousness he didn't even notice.

"Not necessarily." Rubbing his chin, Madara made an amused guess. "Maybe your future will turn out much the same!"

Hashirama's mouth twitched. "Don't overthink it. We're two different people, just like you and Uchiha Madara here."

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

"...I do. She's the Uzumaki Clan leader's daughter."

"What about a political marriage?" Madara asked with a smile.

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

"There is. One is about two people being in love, and the other is dictated by circumstance." Madara curled his lips. "I think you're the kind of person who'd sacrifice yourself for the greater good... Well, maybe 'sacrifice' is too strong a word. Mito Uzumaki is quite pretty."

"I only think of her as a younger sister. I'd never marry her," Hashirama hurried to explain. The clan elders had suggested a marriage alliance with the Uzumaki Clan, but he'd refused. He didn't want Madara to misunderstand!

"What if it was for the greater good?"

"Even though I'm the Senju Clan head, I'm still Senju Hashirama." He held Madara's gaze. "There are many ways to handle the greater good. I've taken on my responsibilities, but I also have the right to keep the dignity that comes with my strength. Forcing myself into a marriage for the sake of profit would be an insult not just to me, but to Mito Uzumaki too. She's a good girl."

Madara sighed with a quiet laugh. "As expected, you two are different."

The First of this world was willing to accept certain things for the greater good, and people admired him for his selflessness. Hashirama, on the other hand, had learned to make different choices so he could hold on to what he wanted.

Destiny had many forks in the road. Perhaps from the moment Senju Hashirama met him, he was no longer destined to become the First.

I'm sure you're all waiting until you've read all three updates before commenting... I've already prepared myself for the replies to plummet... Such a cruel fate! Bring it on!

P.S. Second update.