Going to the Battlefield

By the time passed, it was already noon, and the insects in the forest were gradually growing louder.

The scorching midday heat was becoming too much for the insects, and their cries grew restless and incessant.

But things were peaceful where Senju Kyogawa and the others were.

When Senju Hashirama asked how the two had met, Senju Kyogawa and Madara tacitly glossed over the details. They only said they had met on a mission and happened to work together for a while, saying nothing about the strange events they had encountered in that little town.

Senju Hashirama could tell neither of them wanted to elaborate, so he only joked,

"Ah... Madara met little Kyogawa before I did... I'm a little jealous."

At first, Senju Kyogawa had felt awkward because he hadn't seen Madara in so long, but after they'd exchanged a few words, that faint awkwardness disappeared.

Senju Kyogawa naturally slipped back into the shamelessly clingy way he'd acted around Madara before, coyly seeking his attention and taking his hand to earn Cuddle Points.

Senju Kyogawa was naturally the sort of person who warmed up to others quickly. Besides, now that he was trying to earn Cuddle Points, he'd stop at nothing.

Once Senju Kyogawa's manner became a little more natural, Madara also relaxed from his initial stiffness.

After all, Madara had treated Senju Kyogawa like his little brother. Who could blame him? Senju Kyogawa was so good at being direct, and he had such delicate features and a pair of beautiful black almond-shaped eyes that looked just like Madara's younger brother Izuna's.

The three of them talked about more and more things. The more they spoke, the more they found they shared the same interests and similar ambitions, and the happier they became, chatting away enthusiastically.

"I never expected Kyogawa and Madara to hit it off so well..."

"If I'd known you two had met before and were already so close, I would've brought Kyogawa along the last few times, hahaha!" Senju Hashirama laughed heartily.

"But why were you acting so sneaky today, Kyogawa? The way you looked at Madara at first was so strange." It had to be said, Senju Hashirama had remarkably sharp instincts at times.

Senju Hashirama had guessed right.

At first, Senju Kyogawa really had felt awkward.

The main reason was that he'd initially thought Senju Hashirama was on a date with a girl. So when he realized the person Senju Hashirama was "dating" was Madara, his feelings had become complicated.

As soon as Senju Hashirama brought up this awkward question, Senju Kyogawa couldn't help glaring at him.

Senju Hashirama scratched his head in confusion. He clearly had no idea why Senju Kyogawa had suddenly gotten angry.

Senju Kyogawa casually made up an excuse and brushed the matter aside.

They chatted a little longer and exchanged some tips on training and Taijutsu before saying their goodbyes.

It was nearly noon, and they all needed to return to their clan compounds.

Before leaving, Senju Kyogawa stopped and turned to look at Madara's retreating figure.

Izuna had come from across the river.

Senju Kyogawa guessed Izuna was from the Uchiha Clan.

Madara had also come from across the river, and he had the typical looks of someone from the Uchiha Clan.

Moreover, Madara was skilled with Shurikenjutsu, kunai, Senbon, and other hidden weapons.

Senju Kyogawa had once seen Madara use a shuriken. He was incredibly skilled, with precise angles and fluid movements.

The Senju Clan, skilled in Taijutsu, had little in common with Shurikenjutsu, while the Uchiha Clan, with their Sharingan and exceptional eyesight, excelled at hidden weapons like shuriken.

So...

Should he call Madara—Uchiha Madara?

"Little Kyogawa, what's wrong?" Senju Hashirama noticed Kyogawa had stopped and turned to ask.

By now, Madara's figure had disappeared from sight across the river.

"Brother Hashirama... I know that shinobi don't reveal their clan names to each other, in case they're killed for it..." Senju Kyogawa looked at the distracted Senju Hashirama and finally asked, "Brother Hashirama, have you ever guessed who Madara is?"

Senju Hashirama froze completely. He turned his head away, clearly avoiding the question, and only said,

"Kyogawa, he's Madara, my closest friend, and your big brother Madara."

Senju Kyogawa didn't dwell on it. He understood.

Time passed quickly, and war broke out between the Senju and the Uchiha once again.

This time, though, it was a war Senju Kyogawa couldn't avoid—he had to take part.

Senju Kyogawa had already completed a mission and earned the approval of the shinobi who had accompanied him. That was a good thing, but it also proved he was capable of fighting independently.

And Senju Kyogawa's fifth birthday was drawing closer. He was old enough to go to war.

In the shinobi world, five years old was the line between being a child and becoming a warrior.

For all these reasons, Senju Kyogawa had no choice but to go to war this time.

The war between the Senju and the Uchiha hadn't come without warning. The conflict between them had been going on for a long time, so Senju Kyogawa had expected it.

Before heading to the battlefield, Senju Kyogawa prepared himself mentally. If he really had to kill someone, it would only be because there was no other choice, right?

Senju Kyogawa had never killed anyone—not a real person, anyway. The monsters he'd faced before didn't count.

Killing monsters only made him feel curious, not reluctant. But if his opponent was a person... Senju Kyogawa, who had grown up steeped in the red-blooded ways of his clan, really would find it hard to go through with it.

Senju Tobirama noticed Senju Kyogawa's anxiety before he went to war. Tobirama had just returned from a mission—not a simple escort job.

Senju Kyogawa could smell the sharp scent of blood clinging to Senju Tobirama.

When Senju Tobirama learned what was making Kyogawa anxious, he naturally reached out and ruffled his hair, the short white hair they both shared.

He said, "Little Kyogawa is such a gentle, sensitive child..."

"But there's no need to be afraid..."

Senju Tobirama stopped there.

Senju Kyogawa soon became less nervous.

That was because he realized his older brothers were clearly even more nervous than he was.

Senju Hashirama paced back and forth around the room, then came over to remind Kyogawa and Itama what to watch out for on the battlefield, how to stay alive, and that their lives came first.

Senju Itama teased Hashirama for being too nervous, since this wasn't Senju Itama's first time going to war.

Meanwhile, Senju Tobirama kept checking what Senju Kyogawa needed to bring to the battlefield—kunai, scrolls, Explosive Tags... In fact, he'd already checked three or four times.

Senju Itama kept holding Kyogawa's hand, telling him to stick close and not fall behind once they were on the battlefield.

It was clear his brothers were all worried about him...

Their concern about Senju Kyogawa's first time on the battlefield wasn't unfounded.

They had all grown up alongside Senju Butsuma, and had understood their futures from an early age, so they'd had plenty of time to prepare themselves mentally.

Besides, Senju Kyogawa was the only one who'd studied Taijutsu for less than a year, couldn't extract chakra at all, and could barely even lift a sword.

The one thing that reassured them was that Senju Kyogawa was exceptionally skilled in Medical Ninjutsu.

Senju Kyogawa was also well aware of his weaknesses, so he deliberately stayed toward the middle or rear of the battlefield. Unless he had no choice but to fight, he usually stayed behind as a medic.

Only after reaching the battlefield did Senju Kyogawa truly understand how cruel it was.

The battlefield was strewn with corpses and severed limbs, all drenched in blood.

If he'd been back in his previous life and the shinobi world had happened to be a game, it would surely have been shut down by the minors' health-protection system.

From his position toward the rear, Senju Kyogawa saw scenes that could rival hell on earth. Most Senju shinobi were lucky just to make it back alive. To escape with their lives was a blessing, so... aside from the gravely wounded, most were missing an arm or a leg.

Senju Kyogawa finally killed his first person on the battlefield. It was a fully grown Uchiha shinobi he and Senju Itama killed together in battle.

That shinobi had nearly driven his blade into Itama's heart.

So Senju Kyogawa rushed over and killed the Uchiha shinobi with his sword.

Hot blood gushed out, splattering across Senju Kyogawa's face and body.

The blood gave off waves of scorching heat. Even in the height of summer, Senju Kyogawa felt the air was nowhere near as hot.

Before the Uchiha fell, he looked utterly bewildered, his black eyes fixed on Senju Kyogawa as if he wanted to etch him into his soul.

That hateful look...

In a panic, Senju Kyogawa covered the man's eyes with his hand, trying to close them.

But as soon as Senju Kyogawa placed his hand over the Uchiha shinobi's eyes, an explosion rang out. His palm turned wet and sticky—the Uchiha shinobi's eyeball had burst like a balloon.

Senju Kyogawa was completely stunned.

The Uchiha shinobi's eye socket was a bloody, empty hollow.

The sight before him was just like a horror movie he'd seen in his previous life.

No, it was even more terrifying than a horror movie, because this was real.

He knew it was a technique Uchiha shinobi used to keep their enemies from taking the Sharingan—a technique that destroyed the eyes.

Even though the Uchiha shinobi before him didn't have the Sharingan...

The flesh and blood in his palm clung to him like a parasite, as if it had stuck to Senju Kyogawa's soul and could never be washed away.

[This was inevitable... There was no way around it...]

[If I hadn't killed him... he would've killed my brother Itama...]

Senju Kyogawa comforted himself that way, trying to prepare himself mentally.

The Uchiha shinobi had been about eleven or twelve, around the same age as Senju Hashirama.

[I'm sorry...]

Senju Kyogawa thought that he really did hate this world... hated this world that sent children to the battlefield...

To hell with this damn shinobi world.

The worst had happened.

Senju Kyogawa was alone.

He had the misfortune of getting separated from Senju Itama and the others.

Then, even worse, several Uchiha shinobi surrounded him.

And to make matters worse, he'd used up all his Explosive Tags and kunai...

He was truly stranded without help.