Madara, I Promise You

The smoke on the battlefield gradually dispersed.

Senju Hashirama knelt on one knee, gasping heavily, his chakra nearly exhausted. His Sage Mode had faded, and the black markings around his eyes had completely vanished, revealing a face worn to the utmost limit.

Not far in front of him, Senju Tobirama lay motionless in a pool of blood.

"Tobirama..." Hashirama's voice was hoarse. He tried to stand, but his legs gave out; he stumbled and fell to his knees again.

In the distance, the Uchiha Clan's ninja slowly closed in. Scarlet Sharingan gleamed in their eyes, and the kunai in their hands flashed coldly beneath the dim sky. Everyone understood the rules of the Warring States Era—defeat meant clan extermination.

The surviving Senju Clan ninja quickly gathered around Hashirama, surrounding him protectively. Every face was filled with fear and unwillingness, yet none of them retreated. Some gripped their shuriken tightly, while others stood before Hashirama, forming a thin yet resolute wall of human bodies.

"Lord Hashirama, fall back."

"Let's fight the Uchiha to the death!"

"We'll cover your retreat!"

Senju Hashirama heard none of it. His gaze remained fixed on Tobirama's body, countless scenes flashing through his mind—Tobirama following behind him as a child to learn ninjutsu, Tobirama sternly scolding him for being too reckless...

He had once had several younger brothers. Kawarama and Itama had died on the battlefield one after another. He had sworn that he would protect Tobirama, his last remaining brother. Yet now, Tobirama lay there with his chest caved in—he, his elder brother, had failed to protect him.

The Senju Clan ninja hurriedly tried to stop Tobirama's bleeding. At least three of Tobirama's ribs were broken, and his internal organs were severely damaged. The man's face turned pale and his hands began to tremble, but he still clenched his teeth and tightly wrapped strips of cloth around Tobirama's chest.

"Lord Tobirama... please hold on..."

But everyone knew that the hope of surviving such injuries was vanishingly small.

Senju Hashirama's eyes reddened.

Just then, Uchiha Madara walked over.

He crossed the Senju Clan's defensive line alone. The Senju ninja instinctively raised their kunai, but Madara did not spare them so much as a glance.

Uchiha Madara stopped before Senju Hashirama.

"Hashirama, the war is over. Stop." His voice was not loud, yet every person present heard it clearly.

Senju Hashirama raised his head. Those usually gentle eyes were bloodshot, burning with fury and grief. "Madara... you're telling me to stop? Tobirama, he—"

"I know." Uchiha Madara cut him off, a trace of barely perceptible weariness in his voice. "But if this continues, the entire Senju Clan will die here today. You know that."

Senju Hashirama fell silent.

Of course he knew. With three Susanoo fighting together, the Uchiha's strength had completely overwhelmed the Senju. Continuing would only lead to more casualties. The Senju Clan might vanish entirely from the map of the Warring States Era.

"Madara, how do you intend to deal with the Senju Clan?" Hashirama's voice was hoarse. "The situation is no longer in our favor. The laws of survival in the Warring States Era are simple: defeat means death. Have you come to... kill us?"

The instant those words left his mouth, the Senju clansmen behind Hashirama all tensed. Some quietly slipped their hands into their ninja tool pouches, while others began forming hand seals. Even if their clan was truly to be exterminated today, they would make the Uchiha pay a terrible price.

Uchiha Madara did not answer. He remained silent for a long time, looking at Senju Hashirama with a complicated expression.

"Hashirama, let's join forces."

Senju Hashirama froze.

"Do you remember our dream?" When Madara spoke those words, there was an almost stubborn innocence in his voice. "To build a peaceful place without war. Hashirama, if the Senju and Uchiha join forces, we can end this chaotic era together."

With that, Uchiha Madara extended his hand toward Senju Hashirama.

That hand hovered in midair, waiting for an answer.

Senju Hashirama stared at it, but all he could see was Tobirama lying in a pool of blood.

"Madara..." Hashirama's voice trembled. "No. Tobirama's life hangs in the balance. A thousand years of hatred between our clans cannot be erased so easily. At least right now... I can't just let it go like that."

Hashirama refused.

Madara's hand stiffened in midair before slowly withdrawing.

"Hashirama, have you forgotten the dream we had as children?"

"I haven't forgotten." Senju Hashirama abruptly stood up, his voice suddenly rising. "It's precisely because I haven't forgotten that I can't shake hands and make peace with you now. Tobirama is my brother. He's lying right there, and he may never wake up again. How can you ask me to form an alliance with you at a time like this?"

The Senju Clan ninja shielded their clan head behind them, their kunai pointed at Madara. The air was taut as a string about to snap.

Uchiha Madara took a deep breath.

He turned to look behind him—Uchiha Yan and Izuna stood not far away, while the Uchiha Clan's ninja waited in formation. Every gaze was fixed on him, awaiting his decision.

"Izuna," Uchiha Madara suddenly said, "if I die, you will succeed me as head of the Uchiha Clan."

"What?" Izuna's eyes widened. "Brother, what nonsense are you talking about?!"

Uchiha Madara drew a kunai from his waist.

Madara pressed the kunai to his abdomen. Its tip pierced his clothing and pressed a bloody mark into his skin.

"Lord Madara!"

"Brother, don't!"

"Why?"

Terrified cries erupted from the Uchiha Clan. The Uchiha had just defeated the Senju Clan, yet the man standing at the pinnacle of the Warring States Era was about to kill himself?

Uchiha Madara ignored them. His eyes remained locked on Hashirama.

"Hashirama, you are the only person I acknowledge. This chaotic age has devoured too many lives—your brother, my brother, countless children who should have lived to adulthood. If even you and I cannot join hands, then this era truly cannot be saved."

Madara's hand tightened slightly, pressing the kunai deeper. Bright red blood seeped from the tip of the blade and trickled down his clothes.

"If my death can awaken your dream and make you willing to join forces with the Uchiha Clan to build a village of peace—then my death will have meaning."

With that, he moved to plunge the kunai into his abdomen—

"Stop!"

Senju Hashirama rushed forward and seized Madara's wrist—the hand gripping the kunai—with all his strength.

"Madara, are you serious?"

"I am very serious." Uchiha Madara stared directly into Hashirama's eyes. "Hashirama, answer me—if I die, are you willing to let go of your hatred and join forces with the Uchiha Clan?"

The two stared at each other.

At that moment, the wall in Senju Hashirama's heart, built from anger and grief, came crashing down.

"...Madara, I promise you. The Senju and the Uchiha will unite."

Behind them, Uchiha Izuna let out a long breath. Uchiha Yan swept his gaze over the surroundings—the members of the Senju Clan and Uchiha Clan looked at one another, some bewildered, some stunned.

Uchiha Yan silently calculated in his heart:

The alliance between the Senju and Uchiha was already inevitable; Konoha's founding was only a matter of time. But history's momentum was too strong. He could not let the Uchiha repeat the same mistakes.

The position of First Hokage absolutely had to go to Uchiha Madara.

Only if Madara held power and became Hokage would the fate of the Uchiha Clan have a chance to be rewritten.