Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju

The Senju Clan and Uchiha now work together in the same village, but despite their working together, Tobirama Senju's wariness and hostility towards the Uchiha Clan have never diminished in the slightest.

His Itama Senju, died at the hands of the Uchiha Clan, while Madara Uchiha's younger brother Izuna Uchiha, died at his hands. These are two blood debts that can never be offset against each other.

The reason he's sitting here approving documents and working in the same building as Madara Uchiha isn't because he's let go of his hatred, but because his elder brother knelt before all the clan leaders, making this village his lifelong dream.

He could suppress his hostility for his elder brother's dream, but he wasn't naive enough to think the Uchiha Clan would do the same.

He stood there for a moment, then turned and continued walking home.

The sound of footsteps faded away on the stone path, and under the old camphor tree by the Training Ground, a figure stood with arms crossed, appearing in the shadows at some point.

Madara Uchiha gazed in the direction Tobirama had gone, his Mangekyo Sharingan swirling slightly in the night before turning away and walking towards the Uchiha Clan District.

As he passed the Training Ground, he stopped and turned his head to look in the direction of the Naka Shrine —the candlelight there flickered in the night, just like always.

But he always felt that the Uchiha Clan District today had a strange atmosphere.

The next morning, before the fog had completely dissipated over Konoha, the breakfast stalls along the street had already set up their steamers.

Natsu chose a seat by the window, with a steaming bowl of miso ramen in front of her Yaoyu and Yakumi sat opposite her, and the two of them ordered a large plate of grilled Dango together.

The three of them, unusually relaxed, let down their guard and acted as if they were on vacation.

"Tsk, this miso soup base even has bonito flakes in it, it's better than what we get in our cafeteria back home. Young Master Natsu, you should try some." Yaoyu slurped up a big mouthful of noodles and mumbled his evaluation.

"Nonsense, the canteen on Origin Island serves communal meals, this is the craftsmanship of the shop." Yakumi retorted expressionlessly, while his hands were busy stuffing Dango into his mouth.

Natsu was about to say something when her gaze suddenly paused.

Two figures emerged from the street corner, one in front of the other.

The man in front of him, dressed in Uchiha Clan Uniform, stood with his arms crossed and wore that perpetually indifferent expression, as if the whole world owed him an explanation.

The man behind him, a head taller than him, was talking animatedly, gesturing wildly as he spoke, almost knocking over the roadside vendor's sign.

Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju.

The Hokage and Vice Hokage of Konoha were strolling around the streets early in the morning.

"Those two wouldn't happen to be..." Yaoyu followed Natsu's gaze, her chopsticks frozen in mid-air.

The Yakumi made him put down the Dango, and his brow furrowed slightly.

They had never seen Madara Uchiha or Hashirama Senju in this world, but the undisguised Chakra quality of these two individuals—one as cold and abyss-like as the other as vast and boundless as the sea—made them hard not to recognize each other.

"Tsk, we're really lucky. We even bumped into two of the biggest obstacles of this era just by going out for breakfast." Yaoyu whistled softly, but then picked up a piece of char siu with her chopsticks and stuffed it into her mouth.

"But these two seem quite different from the rumors we have over there? Weren't they supposed to have fought so hard they even brought out the Valley of the End? This looks like—"

He paused, watching out the window Hashirama pointed at the dumpling shop by the roadside and spoke enthusiastically to Madara. Madara tilted his head, looking impatient but not walking away immediately. "They seem to have quite a good conversation."

"It's just the butterfly effect." Natsu picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said calmly, "This era has gained a Flame Ninja Village and a Uchiha King. With increased external pressure, some internal conflicts have been diluted. But speaking of which—"

He put down his teacup, his gaze falling on the two figures walking away side by side, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Seeing them skip work to go shopping reminds me of my uncle and Elder Setsuna."

Every time there was Elder Council, my uncle would stand at the front reading reports with a stern face, and in Setsuna, Elder would secretly add goji berries to his teacup, saying, "The clan leader doesn't look well and needs some nourishment."

"Pfft-- Natsu, that's a really mean analogy." Yaoyu almost spat out the half-mouthed tea she had just drunk. "But it does look a bit like it."

That Hashirama Senju was probably the one who was responsible for giving Madara goji berries.

I wonder if he'll also mutter something like, "Vice Lord Hokage, don't always have such a stern face, it's bad for your health," just like Setsuna Elder did.

The three were chatting and laughing in hushed tones Hashirama suddenly peeked out from Madara's side, glanced at their table, and then grabbed Madara's sleeve and walked straight over.

Yaoyu's smile froze on her face, and the fingers holding the Dango Yakumi slightly.

Natsu remained holding her teacup, as if nothing had happened.

"Madara, see, I told you there were unfamiliar faces here." Hashirama stood by the table, his tone warm as if he were meeting a long-lost friend, but when his gaze swept over the three of them, a quick scrutiny flashed in his seemingly carefree eyes.

His sensory abilities are among the best in the Ninja World. He had already detected these three completely unfamiliar Chakra when he turned the corner. Although two of them were well concealed, the cold and aloof quality unique to Yin Release was definitely from the Uchiha Clan.

And the boy in the lead...

Hashirama's gaze lingered on Natsu for a moment, a hint of undisguised surprise flashing in his eyes.

His Sensory Ninjutsu didn't lie to him—this boy, who looked no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, actually had a much larger amount of Chakra than him.

He had only ever felt this level of Chakra from two people in his entire life: one was himself, and the other was Madara.

Ban stood half a step behind, his arms still crossed over his chest.

His gaze slowly swept across Natsu's face, then fell on the Yaoyu and Yakumi, and finally returned to Natsu's scarlet Sharingan.

After a moment, he spoke, his voice low and cold. "Sharingan. I know most of the Uchiha Clan members. You—"

He paused, then his tone became more certain, "They're from the Flame Ninja Village."

Hashirama paused, then turned to Madara: "Flame Ninja Village? People from Jin's side? What are they doing in Konoha?"

"I wasn't sure who I would meet before I came to Konoha." Natsu put down her teacup, neither confirming nor denying.

To Ban, this reaction was essentially tantamount to acquiescence.

Madara's Sharingan slowly rotated in his pupils, staring at Natsu for a long while before speaking again, "What are you doing here?"