Izuna Uchiha's Body

Natsu nodded slightly, said nothing more, turned around and walked towards the village gate.

Ban followed closely behind, and after taking a few steps, he suddenly remembered something and casually asked.

"My status on Origin Island should be second only to yours, right?"

Natsu didn't turn her head, but smiled and asked in return, "Want to be the clan leader? I'll give up the position to you right now, anytime."

Ban paused slightly, then shook his head gently.

"Forget it. I've been the clan chief my whole life, and I'm too tired to deal with those trivial paperwork and mundane affairs anymore."

"Then I'll be an honorary Elder," Natsu decided easily. "You don't need to handle trivial matters; just focus on your cultivation and take charge when needed."

With a barely perceptible smirk at the corner of his lip, he readily agreed.

"Make a deal."

Natsu leaned lazily against the back of his chair, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the cool porcelain rim of his teacup, his gaze quietly fixed on Ban's figure. Watching the other Kunai tuck the kunai, which carried the brother's obsession, into his clothes, he remained silent for a moment before finally asking the question that had been swirling in his heart for so long.

"Mada-senpai, do you still have Izuna Uchiha's body tissue?"

He softened his tone and spoke with exceptional detail.

"Even a few strands of hair, a small piece of fingernail, or clothes worn back then will suffice as long as we can extract any remaining cells."

Ban's movements suddenly froze.

His fingertips rested on the front of his shirt, just enough to touch the cool tip of the Kunai through the fabric. The air around him seemed to suddenly become heavier. He stood there quietly for a long time before slowly lowering his arm. His voice was very soft, but steady without the slightest tremor.

"I buried his body myself."

"Buried in the ground beneath the Naka Shrine."

Natsu's fingers, which were caressing the rim of the cup, suddenly paused. He had only intended to probe the matter tentatively, without expecting to find a complete clue, but he never imagined that Izuna Uchiha's remains would be preserved so well to this day.

"Is it the underground stone chamber next to the stone tablet?"

"Hmm." Ban responded softly, his words slow and deliberate, concealing a long-suppressed obsession. "I dug the tomb myself, and the entrance was sealed with layers of Sealing Jutsu. For so many years, no one but me knew its exact location, and no one has ever set foot inside."

Natsu raised her hand and put down the teacup, her relaxed aura completely disappearing, her expression becoming solemn and cautious.

"If the skeleton is intact, then we won't have to wait for you to awaken the Rinnegan and then sacrifice the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to revive you."

He looked up at Ban and offered a completely different, more prudent solution.

"Origin Island possesses the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu. This Forbidden Technique can tear apart the barrier of the Pure Land, recall the complete soul of the deceased, and attach it to a prepared vessel. Once the Reanimated Body has stabilized and taken shape, I will use the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique technique to completely liberate and solidify the physical body, allowing Izuna Uchiha to truly return to the mortal world."

He paused for a moment, then pointed out the most crucial advantage of this plan.

"You won't have to pay a single penny throughout the entire process."

Ban's breath hitched almost imperceptibly. A long-cherished desire, buried deep in his heart for many years, was suddenly ignited, and even though he was usually calm and restrained, his emotions couldn't help but stir slightly.

"What's the success rate?" he pressed in a deep voice.

"It depends on the condition of the remains," Natsu answered frankly and decisively. "As long as the bones are well preserved, the success rate can easily exceed 90%."

Who will perform the spell?

"There are quite a few people who can perform this technique." Natsu raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone carrying a hint of amusement. "Tobirama is also proficient in this technique. However, it's highly likely that as soon as he recalls Izuna Uchiha, the two brothers will have to team up and give you a good scolding."

Ban remained silent for a long time, expressionless, the lively yet unsettling scene already replaying in his mind.

"Then you'll do it." He finally settled his tone, leaving no room for argument. "I won't give Tobirama a chance to make fun of me."

Natsu smiled slightly and readily agreed.

He straightened up, brushed off the bits of grass clinging to his clothes, and then planned out his next steps.

"After returning to Konoha, go and say goodbye to Hashirama. I'll go and have a good talk with Tobirama, and give him a heads-up. Afterwards, I'll have Yaoyu and Yakumi infiltrate the Naka Shrine and retrieve Izuna Uchiha's remains."

Madara frowned slightly and spoke up to stop him, "The underground chamber has clan-specific access restrictions; historically, only the current Uchiha clan head has been allowed to enter."

Natsu glanced back at him, her tone calm yet full of confidence.

"I am now the head of the Uchiha."

Ban was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but quickly nodded, acknowledging his qualification.

"Act discreetly, and do not alert others, especially Tobirama."

"Don't worry." Natsu's tone was relaxed and confident. "Their stealth skills in using Yaoyu and Yakumi are extremely high, and their movement speed is comparable to Tobirama's Flying Thunder God. That person couldn't even catch a glimpse of them."

As soon as he finished speaking, he added another sentence, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"But this can't be kept secret forever. When Tobirama finds out Izuna Uchiha has been resurrected, his expression will surely be quite something."

Ban didn't refute, but merely made a faint prediction.

"He'll scold me first, then reprimand Izuna Uchiha. If things get out of hand, the two brothers might start arguing on the spot."

Natsu had already stepped towards the door when she heard the sound, so she turned back and chuckled softly.

"Let them make a fuss. We'll be living in the same world from now on, there will be plenty of opportunities to work things out."

"Once it's all done, I'll take Izuna Uchiha directly to Origin Island." Madara followed slowly, his tone calm. "Leave Tobirama alone in Konoha to sulk."

"Then he'll probably be so angry he won't sleep for three days." Natsu a smile as she stepped out of the room.

Ban followed closely behind, walking silently under the corridor, before finally uttering a sentence he had kept hidden for half his life.

"Fine. Let him taste the pent-up anger I've been holding in all these years."

Dusk settled on the horizon, Hashirama finally finished his day's work—to be honest, he had piled most of the files onto Tobirama.

After finishing his chores, he headed towards the Uchiha Earth Flow usual, his only thought being to have a few drinks with Madara.

He pushed open the wooden door of the Madara family mansion, and before he could even stand up straight, he shouted that Tobirama had scolded him again today, and he could only stay here with Madara tonight for some peace and quiet.

The entire courtyard was quiet and still; there wasn't a sound from anyone.

The well-maintained dry landscape garden was just as it always was. The wind chimes hanging under the eaves swayed gently in the evening breeze. The surrounding scenery showed no signs of change, except for the absence of the figure who always stood under the eaves with his arms crossed, coldly watching him intrude.

Hashirama stood there for a long time, feeling inexplicably empty inside, before finally pushing open the wooden door to the living room.

A letter lay flat in the center of the desk, with a Kunai he knew all too well on top of the envelope—the one Izuna Uchiha always carried with him.

His movements suddenly slowed, a bad premonition rising in his heart. He walked slowly to the table, picked up the envelope, and tore open the paper seal with his fingertips.

The letter was short, written in Ban's unique handwriting, with sharp strokes and a cold, hard edge.