Senju and Uchiha

Deep within the Death Forest, experimental base.

"Have the results of the Kimimaro cell fusion experiment come in?"

Dao Yi asked.

"The initial fusion was successful. Kimimaro's cells have become more stable, but the host cells' activity is continuously declining!"

"In other words, the host cells suppressed the Shikotsumyaku bloodline disease, but the host cells themselves were weakened!"

"Additionally, the fusion of the main family's Byakugan and Kimimaro's cells faces the same problem. The Byakugan's ocular power is also constantly declining!"

"The fusion of the Hyuga Clan and Takeori Clan provides some enhancement to the Shikotsumyaku, but weakens the Byakugan."

The Shadow Clone continued:

"There is still severe rejection between the Shikotsumyaku and the First Hokage Cells and Uzumaki Clan cells!"

"That makes this difficult!"

Dao Yi dispelled the Shadow Clone and sorted through the experimental records.

Then he created another group of Shadow Clones to continue the experiments, hoping to find a solution.

Three days later, Itachi Uchiha arrived.

Dao Yi returned with the Flying Thunder God and brought him into the laboratory.

"I never expected you to put your laboratory in a place like this. Just as expected of you, Dao Yi!"

Itachi Uchiha gave the place a cursory look and found it extremely familiar.

Byakugan! Activate!

"Your body has already begun to deteriorate. You should be able to feel it clearly."

After examining him, Dao Yi found that Itachi Uchiha's liver and gallbladder had grown even weaker.

"Yes. Since last year, I've been feeling unwell."

Unlike in the original story, Itachi Uchiha had not wiped out the Uchiha Clan. His parents, younger brother, and lover were all still alive and well. He had not killed any innocents either, so he had no thoughts of giving up on life. Having killed a group of arrogant fools who wanted to stage a coup, he felt no guilt over it.

"I intend to inject First Hokage Cells into your body to suppress the deterioration."

"First Hokage Cells?... I've read Danzo's experimental records. In decades, only Kinoe succeeded!"

Itachi Uchiha stared straight at Dao Yi, the implication clear: Did you have some ulterior motive toward me? If so, just say it.

"You don't need to suspect me like that. I don't do things unless I'm certain of them. Do you remember Danzo's arm?"

Dao Yi asked.

"You mean the Sharingan can suppress the First Hokage Cells' rampage?"

Back then, after Danzo used Izanagi and every Sharingan in his arm became useless, the Wood Release arm began to run rampant, forcing Danzo to discard it.

Itachi Uchiha still remembered that scene vividly.

"Why did that happen?"

Itachi Uchiha did not quite understand. Judging from Danzo's situation, the Sharingan seemed to be the key to suppressing the First Hokage Cells.

The more deeply he thought about it, the more eerie and terrifying it felt.

"Do you know about the Uchiha Clan's ancestor?"

"The clan records state that the Uchiha ancestor was the legendary Sage of Six Paths. There is also a stone tablet within the clan, said to have been left behind by the Sage of Six Paths."

Itachi Uchiha spoke lightly, but his expression made it clear that he did not believe it.

In fact, no Uchiha believed it. They had always treated it as nothing more than a story.

"What if it's true?"

Dao Yi looked at Itachi Uchiha teasingly.

"How could that be?... But if it is intelligence you've confirmed, I'm willing to believe it."

In Itachi Uchiha's eyes, Dao Yi was a wise man possessed of great wisdom.

"I've checked a great deal of historical material. The Sage of Six Paths was not only the Uchiha Clan's ancestor; the Senju Clan and Uzumaki Clan were also his descendants."

"The Sage of Six Paths had two sons! The elder inherited the Sage's Eyes and became the Uchiha Clan's ancestor. The younger inherited the Sage's Body and became the ancestor of the Senju Clan and Uzumaki Clan."

"That is why the Sharingan can suppress the First Hokage Cells! The two share the same bloodline, and at the genetic level, they complement one another!"

Itachi Uchiha felt a tumult of emotions. So the Uchiha Clan and Senju Clan were related by blood in this way? Then what was the meaning of the two clans slaughtering each other for a thousand years?

No, speaking of the Sage of Six Paths, another matter became even more concerning!

"The leader of the Akatsuki Organization possesses the Rinnegan. I told you that in the intelligence reports. You haven't forgotten, have you?"

Dao Yi nodded, and Itachi Uchiha continued:

"Legend says the Rinnegan were the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths. You just said the Uchiha inherited the Sage's Eyes, so then..."

Itachi Uchiha grew increasingly terrified, to the point that he could no longer control his expression.

"You guessed correctly. The Rinnegan is the final stage of the Sharingan. Moreover, only Uchiha have a chance of awakening it!"

Dao Yi smiled happily. It was rare to see Itachi Uchiha make such an expression.

Itachi Uchiha stared blankly at Dao Yi, too stunned to speak.

"You mean the Rinnegan belonged to Uchiha Madara?"

Itachi Uchiha truly had a sharp mind. From the scattered clues Dao Yi had provided, he quickly thought of Uchiha Madara. His suspicion was not wrong either; only Uchiha Madara could possibly have awakened those eyes!

Itachi Uchiha knew the Sharingan's details. Beyond the Mangekyo Sharingan lay the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. The previous owner of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan had been Uchiha Madara. If any Uchiha could awaken the Rinnegan, Uchiha Madara was certainly the most likely one.

"Other than him, there's no one else!"

"No! All kinds of intelligence confirm that Uchiha Madara died at the Valley of the End. He died at the hands of the First Hokage; the First Hokage himself confirmed it."

"Have you forgotten Izanagi?"

Dao Yi asked in return.

Itachi Uchiha's expression froze, and his composure immediately shattered.

"...Then it seems Uchiha Madara did not die at the Valley of the End! That raises the question: is the masked man really Uchiha Madara?!"

Itachi Uchiha said faintly.

"If Uchiha Madara truly lived until now, he would be close to a hundred years old, wouldn't he? A shinobi couldn't possibly live that long."

Dao Yi casually dropped that hint.

Konoha's twelve young elites were ten or eleven this year. They would graduate in two years, in Konoha Year 63. If Uchiha Madara had truly lived until now, he would be at least ninety.

Hiruzen Sarutobi rarely took part in battle and had only lived to sixty-nine. Even if Orochimaru had not killed him, he would not have lived to eighty.

Ordinary shinobi fought and killed for decades, constantly exhausting their chakra while accumulating major and minor injuries. Few lived past sixty.

Izuna Uchiha was twenty-four when he died. Afterward, Uchiha Madara transplanted Izuna's eyes and awakened the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.

Then he went to kill Tobirama Senju to avenge Izuna. Later, he was defeated by Hashirama Senju. Hashirama Senju had been willing to pay for Izuna's life with his own, but Uchiha Madara stopped him. It had to be said that Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju truly were each other's true love.

Allow one year for adapting to the transplanted eyes, as well as the time spent later discussing Konoha's founding. [The time they spent fighting can be ignored; even a battle would only last a few days!]

Adding the usual five-year age gap between Uchiha brothers, Uchiha Madara would have been around thirty when Konoha was founded.

It was now Konoha Year 61. If Uchiha Madara had lived until now, he would be well over ninety!