After Tetsuhiro used Bond Everlasting, his soul drifted into a barren, silent region.
It was like the dead of night. He could see nothing.
Occasionally, he could sense a few "people" wandering around like lost souls.
Tetsuhiro gave it a try. Fortunately, he could still use ninjutsu, so he formed a small ball of light in his hand.
He spotted a figure ahead of him. Delighted, he approached, only to discover that the person had no eyes, just pitch-black hollows where the eyes should have been.
As though devoid of consciousness or a soul, the figure walked around Tetsuhiro and continued onward.
Boom! His mind reeled, and his scalp instantly prickled...
"Th-this couldn't be a ghost, could it?" Tetsuhiro recalled what he had seen with lingering fear. He did not even dare look back.
When he was little, he had heard old people say, "Never look back when you're walking at night. Even if someone calls you, don't turn around, or a ghost will eat you."
Panting, he pressed a hand against his wildly pounding heart and inched sideways, trying his best to avoid that spot.
Then he broke into a frantic sprint. "Holy shit! Somebody help! There's a ghost!"
But the farther he went, the more of those people he encountered, and he realized that none of the ghosts paid him any attention.
Gradually, he relaxed and ran in the direction they were heading.
After an unknown stretch of time, he finally spotted light in the distance.
When he approached, he discovered a place brimming with vitality. An old man floated cross-legged in the air, resting with his eyes closed...
Only when he stood directly before him did Tetsuhiro realize that this was the Sage of Six Paths?!
"Um... Grandpa, are you still alive?"
"Hehe, you finally arrived." The Sage of Six Paths smiled faintly. "You did so much in my name, yet you don't recognize me?"
Tetsuhiro guiltily wiped away his cold sweat. "You know about all of it?"
"Only by chance."
Hearing him admit it actually put Tetsuhiro at ease. He asked calmly, "Then what advice do you have for me, Sage?"
The sage paused, amusement in his eyes. "Not bad. Now you have a little of the God of Shinobi's bearing."
"Actually, I'm rather curious about you. How did you kill Hashirama without anyone noticing and take over his body so perfectly? And how do you know the Shinobi World's past and future?"
Just as I thought, Tetsuhiro muttered inwardly, then answered evenly, "There are plenty of things you don't know, Sage, and there will be even more in the future. Why not hear me out first?"
"I come from another world, where there are records of everyone and everything in the Shinobi World's past and future.
"Honestly, I don't know how I ended up taking over Hashirama Senju's body either. I woke up, and here I was."
"Oh?" The sage did not cut him off. "Then why does your world possess all that information about the Shinobi World? And what is your true objective?"
"It was there from the moment I was born, and anyone could view it. As for my objective, isn't it obvious from what I've done? There's too much suffering in the Shinobi World, and the future is even more brutal. That's why I intend to end this painful system my own way!"
"..." He fell silent for a while, then said solemnly, "Are you saying my ideals were wrong?"
"Exactly. Your sons were wrong, and so were your sons' reincarnations. That's why I abolished the daimyo and established an empire!"
"And now you, its emperor, have died before you could accomplish your goal, haven't you?"
"I've laid the foundation, and the Shinobi World is unified. All that remains is to follow the course I set. At the very least, there won't be repeated wars between nations that leave the people destitute."
Still smiling, the sage nodded. "You're right. I just examined how things would unfold, and the future is indeed as you described, far better than having five separate nations. What are your plans for the future?"
Tetsuhiro declared proudly, "Develop the economy and push through reforms while eliminating potential threats, of course. Unfortunately, I'm a little dead right now."
"Haha, not necessarily." With that, he approached Tetsuhiro, took his hand, and firmly pressed his palm.
Energy brimming with immense vitality gathered in Tetsuhiro's hand, forming a ○.
"I entrust yang power to you. Don't act foolishly again. Make good use of it."
Tetsuhiro stared at his hand in astonishment. "What do you know?"
"Gamamaru's prophecies are never wrong."
Tetsuhiro was shocked. "You can communicate with him?"
"Yes and no. By the way, someone has been wanting to see you."
With a wave of the sage's hand, a figure slowly appeared before Tetsuhiro. Once the figure fully materialized, it was none other than the real Hashirama Senju!
"You damned bastard!" he cursed, his face contorted with rage.
"I'm sorry. I don't know how this happened either, and I shouldn't have done that to Mito..."
"How could you do those things with Madara? Using my body to hold his hand, letting him hug you, letting him carry you on his back!"
"Huh?"
"And the worst thing you did was rebel and murder the daimyo!"
"How could you force people to do things and use such violent methods?!"
"..." Tetsuhiro stared in shock as Hashirama berated him, momentarily forgetting to argue back.
This guy's thought processes could give Madara's a run for their money. No wonder those two got along so well.
"Um..." Just as he was about to explain, his body suddenly began to glow, and he slowly floated upward.
"Am I ascending to heaven? Haha! I can finally fly!"
"Idiot," Hashirama said enviously. "You're going back to the Shinobi World. Don't do those things with Madara again! Understand?"
"Got it."
"Protect the world in my stead!" The sage waved.
"Actually, the Ōtsutsuki Clan..." Before he could finish, he was forcibly whisked away.
On the battlefield in the Land of Water, in the Shinobi World...
Tetsuhiro slowly opened his eyes and sat up amid the cheers around him.
Alongside the familiar faces surrounding him stood that proud, aloof figure.
"Madara, you're here. Your hair?" he asked hoarsely.
"Merely a small price. It'll recover soon." Madara's once glossy black hair now bore a grayish-white cast, but his prickly pride remained unchanged.
Noticing Tetsuhiro's gaze, Madara instinctively turned to face him head-on, hiding his hair behind his back.
"Big brother, you finally woke up! It was actually Madara who brought you back with a secret technique. I think it was called..."
"Rinne Rebirth," Tetsuhiro blurted out.
"Oh? You know about it, Your Majesty?" Everyone looked surprised.
Tetsuhiro explained unhurriedly, "I just visited the Pure Land, met the Sage of Six Paths, and chatted with him for a while."
No one doubted him. Reverence for Tetsuhiro rose in all their hearts.
This was someone who could chat with the sage himself!
They immediately asked about the sage's appearance, strength, and attitude, what the world after death looked like, and so on.
After answering patiently, Tetsuhiro ordered everyone to wrap things up. The First Mizukage, the daimyo, and the others had yet to be captured.
"Then get some rest, big brother. We'll be off." After leaving him with a few instructions, Tobirama departed. Unusually, he did not take a jab at Madara this time.
With only Madara and Tetsuhiro left, an inexplicable awkwardness settled over them, along with something almost intimate?
"You shouldn't have used it."
"Didn't you use yours too?"
"I only wanted to..."
"So did I."
"..."
"Uh, I..."
Thump! Madara grabbed Tetsuhiro by the shoulders and looked at him earnestly.
"Until I defeat you, you are not allowed to die. Do you hear me?!"
"Y-yes."
"Even if you die, it has to be by my hand. Understand?"
"Understood..."
"I examined the necklace carefully. It must have been what brought me here. I understand now... Ever since I gave it to you, neither of us could escape.
"So you'd better stay alive for me. Don't do anything stupid again."
"Okay, okay, okay. I'll do whatever you say."
"That's more like it. Now get some proper rest and stop moving around." Madara supported him as they made their way into the ship's cabin lounge.
"Lie down. Stop thinking about pointless things."
"Mm..."
Madara settled him onto the bed, removed his coat and shoes, and tucked the quilt around him.
Finally, he gave him one long, searching look, gently closed the door, and left.
"Ugh... System, what did I do to deserve this? Why did you make me do that?!"
"I'm a man through and through! I like beautiful women! I don't like men! I'm not gay!"
Ding!!!
[Detected: Madara Uchiha was willing to give up even his life for the host. Bond increased by 1 point. Current progress: 99%. Keep up the good work!]
"No! Stop raising it! Don't raise it in this weird atmosphere!"
The entire wooden ship trembled with his despairing cries...
Before you continue