Inside a cave in Shikkotsu Forest.
Ever since they had begun learning to sense and use natural energy, Madara had been quietly competing with Tiezhu, whether consciously or not.
During the sensing stage in particular, Tiezhu's self-taught talent had made him feel outclassed.
So he had trained day and night, neglecting food and sleep.
Smack! He was struck again.
"Don't rush! You nearly turned into a slug just now!"
"Damn it..." Madara looked to the side in irritation.
"Hashirama" sat cross-legged atop a stalactite near the cave ceiling, green natural energy swirling around him, yet he still could not absorb it.
"Tch!" Frustration roiled in Madara's Mangekyō Sharingan. "A sage's body, huh? I'm no worse!"
A few days later, the situation reversed. Madara could now absorb a little natural energy, while Tiezhu still could not absorb any.
"Heh, heh~" Amusement filled Madara's eyes, and he flashed a rare smile. "How's it going, Hashirama? Want me to help you?"
"Tch! You're barely ahead of me. I'll overtake you soon!"
"Not a chance!"
Over the following days, the two kept competing. Despite Madara's immense strength, his progress in learning sage arts was painfully slow.
Although Tiezhu had a sage's body, he had no foundation himself and could only learn bit by bit.
An unusual rivalry gradually developed between them, allowing Madara to vent the frustration he had bottled up for years.
But when they reached the stage of practicing Sage Mode, both suffered terribly. Tiezhu was nearly driven mad by the torment.
They had to jump into a pool resembling strong acid and soak in it. His eyes, nose, ears, and every inch of his skin were corroded by the acid. The agony made him wish he were dead, and only channeling natural energy throughout his body could slow it down.
It forced him to keep using the energy constantly and improve his control.
"You two can finally absorb and use natural energy proficiently. If not for Hashirama's unusual constitution, I would never have had the patience to teach you. Hurry off to Mount Myōboku."
Madara sneered and was just about to speak.
"Thank you for your patient instruction, Sage Katsuyu. I'll fulfill our agreement!" Tiezhu stopped Madara before he could snap back. "Time waits for no one. Let's go!"
They walked out of the cave...
Madara wore a cold expression the entire way, saying nothing.
"Angry? She helped us so much, after all. She was just letting off a little steam."
Madara said resentfully, "A mere old bug, calling herself a sage! If she weren't useful, I would have cleaved her apart long ago! How dare she drive us out!"
Smack. Tiezhu slapped his forehead hard, utterly speechless.
"Fine, she was in the wrong. When we meet the Great Toad Sage this time, let me handle all the talking."
Madara turned his head away.
Seeing that, Tiezhu could only change the subject. "I wonder where Black Zetsu is hiding now..."
After a day's journey, the two arrived at a pool somewhere in the Land of Fire...
They leaped into the water and dove beneath the surface. Something strange happened: the farther they swam, the narrower the passage became, yet it never seemed to end.
The current hurled huge rocks at them. Madara and Tiezhu used their techniques to break through, then burst out of the water in a sorry state!
The instant he surfaced, Tiezhu gulped down air. He had nearly suffocated inside and become the most pathetic transmigrator of all!
"Huff, huff~ I'm never trusting you again." Madara had reached his limit too.
Tiezhu choked and coughed violently. "I didn't know that passage wasn't meant for humans either."
They had taken the very passage Sage Shima used during Pain's invasion in the original story.
"So this is Mount Myōboku..." Tiezhu looked around.
The giant plants had leaves as large as roof eaves, and the strange structures shaped like pointed bamboo shoots seemed to be houses.
They stood scattered along the cliffs. In the distance, waterfalls split the dark green mountain forest like silver chains.
The chirping of insects mingled with the sound of flowing water.
"Welcome, mighty guests!" Two small, middle-aged toads suddenly hopped in front of them, smiling broadly.
"My name is Fukasaku, and this is my wife, Shima. The Toad Sage foresaw your arrival and specifically sent us to welcome you."
"Oh?" Madara was somewhat surprised. "So that toad has some ability after all, and a decent attitude too. Much better than that old bug."
"Uh... haha." Cold sweat ran down both toads, and for a moment they did not know how to answer.
Tiezhu did not make things difficult for them. He said gently, "I imagine you already know why we're here? Lead the way. We can talk as we walk."
They immediately began hopping away.
"Sorry, we don't know. The sage only occasionally glimpses fragments of the future in his dreams."
"Actually, we came to learn Mount Myōboku's methods of using natural energy."
Fukasaku paused, then resumed hopping. "Then perhaps the sage wants to learn something from you. He usually doesn't concern himself with minor matters like learning senjutsu."
After passing through dense forest and barren land, they arrived at an enormous cave on the mountain.
Madara could not resist grumbling, "Another cave? Animals, all right."
Tiezhu, however, seemed to realize something. "I think it's actually because this disturbs the natural energy less and makes absorbing it more efficient."
Shima spoke up. "That's right, young man. You've got insight."
Just then, the enormous elderly red toad ahead spoke. "Perfect timing. Let's get straight to the point before I fall asleep again!"
"My name is Gamamaru. When I was young, I taught Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths, senjutsu."
At that, Madara immediately set aside his prejudice, his gaze becoming exceptionally serious. "How can you prove that?"
"He has passed away. I have no need to prove it. What comes next is what matters!
"Recently, I saw two scenes in my dreams. In one, two people appeared in the future and changed the course of the world. Through their immense strength and methods, they ended all conflict, united the world, and achieved true peace!
"The two worked together with perfect coordination. Although one of them lost his way for a time, he recovered his resolve, and together they ushered in an age of prosperity!"
Madara looked puzzled. "Lost his way? Hashirama?"
"You two were the protagonists of that story..."
Before either could celebrate, however, the Toad Sage changed his tone. "But the peace did not last long. Another fragment showed a desolate world...
"Madara Uchiha lay in a pool of blood, his eye sockets empty.
"Hashirama Senju had been reduced to a dried-out husk...
"Countless corpses surrounded them. A dark figure floated in the sky, but I woke with a start before I could see him clearly."
"What?!"
"Nani?!"
Both were stunned by what they heard!
"That's impossible! With my strength and Hashirama's, no one in this world could possibly defeat us!"
Humiliated and enraged, Madara stomped hard. Cracks instantly split the ground, and the shock wave hurled several little toads against the stone walls, drawing agonized croaks!
A blue chakra skeleton appeared behind him, and loose stones rained from the cave ceiling.
"Utterly absurd! Complete nonsense!" His scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan stared fixedly at the Toad Sage.
Fukasaku and his wife immediately leaped in front of the Great Toad Sage, pressing their palms together as they watched Madara warily.
Shima called out twice, and a barrier quickly rose, blocking the shock waves from the chakra skeleton.
Tiezhu clenched his fists, his mind racing as he struggled to recall the original story...
God Tree people? Ōtsutsuki Isshiki or Shimi? What exactly is it? His anxiety nearly drove him wild several times.
"Hey, are you all right?" Madara's low, concerned voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.
Only then did he snap out of it and shake his head. "I'm fine. I'm just a little..."
"Hashirama, you've lost your composure~ Who cares who it is? As long as we're strong enough, the prophecy will fall apart on its own!"
"Ahem!" The Toad Sage interrupted them. "Don't panic. That should be many years from now. We still have a chance. Ask for anything you need!"
"We?"
"That's right. No one can escape a disaster on that scale. Mount Myōboku will naturally give you its full support. I will also notify the other two sages and ask them to help you as much as possible. But that is all I can do. Please forgive me."
Tiezhu grumbled inwardly, That's all you can do? You gave Hagoromo a Resurrection Talisman back then. Why aren't you mentioning that?
Only then did Madara dispel Susanoo, retorting forcefully, "Creatures like you should submit to the strong!"
"Um... we agreed I'd handle the talking."
"You'd better not make that ridiculous face again. You're the man who defeated me! Understand?!"
"Haha..." Tiezhu laughed awkwardly. "Thanks for your concern. I've figured it out! Those are only possibilities that were foreseen. Now that we know, we won't let them happen!"
Satisfaction appeared in Madara's eyes, and his stern expression finally softened a little.
"By the way, Toad Sage, what did Madara Uchiha's eyes look like when you saw him?"
"Hmm~ I remember something like red patterns."
"I understand." Tiezhu thought, Great, getting the Rinnegan needs to go on the agenda!
But the most important thing right now is to get stronger! We need to pick up the pace. Tiezhu began forming hand seals.
Wood Release-Wood Clone Technique!!!
Eight wooden figures sprang from Tiezhu's back again, swiftly taking on his appearance before scattering in different directions!
"Let's start according to our original plan..."
Before you continue