"Tobirama! If you hadn't treated Kazuki so harshly from the start, he wouldn't have needed to waste his vision like this…"
Hashirama lashed out on Kazuki's behalf, fiercely criticizing Tobirama: "A standard five-element ninjutsu—any three-tomoe Uchiha could learn it just by watching. But in order to break your prejudice, Kazuki went so far as to use his eye power to replicate every nuance of your Water Release!"
"That's what convinced you he was your chakra's reincarnation…"
"Uchiha eye power is incredibly precious! Even Madara faced blindness before he obtained Izuna's Mangekyō."
"To erase your Second Hokage bias, Kazuki didn't copy powerful techniques—he etched your Water Release into his eyes…"
"After I died, you nearly drove the Uchiha to extinction! We're lucky someone like Kazuki came along—otherwise, Konoha would've already fallen into chaos!"
Tobirama did understand what Hashirama meant…
But even so, he still felt a little wronged.
Although he couldn't help recalling how, when he first met Kazuki, he'd called him a naturally evil brat from the Uchiha clan, Senju Tobirama now felt deeply ashamed…
How could that be 'naturally evil'?
But still, his Water Release really wasn't bad… Back then, Kazuki had only just debuted, hadn't he?
Was it really such a waste for him to use his ocular power to replicate Tobirama's Water Release?
From the way Hashirama spoke, you'd think his Water Release was some cheap, dime-a-dozen technique—not even worth copying with a dōjutsu…
Even so, Tobirama didn't dare talk back to his older brother—because, as much as it stung, Hashirama was right.
Kazuki could have replicated the Water Release normally, at no cost. But because Tobirama had been wary of him—because of his own deep-rooted prejudice against the Uchiha—Kazuki had gone so far as to burn his precious ocular power copying every detail...
It really had been Tobirama's fault that Kazuki was hurt.
"…I was wrong, Brother."
Tobirama lowered his head. "Now that I think about it… Kazuki awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan before he ever met me. He hadn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy yet. What kind of emotional trauma could've driven him to that point?"
"It could only have been the rupture between the Uchiha clan and the village… That must've tormented him night after night until he came up with the idea of pretending to be me—and Uchiha Izuna. In that reflection of his heart, he awakened a dōjutsu capable of replicating bloodline limits and ninjutsu alike!"
Tobirama was sinking deeper and deeper into remorse.
He had thought he understood Kazuki well…
But after they'd been separated—and Tobirama had been left to silently process their strange and extraordinary time together—he slowly came to appreciate the depth of emotion buried within it all.
Seeing Tobirama's downcast face, Hashirama froze, his own expression tightening. With a mix of sympathy and helplessness, he shook his head.
Huh? When did my little brother get so quick to admit fault?
Hashirama had actually expected the usual: that Tobirama, as always, would argue with him over the Uchiha.
If that had happened, Hashirama was ready—he would've flared his chakra and given Tobirama a real scare, using the full weight of his big-brother aura!
After all, in their daily lives, Hashirama was usually the one dripping sweat while being lectured by Tobirama…
This kind of opportunity didn't come around often!
But to his disappointment, Tobirama didn't argue. He was completely immersed in guilt.
In that moment, Hashirama understood on an even deeper level—
Kazuki wasn't just any Uchiha from some story.
He was the kind of Uchiha who could conquer Tobirama's heart.
The kind of Uchiha that came once in a lifetime.
"Even if we've made mistakes, Tobirama, we still have the chance to make things right."
Hashirama placed a firm hand on Tobirama's shoulder and said in a serious tone, "According to your account, the Black Water Nine-Dragon Coffin Technique Kazuki created is capable of suppressing the Sage of Six Paths…"
"That means… if we can surpass that power, then we can defeat the Sage of Six Paths, right?"
Hashirama gave a confident smile. "I don't know why, but even though I'm in an Impure World Reincarnation state, I feel like I can still unleash power equal to my prime!"
"With the Gates of the Great God at full strength in Sage Mode, combined with Mito's sealing techniques… our combined force might not be any weaker than Kazuki's!"
Of course, Hashirama was being modest.
He'd never actually fought Kazuki.
And frankly, he didn't believe there were any shinobi in the entire world—past or present—who could surpass him at his peak…
That wasn't arrogance.
It was simply the reality of the ninja world, forged through countless years of turmoil. Even among the many reincarnations of Asura's chakra throughout the ages, only one had ever been crowned 'God of Shinobi'.
Senju Tobirama shook his head.
"It's more than just that. We need to prepare for the worst. After the Sage of Six Paths' chakra attached itself to Kazuki, even though he didn't gain the Eternal Mangekyō like Uchiha Madara, and never activated the Complete Body Susanoo…"
"…he still obtained something akin to infinite ocular power. That allowed Kazuki to continuously replicate all kinds of bloodline limits—ninjutsu, sealing techniques, secret arts, kekkei genkai, even kekkei tōta, and even the Tailed Beast Ball, unique to the tailed beasts. Kazuki has copied them all into his arsenal."
"In other words, Kazuki has essentially mastered the entire shinobi world's techniques. He's collected all known bloodline limits. And on top of that, he's deeply proficient in Sage Mode…"
"Big Brother, the shinobi world has never seen someone like Kazuki before. He's like a living embodiment of every style and technique, the very essence of all paths. Compared to you, I actually think he's more deserving of the title 'God of Shinobi'."
Senju Hashirama burst out laughing. "Is that so? Then once we rescue Kazuki, I'd love to have a proper spar with him!"
Tobirama cast him a sideways glance and sighed.
Who said Uchiha Madara was the only battle maniac in this world?
Anyone who could actually get along with that guy obviously wasn't far off. Hashirama had earned the title of God of Shinobi through sheer combat alone…
"Big Brother, when I say 'prepare for the worst,' I mean we may have to fight Kazuki."
Tobirama's voice grew serious. "The Sage of Six Paths' chakra didn't just grant Kazuki endless ocular power—it's also gradually corroding both his body and his mind."
"Kazuki chose to seal himself precisely to prevent the Sage from growing stronger by taking over his body."
Tobirama's eyes darkened. "From my perspective, the reason Kazuki killed those jinchūriki from other villages—even if it meant allowing the Sage to further corrode him—was because he feared that if he failed to eliminate them, the seal would be broken."
"By killing those jinchūriki, he denied the Sage of an easy path to power."
"Kazuki must have foreseen this from the very beginning. That's why he revived me in the first place—so I could revive all of you, and together we could find a way to face the version of him that might be overtaken by the Sage of Six Paths."
Hashirama's excited expression froze.
Sparring with Kazuki was one thing…
But having to fight him? That was something else entirely.
At the same time, thanks to Tobirama's explanation, Hashirama's understanding of Kazuki's foresight and strategic depth deepened even further.
This was a shinobi even wiser than his own younger brother.
Someone who had thought so deeply and thoroughly for the sake of the shinobi world… and the village.
Hashirama had once harbored some lingering unease over Kazuki's killings—but now, he no longer cared.
Kazuki killed…
To protect even more lives.
Hashirama didn't know if what Kazuki had done was right or wrong. But putting himself in Kazuki's shoes, he couldn't think of a better way to handle it either.
This young Uchiha had carried the weight of his clan and the village since the age of twelve.
And now, just as he came of age, he was bearing the burden of the entire shinobi world—facing the legendary demon that was the Sage of Six Paths all alone.
You couldn't expect too much from someone like that.
"…Tobirama, whatever you need me to do, just give the order."
Hashirama took a deep breath and said solemnly, "This time, even if it involves forbidden techniques, I agree. Do what you have to. Special situations demand a special approach."
Tobirama smiled faintly.
For years—ever since the Warring States Period ended—Hashirama had treated his jutsu research like a criminal act, constantly keeping an eye on him, afraid he'd create another forbidden technique.
And now, in his reincarnated state… he was suddenly so open-minded.
"You don't need to say it, Brother… I know Kazuki better than anyone. So first, I'll think of a way to fight him. Then I'll work on how to separate the Sage of Six Paths' chakra from his body…"
Senju Tobirama clenched both fists tightly.
"We must get the village operating at full capacity. The faster we finalize a battle plan and develop techniques that can counter the Sage of Six Paths, the better!"
"Every passing second is another second Kazuki is being further eroded by the Sage—that's something I absolutely cannot tolerate!"
Senju Hashirama nodded solemnly and extended his fist, bumping it against Tobirama's.
For the first time ever…
The two Senju brothers stood in complete agreement on the matter of the Uchiha.
Off to the side, the silent Uzumaki Mito gave a soft laugh and joined them, offering her fist as well.
"Kazuki… is my disciple, after all."
She said slowly, "And when it comes to dealing with foreign chakra inside the body, of course it should be left to me— the strongest sealing technique user of the entire Uzumaki Clan."
Tobirama smiled, clearly relieved.
Hashirama, meanwhile, glanced at Mito—now in her youthful form. Though her face still bore the faint cracks of the Impure World Reincarnation body, she was, in essence, still the beautiful kunoichi he'd once known. Scratching his head with a bashful grin, he blushed slightly.
Mito rolled her eyes at him with practiced exasperation.
He'd been revived for several days, and only now did he finally notice…
Thank goodness for her good temperament. If she'd been another woman, she probably would've snapped at him long ago!
And as Hashirama sneaked a few more glances at her, his mind began to wander again.
Hmm…
Could Madara be revived as well?
After all, Kazuki was an outstanding junior of the Uchiha clan. If Madara found out, he'd definitely want to contribute, wouldn't he?
But upon seeing how busy Mito and Tobirama had become, Hashirama quietly swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.
Better bring it up another day…
Mentioning Uchiha Madara right now would only cause his wife and brother to gang up on him with an absolutely brutal barrage of double nagging jutsu…
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