Hiruzen leisurely slit open the belly of the fish, carefully removing its innards with deliberate movements. He seemed utterly unaffected by the pungent smell of raw flesh, his serious expression carrying a faint trace of enjoyment.
Asura, standing beside him, wanted to speak but held back.
He very much wanted to say that he had no appetite at this moment for a bowl of fish soup, even if Hiruzen's cooking was the finest in the entire shinobi world…
What Asura desperately wished to know was this: the Kazuki whom the wise and venerable Hiruzen so deeply revered—if not for his consciousness being influenced by Ōtsutsuki chakra—why would he have demanded that the shinobi world be forcibly united?
What secret lay hidden behind it all?
Yet Asura could not voice his question.
Because Hiruzen had told him that all of this required calm and careful thought.
In Asura's eyes, this wise elder was trying to guide him toward independent thought, rather than spoon-feeding him knowledge and forcing beliefs upon him…
It was for his own good!
'I cannot waste the goodwill of Hiruzen-sama… I must think—think for myself…' Asura steadied his heart, striving to clear away the distracting noise in his mind.
But Hiruzen's words—"Power is nothing more than a blade, and the blade itself bears no guilt"—remained planted in Asura's mind, refusing to fade.
A blade could indeed be the culprit behind slaughter and carnage. But it could also be a sharp tool that carved out a path forward and guided the people ahead. It all depended on how it was used…
Yet Asura, influenced by the Sage of Six Paths, had long believed that turning chakra—a tool meant to foster mutual understanding among people—into offensive ninjutsu was wrong, was sinful. And now, he was left with a deep sense of guilt.
His heart in turmoil, Asura thought over and over again, but no matter how much he wrestled with it, his reasoning remained trapped within the logic of Hiruzen…
And this was because, ever since Kazuki had appeared…
The so-called belief that "power itself is a sin" had been utterly shattered.
If there had been no power—if mortals of the shinobi world had truly lived in peace like children playing house, as the Sage of Six Paths had wished—then when Isshiki and Urashiki, those Ōtsutsuki beyond his plans, appeared, everything would have been destroyed.
No matter how beautiful a homeland might be, before the violence of outside forces it would inevitably collapse into nothing.
Hiruzen's words, though meant to guide, still carried solid, undeniable logic.
This shinobi world, and even the universe itself, was not some untouched utopia where the Sage of Six Paths could freely conduct his social experiment. It had long since been marked as the front lines of a battlefield…
'Has it worked?'
Though Hiruzen appeared relaxed as he cleaned the fish, in truth he was carefully watching Asura's subtle expressions, already preparing his next move in his mind.
'Asura… he seems like someone well-suited to embracing the Will of Fire…'
Hiruzen mused silently: 'He feels guilt toward the shinobi world, yet like Hashirama-sama, he is innately selfless and devoted…'
'I need to find a way to subtly tell him of Kazuki's sacrifices and contributions to the shinobi world. If not to make him revere Kazuki, then at least to see him as a standard to measure against…'
A sharp glint flashed in Hiruzen's eyes. 'If I can do that, then should Kazuki one day open the Gate of Death and require chakra to sustain him, with Asura's nature, there's no way he would refuse to lend his chakra.'
'If I can win Asura over, then after victory… wouldn't even Tobirama-sensei have to praise me for a great achievement?'
Hiruzen gently lowered the sliced fish pieces into the pot, letting them simmer over a low flame.
It looked as though what was cooking in the pot was fish.
But in truth, the old fox Hiruzen was slowly simmering the turmoil in Asura's heart in this tug-of-war.
This time, Hiruzen intended to defy fate itself—surpassing Ōtsutsuki Hiruzen!
...
While Hiruzen and Asura were locked in debate…
Inside the underground laboratory of the Allied Shinobi Forces—
Uchiha Madara entered with Indra at his side. Casting a glance at Tobirama, who immediately fixed his gaze on him, Madara curled his lip in disdain.
Damn it. Ever since Izuna and that bastard had exchanged eyes, every time he looked at them it filled him with irritation!
But Madara couldn't really say anything.
After all, ever since Tobirama and Uchiha Izuna had exchanged their eyes, both of their ocular powers had advanced tremendously—solidly reaching the level of the Eternal Mangekyō.
His younger brother had indeed gained real benefits.
And that made it difficult to complain…
"Hey."
Madara's voice came cold: "I already spoke with Indra. He's agreed to our plan, but on the condition that he participate directly. He doesn't trust your ability to handle the research into these techniques."
"Furthermore, both Indra and I believe that once the power of the entire shinobi world is gathered into a single point, we cannot place the entire burden on Kazuki's shoulders. We cannot forget the trials he has put us through."
Madara's eyes swept across the room.
Present were not only Tobirama, master of forbidden techniques, but also his brother Uchiha Izuna, the strongest sealing technique user Uzumaki Mito, along with Orochimaru and Hiruko.
One could say that every shinobi in the world with research or knowledge of forbidden techniques was gathered here in this underground lab.
And in this lineup…
Even forbidden arts masters like Hiruko and Orochimaru were reduced to doing menial work, obediently listening as Uzumaki Mito and Tobirama discussed the grand framework…
"What do you mean by that?"
Tobirama's voice came cold: "I'll make this clear now, so there's no misunderstanding later that could compromise our final battle with the Ōtsutsuki!"
"This great formation, which will draw upon every living being in the shinobi world, must—and can only—be built upon the soul imprints of Kazuki and myself."
"First, because this is power born from the very lives of countless people. I can only entrust it to Kazuki. Whether it's you, Uchiha Madara, or Indra—none of you have the right to bear this responsibility. Not even I do…"
"Second, based on Mito's and my research, the only thing capable of linking together such an overwhelming tide of chakra is Kazuki's soul imprint."
"This is not something as simple as sealing a single Tailed Beast—or even multiple Tailed Beasts…"
Tobirama tapped the table, projecting the schematic of the technique.
"According to the design, we are to include every living being in the shinobi world—Indra, Asura, the nine Tailed Beasts, even the Sage of Six Paths and Ōtsutsuki Hamura. With Shisui and your ocular jutsu providing dual amplification, we must ignite an explosion of chakra tens of times stronger within a short span…"
Tobirama's tone grew heavy: "What kind of formation could possibly contain that much chakra? That sheer scale already far exceeds every known concept in the shinobi world…"
"Only through Kazuki's and my soul imprints can the link ensure that, once the formation fails to contain the overwhelming chakra, it can be transmitted into his body."
Tobirama turned his gaze on Indra, a cold smile tugging at his lips. "Forgive my bluntness, but I'm not worried about anyone scheming to steal this chakra. Because aside from Kazuki as he is now, I don't believe there is anyone alive who could control it."
"If anyone wants to explode and die instantly, they're free to try."
Tobirama had always believed in speaking the harsh truth up front, and he practiced that principle now without hesitation.
Especially when it came to Indra, the ancient progenitor of the Uchiha clan—Tobirama felt no obligation to soften his words, plainly stating his distrust.
But instead of anger, Indra glanced at Madara with curiosity.
"Hey, didn't you say this Asura descendant likes to play dirty tricks?"
"I find him rather straightforward. Maybe you've just got a personal problem with him?"
Madara's fists clenched instantly.
This was revenge—blatant revenge!
So it was true: Indra was a petty bastard. Madara had only offered a friendly warning on the way here—"Be careful of Tobirama"—and this guy had turned around and sold him out!
"Hmph. I've never relied on schemes or trickery. I always speak directly," Tobirama said, his face and tone utterly calm.
"Still… I understand what you're both getting at, and I agree."
"For the Ōtsutsuki, ocular powers are the key to determining victory in battle. Take Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's ambush, for example—had we known beforehand that such a figure existed, our defenses wouldn't have been shattered in an instant."
Tobirama spoke slowly and deliberately: "If we engage the Ōtsutsuki pursuers as the vanguard before Kazuki himself takes the field, then if we win, all the better. But if we lose, we will at least uncover information about the enemy, providing value for Kazuki's coming battle."
"But the problem is—"
Indra cut in at this moment: "The problem is that based on our estimates, the power of the Ōtsutsuki pursuers will be terrifying. If the structure of this formation is not strong enough, then once the bonds linking the lives of the shinobi world are severed, the gathered power will scatter instantly like sand."
"Therefore, if this strategy is to work, the first priority is to make the formation utterly unbreakable. It cannot simply link chakra together in a fragile chain."
Tobirama gave Indra a surprised look, his eyes flashing with a hint of respect.
As expected of the sinister forebear of the Uchiha clan—his mind was sharp indeed.
At his side, Madara gave a brief nod, setting aside for now the sudden camaraderie that had sprung up between Indra and Tobirama, and indicating his agreement with the analysis.
"On that point, I actually already have a preliminary idea…"
Slowly, the pattern of the Mangekyō appeared in Tobirama's eyes. From that cold, oppressive ocular power, chakra shaped itself into armor, spreading across his arm.
Uchiha Madara and Indra frowned as they watched Tobirama, not yet understanding what he was attempting…
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