"Madara, why are we eating fish again today?"
Inside a cave somewhere in the shinobi world, Senju Hashirama looked at the two large fish dangling in Uchiha Madara's hand, his face showing a rather aggrieved expression.
Ever since Uchiha Madara learned Renya's technique for grilling fish, grilled fish had become their staple food.
It appeared on their table almost every day. At first, it tasted fine, but after eating it too often, he gradually started feeling nauseated.
But there was nothing he could do about it. Madara had only learned how to grill fish from Renya. As for other dishes, he couldn't make any, so during this period, they had no choice but to eat grilled fish.
Now, just the sight of fish made Hashirama want to vomit. He suddenly suggested,
"Why don't we go out to eat instead?"
"You don't want to eat grilled fish?" Uchiha Madara narrowed his eyes, his tone turning unfriendly.
He had worked hard to catch those two fish, and now Hashirama was suggesting they go out for a meal.
Wouldn't that make all his effort meaningless?
"N-no… not at all." Seeing his friend's displeasure, Hashirama quickly gave up on the idea. "Actually, grilled fish tastes pretty good too."
Seeing that Madara still hadn't moved, he forced a smile and said,
"Hahaha, Madara, hurry and make dinner. I'm getting hungry."
Uchiha Madara stared at Hashirama expressionlessly for a moment before finally moving to the hearth to prepare the fish.
It had always been Madara who grilled the fish, while Hashirama was responsible for making the fire.
Not sitting idle, Hashirama formed hand seals and used Wood Release to create a log, which he chopped into firewood for grilling.
He had done this dozens of times at least, so he was already very practiced.
Soon, a small pile of firewood appeared before him.
Inside the cave, the bonfire crackled quietly, the firewood letting out faint popping sounds.
Uchiha Madara sat by the fire, carefully turning the two fish skewered on branches.
Senju Hashirama leaned against the stone wall, first glancing at the fish, then at his focused friend, and sighed helplessly in his heart.
If only Renya were here, then he wouldn't have to eat grilled fish.
Though Madara's grilled fish wasn't bad, you couldn't eat it every day!
Still, he didn't dare to say that for fear of making Madara angry. From time to time, he could only find excuses to eat in town instead.
Speaking of which, it had been some time since he and Madara last saw Renya.
But Hashirama felt it was better this way, saving Madara from constantly setting his sights on Renya.
Between delicious food and Renya, he would unhesitatingly choose the latter.
After all, Madara's plan was too extreme. He absolutely couldn't allow Renya to get dragged into it!
Looking at his friend grilling fish so earnestly, Hashirama clenched his fist in frustration.
He had been trying to persuade Madara to give up on the "Eye of the Moon" plan, but Madara simply ignored his words.
No matter how much he tried, it was useless.
Once Uchiha Madara set his mind on something, he almost never changed it. Even if Hashirama talked until his lips were dry, it wouldn't work.
Senju Hashirama was helpless, but powerless to do anything else. All he could do was stay by Madara's side and take it one step at a time.
Fortunately, Madara didn't seem intent on putting the plan into motion yet, as though he were waiting for something…
That, at least, was good news for him. As long as Madara hadn't acted, there was still a chance to pull him back!
"Here, the fish is ready."
While he was deep in thought about the future, Madara handed over a grilled fish.
"Thanks for the trouble, Madara." Senju Hashirama took it and, suppressing his nausea, began to eat.
Uchiha Madara said nothing, silently leaning against the rock wall as he ate his share.
Truth be told, he also missed Renya's cooking a little.
Eating grilled fish every day wasn't only tiresome for Hashirama—even Madara was starting to get sick of it, though pride kept him from showing it.
It looked like they would have to find time to return to the Land of Fire and get that brat to cook a few meals for them.
He had originally thought about using a little trick to lure Renya over, but then remembered he had not yet awakened the Rinnegan. So he dismissed the idea…
Before the Eye of the Moon plan was fully put into action, he could not risk alerting anyone.
As for inviting Renya to join in—that would have to wait. It was still far too soon.
"Madara, why don't we eat in town tomorrow?" Halfway through his grilled fish, Hashirama couldn't force down another bite.
It wasn't that it tasted bad—it was simply too monotonous.
"Alright."
To his surprise, Madara didn't refuse this time but actually agreed.
"Hahaha, then it's settled!" Hashirama immediately grinned in delight. Finally, tomorrow he wouldn't have to eat grilled fish.
...
In a forest somewhere in the shinobi world, one man and one cat leapt through the jungle.
"Scar, how much longer until we get there?" Renya couldn't help but ask.
He had been running for nearly a whole day but still hadn't found any trace of Hashirama and Madara.
Where in the world had those two gone and hidden?
Wasn't Uchiha Madara being a little too cautious?
No wonder no one had discovered his faked death. The shinobi world was vast—just pick some remote mountain to hole up in, and no one would ever find out.
"Stop rushing me. We've still got a long way to go, meow," Scar replied irritably.
This kid had been asking every little while how much farther it was, and it was starting to get on his nerves.
"Roughly how much longer?" Renya asked softly, seeing that the sky was darkening.
"We'll be there by noon tomorrow, meow," Scar said.
Renya: "…"
He knew Uchiha Madara had left the Land of Fire, but he hadn't expected him to go this far!
Just traveling there would take a whole day and night.
He had left the village that morning and hadn't stopped once, barely even resting.
He had thought they were almost there, but now it turned out they still had to keep running all night.
What was Uchiha Madara doing going so far away? Hadn't he already found a hiding place earlier?
"I'm exhausted. We'll continue after dawn. I'm resting."
As time went by, Scar finally decided to stop.
Renya didn't object. After all, they had been running all day, and a rest was needed. Hashirama and Madara weren't going anywhere anyway.
The man and cat ate a simple dinner and then lay down beside the campfire to sleep.
...
"Where exactly is the cook going?"
From behind a tree, Black Zetsu's head poked out, staring suspiciously at the sleeping Renya.
As usual, it had been gathering information across the shinobi world today, when it accidentally stumbled upon Renya traveling with a cat.
Renya was the cook Black Zetsu's mother had designated, and nothing could be allowed to happen to him…
Worried that Renya might run into danger outside the village, it had followed him all the way, protecting him in secret.
But for fear of being discovered, Black Zetsu hadn't dared to get close, so it hadn't heard Renya's conversation with Scar.
"Instead of staying safely in the village to cook, what's he doing running around out here?"
Black Zetsu decided to continue following the cook tomorrow, to see exactly where he was headed.
...
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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