No." Senju Tobirama gripped the other person's cold fingers, "A quite beautiful reaction. Shall we continue?
Of course.
Dazai Osamu felt that he had encountered the greatest trouble in history.
For Oda Sakunosuke's sake, he wasn't sent abroad after experiencing Uchiha Madara's Tsukuyomi gift pack.
But Dazai Osamu looked at the person in front of him now, thinking that he would rather be thrown abroad.
Nakahara Chuuya's narrow eyes curved upward slightly, revealing a smile that was definitely from the bottom of his heart: "So you have your day too, Dazai!"
“Chuuya.” Dazai Osamu greeted him weakly, looking completely deflated.
At this moment, Dazai Osamu sincerely expanded his target of curses from Uchiha Izuna to both Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Izuna.
Author's Note:
----------------------
Dazai Osamu: I want to curse Uchiha Izuna and Uchiha Madara!
Arranged!
Chapter 25
"Hashiko-san, Madara-san!" Oda-kun was somewhat surprised when he opened the door and saw the people standing before him.
"Long time no see, Oda-kun," Senju Hashiko said, greeting Oda Sakunosuke with her arm hooked around Uchiha Madara's shoulder.
The tall woman with long black hair threw her arm around the man's shoulder in a manner that could almost be described as a forceful way of confining the man, who was slightly shorter than her but possessed a sharp aura, under her command.
And Uchiha Madara, who had always disliked being touched, remained silent in the face of the woman's clingy behavior, clearly choosing to accept it.
It should have been a very strange sight, but the two of them together created a sense of bizarre harmony.
Uchiha Madara didn't even bother with a greeting; he simply tilted his head to cast a sidelong glance into the room and muttered, "Hmph, that brat runs fast!"
Oda Sakunosuke followed Uchiha Madara's gaze to an open window and a fleeting glimpse of a light-colored hem, a look of embarrassment crossing his face.
Dazai is truly being so rude!
“It's been a long time!” Oda Sakunosuke said, trying his best to ignore his friend's rudeness. “Please, both of you, come in!”
Immediately after, he saw the person following behind Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara was about to speak.
“Shh!” The person following behind the two of them pressed an index finger to his lips in a gesture to stay quiet before Oda Sakunosuke could speak.
“Hello there.” Senju Hashirama familiarly found the Uchiha sitting in the room. “You're called Uchiha Itachi, right? Then I'll call you Itachi-kun.”
Uchiha Itachi felt the long-awaited chakra fluctuations and was momentarily stunned by the newcomer's familiarity.
The tall, long-haired woman before him possessed chakra so powerful that she could be described as the strongest female ninja he had ever encountered; furthermore, although her appearance was unfamiliar, for some reason, she gave him a sense of familiarity.
“I've always been quite curious about the brother Sasuke mentioned!” Thinking about the things Uchiha Sasuke described his brother doing, Senju Hashirama couldn't help but shudder; the love between the Uchiha Brothers was simply too terrifying!
Sasuke?? Uchiha Itachi was even more confused, but his long career as a spy allowed him to remain composed no matter what he faced.
Senju Hashiko, who was very skilled at reading the expressions of the Uchiha, noticed a hint of confusion beneath Uchiha Itachi's calm expression. After a moment of thought, he said understandingly.
I am currently in a Transformation Technique state; perhaps you are more familiar with me like this.
“!”
As the Transformation Technique was released, the tall, black-haired woman who had appeared before Uchiha Itachi transformed into a long-haired man with handsome features and sparkling black eyes, as if bright flames were flickering within them.
His temperament was gentle, yet standing beside the sharp-edged person next to him, he did not fall behind in presence in the slightest.
My name is Senju Hashirama!
First.. Lord First!
Uchiha Itachi suddenly realized. No wonder it felt familiar; how could he not be familiar with the face of the First Hokage on the Hokage Rock, when he saw it every single day back in Konohagakure?
"This is Madara!" Senju Hashirama pulled Uchiha Madara closer.
“Uchiha Madara!” Uchiha Itachi was startled once again. Even though Oda Sakunosuke had already briefed him on the previous Uchiha clansmen who had arrived, he had never imagined that Uchiha Madara would be like this! He was nothing like the version in his memory!
“Since you are Uchiha Madara, then who is that lunatic wearing a Whirlpool Mask who calls himself Tobi?” Uchiha Itachi asked urgently, as if suddenly remembering something.
After seeing Uchiha Madara's true appearance and his incomparably sharp aura, one would never think that the two people—the Whirlpool Mask Tobi and the one who claimed to be Uchiha Madara back then—were the same person.
Uchiha Madara stood with his arms crossed in silence, wondering why the other person thought he would simply answer just because he was asked. As for the person Uchiha Itachi mentioned, of course he knew who that was—it was nothing more than that idiot Uchiha Obito!
It seems Obito's training back then wasn't in vain; this junior doesn't seem like much of an idiot, yet he's still being led around by the nose.
I don't know who you're talking about, but that person could never be Madara," Senju Hashirama said sincerely. "Madara would never wear a mask to hide his true appearance. If Madara wanted to hide his whereabouts, he would simply kill everyone who saw him.
When he emerged during the Great Shinobi War years ago, the mask Uchiha Obito had been wearing on his face was long gone, so he didn't realize that Uchiha Itachi was referring to Uchiha Obito.
But isn't the Valley of the End carved with Madara's likeness?" Senju Hashirama asked with some confusion. "Why can't you all recognize Madara's appearance?
Because he feared Uchiha Madara would be forgotten by the village after his death, he specifically carved the two statues, also to tell Konohagakure that no matter what, Uchiha Madara would forever be one of the village's founders.
Uchiha Itachi fell silent. Just how Uchiha Madara was carved at the Valley of the End—aside from that long, messy black hair, whether the rest of him actually looked like the man himself, didn't you know that yourself, First Hokage!
“Lord First, please don't make things difficult for little Itachi. Madara-san was carved so abstractly at the Valley of the End that it would be a miracle if anyone could recognize him.” A voice carrying a hint of laughter appeared, helping Uchiha Itachi out of the predicament.
Uchiha Itachi snapped his gaze toward the source of the voice.
A handsome, curly-haired young man, Uchiha Shisui, stepped out from behind the door.
"Little Itachi." Uchiha Shisui walked up to Uchiha Itachi, his eyes meeting the other's directly. "I'm sorry for leaving you to bear so much on your own." His words were filled with guilt.
Ever since he heard about the Uchiha Clan from the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, he had been filled with regret for leaving Uchiha Itachi to bear everything alone.
At the thought of little Itachi having to obey the village's orders and personally kill his entire clan when he was only in his teens, he felt as if his breathing were about to stop; Itachi must have been in so much pain back then.
Facing Uchiha Shisui's gentle gaze, Uchiha Itachi was completely speechless, feeling as if the hands gripping the chair were pressing so hard they might sink into it.
He had long ago forged a hard shell while carrying heavy burdens amidst the hostile, hateful, fearful gazes of others; this kind of gentle gaze only made him feel at a loss.
Let's go!" Senju Hashirama looked at the two who were completely immersed in their own world of two, then turned to head out the door. "The rest is a conversation for the young; let us middle-aged people not intrude.
He came because he was invited by Uchiha Shisui to help examine the injuries on Uchiha Itachi.
Uchiha Shisui had a premonition as soon as he realized how these Uchiha members had arrived, sensing that Uchiha Itachi would also come. As expected, he correctly anticipated Uchiha Itachi's arrival. After speaking with Oda Sakunosuke, he understood that Uchiha Itachi did not want anyone to see him in this state, which was why he had been enduring and had not come over.
It wasn't until Oda Sakunosuke mentioned that Uchiha Itachi's injuries had mostly healed that he pulled the First Hokage over to see if there were any lingering side effects on his body.
Oda Sakunosuke fell silent as he watched Hashirama, who had naturally categorized him as a middle-aged man. He was only in his twenties; he just happened to look quite mature. He couldn't exactly be called a middle-aged uncle!
To his surprise, Senju Hashirama's expression changed drastically the moment he took a single step out the door, causing him to pull back and slam the door shut.
Madara, I think I just saw your brother Izuna!
What!
Chapter 26
“Find a place to hide first!” His younger brother arrived far too suddenly, Uchiha Madara's first reaction was to hide Senju Hashiko first.
Senju Hashirama nodded heavily; he also understood that although he and Madara already had an intimate relationship, now was clearly not a good time to confess to Izuna.
Thus, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui's heart-to-heart conversation was interrupted. The two of them turned to see Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, who had suddenly burst in, tearing through the entire room like a whirlwind in the blink of an eye.
Their speed was so great that even Shisui, a master of the Body Flicker Technique, felt inferior in comparison.
It was only because Oda Sakunosuke's previous salary was low and his savings were too little that he could only rent a small apartment; in the end, they found that the only place left to hide was the bathroom.
Senju Hashirama flashed into the bathroom, followed by Uchiha Madara, who then shut the door; immediately after, the sound of knocking rang out, the timing being absolutely perfect.
Oda Sakunosuke watched the two of them act with such fluid, seamless coordination that he was left in awe; their ability to hide people was so practiced, it was as if they had done it countless times before.
"Oda, are you home? I've come to see you." Uchiha Izuna's voice came from outside the door.
"You've come too, Izuna." Uchiha Madara naturally opened the gate to welcome his brother.
"Madara-kun!" Uchiha Izuna said, his face full of pleasant surprise.
I heard that another person from our clan has come to your side, so I came by to take a look." Uchiha Izuna greeted Oda Sakunosuke once again. "It is truly embarrassing that our people keep causing you trouble, Oda-kun.
“It's no trouble at all, just a small favor.” Oda shook his head while stepping aside to let them in. “The people from your clan are all quite easy to deal with.”
Actually, he quite liked these cat-like Uchiha.
Uchiha Izuna stopped walking as he approached the bathroom, causing Uchiha Madara's heart to leap into his throat.
“What's wrong, Izuna?” he asked nonchalantly.
Oda, is there someone in your bathroom?" Uchiha Izuna asked with a look of confusion. "How come I heard sounds coming from inside?
As he spoke, he opened the door with lightning speed.
Uchiha Madara couldn't stop him in time, but he wasn't too panicked; he remembered the bathroom had a window, the time it took for Izuna to open the door would be enough for Hashirama to leap out of the window.
However, you never know which will come first: tomorrow or an accident.
As soon as Senju Hashirama pulled open the window, he saw an unexpected person blocking his way.
"Tobirama, Tobirama!" Senju Hashirama's face was filled with shock.
“Long time no see, big brother!” Senju Tobirama spoke sinisterly with his arms crossed. He stood right in the center outside the window, his greeting of "big brother" sounding quite through gritted teeth; he knew that his brother was indeed by Uchiha Madara's side.
Long time no see, Senju Hashirama!
A sound of grinding teeth, identical to the one before, came from behind Senju Hashirama.
The younger brothers' teamwork was a success!
What's going on here?" Senju Hashirama asked, looking bewildered. "Tobirama, when did you get here? And you're with Izuna?
Because Uchiha Madara really couldn't bring himself to tell Senju Hashirama that his younger brother had turned dark due to emotional issues and had locked your brother in a dark room to play training games, Senju Hashirama still didn't know that his younger brother had also arrived.
"Senju Clan Leader, why don't you start by explaining how you ended up here!" The expression on Uchiha Izuna's face, which was always gentle, turned cold.
Ever since Senju Tobirama arrived, he wondered if Senju Hashirama might have arrived much earlier, so he teamed up with Senju Tobirama to investigate. As expected, the two top intelligence gatherers of the Shinobi World managed to find some clues: a "Hashiko" lady had visited the Port Mafia not long ago.
Just hearing that incredibly tacky name, he knew it was definitely a ridiculous name thought up by Senju Hashirama. Therefore, he specifically waited for a time when Uchiha Madara might bring Senju Hashirama along. His painstaking efforts were not in vain, as they finally caught an opportunity; today, they had come specifically to intercept Senju Hashirama!
“Izuna, listen to my explanation!” Uchiha Madara said embarrassedly, “Hashiko just has nowhere to stay for the time being, so he is staying with me.”