"You know what?" Madara's voice was calm. Almost pleasant. "I've wanted to do this for decades."
His red battle armor hung in tatters. Shredded. Barely holding together.
But the man whose neck he was stepping on looked worse.
Second Hokage Tobirama Senju—face-down in the sand, half his skull ground into the dirt.
If you asked who Uchiha Madara hated most in his entire life?
Tobirama Senju. No contest.
And the feeling? Mutual.
The Uchiha and Senju clans had been at each other's throats since the Warring States era. Competition. Survival.
There were only so many missions. You take a bigger share, I starve.
So they clashed.
And when they clashed—people died.
You kill one of mine, I kill one of yours.
Until the hatred became generational.
The Breaking Point
Then Tobirama Senju used Flying Thunder God to assassinate Izuna Uchiha.
Madara's last remaining brother.
Even when Hashirama Senju beat him into the ground—literally—Madara wouldn't compromise.
"Want peace?" Madara's voice had been ice. "Fine. Kill Tobirama right now. Or kill yourself. Otherwise—never."
Listen to that.
Already beaten half to death—and still making impossible demands.
Hashirama's Gambit
Tobirama's response? Simple.
"Kill him. Negotiate with the next Uchiha head."
Hashirama was too sincere for his own good.
Without a word, he stripped off his armor.
Drew his blade.
Prepared to commit suicide.
In front of everyone.
That left Madara cornered.
You're being dramatic—and he's playing with real steel.
If Hashirama actually died? Madara could never show his face in the ninja world again.
—he and Hashirama had that thing. That bond.
Love-hate. Rivalry. Respect.
He couldn't bear to see Hashirama die.
So he took the out.
And just like that, the two great clans ended up in the same bed.
(That's how Konoha's foundation was laid.)
The Grudge Continues
But the village being founded didn't mean the grudge was over.
When other ninja clans came seeking to join Konoha, Tobirama Senju handled reception.
And he definitely didn't spare any effort undermining Madara behind the scenes.
Rally the majority. Isolate the few.
Tobirama played political games like a master.
Madara? Terrible at people skills.
Maintained the Uchiha clan's typical arrogance. Looked down on everyone.
So when Hashirama wanted to recommend Madara as Second Hokage?
Universal opposition.
Every level of society. Every clan.
Even the Uchiha themselves.
Political Death
That was Madara's political death sentence.
Everyone looked at him like he was poison.
Staying in the village became meaningless.
And Madara was too proud to endure ostracism.
Simple as that.
But pride didn't mean stupid.
Madara knew about Tobirama's schemes. Every single one.
He'd wanted to tear the man apart alive for years.
But Tobirama had big brother's protection.
And Madara couldn't beat Hashirama.
So the matter was dropped.
Later, Black Zetsu came along. Gave him the Eye of the Moon Plan.
Something grander. More important.
And then Tobirama died anyway.
The grudge? Left unresolved.
New grudges. Old hatreds.
All settled together.
Couldn't handle the living version? Fine.
Handle the dead one.
At least get some satisfaction.
When enemies meet, eyes turn red.
Tobirama Senju hated Uchiha Madara to the bone.
The usually calm, collected Second Hokage didn't even wait for Jinghang to react.
No hesitation. No strategy.
Jinghang had wanted to stop him—but Tobirama was too fast.
Jinghang had a little scheme of his own.
(How big is the gap between Edo Tobirama and Edo Madara?)
Perfect opportunity to find out.
Let the "Second Grandpa" test the waters. Probe Madara's strength.
According to Randeng Daoren, this was called "sacrificial formation."
Send someone in first. Gauge the enemy.
Then strike with full knowledge.
Besides—Madara didn't have Yin-Yang Release yet. He couldn't truly damage an Edo Tensei body.
So Jinghang and the other Kage could clear out the White Zetsu small fry first.
Then deal with Boss Madara slowly.
The Triple Combo
Tobirama didn't mess around.
Went for the kill immediately.
He knew—even in life, he wasn't Madara's match.
So he had to strike first. Strike hard.
Right off the bat: his prepared "Anti-Uchiha Madara Triple Combo."
Tactics he'd developed over years.
Never got to use them back then.
(Who'd have thought he'd use them today?)
"Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!"
The area around Madara plunged into pitch-black darkness.
Couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
Madara seemed completely unconcerned.
Held his gunbai war fan and scythe. Calmly waiting.
Didn't care at all that his vision was gone.
"Water Release: Hard Whirlpool Water Blade!"
Tobirama closed in.
Formed a high-speed rotating water spear in his hand.
Thrust it straight at Madara's chest.
Madara moved like he had eyes everywhere.
Casually raised his gunbai.
Deflected the water spear.
Then swung his war scythe straight at Tobirama's neck.
(That gunbai was no joke. Passed down through Uchiha generations. Made from branches of the God Tree. Could perform "Uchiha Return"—bounce jutsu back at opponents.)
Tobirama ducked.
Avoided the scythe.
Landed a palm strike on Madara's chest.
Madara's voice was contemptuous.
Tobirama was now only a hand's width away.
Close enough to touch.
"You know what, Madara?" Tobirama's voice was cold. "I've been waiting for this moment for so long."
He opened his palm.
Revealed a burning explosive tag—stuck to Madara's armor.
"Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags!"
Explosion after explosion.
Deafening. Relentless.
(During the Service Area battle, Tobirama had made a request:)
"Get me some explosive tags."
Jinghang showed zero hesitation.
"How many do you want?"
"Fifty thousand."
Jinghang gave him a hundred thousand.)
If you're gonna blow things up—do it right.
A hundred thousand explosive tags exploded for a full two minutes.
The ground shook. The air screamed.
White Zetsu were vaporized. The beach turned to glass.
When the smoke finally cleared—
—Madara stood there.
Armor shredded. Hair singed.
Face-down in the sand.
Madara's foot on his neck.
"This is the tactic you came up with to deal with me back then?"
Madara pressed down hard.
Ground half of Tobirama's skull into the dirt.
"Heh. How naive."
"Hey, Lord Madara—" Jinghang's voice rang out. "—that's going too far!"
A powerful whip kick swept straight at Madara's head.
Madara didn't even look.
Raised his hand. Blocked it.
Backhanded with his scythe—
—but the scythe was suddenly in Jinghang's hands.
Madara blinked.
"Almost forgot." He smiled. "You're good with Magnet Release."
He stripped off his tattered armor.
Tossed it aside.
"Let's try this again."
[Izuna's Assassination: Flying Thunder God killed last brother = peak hatred. Hashirama's Suicide Gambit: Sincere to fault, cornered Madara into compromise. Political Death Sentence: Universal rejection including own clan = humiliation. Triple Combo: Years of preparation finally executed (Bringer of Darkness + Hard Whirlpool Blade + Multiplying Explosive Tags). 100K Explosive Tags: Jinghang's overkill generosity = two-minute apocalypse. Madara's Dominance: Survived everything, still standing = casual superiority. Magnet Release Theft: Jinghang's power display = scythe stolen mid-swing. Edo Advantage: Can't truly damage Tobirama = prolonged battle ahead.]
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