The view from the cliff was incredibly expansive. Looking out, a vast, endless sea of lush green forest stretched out in every direction, making them feel as if they were suspended right in the heart of the woods.
"You can overlook the entire forest from up here," Hashirama said, his mood visibly lifting.
"Heh. Our Sharingan can see further than anything," Madara boasted proudly.
"You guys have already awakened the Sharingan?!" Hashirama asked in absolute shock. During their spars, he had never seen either of them use it.
"Of course we have. We're the geniuses of the Uchiha, after all." Madara's nose was pointed so high it was practically aiming at the sky.
"That's amazing!"
A gentle breeze brushed past the three boys. Staring out at the breathtaking scenery before them, a profound sense of awe washed over them.
"It's decided. We'll build our village right here!" Hashirama declared, his face flushed with excitement. The sunlight caught his features, granting him a unique, commanding charisma. "In this village, children won't have to kill each other. We'll build a school to train them, let them grow up and get strong. Everyone will be able to choose missions based on their own strength and abilities. We'll have superiors who properly grade the difficulty of missions. It will be a village where we never have to send children to the frontlines to gamble with their lives."
Xuan stood slightly to the side, watching Hashirama gesture wildly. What was going through his head right now? Was he just relying on hot-blooded passion to change reality, or did he truly, firmly believe that hard work could change everything? Regardless, Hashirama probably couldn't imagine that one day, this wild dream of his would actually become reality.
Konoha, huh... I'm actually looking forward to it a bit, Xuan thought, lowering his gaze and looking back out over the sea of trees, imagining what the future Hidden Leaf Village would look like.
Madara turned his head and laughed. "You're the only one who would say something that stupid."
Hashirama completely ignored the jab, fully immersed in his own vision. Excitedly, he asked, "What do you guys think?"
Madara blinked in surprise, then smiled broadly. "Not bad."
"I'll be waiting for that day," Xuan answered with absolute, unwavering conviction. Even Hashirama was taken aback, not expecting such a definitive, positive response. A wave of deep emotion and boundless motivation surged in his chest.
"We can do it! As long as the three of us work together, we can definitely build the village of our dreams!" Hashirama secretly clenched his fists, an overwhelming surge of heroic ambition filling his heart. "Then it's settled."
Madara seemed infected by the energy. Smiling, he said, "If we really build this village, I'm going to bring my little brother and everyone I cherish here, to this place overlooking the forest, and protect them properly."
Hashirama laughed heartily, and Madara joined in the joyous mood. Xuan watched it all with a faint smile. At this exact moment, aside from Xuan himself, the other two likely still viewed this promise as a distant, unreachable dream, not truly believing that one day they would actually build such a village.
These peaceful days continued for a little while longer. One afternoon, after they had finished hanging out, the three of them stood on opposite banks of the river.
Four skipping stones were lightly tossed out, bouncing across the water in opposite directions. They reached the opposite banks and were caught cleanly by hand. Hashirama caught one in each hand and smiled. "Let's call it a day here. See you later!"
Madara and Xuan, gripping the stones they had caught, waved back and smiled as they bid him farewell.
As they parted ways, Xuan glanced down at the smooth stone in his hand and silently tucked it into his robes. If he wasn't mistaken, this carefree friendship was destined to end by tomorrow. Next came the truly cruel, bloody path of the Warring States Era. And as for himself... it was time to step onto the grand stage of this world.
Madara and Xuan returned to the clan compound. Just as they were about to wave goodbye and head to their respective homes, their vision blurred. Three figures suddenly materialized out of nowhere, completely surrounding them.
Xuan's gaze swept lightly over the three men. Recognizing them as Uchiha Tajima's personal Shadow Guards, he discreetly released the one-handed hand seal he had instinctively formed inside his sleeve.
"Young Master Madara, Young Master Xuan, Lord Patriarch requests your presence," one of the Shadow Guards said.
Madara and Xuan exchanged a glance and nodded slowly. A faint, ominous premonition was already taking root in Madara's heart.
Upon arriving at Uchiha Tajima's study, the two entered one after the other. The three Shadow Guards bowed respectfully, took a step back, and silently melted into the shadows.
Inside the room, Uchiha Tajima sat formally in seiza, his expression dead serious. Uchiha Izuna was also present, his small face stern, though a flash of worry darted through his eyes when he saw Madara.
Once the two closed the door and knelt down, Tajima spoke in an icy tone, "I hear the two of you have been frequently meeting with a certain boy recently. Is that correct?"
Madara looked at his father in shock, blurting out, "How did you know?"
In contrast, Xuan remained completely composed. In fact, he was actually quite surprised that Tajima was only bringing this up now to interrogate them. By Xuan's calculations, Tajima should have known about this a long time ago. If he truly only found out today, it was a massive dereliction of duty on the part of the Uchiha intelligence network.
Tajima snorted coldly. "Never mind how I know. I am asking you: did you or did you not know that boy is a member of the Senju clan?"
Madara lowered his head. His fists were clenched tight, his entire body trembling slightly, and his teeth ground together, but he refused to say a single word.
Tajima didn't press him further. Instead, his sharp gaze shifted. "Xuan. Did you two know his true identity?"
Xuan replied with absolute nonchalance, "We knew. We revealed our true identities to each other when we swore our oath of brotherhood."
"What?!"
That single sentence utterly shocked everyone in the room. Izuna's small eyes locked onto him in absolute disbelief. Madara also stared at him in horror, completely unable to comprehend why Xuan would just blurt that out to his father.
Tajima violently shot to his feet. His chakra spiked, making the atmosphere in the room suffocatingly oppressive as he glared coldly at Xuan.
Killing intent...
Xuan saw naked, unadulterated killing intent in the Patriarch's eyes. In the past, Tajima's inability to get a clear explanation for Xuan's strange Ninjutsu had only resulted in deliberate marginalization and cold treatment. But at this exact moment, Tajima genuinely wanted to kill him. Tajima was likely already connecting Xuan's mysterious, highly advanced Jutsu to the Senju clan in his head. Xuan had absolutely zero doubt that if he twitched even slightly, Tajima would draw his sword and cleave him in half on the spot.
However, possessing Kamui's intangibility and having laced the entire compound with his Flying Raijin marks, Xuan was absolutely confident he could safely escape if things went south. But that would mean being branded a traitor and hunted by the Uchiha Kill Orders, which wasn't ideal. Therefore... he remained perfectly still.
Suddenly, a figure stepped between them. Uchiha Madara stood up. His eyes had already morphed into a blood-red hue, the single tomoe spinning enchantingly. Staring dead at Tajima, he pleaded, "Father! We want to change this broken world! We have already laid our hearts bare with Hashirama! Please, believe in us! We can definitely succeed!"
Smack!
Madara was violently slapped to the floor, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
Tajima roared furiously, "What do you know?! 'Lay your hearts bare'?! The Senju are deceiving you! That Senju rat deliberately approached you to extract our clan's intelligence, and you foolishly swallowed his lies whole, you absolute idiot!"
Without realizing it, Tajima had fully activated his three-tomoe Sharingan. He stared coldly at the two boys.
"I am giving you both exactly one choice. Tomorrow, when you meet that Senju brat, you will strike and kill him. I am confident that with your combined strength, he will not be able to escape. You understand the absolute severity of this situation. Word hasn't spread yet. If it does, the two of you will be executed as traitors. To prevent any 'accidents,' I will personally follow you tomorrow."
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