Senju Hashirama stopped five meters away from Isamu. Looking at his familiar face, he was reminded of Uchiha Madara in his youth and couldn't help but sigh.
Instead of mocking him, he spoke gently, like an elder.
"Isamu… looking at you now, it feels like I've gone back to the days I spent with Madara. He was stubborn and extreme, yes—but once, he had love in his heart. I don't know why he abandoned it… but you still haven't."
He paused before continuing.
"Come back to Konoha with me. With your strength, the village will treat you well."
Isamu let out a cold, contemptuous laugh.
"Uncle Hashirama… you really make me laugh."
"I don't even know whether to call you naive or just stupid. Do you really think I can go back now?"
His gaze sharpened.
"Even if Konoha ignores everything and lets us return… what about the families of the Ninja we killed? Will they accept it?"
"And even if they do—what happens after I die?"
His voice turned colder.
"As long as I'm alive, no one will dare touch the Uchiha. But once I'm gone? Do you really think there'll be any path left for a clan that started a war?"
"Have you actually thought about any of that?"
Hashirama fell silent.
For the first time, he had no answer.
Seeing that, Isamu slowly brought his hands together.
"Since you agree… then stop trying to preach to me."
"I already told you—your talk-no-jutsu might work on Madara… but it won't work on me."
A dangerous aura began to rise from his body.
"You really think I've run out of options?"
"Sage Art!"
In an instant, Isamu entered Sage Mode. Dark markings spread across his face as natural energy flooded into his body.
His gaze shifted briefly into the distance—
toward Tsunade, collapsed on the ground from Chakra exhaustion.
"…Tsunade… forgive me."
"It looks like… I won't be able to walk the rest of this path with you."
"I'm sorry."
Tsunade met his eyes—
and instantly understood.
"No… no! Don't!!"
She tried to run toward him, but her body gave out. All she could do was crawl forward, shouting desperately:
"Don't, Isamu!!"
But Isamu had already shut everything out.
He focused inward.
He began breaking the limits of his own body—just like the Eight Gates.
That feeling earlier… it wasn't my body failing…
Something was suppressing me.
A cold smile formed.
"I don't care what that force is…"
"This time, I'll break every limit in my body."
As natural energy poured in, he shattered restriction after restriction.
After the fifth—
his skin turned red, and violent Chakra erupted outward.
Hashirama's expression changed instantly.
"Not good… he's going to burn himself out!"
Without hesitation, he rushed forward.
"I can't let Madara's son die like this!"
But just as he reached him—
Isamu roared.
"Sixth… Seventh… break!!"
BOOM! BOOM!
The restraints shattered.
Chakra condensed into a physical force and exploded outward, blasting Hashirama away.
"And now… the Eighth—"
Just as he was about to break the final limit—
a voice cut through everything.
"Uchiha Isamu, stop!!"
Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu arrived at the battlefield—
bringing with them bound Uchiha clan members.
Among them…
the Great Elder.
Children.
Elders.
Helpless civilians.
Isamu froze.
His Chakra halted instantly.
His eyes widened in shock.
How…?
Takahashi Shinichi… you useless trash…
Hashirama let out a breath of relief.
For the sake of his clan…
Isamu wouldn't go through with it.
Koharu pressed a kunai to the Great Elder's throat.
"Uchiha Isamu—surrender now. Or I won't be polite."
The remaining Uchiha, drained of Chakra, desperately crawled forward.
"Clan Leader…!"
Uchiha Zhan moved the fastest, panic all over his face.
But they were too slow.
Silence.
Then—
Isamu lowered his hands.
The Sage Mode markings faded.
He gave up.
If he died… so be it.
But he wouldn't drag his clan down with him.
There were children here.
Lives that had barely begun.
He couldn't sacrifice them.
"I… give up."
The Great Elder shouted in fury:
"Isamu! Don't you dare!!"
"Have you forgotten your promise?! You said you'd lead the Uchiha to the peak—to reclaim our honor!"
"You can't give up for our sake!!"
Isamu slowly dropped to his knees.
"…I'm sorry."
"I haven't forgotten."
"But I can't sacrifice all of you… just for that."
"I'm not that kind of person."
Hashirama smiled faintly.
He really is different from Madara…
But the Great Elder's face twisted in anger.
"Stand up!!"
"As Clan Head, how can you kneel like this?!"
"Even if I die, I won't accept seeing you like this!"
He suddenly moved—
trying to slit his own throat.
Koharu reacted instantly.
She yanked the kunai back and kicked him to the ground.
"Hmph. Trying to die? Not happening."
She stepped on him, pressing him down.
Then glared at Isamu.
"Don't try anything."
"Or I'll kill this old man right now."
Isamu's fists tightened.
Rage burned inside him—
but he forced it down.
Damn it…
If my ocular power hadn't been drained…
I'd rip your head off with Kamui right now.
He lowered his gaze slightly.
Calm.
Controlled.
Waiting.
Just a little longer…
Once my ocular power recovers…
I'll kill you.
For now—
he would endure.
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