A Sudden Realization
Uchiha Obito: "Hey, now that I think about it... I don't have Hashirama's cells, do I? Maybe I should put this whole 'unifying the ninja world' thing on hold for now."
"What if we just ask Shodai for some? I mean, with the real Hashirama-sama alive, getting a few cells shouldn't be too hard, right?"
Namikaze Minato: "Obito, that's not how you ask favors from the First Hokage."
Uchiha Obito: "Ah, sorry, sorry! By the way, now that I think about it, I haven't seen Hashirama-sama in a while. Where did he go?"
Shinomiya Uzumaki was scrolling through the group chat when he saw this message. His eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"That's right... where did Hashirama go?"
---
Nanga Shrine – Konoha Year 2
Deep within Nanga Shrine, the sacred gathering place of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Madara stood side by side with Senju Hashirama before a massive stone tablet. The dimly lit chamber carried an air of solemnity, their shadows flickering against the cold stone walls.
Madara narrowed his eyes at Hashirama's words. "Are you saying the records on this stone tablet have been tampered with?"
Hashirama nodded, his expression grave.
"That's right. A creature named Black Zetsu manipulated it. The Eye of the Moon Plan is a deception, Madara. It won't bring about a perfect world—it will destroy it."
He took a step closer.
"If the plan succeeds, the entire world will be trapped in an illusion. Every human being will be converted into soulless White Zetsu. Do you think that's a perfect world?"
Madara remained silent for a moment, his crimson Sharingan spinning.
"Hah. Those are just your words. Do you have proof?"
Hashirama frowned.
Proof? That was the problem. The future he had seen wasn't a physical object he could just hand over. Unless Madara joined the group chat himself, there was no way to show him the videos.
Hashirama racked his brain, then suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Madara, wait here. I'll find a way to show you proof."
With that, he waved his hands in the air, as if interacting with something invisible.
Madara watched, unimpressed.
"…Are you doing a new jutsu or just losing your mind?"
---
The Chat Group Discussion
Hours later, Hashirama finally responded in the group chat.
Senju Hashirama: "@Shinomiya Uzumaki, is there a way for Madara to see the video evidence from the group?"
Uchiha Obito: "Ah, as expected of Shodai—so busy with Hokage duties that he barely has time to check messages. The burden of leadership is heavy, huh?"
While joking, Obito also felt a twinge of guilt. He had spent so much time dwelling on his own pain, but he hadn't considered the weight his predecessors carried.
Hashirama blinked at Obito's message.
Busy? Not really.
Most of the daily workload fell on Tobirama. Right now, his younger brother was still outside, directing ninjas to repair the damage caused by his battle with Madara.
At that moment, Tobirama sneezed. He rubbed his face tiredly and barked an order:
"Send an Earth Style user over here to fill in this crater."
Meanwhile, back in the group chat, Shinomiya Uzumaki replied to Hashirama.
Shinomiya Uzumaki: "There is a function to invite people into the group, but our level needs to be upgraded to use it. For now, it's not an option."
"However, there's another method. Sharingan has the ability to read memories. If Madara reads yours, he'll see everything you saw in the group."
"But be careful—group chats have a defense mechanism. If a non-member tries to access information from the group directly, they will be attacked by the system. Just don't let it happen by accident."
Senju Hashirama: "Understood! Thank you, group leader!"
---
Madara's Doubt
Back at Nanga Shrine, Hashirama turned back to Madara, a confident smile on his face.
"Madara, I found a solution!"
Madara raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Let's hear this 'solution' of yours."
Hashirama didn't hesitate.
"You can use your Sharingan to read my memories. Everything you need to know is in my head."
Madara was taken aback. "You're offering me full access to your mind?"
Reading someone's memories meant exposing their deepest secrets. Even for trusted allies, it was a rare gesture of faith.
For a moment, Madara was silent.
Then he smirked. "Tch. If you're that confident, then fine."
Hashirama lay on the ground, his eyes wide open.
"Come on, stop hesitating."
Madara activated his Sharingan, casting Genjutsu to dive into Hashirama's memories.
Suddenly, a system warning appeared in Hashirama's consciousness.
[Psychic intrusion detected.]
[The other party is attempting to access group-related memories. Defense mechanism activated.]
[Do you wish to permanently sever the intruder's mental link?]
Hashirama paled.
"No, no, no! Don't destroy his mind!"
[Protection lifted. Access granted.]
---
The Truth Revealed
Madara's mind flooded with visions.
Scenes of his supposed death at the Valley of the End… His secret survival… Years of preparation, awakening the Rinnegan…
Then he saw it—the bitter truth.
His entire plan had been manipulated by Black Zetsu, the so-called "will of Madara." The Eye of the Moon Plan was never his—it was created to revive Kaguya Otsutsuki.
All of his struggles, all of his sacrifices, had been for nothing.
A monstrous lie.
His blood boiled. His fists clenched.
BOOM!
With one punch, Madara shattered the stone tablet, sending cracks through the walls of Nanga Shrine.
His breathing was heavy. He clenched his jaw.
For the first time in his life, he felt like a fool.
A cold fury settled in his gut.
Madara turned to Hashirama, who was still unconscious. Without a word, he grabbed a pen and parchment, hastily scribbled something, and slipped the note into Hashirama's hand.
Then he turned on his heel and walked out—without looking back.
---
A New Plan
Minutes later, Hashirama groggily awoke.
"Madara…?"
No response.
He sat up, feeling something in his palm. A folded piece of paper.
Unfolding it, he quickly scanned the contents.
His lips curled into a knowing smile.
"So that's your plan, huh, Madara?"
Satisfied, he burned the note to destroy any evidence.
Then, with new determination in his eyes, he strode out of Nanga Shrine.
---
Author's Note
Madara finally knows the truth! What will he do next? Will he seek revenge against Black Zetsu? And what exactly was in that note he left Hashirama?
Find out in the next chapter!