Chapter 428: Don't Blame Me for Being Dishonorable
"So, um, Madara, what's that in your hand?" Hashirama asked awkwardly, scratching his head.
"..." Madara stared speechlessly at Hashirama's clear but foolish expression, his mouth twitching. In the end, he reluctantly explained:
"It's a copy of My Struggle that I bought from a bookstore on the way."
"Where did you get the money? You didn't steal it, did you?" Hashirama asked earnestly.
"..." Madara was truly fed up with Hashirama. Here he was, trying to have a serious conversation, and Hashirama was still joking around like in the old days!
But then again, they were friends...
Madara explained, "I borrowed it from Konoha's patrol team. I, Uchiha Madara, am fighting for the young generation, so what's wrong with borrowing a little money in Haneda's name?"
"That doesn't seem right, Madara, you didn't even inform them..."
"Shut up!"
Hashirama lowered his head, silenced, while Madara couldn't hold back anymore.
It was always like this!
Every time!
As soon as he started talking, Hashirama would pretend to be silent, only to joke around again later!
Madara really couldn't take it anymore!
"Hashirama!!!"
"I'll pay them back, alright?"
"Hahaha, Madara, you've gotten faster at changing expressions." Hashirama laughed heartily, hooking an arm around Madara's shoulder.
"I learned from you!" Madara gritted his teeth.
He decided to stop joking with Hashirama and get back to business.
However, Madara, being proud, wouldn't stoop to sneak attacking children. He chose to inform Hashirama and the weaklings beside him in advance.
He still remembered Haneda's words: The strong wield their blades against the stronger, while the weak wield their blades against the weaker.
Madara said, "Enough idle talk, Hashirama, it's time to get serious."
Hashirama asked seriously, "Madara, are you here to take the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"
!!!
Upon hearing that Madara might target Naruto, Sasuke, Minato, Itachi, Tobirama, and Jiraiya instantly became alert.
Madara confirmed, "Yes."
Glancing at the unconscious assault force and Konoha in the distance, Madara tossed My Struggle to Hashirama and added:
"I assume you don't want to fight here, do you, Hashirama?"
Before Hashirama could respond, Tobirama mocked, "Is this the pride of Uchiha Madara? Using the weak to threaten others?"
Madara didn't reply with words but showed through his actions.
He jumped down from the giant Buddha and walked towards the distance, leaving only three short words.
"The usual place."
Hashirama instantly understood what Madara meant by the usual place—The Valley of the End!
"You all stay here. I'll go talk to Madara."
"Big brother! Let me go with you!" Tobirama insisted.
"Tobirama, you know the Flying Thunder God technique. Make sure to protect that little one," Hashirama said, pointing to Naruto.
Hashirama naturally sensed the Nine-Tails inside Naruto.
Hearing Hashirama treat him like a child, Naruto protested, "Lord First Hokage, I'm strong! I can take on ten Madaras!"
Sasuke chimed in, "Together with Naruto, I can take on ten Madaras too."
Ten Madaras?
Do they really think Madara is a unit of measurement?
Tobirama, disregarding the need to maintain face for Haneda and Itachi, sternly lectured:
"Madara's strength isn't something you children can comprehend! Even my brother doesn't have a guaranteed victory!!"
"That's because the First Hokage wasn't strong enough," Sasuke, confident after receiving upgrades from Grandpa Haneda, boasted.
???
Tobirama glared coldly at Sasuke's brother, Itachi, as if to ask, Who taught this brat?
Itachi coughed and said, "Sasuke, don't cause trouble for the First and Second Hokage. You need to protect Naruto."
Hearing his brother's advice to protect Naruto, Sasuke reluctantly abandoned his reckless thoughts.
But Naruto wasn't convinced!
He had way more upgrades than Sasuke. With the full support of the Nine-Tails, his mother helping control the chakra, and his father aiding with the Flying Thunder God technique, he was a formidable force, both offensively and defensively.
When Naruto sought training from Haneda, Haneda had said:
You've got enough enhancements. Let Sasuke have some time to shine, and give Sakura some hope of catching up!
Ahem...
In fact, Naruto did have more hidden tricks up his sleeve, left by Haneda, who didn't mention it to keep Sasuke from pestering him.
Naruto declared, "I've been training as a ninja under Uncle Haneda for two and a half years! Dad, you know how strong I am now!"
"Huh?" Minato, knowing Haneda was secretly protecting Naruto, had stayed silent. But with Naruto's boast, he had to play the role of a stern father and said:
"Naruto, listen to the First Hokage. Stay here, and I'll get you some oranges."
Minato disappeared instantly and reappeared moments later with snacks for Naruto:
"Be good, and I'll peel some oranges for you."
"..." The adults were speechless. Was this how you educated children?
But...
Naruto liked it. Minato was now providing the parental love he had always dreamed of.
He stood still, waiting for Minato to peel the oranges.
Hashirama said, "Alright, follow me... by the way, who are you?"
Minato, having experienced Tobirama's questioning, smoothly turned around, revealing the words "Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze" on his cloak:
"The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, also skilled in the Flying Thunder God, like Lord Second."
Naruto added, "My dad's Flying Thunder God is super awesome! Even better than Uncle Haneda's!"
"That's my Flying Thunder God!" Tobirama continued to defend his creation.
"Ahem, everyone, I'll leave the little one to you, and I'll lead the way."
Hashirama sensed Madara's chakra growing restless, understanding that Madara was signaling him to hurry up.
The group included three Hokage, a healthy Itachi, the well-informed Jiraiya, and Orochimaru.
Also, Minato heading home, and two young children who could destroy everything but weren't even Genin.
Their enemy was Uchiha Madara.
The Valley of the End wasn't far from Konoha. When they arrived, Madara was sitting atop his statue, looking impatient:
"Hashirama, you've kept me waiting."
"Madara! The Infinite Tsukuyomi you speak of is a false world. Only real peace in reality matters!" Hashirama tried again to persuade his friend, sensing the deep friendship Madara still held.
"You're still too naive, Hashirama! You should really read the book I gave you!"
Madara activated his Susanoo, preparing to face his lifelong rival and friend in his strongest form.
Seeing Madara ready to fight, Hashirama clapped his hands, summoning massive wooden constructs, a Wood Golem and a Wood Dragon.
But even these seemed insignificant before Madara, now wielding the Rinnegan.
Madara sneered, "Hashirama, the current you isn't my match. Give up. I can bring eternal peace to this world!"
Hashirama responded, "Madara, I don't know what you've done since I died, but for the future of the ninja world, don't blame me for being dishonorable. Six against one—it's only by combining forces that we can truly bring peace to the ninja world, just as we once did!"
Madara glanced at the five individuals behind Hashirama and split into twenty-five wood clones.
Each clone activated its Susanoo, encircling the five, leaving Hashirama to face Madara alone.
Standing atop his Susanoo, Madara crossed his arms and looked down at Hashirama:
"Hashirama! Don't blame me for being dishonorable! After all, only you are worthy of being my opponent, Uchiha Madara!"
...