Chapter 324: Hashirama and Madara
Seeing his meal escape and then return under Tobirama's manipulation, the Shinigami was overjoyed. It was ready to feast immediately.
But then…
Tobirama glanced at Madara and realized—
This guy was completely broken.
Madara's expression was empty, his eyes devoid of will to fight.
He looked like a man who had lost everything.
For a moment, Tobirama hesitated.
And that hesitation upset the Shinigami.
This was a Rinnegan wielder! And not just any wielder—a controlled Rinnegan user!
If Madara were at full power, the Shinigami wouldn't have dared to act.
But now?
Madara had already been played.
If it devoured his soul, the Shinigami felt like it could evolve!
It couldn't let this opportunity slip—
"Do you still want to talk to Hyuga Fuji?"
Tobirama's calm voice echoed.
The Shinigami froze.
Blue Tenseigan eyes surfaced in its mind.
Would it be worth offending Hyuga Fuji over one Rinnegan soul?
The Shinigami thought seriously.
Then…
Shamefully surrendered.
It didn't even ask for compensation, vanishing into the air.
Just another wasted job.
Now that the Shinigami was gone, Tobirama pondered what to do with Madara.
Originally, he had planned to seal Madara inside the Reaper's stomach to prevent anyone from breaking the seal or helping him escape.
But now?
Madara had almost escaped—
Yet ironically, his botched attempt had allowed Tobirama to revive and hijack his Edo Tensei control.
No need to seal him inside the Shinigami anymore.
He could take his time torturing him.
But first—
That damn Hashirama face on Madara's chest had to go.
Just looking at it brought back too many bad memories…
Before Tobirama could act, a familiar voice sounded from behind him.
"Tobirama, hand him over to me."
Madara, lost in his existential crisis, suddenly snapped back to reality.
His gaze lifted, and he saw—
It was him.
It was him.
It was really him.
Senju Hashirama.
---
Hashirama strode forward, glancing briefly at Tobirama's strangely stiff posture before scratching his head.
What's wrong?
Was Tobirama too emotional after so long?
But even after a few seconds, Tobirama didn't move.
So, Hashirama simply walked past him and stood before Madara.
"Madara… it's been a long time."
"Hashirama."
Madara stared at his oldest friend and greatest rival, his emotions in turmoil.
The world suddenly felt real again.
Even if the White Zetsu were fake…
Even if his own will had been fake…
At least—
Hashirama was real.
As long as Hashirama existed, then the world was real.
---
Black Zetsu #2: "…"
Excuse me, but what about me?
---
The two locked eyes in silence.
Neither spoke.
They ignored everything around them.
The atmosphere was so peculiar that even Tobirama looked more rigid.
Damn it.
Why did they have to stand so close?
Just seeing them together brought back unclean thoughts—
No.
It wasn't his brother who was unclean.
Madara was the unclean one!
Tobirama mentally chanted a few times and finally recovered his composure.
Meanwhile, Hashirama finally spoke.
"Do you still want to continue?"
"Do you still plan to complete the Infinite Tsukuyomi?"
Madara didn't ask how Hashirama knew about his plan.
Instead, he simply replied:
"Hashirama, you don't have my vision."
"You can't see the truth."
"Infinite Tsukuyomi is the Sage of Six Paths' answer. It's the best way—"
Mid-sentence, Madara stopped.
A false world… was that really okay?
Just now, everything around him had been fake.
And yet, he hadn't accepted it.
If people inside the Infinite Tsukuyomi realized it was all an illusion, would they accept it?
Compared to his own experience, Infinite Tsukuyomi was even worse.
In that world—everything was fake.
Friends? Fake.
Family? Fake.
Even the homes they lived in? Fake.
Maybe someone who had lost everything could thrive inside it…
But someone with real loved ones?
Could they truly accept it?
Madara could no longer convince himself that the Moon's Eye Plan was "the best option."
So, he fell silent.
But even if it was the worst plan…
It was still the only one he could achieve.
Seeing Madara's silence, Hashirama suddenly sat down on the battlefield and grinned.
"I think Ideal City's system is pretty good."
"Reality and illusion coexist."
"People with families can enjoy the virtual world but still return home."
"And those who have lost everything?"
"They can find a new purpose in the virtual world."
"So why dismiss it outright?"
"Why obsess over one single plan?"
"We're both back now. Let's work together to find a different path to peace."
Tobirama and Madara both looked stunned.
Was this really Hashirama?
Didn't he always believe that the dead should stay out of the living world?
Under their suspicious gazes, Hashirama awkwardly said:
"Don't look at me like that! I'm serious!"
First—
Even if he believed the dead shouldn't interfere, he couldn't ignore Tsunade.
His granddaughter was now both Daimyo and Hokage—
If she messed up, he had to intervene!
Second—
Madara had been humiliated enough today.
If he kicked him while he was down, it would just be too cruel.
"We both made mistakes in the past."
"Instead of arguing over who was right, why not focus on the future?"
"We can find a new purpose together."
Madara's face was expressionless.
He lifted his chin slightly, gesturing to the seals covering his body.
"Do I have the right to refuse?"
He was completely sealed.
His original body had probably been taken by Fuji and Tobirama.
Even if he tried to die, he couldn't escape Edo Tensei.
They'd just revive him over and over again.
Hashirama let out an awkward laugh.
"Haha… Tobirama wouldn't force you."
Just as he finished speaking—
BOOM!
A massive shockwave rocked the battlefield.
At first, they thought it was Tamako and Hikari still fighting.
But turning their heads—
A red giant and a wooden golem clashed violently in the distance.
Hashirama had sent a clone to support Tamako.
Yet, the real disturbance came from—
The Spear of Heaven.
After charging for so long, the weapon finally activated.
A crimson beam of energy shot into the sky, tearing apart the once-clear heavens.
Dark thunderclouds were summoned from all directions, covering the world in darkness.
BOOM—
A thunderous roar exploded overhead.
The wrath of the heavens had awakened.
Lightning crackled.
Clouds churned, forming a gaping red wound in the sky.
The entire world was dyed blood-red.
(End of Chapter)