Meanwhile, at the underground base beneath the Kannabi Bridge.
Uchiha Hikari quietly stepped through the stone gate, as fine grains of sand rustled down. The stone slabs on either side slid inward, sealing the entrance tightly.
As soon as she entered, she heard the heavy breathing coming from the inner chamber.
Uchiha Madara lay pale and weak on the stone chair, his chest drenched in blood. A piece of flesh, clearly not his own, was neatly stitched into the center of the wound.
The scene was gruesome. The flesh resembled a crimson heart, pulsating with each of his breaths.
Hearing the movement, he slowly lifted his gaze, like a bear awakening from hibernation. His heterochromatic eyes—one red, one white—turned eerily toward the entrance.
"How are things outside?"
Hikari ignored his question, walking in silently. She picked up a towel from the washstand, skillfully soaked and wrung it out. The clear water trickled down her fair, jade-like hands as she approached Madara and began wiping the blood around his wound.
Madara let out a low groan. Even though Hikari's touch was gentle, merely brushing the edges of the wound caused him to convulse in pain. The flesh seemed like some kind of corrosive acid, eating away at his body through his veins. The damp towel quickly turned crimson with blood.
This searing, bone-deep pain tormented his nerves without respite.
Hikari frowned slightly, "It's been two days. Why isn't it healing? Didn't you say Hashirama's chakra contains life force?"
Madara panted heavily, forcing a bitter smile, "This is the only path to peace. If it were smooth sailing, I'd doubt its authenticity!"
Hikari furrowed her brows, washed the blood-stained towel, wrung it out, and hung it back up. Then she spoke softly, "Before we began the transplant, Hashirama woke up."
"Oh?" Madara sat up slightly, signaling her to continue.
"According to the information I obtained through interrogation, as soon as Hashirama woke up, he left the village. In less than three days, he captured all the tailed beasts across the shinobi world, except for the One-Tail and the Nine-Tails. At the same time, the Leaf Village sent word to the other four great shinobi villages, calling for a gathering of the leaders of the Five Great Nations to hold some kind of…" Hikari struggled to recall the term, "Five Kage Summit?"
Madara let out a long breath and snorted, "That guy must be planning to distribute the tailed beasts evenly among those ants, maintaining that ridiculous balance."
"Evenly?" Hikari tilted her head, not quite understanding. "With that kind of power, why not just unify the shinobi world? Wouldn't that bring more peace?"
She had already witnessed the power of the Nine-Tails. For someone who could subdue seven tailed beasts in such a short time, she couldn't understand why he would lower himself to the weak.
"That's exactly why I can't get along with him," Madara said with frustration. "The true balance was never about the tailed beasts. It was always between him and me. But that blockhead just can't grasp it!"
"He's making a mistake. Once peace collapses, the tailed beasts will undoubtedly become a disaster for ordinary people."
At this point, Madara noticed Hikari's hesitant expression and softened his tone, "Any news about Kamihane?"
"Ah!" Hikari's eyes flickered, and she quickly replied, "According to the information we received, he was held up by Tobirama. A massive crimson barrier rose at the battlefield, and when it dissipated, Kamihane was gone, as if he had vanished into thin air."
Madara pondered for a moment, "Probably teleported away by Tobirama's Flying Thunder God technique. Hmph, that guy, resorting to such tricks against a child."
"Child?" Hikari raised her head slightly, giving Madara a strange look, thinking to herself, isn't your perception of this disciple a bit one-sided?
"Well, no need to worry about it then. We'll have to manage without Kamihane for now," Madara said matter-of-factly, smiling. "He can't tell east from west. Finding his way back will be quite the ordeal. Let's give him some time."
"I know," Hikari nodded, then pouted and clenched her small fist. "Making us worry like this. When he gets back, I'll make sure he pays for it."
"Haha, I'm not worried in the slightest," Madara suddenly laughed.
Hikari couldn't face Madara's teasing gaze and deliberately avoided looking at him.
Fortunately, Madara then instructed, "Alright, if there's nothing else, go and rest. You've worked hard these past few days. This should have been Kamihane's job."
"But… Madara-sama, you…" Hikari glanced worriedly at his blood-soaked chest.
"It's fine."
"Alright," she finally took her leave and exited the stone chamber.
The moment she stepped out, Madara's calm expression twisted into one of agony. Veins bulged, and his features contorted in pain!
The flesh on his chest continued to pulsate, blood oozing out with each throb. The pain was overwhelming, threatening to consume him entirely!
It was as if the flesh was the true master of the body, seeking to eliminate Madara, the intruder!
His hand dug deeply into the stone, his knuckles turning white. The stone chair, carved from solid rock, was easily crushed by his grip.
In his mind, a life-threatening thought violently invaded his consciousness, repeatedly urging him to tear out the flesh from his chest—the flesh that didn't belong to him!
Yet, it was suppressed by his almost inhuman willpower!
"Is this the price of the Shinra Tensei? Bring it on. I, Uchiha Madara, can bear it!"
…
Konohagakure, Uchiha Clan Compound.
After a day of training, Uchiha Kagami returned to his room. Seeing the empty bedroom and the neatly arranged tatami, his eyes trembled, and he slumped against the wall in despair.
"Brother…"
Unconsciously, the familiar yet unfamiliar face flashed in his mind. The events of the past few days replayed like a slideshow, finally freezing on those exquisite, beautiful, yet sinister and eerie eyes.
"Those eyes… they were so powerful."
Just the thought of those eyes sent a bone-chilling coldness from his fingertips to the top of his head. He hugged himself tightly, unable to suppress a shiver.
"Brother's chakra has completely changed. It's cold, fierce, and filled with killing intent. Yet, he didn't kill me…"
He lowered his head, his fingers digging into his messy hair. "In the squad, I was the one who got hurt the least…"
"If he hates me so much… why didn't he kill me?" He buried his face in his knees, his cheeks wet. "I was… prepared to die…"
"Brother, Tobirama-sama said your fate is unknown, but I still hope you're alive…"
After a while, there was a knock at the door.
"Kagami, are you home?"
Kagami's spirits lifted. He immediately stood up, wiped his face, and adjusted his expression in the mirror before heading to open the door.
"Hikaku-taichou?"
Uchiha Hikaku leaned against the doorway with his arms crossed. "There's something I need to ask of you."
"What is it?" Kagami stepped out of the room, relieved that he hadn't removed his gear and was ready to leave at any moment.
This young man, dressed in combat attire, was widely recognized as the strongest in the clan since Madara and Kamihane left the village. He had considerable influence.
Kagami looked at this potential clan leader, wondering what matter could require him to seek out someone like himself.
Hikaku explained, "There's a group of kids in the clan, around your age, who are ready to sign summoning contracts. They need at least two jōnin and several chūnin to escort them to the Cat House. Originally, I was supposed to handle this, but with the Five Kage Summit approaching, Tobirama-sama personally ordered me to lead the team maintaining order at the venue. I'm stretched thin and can't get away…"
He showed a hint of hesitation. "I thought about it, and among the trusted jōnin in the clan, you're the only one. Even though you're young, your strength and reputation are well-matched. I was wondering if you…"
"I'll go," Kagami immediately nodded. "There's no need to feel awkward about it."
"Really? That's great, Kagami. You're such a good person!" Hikaku was delighted. He patted Kagami's shoulder, his gaze suddenly turning complicated. "Your brother's matter… I heard about it. He was once a comrade I fought alongside… Honestly, it's hard for me too…"
"It's fine," Kagami feigned composure. "Everyone has to pay the price for their actions."
"Oh, one more thing," Hikaku suddenly leaned in, his tone alert. "Your other partner is Uchiha Setsuna. That guy has been acting strange lately, making some critical remarks about Tobirama-sama. He might be hostile toward you. Be careful…"
Kagami arrived at the main gate of the clan compound as agreed. What greeted him was a group of about twenty boys and girls, chattering noisily. Around them stood roughly twenty chūnin. At the front of the group was a young man wearing a half-face mask, his expression dark and sinister.
He crossed his arms, his gaze like a cold, venomous snake, unabashedly scanning Kagami with an aggressive intensity.
"Hello there, Uchiha… Kagami."