"Hmph~!"
Before Hashirama could even speak, Tobirama crossed his arms, snorted coldly, and turned his head aside with blatant disdain written all over his face.
"Forbidden techniques? You've got to be joking."
"Does something as trivial as resurrection really require forbidden jutsu?"
"You seriously underestimate the power of research and technology, Madara."
"You're a relic of the old era. The new era has no ship left to carry you."
The moment Tobirama opened his mouth, Madara felt uncomfortable all over, as if something were crawling inside his chest, scratching at his heart and fanning the flames of his anger.
"Perfect timing," Madara growled.
"I never got the chance to avenge Izuna."
"Today, none of you are leaving here alive!"
Boom—!
Heavy footsteps echoed as Hashirama stepped forward, positioning himself squarely in front of Tobirama. The playful smile vanished from his face, replaced by a grave, solemn expression as he stared straight at Madara.
"Madara… are you really going to cling to that old belief?"
"Uchiha Hikaru has already proven that true peace can exist."
"Stop it, Madara. The shinobi world is no longer what it used to be."
Madara threw his head back and laughed loudly, the sound echoing through the battlefield before gradually fading.
"You're telling me to stop?"
"If I stop… will Izuna come back to life?!"
Tobirama spoke calmly, without hesitation.
"As long as we can find Izuna's remains—even if there's nothing left but ashes—I can revive him for you."
The battlefield fell into dead silence.
Every gaze turned toward Uchiha Madara.
Obito's heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably.
It's almost time…
Ancestor, just hold on a little longer. The Ten-Tails will revive in a few hours…!
Madara, however, stood frozen, caught in hesitation.
If Izuna could truly be brought back…
What kind of world would that be?
For the Uchiha, attachment to one's sibling was almost instinctual.
Izuna had been his most cherished brother.
But then another thought surfaced.
Izuna had died at the hands of the very man standing before him—this damned white-haired Senju.
And now that same man was offering to revive him?
Even if Izuna returned… would he be able to accept that?
"Don't try to deceive me again!"
"You despicable white-haired bastard! Your older brother lied to me the same way back then—do you really think I'd believe it again?!"
Hashirama froze.
"O.O?"
Mito, who had been quietly watching like someone enjoying drama, suddenly darkened. She grabbed Hashirama's shoulder with one hand and squeezed hard.
"Shut up."
"Madara," she said coldly, "tell me exactly what Hashirama lied to you about."
The tone sounded calm—but as husband and wife, Hashirama already knew one thing for certain.
I'm sleeping on the washboard tonight…
Madara snorted.
"He kept saying we were best friends. Brothers."
"I even told him how much I hated having someone stand behind me."
"And then?" Mito pressed.
"That bastard faked his death in our final battle and launched a sneak attack!"
"He stabbed me straight through the heart from behind!"
"Damn you, Senju Hashirama! You have no morals whatsoever!"
Instantly, Hashirama felt another sharp gaze pierce into him. Tobirama's voice followed faintly from the side.
"Aniki… did you really say that?"
"Haha… ahaha…" Hashirama laughed awkwardly, sweat forming on his forehead.
"Those are old stories! Ancient history! Let's just… move on…"
Suddenly, inspiration struck.
Hashirama raised a finger, pointed at Madara, and shouted.
"That's enough, Madara! Since you refuse to change your ways—don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"You have your convictions, and I have my dream!"
"It seems this battle is unavoidable!"
He clapped his hands together, fingers interlocked.
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Jutsu!"
The ground erupted as a massive wooden dragon burst forth, carrying Hashirama into the sky as it surged toward Madara.
Gripping his old greatsword, Hashirama swung down without hesitation.
Seeing this, Obito immediately hurled the Uchiha war fan toward Madara.
"Your weapon."
"I forgot earlier… just remembered now. Hopefully Ban doesn't scold me for it."
"Perfect timing."
Madara caught it effortlessly. A knowing smile crossed his face, as if he had returned to those long-lost days fighting Hashirama.
An almost innocent grin appeared.
"Come on, Hashirama!"
"Hit harder—don't stop halfway!"
The two legends clashed once more in close combat, leaving everyone else momentarily at a loss.
…Why does it feel like we suddenly have too many people here?
At that moment, Naruto—who had already been beaten countless times by the Gold and Silver Brothers—turned his head and shouted desperately.
"Grandma! Second Grandpa! And Brother Uchiha Hikaru!"
"Please stop watching First Grandpa and Madara fight already!"
"Hurry up—help! Save me!"
Among them, Mito reacted the fastest.
Dozens of glowing golden chains burst forth from behind her, chakra flaring as the hairpin securing her hair was blown away. Her gaze locked onto the Gold and Silver Brothers with a dangerous smile.
"So it's you two who've been bullying my grandson, huh?"
The Adamantine Sealing Chains slammed into the ground like the legs of a giant spider, surging forward and wrapping toward Naruto's Golden Nine-Tails form.
"Where do you think you're going~?"
"Don't be scared. Grandma's here."
"Let me teach you properly."
"I've got plenty of experience dealing with tailed beasts."
"Go on, Naruto. I'll support you."
Mito's chakra merged seamlessly into Naruto's Golden Nine-Tails.
When chakra connected, consciousness naturally followed.
"Mito," Kurama rumbled, "I'm not your enemy anymore. Don't use those chains on me again."
Mito glanced at the Nine-Tails.
"For Naruto's sake," she said calmly, "I'll let the past go."
The tension dissolved.
Naruto felt warmth bloom in his chest as he looked at his grandmother and Kurama—his longtime partner. Seeing them coexist peacefully made him genuinely happy.
Suddenly, a chain formed in Naruto's hand while in tailed beast mode—identical to the ones created by Mito's sealing technique.
Mito reached up and ruffled Naruto's hair affectionately.
"Go on, Naruto."
"With your current strength, you can definitely win."
The Golden Nine-Tails rose onto its hind legs, swinging the chains wildly with its claws, spinning again and again as it charged toward the crimson Nine-Tails form created by the Gold and Silver Brothers.
Yes.
The scene was so absurdly spectacular that even Tobirama couldn't hold it in.
"Hahahaha—!"
He covered his mouth, shoulders shaking.
Especially the way the Golden Nine-Tails' tails swayed wildly—it looked unbelievably stupid.
"Naruto truly is the number one shinobi when it comes to unpredictability."
"I never imagined I'd see the Nine-Tails fight like this."
Tobirama: (?w?)
"Uncle, stop laughing," Naruto shouted.
"We can't just stand around anymore!"
"Let's go help the other Jinchūriki!"