Inside the Shikkotsu Forest cave.
Since starting to learn how to sense and utilize natural energy, Madara had been subtly competing with Hashirama.
Especially during the sensing phase, Hashirama's innate talent made him feel like he was being outdone.
So, he forgot to eat and sleep, training day and night.
"Smack!" He was struck again.
"Do not be impatient! You almost turned into a slug just now!"
"Damn it…" Madara glared angrily to the side.
There, "Hashirama" was sitting cross-legged on a stalactite at the cave's apex, green natural energy swirling around him, but he was still unable to absorb it.
"Tch!" Madara's Mangekyō eyes churned with unwillingness: "The Sage's Body? I'm not lacking either!"
A few days later, the situation reversed. Madara was able to begin absorbing it, but Hashirama still couldn't absorb natural energy.
"Hmph, hmph~" Madara's eyes held a smile, a rare grin appearing: "How about it, Hashirama? Need my help?"
"Tch! You're not that much faster than me. I'll surpass you soon!"
"That's impossible!"
For a while afterward, the two competed. Though Madara was powerful, his progress in learning Sage Arts was extremely slow.
Although Hashirama possessed the Sage's Body, he had no foundation at all and could only learn bit by bit.
They gradually formed a unique rivalry, which also allowed Madara to release the pent-up frustration he had accumulated over the years.
However, when they reached the stage of practicing entering Sage Mode, both found it extraordinarily difficult. Hashirama was nearly driven mad by the ordeal.
They had to jump into what resembled a pool of strong acid to soak. His eyes, nose, ears, every inch of skin was corroded by the acid, torturing him unbearably. Only by channeling natural energy throughout his body could he slow it down.
This forced him to constantly maintain its use and strengthen his control.
...…
"You two can finally absorb and utilize natural energy proficiently. If it weren't for Hashirama's unique physique, I wouldn't have had the patience to teach you. Now, go to Mount Myōboku."
Madara just sneered, about to speak.
"Thank you, Slug Sage, for your patient guidance. I will fulfill my promise!" Hashirama stopped Madara, who was about to retort. "Time waits for no one. Let's go!"
They exited the cave…
Madara kept a cold face the entire time, remaining silent.
"Mad at me? They helped us a lot, after all. It was just a bit of venting."
Madara said, clearly displeased: "That mere old insect, calling itself a Sage. If it weren't actually useful, I'd have split it in two long ago! How dare it drive us away!"
"Slap!" Hashirama slapped his own forehead hard, utterly speechless.
"Alright, it was wrong. For this visit to the Great Toad Sage, let me do all the talking."
Madara turned his head away.
Seeing this, Hashirama changed the subject: "I wonder where Black Zetsu is hiding now…"
A day's travel brought them to a certain pool in the Land of Fire…
They plunged in and dived deep. A strange thing happened: the passage grew narrower but had no end.
Water currents carrying massive boulders slammed into them. Madara and Hashirama used techniques to break through, emerging from the water in a sorry state!
The moment they broke the surface, Hashirama gasped for air, nearly suffocating inside and becoming the most pathetic reincarnate.
"Huff, huff… I'm never trusting you again." Madara had also reached his limit.
He coughed violently from choking on water: "I didn't think the passageway would be so un-traversable."
They had used the same route Shima took during the "Pain's Invasion" in the original story.
"So, this is Mount Myōboku…" Hashirama looked around.
The leaves of the giant plants were the size of eaves, with strange, pointed bud-like shapes that looked like houses?
They were scattered on the cliffs, with several waterfalls in the distance cutting through the dark green forest like silver chains.
The sounds of insects and flowing water intertwined.
"Welcome, esteemed strong ones!" Two small, middle-aged toads suddenly jumped in front of them, all smiles.
"I'm Fukasaku. This is my wife, Shima. The Great Toad Sage foresaw your arrival and specifically ordered us to welcome you."
"Oh?" Madara was slightly surprised: "Seems that toad has some skill. His attitude isn't bad either, much better than that old insect."
"Uh… hehe." The two toads broke out in a cold sweat, unsure how to respond.
Hashirama didn't make things difficult for them. He spoke gently: "I suppose you know why we're here? Lead the way, and we can talk as we walk."
They immediately started hopping forward.
"Apologies, but we don't actually know. The Great Sage only occasionally glimpses fragments of the future in his dreams."
"Actually, we came to learn Mount Myōboku's methods for utilizing natural energy."
Fukasaku paused briefly, then continued hopping: "Then perhaps the Great Sage wishes to understand something about you. Matters like learning Sage Arts are generally too trivial for him to concern himself with."
After traversing deep forests and wastelands, they arrived at a large cave in the mountain.
Madara couldn't help but complain: "Why is it always a cave? They are just animals, after all."
Hashirama seemed to understand: "I think it's because it's less likely to disrupt natural energy this way and also improves absorption efficiency."
Shima chimed in: "That's right, young man. You're perceptive."
Just then, the large red elderly toad ahead spoke: "You've arrived just in time. Before I fall into slumber, let's get straight to the point!"
"I am Gamamaru. In my youth, I instructed Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths, in learning Sage Arts."
Upon hearing this, Madara immediately dropped his prejudice, his expression turning extremely serious: "How can you prove that?"
"Those people are long gone. I need not prove anything. Now, this is the important part!
Recently, I saw two scenes in my dreams. One showed a future where two people changed the world's structure. Using their immense power and methods, they completely ended the conflicts and unified the world, achieving true peace!
The two coordinated perfectly. Although one of them experienced doubt, they found their resolve again. Together, they ushered in a golden age!"
At this, Madara felt a hint of confusion: "Lost in doubt? Is that about Hashirama?"
"You two are the protagonists of this story…"
Before they could feel happy, the Great Toad Sage's tone shifted: "However, the peace did not last long. Another scene showed a world laid to waste…
Uchiha Madara lay fallen in a pool of blood, his eye sockets empty.
Senju Hashirama had become like a mummified corpse…
Countless bodies surrounded them, and a dark silhouette floated in the sky. I awoke abruptly before I could see it clearly."
"What?!"
"Nani?!"
Both were stunned after hearing this!
"Impossible! With our power, there's no one in this world who can defeat us!"
Madara, enraged, stomped his foot. The ground cracked in several places instantly, and a few small toads were flung by the shockwave, crashing into the rock wall with "ribbit" cries of pain!
A blue skeletal chakra construct materialized behind him, and gravel from the cave ceiling began to fall.
"Absolutely absurd! Nonsense!" His crimson Mangekyō Sharingan fixed on the Great Toad Sage.
Fukasaku and Shima immediately jumped in front of Gamamaru, hands clasped together, watching Madara warily.
Shima croaked twice, and a "barrier" swiftly rose, deflecting the impact from the chakra skeleton.
Hashirama clenched his fists, his mind racing as he tried to recall the original story…
"A Divine Tree human? Ōtsutsuki Isshiki? Or Shibai? What is it?" His agitation grew to the point of near hysteria.
"Hey, are you alright?" A low, concerned voice suddenly reached his ears – Madara's.
He snapped back to reality, shaking his head: "I'm fine. I was just…"
"Hashirama, you're losing your composure. ~ No matter who it is, as long as we're strong enough, the prophecy will be broken!"
"Ahem!" The Great Toad Sage interrupted them: "Don't worry. That is likely something that will happen many years from now. We still have a chance. Make any request you have."
"We?"
"Indeed. No one can escape a world-level disaster like this. Mount Myōboku will naturally provide its full support. I will also inform the other two Sages to do their utmost to help you. However, this is the extent of what I can do. I ask for your understanding."
Hashirama grumbled inwardly: 'This is all you can do? How come you didn't mention the revival talisman you gave Hagoromo back then?'
Madara, hearing this, finally deactivated his Susanoo while retorting forcefully: "You creatures should just attach yourselves to the strong!"
"Uh… I said I'd handle the negotiations."
"You'd better stop putting on that pathetic act. You are the man who defeated me! Got it!"
"Hehe…" Hashirama gave an awkward smile: "Thank you for your concern. I've thought it through! Those were merely possible futures. Since we know about them, we won't let it happen!"
Madara's eyes showed satisfaction, his stern expression finally easing slightly.
"By the way, Great Toad Sage, what did the eyes of Uchiha Madara you saw look like?"
"Hmm~ I recall they had red patterns."
"I understand." Hashirama thought: 'Good. The Rinnegan needs to be prioritized!
But what's most important now is increasing our strength! We need to speed up our progress.' Hashirama began forming hand signs.
Wood Style: Wood Clone Technique!
Eight more wooden figures shot out from behind Hashirama, quickly transforming into his likeness, each scattering in a different direction!
"Let's start according to the original plan for now…"
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