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The allied forces' encampment.
In the central clearing of the Konoha shinobi's stationed area, a bonfire crackled brightly. Above the flames, skewers of roasted wild rabbits sizzled, their crimson skins glistening with dripping fat that hissed as it hit the fire.
Madara and Hashirama sat comfortably beside the bonfire, each holding a bottle of sake, occasionally raising them for a mutual drink.
Meanwhile, Izuna and Tobirama sat stiffly beside their respective brothers, their expressions dark, their auras simmering like dormant volcanoes on the verge of eruption.
The rest of the camp's occupants instinctively kept their distance, though they couldn't resist stealing occasional glances in their direction.
"How many years has it been since we last drank together, Madara?"
Hashirama's cheeks were faintly flushed with intoxication as he raised his bottle in a toast before taking another swig.
At these words, Izuna's expression darkened another shade, his icy gaze boring into Hashirama with lethal intensity.
"Hah." Madara scoffed. "Who would bother remembering something like that?"
He then tilted his head back and drank deeply.
"Fair enough." Hashirama chuckled good-naturedly.
He reached over, plucked one of the roasted rabbits from the fire, tore it in half, and handed one portion to Madara.
Madara wrinkled his nose in distaste but ultimately accepted it.
"I'm really glad to see you again, Madara."
Hashirama's face was smeared with grease, yet his smile was utterly genuine.
The moment those words left his mouth, the cracks on Tobirama's face seemed to deepen further. His glare at Madara was so full of disdain it was practically overflowing.
"Yeah." Madara responded dismissively.
As for Tobirama, Madara had always treated him as nothing more than air, completely indifferent to his glares.
But Izuna was nearly bursting with rage.
Damn you, Senju Tobirama. How dare you look at my brother like that?
Without hesitation, he shot back a glare on his brother's behalf.
Their eyes finally met.
In that instant, malice surged in both their gazes, killing intent erupting like a storm. Each wished for the other's immediate and permanent disappearance.
As they locked eyes, Izuna suddenly smirked, his gaze flickering meaningfully toward the shattered remains of Tobirama's right shoulder—where his arm should have been.
His lips curled in mockery as he silently mouthed:
"Hah. One-handed freak."
Tobirama's crimson eyes flared like molten lava, his murderous aura thickening into something almost tangible.
Izuna remained unfazed, continuing his silent but relentless taunting.
Madara, sensing the disturbance, exchanged a glance with Hashirama. Both promptly decided to pretend they hadn't noticed their little brothers' antics.
"So, about your plans from now on…"
Hashirama deliberately avoided discussing the rights and wrongs of their past.
He knew Madara well enough—such conversations would be meaningless to him.
Especially now that Izuna was back by his side.
But even as he broached the topic of the future, he could already read Madara's expression. The answer was clear.
"Of course, that's the choice you'd make, Madara."
Hashirama casually tossed aside the bones he'd finished gnawing on and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
Then he sighed. "I've always believed we belong to history now. The future should be left to the younger generation. We have to trust them, Madara."
"Hah."
Madara scoffed at Hashirama's words.
"You always overthink things, Hashirama." He tilted his chin up, looking down at him. "I do what I want because I want to. I'm not like you—hesitating at every turn!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Hashirama threw his head back and laughed. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I should be a little more reckless too!"
Madara didn't respond, though a faint smirk tugged at his lips.
Meanwhile, Tobirama's glare at Madara was that of a disapproving father watching a bad influence corrupt his child.
And then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught Izuna's latest silent taunt aimed directly at him.
"Trash."
Seeing Izuna's mocking grin, veins bulged across Tobirama's forehead, his chakra surging uncontrollably.
Just as he was about to snap—
Uchiha Kaito appeared soundlessly beside the bonfire.
"Hm? Food? Perfect, I'm starving!"
Without a hint of shame for intruding, he calmly took a seat beside Madara.
Then, without ceremony, he grabbed one of the roasted rabbits, tore off a leg, and took a bite.
"Hss… huff…"
He blew on the steaming meat, chewed, and swallowed.
Just as he was about to take another bite, he suddenly looked up, puzzled by the others' expressions.
"What's wrong?" He lifted the rabbit leg. "Why aren't you eating?"
"Hahaha, Madara and I already had our fill."
Hashirama waved a hand, raising his sake bottle to clink it against Madara's before taking another drink.
"Izuna-senpai?" Kaito turned to Izuna.
Izuna had been about to snap that he didn't need to eat, but then a thought struck him.
"I'll have some!!"
He reached over Madara, yanked the other leg off Kaito's rabbit, and began eating with exaggerated relish—all while smirking victoriously at Tobirama.
Hah! Edo Tensei! Can't eat, can you?!
Tobirama, along with the other three, instantly deciphered the taunt from his expression.
How childish!
Kaito internally rolled his eyes, pretending not to notice as he focused on his meal.
Madara and Hashirama also averted their gazes, continuing to drink as if nothing had happened—leaving Tobirama to suffer Izuna's provocations alone.
Fortunately, before long, Tsunade and Jiraiya approached from a distance, their faces weary.
At the sound of footsteps, Izuna and Tobirama instantly schooled their expressions back to stoic seriousness.
Catching this out of the corner of his eye, Kaito stifled a laugh.
"Grandfather!"
Tsunade called out to Hashirama from afar.
"Tsunade! Come here."
Hashirama immediately beamed, waving her over.
Seeing his smile, Tsunade seemed to revert to her childhood self, jogging over to plop down beside him.
Her unusually bright grin left Jiraiya staring, dumbstruck.
"Hm?"
Hashirama studied Jiraiya thoughtfully before suddenly turning to Tsunade.
"Tsunade, are you married?"
"No."
Her mood instantly deflated.
"Ah…" Hashirama scratched his head awkwardly. "You're not exactly young anymore, are you?"
Tsunade's head drooped, veins throbbing at her temples.
Watching her reaction, Hashirama grew even more flustered.
"Ahahaha…"
He forced a laugh, then pointed at Jiraiya. "I thought maybe this guy was your husband!"
"Ahahaha!"
Jiraiya burst into laughter, his expression both lecherous and bashful.
"M-Me? Oh no, no, I'm just Tsunade's teammate!"
Yet, no one missed the longing in his voice.
"Even if you're my grandfather…"
Tsunade's head snapped up, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles cracked.
"…I'll still punch you for that!!"
Kaito, sensing danger, swiftly grabbed the remains of his rabbit and vanished.
As the earth-shattering boom of Tsunade's punch echoed behind him, he shook his head and slipped into the forest bordering the camp.
---
Mountaintop.
No sooner had Kaito settled onto a tree branch to finish his meal than a faint whoosh of movement rustled the leaves beside him.
The branch trembled slightly as two figures landed gracefully.
"You two followed me?" He turned to see Madara and Izuna standing on the adjacent branch.