"Tch, you're always like this…" Madara shook his head helplessly. "I'll take care of it quickly. Anything else I should keep in mind?"
Teaming up with Tobirama was indeed comfortable—every angle covered, nothing to worry about at all.
But it was almost too comfortable…
For a shinobi, when all intelligence had already been grasped by the enemy, the battle was already half lost…
Especially with someone like Tobirama, who had even dug up the secret techniques others were still researching—it left Madara at a loss for words.
He had digested Indra's chakra, gained Hashirama's cells, mastered Wood Release, instant healing, and Sage Mode…
And even intelligence was fully in hand.
If he still couldn't make it through the other hidden villages unscathed, Madara felt he'd have no face to return home and see Tobirama and Izunai again…
"Same as Hashirama said—don't kill too many people. And also, try not to kill the enemy leaders. Leave them alive."
Tobirama waved his hand. "If we want the shinobi from other villages to submit, we need to put on a show afterward—soften our methods a little."
"Those enemy leaders can't die yet. I still have use for them."
Madara nodded. "Don't worry, I understand…"
And so, the war to end the chaotic age began.
To say it 'began' was really just Madara, in his full power, facing the combined counterattack of the entire shinobi world…
While Tobirama and Izunai roamed across the lands of the shinobi world, as if on a sightseeing tour of a zoo, casually capturing all nine Tailed Beasts along the way.
From that day on—
The alliance armies, who had brimmed with heroic spirit and thought that even with Uchiha and Senju united they might not be defeated, finally came to know what true power was…
When the gigantic Buddha of Wood Release, clad in Susanoo's armor and surging with Sage chakra, descended, the shinobi of the outer villages felt as if the very sky had collapsed.
Was that truly power a human could wield?
With only three strikes, the allied army's dream of ruling the shinobi world was shattered…
Uchiha Madara's path of conquest was swift. For him, the greatest difficulty lay in following Tobirama's request—to kill as few as possible, and to leave the enemy leaders alive.
After all, his brother-in-law had said they were useful…
Though Madara couldn't see what value such trash could hold, since Tobirama had asked it, he would find a way to do it.
...
A few days later.
"The last Tailed Beast is captured… I wonder how Brother is doing? Honestly, sometimes I worry he might go overboard…"
Sitting side by side atop the Nine-Tails' furry head, Izunai spoke with concern. "After all, the power you gave him is too strong…"
Tobirama smiled. "It's fine… if he goes overboard, then let it serve as training for my brother-in-law. But I believe he's a man who can control his own strength."
Having seen Kazuki take part in war, Tobirama had good resistance in this regard.
The Susanoo-Buddha infused with Sage arts was fierce indeed…
But a certain Kazuki-sama, who preferred not to be named, had once taken weapons named Tobirama No.1 and No.2, and with ordinary ninjutsu in an instant sent tens of thousands to the Pure Land…
In terms of efficiency and sheer shock, Madara's Susanoo could not compare to Kazuki back then.
Besides, for Tobirama, this was also a process of testing Madara's mind…
Even after gaining such immense power, if Madara could restrain his urge to kill, it would prove he was indeed a worthy Hokage candidate.
"Let's go home, Izunai… Madara has written. Seems he's enjoying himself quite a bit…" Tobirama's mind stirred as the newly established Communication and Sensing Department sent him the report.
"Let's go… though, this doesn't really count as a honeymoon, does it?" Izunai shot Tobirama a sideways glance and muttered: "We might be sightseeing, but it's still a mission…"
"Of course not. I've already chosen the honeymoon destination…" A strange light flickered in Tobirama's eyes as he spoke gently: "I'll take you there…"
Izunai nodded in delight, warmth blooming in her heart, though a faint anxiety lingered—how could she possibly support such a perfect husband?
And the honeymoon destination Tobirama spoke of was naturally the shinobi world where Kazuki dwelled.
Once the matter of Shibai's Withered Bones was settled—
He would take Izunai home! Back to his true home…
...
In the newly founded Konohagakure.
Tobirama looked at the still-unsatisfied Uchiha Madara and asked with a smile, "Is everything already taken care of?"
"Too easy. I can only say there was no challenge at all… my power is far too great. Seems only Hashirama can give me real excitement!"
Uchiha Madara waved his hand. "Just as planned. At most, I killed about one or two thousand, merely wiped out their settlements. As for those leaders, most are probably still alive… honestly, before my Complete Susanoo combined with Wood Release and Sage Art, they were nothing but ants."
Tobirama nodded knowingly, feeling a trace of relief inside.
As expected of Uchiha Madara… even after I enhanced his power so much, when faced with the sudden surge of strength, he could still keep his mind steady.
Letting him serve as this Hokage, for now, there shouldn't be any problem.
"I've dealt with the nine Tailed Beasts. It's time to let Hashirama do his part. This is the project he should handle…"
Tobirama instructed Senju Momoka beside him, "Tell Hashirama there's no need for him to do anything special—just approach these Tailed Beasts with his usual mindset, and try to befriend them…"
"I understand, Tobirama-sama…"
But just as he was about to leave, Tobirama called him back again.
"Also, don't let Hashirama say things like 'you're too dangerous' to the Tailed Beasts. With the power he has after I injected him with Uchiha cells, they're nothing more than cute little animals…"
"Do you understand?"
Senju Momoka nodded blankly.
Leaving aside the fact that Tailed Beasts are natural disasters, would Hashirama-sama really say such things? Fierce as they are, before that man they really are nothing…
Momoka had seen with his own eyes, during the construction of the Uchiha and Senju compounds, just how terrifying the might of that Great Buddha was.
Even the Tailed Beasts were probably nothing more than things in the palm of that Thousand-Armed Great Buddha.
But since it was Tobirama's order, no matter how many doubts Momoka had, he obeyed and promised he would deliver the message.
'I've already laid down sealing techniques inherited from Kazuki on all nine Tailed Beasts… with the Six Paths power I just awakened, not to mention Madara and Hashirama, even someone on the level of Isshiki or Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo couldn't break them unless they used life-burning methods…'
Tobirama glanced at the Tailed Beasts sitting in rows outside and smiled.
Hashirama wasn't suited for negotiating with humans. Humans are full of scheming, using morality as a weapon, always trapping the inherently kind Hashirama in others' words.
Even if nowadays neither Uchiha Madara nor Tobirama would ever give those people such chances, there was no need to risk it.
But in dealing with the Tailed Beasts, Hashirama was different.
Compared to others, Hashirama's straightforward nature let him get along with them well.
This wasn't Tobirama hinting—Hashirama was basically a large, human-shaped Tailed Beast, brains included.
Before the Ōtsutsuki clan invaded, the combat strength of this alternate timeline had already been locked down by Tobirama. No further accidents would occur.
The rest was only, as promised to Izunai, building a peaceful village together.
Tobirama was left with one last critical matter—to prove he was still sharp, still able to act for Kazuki!
To seize Shibai's corpse.
"Why did you spare the lives of those shinobi clan leaders?" Uchiha Madara glanced at Senju Tobirama. "It's not that I have a prejudice against you, I just feel you shouldn't be this merciful…"
"It's not mercy." Senju Tobirama shook his head and said with a smile: "If we killed even their leaders, the rest would only think we came with the intent to wipe them out. Even if they wouldn't dare resist in the face of power, it would still turn into a troublesome situation… Defeated soldiers scattering, hiding with hatred in their hearts… Killing them wouldn't be hard, but I don't think you or Hashirama want to be such butchers, do you?
Uchiha Madara let out a grunt, showing his agreement.
That was true…
With Hashirama's mentality, he would never allow Tobirama or him to exterminate those who couldn't even count as worthy opponents.
Even for Uchiha Madara himself, what he loved was the clash of equals, not mowing down grass with Susanoo.
Madara suddenly felt that Senju Tobirama was indeed worthy of being Senju Tobirama.
Even in the matter of killing, he thought things through in such detail.
"As for those leaders, we'll kill them during the negotiations."
But just as Madara was thinking this, Tobirama's words threw him completely off.
After all that careful reasoning, he still planned to kill them!
What kind of game was this?
One moment killing, the next moment sparing, it left the young Uchiha Madara's head steaming.
"Are you kidding me?" Uchiha Madara glared at Senju Tobirama. "If you kill them at the meeting, won't that just terrify everyone below?"
"Look at you, getting all worked up."
Senju Tobirama waved cheerfully, his eyes narrowing with mystery. "The dead are sometimes more useful than the living…"
"Just follow my lead. Don't worry, I'll make sure you're satisfied."
Beside them, Uchiha Izunai couldn't help but smile sweetly at Tobirama's confident expression.
She loved seeing him like this!
Uchiha Madara nodded, half convinced, though he still felt this bastard Senju Tobirama was just messing with him…
But since Izunai had already voiced support, what else could he do?
Still, Madara sneered inwardly.
If, after Tobirama killed those leaders at the talks, the entire shinobi world plunged into turmoil…
Madara planned to—!
—Well, just give him a good scolding or two… after all, he was family now.