Sarutobi Hiruzen led Kiyosuke through a dense forest, speaking as they walked.
"Before the Second took over as Hokage, he was very fond of researching strange and unusual things. Much like your teacher, Orochimaru. In fact, Orochimaru's idol when he was young was always the Second."
"Uh… well, that hasn't really changed."
Orochimaru's idol was indeed Senju Tobirama. Even if he later turned that idol into a puppet, it didn't diminish his worship of him.
"Is that so? You've kept in touch with him, haven't you?"
"Yeah. Sometimes I go to him with questions, or ask for help with experiments."
Kiyosuke wasn't hiding it. Orochimaru was a lunatic who pursued truth at any cost. Dangerous to deal with, yet not always dangerous.
And besides, Orochimaru treated his disciple fairly well.
"I see. So you really are special to him, Kiyosuke." Hiruzen chuckled warmly.
Back then, letting Orochimaru take Kiyosuke as a disciple had been a matter of principle—genius shouldn't go to waste. Orochimaru was the one who could teach him how to fully wield his power.
And that had turned out for the best.
They continued through the forest until they reached a massive, towering tree.
Its trunk was so thick that a dozen people would need to join hands to encircle it. Branches stretched out in a vast canopy.
Hiruzen cleared his throat, crouched down, and began forming hand seals. Soon, the tree trunk revealed an opening large enough for a person to enter.
A musty, ancient stench wafted out, foul and suffocating.
"How long has it been since you were last here?" Kiyosuke wrinkled his nose at the smell.
"The last time… was when I came to confirm Uchiha Madara's remains," Hiruzen replied. He formed a Wind Release technique, blowing air inside to ventilate the place.
After the stench dispersed somewhat, he led Kiyosuke in.
With a wave of his hand, flames ignited the torches along the walls, casting light through the long, dark corridor.
They walked underground for four or five minutes before reaching a sealed chamber.
On the door was written the character for "secret," surrounded by a web of sealing formulae.
"Release."
The seal was undone, and the two entered. Inside, the air was cold and chilling, utterly different from outside. A few stone pillars supported the chamber.
At its center rested a coffin. The lid was ajar, revealing it to be empty.
"This place originally housed Uchiha Madara's body," Hiruzen explained. "After your warning, I came to check… only to find it gone. That's when I realized—whether it was the First, the Second, or even us—we were all fooled. Truly worthy of the title, the Shura of the Shinobi World, Uchiha Madara."
No… battlefield rose might be more fitting…
Kiyosuke thought it but didn't say it aloud.
Hiruzen moved to a shelf at the side, brushing dust off the many scrolls stored there. He searched, then pulled one out and handed it to Kiyosuke.
"This is it. A fragment of Madara's flesh sealed here by the Second. After his death, we never touched it again."
"And Danzō really never had any interest in this?"
"The true value of the Uchiha clan lies in the Sharingan, not in flesh and blood. Only the First's cells hold real importance."
"Oh? That's why you people cut the First into pieces, then?"
Even in death, Senju Hashirama's cells lived on, and caused no shortage of trouble.
Of course, that was the handiwork of Tobirama's disciples. None more ruthless than they.
And Kiyosuke didn't believe for a second it happened without Hiruzen's approval.
In pursuit of restoring Wood Release's might, Hiruzen had sanctioned plenty. It was just Danzō who ended up carrying the blame. The old fox was sly like that.
Hiruzen's face stiffened. He coughed, muttering, "I never wanted to… but everything I did was for Konoha."
Kiyosuke didn't press him. He accepted the scroll, smiling.
"Thanks, Third. I'll be careful."
"I hope you can keep him under control."
"Probably."
Kiyosuke chuckled. His eyes wandered to the shelves.
"These are all the Second's research notes?"
"Yes. His studies on the Sharingan."
"Oh."
Kiyosuke had expected something significant, but the moment he heard "Sharingan," his interest evaporated.
He already understood enough about it. Knowing its mechanics was more than enough.
Still, Tobirama truly was remarkable. To have uncovered both the origins of the Sharingan and the principles behind the Mangekyō Sharingan… no wonder Orochimaru idolized him.
"Alright then, that's enough for now. I'll go perform Edo Tensei on Madara. By the way, give me one of the condemned prisoners from Konoha's cells. I'll need one."
"That can be arranged. But… are you certain you can keep Uchiha Madara in check?" Hiruzen asked gravely.
He could not allow that man to endanger the world again. Madara was simply too dangerous.
"Of course, of course. I won't let him revive in his prime," Kiyosuke said, grinning. He wasn't stupid.
There were several reasons Edo Tensei could fail to control its subject.
Sometimes, the user's understanding of the technique was incomplete. Sometimes, the reincarnated soul's emotions were too strong and they willingly severed ties to the world.
The caster also needed to know how to end the summoning.
And then there was the third case—when the soul's power was simply too overwhelming to bind.
Uchiha Madara was exactly that. When Kabuto revived him, the instant Madara opened his eyes, he slipped free of control.
Once a monster is loosed from its cage, chaining it again is near impossible.
What's worse, he knew the seal to end Edo Tensei. Binding him required far more than ordinary measures.
Fortunately, Kiyosuke had obtained Orochimaru's binding formulae, and even improved them. They would hold Madara's body and spirit in place.
On top of that, he would deliberately suppress Madara's power, weakening him to the point where he could beat him down at will.
"Better if you strip him of the ability to fight entirely," Hiruzen said.
"Yes, yes, I know. I'll be careful. I'll perform the jutsu in Ryūchi Cave. With the White Snake Sage present, he won't be able to stir up any trouble."
At the mention of the White Snake Sage, Hiruzen relaxed slightly. He knew well of the Three Great Sages. With the White Snake Sage overseeing things, Madara wouldn't escape.
Ryūchi Cave was not a place just anyone could enter.
"Good. But still, be cautious in all things."
"I understand," Kiyosuke nodded. He knew better than to take it lightly.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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