Greetings, readers:
Thank you for reading this fan-made work...
...
68 B.N. December 18
The morning sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of trees, illuminating the riverbank where the three young boys had gathered once again. The water flowed peacefully, reflecting the palpable sense of relief in the atmosphere.
Hashirama and Madara stood beside Tsunayoshi, looking at the little Vongola leader with a mixture of gratitude and renewed respect.
"Hey, Tsuna... thank you so much for saving our brothers," Hashirama said, his voice trembling with emotion as he bowed his upper body slightly in a sincere gesture of gratitude.
Madara nodded silently, echoing his rival's words with an unusually gentle expression.
Tsuna, with his characteristic humility, waved his hands shyly and brushed off the matter. "No, you guys don't have to thank me... Besides, you help me a lot with my training. But I suppose everything happens for a reason. Sometimes it's fate, you know?"
"Fate?" Madara repeated, raising an eyebrow curiously.
"Yeah, fate," Tsuna replied with a nostalgic smile. "It's one of those philosophical reflections the Rain Guardian always brings up... But think about it: what are the chances that both of you would suffer the same tragedy involving your younger brothers at the same time, and that I would happen to be here to help you? It's fate bringing our paths together."
The two future leaders fell silent for a moment. They glanced at each other, puzzled yet deeply thoughtful about the profound meaning behind their little friend's words. For a long time, because of his clumsy attitude and harmless appearance, they had underestimated Tsunayoshi, seeing him as childish and cowardly. However, moments like this showed that the boy possessed a wisdom and sensitivity far beyond his years.
Madara let out a slow sigh, relaxing his shoulders as a genuine smile spread across his face. "Honestly... I feel so fortunate that I didn't lose my brothers. It was an absolute miracle that Nie could save their lives with such an incredible jutsu. It's something no ordinary clan could accomplish in the midst of this endless war."
"You're absolutely right, Madara," Hashirama agreed, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. "I'm also happy they're still alive, and I'll be grateful to Mr. Nie for the rest of my life."
The pair felt as though they had ignited a flame that would change the course of history. Tsuna said goodbye with a friendly gesture.
"Well, guys... I'm glad I could help. I'll leave you two to keep talking. I have training with Visconti."
"Wait, Tsuna!" Hashirama exclaimed as he saw him turn around. "Thank you so much again for everything! Your ideas are incredible, Tsuna."
Madara also bowed his head with genuine respect. "Yes, Tsuna... Thank you so much for giving us this perspective. You're amazing."
Tsuna blushed slightly, rubbing the back of his neck modestly with an embarrassed smile. "N-No, I'm not that great. I just said what I thought. See you later!"
And with his characteristic lightheartedness, little Tsuna walked away along the forest path, leaving the two young boys behind.
"Wow, I never imagined one of his ideas could go so far. Tsuna is really special, don't you think, Madara?" Hashirama murmured thoughtfully, gazing down the path.
"Yeah, that's true. I hope his abilities are as impressive as his ideas," Madara exclaimed.
Hashirama's enthusiasm subsided, and he replied.
—That's true…
…
February 10, 65 B.N.
Two years had passed since that encounter. The childhood of the three boys was defined by hardship amid the brutal reality of the Warring States Period. A bitter and gloomy year had descended upon the Land of Fire: territorial disputes had intensified, and a severe economic crisis had hit the clans hard, sparking bloody clashes in every corner of the continent.
The dense forest bordering the trade routes of the Land of Fire was shrouded in deep gloom, interrupted only by rays of sunlight filtering through the treetops. The most powerful clans knew all too well how to exploit the weaknesses of others. The Uchiha clan, always strict and calculating, operated with ingenious precision.
Hidden among the undergrowth, the Uchiha reconnaissance and assault team watched in silence. At the forefront stood Madara Uchiha, the eldest, whose imposing presence and absolute seriousness embodied the group's protection and ironclad leadership. Beside him stood Izuna Uchiha, his younger brother and right-hand man, renowned for his tactical cunning. Next came Hikaru, the third brother, known as the heart of the group, a young man of noble and kind nature who, paradoxically, bore the burden of being considered the most fragile when it came to the art of war.
Finally, bringing up the rear of the squad, were the two youngest brothers: Gaku and Nao (the fourth and fifth, respectively). They were precisely the children whom the Sun Guardian, Nie Brown Jr., had saved from the clutches of death two years earlier using his prodigious healing technique. After standing on the brink of death and being reborn through the healing eggs produced by the turtle's summoning technique, Gaku and Nao's vitality burned with unusual intensity. Their life force was so pure that, fueled by the trauma of their near-death experience, it had allowed them to awaken the Sharingan even before their older brother Hikaru. Now, both possessed a level of skill and combat ability that placed them almost on par with Izuna himself.
Madara raised a gloved hand, signaling for everyone to stop. The entire group crouched among the bushes.
"Pay close attention, boys," Madara whispered in a deep, sharp voice as he surveyed the terrain. "According to the reports, there was a caravan transporting valuable resources along another road far from here. We're here in case it changes course and takes the road that crosses territory disputed by other clans. We have to be quick and precise. Understand the gravity of this."
Everyone nodded silently, understanding the orders.
"Izuna and I will take the vanguard," Madara continued, outlining the strategy with his gaze. "Nao and Gaku, you'll cover the rear in case there are hidden escorts. And Hikaru... you'll stay in the formation as support."
The words hit Hikaru like a bucket of ice water. The young Uchiha clenched his teeth, feeling a pang of bitterness in his chest. Before his younger brothers awakened the Sharingan, things had usually been different; he was the one who patrolled or covered the active flanks. However, ever since Gaku and Nao had undergone their ocular evolution, he felt that his strength had fallen behind in his older brother's eyes, as though Madara had lost confidence in his abilities.
Even so, with the maturity and kindness that characterized him, Hikaru swallowed his frustration, accepting his new and diminished position in the squad's hierarchy. He lowered his gaze for a moment and nodded.
"Yes, brother... I'll do it from the rear," Hikaru replied in a barely audible voice.
Madara nodded solemnly, not fully noticing the emotional weight he had just placed on his third brother's shoulders.
"Good... get ready. Now."
With a fluid movement, Madara leaped down from the branch and threw a smoke bomb directly in front of the commercial carriage's path.
Poof!
A dense gray cloud burst across the road, forcing the driver to pull desperately on the reins. The horses neighed loudly, rearing up before coming to an abrupt stop. As the smoke began to dissipate, the man in the driver's seat watched in terror as silhouettes wearing Uchiha headbands and four pairs of crimson eyes emerged from the thicket, completely surrounding him.
"P-Please! Don't hurt me!" the driver begged, trembling from head to toe as he raised his hands, completely unarmed. "I'm just a decoy! Take whatever you want! I have no one to protect me. I'm just an independent merchant..."
Madara slowly approached the carriage, warily examining his surroundings as he mentally ruled out any possible traps. He frowned.
"How strange... Why would a shipment of this magnitude, even if it were a decoy, have no hired ninja guards?" Madara wondered aloud, crossing his arms. "I assumed it would be somewhat protected. Either these people are far too trusting, or... are we walking into a trap?"
"Or maybe we're simply lucky, brother," Izuna chimed in with a confident smile, stepping forward with one hand resting on the hilt of his katana. "Looks like the enemy left the path clear for us this time. Thanks to me."
"Yeah, sure... Don't get too confident, Izuna," Gaku muttered from behind, scanning the trees with his Sharingan activated, searching for any unusual movement.
Meanwhile, Nao agilely climbed onto the wooden platform of the carriage and lifted the tarp covering the main cargo. His eyes widened in surprise.
"Hey... come take a look at this. Wow, there are high-purity iron ingots everywhere! They look like chakra conductors!" Nao exclaimed with youthful enthusiasm.
Gaku leaped closer, positioning himself beside his brother at the rear of the carriage.
"Let me see, Nao... What else is there besides the iron?"
Nao rummaged through the wooden crates, moving sacks aside.
"Hmm... besides the heavy metals and... uh, some very strange medicinal herbs. Plants I've never seen in the clan's catalogs."
After being saved by Nie, both Gaku and Nao had immersed themselves in the world of healing and Taijutsu. Madara had told them that Nie was an extraordinary martial artist, so Nie had become a guiding influence for both brothers on their path.
Below, beside the carriage wheels, the terrified merchant tried to explain himself:
"T-Those herbs... they're part of a special order. They belong to a merchant who does business with... with the Kaguya clan."
At the mention of that name, the group's expressions grew tense.
"The Kaguya?" Madara repeated, his voice taking on a warning tone.
"Yes, the Kaguya clan..." the driver stammered.
From the rear, Izuna stepped forward, shaking his head with an expression of obvious disgust.
"Ah, that explains it... Those damn lunatics! They're completely insane; they use their own bones in battle. Conventional Taijutsu and standard Fire Release jutsu are practically useless against their regenerative nonsense and steel-like skeletons. What the hell would they want these strange herbs for?"
Madara remained silent, deep in tactical thought. His mind calculated the variables: the metals were useful for forging kunai and katanas for the Uchiha clan, but those herbs specifically intended for the Kaguya could be a strategic resource or a dangerous bargaining chip.
Hikaru leaned over the edge of the carriage and looked at his older brother.
"Brother, I think we should take the iron and metals. They're directly useful to our clan. But we don't know what these Kaguya herbs are used for, and they're not much use to us. Should we leave them behind?"
Izuna, on the other hand, stood out for his calculating and cunning nature. He stepped forward, contradicting Hikaru with a challenging smile.
"You're wrong, Hikaru. Think about it for a moment: if the Kaguya clan needs these herbs so urgently that they're willing to pay a fortune for them and risk their trade routes, that means they have enormous strategic value. Of course we should take them too! We can't leave resources for the enemy."
Gaku crossed his arms at the rear, maintaining a neutral stance.
"Well... I'll stay out of the argument, but one thing I'm certain of is that the metal belongs to us by right of conquest."
Hikaru, feeling the need to contribute something from his more distant position, offered his opinion cautiously:
"I'm not sure... I think Izuna is taking too much of a risk. If these goods are so specific to the Kaguya, carrying them with us might attract too much unwanted attention to our territory. We should destroy them or leave them here."
Madara watched his brothers debate. Their family dynamic was complicated, but as their leader, the final decision rested with him. With a firm gesture, he cut the discussion short:
"That's enough, both of you. We're taking everything. We won't leave a single useful trace for any other scavengers along this road."
The atmosphere grew solemn for a moment. Gaku glanced at the trembling driver, who was still kneeling in the mud and begging for mercy, and asked quite casually:
"Hey... what are we going to do with the driver? He's already given us all the information we needed."
The silence that followed was heavy. In the harsh and merciless Warring States Period, leaving survivors after a ninja raid was equivalent to signing one's own clan's death warrant, as it meant allowing enemies to discover their positions and routes.
Izuna formed a cold smile, drawing his katana a few centimeters from its sheath with a soft metallic click.
"I'll take care of that. Don't worry about the dirty details."
Before the driver could utter a cry for help, a silver flash cut through the air. Seconds later, as the Uchiha squad took the carriage and began making their way back toward their domain, all that remained behind was the sound of the wind echoing through the trees and a single lifeless body lying on the dirt path.
"I can already imagine Dad's expression when he sees this merchandise and realizes we were right about something happening along this road because of all the distractions going on," Izuna said proudly.
Just as the Uchiha squad began maneuvering to secure and take away the carriage with its newly seized cargo, the temperature of the forest air suddenly changed. A chill ran down the young shinobi's backs.
Emerging from the thick morning mist, five imposing shadows materialized directly ahead, completely blocking their escape route. Their footsteps didn't even make the dry leaves crackle; their presence radiated pure, savage, and relentless hostility.
Madara brought the group to an abrupt halt by raising his gloved hand. His jaw immediately tightened, and as his eyes focused on the newcomers through the crimson Sharingan, he frowned with deep suspicion.
"Stop!" Madara ordered in a firm, sharp voice, instinctively placing his fingers on the hilt of his katana. "Who are you?"
One of the five figures, positioned at the front of the enemy squad, stepped forward with a mocking, bloodthirsty smile, waving his arms with complete disregard.
"Mmm... Looks like getting here early to secure the package was a brilliant idea," the leader of the masked men mocked, clicking his tongue disdainfully. "A little longer and you would've stolen what rightfully belongs to the clan."
"Who do you think you are to claim this? Our cargo belongs to the Uchiha now!" Izuna immediately retorted, stepping forward with the vein in his temple throbbing as he assumed a defiant stance.
From the rear, Hikaru narrowed his eyes, carefully examining the intruders' physical features through the shadows. His gaze suddenly stopped on two small, raised marks visible on the men's foreheads.
"Brother... take a good look at their faces," Hikaru warned, gritting his teeth tensely. "Those two raised spots on their foreheads... They're from the Kaguya clan."
"The Kaguya clan...?" Madara repeated, feeling the weight of his brother's warning echo through his mind. They were the battlefield's deranged outcasts, monsters obsessed with direct combat.
"Well, well... No wonder the air reeks of madness," Gaku muttered with a look of contempt, his fighting spirit stirring. "If they're those lunatics the rumors talk about, I don't think they'll let us pass without a fight... Looks like we're going to have to get serious."
Madara let out a deep, weary sigh, closing his eyes for a second as his Uchiha physiology's survival instinct prepared every muscle fiber for combat. His chakra began to flow explosively through his circulatory system, raising his body temperature.
"Don't let your guard down for even a second," Madara ordered in an icy tone, opening his eyes as the crimson of his three-tomoe Sharingan illuminated the gloom. "Their bodies regenerate using pure bone, and their Shikotsumyaku Taijutsu bypasses conventional defenses. Take your positions!"
In the blink of an eye, the skirmish erupted with overwhelming violence, true to the brutal nature of combat during the Warring States Period.
CRASH!
One of the Kaguya clan members launched himself forward with brutal force, emitting broken sounds as his bones shifted. A hardened bone spike, as tough as steel, instantly and grotesquely erupted from the skin of his elbow.
"Die, Uchiha!" the Kaguya roared, bringing down a slash directly toward Madara's neck.
Madara dodged the attack by mere millimeters, feeling the edge of the bone graze strands of his black hair. His reaction speed, enhanced by the Sharingan's heightened perception, allowed him to spin on his axis and counterattack with a powerful side kick, driven by sheer force and momentum, straight into the aggressor's ribs.
Bam!
The impact sounded like a blow against solid rock. The Kaguya barely staggered a couple of centimeters, laughing maniacally as the fibers of his body instantly rearranged themselves.
"Hahaha! That kick tickled!" the attacker roared, lunging forward again.
A few meters away, the battle split into dynamic fronts, following the classic tactics of ninja combat. Izuna moved like a silver specter, dodging bone thrusts with millimeter-perfect feints.
"Don't think you're invincible just because you've got dog bones!" Izuna snapped, swiftly weaving a sequence of hand seals. "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu! (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique)."
An immense sphere of fire erupted from Izuna's mouth, illuminating the entire forest clearing with its scorching heat as it rushed straight toward the second Kaguya's face. Far from retreating, the enemy crossed his arms in front of his chest, causing a dense armor of compressed bone to emerge and act as an impenetrable heat shield. The flames swept across the area, kicking up ashes and black smoke, but the Kaguya emerged from the fire with slightly burned skin, his eyes blazing with uncontrollable fury.
"My turn!" Gaku shouted, taking advantage of his opponent's momentary confusion.
Gaku and Nao naturally possessed chakra flows and physical abilities far superior to the average for their age. Gaku appeared behind the Kaguya with feline agility, wielding a chakra-reinforced kunai. His body had reached that position thanks to the two-tomoe Sharingan he had awakened after his traumatic near-death experience, just like his brother Nao. This allowed him to read his enemies more effectively.
"Never neglect your rear!" Gaku exclaimed, driving his weapon with surgical precision into the enemy's shoulder joint, right where the bone density was weakest.
The Kaguya let out a muffled cry of pain when he realized that his natural armor had failed against the young Uchiha's millimeter-perfect precision.
Meanwhile, Nao covered the other flank with astonishing speed. Working in perfect coordination with Hikaru, who launched shuriken along curved trajectories and deployed trap wires from his support position, they managed to immobilize a third opponent's legs.
"Got you!" Nao shouted, pulling hard on the wires to throw the Kaguya off balance and send him crashing onto the damp earth of the path.
Madara, recognizing the tactical opportunity, appeared above the main enemy like a flash, his brow furrowed with the intensity of the confrontation. His katana gleamed with a lethal flash.
"The game is over. Your madness ends here," Madara declared with absolute coldness.
The clash of metal and the tension in the air reached a boiling point. Just as Madara was about to deliver the finishing blow and end the battle, an unexpected flash changed the course of events: with a subtle yet astonishingly swift movement, the enemy dodged the blade, spun around, and skillfully severed the taut wires Nao and Hikaru had used to restrain their captured companion, freeing him in a fraction of a second.
"Looks like these brats still don't understand just how fierce and deadly the Kaguya clan is," one of the five enemies who had yet to join the fight spat with a sadistic smile, further intensifying the hostility in the air.
The skirmish immediately erupted into savage violence. The burden of the battle fell relentlessly upon the shoulders of the eldest Uchiha. Madara had to step in and face two of them simultaneously, feeling the pressure of the enemy's assault testing every fiber of his endurance. A few meters away, Izuna danced lethally with his own opponent, while Gaku struggled to hold back the fourth adversary. Nao and Hikaru, regarded as the weakest links in the formation in that hell of fire and ash, supported each other as they fought the fifth attacker in a one-on-one battle of attrition.
The air hungered for blood, demanding imminent death. The roar of the battle was deafening, but the balance began to shift in the worst possible way.
The winner would be the one who managed to eliminate their opponent with the help of two allies. That would change the course of the battle.
Or so they thought.
Gaku began to falter alarmingly. His strength was fading, and his opponent surpassed him in several essential aspects. He was the third strongest member of the Kaguya group, becoming an almost insurmountable force despite the young Uchiha having awakened the Sharingan at an unusually early age for his clan.
A lethal move. With terrifying surgical precision, the Kaguya launched one of his hardened bones with the intention of impaling Gaku. The projectile tore through the air and plunged brutally into Gaku's shoulder and leg. He let out a muffled scream before collapsing heavily onto the damp, ash-covered ground of the battlefield.
Time seemed to stand still. The Kaguya raised his weaponized limb, preparing the final, decisive blow that would end the fallen Uchiha's life.
"Gaku!" an echo of desperation roared.
In the blink of an eye, driven by an instinct that transcended fear, Hikaru threw himself into the fray and intercepted the attack. The dull sound of bone piercing flesh echoed cruelly: the projectile pierced straight through part of Hikaru's chest, leaving him gasping as blood filled his breath.
As he witnessed the scene, the world fell silent for Madara. A heart-wrenching roar, born from the depths of an ancestral and visceral hatred, burst from his throat. His eyes, engulfed in a whirlwind of blind fury, blazed with the intensity of purifying fire.
With a violent movement, he drove his katana vertically into the rocky ground to gain momentum, bent his legs, and, using his bestial agility, unleashed a double flying kick in midair. Both feet struck the faces of the opponents surrounding him with tremendous, titanic force, sending them flying several meters backward amid the cracking of broken bones.
Izuna and Nao also forced their opponents to retreat.
Without a second's respite, driven by a furious rage, Madara ripped his sword from the ground and charged with insane speed toward the Kaguya who had wounded Hikaru. The enemy tried to react, but the edge of the Uchiha katana sliced through the air and cleaved straight through him, decapitating and killing the first enemy in this brutal skirmish as his lifeless body fell into the muddy ground.
Upon realizing their comrade's fatal fate and the severity of their brothers' condition, Nao and Izuna broke through their respective opponents' defenses with precise movements and swiftly converged beside Madara. The sight of the first fallen Kaguya unleashed a primal, unrestrained fury in the four remaining enemies, their faces twisting into expressions of pure thirst for vengeance. With savage determination, they launched themselves forward in unison in a deadly assault to crush the Uchiha clan.
Amid that whirlwind of hostility, Madara exchanged a cold, understanding glance with Nao.
"It's time to put an end to this!" Nao roared, his voice filled with cold determination.
A brief, knowing glance was all it took. Nao reached behind his back and drew his war fan. Instantly, he adopted a fluid stance, beginning a ritualistic dance with the fan—a small tactical fan designed to channel elemental chakra with millimeter precision. Meanwhile, Izuna and Madara swiftly crossed their arms, drawing shuriken from their spatial seals and unleashing a torrential rain of shuriken that whistled through the air toward the four Kaguya charging at them in blind fury.
"Try getting through this, you damned freaks!" Izuna roared, his voice broken by rage, moving his hands with such dexterity that his limbs seemed to blur in the air.
Faced with the massive and imposing curtain of deadly projectiles, the Kaguya were forced to abruptly slow their assault, having no choice but to dodge or deflect the blades threatening to pierce their vital points. Taking advantage of that split-second opening, Madara launched himself forward with unprecedented fury, hurling additional shuriken at such dizzying speeds that his limbs became invisible to the enemy's eyes.
"You're going to pay dearly for this!" Madara bellowed, his tone chilling the blood.
Taking advantage of the barrage unleashed by his two older brothers, at that exact moment, Nao's wind ritual reached its climax. The mantra of his Sharingan merged completely with the fan, and, expertly performing hand seals with only one hand, the Uchiha channeled the destructive energy.
"Uchiha Art: Wind Release — Great Ashen Gale!" Nao exclaimed with absolute authority. Bringing the hand forming the seal directly in front of his lips, he unleashed a violent current of air that was instantly amplified by a sharp, precise swing of his fan. A massive torrent of compressed air mixed with incandescent ash particles burst from his mouth and, merging with the gale produced by the fan, shot toward the Kaguya at tremendous speed.
The synergy was immediate and monstrous: Izuna let Madara launch shuriken that gained even greater speed thanks to Nao's Wind Release technique, which then combined with Katon: Flame Vortex Ritual, generating a vertical vortex of fire that absorbed both the shuriken and the wind jutsu.
"It's our turn! Experience the true Uchiha hell!" Madara roared, unleashing his full power.
Joining the combined assault, the eldest Uchiha took a deep breath, puffing out his chest before exhaling his clan's ultimate technique: Katon: Gōka Mekkyaku (Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!), the pinnacle of his clan's fire arts, unleashing a scorching sea of flames. A colossal wall of roaring fire erupted from his position, consuming the oxygen in the surroundings. Beside him, another devastating display of fiery power joined the attack with equal ferocity and synchronization, amplifying the offensive in an unprecedented display.
Nao's Wind Release technique acted as the perfect catalyst. As the jutsu collided, the gale compressed and sucked in the flames, transforming the attack into a concentrated tornado of fire at infernal temperatures. It was a destructive vortex of pure energy that swept across the battlefield with the force of a cataclysm.
Nao's technique served as the ultimate catalyst, compressing and propelling the furious fire tornado in an unprecedented triple combination within the shinobi world.
Upon realizing the monstrous furnace of destruction hurtling toward them, the Kaguya attempted to harden their bone armor as a desperate last resort. It was completely useless. The brutal compression of the wind and the fire's colossal temperature overwhelmed every attempt at defense. Within seconds, the point of impact became a concentrated hell, but for them, time had stopped.
The combined pressure of wind and fire pierced their defenses in the blink of an eye, melting flesh and reducing bones to ashes within seconds. The heat was so intense that the very earth crystallized beneath the impact. When the elemental cataclysm subsided, sepulchral silence returned to the battlefield. The four Kaguya were nothing more than charred, unrecognizable silhouettes.
With his chest heaving and his legs trembling from the tremendous expenditure of energy, Nao dropped to his knees; the effort required by the jutsu had nearly drained his reserves completely. Beside him, Madara breathed heavily, having consumed more than half of his chakra in the devastating attack, while Izuna leaned against a rock, utterly exhausted.
However, among the charred remains of the catastrophe, the Grim Reaper still allowed a few whispers to escape: two of the Kaguya, miraculously clinging to life thanks to their monstrous physical resilience, lay gravely wounded and mutilated. They were far too slow to pose an immediate threat, but they were still breathing laboriously.
It was at that precise moment of vulnerability that Izuna reacted. His mind was still consumed by rage, and he wanted to finish off the enemy.
"There's no time for that, Izuna... We have to get Gaku and Hikaru out of here right now!" Madara ordered, glancing at Gaku, who was bleeding from his bone wounds, and Hikaru, whose body was clinging to a thread of life that grew weaker with every passing second, forcing the brothers to begin their retreat.
"Let's get the hell out of here! Move, move, move!" Madara ordered, carrying the weight of his guilt as they fled at full speed toward the Uchiha clan's domain.
As they crossed the gates of their refuge, their sense of relief vanished instantly when they heard the clan physician's diagnosis.
…
The elderly man examined the wounds with a somber expression and slowly shook his head.
"Hikaru will never be able to wield a weapon again... His body is far too weak to withstand the internal damage. His spirit is holding on through sheer willpower, but his vital signs will eventually fade," the physician declared with brutal coldness.
The sepulchral silence that filled the room weighed more heavily than any armor. Madara clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles began to bleed, feeling guilt devour him from within for being the eldest. Around him, each of his brothers suffered in silence, remembering that pain was no exception, but the unwritten law of that devastating era of war.
…
65 B.N. February 15
On the riverbank, the atmosphere was desolate. The murmur of the water, which had once accompanied the trio's laughter and training sessions, now sounded like a funeral elegy.
Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha sat on the grass, their eyes shadowed and their faces weighed down by recent hardships. Over the course of that tragic year, Hikaru's severe injury had exacted an unforgivable toll on Madara's life, while Hashirama had suffered something similar with his younger brother. Despite Nie's miraculous efforts in the past to save two of their brothers, the maelstrom of war showed no mercy: a bloody battle between multiple clans over control of a strategic mine had resulted in the death of Hashirama's youngest brother, followed by further losses among other relatives and friends from both clans under equally heartbreaking circumstances.
Tsunayoshi Sawada watched them in silence, feeling a deep pang in his chest at the sorrow weighing on his two friends.
"You know what...?" Hashirama broke the silence, raising his gaze toward the gray sky, his voice filled with painful determination. "Someday... I'll put an end to all of this."
Madara and Tsuna looked at him at the same time.
"Put an end to what, Hashirama?" Tsuna asked gently.
"This endless state of war... This never-ending cycle of killing one another, where our brothers fall every moment," Hashirama replied, clenching his fists against his knees. "You know, Tsuna...? I don't want to see anyone of my blood die again, nor do I want to see anyone else gravely wounded and on the brink of death."
Madara let out a bitter laugh, devoid of joy.
"What you're saying... is just a dream, Hashirama. Something impossible."
"It's not just a dream, Madara. It's our dream!" Hashirama corrected him, turning toward him passionately. "Or at least, it could be yours too. You've also lost someone close to you and nearly lost someone you loved... You know perfectly well how it feels."
Tsuna lowered his head, rubbing his hands together with a sense of helplessness.
"I'm... I'm sorry, guys," the little Vongola murmured timidly. "I don't have any siblings... I don't know exactly how devastating that kind of pain must be."
Hashirama shook his head and offered him a warm, sincere smile.
"Don't worry, Tsuna. You don't have to apologize. But tell me... don't you want peace? It's something you, at least, get to enjoy in your home."
"No..." Tsuna replied firmly, raising his eyes. "Even though I live in a peaceful place, seeing how you suffer and the way you have to live affects me deeply. I don't like violence. I don't want anyone else to get hurt ever again. So... I don't think your dream is far-fetched at all."
Tsuna formed a warm, innocent smile and extended his hand toward them.
"I'll join you, Hashirama!" Tsuna declared. "I'll help you make it happen."
Madara looked at the Vongola heir's outstretched hand, then turned his gaze toward Hashirama. The shadow of bitterness on his face softened in the presence of Tsuna's overwhelming sincerity.
"If something like that were truly possible..." Madara admitted, his voice cracking with emotion. "If we could prevent this pain... I would definitely do it. I would join you without hesitation. If I were to lose a brother... it would be devastating."
Hashirama sprang to his feet, his eyes alight with a spark of hope.
"Then we'll do it!" the Senju exclaimed. "We'll create a better place! A place far better than Tsuna's own home!"
"Huh? A place better than my home?" Tsuna blinked in surprise.
"Yes!" Hashirama nodded. "A place without wars, a settlement where all the clans of this country can coexist, live together, and raise our brothers and children without fearing that they'll kill one another."
"That sounds wonderful..." Tsuna mused, recalling the words of his clan's Guardians. "To achieve that, we'd have to eradicate whatever keeps driving us to kill one another, Hashirama."
"And what exactly is that, Tsuna?" Madara asked curiously.
"We have to break the Cycle of Hatred," Tsunayoshi declared with absolute seriousness.
Hashirama and Madara froze, staring at the little boy in reverent astonishment at the depth of his words.
"Break... the Cycle of Hatred?" Hashirama repeated, savoring the words.
"It's something Nie explained to me about Vongola philosophy," Tsuna continued. "He told me that in this era, we don't fight only over resources or land, but also because of the resentment accumulated from the bloodshed of the past. If we don't stop that cycle, the war will never end."
"The Cycle of Hatred..." Hashirama repeated, deeply moved. "That's far more profound than anything I ever imagined. It's not just about signing a treaty, but about healing the wounds between clans... Yes, Tsuna! We'll create that place and break that cycle together!"
"Establishing something like that sounds magnificent..." Madara interjected, standing up and crossing his arms. "I'll join you too. However, to build something like that and protect it, we'll have to become extraordinarily strong. Do you understand that, Tsuna?"
Madara looked at the Vongola boy with one eyebrow raised, adding in a somewhat challenging tone:
"But I'm not sure you're ready... You're still quite weak and timid."
Hearing those words did not discourage Tsuna. On the contrary, feeling the weight of responsibility and his love for his two only friends, little Tsunayoshi Sawada stood up firmly. The doubt and cowardice that had defined him for years dissipated, replaced by a fiery resolve.
"I'll train harder!" Tsuna declared, his voice ringing out as he clenched his fists. "Starting today, I'll train beyond my limits! I'll become... I'll become the Tenth Vongola! I've finally made up my mind! I'll help you achieve your dreams, guys!"
Hashirama and Madara stared at him in astonishment. It was the first time they had ever heard Tsuna claim his title as heir with such pride and conviction.
"I'll work even harder for you, guys," Tsuna continued, his eyes shining. "I'll help you achieve your dream. I'll do it because you're my family now, and you mean a lot to me!"
Upon hearing those words, filled with unconditional loyalty, Hashirama could no longer contain his emotions. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he began to cry openly, throwing himself forward to embrace Tsuna tightly.
Madara, for his part, felt a lump in his throat, and a couple of traitorous tears threatened to roll down his cheeks. However, his pride and indomitable Uchiha warrior spirit prevented him from showing any weakness. He quickly turned away, wiping his eyes with the back of his sleeve while letting out a tearful click of his tongue.
"Hmph... Emotional idiots," Madara muttered, hiding the warm smile spreading across his lips.
Meanwhile, on the riverbank, under the watchful eyes of the two Vongola Guardians observing from the shadows of the forest, a promise was being made—one they feared might affect the interests of the Vongola.
…
Meanwhile, at the Vongola main residence, the silence of the night hung over the Ninth's office. Heavy velvet curtains blocked out the cold light from outside, leaving the room illuminated solely by the warm glow of a desk lamp.
The two Guardians assigned to keep a close watch on the young heir—Tsunayoshi—entered through the back doors with stealthy steps. They had an unavoidable duty: any event or piece of news that could alter the future leader's path had to be reported to the Ninth immediately.
Timoteo, the Ninth Boss of the Famiglia, sat behind his imposing dark wooden desk. As he listened to his subordinates' detailed reports, a deep, heavy sigh escaped his lips. With a weary but composed expression, he leaned back in his ergonomic chair, raised one hand, and loosened his tie unhurriedly with his fingers so he could breathe more freely.
"Well, well, well..." Timoteo murmured, his tone a mixture of resignation and paternal affection. "My son is getting himself involved in problems that, technically, should have nothing to do with the family."
A solemn silence fell over the room, broken only by the rustling of papers.
Visconti, one of the subordinates present, furrowed his brow with evident concern and stepped forward.
"What should we do, Boss?" Visconti asked firmly. "We should stop him. This doesn't concern us, and every move of this nature seems to jeopardize the future of the Vongola."
Timoteo slowly shook his head, raising his palm.
"No, no, no, no... I don't think we should clip his wings like that," the Ninth replied in a gentle but firm voice. "I know my son perfectly well. He has a soft heart and deeply cherishes his friends. Practically no one in this clan shows him genuine affection apart from you and me, and I admit that we treat him very, very harshly because of his position. That's why he's so humane, so receptive, and values people his own age so much. It's a shame that, under different circumstances, that boy named Gokudera couldn't have forged a more lasting friendship with him."
Visconti blinked, processing his superior's words.
"Then... What should we do about him?"
"Let him be," Timoteo declared, sitting up slightly and resting his elbows on the wooden desk. "Let's use this very motivation he's found to make him fulfill his duties twice as quickly. Let's use this new incentive to increase his strength, so he can become a truly worthy heir to the position in the future. Let him be. We must turn this momentum to our advantage."
"And what will happen in the future if things get out of hand?" Visconti countered cautiously. "We have historical reports about what could happen with that clan..."
"Precisely because of that," Timoteo interrupted with an understanding half-smile. "He needs to be there. And let's hope that, as he matures, he comes to understand the true weight of the responsibility that comes with being a Vongola, learning not to meddle in the affairs of other clans on a whim. But for now..."
Timoteo made a gesture with his hand, signaling the end of the discussion on that matter.
"Understood, Boss. Then all we'll do is keep a close eye on him and let him be," Visconti nodded. "We'll take advantage of this motivation to raise the intensity of his training. I'll tell Nia to get the others started and have them increase the physical demands a little further. My training will remain at its limit, ensuring that the young master can always withstand the pressure, pushing him right to the edge of his capabilities."
As the conversation seemed to draw to a close and Visconti, along with Boca Crujiente, began to withdraw in silence, an imposing presence remained motionless in the darkest corner of the room.
It was the Storm Guardian, who had barely spoken a word throughout the entire meeting. His absolute silence did not reflect disinterest, but rather a sharp and constant watchfulness over every heartbeat of the family.
As the door closed behind the others, silence once again reigned. The Storm Guardian stepped forward, emerging from the shadows, and fixed his eyes on the Ninth.
"Are you sure about leaving things this way, Timoteo?" his right-hand man asked, his tone conveying both warning and deep loyalty.
Timoteo raised his gaze, meeting the piercing eyes of his trusted subordinate. A moment of stillness suspended time in the room before the leader replied:
"Yes. We have to leave things as they are. We must know how to take advantage of the opportunities life presents us with," Timoteo affirmed confidently. "My son has a very unique personality, and if we don't channel the energy his new friends give him, he'll never make any progress. We must use that affection and that spark to propel him along the right path toward the Vongola throne, which he is destined to inherit."
The Storm Guardian slowly nodded, accepting his leader's vision as he folded his arms across his chest.
"Very well..." the Storm man concluded, a slight, sardonic smile forming on his face. "Let's see what the young master will be capable of in the future."
...
Hello guys, it's Wissumi Wisaki here again. Well, I just released this chapter; it felt a bit early to edit it, but this chapter is totally brand new, it wasn't something planned. Still, if I had skipped it, the whole thing would have felt kind of unfinished, and I have to give a reason for things, you know how the story goes.
Hey, maybe I'll publish another chapter tomorrow, yes. If it's not tomorrow, it'll be the day after tomorrow. Yes, I owe you a chapter—well, it feels like I owe you one. I'll see if I play it smart and take a chapter and split it in half, I don't know, right? But today I'm giving you a full chapter because my chapters are pretty thick, eh, they're pretty thick compared to the rest. But oh well.
Here, Madara doesn't lose brothers like he did in the original timeline, but Hashirama unfortunately does lose a brother, leaving him with only three brothers left. It's a different twist in the story because, well, Tsunayoshi and the Vongola's makes many characters of that caliber change a lot, and he can change the Naruto world a lot if he existed. But anyway, I don't know if you'll like this change or not, or if you will love it, but you'll see because things are going to happen in the future. And well, it seems that saving them from death ended up benefiting the Uchihas more than the Senjus.
Well, that's all. Have a happy reading!"
...
Happy reading! Bye-bye!
— Wissumi Wizaki
Until the next chapter!