The argument eventually sputtered out, not because either of us had conceded, but because both Madara and I had exhausted our supply of insults for the day. A heavy silence settled over the clearing, the kind born of sheer physical fatigue rather than peace.
Hashirama, ever the diplomat caught between two storms, sighed in relief.
As the tension ebbed, the afternoon ritual began.
Hashirama cast his fishing lines with experienced ease, and Madara followed with his own efficient movements. Before long, a respectable pile of fish flopped on the riverbank.
Soon, a crackling fire was lit, and the fresh catch was skewered over glowing embers. The smell of roasting fish mingled with wood smoke, earthy, warm, comforting.
For a moment, everything felt calm.
As the fire crackled lazily, Hashirama finally turned to me, his expression filled with pure curiosity.
"Ishiki," he began, leaning forward, "how did you make that cloak appear out of thin air?"He tilted his head. "Did you… Create the cape?"
Madara's dark eyes sharpened instantly. He watched me carefully, expectant and curious.
A knot formed in my stomach.
I couldn't tell them about the System, my greatest secret. Even Hashirama's boundless kindness and Madara's fierce loyalty couldn't sway me. This was something deeper than trust. Something that could overturn the world.
I met Hashirama's gaze directly and exhaled slowly.
"I… have a unique ability," I said, choosing my lie carefully. "I can create items with special properties. Or enchant things with abilities."
A half-truth. A deflection.
The Reverse Cloak hadn't been enchanted by me, but they didn't need to know that.
Hashirama accepted my explanation immediately, his eyes widening with innocent awe.
Madara, however, narrowed his gaze.Sharp. Piercing. Calculating.
He had noticed my hesitation.He had noticed my brief guilt.
Of course he did. He was Madara Uchiha.
"What else can you make?" Madara pressed, voice low and controlled. "If you can create something like that cloak… what other tools are possible?"
I swallowed.
"Well… I can make more."His eyes flashed with interest."But they're complicated. I need to get much stronger before I can craft anything better."
And before the system unlocks the next gadget…
That thought lingered in my mind.So far, the System hadn't told me anything about unlocking new items. No hints. No guidance. No conditions. Just… silence.
What triggers new gadgets? Strength? Chakra? Achievements? Time?
I was fumbling in the dark.
Hashirama rose to his feet, brushing dirt from his palms.
"If that's the case," he declared, "we start training right after we eat. Your chakra control and reserves need a lot of work."
Madara's gaze drifted to the reinforced kunai strapped to my belt.
"Can I borrow that?" he asked suddenly, his tone surprisingly earnest. "Not now. But sometimes. For a day."
I hesitated.
Giving powerful items to either of them was risky.
But building trust… building relationships… was worth far more.
I let out a thoughtful hum.Then a sly grin crept onto my face.
"I'll lend my items to both of you," I said. "For training or missions."
Their eyes brightened.
"But,"They leaned forward."You have to pay me."
I said it with theatrical flair, raising an eyebrow.
They exchanged a brief look, communication passing without words, then nodded together.
"Deal."
For once, Madara's and Hashirama's voices synced perfectly.
After the negotiations were settled, the fish finally finished cooking. The three of us ate like starving wolves, devouring every last flake of tender meat.
Then,
Training began.
And Hashirama did not hold back.
He drilled me relentlessly, chakra control exercises, stance corrections, breathing methods, and dodging drills. Madara took the lead on sparring, his strikes sharp but controlled enough not to break me in half.
The sun dipped lower, staining the sky with streaks of orange and violet as I gasped through the last of our exercises.
By the time Hashirama called the session to an end, I was drenched in sweat, my limbs trembling with exhaustion. Yet beneath the soreness… was joy.
I retreated to the side and opened my System interface.
The familiar screen appeared.
STATUS
Name: Ishiki
Age: 12
Chakra: 10 / 10
Strength: 5
A genuine smile spread across my face.
Two more points of the chakra.One more point of strength.
Progress.
Maybe it was the daily meals.Maybe it was the training.Maybe it was the System subtly reinforcing me.
Whatever the reason,I was growing.Faster than I ever had in either life.
And so began a new rhythm.
Days of fishing, sparring, and burning muscles.Hashirama's steady drills.Madara's brutal but effective combat lessons.Meals around the fire.Bickering, laughter, insults, camaraderie.
Weeks passed.
My chakra reserves increased; my strength climbed steadily. My body filled out, becoming toned and agile, shedding the frail, malnourished appearance I once had.
Gone was the trembling orphan who survived on scraps.Gone was the boy who feared the shadows of giants.
In his place stood someone new,A boy with fire in his eyes.A boy building himself from the ashes of two lives.A boy whose destiny was no longer confined to survival.
I was becoming strong.Capable.Alive.
And for the first time…
I was becoming a new me.