"Like when Itachi pulled us into the Tsukuyomi world last time? Dragging everyone in the world into it?"
Hashirama Senju asked.
Sasuke grew agitated. "What are you even talking about? What exactly are Tsukuyomi and Infinite Tsukuyomi?!"
He didn't even know when Itachi had ever pulled other people into Tsukuyomi, but whenever anything related to Itachi came up, it was almost impossible for him to stay calm.
Itachi had originally been unwilling to explain any of this to Sasuke.
However, Minato believed that as a ninja, Sasuke needed to learn to make his own judgments after gaining enough information, rather than blindly walking the path his brother had laid out for him.
So Minato explained Tsukuyomi and what it was like inside it, using the briefest and clearest words possible.
Sasuke immediately understood.
So that's how it was.
Back then, when Itachi forced him to relive the massacre of their clan again and again, those scenes had all been illusions created by Tsukuyomi.
That world dyed in black and red.
Hashirama Senju turned his gaze to Madara Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha. "I don't understand. What was the purpose of doing this?"
"Isn't it obvious, big brother?" Tobirama Senju snapped. "Of course it was to brainwash the entire world and use that to rule it!"
"Only you would think something like that, Tobirama," Madara Uchiha said with a scornful laugh. "Infinite Tsukuyomi is a way to create peace for humanity. As long as the caster sacrifices themselves and becomes a god, they can create a world where everyone gets what they desire. No hatred. No war. No failure. A perfect world."
"Huh?!"
Obito Uchiha stared at Madara Uchiha as if he were looking at something unbelievable. "Ancestor, are you okay? How could anyone possibly want to do something like that?"
Madara glared back at the rude brat who had no sense of respect for the clan head. "That's because you haven't lost everything yet," he said coldly. "If one day you lose it all too, you'll understand just how badly this world needs to be changed."
"Madara…" Hashirama looked at his closest friend in shock. "Is that really how you feel?"
Only now did he realize how little he truly understood Madara, and how little attention he had paid to what was going on in his heart.
Unlike Tobirama, who always spoke his thoughts directly, Madara never voiced his dissatisfaction with the world. Even when questioned, his answers were vague and elusive, making him impossible to read.
If they hadn't obtained this information today, if the conversation hadn't gone this far, Hashirama would never have known that Madara had already become so utterly disillusioned with the world.
Tobirama let out a sigh. "This is exactly why I keep saying it. Once the Uchiha awaken the Sharingan, the stronger they get, the more serious their mental and personality problems become."
Swish, swish, swish, swish.
Madara Uchiha, Sasuke Uchiha, Obito Uchiha, and Kakashi Hatake all turned their eyes toward Tobirama Senju.
Obito and Kakashi looked confused. Madara and Sasuke looked visibly displeased.
Naruto thought for a moment. "I think Sasuke was already kind of twisted even before he awakened his eyes, dattebayo. But after that, it feels like it got a little worse?"
He had always been good at observing people's emotions. Ever since they returned from the Land of Waves, he'd felt that Sasuke had become more irritable than before. Fortunately, when it came to matters involving his brother, his dad was there to step in, so Sasuke didn't immediately try to fight or kill Itachi the moment he saw him.
Rin's expression turned a bit more serious, but she followed up on Naruto's words. "Sorry… actually, Kakashi-kun and I have noticed that Obito has been more impatient lately too."
"In the past, even when he was anxious to complete a mission, Obito would still communicate with his teammates and discuss things before making major decisions. To him, his comrades were always the most important."
However…
Young Kakashi hooked his thumb back in Obito's direction. "A few days ago, when that guy went to the Konoha Memorial Stone on his own, Rin and I noticed it."
He went to the Memorial Stone and used a kunai to scratch out his own name.
That incident also caused things to turn extremely unpleasant between him and the adult Kakashi of this world.
"If it were the old Obito," Rin couldn't help saying, "if it were the old Obito, I think he would have thought more about Kakashi-kun."
The Kakashi-kun she was referring to was the future Kakashi.
"!!!!" Obito was shocked. "Rin…"
He realized it wasn't just Rin. Kakashi from his own team, the future Kakashi, and even Minato-sensei were all looking at him, clearly agreeing with what Rin had said.
The realization left Obito feeling both dejected and conflicted.
But when he thought about it carefully, ever since he'd obtained the Sharingan, his temperament really had become more impatient.
Sasuke frowned. Ignoring Naruto and the three members of Minato's team, he turned straight to Tobirama.
"What exactly are you implying, Second Hokage?"
"Tsk. I'm not Hokage yet. You can call me Tobirama-sama."
"Forget that. Tell me what you mean by saying that awakening the Sharingan causes a drastic change in personality!"
"An Uchiha descendant… still an irritating brat, just like the rest. Hmph."
Tobirama Senju continued matter-of-factly, "When Uchiha experience intense emotional fluctuations, their brains produce a uniquely special yin-attribute chakra. This chakra stimulates the awakening of the Sharingan and, at the same time, alters their personality."
He spoke objectively, without the slightest hesitation, even though several members of the Uchiha clan were standing right there.
Under normal circumstances, Hashirama would have stopped his younger brother, who was sharp but often too blunt for his own good.
But today, his mind was still occupied by Madara's earlier words. Rather than avoiding the issue or worrying about offending anyone, it was better to lay everything out in the open now. That way, he could also prevent the worst-case scenario the younger generation had mentioned, Madara leading the Nine-Tails in an attack on Konoha.
Tobirama went on, "After awakening the Sharingan, Uchiha gradually become withdrawn, develop unconventional ways of thinking, grow impatient and arrogant. They often neglect the feelings of their comrades and loved ones, taking all responsibility onto themselves."
"Madara, you are my guiding revelation," Hashirama said earnestly. "It was because you wanted to put an end to this era of constant warfare that I came to share the same sense of mission. Everything is changing step by step now. Perhaps our generation can't achieve perfection, but the future should be entrusted to the next generation…"
"Entrust it to the next generation?"
"How laughable," Madara Uchiha sneered. "Entrust it to the students you and Tobirama taught? You talk about passing on the Will of Fire, but isn't the only thing truly being passed down your own ideas and Tobirama's?"
He tipped his chin toward Minato Namikaze. "That future Hokage… hasn't the position almost entirely been monopolized by your brothers' line?"
This was a conclusion he had drawn after piecing together information he'd heard from Jiraiya, Minato Namikaze, and Itachi Uchiha.
The series of questions struck straight at Hashirama's core.
Those who had heard Itachi reveal the truth within the Tsukuyomi world, Hashirama, Tobirama, Minato, and the others, all understood where Madara's cold resentment came from…
The destruction of the Uchiha clan couldn't be blamed entirely on the village, nor could it be placed solely on the Uchiha themselves.
Minato had things he wanted to say, but with Hashirama and Tobirama present, he felt it wasn't appropriate to speak out of turn.
He thought carefully.
But his son from the future world was different.
"I don't really understand what you're talking about…"
Naruto suddenly spoke up.
"But becoming Hokage is my dream. If there are problems that even my dad couldn't solve…"
He recalled that journey during the Nine-Tails incident.
Back then, his dad had almost made the same choice, sealing the Nine-Tails inside himself, entrusting the future to another version of Naruto from a different world, and betting everything on them.
Naruto's bright eyes locked firmly onto Madara Uchiha.
"Then I'll become Hokage in the future and solve every single one of those problems! If I can't solve them, then the Hokage after me will! I won't stop moving forward just because I'm afraid I can't do it, and I'll never give up on my dream!"
His declaration rang out with the fearless stubbornness of someone who charged ahead without knowing fear.
But more than that, it carried an unshakable belief in his own convictions.
Hashirama stared at Naruto, his eyes suddenly widening.
In Naruto, he saw the reflections of his younger self and Madara.
The two of them once standing atop the cliff that overlooked the village, arms spread wide as they spoke passionately.
That dream-filled youth.
"That's right!"
Influenced by Naruto, Obito Uchiha stood up and moved to his side.
He looked straight at Madara Uchiha, his tone just as firm as Naruto's. "If you think that no matter how hard you try, you'll never become Hokage, then just wait and see! I, Obito Uchiha, will absolutely become the first Hokage from the Uchiha clan and resolve the conflict between the village and our clan!"
No one had ever dared to provoke Madara Uchiha like this.
Only Naruto and Obito, these two reckless brats, would dare to say something like that without fear of the consequences.
"No matter how hard I try, I can't become Hokage?" Madara Uchiha laughed in anger, his fury aimed squarely at the two kids who dared to challenge him.
Obito, who had already been beaten by him more than once, stiffened his neck and stepped half a pace in front of Naruto, glaring back at Madara.
"If you want to hit someone, then hit me! Even if you beat me to death, I won't take back what I said! If the Fourth Hokage is Minato-sensei, then the Fifth or Sixth Hokage will definitely be me, Obito Uchiha!"
Madara Uchiha slammed one foot onto the low table in front of Obito and grabbed him by the collar.
Those crimson Eternal Mangekyō eyes locked onto him, while Madara's wild, arrogant face was reflected in Obito's orange goggles.
"W-what are you trying to do?"
At that moment, Obito actually felt a little scared…
But what he didn't expect was what Madara Uchiha said next.
Madara's voice carried a tone Hashirama found painfully familiar, that stubborn, sulky anger from their childhood days.
"No matter who becomes Hokage in your world, in this world, the First Hokage will definitely be someone from the Uchiha clan!"
Huh?
Huh?!!!!
Minato was completely stunned. He looked at Hashirama, then Tobirama, and then back at Madara Uchiha.
"Madara-san, are you planning to become the First Hokage? The difficulty level sounds a bit… extreme. No offense, but with your negative affinity, the only one who'd vote for you would probably be Hashirama-sama, right?"
Tobirama: "......"
Utterly exhausted.
Madara shot Minato a sideways glance. "Did I ever say I wanted to be Hokage?" He had absolutely no interest in that ridiculous position.
"Then…"
Minato genuinely couldn't imagine who Madara Uchiha would put forward if he himself had no intention of becoming Hokage.