Beyond Sin (Naruto)

The number of ninjas in combat uniforms has increased throughout the town. It seems that a battle is approaching.

Fuyou felt a tightness in her chest.

I didn't know how on earth I should feel.

There was a bit of a lack of concentration in class today as well, due to several ninja orphans being absent to prepare for battle.

"Ame, I hope I can avenge my father this time."

"She said she would avenge my father and brother!"

"Both Ame and Shiraki have awakened their Sharingans, so they'll definitely be able to find their enemy, the Senju!"

"I hope that this time he will defeat all of the Senju ninja and avenge us all."

During recess, I overheard this conversation.

For the first time, Fuyou realized that this was the situation behind the lines.

Even though he had been raised in the Buddhist altar of the chief ninja and had grown up with Hashirama and Tobirama, he knew nothing.

Even though I was forbidden to know, I had no idea that Shinobi's families and children were living like this. It was a huge shock.

He wondered if he would have hated Hashirama and Tobirama like this if they had been killed by the Uchiha.

Fuyou had always wondered why the repeated ninja wars could not be resolved peacefully through discussion.

But I finally felt like I understood that it wasn't that simple.

The Uchiha and Senju fight to protect those they care about from each other, and end up killing the other person's loved ones.

And new hatred is born, and more hatred and resentment follows.

This chain cannot be easily broken.

However, even if they continued fighting and forced their opponents to surrender, the existence of those children in front of them would not disappear. The hatred would not disappear.

As Fuyou returned home with heavy steps, she saw Madara in the garden waving an unfamiliar ninja tool, checking its movement.

Madara immediately noticed Fuyou, looking at him with a grim expression.

"I've just got home... I'll prepare dinner right away."

Because of his habit of not seeing or hearing anything about ninjas, he had the feeling that he had seen something he shouldn't have and turned away.

"This is a sacred treasure that has been passed down for generations to the head of the Uchiha clan..."

Madara didn't mind and just told Fuyou, who turned around timidly.

"You. Perhaps you deliberately distanced yourself from ninja matters?"

"...That may be true..."

Fuyou looks down at the ground with a sad smile.

Madara approached Fuyou with the sacred treasure in his hand, causing her to step back in shock.

"Are you scared?"

My heart started beating faster and I looked at the sacred artifact with trepidation.

"I'm scared... that I might lose someone important to me."

Madara had intended to ask if Fuyou was scared of him and the sacred treasures, but her answer seemed a little different. Fuyou looked at Madara with tears in her eyes.

Madara wondered if Fuyou had also lost someone important to her in the battle.

"My brothers were killed by the Senju ninjas. My last brother was killed by Tobirama."

"...!"

Madara's eyes were dyed crimson red as if reflecting his rage, and geometric patterns appeared in his pupils.

Madara walked up to Fuyou.

"My brother left me these eyes. To protect the Uchiha clan."

Fuyou silently looked up at Madara's face and stared into his eyes.

"...You have beautiful eyes... Your younger brother is still alive, together with Madara-sama..."

beautiful.

He had never expected someone to say something like that after seeing the Sharingan, let alone being afraid of it.

Madara is confused as to what exactly a ninja means to Fuyou.

"Even now, Madara-sama, your little brother still looks at beautiful landscapes together, looks over documents together, fights together, and sheds tears together with you. He is such a kind little brother..."

Fuyou said this with a smile through her tears, and Madara's Sharingan suddenly disappeared.

Madara looked at Fuyou with a stunned expression.

For Madara, who was increasingly being gossiped about and criticized by his peers for killing his younger brother, being told that his younger brother was with him made him feel as if he and his brother were accepted.

Fuyou had accepted the fact that her younger brother was still living with her.

I was happy.

But why does a person who is able to understand others, and ninjas, to this extent have no knowledge whatsoever about ninjas?

At this moment, a question that had been on Madara's mind for a while surfaced again.

"Is your loved one a ninja?"

"···yes"

"Why didn't you try to find out more about him as a ninja?"

"...Because I was afraid to find out. Because I turned a blind eye to a lot of things."

Saying that, Fuyou bowed her head.

"I'm sure the other ninja's family was waiting for the return of someone important to them, just like me... I was scared to think about that... so I had no choice but to believe. I didn't want to think about someone I loved killing someone else's loved one!"

After saying that, Fuyou crouched down and began to cry.

Madara got down on one knee and placed his hand on Fuyou's head.

"I see...it was hard for you too."

Madara was unexpectedly reminded of the days when he and Hashirama talked about their dreams.

If Hashirama hadn't been a Senju, maybe the two of them could have made that dream come true.

I could have prevented Hibiscus, my friends, and my brothers from going through this.

But now, the reality is that Madara has lost all of his precious siblings to the Senju.

Now, the only way to protect the Uchiha is to eliminate Hashirama and end this battle as quickly as possible.

"Tomorrow we will be fighting the Senju."

"...!!"

"Your precious shinobi may die too."

Fuyou couldn't help but look up, her eyes were bloodshot and her face was wet with tears.

"I want them both to get along! I don't want either of them to die! Madara-sama, please come back safely!"

What Fuyou is saying is incoherent to Madara, but she does seem worried about him.

"Yeah. Got it."

Madara said as he handed Fuyou a towel.

"Wipe it off. You look really ugly right now. Hehe."

"...."

Fuyou puffed out her cheeks and quickly hid her face with a towel.

◆

"What?! Hashirama's not here? And your platoon is almost entirely made up of members of the Sorachi clan...are you not planning on fighting us in a decisive battle?"

"That seems to be the case. They seem to have prioritized their missions from their country. At the same time, they have destroyed our logistical support routes. They are already beginning to retreat."

"Damn you, Hashirama... So you were just planning to test our strength under the guise of an all-out battle... The Sorachi Clan have excellent teamwork capabilities within their platoons. I guess that's why you were meeting with them. Well, whatever... Capture the Sorachi Clan and make them tell you the details of their operation!!"

The Uchiha clan was heading into this battle with all their might.

Madara himself was aware that the current battle situation was such that the Uchiha were at a disadvantage, and he had devised a strategy based on that.

However, the Senju side did not engage in a head-on battle, and instead took the opportunity while the Uchiha clan was gathered in one place, to head to other countries and carry out missions from the Land of Fire with the help of the Sorachi clan.

"I won't forgive you...Hashirama!"

Madara's Sharingan eyes lit up with rage.

◆

Hashirama, Tobirama, Kawamo, the head of the Sorachi clan, and his subordinates are talking in the Senju clan's command room.

"We now know the current total strength of the Uchiha. Furthermore, thanks to the swift execution of our mission, we were able to destroy the rear support route and post station for the Uchiha in that country. This gives us an even greater advantage in the upcoming battle."

Kawamo said with satisfaction as he looked over the operational plan again.

"Thank you for your cooperation, Kawamo-dono. The teamwork of the Sorachi Platoon is truly the best."

"With this, we of the Sorachi clan can set up a garrison in the Senju territory and strengthen our fighting power. Our women and children can live in peace, too. We are grateful."

After the conversation finished, Kawamo let the others go outside, saying he wanted to talk with Hashirama alone.

"Hashirama-dono. Does this look familiar to you?"

Kawamo took something out of the bag and showed it to Hashirama.

"...Th-this! belongs to Fuyou!"

"I thought so... It was found by a platoon that was investigating the borders of the Uchiha territory during this mission. The names of Lord Hashirama and Lord Fuyou were written on the back of the gold ring, so I thought that must be it."

It was the ring necklace that Fuyou had been wearing around her neck.

"...Wh, why are you here...tell me more about it!"

"I found traces of a battle in the forest and was investigating them when I found them. There were no footprints, chakra, or smell, so the traces must have been from a long time ago. There was a small amount of blood on the vegetation where the necklace had fallen. However, there were no bodies nearby. It's just a guess, but it's possible that Lady Fuyou has been taken to the Uchiha territory."

The chain of the necklace Hashirama held in his hand was broken and black with blood.

I have a bad feeling about this.

"Don Kawamo, please tell me where it is."

"Of course. But it would be best if you don't go now. I'm sure the Uchiha are quite angry about what happened this time. It goes without saying that we should tighten security inside and outside the territory, but if Lady Fuyou is still alive and in the Uchiha territory, who knows what might happen to her? It would be best not to do anything that might provoke them. First of all, we should come up with another plan rather than going there."

Hashirama, who had been feeling anxious, came back to his senses and agreed with Kawamo's opinion.

...Then what should I do? What should I do?

◆

"Tobirama! Check this out. It belongs to Fuyou. A platoon of the Sorachi clan found it in the forest near the border of Uchiha territory."

Hashirama showed Tobirama the fuyou necklace, along with the platinum ring he had bought for her.

"...No doubt about it."

"Can't you sense something?"

"This blood is Fuyou's."

"I thought so... It's highly possible that Fuyou was harmed by an Uchiha ninja. But why was Fuyou in such a place... Tobirama, do you really have no idea?"

"No. But Fuyou packed her things and left on her own. She must have had her own reason for leaving.

"Now that I think about it, Fuyou told me before that she didn't want to marry either my brother or me. That might be the reason why she left while my brother was away."

"Why didn't you tell me that earlier?"

"Why should I bother to report something like that? It didn't matter to me, so I just forgot about it until now."

"When did you say that?"

"...Last summer. The day I went ring shopping with her."

...That day. Come to think of it, since that day, Tobirama started to avoid Fuyou...

"You don't want to get married, do you?"

"Maybe there was another man there."

"...!"

"I ran off with a man and ended up in Uchiha territory, where I was attacked..."

"No way! That's impossible!"

"It's a guess, but now is not the time to go searching."

"I understand... I guess I have no choice but to ask the Uchiha for a truce."

"A truce for the sake of one woman? Brother, what's wrong? The Uchiha have no choice but to defeat Madara and force him to surrender!"

"No. And it's not just because of Fuyou. They've probably reached their limit as well. In fact, their total fighting force is only that large. The number of defectors and refugees is increasing day by day. We can't afford to lose any more. If possible, I'd like to conclude a ceasefire agreement and bring this war to an end."

With that said, Hashirama returned to the command room alone once again.

◆

Rice fields filled with golden ears of rice stretch out, and the mountains are filled with wild grapes, dates, Akebia jasmine, and persimmons.

The sun was setting much earlier now, and by 4pm the sun had already set.

That day, Madara came to the orphanage to pick up Fuyou for the first time.

"Madara-sama!" "Yay, it's Madara-sama!" "Madara-sama, how have you been?"

The children swarm around Madara.

Since the incident on Fuyou's first day of class, Madara had been going to school and his comedy-like exchanges with Fuyou had been repeated many times, so the children who saw them had become very fond of Madara, and he had become a familiar presence to them.

"Madara-sama, has class already finished?"

"You idiot! Madara-sama has come to pick up his teacher."

...I-I've been found out...

"That's right! The sun sets early, so it's dangerous to let the teacher go home alone!"

...It's totally obvious...

"I'll call your teacher. Teacher! Your boyfriend is coming to pick you up!!"

Madara nearly trips.

...My boyfriend?!

"No. I'm not your boyfriend!"

"Huh? Is that not true? I always thought Madara-sama was your sensei's boyfriend."

"Me too. I would have given Sensei to Madara-sama."

...Well, kids these days! I mean, what kind of education is Fuyou giving them?!

"Ah, Madara-sama! What's wrong? Do you need something?"

"I came to pick up my teacher, okay?"

The child answers first.

"Oh! Thank you very much. I'll get it ready right away."

"Hey, isn't Sensei Madara-sama's girlfriend? Aren't you going to get married?"

"?"

"I heard Madara-sama isn't the sensei's boyfriend." "That's right." "What a shame."

Fuyou smiled and said, looking at Madara's embarrassed face.

"Madara-sama is a very important person, so a teacher is not worthy of him. Everyone, please do not say such rude things to Madara-sama, okay?"

"After all, Madara-sama is the strongest ninja! So cool!"

...Then let's show more respect! Tears...

"Well then, sensei, you're the strongest teacher! Because the only one who can stand up to Madara-sama is an Uchiha teacher! Right?"

The kids burst out laughing, "Hahahahaha."

As the sun set, the surroundings turned orange, and their shadows grew longer.

Fuyou was walking diagonally behind Madara, about three steps behind, as usual.

"Hey...walk next to me."

"Eh? But... walking next to a man, especially Madara-sama..."

"I hate being stood behind!"

"I-I see... I understand. Well then, I'll be off."

Fuyou took three large strides and stood next to Madara, looking up at his face and smiling happily.

The two of them started walking slowly again.

The wind blew, and a small maple leaf flew towards Madara and stuck to the hair on the top of his head.

"Madara-sama, you have a maple leaf in your hair."

Fuyou pointed to the top of her head and instructed Madara. Madara brushed his hair back with his hand, but the jagged leaves of the maple tree ended up tangling in his own hair instead.

"It hasn't come off yet... I think it's fine to leave it as it is. It's cute. Hehehe."

"Hey you! The one who is the most rude to me isn't those kids, it's you! So it's you kids who are being rude to me..."

"Shall I get it for you then?"

Fuyō said with a happy laugh.

"Oh... then, please."

Saying this, Madara grabbed Fuyou's waist and lifted her up so that her face was at the same height as Madara's.

Fuyou is shocked and freezes at Madara's unexpected action.

"...Um, why is it being lifted up...?"

"Why should I have to bow to you? Come on, just take it."

"Oh, I see," Fuyou thought, as she gently removed the maple leaves from her hair.

It was a beautiful maple tree, a very vivid red color.

"Look. What a beautiful maple tree."

With Fuyou still in his arms, he held it in front of Madara's face.

Our eyes met without thinking through the maple leaves.

Her amber eyes shine golden in the light of the setting sun.

Fuyou smiled gently and turned Momiji back to her, lowering her gaze and waiting for Madara to put her down.

The eyelashes of her downcast eyes are very long and sparkle in the setting sun.

Her lips were tightly pressed together with the corners of her mouth turned up, slightly moist and also shining.

Kiss...

The two shadows become completely one.

Madara's kiss was very gentle.

He neither devoured nor sucked, but gently enveloped Fuyou's lips.

Although Fuyou was surprised by the suddenness of it all, she felt entranced and closed her eyes, immersed in the sensation.

My chest is pounding so hard I can almost hear my own heart beating.

I love you... I really love you, Madara-sama...

Her lips gently parted and her eyes met Madara's again.

Madara's handsome face becomes even more beautiful up close, making Fuyou feel embarrassed.

Her large eyes, which are usually hard to see due to her hair, have clear double eyelids and surprisingly long eyelashes. They are beautiful eyes that seem to draw you in.

Fuyou was about to become entranced by Madara, but then suddenly came to her senses.

"Um, um! Aren't I heavy?!"

"Not at all."

He dropped the hibiscus to the ground.

Madara was also shaken by his own actions, but at the same time he felt a sense of exhilaration, almost like a sense of accomplishment.

Worried about Hato and Fuyou's reaction, she looked over at her.

He looks very happy as he examines the maple tree he saw earlier, shining the setting sun on it and observing it closely.

"Maybe I should use this maple leaf as a bookmark."

Fuyou also looked at Madara's red-tinged face and gave him a big smile.

"Hmph..."

Madara laughed to hide his embarrassment, then turned and walked forward.

◆

Due to the failure of the Uchiha's previous plan, Madara had become increasingly isolated within his clan.

"Is this all you get for killing your brother and taking his eyes?"

"You're being far too opinionated. Are you willing to sacrifice your allies for your own purposes?"

"How long will this battle continue?"

Such opinions were whispered, and the number of refugees increased. The town also became obviously desolate.

Crime is on the rise, and more and more people are becoming victims. This cycle of evil is causing the population to decrease more and more.

However, Madara wasn't feeling impatient, he was feeling anger.

The number of people with the determination to defeat the Senju, avenge their parents and siblings, and end this war is decreasing, and instead they are defecting to the Senju. Where has the pride of the Uchiha clan gone?

…Knock knock knock…

There was a knock on the door to the command room. Madara motioned for them to enter.

"We just received the following letter from the Senju side..."

The subordinate hands the letter to Madara, who removes the seal and opens it.

It was a letter from Hashirama requesting a ceasefire agreement.

Madara crushes it.

"What's this truce agreement? Even if I'm left alone, I will definitely defeat the Senju and Hashirama and protect the Uchiha clan."

Madara tore the letter up and threw it away.

Recently, the number of students coming to school has been decreasing, and school closures have become more frequent.

Fuyou was worried about what would happen next.

As if reflecting that sentiment, thick, leaden clouds hang low in the sky.

"I wonder if there's a way to make peace without fighting any more..."

Alone in an empty classroom, Fuyou gazed out at the rain that had begun to fall and thought deeply.

Grab!

"...!?"

Suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind and covered my mouth.

"Be quiet..."

It was the voice of a young man I didn't recognize. He was being held down with such force that I couldn't move a muscle.

The man came from behind and wrapped a cloth around Fuyou's mouth, then around her eyes.

The body is thrown to the floor.

...I'm scared! Help me...!

The man got on all fours and hovered over Fuyou, holding her arms down as he whispered in her ear.

"I've always loved you. I don't know when I'll die in battle. Just once is enough. Let me fulfill my feelings..."

The man seemed to be a ninja. With trembling hands, he began to untie Fuyou's obi. Fuyou desperately tried to resist, but the man's ninjutsu prevented her from moving.

Even at a time like this, the coldness of the floor reminds me of the times when my students and I used to sit in a circle on the floor and play.

Madara was also at the back of the classroom, watching over the children kindly.

...Everyone...Madara-sama...help me!!!

Crash! "Whoa..." Thud!

I heard the sound of glass breaking, and at the same time the man on top of me disappeared.

"Fuyou! Are you okay?"

It was Madara's voice. The blindfold and the cloth around his mouth were removed in incredible speed.

As soon as Madara saw Fuyou's face he embraced her.

"...Madara-sama...I was scared...I was scared..."

Fuyou somehow manages to get the words out and begins crying in Madara's arms.

"It's okay now. Don't worry."

Madara spoke gently, stroking Fuyou's head.

The man who attacked Fuyou was a young Uchiha ninja, and was quickly taken away by Jonin.

Since the day of the attack, Fuyou has been living in a room in the building where Madara lives.

The new room was very spacious and he felt a little uncomfortable, but he was happy to know that Madara was in the room next door.

The lights are still on in Madara's room today.

Fuyou's face overlaps with the thin ray of light stretching through the sliding doors. As expected, she can't see Madara's condition.

I decide to get out of bed and knock on the sliding door.

"Um, um... Madara-sama? Are you still awake?"

"ah."

"May I come in?"

"No problem."

Fuyou put on her jacket and then entered Madara's room.

Madara was lost in thought as he looked at ninjutsu books, maps, papers with calculations written on them, etc. Next to him was a pile of books and scrolls.

"Are you still working?"

"Yeah. I'll do some more and then go to bed."

"Shall I make you some tea?"

Madara thought for a moment before answering.

"Tea is good, but how about some sake? You like that, don't you?"

"Eh? Ah, yes. But is that okay?"

"There are lots of things under the cupboard in the kitchen. Take whatever you like."

Fuyou went to the kitchen, opened the sake bottles and smelled them, choosing the one with the sweetest scent, poured the sake into a No. 1 tokkuri, and brought it over on a tray along with the sake cup.

"Hanakage, huh? You've picked a really good sake. I like this one too."

"It had the sweetest scent, so I chose this one."

Fuyou gently pours sake into Madara's cup.

As soon as I finished pouring, I suddenly had an idea.

"Madara-sama! It's a beautiful full moon today. Would you like to have some moon-viewing sake?"

With that said, he opened the sliding door, stepped out onto the veranda and pointed to the sky.

Madara also comes out to the veranda.

A big full moon was floating in the sky.

The whole area was brightly lit by the moonlight, and the silver grass in the garden shone silvery, creating a truly beautiful sight.

"Really? Let's do that."

Fuyou moved the tray and cushions over to the veranda and the two of them sat down.

Once again, I pour sake into the Madara sake cup. The surface of the sake sparkles and shimmers.

"Give it to me. I'll pour it for you."

"Well, I'll take you up on that."

Madara also pours sake into the fuyou cup.

Madara poured it slowly and carefully. It was in this manner that I felt I could catch a glimpse of Madara's delicate and gentle personality.

""cheers""

The two of them look up at the moon and take a sip from their sake cups.

"This is delicious!"

"You're just a brat, how can you understand that? You don't care what's sweet. Why don't you have some plum wine?"

"I'm a proper adult, you know? I'm 19 years old. Is that plum wine delicious?"

"I'll let you drink it next time."

"...The moon is really beautiful. Um, are there really people on the moon?"

"Is she called Princess Kaguya? I wonder. Well, since we ninja are here, I'm sure she's there."

The two continued to talk about trivial things, but suddenly there was silence.

Madara was the first to speak.

"I will challenge Senju to a final battle."

"····That's right."

Madara looked at Fuyou, who didn't seem too surprised.

"I was wondering if there was a way for the Uchiha and Senju to make peace without fighting each other."

"...."

"My answer is to have a truce and make a treaty."

"Don't talk like you understand!"

"Yes. The path that I believe is right is different from the path that Madara-sama believes. But even if I choose what I believe is right, I don't think I would be able to do it in my heart."

"...?"

"I really love you, Madara-sama. That's why... the path that the person I love believes in is also my path."

Madara stared at Fuyou in a daze.

"Oh, I'm sorry... It's indecent for a woman to confess her feelings, isn't it? I'm sorry..."

"What's the big deal about this now? You've been teasing me so much up until now."

"···sorry."

Madara hugged Fuyou tightly. Tears welled up in his eyes.

I wonder when was the last time I felt such warmth from deep within my heart...

"I love you too, Fuyou."

The two looked at each other, confirmed their feelings for each other, and then kissed.

Madara gently puts Fuyou down on the futon, where he has been holding her.

He kissed her again.

Fuyou's breathing quickened with tension and she looked at Madara with a slightly anxious look.

"Are you scared?"

"Just for a moment..."

"Me too."

He whispered this in Fuyou's ear, and then his lips traveled down her neck, gently kissing her again and again.

"Hmm...Ah..."

Fuyou couldn't help but let out a sigh.

Madara untied Fuyou's obi and removed her nightgown, revealing her pure white body.

In the moonlight, it glowed pale. On his left shoulder was the scar from when they first met.

Madara kissed the scar. Fuyou gently stroked his cheek with her palm.

"It left a mark."

"But it's a commemoration of when Madara and I first met..."

"Memorial... you know..."

Madara chuckled with a dumbfounded look on his face, then took off his yukata. He then took Fuyou's hand and sucked on her long, slender fingers.

"Ahhh..."

While sucking her finger, she looked up at Fuyou and their eyes met. Fuyou looked away, embarrassed.

Still holding Fuyou's right hand with his left hand, he now sucks on her right breast.

"Ahh... mmm... haa haa..."

Fuyou's breathing was getting faster and faster.

He releases Fuyou's hands and gently caresses her waist and thighs. Her smooth skin feels like silk.

Fuyou's body twitches up and down.

He reaches his caressing hands to Fuyou's crotch.

It was sticky and wet, and it seemed like it was waiting for Madara to come.

Gently touch the wet area repeatedly.

"...It's embarrassing."

Seeing Fuyou feeling embarrassed makes me love her even more.

"Hibiscus, so beautiful."

Trace your tongue from the center of her chest to her belly button, then lick down her sides to her breasts.

"Ahhh.... Madara-sama!"

Madara took hold of Fuyou's knees and spread her legs.

"No, no. Don't look."

"What a beautiful view, Fuyou... you're mine."

Something hard hits the entrance of Fuyou's vagina.

"Ouch, that hurts..."

When Fuyou looked towards Madara, she saw his thick penis thrusting into her.

"It hasn't gone all the way in yet."

Madara grabbed Fuyou's waist with both hands and slowly moved his hips back and forth.

Each time, Fuyou's breasts swayed together. Seeing this, Madara's hips started moving faster.

Along with the pain, I feel a pleasure I've never felt before.

Her brain felt numb. And her vagina became wetter and wetter.

"...Ahhh!"

Madara's penis reaches Fuyou's cervix.

Fuyou and Madara's heartbeats grow closer.

And then they came together at the peak.

Fuyou wished.

"I hope Madara-sama and I can live together forever."

The two of them were naked in the futon.

Fuyou hugged Madara and buried her face in his chest.

"Please make sure you come back alive."

"Of course. Just make some inari and wait."

"Hmm. Yes."

◆

"What happened to Izuna?"

Tobirama asked Madara from beside Hashirama.

"My brother died because of the wound he received last time... Leave your strength to me so I can protect the Uchiha!"

Madara glared at Tobirama with his Sharingan activated.

Hashirama took a step forward and told Madara calmly.

"I believe I sent a letter of ceasefire... If we want to protect the Uchiha, let's stop fighting like this."

"..."

A Sharingan pattern appeared in Madara's eyes that neither of them had ever seen before.

"Those eyes...!"

Zzzzzzzzz...

With a thunderous roar, a translucent giant skeleton appeared and enveloped Madara.

It is burning a sinister reddish-brown color, and swords are clutched in the giant's four hands.

"Susanoo!!"

Madara merges with the titan and becomes even larger.

"Hashirama! How long are you going to keep talking like a brat? We'll never be able to show each other our true selves!"

Hashirama closed his eyes for a moment as if thinking, then opened them again and prepared himself.

Hashirama blocks the attacking giant's sword.

The battle between the two began.

There's no way it'll be in time.

Your plot...absolutely not.

With these eyes, the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, I can see everything!

To sneak up on someone, to belittle them, to deceive them, to betray them, to lie...

Hashirama, Tobirama and Madara.

At the same time as the three-way battle, a battle between the Uchiha ninja and the Senju ninja begins.

This battle was rapidly becoming more fierce than any that had come before.

Both the Senju and the Uchiha were determined to decide the outcome of this battle.

Finally, sudden death for Hashirama and Madara.

The opponent's every move changes the strategy one after another.

Thoughts, nerves, and chakra are mercilessly sacrificed in exchange for cold moments.

…Please understand already…

Swallowing his saliva and his emotions, Hashirama attacks Madara mercilessly.

…I won't show any mercy. He's in the way, I want to hit him, I want to kick him...

Madara swallowed the emotions that were threatening to cause him to lose his composure and counterattacked Hashirama.

Every minute and every second is a battle to wash knowledge with knowledge.

The only solution now is to keep fighting until the opponent falls.

In that case, we have no choice but to roll the dice on that premise.

What will happen in this sudden death match?

The battle between the two was no longer at a level that Tobirama could intervene in.

A clash of the highest order spells. Every time a spell is unleashed, the surrounding scenery changes dramatically.

He orders his subordinates to stay away from the two of them.

"Brother...I'm counting on you."

...I don't understand anything of it. Your logic, your sense of justice.

I'm right. I'll erase you. That's all...

Is that really all there is to it?

After a day of fighting, Madara's back hit the ground for the first time.

"Madara… it's over."

Tobirama thrusts his sword at Madara's throat.

"...Wait, Tobirama."

"Why, brother? Now's your chance...?"

"I won't let you get involved."

Tobirama stepped back at Hashirama's quiet yet powerful presence.

"Hmph... just do it... with one swift movement... Hashirama. If you are going to do it to me... then I will be happy."

Madara prepared himself and, with his body still, focused his eyes on Hashirama.

"There's no point in trying to act cool. If we do something about you, the leader... the young Uchiha who admire you will start to act violently."

"There's no one with that kind of core anymore..."

"No, there will definitely be one."

Rrrrr...

There was the sound of flowing water coming from behind Hashirama.

"Can we... drain the water again like we used to? Together..."

"...That's impossible... You and I are no longer the same..."

Before Hashirama could argue with that statement, Madara interrupted him.

"I don't have any brothers anymore... and I can't trust you guys..."

"How can I make you trust me?"

Madara was a little surprised by those words and turned his head towards Hashirama.

Madara's heart was so hurt that he could no longer feel anything.

My head doesn't seem to be working properly anymore.

Who is an ally and who is an enemy?

Everyone, just disappear.

"So, are you ready to give up on your dreams?"

For a moment, I thought I saw Fuyou's face asking me that question.

"If we could show each other our guts...

Should I kill my brother now...or should I kill myself?

So... Aiko... if you do that, I'll trust your family."

"Don't be ridiculous, you..."

"..."

One of his subordinates started yelling at Madara, but Hashirama quickly raised his hand to stop him.

"What you're saying is absurd! What are you going to do, brother?! Kill me? Or die for someone like this?... This is ridiculous. Brother, don't listen to what someone like this says!"

Hashirama smiled a little and stood up.

"Thank you Madara. You really are a compassionate person."

Crash! Hashirama removed the armour he was wearing and dropped it to the ground.

"!"

"Listen, Tobirama... Keep these words firmly in your mind as my final words... They are words that will cost me my life. And the same goes for the rest of my clan."

He said as he looked over at Tobirama and his men.

"After I die, you will never kill Madara. I will not allow the Uchiha and Senju to fight each other from now on."

Hashirama held the kunai in front of his heart.

"I bet on your father and your yet to be born grandchildren... Farewell."

A tear fell from Hashirama's eye.

The faces of my parents, siblings, friends, and Fuyou come to mind.

A skimmer was thrown into the river.

Please deliver it... Please deliver it...

Grab!

Madara grabbed Hashirama's hand just before it was about to be stabbed through his heart.

"...!"

"That's enough... I can see your guts."

◆

"Lord Madara!!"

The moment Fuyou saw Madara, she ran over to him and hugged him.

"Hey, hey... it's embarrassing, stop it. Everyone is watching."

"I'm glad you're safe... Welcome home..."

The subordinates and citizens around him, as well as the Fuyou students, cheered and applauded.

"So you two were lovers after all!"

"Congratulations Sensei and Madara-sama! You two are a perfect match, the strongest of friends!"

"Oh! Madara-sama your face is red! Ahahahaha."

The students surrounded the two of them and cheered them on.

"...My dignity...tears."

Madara seemed pleased, even though he gave a wry smile.

...Maybe what I wanted to erase wasn't Hashirama, but the dream I couldn't throw away...

Madara thought as he looked at the carefree smiles of each of the children.

The dining table is decorated with a lavish array of inari sushi and a variety of other dishes.

"I see… that was really good."

After Fuyou finished pouring sake into Madara's cup, she gazed at it with a sentimental expression.

The long battle was over.

Madara told Fuyou how they had made amends.

Fuyou stopped eating with her chopsticks and listened to the story with a slightly anxious look on her face.

"Hashirama and I are friends again. The Uchiha and Senju will join forces. And from now on, we will create a new village!"

Madara gleefully sips from his cup.

Fuyou was heartbroken that Hashirama had chosen to kill himself rather than kill his brother, Tobirama.

...That's just like Hashirama-sama. He's such a kind and wonderful person. I loved that about him. But...

Noticing Fuyou's gloomy expression, Madara spoke.

"Now you get to see your best friend again."

"Huh? Ah, I see. I wonder if you're doing well... Itsuki. I can't wait to see you soon."

I am truly happy that the war is over and the Senju and Uchiha have joined forces.

However, this marks the end of her life with Madara.

It would surely become clear very quickly that I was Hashirama and Tobirama's fiance.

If that happened, Madara would surely hate her... The thought made Fuyou want to cry.

"Hey, why don't you come and live with me in the new village? I'll explain the situation to Hashirama."

As soon as Fuyou heard those words, she instinctively hugged Madara's neck.

...Even if it's just for a little while until my fiance is found out.

Please let me stay with you just a little longer. Madara-sama, I'm sorry...

Fuyou was almost crushed by guilt, but she clung to Madara's words.

"I also want to be with you forever. Madara-sama... I love you."

Madara felt the depth of Fuyou's love for him, and as they continued to build their new village, he sensed a warm, straightforward light shining only on him.

"I love you too."

Madara also hugged Fuyou.

Want to read more? Visit patreon.com/FairyDragon to read chapters up to 3 months in advance.