The world sank into darkness once again…
Back in reality, Shimizu lowered his head and remained silent.
"Do you have any thoughts?" the old man asked.
"Do you feel a profound sense of helplessness? That your comrades suffered such a calamity, and you were powerless to stop it?"
"It is true that some were saved precisely because of your injury... but your sacrifice also brought about death and suffering."
"Look at what happened to them… and think about those innocent Konoha ninjas who were caught in the aftermath of your jutsu…"
"Am I wrong?"
"…You… are right."
Shimizu seemed deeply shaken; even his voice had become hoarse.
The old man's voice lowered.
"Do you want to create a world without suffering?"
"Face reality. Everywhere in this world there are things that fall short of our hopes. The longer I live, the more I realize that reality contains nothing but pain, suffering, and loneliness."
"Listen carefully. Everything in this world is the same. Where there is light, there must also be darkness. As long as the concept of winners exists, there will inevitably be losers."
"The selfish desire to protect peace will give rise to war."
"And in order to protect love, hatred is born."
"This is the law of cause and effect. It cannot be separated."
"If you still insist on returning to Konoha, you may leave at any time."
"…Who are you?"
"I already told you—I am a ghost of the Uchiha clan."
"I meant your name."
"…Uchiha… Madara."
Madara…
So it really is you.
The one who designed everything that eventually caused Obito to change his beliefs…
So everything you did before was just to make me betray Konoha and leave it, wasn't it?
But why…
Why do I feel like I believe everything he says?
When did it start? Two voices were warring in his head. One tells him to lower his guard, to believe in fate, to believe in Madara. The other keeps warning him that everything is a complete lie.
Why…?
Who should I believe…?
Seeing Shimizu remain silent, Madara continued:
"You don't seem very surprised, even after learning that I am Uchiha Madara."
"Then again… that name only belongs to the past. What would a young ninja like you know about it?"
"…Uchiha Madara is the ancestor of the Uchiha clan, right?"
"Oh?" Madara looked slightly surprised.
"I didn't expect you to actually know my name."
"I once had a friend from the Uchiha clan… he mentioned you before."
"Is that so… so there are still descendants who remember me…" Madara murmured. "What was his name?"
"He's already dead."
"What a pity… but you must not die. I still need you to work for me for the rest of your life."
Work for Madara for the rest of my life?
Shimizu was startled.
Strangely… he didn't feel any rejection toward those words.
What's going on... do I not want to return to Konoha?!
"I will become a being that transcends the cycle of fate, and then sever all cause and effect in this world."
"I will create a world where there are only victors, only peace, only love—a world where nothing else exists."
Shimizu asked doubtfully: "You said earlier that your body is already near death… so what makes you think you can succeed?"
"With your help, I will naturally accomplish great things. After all, your body now contains Hashirama's cells… and it seems your body has not rejected them."
"That means the fusion was successful."
"…So does that mean I can use Wood Release?"
"Having Hashirama's cells doesn't necessarily mean you can use Wood Release."
"And even if you can, it doesn't mean you'll be able to use it with much power."
In the original story, 60 children were experimented on before one Yamato was produced, and even Yamato could only use about 20% of the First Hokage's Wood Release power.
"Compared to Hashirama's cells, what interests me more is the vast life energy inside your body. I have seen that kind of energy before… it is the life force of the Uzumaki clan, am I correct?"
Before Shimizu could answer, Madara spoke again:
"However, your hair is gray-white, not the iconic red of the Uzumaki clan."
Madara's Sharingan slowly rotated again.
"This is not the power of your own life essence. From what I see, it seems more like someone sealed that enormous life energy inside your body by some method… Can you tell me why?"
"…Yes. Once, a ninja from the Uzumaki clan, before dying, sealed all of his life energy into my body."
The moment the words left his mouth, Shimizu felt as if stormy waves were crashing in his heart.
He had said it so easily…
He had once sworn never to mention this matter again in his life.
Was it because of a genjutsu…
The Sharingan!
In an instant, Shimizu's mind cleared as if clouds had been swept away.
So everything before had happened because he had been caught in the Sharingan's illusion, which made him believe everything Madara said!
Madara, meanwhile, also suddenly understood.
So that was why this boy had been able to withstand that heavenly lightning and even return from death.
If he could also obtain the life force of the Uzumaki clan…
Would that mean he could restore his youth?
For a moment, even Madara's usually calm and unmoving mind stirred slightly.
"So that is also the key that allowed you to fuse with Hashirama's cells… Young Konoha ninja, what is your name?"
"Shimizu Uzuki."
Madara pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.
"As far as I know, the Uzumaki clan does not possess such a sealing technique."
"So what kind of sealing technique was it?"
Even Madara himself didn't realize that his tone now carried a hint of anticipation and excitement.
The longing for life… it had been many years since he had last felt such a thing.
"Ah… unfortunately, I was unconscious at the time, so I don't know how that ninja accomplished it," Shimizu replied.
"…That is truly… a pity," Madara said regretfully.
...
During the following days, Shimizu focused entirely on recovering his body.
He didn't know how much time had passed—perhaps three days, perhaps five, perhaps even longer.
Inside the cave where no sunlight reached, there was no way to measure time, so he had no sense of its passage.
But he knew his body was indeed gradually recovering.
New muscle and skin were constantly growing.
His chakra was slowly returning as well.
Then Shimizu discovered something surprising—
The Samehada inside his body had disappeared.
Was it because of the heavenly lightning…?
Did it get electrocuted to death?
That sounded ridiculous.
…Wait.
Although it was extremely faint, after careful sensing he realized something—
Samehada now seemed to exist throughout his entire body.
Had it been broken down by the lightning and then completely fused into him?
That didn't seem right at all…
Shimizu quickly touched his face.
Fortunately… fortunately…
No fish gills had grown on his cheeks.
...
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