[To survive the Night of the Uchiha Massacre, one must understand the causes and consequences of the event first.]
[Let's talk about some history everyone knows. In the late Sengoku period, under the leadership of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, the two clans set aside a millennium of hatred, turned their swords into plowshares, and jointly established Konoha Village. This was also the beginning of a new relationship between the two clans.]
[If not for what happened later, it's possible that the hatred between Indra and Ashura might have ended with this generation.]
---
[Konoha, Year One]
Hashirama and Madara looked at the Sky Screen's description of their founding of the village and exchanged a smile.
Hashirama said calmly, "Regardless of how things turn out, the fact that what we're doing now is becoming history… feels good."
Madara nodded, but the next moment, his brow furrowed as he looked at Hashirama.
"Still, the hatred between our clans lasted over a thousand years? That's a bit exaggerated, isn't it?"
Hashirama scratched his head. "I don't know either, the clan records don't go into that much detail."
"And also…" Madara's gaze grew even more somber, "The hatred between Indra and Ashura?"
The Sky Screen had said before that Indra was the ancestor of the Uchiha, and he, Madara, was this generation's Indra.
Then, by that logic, Ashura was most likely Hashirama.
"This generation…" Madara muttered, "The next generation is that clansman named Sasuke in the future. Then what about Ashura? Which one among the future Senju is he?"
"Does every generation of Uchiha and Senju produce an Indra and an Ashura?"
Madara's brow furrowed deeper and deeper.
More importantly, who exactly was Ashura?
Too many questions made him feel like his head was about to explode.
"Madara, are you alright?" Hashirama's voice came, laced with concern.
Madara shook his head. "I'm fine. It's just… I feel like the enmity between our clans runs deeper than I ever imagined."
Hashirama was silent for a few seconds, then patted his shoulder.
"No matter how deep it runs, aren't we standing together now?"
Madara looked at him, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.
---
[Konoha, Year 60]
Naruto squatted on the ground, scratching his head in confusion.
"What do they mean 'everyone knows'? I didn't know that!"
Sakura rolled her eyes. "You idiot! That's what you get for not paying attention in class! You don't even know such basic history—how are you ever going to get promoted?"
Naruto was shocked and jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"We have to be tested on this stuff to get promoted?!"
Sakura pressed a hand to her forehead, looking utterly helpless. "Of course! Did you think becoming a Chūnin was only about combat?"
Naruto's face instantly fell. "Ah? Then I'm doomed!"
Sasuke stood to the side with his hands in his pockets, appearing silent and indifferent, but inwardly he also felt uneasy, barely managing to keep his composure.
Shinobis… still had to take theory exams after completing missions?
He had thought studying at the Ninja Academy was enough.
Kakashi leaning against a tree, saw the reactions of his two students, which were honestly too embarrassing to watch.
"Naruto. To become a Chūnin, you have to take written exams, practical combat exams, and teamwork evaluations… theory is just one part. However…"
He paused and looked at Naruto.
"You not even knowing the most basic history is indeed a bit inexcusable."
---
[However, this honeymoon phase did not last long. Under the instigation of the most filial son of the Shinobi World, Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara gradually grew apart. The bond they had built began to fracture. And in the end, Uchiha Madara chose to leave Konoha.]
Hashirama whipped his head around to look at Madara beside him, his face full of anger.
"Who is this 'filial son of the Shinobi World'?!!! Why would he instigate us, Madara!"
Madara also frowned upon hearing this.
Most filial son of the Shinobi World?
He had never heard of such a person. It seemed to be a nickname, yes—though he had no idea what this person had done to be called that.
"I don't know," Madara said in a solemn voice. "Since the Sky Screen says so, this person most likely exists. It's just…"
He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"No matter who it is, if they try to pull strings behind the scenes, I will never let them off."
---
[Another Timeline]
Somewhere in the world, a dark cave.
The elderly Madara sat on a stone chair, his face full of confusion.
"Instigation?"
"And who is this 'most filial son of the Shinobi World'?"
No one had ever said anything to him. It was clearly because Hashirama had abandoned their shared ideals, compounded by the opposition of Tobirama and others, that he had left the village in anger.
But now the Sky Screen was saying someone had been instigating him from behind?
"No… there's something here that I don't know about."
But then he shook his head. Things had already come this far. He would not give up on the Eye of the Moon Plan now, no matter what.
Regardless of who that most filial son of the Shinobi World was, it wouldn't change his decision.
Meanwhile, deep underground in the Shinobi World, Black Zetsu completely froze.
Most filial son of the Shinobi World?!!
Who could the Sky Screen be talking about? What a difficult guess!
Immediately after, he began to grit his teeth, his expression turning extremely ugly.
His plan… wasn't going to be exposed… was it?
---
[However, contrary to Uchiha Madara's vision of a grand procession of followers, the now-settled Uchiha clan had grown accustomed to a peaceful life and were unwilling to continue wandering the world. In the end, only he departed in solitude.]
Madara was stunned once again.
He hadn't expected that as clan head, he would end up abandoned by his own people.
Hashirama's eyes were already teary: "Madara… don't leave…"
Madara: "....."
He was silent for a second, then asked: "Hashirama… if that day really comes, what would you do?"
Hashirama answered without hesitation: "I would hold you back and stop you from leaving!"
"Idiot."
Madara turned his head away. But despite his words, a quiet warmth rose in his heart.
[Of course, Uchiha Madara wasn't alone. Decades later, when another rogue Uchiha chose to leave Konoha, he also had no Uchiha followers. From this perspective, Konoha's education is actually pretty good.]
---
[Konoha, Year 60. Hokage Office]
The person sitting in the Hokage's chair had now become Tsunade. She sat with her legs crossed, one hand propping up her chin, watching the Sky Screen.
Jiraiya sat sprawled on the sofa across from her, next to the retired Hiruzen.
'"Pretty good" education, huh?' Hiruzen smiled wryly and shook his head.
Was it that they were unwilling to follow? Or was it that there was simply no one left!
The Sky Screen's teasing tone couldn't have been more obvious.
---
[Konoha, Year 52. Uchiha Clan Grounds]
The Uchiha looked at each other in bewilderment.
"We are the masters of this village," Tetsuka frowned. "Why would we follow a rogue-nin?"
Inabi nodded. "Exactly. We're not fools."
"However," Yashiro mused, "who is this other rogue Uchiha? To be mentioned alongside Uchiha Madara, he probably isn't an ordinary figure, right?"
Everyone fell silent.
Indeed, who could be the rogue-nin singled out by the Sky Screen to be placed alongside Uchiha Madara?
*****
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