"How many patients are left at Konoha Hospital?"
Tobirama Senju asked, his fingers tapping rhythmically on his desk.
"There are still a few dozen critical cases," replied the assistant assigned to watch over Emiya Shigen. Having spent just one day observing him, the assistant was already awestruck by Shigen's dical expertise. He couldn't help but marvel, "With Lord Emiya's skills, it won't be long before these patients are freed from their suffering."
"If that's the case..."
Tobirama narrowed his eyes, his voice low as though speaking to himself.
"Once the hospital has no more patients, soone like him wouldn't stay in Konoha for long. Knowing his nature, he'd likely set off to heal people across the land, just as he did in ancient tis..."
Tobirama's fingers tapped the desk, the sound echoing with purpose.
He analyzed the geopolitical state of the ninja world, mulling over Konoha's challenges.
"If he leaves Konoha..."
"Lord Tobirama, are you suggesting...?"
The assistant hesitated, unsure of where Tobirama was going with this. Fearing the worst, he tentatively asked, "If you intend to imprison Lord Emiya, I must object—"
"Imprison him?"
Tobirama waved his hand dismissively, his voice cold yet decisive.
"Don't overthink it. Konoha would never do such a thing. I'm only concerned for his safety. The shinobi world isn't as respectful of him as we are..."
For instance—
Uchiha Madara.
Tobirama rested his chin on his hand, his sharp gaze radiating danger as he began formulating a plan.
"Tomorrow morning."
"Have Hiruzen and the others gather at the training field."
"From now on, I will personally oversee their training. Once their progress becos clear, I'll select candidates for a special mission."
Tobirama's tone grew heavier as he continued:
"Also, summon the ANBU. I'll pick out another team from among them."
His every word reflected his ticulous nature. When it ca to plans involving Emiya Shigen, Tobirama was leaving no room for error.
"I'll need to find ti to et with my brother, too..."
Tobirama was certain that if Emiya Shigen ever left Konoha, Madara Uchiha would undoubtedly make his move.
"Madara will co for him."
Tobirama prided himself on understanding Madara's thought process. He firmly believed that Madara would seek to exploit Emiya Shigen's skills to restore his blinded Sharingan—the eye that had been sacrificed to cheat death.
"That's his brother Izuna's eye..."
Tobirama's expression turned frosty as he recalled Izuna Uchiha, whom he had killed.
"Izuna's remaining eye is all that's left of him. For the Uchiha, their strength lies entirely in their Sharingan."
"Emotionally and practically, Madara would stop at nothing to restore that eye."
In Tobirama's mind, Madara's desperation to reclaim Izuna's legacy made him predictable. The mont Shigen stepped outside Konoha, it would beco a golden opportunity—not only for Madara but also for Tobirama to eliminate his nesis once and for all.
But...
Tobirama wasn't entirely correct in his assumptions.
Madara wasn't seeking Shigen to restore his eye.
Instead, he sought answers—secrets that only Shigen, as a man from ancient tis, might know.
Hidden Underground, Fire Country
In one of the Uchiha clan's secret bases, Madara was recuperating after evading the Konoha shinobi hunting him.
Only he, the forr clan leader, knew of this hideout.
Lacking a skilled dic, Madara had personally perford a crude surgery to implant Hashirama's flesh into his own body.
The result? A success.
Though the process had been perilous, Hashirama's cells quickly integrated with Madara's body. His chakra surged, and his physical resilience soared.
"It worked..."
Madara closed his eyes, satisfied.
He could feel his newly augnted chakra coursing through his body, and his self-healing abilities had reached new heights.
"Let's test it."
Madara slashed his arm with a kunai.
Blood oozed from the wound but, within monts, the injury healed completely, stimulated by his enhanced chakra.
This self-regenerative ability...
It was a hallmark of Hashirama's unique powers.
Madara had gained the Senju's formidable vitality, along with sothing unexpected—a tendril of vine-like wood sprouting from his arm.
Wood Release.
"Sothing's off..."
Madara examined himself in a reflective surface.
His chest bore a strange, pale face—a grotesque visage that vaguely resembled Hashirama.
This was the price of integrating Hashirama's cells into his body.
Still, Madara was unimpressed.
"This is far from enough."
Madara threw on a cloak to hide the grotesque growth and scowled.
"The Uchiha stone tablet spoke of the power of creation—the infinite might of all things. This... is not that."
He clenched his fist, frustration mounting.
The strength he had gained was imnse, but it wasn't the transformative power he had been seeking—the power of the Sage of Six Paths.
"Have I misunderstood?"
Madara mulled over the ancient texts.
Even with his brother Izuna's eyes, he had been unable to fully decipher the stone tablet. Its final secrets remained shrouded, hinting at the ultimate power to save the world but leaving Madara uncertain of how to attain it.
"But..."
"There's no need for guesswork anymore."
A na resurfaced in Madara's mind: Emiya Shigen.
Hashirama had often spoken of Shigen in their youth, describing him as the first and greatest dical ninja.
"If anyone knows the truth, it's him."
Madara smirked.
"Perhaps that man knows how to unlock the power of creation. I'll find him, and he will tell everything."
Madara quickly devised a plan.
He would bide his ti near Konoha, awaiting the perfect mont to confront Shigen.
"If he truly is from ancient tis, he might even hold greater secrets than I expect..."
In the Shadows
From deep underground, Black Zetsu watched Madara.
While Madara brimd with confidence, Zetsu was less optimistic.
The transplant hadn't gone as planned. Despite absorbing Hashirama's chakra, Madara had yet to awaken the Rinnegan—the eyes necessary for Zetsu's ultimate goal.
"I need to et Shigen, too."
Zetsu slithered through the shadows, formulating its own sches.
"Shigen must know why the process failed. He might even hold the key to awakening the Rinnegan."
Still, Zetsu worried.
Madara was intelligent and wary. If he discovered the truth about the stone tablet's manipulations, everything could fall apart.
"Before Madara and Shigen et, I need to teach Shigen a lesson..."
"The art of deception."
Zetsu's mind churned with plans.
"How do I make a man like Shigen—a man who respects life above all else—accept that lies and manipulation are sotis necessary?"
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