Chapter 92: An Unexpected Alliance
Uchiha Raizen stared at the smiling Madara, a deep sense of unease growing within him. A victory in battle might bring satisfaction, but this… this was genuine, unburdened happiness. That was a dangerous sign on the face of the Uchiha patriarch.
"Stop grinning like a fool and tell me what's going on," Raizen finally demanded, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.
"This time, the Kaguya's downfall has handed us an incredible gift," Madara explained, his eyes gleaming. "To the south, there's a vein of chakra-conductive metal. And with the local powers weakened and divided, no one there is strong enough to challenge us. We are about to possess our own source of chakra metal. Isn't that worth a smile?"
The grim shadow that had clung to Madara since Senna's death seemed to have lightened. In the brutal world of the Warring States, death was a constant companion. Revenge had been achieved, and seeing Senna's soul at peace through the Impure World Reincarnation, however briefly, had finally allowed Madara to lay some of his grief to rest.
"That's good to see," Raizen admitted. "But the southern chakra metal vein… that's not in uncontested territory. The Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans are there. The Hatake, Sarutobi, and Shimura aren't far. They may not be major powers individually, but they are far from weak, and they're not our allies. What makes you so confident we can seize it?"
"Ah, I knew you wouldn't be able to guess this part," Madara said, his smirk returning, full of self-satisfaction.
"You're insufferable. Out with it. Does this have something to do with Hashirama?" Raizen pressed, a suspicion forming in his mind.
"Hah! You saw right through it," Madara confirmed, his smile widening.
Raizen was genuinely taken aback. The chasm of hatred between Madara and the Senju, forged in Senna's blood, had seemed unbridgeable. He had assumed it would take years, if ever, for that wound to heal, even with the closure provided by the reanimation ritual.
"When did this happen?" Raizen asked cautiously.
"During the battle, when I moved to intercept their main force. Hashirama approached me," Madara explained, his tone becoming earnest. "He told me something. He said that if we were to join our forces and create a new settlement, a true village, I would be its leader. I would be the 'boss'."
Raizen had to fight to keep a straight face. Of course. Hashirama's "Talk no Jutsu" had found its mark, appealing to the one thing Madara could never resist: recognition and supremacy. The naivety of it was almost charming. Hashirama might promise Madara the title, but everyone knew who would truly hold the people's heart. Still, if it brought stability, Raizen wouldn't interfere.
"So, when do we leave for this new venture?" Raizen asked, shifting to practical matters.
Chakra metal was no small prize. Weapons forged from it could drastically enhance a shinobi's abilities, channeling chakra with unparalleled efficiency. He knew of legendary blades like the White Light Chakra Sabre and the Sword of Kusanagi. If every Uchiha warrior were armed with such metal, their combat effectiveness would skyrocket.
"Hashirama proposed a meeting tonight with the two of us, so…"
"You agreed to meet him again? Tonight?" Raizen interrupted, his exasperation showing.
"I told him he was not to lay a finger on you. We are to meet at the old place by the river tonight, after you return," Madara stated, as if this were a perfectly reasonable arrangement.
Raizen sighed internally. It was a risk, but Madara's improved spirits were a strategic asset in themselves. "Tonight, then. I'll go prepare. And one more thing—I assume my access to all the clan's ninjutsu archives remains unrestricted?"
"I gave you my word. It's done," Madara affirmed.
With Madara's authority now absolute after the successful campaign, his word was law. No one would dare question his decision, especially not when it concerned the elder who had been instrumental in their victory. Raizen nodded and took his leave, his mind already racing with the implications of this strange, sudden alliance and the precious resource that now lay within their grasp.