Chapter 104: Reunion at the Hokage Cliff
Nara Haruyu's brow furrowed deeply. The immediate capitulation of the Sarutobi and Shimura clans had backed the remaining five into a corner. Their swift agreement created a bandwagon effect that was difficult to resist.
"Welcome, both of you, to Konoha," Hashirama said warmly, his smile genuine. "Now, for the five of you… do you need more time to consider? I am happy to grant it."
"No… that won't be necessary," Nara Haruyu replied, his voice heavy with resignation. "We are willing. But we will require designated clan grounds and—"
"The specifics of residency and land allocation will be decided collectively later," Hashirama interjected smoothly. "After all, the village belongs to all of us. Everything from construction to distribution will be a communal decision. So, Patriarch Nara, do we have your agreement?"
"We agree to join," Haruyu stated, and with that, the other four clan leaders murmured their assent.
The nine-clan conference was over. What could have been a bloody, protracted conflict was resolved not by force of arms, but by the force of Hashirama's character and vision.
"Alright then," Uchiha Raizen said, stretching languidly. "Madara, I'm going to get some rest. I'll leave the rest to you two patriarchs. Oh, and by the way," he added, turning as he reached the tent flap, "the first village chief has to be you, Madara. If it weren't for you, this would have been a much bigger mess."
With that, he exited, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.
Despite the grim circumstances, a faint, genuine smile touched Madara's lips. In the wake of his brother's death, Raizen's blunt loyalty and familial teasing had filled a void. He had come to see the clever, powerful elder as a true kinsman.
Inside the tent, however, the atmosphere was awkward. Raizen's casual pronouncement had just upended Hashirama's entire speech about democratic elections.
"Ahem," Hashirama cleared his throat, masterfully steering the conversation. "It is… my personal wish for Madara to be the first leader. But as I said, the final decision will be made by all of you. We will not force your vote. Now, with this matter settled, we must turn our attention to the remaining clans. The Hatake clan… I will take responsibility for convincing them, as our relations are more amicable. Madara, let's go."
With a final nod, the two legendary figures left the tent, leaving the new allies to process the monumental shift that had just occurred.
A month later, the three of them—Hashirama, Madara, and Raizen—stood side-by-side atop the towering rock face that would one day be known as the Hokage Cliff.
"So, Madara? This is where our village will be," Hashirama said, his voice filled with awe as he gazed down at the vast, empty plain below. "Our dream… it's finally becoming real."
"We first spoke of this when we were eight years old," Madara replied, his usual harshness softened by the moment. "I never thought it would take over a decade. When Senna died… I believed I would stand against you for the rest of my life. But Raizen… he gave me a path back to this." He gestured to the vista before them. "Now, the three of us stand here together. I truly… I truly want to say thank you, Raizen." It was the first time Madara had ever voiced such heartfelt gratitude.
"Ugh, you two are so sentimental," Raizen grumbled, though he was secretly moved. "But don't get too comfortable. The real battle is only just beginning. We've solved the most obvious problem, but we still haven't found the black hand operating in the shadows."
His tone was grim. He knew the script. Black Zetsu was still out there. But something else nagged at him, a deviation from the history he knew. The two-year truce had been shattered not by a obvious Zetsu plot, but by Senju Butsuma's seemingly spontaneous decision to restore his clan's "honor." Butsuma, while stern, was not a reckless warmonger. It felt… off.
It suggested that in addition to Black Zetsu, there was another, even more elusive entity manipulating events from the darkness. And that unknown variable was, in its own way, far more terrifying. The peace they had just bought was fragile, and the enemies they couldn't see were the most dangerous of all.
💫 Liked the chapter?You can read 100+ extra chapters on Patreon, including the current
Patreon Chapter 200 – Shisui: The Son Of Madara
👉 Patreon.com/KudosNey
Your support helps me write more and update faster 💖And don't forget to drop a Power Stone ⭐ — it really motivates me!
Thank you for reading! 🙌✨