The village streets were littered with scattered household items, and all doors and windows were tightly shut.
All Konoha-nin were scattered within their respective clan compounds, while the security forces had quietly gone into hiding.
The overall military standard was in complete disarray.
When Tobirama and the other emerged, the clone Hashirama finally felt relieved to learn that the tailed beasts had been "invited" over according to the plan.
Five days prior, Hashirama's Wood Clones had visited eight locations to have "friendly" exchanges with the tailed beasts; during these spirited conversations, the beasts had gestured wildly and happily fired off Tailed Beast Balls. In short, their original habitats were no longer habitable.
How could Hashirama, the friendly ambassador, just ignore them? So he had invited them to the Land of Fire.
"There are only eight? How is that possible?" the clone wondered. "Did the main body mess up? That can't be."
"Brother! Let us stay behind and cover the retreat, let Monkey lead the villagers to evacuate!" Tobirama shouted urgently.
"Ah, no need." He had just overlooked the other's feelings and patiently explained.
"You mean they were all gathered by Brother and that Madara guy?"
"Exactly. If I've timed it right, they should be arriving soon, right?"
"Spread the word to the others. No need to panic, just go about your normal lives. These are the guardian beasts that Madara-sama went through great trouble to bring to the village from outside!"
"Hmph! Still promoting Uchiha Madara. Got it."
At that moment, the earth trembled again, this time approaching from a distance. An even larger, orange-red fox demon was slowly walking towards them!
Its nine tails were deliberately raised to avoid causing as much destruction as possible.
Two small black figures could vaguely be seen atop it. When it finally came close, they jumped down.
"Thud!" Two soft sounds.
They landed almost simultaneously and stood waiting at the village gate.
Hashirama said with emotion, "I owe a lot to you during this time. I've finally managed to recover all my close combat experience."
Perhaps due to the system reward, he had worked exceptionally hard and finally, barely, gained the other's recognition. Still, he wasn't equipping any titles for now, not wanting to act like a madman itching to "dance" with someone all day.
Hashirama sighed contentedly, "Ah, being in the village is just so reassuring."
"Your vigilance is far too lax. The ninjas are all acting independently with no unified command, like scattered sand! Where are the Uchiha clan? Where is the Senju clan?" Madara, however, pointed out numerous fatal problems.
"You're absolutely right," Hashirama agreed. "We really need to reorganize things, especially those clans. I'm looking forward to your bold reforms."
"Naturally."
"Thud!" The Wood Clone Hashirama swiftly appeared from a distance and landed steadily.
"You've worked hard."
"You've worked hard too. Rest now." Hashirama immediately dispelled the Wood Clone.
Instantly, all the memories the Wood Clone had accumulated over the past ten-plus days flooded into his mind.
It was as if he were experiencing everything again, vividly.
After a moment, Hashirama pressed his throbbing temples, opened his eyes, and nodded at Madara. "Everything is under control."
"Brother!" Tobirama emerged from within the village gate and eagerly came forward, his eyes fixed solely on Hashirama. His body leaned slightly forward, and he habitually raised a finger to point; Hashirama understood it as a signal that their plan had proceeded smoothly.
However, as Tobirama's gaze swept over Madara, a flicker of disdain appeared in the corner of his eye. He gave a dismissive snort, turned his face away with a slight pout.
Madara also looked away coldly, ignoring him.
"Brother, you must be fully briefed by now. Let's talk inside."
"No hurry, let's not forget the main purpose!" Hashirama, however, pushed the person beside him a few steps forward. "Madara, the stage ahead is yours. Dance to your heart's content."
"Hashirana... very well, let's go."
Hashirama practically dragged Tobirama along as they followed behind Madara, walking slowly into the village.
The entire village stood at the gate to welcome them. The expressions on their faces varied, but most wore genuine, happy smiles.
For a moment, Madara's long-dormant heart felt soothed, and a slight smile appeared on his face.
His fingers traced the Uchiha clan crest. Suddenly, the hateful look in his younger brother's eyes at the moment of his death flashed before him. He murmured to himself:
"Izuna, do you see? Hatred isn't everything."
Screams of joy... cries of welcome continued relentlessly...
Tobirama was indeed reliable. Despite his deep dissatisfaction with Uchiha Madara, he had still perfectly executed the tasks Hashirama had entrusted to him.
This had significantly improved the village's perception of Madara. By the time they returned, Madara's reputation had almost caught up to Hashirama's!
Madara noticeably became more serious upon seeing the Uchiha clan.
Their reactions were slightly awkward, foreshadowing that their future would be quite eventful.
Gradually, he reached the central plaza...
He authoritatively announced to everyone that the tailed beasts were summoned by him and Hashirama, that they would serve as the guardian beasts of Konohagakure, settling in various parts of the Land of Fire.
Konohagakure would become the greatest village in the world under his leadership!
He would achieve true peace! Eliminate all voices of dissent!
If external enemies wished to invade them, they would first have to step over his dead body!
Then, he declared that he had secured for the village access to the summoning beasts of three sacred lands, along with three opportunities to train in natural energy. Any villager with talent who contributed to the village would be able to learn!
Prompted by a subtle signal from Hashirama, Madara awkwardly demonstrated for everyone.
He pressed his palms together! The flame patterns on his chest glowed, and dark lines covered his eye sockets.
Sage Mode! Activate!
Sage Art: Storm Release Light Fang!!!
A purple ray shot from his mouth with incredible speed, streaking into the distance...
It instantly pierced a mountain five kilometers away. Then, tilting his head, he used the ray to slice the mountain peak clean off!
The onlookers were stunned, especially the great clan leaders, whose expressions turned greedy. The Uchiha elder clenched his fists, muttering to himself: "We're set."
Senju Tōka, an advisor of the Senju clan, unconsciously rubbed her index finger as she contemplated the future.
The common folk, however, burst into enthusiastic cheers!!!
They chanted in unison: "Madara-sama! Mighty! Madara-sama! The Strongest!"
Finally, Hashirama gave a brief speech about the future arrangements for the Senju clan. After Tobirama announced some policies and plans, they concluded the welcome gathering.
The ninjas immediately began distributing ballots to everyone, urging them to vote quickly.
"Had your fill of that?" Hashirama teased Madara.
"Not bad." Madara was deliberately suppressing the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Just as we discussed regarding the division of responsibilities. No issues, right?"
"I never go back on what I've promised. Provided that Tobirama fellow doesn't make any mistakes."
"You!" Tobirama started to retort but was cut off by Hashirama.
"Rest assured about that. Speaking of Tobirama, the Impure World Reincarnation he's been researching is almost complete. Then you'll be able to meet Izuna again. Once we find White Zetsu, he'll be able to regain his prime strength."
Madara's eyes lit up. "Excellent!" He resolved that if Izuna could return, he would stop at nothing to make it happen, even if it meant using Tobirama's forbidden jutsu.
He looked back at the flourishing Konohagakure village and the crowd behind him.
He couldn't help murmuring to himself, "The Hokage, huh? Perhaps that wouldn't be a bad choice."
He subconsciously glanced at "Hashirama," noticing he was standing there with a silly grin on his face.
"Tch, always that ridiculous look."
Then, the three entered the newly constructed meeting room, followed closely by a group of key village figures, the heads of various clans, and the small clones of the tailed beasts.
As Kurama's small tail swept across the ground, natural energy unconsciously emanated from it, causing the withered weeds on the ground to sprout tiny green buds.
No one noticed this scene.
Meanwhile, within that distant shattered mountain peak...
A certain black object found itself in an incredibly unfortunate situation.
It was re-forming. Fortunately, it had split apart in time, successfully avoiding the vital point. Although it had suffered a minor injury, not being completely annihilated on the spot was already a blessing from heaven.
It eventually coalesced into a humanoid form. This being was Black Zetsu.
His original intention was to go to Konohagakure to observe the reincarnations of Asura and Indra, to once again sow discord between them.
But he discovered those tailed beasts were all converging on Konohagakure simultaneously. He couldn't help but hasten his Hiding in Surface Technique and head towards the village.
Suddenly, a purple ray shot towards him. Its speed was unprecedented in a thousand years! Although he split in time, the ray still grazed his left shoulder.
The "Yin-Yang Release Body" felt a searing pain—an agony he had never experienced since being birthed by his mother!
"Ahh!" He let out a furious roar.
"Who is it!" A peculiar madness gleamed in Black Zetsu's eyes. "Someone actually damaged the body mother gifted me?! Whoever it is, I'll make you wish you were dead!"
Recalling the direction of the attack, Black Zetsu deduced it roughly came from the direction of Konohagakure. An instinct told him it definitely originated from there.
He immediately accelerated his recovery, determined to thoroughly investigate Konohagakure.
However, because of this unknown entity, he had to be even more cautious. Having lived for a millennium, caution and patience were the keys to his survival!
A short while later, he finally reached the gates of Konohagakure.
As he bypassed the gate guards, he overheard their conversation. They were talking about "Madara-sama," the "Three Sacred Lands," "voting," and such things.
Black Zetsu's brow furrowed deeply. What's going on? Madara? Sage Art? The connection between the two was not good news.
He stopped and listened carefully.
"So, it was Uchiha Madara who used that Sage Art just now! I'll remember you!"
"They're voting right now? They're choosing the First Hokage candidate today?"
Sensing the feedback from the chakra signals, he pinpointed his destination and began moving underground.
Along the way, he pieced together the scattered information he collected, arriving at a conclusion unfavorable to him.
"Not only did Uchiha Madara visit the Three Sacred Lands to learn techniques for controlling Sage Chakra, but he's also highly likely to become Hokage?!
Wasn't it supposed to be impossible? What are you doing, Senju Tobirama? How could such a reversal occur in just one month? I must stop this immediately!"
Filled with deep confusion, Black Zetsu prepared to intervene without delay.