Starting as a Ninja in the Naruto World

Uchiha Madara.

This was an unexpected visitor for Black Zetsu.

Compared to Emiya Shigen, Uchiha Madara was a piece that Black Zetsu had already decided to abandon. It never anticipated that this piece would show up here at this moment.

This seemed...

A little implausible.

Because Madara shouldn't have had any way to know about Black Zetsu, nor should he have known about Emiya Shigen. So why was he appearing here now of all times?

Logically...

Madara had no reason to come here.

In reality, however...

Madara had his own reasons for showing up.

As Madara secretly made his way to the Konoha Hospital to check on Hashirama Senju, he overheard an intriguing conversation.

Hashirama, who had just regained consciousness, was resting in his hospital room, while his wife, Mito Uzumaki, sat by his bedside. The relationship between the two was harmonious and filled with mutual respect.

This couple...

Had an air of quiet understanding between them.

After all, the news of Hashirama's awakening couldn't be hidden from his wife.

Out of respect for his sister-in-law, Tobirama had ensured that Mito was promptly informed when Hashirama regained consciousness, so she wouldn't have to continue worrying about her husband's critical condition while tending to the Nine-Tails' seal in the back mountains of Konoha.

Mito was well aware of her husband's fragile state. Based on her estimation, he shouldn't have woken up so soon. Fearing complications from his premature awakening, she rushed to the hospital to check on him before returning to maintain the Nine-Tails' seal.

This situation...

Was perfectly reasonable.

Mito deeply understood her husband's feelings toward his old friend, Madara Uchiha, and was fully aware of the bond they had shared.

She knew how much Hashirama lamented the loss of his friendship with Madara and how conflicted he felt about the path they had taken.

Thus, the couple naturally began discussing Madara.

Hashirama, being forthright by nature, didn't hide his thoughts.

Speaking to his wife, he described the resolution he had made during his life-or-death battle with Madara, sharing how he had come to terms with the necessity of killing his old friend for the sake of protecting the village.

"At that moment..."

"I knew I had to kill Madara..."

"I had to protect Konoha, no matter the cost..."

"Even if it meant sacrificing my friend, my brother, or even my own child, this was the resolve I needed to guard the village."

"Compared to the Will of Fire that protects the village, my friendship with Madara no longer held any significance. He would never understand my unwavering commitment to the village."

"..."

Madara, eavesdropping from outside the room, maintained an icy expression.

"..."

Inside the room, Mito furrowed her brows in deep concern.

Having been responsible for sealing the Nine-Tails that Hashirama had brought back, Mito had expended enormous amounts of chakra and was now spiritually drained.

Moreover...

Her husband had been critically injured and in a coma for so long...

All of these factors combined to leave Mito feeling mentally and physically exhausted.

But despite her fatigue, Mito, with her strong and determined nature, pushed through her weariness to assess the validity of her husband's words.

"To protect the village at any cost?"

Mito's face betrayed her unease. She knew how much her husband had treasured his friendship with Madara Uchiha before their falling out.

Precisely because of this...

Mito found herself deeply troubled by Hashirama's current mindset.

Sacrificing everything for the village?

Even the people he once swore to protect?

Wasn't the entire reason they founded Konoha to create a haven where people could live without the suffering brought by war?

Hashirama's thoughts...

Seemed slightly off to her.

But Mito was too drained to think it through clearly at the moment.

"Perhaps I'm just overthinking things..."

Mito sighed, deciding not to pursue the topic further.

"It's probably just exhaustion..."

Hashirama noticed the weariness etched on his wife's face and gently inquired about the Nine-Tails. "I was worried about the Nine-Tails causing trouble, so I brought it back to the village. Has it been behaving?"

"…It's manageable."

Mito's thoughts wandered to the unruly fox.

She knew it wasn't feasible to leave the Nine-Tails sealed in the back mountains forever. Its immense power was too dangerous, and they would eventually need a permanent solution.

"If you insist on sealing the Nine-Tails, keeping it in the back mountains isn't safe. Any mistake in the seal could result in disaster..."

Mito calmly suggested an alternative. "The safest way would be to seal the Nine-Tails within me. With the Uzumaki clan's unique chakra, I could ensure its containment..."

"In that case..."

"The Nine-Tails might become even more restless, no?"

Hashirama's tone grew somber. "If the seal falters even slightly, the Nine-Tails could wreak havoc within the village..."

"And you…"

He hesitated, his guilt evident. "You might be seen as a threat to the village..."

"Then in the future..."

Mito's voice softened as she lowered her gaze.

"I'll avoid showing myself too much in the village."

"I'm sorry..."

"It's alright..."

The couple's conversation retained its tenderness.

"..."

Outside the room, Madara, a long-time bachelor, found their dialogue boring and was ready to leave.

However...

One remark caught his attention.

"By the way…"

"Tobirama's choice of doctor is strange..."

"Their identity is so secretive that even I've been kept in the dark. But their medical skills are extraordinary, which is a relief."

"..."

Madara quietly left.

What a fortunate coincidence.

At the moment, Madara also needed a doctor to help him perform the transplant of Hashirama's cells into his body.

And as luck would have it...

This presented a dual opportunity.

If this mysterious doctor—privy to Hashirama's condition—were to disappear, it would throw Konoha into chaos. Hashirama's health was a closely guarded secret.

This secret...

Would surely force Tobirama to divert his full attention to finding the missing doctor.

As long as this doctor remained unaccounted for, the information they held about Hashirama's limited lifespan would hang over Konoha like a sword.

Tobirama wouldn't have the time or energy to investigate Madara's "corpse" left in the secret chamber. Instead, he would be wholly focused on stabilizing Konoha's internal affairs before Hashirama's ten remaining years were up.

And once Madara captured the doctor...

The revelation of Hashirama's impending demise...

Madara stood outside Emiya Shigen's residence, watching the flickering candlelight in the window. A mocking smile played on his lips.

"Hmph..."

"Hashirama..."

"In comparison to my goal, our friendship no longer matters..."

"Hashirama..."

"I've already resolved..."

"To kill you in pursuit of my ideal..."