Chapter 43: Beast, Submit to Me!

"Xiao Lian Ye, it's been a while..."

A few months later, Lian Ye had just returned home from a mission when he saw Senju Hashirama sitting in the courtyard, smiling and greeting him.

"Uncle Hashirama, what brings you here?" Lian Ye was somewhat surprised.

As everyone knew, among Konoha Village's Hokage, apart from the Yondaime, the other Kage were all very busy.

For Senju Hashirama to come in person, something must have happened while he was away on missions.

Senju Hashirama sighed and explained, "I don't know why, but lately I've been feeling strange. I don't even have an appetite for meals."

Lately, he would feel palpitations from time to time.

As if a pair of invisible hands were quietly tightening the threads of fate.

This feeling made him very uncomfortable.

Xuanwo Mizuto noticed the change in Hashirama. She thought her husband was overworked and had developed anorexia, so she suggested that Hashirama eat a meal cooked by Lian Ye.

After understanding what had happened, Lian Ye smiled and said, "So that's how it is. Uncle Hashirama, I'll come over later to cook for you."

"Haha, sorry to trouble you, Xiao Lian Ye." Senju Hashirama forced a smile.

Lian Ye didn't think much of it, assuming it was caused by Hashirama's loss of appetite.

He planned to make a few dishes that Uncle Hashirama loved to eat, to see if he could work up the other man's appetite.

If that still didn't work, there was nothing he could do.

Lian Ye looked puzzled: "Come to think of it, would a powerhouse of Uncle Hashirama's level really develop anorexia?"

This might not be anorexia,

but a heart ailment...

————————

After leaving, Senju Hashirama did not return home, but instead went alone to Hokage Rock.

Below, smoke rose from Konoha's kitchens. The calls of merchants and the laughter of children playing chase pierced the thin mist, weaving together into a vivid scene of the human world.

His wooden clogs crunched over the fine gravel on the rock's summit, and the sensation underfoot suddenly grew familiar—the sunken grooves, the raised stone ridges were exactly identical to a scene in his memory.

Images from years ago surged like a tide: back then, he had stood right here with Madara, planning the Village's future.

Madara had stood on the very same spot, pointing at the barren land below the mountain, and said: "We'll make this place bloom with symbolic white flowers."

Now Konoha's cherry trees were in full bloom, yet the pink-white petals made him freeze.

The wind carrying the voices of merchants and children brushed past his ears. He suddenly reached out to touch the empty air, as if wanting to grasp his best friend.

"Madara..." Senju Hashirama's expression was complicated.

He didn't understand why his friend had chosen to leave. Wasn't this the Village they had built together?

He stood quietly on Hokage Rock, not knowing what he was thinking.

It wasn't until night fell that Senju Hashirama came back to his senses, gazing into the distance. "Madara, what are you doing right now?"

———————

Hashirama Residence.

"Sister-in-law, why hasn't Big Brother come back yet?" Qianshou Feijian looked at the dishes on the table and swallowed.

Not only did Big Brother love these foods, but he loved them too.

If this weren't Big Brother's home, he would have started feasting long ago.

Xuanwo Mizuto couldn't help frowning: "Hashirama really is something, making so many people wait for him..."

Since Hashirama left that morning, he hadn't come home at all, and she had no idea where he had gone.

Lian Ye was somewhat puzzled—where exactly had Senju Hashirama gone?

He had come here in the afternoon to cook.

Only after finishing did he realize that Uncle Hashirama wasn't home.

Lian Ye thought Senju Hashirama would be back soon, but after waiting the entire afternoon, he still hadn't seen him.

He had lost count of how many times he'd reheated the dishes on the table.

Amid the long wait, Senju Hashirama finally arrived late.

"Hahaha, sorry to keep you all waiting."

"Where have you been for so long?" Xuanwo Mizuto stepped forward and grabbed Hashirama's ear, demanding answers.

"Ow, ow, ow, it hurts, Mito, let go quickly." Senju Hashirama hurriedly begged for mercy.

Xuanwo Mizuto gave a cold snort, and only then let go.

Senju Hashirama rubbed his reddened ear and explained, "I went up to Hokage Rock to look at the scenery and lost track of time."

Xuanwo Mizuto rolled her eyes in exasperation. She didn't know what to say about her husband anymore.

Lian Ye and Qianshou Feijian's mouths twitched.

They had thought Uncle / Big Brother had gone to handle official business, but it turned out he'd lost track of time looking at scenery.

This was indeed the kind of thing Senju Hashirama would do.

"Xiao Lian Ye, could you reheat the dishes again?" Xuanwo Mizuto said softly.

"Sure, Mizuto Ayi."

Lian Ye picked up the dishes and headed to the kitchen.

Before long, he had the dishes reheated.

Senju Hashirama sat in the seat of honor, looking at the appetizing dishes on the table, but had no appetite.

He held his chopsticks suspended above the miso soup for a long time, the rising steam blurring his vision.

His usual favorite Tempura sat before him, yet its golden, crispy shell couldn't stir up the slightest appetite in him.

"Is this really anorexia?" Senju Hashirama murmured softly.

"Big brother, why aren't you eating?" Feijian, noticing his brother's change, asked puzzledly.

"I have no appetite." Hashirama sighed.

Lian Ye watched silently from the side, saying nothing.

His intuition told him something extraordinary was about to happen…

Lian Ye fell into thought: what will happen in this time period?

At that moment, a distant muffled thunder rolled, startling the wind chimes under the eaves into a chaotic clatter.

Senju Hashirama suddenly felt his throat tighten painfully, and even his breathing grew heavy.

He rose, went to the doorway, looked at the dark clouds, and whispered, "Could it be you? Madara…"

His intuition told him this matter was related to Madara Uchiha.

Hearing that, Lian Ye's body stiffened, and he suddenly realized.

If something is to happen in this time period…

Then it can only be the Valley of the End battle.

————————

Someplace in Ninja World.

"Beast, finally found you!"

At the instant thunder split the dark clouds, Madara Uchiha's long hair whirled wildly in the wind, and his crimson Sharingan resembled two Blood Moons in the darkness.

The Nine-Tails' roar shattered the heavens, its nine massive tails sweeping like mountain ranges; where they passed, rocks cracked, and the hurled debris, infused with violent chakra, traced red streaks through the sky.

Madara Uchiha flickered, easily evading the tails' attacks.

He looked at the gigantic Nine-Tails and nodded with satisfaction.

"Not bad, becoming my pet works perfectly!"

Hearing that, the Nine-Tails was instantly enraged; it would tear the human before it apart!

Facing the raging Nine-Tails, Madara Uchiha's mouth curved coldly, the Three Tomoe spun wildly, eventually forming the shape of a Kaleidoscope.

He employed Kaleidoscope Genjutsu on the Nine-Tails,

"Beast, submit to me!"

Madara Uchiha's chakra surged into the Nine-Tails' body like a tide.

The Nine-Tails struggled, roaring in anger, yet could only watch helplessly as its body gradually slipped out of control.

Three Tomoe appeared in its eyes.

The Nine-Tails was completely controlled by Madara Uchiha.

Madara Uchiha stood atop the Nine-Tails' head, gazing into the distance.

"The first step of the plan is complete."

"Next, execute the second step."