Chapter 791: Hashirama, Long Time No See

After Senju Hashirama passed away.

Madara Uchiha traveled to another time and space not long after.

From the Warring States to peace, he witnessed many things.

Later, he secretly returned to his original time and space, only to find that everyone around him was gone.

Only that one guy who liked to bask in the sun was still in the courtyard, sunbathing.

He could sense that the time he had left was running out.

So he didn't return to the Village to disturb Lian Ye.

In his final moments, he went back to the cave where he had once lived with Hashirama.

"Hashirama, the ideal we couldn't achieve was realized by that kid."

Madara Uchiha muttered to himself.

He and Hashirama had appeared in the Warring States period, forced to grip their weapons and head to the battlefield to kill since childhood.

Their younger brothers hadn't managed to survive.

That was the tragedy of that era.

The two of them had seen too much of this, and that was why they made a pact to end the war and establish peace.

But how easy was it to realize a dream?

Even after they later founded Konoha Village, Madara Uchiha understood that peace was only temporary.

The wars of the Ninja World couldn't end so easily.

Wherever there are people, there are interests and conflicts.

In the end, he and his best friend clashed over differing ideals.

The 【Infinite Moon Reading】 plan was the only solution he could think of at the time!

He never imagined that the plan he had schemed over for half his life was actually a deception by Heijue to revive Kaguya Otsutsuki.

At that moment, he was truly in utter despair.

But he didn't give up easily, intending to return to the Village and find another way.

Only, he never had any leads.

Later, through his interactions with Hashirama, Lian Ye, and his brother, he gradually felt that this kind of life wasn't so bad.

As time passed, his dreams began to fade.

Madara Uchiha grew to love this kind of life.

No war, no hatred—only family and close friends.

He realized that this was the life he had truly wanted all along.

As for completely bringing peace to the Ninja World?

That was merely a fantasy two boys had conjured up to escape their cruel reality.

Eternal peace could never exist in this world!

Even between comrades there were conflicts of interest, let alone between nations.

From then on, Madara Uchiha never again brought up the topic of bringing peace to the Ninja World.

He settled down peacefully in the Village to enjoy his retirement.

He had to admit, that kid had really lived up to his words.

Back then, Lian Ye had told him that one day he would make him let go of his obsession and return to the Village to retire in peace.

At that time, Madara had scoffed at it, thinking that a lazy slacker who liked to coast through life knew nothing about ideals and ambitions.

Who would have thought he actually meant what he said and delivered on it.

Madara Uchiha slowly opened his eyes, a complex look in them.

"Heh, looks like I misjudged him."

Although the peace in the Ninja World couldn't last forever, for a long time to come, war wouldn't break out.

The reason was simple.

Konoha Village was too powerful, its strength far surpassing that of other villages.

No one dared to provoke them, so naturally, war wouldn't occur.

Unless someday Konoha declined, or other villages grew strong.

If he had convinced Hashirama to unify the Ninja World back then, things might have turned out differently...

Madara Uchiha tremblingly pulled a culture dish from his chest.

Inside it was the flesh and blood of his best friend.

Since Hashirama's death, he had never taken it out even once.

Now, in his final moments, he might as well talk with Hashirama.

After all, staying in the cave was pretty boring.

【Impure Earth Reincarnation】

After sacrificing one unlucky Bai Jue, Senju Hashirama descended upon the Ninja World in an Impure Earth body.

"Madara?"

Senju Hashirama looked at the white-haired old man in the chair, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

Had Madara grown so old?

It seemed he had already been dead for many years.

"Hashirama, long time no see."

Madara Uchiha stared at his best friend before him, an indescribable emotion swirling in his eyes.

This guy has always been like this.

Even in death, nothing changes.

"Haha, it hasn't been long either."

Senju Hashirama laughed and scratched his head.

After death there is no perception, and his memory stays at the moment before his death.

In other words, in the blink of an eye his close friend turned into a decrepit old man.

"Madara, I'm not the one speaking for you."

Senju Hashirama noticed the surroundings, frowned, and said.

"You're already at an advanced age, not retiring in the Village, so why did you come here?"

He worries about Madara's physical condition; if he were to die here suddenly, there would be no one to take care of his remains.

By the way, where did that kid Lian Ye run off to?

Letting Madara stay in a cave—what a reckless mess!

Facing his close friend's questioning, Madara Uchiha's expression remained calm.

"Hashirama, you should be able to tell that I'm about to die."

Senju Hashirama fell silent at those words; he hadn't expected his close friend to be so blunt.

"Heh."

Madara Uchiha saw his expression and suddenly laughed.

"You, a guy who's been dead for decades, actually worry about me, who lives a hundred years?"

Senju Hashirama, seeing this, also laughed.

Madara's words seemed fine.

Moreover, he is a person who has been resurrected twice.

The first time was at Valley of the End, reviving with the Sharingan; the second time after traveling to another timeline with Lian Ye, he revived again.

Having died twice, he shouldn't fear death.

Otherwise he wouldn't converse so calmly.

"Madara, you seem to have changed."

Senju Hashirama noticed a change in Madara.

The former heaviness was gone, replaced by a sense of relief and liberation.

"Without obsession, it becomes easier."

Madara Uchiha suddenly said seriously.

"Hashirama, if we had joined forces then to unify the Ninja World, would the period of peace have lasted longer?"

Senju Hashirama was momentarily stunned, then laughed and scratched his head.

"Who knows?"

Back then he thought ending the Warring States turmoil equated to peace.

He hadn't thought much beyond that at all.

Some matters must be left to nature; forcing them only backfires.

"Our later life wasn't pretty good, was it?"

Senju Hashirama recalled the scene of his family basking in the sun in the courtyard.

Life back then was perfect.

"Heh, you're right."

Madara Uchiha didn't continue the topic, but scanned the crude cave.

"Hashirama, after I die, bury me in front of the cave."

He summoned Hashirama, and besides chatting to pass time, asked him to help arrange his funeral.

"Alright."

Senju Hashirama understood his close friend's situation had run its course, so naturally wouldn't refuse his request.

"When I die, give some flesh and blood to that kid, as a memento."

Although Madara Uchiha didn't return to the Village, he knew Lian Ye was still alive.

And his face remained youthful.

He also didn't know what that fellow Feijian had done to Lian Ye.

That kid can't rely on immortality forever, can he?

"I understand."

Senju Hashirama nodded in agreement, quietly watching his close friend give instructions for the funeral.

He had always done so before, handing over the arrangements to everyone.

In the blink of an eye, it turned into Madara.

It seems Feijian and Quan Nai are both gone.

Otherwise it wouldn't be possible to let him live alone in the cave.

When the time comes, returning to the Village, he can discuss the situation with Lian Ye.