Madara Uchiha watched the Senju brothers build Konoha, taking joy in seeing the village rise from nothing and transform from disorder into order. He watched Uchiha children laugh and play with Senju children and felt the profound sense of accomplishment it brought.
Yet sensitive and perceptive as he was, Madara discovered a sorrow buried deep within Hashirama's heart that had always mirrored his own.
In this village...
There was no Kawarama or Itama.
There was no Izuna, Myoko, Togakushi, or Kurohi.
Beneath Hashirama's constant optimism, the pain of his childhood had never been forgotten for even a moment, just like Madara's own.
"It is precisely because some wishes remain unfulfilled that people will defend their dreams to the death."
Because of Izuna, Madara had rarely spoken with Tobirama. But as he entered Hashirama's life through chakra, he saw that Tobirama Senju, like Izuna Uchiha, had occupied most of his older brother's life.
"If Madara Uchiha understood that, he would abandon his idea of taking everything by force! He should make an effort to integrate into Konoha himself instead of passively waiting for everyone else to make concessions for his sake!"
"Tobirama, Madara is only too lonely. Once he's had time to clear his head, he'll definitely return to Konoha."
"Brother! The village is no longer the dream of only two people or two Clans! Konoha now represents a transformation of the entire Ninja World! It is the flame of hope that ended the Warring States Period and ushered in a new era! Madara Uchiha left the village without permission. He's no different from a Missing-nin! He even intercepted and destroyed the peace agreement we worked so hard to establish with Iwagakure in the Land of Earth! Has he ever stopped to consider who the Hokage is?!"
"Tobirama! Don't say things like that! Madara isn't merely my subordinate. He is my dearest friend, my fated rival."
"Brother, you're too naive! While you're placing such innocent faith in him, he could be devising some dangerous plan."
After their perspectives were exchanged, Hashirama realized that Madara had been deeply bothered whenever he unconsciously used phrases such as "as your superior" or "you aren't merely my subordinate."
Madara had also taken issue with Hashirama saying, "I don't want to kill you," as though a battle between them would inevitably end in Hashirama's victory.
Madara Uchiha experienced the same realization.
When he began thinking as Hashirama Senju, as the Hokage and leader of a Ninja Village, he suddenly understood just how troublesome and dangerous an unstable presence like himself had been.
It was not only Tobirama Senju. Every Clan that later joined Konoha opposed allowing the radical and dangerous Madara Uchiha to lead the village and determine the future of not only Konoha, but the entire Ninja World.
"Becoming the First Hokage was never my wish. Tobirama, you're my brother, so you should understand me. As for the position of the Second Hokage..."
"Sigh..."
Through Hashirama's eyes, Madara watched Tobirama Senju repeatedly exhaust himself arguing with his brother over matters concerning Madara. For the first time, he felt a measure of sympathy for Hashirama's younger brother.
Putting himself in Tobirama's place, Madara had at least never forced Izuna into such a difficult position.
"It's still too early to discuss that, Brother. First, you need to make sure that when Madara Uchiha returns to Konoha, he'll truly broaden his perspective and prioritize the greater good, just as you claim. He cannot return spouting nonsense like, 'Before I set out on the path toward my true dream, I'll enjoy my battles with you.'"
"Tobirama..."
Whenever Hashirama failed to outargue his shrewd younger brother, he would either suppress him with chakra or put on such a pathetic expression that Tobirama could no longer stand watching and was forced to give in.
Tobirama Senju sighed again.
"If Madara Uchiha truly changes as you say, I won't stop him from becoming Hokage."
Madara could sense it.
Hashirama's little antenna of delight sprang upright!
"But you must also prepare a way to deal with him if he doesn't."
Hashirama's delighted little antenna immediately wilted.
Sensing Hashirama's emotions, Madara thought that Tobirama Senju had actually been the one who saw through everything.
At that point in time, Madara had either been subduing the Nine-Tails or traveling to subdue it.
Not long afterward came the battle at the Valley of the End.
They fought from daylight until nightfall.
Madara Uchiha became Hashirama Senju, while Hashirama Senju became Madara Uchiha.
By the end, they had forgotten why the battle had begun.
They merely wanted to decide which of them was stronger.
Because of the Nine-Tails' power, and because he needed to seal it, Hashirama Senju gradually began to show signs of exhaustion.
Madara watched Hashirama's mind fill with memories of their youth, but he could not smile. He knew that Hashirama was making his decision at that very moment.
Just as Tobirama had warned him, Hashirama was resolving to bring their relationship to an end.
Back then, Madara had experienced that moment only as himself. Now, as Hashirama Senju, he could feel the agony Hashirama had endured when making that choice.
Had such pain possessed a rank, it might have equaled the agony of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Hashirama Senju also felt Madara Uchiha's pain at that moment.
It was not the physical pain of being stabbed in the back.
It was the pain of knowing that the person who had stabbed him was Hashirama Senju.
"I never expected anyone to attack me from behind."
"No one could ever stand behind me except you, Hashirama."
"Whether they are my friends, my brothers, or my own flesh and blood, I will not spare anyone who threatens the village."
"But I never imagined that the person who would try to destroy this village…"
"Would be you, the man who seemed like heaven's answer to my dream of building a village and ending the wars."
"You've changed, Hashirama. You've lost sight of what truly matters. This will become the village's darkness. Someday..."
Madara had only spoken half of what he wanted to say before dying.
At the time, Hashirama had believed that matters had gone too far and that he could no longer understand Madara's thoughts.
Now, however, their minds and hearts were completely exposed to one another through chakra.
Only then did Hashirama understand Madara's difficult and complicated heart.
Madara had simply been...
Too afraid.
He feared losing those he loved, so he tried to unite the Ninja World through conquest and end all wars by force. If war ceased to exist, then the people he wanted to protect would never face another threat.
The same was true of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Black Zetsu had exploited Madara's fear of losing those he loved, fabricating the lie that the Infinite Tsukuyomi would allow everyone to live happily within a dream.
Later, Madara resurrected himself with Izanagi and hid in an underground tunnel, cutting himself off from everyone. From the shadows, he manipulated Kirigakure to carry out his plan.
Even in his old age, he had still failed to find a way to realize the Moon's Eye Plan. Then news of Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju's deaths reached him one after the other.
The people he wanted to protect, the people he wanted to surpass, and the people to whom he wanted to prove himself were all dead.
In the depths of that despair, his Rinnegan awakened without warning.
The Rinnegan, the ultimate Dōjutsu born after the loss of love and the arrival of absolute despair.
After manipulating Obito and confirming that he could be used as the next "Madara Uchiha," Madara disconnected himself from the Demonic Statue's life support and died inside that lonely, dark tunnel.
These were Madara Uchiha's memories.
In his final moment, as his eyes slowly closed, he still dreamed of Hashirama Senju, Izuna Uchiha, Tobirama Senju, and the younger brothers who had died during his childhood.
As Hashirama experienced those memories, his heart darkened, and something seemed to gather before silently falling.
"Tobirama."
"I'm here."
"I'm sorry. War will probably break out soon after I die."
"I know."
"I know you don't want to become the leader, but only you can take the position of Second Hokage."
"Mm."
"When the time is right, choose one of those boys to become the Third Hokage. Then you'll be able to take things a little easier."
"Mm."
"Could you help Tsuna quit gambling?"
"Don't ask the impossible, Brother."
"Hahaha... Cough, cough..."
"Should I call someone?"
"No. Having you here is enough."
"Then..." Tobirama Senju drew a deep breath. "Is there anything else you want to say?"
"Tobirama, I know you've always been wary of the Uchiha Clan."
"That's because they're dangerous. You know that, Brother. Otherwise, I wouldn't hold any prejudice against them."
"Mm. I know."
"..."
"But they are the clansmen Madara and Izuna left behind. We should treat them well and help them integrate into the village."
"Kagami Uchiha."
"Hm?"
"When Kagami Uchiha grows older, I'll support him in becoming Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan. He's different from the other Uchiha. His love isn't so narrow, and he has a strong desire to lead the rest of his Clan into becoming part of the village."
"I believe that under his leadership, the Uchiha Clan will fully integrate into Konoha, cast aside personal and Clan interests, and shoulder Konoha's burdens just as the Senju have. Then the Fifth Hokage may be one of his descendants, or another member of the Uchiha Clan whom he recognizes."
"You've thought so far ahead, hahaha... Cough, cough... Just as I'd expect from you." Hashirama paused. "Thank you for taking care of me all these years."
"Don't say... something like that, Brother."
"Without you, Konoha could never have developed so smoothly. I also wouldn't be able to leave without worrying about what comes next."
Tobirama Senju knelt beside Hashirama's sickbed. Lowering his eyes, he bowed respectfully until his forehead touched the tatami beside Hashirama's bedding.
"I'm the one who should say it."
"Thank you for protecting me all these years."
Hashirama Senju reached out and patted his younger brother's soft white hair.
"Honestly, you only become straightforward at times like this." His gentle eyes were filled with guilt. "I'm sorry. I'll have to leave everything to you from now on."
"I'm still alive, so you have nothing to apologize for, Anija (Big Brother)."
Most people would have struggled to understand the meaning behind Tobirama Senju's words.
But Madara Uchiha was currently experiencing Hashirama's memories through his chakra and consciousness, so he understood perfectly.
Tobirama was reminding Hashirama that he had succeeded in protecting his younger brother.
The fact that Tobirama Senju was still alive was Hashirama Senju's greatest accomplishment.
Founding the first Ninja Village, kindling the flame of peace throughout the world, becoming the God of Shinobi, becoming a legendary ninja. None of that mattered!
From the moment they first met, Hashirama and Madara had merely been two foolish older brothers who had sworn to protect their last remaining younger brother.
"Madara has come to see me. Is there anything you want me to pass on to Izuna?"
Madara Uchiha froze. He had never expected Hashirama to have said something like that before his death.
Hearing it now, Madara felt a trace of shame.
"No. I'll tell him myself after I die."
"I see..."
Hashirama smiled without saying anything else.
But through the chakra flowing between them, Madara understood Hashirama's meaning.
Tobirama was hiding something from both of them, perhaps something related to Madara and Izuna.
"Is there anything you want me to say to Kawarama and Itama?"
This time, Tobirama remained silent for a while. Hashirama waited patiently.
"Tell them... I'm sorry I failed to protect them."
The corners of Hashirama Senju's lips lifted as he lay dying.
"You're being evasive again. Why not simply tell them that you miss them so much that you poured all the love you had for them into Konoha?"
This time, Tobirama did not tell his brother to be quiet as he usually would. Instead, he obediently changed his answer.
"Then... tell them that when they are reborn, they should choose to live in a village called Konoha."
That single sentence wiped the smile from Hashirama Senju's face.
He pressed his lips together, and all his regrets nearly spilled from the corners of his eyes.
"I understand. I'll make sure they hear it."
Hashirama died peacefully, with a smile on his face.
Not because he had no regrets, but because he was about to go and find those regrets himself.
His young brothers who had died on the battlefield.
His closest friend, who had died by his own hand.
At the moment Hashirama Senju drew his final breath, Madara Uchiha saw an illusion of himself.
Smiling, Madara reached out a hand to welcome Hashirama and lead him away.
In his other hand, he held a sake flask and a cup.
If they could not be completely honest with each other in life, then they could share their cup of bonding sake after death.
Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had died with the same tranquility.
One entrusted the future to those who came after him.
The other waited to be reborn.
Yet as Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju experienced each other's peaceful deaths, their hearts could not remain equally calm.
The emotions they could no longer restrain condensed into silent tears, shed for one another.
"Sasuke, Sasuke."
Naruto watched the two men standing in the Valley of the End with their fingers joined in the Seal of Reconciliation, then quietly called to Sasuke beside him.
"What?"
"Bring your ear closer."
By now, Sasuke Uchiha only needed to see Naruto's smug little expression to understand what was happening.
That dead last was plotting something again!
...