Chapter 70: Friendship Behind Madara
"What kind of relationship?"
The First Hokage didn't react at first to what Jiraiya was referring to. He also had no idea what Icha Icha Paradise was, and looked over in confusion.
"I mean… I mean that kind of behind-the-scenes relationship."
Jiraiya normally wasn't very shy about this sort of topic, but since he was speaking to a former Hokage of Konoha, he still felt a bit embarrassed.
He'd already phrased it as tactfully as he could.
"A deep relationship? Madara and I certainly had a deep friendship."
The First Hokage waved his hand dismissively. He thought it was something serious.
"No, First Hokage-sama, I mean… the 'behind' behind. Like, standing behind someone."
Jiraiya hurriedly corrected himself.
After saying that, he became extremely nervous, afraid this was all a misunderstanding that might anger the First Hokage.
"Oh, that kind of behind… That's fine too. I actually liked standing behind Madara when he was peeing the most."
The First Hokage suddenly understood, nodded, and then revealed a smile full of lingering warmth and fond recollection.
It was as if he were remembering something precious.
Jiraiya instantly felt a chill tighten behind his back.
Oh god! First Hokage-sama, maybe you should get angry instead, what is that expression?!
Jiraiya sucked in a sharp breath.
Standing behind Uchiha Madara while he was peeing, what kind of horrifying play was that?!
In all the countless positions in Icha Icha Paradise, there had never been anything like this!
Only Buff Man Paradise had something like that.
Looks like that book really was official history!
"Madara was a very dishonest guy. He told me he didn't like people standing behind him, said he was sensitive, that if someone stood behind him he wouldn't be able to pee."
"But what happened in the end? I still stood behind him, and when he wasn't paying attention, I stabbed him."
As the First Hokage said this, his expression turned a little gloomy.
He was probably recalling the final moment at the Valley of the End, when he tricked Madara with a Wood Clone, appeared behind him, and stabbed him to death.
But in Jiraiya's ears, that word "stabbed" took on an extra layer of meaning.
He didn't dare think any deeper.
No wonder Uchiha Madara and the First Hokage, despite being close friends, ended up breaking apart. If it were him, and Orochimaru sneak-attacked him from behind like that, he'd break ties too.
If not break ties, then break something else.
"Big brother, shut up already. I'm about to throw up."
The Second Hokage, holding the portrait Shiromo had given him, shoved the First Hokage aside in disgust. Then he looked at Shiromo.
"So who exactly is this? And why did you think to ask us where she is?"
"Oh, this is information I dug up through some archaeological research."
"It's said that during the Warring States Period, there was an Uchiha who was extremely powerful and used as a living weapon, slaughtering enemies on the battlefield. In the end, she was jointly sealed away by the Senju clan and the Sarutobi clan."
"But I don't know which exact period of the Warring States this happened in, nor do I know where she was sealed. So… you don't know either?"
"I don't know. Tobirama, was there really such a person among the Uchiha? Could she be some distant great-aunt of Madara's or something?"
The First Hokage shook his head and looked at his younger brother.
"I haven't heard of her either. But, young man, if you want to accumulate the power to protect the shinobi world, you should do so by cultivating people who are willing to stand behind you. Don't rely on crooked paths like this."
"If things are really as you say, then this Uchiha individual would be completely beyond your control, and would only bring another round of disaster to the shinobi world."
As he spoke, the Second Hokage gradually slipped into lecturing mode.
"Tobirama, I think you're just biased because this little girl looks like Madara."
"If you know something, just tell the boy."
"The Uchiha have already been wiped out. We can't really let the Uchiha disappear completely, can we?"
"Let this girl who looks like Madara see the light of day again. Carefully guide her to integrate into the new shinobi world and carry on the glory of the Uchiha clan, what's wrong with that?"
The First Hokage frowned slightly as he spoke to Tobirama.
"Big brother, wake up! I think you're the one being biased because she looks like Madara!"
The Second Hokage's mouth twitched.
Hearing words like "carry on the glory of the Uchiha clan" come from the mouth of the Senju clan head, was he under a genjutsu?
"Alright, you two, stop arguing. If you don't know, then you don't know."
Shiromo waved his hand, interrupting them.
"It seems her existence predates the founding of the ninja villages, and somehow the matter wasn't passed down…"
"Since that's the case, then there's nothing else. Orochimaru, take out that consciousness-erasing tag and put it in."
"Then control these two former Hokage to remove their armor and perform pole dancing on the Hokage Rock, swinging wood dragons and water dragons to boost morale for Konoha's fight against the Suna."
"Nani?!"
The First Hokage was shocked. "Young man, what do you mean by that?!"
"…Hmph."
The Second Hokage narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly.
"What do I mean? I just feel like someone is hiding something."
Shiromo shrugged.
Seriously, if no one really knew anything, then how did some future no-name villain steal Konoha's intelligence and dig that person up?
"…My father did mention this matter to me once. But he said that the best seal is called 'forgetting.' So not only do I not know the exact location of the seal, even my father himself didn't know."
After a moment of silence, the Second Hokage finally spoke.
He really didn't want to ruin his reputation in his later years. Besides, this was genuinely something he didn't know.
"What? Then why didn't Father tell me?"
The First Hokage stared at Tobirama in disbelief.
Wasn't he the eldest? The clan head?
How could there be things he didn't know?
"Tell you, so you could tell Madara, and then have their entire clan go dig that weapon back up?!"
The Second Hokage shot him a sideways glance.
"..."
"Orochimaru, continue."
"I hope everyone understands, when it comes to opposing beings that threaten the shinobi world, any sacrifice is insignificant."
Shiromo said this with a very serious, solemn expression.
Except…
"What did you sacrifice? Your sense of shame?"
Jiraiya leaned outside the barrier and complained.
"Wait!"
Seeing Orochimaru take out the tag, Sarutobi Hiruzen hurriedly stepped in front of the two former Hokage, who were once again being restrained.
"I know where it is. I can tell you the location of the seal, but you must guarantee that Uchiha girl will absolutely not endanger Konoha again."
Hiruzen sighed helplessly and said to Shiromo.
As expected.
The ones who acted back then were the Senju clan and the Sarutobi clan.
The Senju didn't pass the matter down, so it must have been the Sarutobi.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen, as the so-called Professor of the Ninja World, was knowledgeable not only in ninjutsu, but also in family histories and hidden secrets passed down through generations.
"What do you mean 'endanger Konoha again'? The way you put it, is Konoha only the Konoha of the Senju and Sarutobi?"
"She was born in the Warring States Period, Konoha didn't even exist back then."
"Besides, the one she probably hates the most… is the Uchiha."
Shiromo's words made Hiruzen's expression awkward.
He'd spoken too hastily and misspoke.
"Hahaha, Monkey, this young man is right."
The First Hokage laughed heartily. After being released from control again, he walked over to Shiromo.
"Well, uh… after this is over, let's talk privately. I'll teach you some techniques for getting along with the Uchiha. Then you can patiently guide that Uchiha little, uh, old, uh, girl."
"Get lost. If you knew how to handle the Uchiha, would Madara have left you?"
Shiromo rejected him mercilessly.
"Wuwuwuwu…"
That hit too hard. The First Hokage collapsed to his knees in heartbreak, clutching his head.
"Where is the dignity of the God of Shinobi?"
Jiraiya complained as he took notes with his pen.
He'd decided his next novel would include shinobi history too, along with the love and hate of the predecessors.
(End of this chapter)