Madara Uchiha had lost.
There had never truly been any doubt about the outcome.
Even Ethan—who already knew how history was supposed to unfold—still felt a faint sense of regret watching the aftermath of the battle.
From the very beginning, Madara had been fighting an impossible opponent.
Hashirama Senju simply wasn’t normal.
He was a monster born outside the logic of the world itself.
Only now, after witnessing the battle personally, did Ethan fully understand why the future Madara would become obsessed with Hashirama’s cells.
It wasn’t merely the possibility of awakening the Rinnegan.
It was the vitality.
That terrifying regenerative power.
Hashirama’s healing bordered on the unnatural.
Compared to him, even most Tailed Beasts would probably lose in raw endurance.
Madara, meanwhile, had spent nearly everything he possessed just to remain standing.
The longer the battle dragged on, the clearer the gap became.
Now, beneath the fractured remains of the valley floor, Madara lay battered and exhausted, staring silently at the night sky while Hashirama stood over him.
But instead of delivering the finishing blow— Hashirama extended his hand.
“Madara.” His voice was quiet.
Steady.
“Work with me.” No arrogance.
No triumph.
Only sincerity.
“Let’s build a village together.
A world where children don’t have to become weapons anymore.” Madara’s expression shifted slightly.
“The Uchiha lost,” he murmured.
“And so did I.” The fury was gone from his voice.
Only exhaustion remained.
Even without this final duel, the outcome of the war had already been decided.
The balance had shifted too heavily toward the Senju.
The Uchiha no longer possessed a path to victory.
But because Izuna still lived… Madara hadn’t fallen into the despair Ethan remembered from the future.
After a long silence, the Uchiha leader finally gave a slow nod.
Hidden nearby, Tobirama’s killing intent surged instantly.
Ethan felt it immediately.
Cold.
Sharp.
Violent enough to make the surrounding air feel heavier.
Tobirama was furious.
Why spare Madara?
Why leave behind someone so dangerous?
Unlike Hashirama, Tobirama never looked only at individuals.
He looked at systems.
Consequences.
Future instability.
And what he feared wasn’t merely Madara Uchiha.
It was the Uchiha clan itself.
A clan powerful enough to rival the Senju would never willingly remain subordinate forever.
Not unless the Senju surrendered leadership entirely.
If Hashirama hadn’t been such an overwhelming anomaly, today’s defeated clan could just as easily have been the Senju instead.
As Tobirama’s expression darkened further, Ethan suddenly spoke.
“Sensei.” Tobirama glanced sideways at him.
“The Uchiha aren’t actually as unified as they appear.” That earned Ethan his full attention immediately.
“Clan leadership built entirely on personal strength naturally creates internal competition,” Ethan continued calmly.
His gaze drifted toward the distant battlefield ruins.
“If you constantly divide influence and pull different factions closer to the village itself…” “…the clan will never fully consolidate.” Tobirama’s eyes narrowed.
“And how exactly would you accomplish that?” A faint smile appeared on Ethan’s face.
“Simple.” “Create a department with enormous prestige but limited real authority.” Tobirama raised an eyebrow.
“Give the Uchiha responsibility for dangerous missions.
Internal security.
High-risk operations nobody else wants.” Ethan’s tone remained disturbingly matter-of-fact.
“Publicly elevate them.” “Make them heroes.” “Make them proud to sacrifice themselves for the village.” A brief pause followed.
“Call it moral leverage.” Tobirama repeated the unfamiliar phrase slowly.
“Moral leverage…” The concept sounded strange at first.
But the more he thought about it— the more effective it became.
Recognition.
Duty.
Prestige.
A system that emotionally bound dangerous people to the very structure controlling them.
Not suppression through fear.
Integration through identity.
Still, after several moments, Tobirama shook his head.
“You’re oversimplifying things.” “Madara isn’t a fool.
He’d recognize shallow manipulation immediately.” He folded his arms.
“It would be safer to weaken the Uchiha directly from the beginning.
Limit their influence until resistance becomes impossible.” “That would only push them closer together,” Ethan replied instantly.
“If the village openly suppresses them, their clan identity becomes stronger.” His eyes sharpened slightly.
“People unite fastest when they feel threatened.” Tobirama fell silent.
Ethan continued.
“So instead, you make them emotionally invested in the village itself.” “Give them belonging.” “Recognition.” “Purpose.” “Then split their loyalty naturally between clan and village.” The valley remained quiet for several long seconds.
Fragments of Ethan’s words lingered in Tobirama’s thoughts.
Belonging.
Recognition.
Heroes created through sacrifice and admiration.
A knife hidden beneath kindness.
More elegant than open oppression.
And in some ways— far crueler.
Finally, Tobirama narrowed his eyes.
“You’re fortunate you were born a Senju.” Ethan blinked.
“…Otherwise?” “I would’ve killed you immediately.” Ethan stared at him in disbelief.
“Sensei, that’s incredibly unreasonable.” “I’m solving your problem for you.” Tobirama let out a quiet snort.
But Ethan still caught the faint upward twitch at the corner of his mouth.
For the first time, Tobirama had glimpsed a possible solution that didn’t directly violate Hashirama’s ideals.
And that alone improved his mood considerably.
By dawn, Ethan and Tobirama had already returned to the Senju encampment.
Without wasting time, Tobirama headed directly toward the detention area holding the captured Uchiha.
The guards never questioned him once.
His authority within the clan ran that deep.
Ethan watched the process with genuine admiration.
Tobirama released the prisoners in organized groups while keeping their sealing restraints intact.
The point wasn’t freedom—not yet.
It was medical treatment.
Stability.
Preparation for negotiations.
Now that both Hashirama and Madara had personally chosen peace, reconciliation between the clans had effectively become inevitable.
Offering goodwill early would strengthen future political stability.
At least in theory.
As the prisoners were escorted outward, Izuna Uchiha finally stepped forward.
Suspicion filled his face.
“Tobirama,” he said slowly, “what exactly are you planning?” Tobirama answered without hesitation.
“The Senju and Uchiha have agreed to negotiate peace.” Izuna froze.
Then his eyes widened abruptly.
“Wait…” His voice rose.
“Does that mean my brother defeated Hashirama?!” Tobirama looked at him as though he’d just heard something profoundly idiotic.
“Wake up.” Disdain dripped from every syllable.
“Even if they fought a hundred times, Madara still wouldn’t beat my brother.” Izuna’s expression cracked instantly.
“Madara lost,” Tobirama continued coldly.
“But Hashirama chose cooperation instead of revenge.
You should be grateful.” “No…” Izuna staggered back slightly.
“That’s impossible…” For the first time since Ethan met him, the Uchiha heir genuinely looked shaken.
Then stubborn fury twisted across his face once more.
“The Uchiha will never accept surrender.” Ethan tilted his head slightly.
“Then what’s your plan?” Izuna glared at him viciously.
“Fight until every last Uchiha dies?” Ethan asked bluntly.
“Madara already lost.
What exactly are you planning to defeat the Senju with now?” Silence.
Complete silence.
Then— “Pfft—!” Izuna coughed up blood on the spot.
Again.
Ethan stared at him.
At this point, wasn’t this the third time already?
Every conversation somehow ended with Ethan psychologically injuring the man.
Izuna pointed at him with trembling fingers, furious beyond words.
Why was this brat always targeting him specifically?!
By evening, Hashirama and Madara arrived together at the Senju encampment.
Behind them stood the captured Senju shinobi, now safely returned.
Tobirama stepped forward as well, releasing the remaining Uchiha prisoners into Madara’s custody.
Madara looked genuinely surprised.
In all his years knowing Tobirama Senju, “cooperative” had never once been a word he would associate with him.
Then Tobirama spoke.
And even Madara froze.
“From this day onward…” Tobirama stiffly extended his hand.
“We’re allies.”