“To gain complete trust, you must make someone believe you are their friend.
In short, you have to stand behind them before you can stab them in the back…
Are there villains among the Senju Clan?” Madara Uchiha knit his brows, mulling over Makoto Uchiha’s words.
*Someone I trust would stab me in the back?* *Is Makoto implying Hashirama?
Could Hashirama really do something like that to me?* *No!
Absolutely impossible!* *This is just Makoto’s prejudice, born of clan hatred, slandering Hashirama Senju!* *First of all, Hashirama isn’t that kind of person!
Second, he’s Hashirama.
Third, I’m Madara…
Hashirama and Madara, unbreakable for a hundred years!* In mere moments, Madara Uchiha dismissed the possibility in his mind.
Hashirama certainly wouldn’t do it—a villain, on the other hand, definitely would!
Were there villains in the Senju Clan?
According to Hashirama’s way of thinking, theoretically no, but objectively yes.
So who was this villain?
In an instant, the image of Tobirama Senju flashed in Madara Uchiha’s mind.
*If it’s Tobirama Senju, then it really is possible!* *Though it’s merely a possibility!
I will crush that possibility with my own hands!* Madara Uchiha thoroughly despised Tobirama Senju; his eyes had only ever held Hashirama.
A mere Tobirama Senju was utterly incapable of kicking up any real storm in Madara’s eyes.
“Makoto Uchiha, you are overthinking this!” Madara said with absolute gravity.
“I will protect the Uchiha Clan.
I promised Izuna with my own mouth!
Besides, I have already reached an agreement with Hashirama.
He loves peace!
Hashirama would never tolerate a villain among the Senju, and he and I will handle these matters together.” He truly believed in Hashirama Senju right now, and truly believed that the two of them could bring the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan to make peace.
However…
Makoto Uchiha merely gave a perfunctory nod, while inwardly complaining wildly.
*Damn it all…* *Hashirama, Hashirama, Hashirama—that’s all you know!* *Your brother, Izuna, explicitly told you on his deathbed that he hoped you, his elder brother, would avenge him!* *Hashirama Senju just poked himself with a tiny kunai!
With his terrifying, non-human regenerative ability, that little poke probably scabbed over in seconds!* *I really have nothing to say to a total simpmind!* “Lord Madara, I know you and Hashirama Senju are being honest with each other and wish to build a ninja village belonging to both the Uchiha and the Senju,” Makoto said aloud.
“But that is merely turning open warfare into covert strife.
I know the Uchiha are currently at a disadvantage…
but let’s forget about playing the submissive role.
The Ninja World is vast; there will always be a place for the Uchiha Clan to stand!” “Once the ninja village is built, with our people merged together, that is precisely where the future of the Uchiha Clan will crumble!” Taking a deep breath, Makoto decided to press further.
Even though he knew Madara Uchiha had been completely enchanted by that Senju succubus Hashirama, hellbent on bringing the Uchiha Clan along as a “dowry” to rekindle their bond, Makoto still had to try and advise him.
If things failed, he could logically break away and start his own enterprise.
A starveling camel was still bigger than a horse—the Uchiha Clan was a grand powerhouse, and if Makoto was going to step out into the world to start his own business, he really wanted to take a slice of the family property with him.
Even a tiny fraction would be a precious fortune; Makoto truly didn’t want to experience the hellish start of being a lone commander with zero resources.
Of course, more importantly, these words of advice were actually a long-term investment.
Because a few years after Konoha’s founding, Madara Uchiha would fall out with Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, ultimately defecting from Konoha all by himself—and not a single Uchiha clansman would follow him.
For a clan patriarch to end up like that was pitiful beyond belief.
When that time came, who would Madara Uchiha think of?
Without a doubt, it would be Makoto himself—the Great Prophet!
If Madara in his fury turned to join Makoto to fight against his former “old flame” Hashirama Senju, just thinking about it was endlessly entertaining.
A true connoisseur of chaos would rejoice!
And there was no need to worry about Madara Uchiha usurping power.
Lord Madara had zero interest in the position of village leader; otherwise, he wouldn’t have walked out of Konoha in the first place.
After all, if he had actually wanted to compete with Tobirama Senju for the title of Second Hokage, Tobirama wouldn’t have stood a chance.
The gap in raw strength between Tobirama Senju and Madara Uchiha was simply too massive.
In the face of absolute power, all the schemes of the naturally sinister Tobirama Senju would be utterly useless.
Besides…
One could easily imagine it: if Konoha was searching for its Second Hokage, and Madara Uchiha, as Hashirama’s good brother, brought wine and meat to seek the First Hokage’s support, Hashirama Senju would probably wave the banner in excitement!
Regarding Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju would say: “I support Madara Uchiha!
He said he wants to achieve peace in the Ninja World!” And to Tobirama Senju on the side, Hashirama would say: “Tobirama, you have so many supporters, you don’t need mine!” Unfortunately…
Madara Uchiha was unwilling.
He took one look at the ancestral stone tablet and instantly lost his mind, believing the absurd fable written upon it.
The man was led around by the nose by the descendant of the Otsutsuki—the Ninja World’s ultimate devoted son and thousand-year mastermind, Black Zetsu!
Therefore, Madara Uchiha’s future outcome was already sealed.
*Lord Madara, you will definitely end up running into my arms!* Even if Madara Uchiha wanted Makoto to execute the Eye of the Moon Plan with him, Makoto wouldn’t hesitate to go all in with Madara and join his grand cause.
He would milk Madara’s value first; after all, by the time Madara awakened the Rinnegan, he would already be decrepit and on the verge of death.
Makoto had a system!
There was no reason his growth speed would lag behind Madara Uchiha’s!
Madara Uchiha listened to Makoto’s words in silence, pondering them.
They sounded quite reasonable, but…
Madara Uchiha was already captive to the Senju succubus!
“Sensationalist!
Utterly sensationalist!” Madara spoke, his expression brimming with supreme confidence.
“Currently, Uchiha matters rest on me, and Senju matters rest on Hashirama.
He and I have laid everything bare before each other.
As long as the two of us join forces, what in this Ninja World could possibly stop us?” Makoto Uchiha stood there quietly, watching him posturing, eagerly anticipating the day reality slapped him in the face.
On that day, he would ask Madara Uchiha: “Lord Madara, you failed to become the Second Hokage—why don’t you look inside yourself for the problem?” “Answer me!” “Look in my eyes!” “Tell me why!” “Why, baby, why?”