[V2] - Chapter 82. Konoha's Liberal Atmosphere
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"So noisy! Is this even Konoha anymore?!"
"Madara! Seems like there's some kind of festival or event coming up! That's why the village is so lively lately!"
"Event? Ninja Grand Prix?" Madara, who was strolling through the village with Hashirama, gave a cold snort. "How boring! The ninjas of Konoha are becoming more and more degenerate! All they've learned is how to indulge in pleasure!"
"Hehe~ Madara, don't be so serious. Everyone's just balancing work and rest!" Senju Hashirama didn't get angry, cheerfully leading the now-blind Madara by the hand. "The war is over, a bit of relaxation is good too!"
As he finished speaking—
Senju Tobirama, who was following beside them, glanced at Madara being helped by his older brother. His eyelids twitched as he sarcastically muttered, "This guy's planning to create a new ninja world! How would he have time to relax?"
"?!" Madara's eyelid twitched too upon hearing Tobirama. "You stupid Senju Tobirama! Are you looking for a fight?"
"Fight? Bring it on! You blind fool!"
"You idiot!"
"Hehe~ An idiot who was fooled for years now has the guts to call others idiots?" Tobirama sneered, staring at the now-blind Uchiha Madara and continuing his sarcasm. "What? You're really going to create a new ninja world again? Want to be a god again? Uchiha Madara, who wants to be a god!"
At that—
Madara's eyelid twitched with anger, his chest rising with suppressed fury.
Though he only had eyelids left, anyone could still feel… the way he was glaring at Tobirama. "You, you, you…"
"You what! Blind fool! Tsunade even offered to implant two new eyes and you refused!" Tobirama curled his lip. "I'm not an idiot like my brother!"
"Tobirama… did you just insult me too?"
"Shut up! Of course I meant you, you big idiot!" Tobirama gave Hashirama a fierce glare, then turned to the fuming Madara and said flatly, "I'll be keeping my eye on you, Madara! No matter what schemes you try to pull, I'll keep my eye on you!"
However—
Just when Tobirama thought Madara couldn't take it anymore and was about to throw hands—
Suddenly.
Unexpectedly—
Madara didn't get angry. Instead, he took a deep breath and expressionlessly said to Tobirama, "Hashirama! I'm thirsty!"
As soon as he said that—
"Thirsty? How about I go buy you a cup of milk tea? Yuto Milk Tea! I heard it's pretty good!" Hashirama, who had a headache from the arguing, paused in surprise, scratched his head, and said cheerfully, "Wait a moment."
He was just about to turn around to go buy the milk tea…
"Stop right there!" Tobirama raised his brow, stared at Madara, and said in a similarly expressionless tone, "Brother! I'm hungry!"
"Huh? Tobirama, you're hungry? Then I'll go get you—"
Before Hashirama could finish—
Madara spoke again, "Hashirama! I'm thirsty!"
"I'll go buy it!"
"Brother! I'm hungry!"
"I… I-I'll go buy it!"
"I'm really thirsty now!"
"Then I'll get the milk tea for Madara first!"
"I'm really hungry now too!"
"Then Tobirama, how about you go yourself…"
"Hmm?"
"…" Seeing Tobirama's unfriendly gaze and not knowing what was going on, cold sweat dripped from his forehead as he looked at the two men staring each other down. His voice trembled, "How about I… I'll help Tobirama first…"
However—
Before he could finish again, Madara cut in, "You said… you'd be my eyes!" His tone was heavy with a trace of disappointment. "Hashirama… are you going to lie to me again?"
"I didn't! I'm not!" Hearing Madara's words, Hashirama panicked and said hurriedly, "Sorry! I'll go buy yours first!"
But it wasn't over yet—
Tobirama sighed with disappointment, "Brother! Have you already forgotten about your little brother? You promised our father you'd take care of me!"
"I…"
"You are my eyes!"
"You are my brother!"
"Are you planning to lie to me again?"
"You're going to let your own brother down?"
"I'm very disappointed in you, Hashirama!"
"I'm also very disappointed in you, brother!"
"Shut up, both of you!" Sandwiched between them, Hashirama felt his head about to explode.
What the heck is this situation!?
Seeing the two of them finally go quiet after being yelled at, Hashirama sighed helplessly and said, "I'll buy it! I'll buy both! I'll definitely buy them together!"
As he spoke—
He clapped his hands together.
"Wood Release: Wood Clone Jutsu!"
In an instant—
Two Senju Hashirama appeared in front of them. Without the slightest hesitation, they glanced at each other, sighed, and ran off together.
One went to buy food for Tobirama, the other to get drinks for Madara!
Exhausting!
He had thought he was just taking Madara out for a walk, but why did it feel even more tiring than accompanying Mito on a shopping trip back in the day?!
However—
Hashirama didn't know…
This was only the beginning!
By the time he came back with the things—
"Hashirama, do you remember the dumplings we used to eat?"
"Alright! I'll go buy them!"
"Wait a minute! Brother… do you remember the red bean soup we used to drink?"
"I'll also… go buy it!"
"Brother! I suddenly want to eat that fried chicken!"
"I… I'll go buy it!"
"Hashirama! I want to try the red bean soup too."
"I'll go buy it too!"
"Hashirama, I can't see. Where's the fried chicken?"
"Hold on! I'll get it for you!"
"Brother, why is this straw so hard to poke in?"
"Tobirama, maybe if you push a little harder—"
"Hm?"
"Okay! I'll do it for you!"
Every time Hashirama came back… the two of them would immediately start arguing again. Helpless… how could Hashirama dare say even one extra word?
He promised to be Madara's eyes, but also had to care for his younger brother Tobirama. What else could he say… all he could do was lower his head and go buy more.
However—
Why have Konoha's prices gone up so much in recent years?!
It hurts so much!
He had planned to recharge a few 648s after returning to Konoha!
Forget it now!
With tears in his eyes, he bought everything they asked for. As the number of items he carried grew, people nearby began to take notice and stopped to watch in astonishment.
Before long—
Everyone sighed and shook their heads.
Three men… hiss, what a complicated situation!
Looking at the man stuck between the two men… what a sorry sight!
Scumbag!
This is what happens when you try to play both sides!
No one knew how much time passed.
Even Senju Hashirama, with his Sage Body, felt his legs trembling when—
"First Hokage-sama! Second Hokage-sama! Madara-sama!" A Konoha Anbu appeared before them, hesitantly looking at the three. "Apologies for interrupting your date! The Fourth Hokage has sent me to invite the Fi—" He paused, glanced at the blind Uchiha legend, then turned to the Second Hokage, "To invite the Second Hokage-sama to discuss the upcoming Chunin Exams."
As soon as he said that—
"Hmph!!" ×2
Two cold snorts echoed, scaring the Anbu ninja into shivering. Without hesitation, he turned to leave.
"The Fourth Hokage also asked me to inform the others. Apologies again, First Hokage-sama, Second Hokage-sama, Madara-sama!"
And then—he vanished instantly with Body Flicker Jutsu.
Senju Tobirama locked eyes with Madara once more, let out a cold snort, and turned toward his brother. "I'm going to the meeting! Don't let this idiot get fooled again!"
With that—
As if unwilling to see either of them any longer, he vanished on the spot with Flying Thunder God.
At last—
Senju Hashirama let out a long breath of relief. After waving goodbye to Tobirama, he turned to Madara and smiled cheerfully, "Let's walk around a bit more, Madara! The Chunin Exams are in a few days, so that's why it's so lively here. When the time comes… I'll take you to watch the matches! I wonder what the exams are like nowadays!"
As he said that, he looked up at Madara, who was frowning, and asked with confusion, "What's wrong, Madara?"
After he spoke—
Madara came back to his senses, shook his head, and said calmly, "It's nothing."
Was it a mistake?
Why did it feel like he sensed White Zetsu's chakra?
Thinking of how he had been deceived all these years and still mocked by that disgusting Senju Tobirama, Madara felt a burning fury in his heart.
If he weren't blind right now, he would've already gone to have a "chat" with that lying Black Zetsu!
He turned his head again, eyelids seeming to gaze at Hashirama, and the corners of his lips curled slightly.
As if remembering when Konoha had just been founded—
The two of them had also wandered leisurely through the village together.
But back then—
Everyone only liked this idiot…