Chapter 30: Uchiha Madara's Sudden Enlightenment

"How many patients are left in Konoha Hospital?"

Tobirama Senju tapped his fingers against the table, his movements seemingly aimless.

"There are still dozens of critical cases..."

The assistant, who had been planted beside Shirou Emiya, had been completely won over by Shirou’s medical skills in just a single day. He couldn't help but sigh, "With Master Emiya's expertise, these patients will soon be free from the agony of their illnesses..."

"If that’s the case..."

Tobirama narrowed his eyes, speaking as if to himself: "If our village's hospital runs out of patients, given his personality, he won't stay in Konoha forever. He’ll likely return to roaming the world to heal the sick, just as he did in the ancient era..."

"Moreover..."

"He surely wants to see what this era has become."

The rhythmic tapping of Tobirama’s fingers against the desk seemed to vibrate with a sense of unease as he contemplated the state of the ninja world and the troubles facing Konoha: "If he were to leave Konoha..."

"Lord Tobirama, do you mean..."

The assistant, failing to fully grasp Tobirama's intent, tentatively advised, "If you are considering detaining Master Emiya, I would not recommend it..."

"Where did you get such an idea?"

Tobirama waved his hand to put his subordinate at ease, his tone turning cold: "Konoha would never do such a thing. I am merely concerned for Master Emiya’s safety. Not everyone in the ninja world respects him as much as our village does..."

For instance...

Madara Uchiha.

Tobirama rested his chin on his palm, his expression turning dangerous as he formulated a plan to fully utilize Shirou Emiya.

"Tomorrow morning."

"Have the 'Monkey' and his team assemble at the training ground!"

Tobirama issued the order, his voice grave: "Starting tomorrow, I will put them through intensive training. I will select the most suitable candidates from their results to carry out a special mission!"

"And also..."

"Gather the Anbu ninja."

"I need to select a suitable group from them as well."

Tobirama was exceptionally meticulous as he devised his plan concerning Shirou Emiya, fearing even the slightest error. "I must find time to see my older brother as well..."

If all went according to plan...

The moment Shirou Emiya left Konoha...

That man, Madara Uchiha, would undoubtedly make his move.

Tobirama believed he understood Madara well. He was certain that Madara would try to exploit Shirou Emiya’s medical skills to heal the Sharingan that had gone blind in his desperate bid to escape death.

"Those are the eyes of his brother, Izuna Uchiha..."

Tobirama recalled the man he had killed long ago, his gaze icy as he thought: "Those eyes are the only remaining trace of Izuna Uchiha in this world, and the power of the Uchiha clan relies entirely on their Sharingan..."

"Reasonably speaking..."

"Madara Uchiha will certainly find a way to restore sight to those eyes."

"There is no doubt that the moment Shirou Emiya leaves Konoha, it will be the best opportunity for Madara to strike, and our best chance to kill Madara once and for all."

In fact, Tobirama’s deduction was spot on.

This man understood Madara Uchiha’s mindset quite well.

The only place where Tobirama’s prediction missed the mark was that Madara Uchiha did not intend to heal his own blind eyes.

Because Madara did not believe that Shirou Emiya’s medical skills were capable of curing his blindness; Madara only wanted to meet Shirou Emiya to inquire about certain ancient secrets.

Land of Fire.

A hidden underground base belonging to the Uchiha clan.

After escaping the pursuit of the Konoha ninja, Madara Uchiha had retreated to this stronghold to rest briefly, as he was the only one who knew of its existence.

Lacking a medical ninja, Madara had been forced to attempt the transplant of Hashirama’s flesh and blood into his own wounds himself, hoping to obtain the power of Hashirama Senju.

Fortunately...

This hasty transplant was a success.

The process had been somewhat perilous, with Hashirama’s flesh growing rapidly across his body, though he managed to suppress it quickly using his own chakra.

"It worked..."

Madara Uchiha closed his eyes in satisfaction.

He could clearly feel the surge of chakra within him; his chakra levels and regenerative abilities had increased dramatically after the transplant of Hashirama’s cells!

"Let’s see..."

Madara drew a blade across his arm.

After the blood flowed from the wound on his arm, it healed rapidly under the stimulation of his internal chakra!

This regenerative ability...

It was unique to Hashirama Senju!

Now, he too possessed this terrifying power of self-healing!

Most unexpectedly for Madara, a vine sprouted from his arm—the Wood Release bloodline limit unique to Hashirama Senju!

"My chest feels strange..."

Madara stood before a polished glass surface.

He saw a white, mask-like face growing on his chest, its features bearing a striking resemblance to his old friend, Hashirama Senju.

This was the price he paid for obtaining Hashirama’s power; once the cells were transplanted, they would leave a permanent mark on his body.

"However..."

"It is still far from what I truly seek..."

Madara threw on a robe, covering the face on his chest, his brow furrowed in dissatisfaction.

"According to the information from the stone tablet left behind by our Uchiha ancestors, the interaction between the forces of 'yin' and 'yang' should yield the power of the 'Ten Thousand Creations'."

The gap was too vast!

Despite his significant increase in strength!

To Madara, this boost in power was not worth the price he had paid—he had sacrificed the sight of an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan!

Those were the eyes entrusted to him by his brother, Izuna Uchiha!

Had he guessed wrong?

"The power of the Ten Thousand Creations..."

"What exactly is the power of the Ten Thousand Creations?"

Madara fell back into deep thought, convinced his interpretation couldn't have been entirely wrong. He reached up to touch his eye socket: "After obtaining Hashirama’s power, I can feel that the chakra consumption for using Mangekyō Sharingan ocular techniques has decreased..."

"But..."

"This improvement is not a qualitative transformation."

"There is more information on our clan’s stone tablet—information that I couldn't decipher even after transplanting Izuna’s eyes."

"If my hypothesis is correct, the final message should detail how our clan, after obtaining the power of the Ten Thousand Creations, will use that power to save this world..."

"Hmph..."

"But..."

"It’s not so troublesome now..."

Madara thought of the man who had exposed his secret of faking his death, the medical ninja from the ancient era, and a faint smile played on his lips.

"If I recall correctly, Hashirama once told me stories about Shirou Emiya when we were children—he was the first medical ninja in the history of the ninja world..."

"Perhaps..."

"He knows something."

"It seems I must find a way to meet this man from the ancient era. Perhaps I can obtain the secrets hidden within the stone tablet from his own lips..."

Madara Uchiha’s mind was sharp.

He was no longer strictly confined to the contents of the Uchiha stone tablet.

Since an ancient figure like Shirou Emiya had appeared in this era, why not just find an opportunity to ask him directly? Perhaps all his confusion could be resolved!

"Perhaps..."

Madara grabbed a short blade, intending to lurk near Konoha and wait for a chance to see Shirou Emiya again: "That man knows how to awaken the power of the Ten Thousand Creations. I might even gain something greater!"

"..."

Deep beneath the stronghold.

Black Zetsu’s form lurked silently in the darkness.

Compared to Madara Uchiha’s confidence, Black Zetsu’s thoughts were far more complex. It had expected that after obtaining Hashirama Senju’s chakra, Madara would quickly awaken the Rinnegan from his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, but the situation did not seem to be unfolding as it had imagined.

"I must also meet with Emiya!"

"I must find a way to help Emiya and Madara meet again..."

Black Zetsu followed Madara’s trail through the earth toward Konoha, deep in thought: "Only Emiya can figure out where the problem lies and enable Madara to truly awaken the Rinnegan..."

"However..."

"I should first teach Emiya how to deceive..."

"Madara is a headstrong and unruly man. He has already seen the stone tablet left by the Sage of Six Paths. I must find a way to prevent him from discerning the deception on the tablet after he speaks with Emiya..."

"What a headache..."

"How can I teach Emiya to lie..."

"How can I make Emiya accept that sometimes, concealing the truth and deceiving others is not actually a bad thing?"