The next day arrived
"I can't believe this! Those damn fools left to meet Madara Uchiha alone!" Tobirama seethed, his usually calm demeanor shattered by frustration and rage. His white hair, a symbol of his power and intellect, now looked more like a warning flag of his fury. He had vehemently opposed even the notion of such a reckless move, yet his brother Hashirama and their ally Isshin had left without him.
In Tobirama's hand was the letter left behind, hastily read and crushed in his grip. His anger boiled over as he shredded the note, vowing darkly, "I'll kill them both once they're back!"
Meanwhile, miles away, Hashirama and Isshin had spent the previous day in relative peace, sharing sake and tales of old battles. It was a brief moment of calm before the storm they both knew was coming. As night fell, a message from Madara had arrived. Now, the two shinobi were on their way to meet him.
"Isshin, are you sure this isn't a trap?" Hashirama asked, his voice betraying a rare moment of uncertainty. He trusted Isshin deeply, but the situation had left him uneasy. Madara was not just any adversary; he was a force of nature, and their history was fraught with bloodshed and loss.
Isshin, walking a few steps ahead, let out a hearty laugh, the sound echoing in the quiet night. "Of course it's a trap, Hashirama." His tone was casual, almost too relaxed for the situation at hand. He glanced back at his friend, the mysterious glint in his eyes only deepening. "But the real question is… for whom?"
Hashirama stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about, Isshin? Explain it to me properly."
Isshin sighed, turning to face Hashirama fully. "There are people—powerful people—who fear what might happen if we join forces with Madara. They'll do whatever it takes to stop us. We're not just walking into a meeting; we're walking into a battlefield of political maneuvering and treachery."
Hashirama's mind raced. He had suspected as much, having overheard whispered conversations between Tobirama and Isshin in the dead of night about the unrest brewing among the every clan. "Is it… is this about the clan rebellions?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Isshin's smile widened. "Hah! Sharp as ever, Hashirama. Yes, this is bigger than just us and Madara. There are factions plotting against the village system, and they'd rather see us torn apart than united."
Before Hashirama could respond, a shadow moved swiftly toward them. The figure was unmistakable, even before his voice broke through the silence.
"Isshin."
Both Isshin and Hashirama turned to see the familiar form of their childhood friend turned bitter enemy: Madara Uchiha. His presence, as always, was commanding, yet this time it carried a subtle tension. Hashirama's heart tightened as he faced Madara, the man who had once been like a brother to him.
"Is this the trap you were talking about?" Hashirama asked quietly, his hand resting instinctively on the hilt of his weapon.
Madara, standing a short distance away, didn't immediately answer. His gaze shifted between Hashirama and Isshin, weighing the situation carefully.
"No," Isshin answered in Madara's place, his voice calm yet firm. "Madara isn't the enemy here. Right, Madara?"
For a moment, there was silence, broken only by the sound of the wind rustling through the trees. Then, with a deep, almost reluctant breath, Madara nodded.
"For now," he said, his voice low and resolute. "I will join you. But make no mistake—once I assess the stability of your so-called village for a decade, I will decide whether or not I completely support it."
Isshin smiled. "That's all we ask."
"For now we have one mission which is to eradicate the fuck'in traitor's."
Isshin spoke, his bloodlust and heavy chakra subconsciously released.
"How much distance?" Madara asked as he was silently following him while his Sharigan awakened for a while. He was also a genius at fighting and war so he was prepared.
"Few hundred more steps or a few hours." Isshin replied after a while as he scanned several dozen kilometers (51km) (31mi) with his eyes of mind/Kagura and found the targets.
.
.
.
.
"This is the place. Wait for my response." Reaching the destination of the time given in the fake Madara letter he passed both of them a kunai with a special marking to hide their presence and chakra signature of there was a sensory nearby the location.
Leaving the respective clan leader behind, Isshin goes in to check things first.