Upon observing Hirofumi's hand gesture, Madara let out a cold snort before swiftly leaving the villa.
Meanwhile, Hirofumi took his time savoring a lavish array of delicacies.
This space is truly magical, he mused. The food I conjured from thin air is exceptional in appearance, aroma, and taste!
Initially, Hirofumi had been uncertain about what dishes to prepare. He simply recited a list of options without much thought:
Steamed lamb, steamed bear paw, steamed deer tail, roasted duck, roasted young chicken, roasted goose, marinated pork, marinated duck, soy sauce chicken, cured meat, pine flower sausage, small sausages, dried meat, assorted cold dishes...
And just like that, all these delectable items materialized!
Madara moved quickly, and moments later, he returned with a cleaned lamb leg in hand. One must acknowledge that possessing great power certainly has its advantages. The appearance of the lamb leg suggested that Madara had roasted it using his Fire Style ninjutsu before bringing it here.
But, as he looked at the vast selection of delicacies spread across Hirofumi's table, Madara couldn't help but compare them to his own somewhat charred roasted lamb leg. He suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to discard the leg entirely.
'Damn it! Why didn't I ever learn to cook during my youth? Within the Uchiha clan, there had always been servants to tend to my daily needs. Throughout the Konoha era, I never once set foot in a kitchen. Not only would the servants prepare my meals, but I would occasionally visit Hashirama Senju's residence for free food as well. Although that fool Hashirama had his shortcomings, I must admit that Mito Uzumaki's cooking was exceptionally delicious... In those days, it wasn't just me; even the devious Tobirama Senju often visited to scrounge for food.'
As Madara reminisced about those memories, he took a fierce bite of his roasted lamb leg.
"Bleh!"
Damn, it's burnt!
"Pfft! Hahahahahaha..."
Hirofumi, enjoying a bear paw, couldn't help but erupt into laughter.
"You imbessile! What are you laughing at?!"
"Well, Mr. Madara, you can stop being so prideful. I simply wanted to treat you to a meal. Why make it so difficult for yourself? Besides, I never expected this meal to compel you to do anything for me. Honestly, I genuinely admire you. Not only for your strength but also for your ideals..."
Hirofumi spoke sincerely. During his time watching the "Naruto" anime, he had always held a deep fondness for Madara as a character. It was not merely due to his immense strength, but also because of his profound thoughts and ideals.
Everyone who has watched the anime understands that beneath his formidable exterior, Madara yearned for peace. Otherwise, he would never have helped end the chaotic era alongside Hashirama Senju, co-founding Konohagakure.
In their youth, Madara and Hashirama shared a dream: to establish a peaceful village where children wouldn't have to go to war and where ordinary people could live in safety. Sometimes, Hirofumi wondered if Madara had become the First Hokage of Konoha, would all the subsequent ridiculous events have been averted?
Perhaps the entire ninja world could have been unified during that era!
After all, both Madara and Hashirama possessed the power and capability to dominate the ninja world at that time. They could have easily eliminated anyone who defied them, unifying all the villages and countries—who could resist a combination of Susano'o and the Buddha Statue?
Unfortunately, Hashirama was too merciful—or perhaps too naïve. He believed that kindness and compromise could lead to peace, which is utterly laughable.
If Hashirama's ideals had been genuinely effective, how could so many wars have erupted afterward?
Even Madara, in all his plotting for resurrection, ultimately sought to achieve lasting peace in the ninja world. It's just a shame that he was deceived by that schemer, Black Zetsu.
When Madara processed what Hirofumi had said, he momentarily froze, casting the boy a dark, inscrutable look.
"You speak of my ideals? Hmph... Do you truly believe you understand my ideals?"
Hirofumi did not rush to counter Madara's slightly mocking tone. Instead, he opened a bottle of soda, took a gentle sip, and calmly replied,
"A person should not only care for their own parents or children but also ensure that the elderly are well cared for, that the strong have a purpose, the young are nurtured, and that the weak, the widowed, the orphaned, and the disabled are all supported..."
Rather than answering Madara directly, Hirofumi quoted a passage from the Book of Rites, articulating the vision of a harmonious society.
Madara's expression shifted from initial disdain to surprise and then to sheer shock upon hearing Hirofumi's words. Even the hand that clutched the roasted lamb leg began to tremble.
Previously, this boy had spoken of his desire to unify the ninja world, which Madara had dismissed as youthful arrogance. Although he didn't comprehend the method by which Hirofumi summoned the dead, he shared the same confusion—why would such powerful spirits heed the call of a mere child? For what reason? Simply because of his appearance?
At that moment, Madara had thought Hirofumi was merely flaunting his newfound powers...
However, upon hearing those words, Madara's heart trembled violently. For the first time, he began to regard the boy named Hirofumi with a sense of seriousness.
Especially since the words the boy had just spoken reflected the very dream he had once shared with Hashirama in their youth.
Though Madara had distanced himself from Konoha, he had never forgotten the dream he and that fool Hashirama held as children.
Could the vision that this boy spoke of truly be possible?
Just as Madara remained in shock, Hirofumi's voice broke through the silence once more.
"Madara, what do you say? Care to join me for a meal now?"
Looking at the boy before him, Madara scoffed.
"Tch... What an interesting kid!"
With that, Madara yeeted the roasted lamb leg out of the window and took a seat in front of Hirofumi.