Ashura stood atop a hill overlooking the battlefield, his newly awakened Reincarnation Eyes taking in the chakra signatures of countless shinobi below. A faint smile touched his lips as he recognized the irony of his name—being called after the very ancestor of the Senju clan who had fought against endless conflict.
*Well, at least Hagoromo's son would appreciate the cosmic joke*, he mused, his memories from both worlds overlapping. In his previous life, knowledge of ancient Chinese alchemy, medicinal techniques, and two profound manuals—the Nine Yang and Nine Yin—filled his mind. Now, merged with the body of a Senju-Hyuga prodigy, he felt the weight of possibility pressing upon him.
"Oi, Ashura-sama!" A loud, energetic voice broke through his contemplation. A young Hashirama Senju came bounding up the hill, his ever-present rival Madara Uchiha following at a more dignified pace. Despite the gravity of his situation, Ashura couldn't help but smile at the sight of the two legendary figures in their youth.
"Hashirama-kun, Madara-kun," he greeted them warmly. Both boys, barely into their teens, stopped short at his tone. They had expected the usual stern demeanor of a Senju elder.
"You seem... different," Madara observed shrewdly, his yet-to-mature Sharingan studying Ashura intently.
Ashura chuckled. "Perhaps I am." His Reincarnation Eyes pulsed gently, seeing the threads of destiny that wound around these two boys—threads that had led to both greatness and tragedy in the history he remembered. "Tell me, what do you two think about healing?"
"Healing?" Hashirama perked up, while Madara raised an eyebrow. "Like my Mokuton's regenerative abilities?"
"Similar, but far more profound." Ashura reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small pill he'd concocted that morning, using knowledge from his past life. "This is what I call a Spirit Gathering Pill. It can help restore chakra and heal minor wounds."
He split the pill in half and offered it to both boys. Madara hesitated, but Hashirama immediately popped his portion into his mouth.
"It tastes like... sunshine?" Hashirama's eyes widened comically.
Madara snorted at his friend's expression but finally took his own half. His eyes widened slightly as he felt his chakra strengthening.
"The Nine Yin Manual speaks of laying foundations," Ashura explained, watching their reactions with amusement. "While the Nine Yang Manual teaches the path to transcendence. Together, they form a path to true immortality—not the false kind that requires sacrificing others."
He could see both boys were utterly lost, but that was fine. Seeds needed time to grow.
"I'll be leaving the clan," he announced, causing both boys to snap to attention. "This war... it's not my path. Instead, I'll seek something greater—a way to heal not just bodies, but the rifts between our people."
"But your power—" Madara began.
"—will grow far greater in seclusion," Ashura finished with a gentle smile. "The mysteries of alchemy, the secrets of the Nine Yang and Nine Yin Manuals, and the true potential of these eyes... there's much to explore."
Hashirama stepped forward, his young face unusually serious. "Will we see you again?"
"Of course." Ashura ruffled both boys' hair, earning a squawk of protest from Madara. "When the time is right, I'll teach anyone who wishes to learn. Senju, Uchiha, Hyuga—it makes no difference. The path to transcendence doesn't discriminate."
As if to emphasize his point, he pulled out two more Spirit Gathering Pills. "Here. Share these with your brothers. Consider it a parting gift."
With that, Ashura turned and began walking away from the battlefield. His white kimono caught the breeze, and for a moment, his Reincarnation Eyes activated fully, showing him glimpses of possible futures—a young girl named Tsunade practicing medical ninjutsu, a white-haired boy named Jiraiya seeking peace, a prodigy called Orochimaru pursuing immortality, and a yellow-haired man who would become the Fourth Hokage.
*So many paths, so many possibilities*, he thought. *But first, I need to master these techniques myself. The Nine Yin to build foundations, the Nine Yang to reach transcendence, and all the medical knowledge of another world to heal those in need.*
Behind him, he could hear Hashirama loudly proclaiming that he would definitely find him again, while Madara tried to shush his overenthusiastic friend. Ashura smiled, never looking back.
His journey had begun, and with it, the chance to change not just the future of the ninja world, but the very understanding of life and death themselves.