E3-Uchiha Madara (Memories I).

**Kenjaku's POV (Flashback):**

As I walked through the halls of Emperor Tenji's palace, a thoughtful expression on my face and the growing murmur outside caught my attention. The voices were intense as if something or someone had disrupted the usual order. I stopped, listening closely, and watched from a distance.

A woman with delicate features, her expression seemingly unchanging, was drawing all the attention. Her hair wasn't as long as in some depictions, barely falling past her shoulders. She wore a long white kimono, adorned with elegant stripes, over a yellow robe that complemented her figure. Her eyes were pure white, a sign of her possession of the Byakugan, a power both feared and revered. Her lips, painted in crimson red, and her long, sharp nails completed her imposing presence.

"She's already here, isn't she?" I muttered to myself, crossing my arms as I leaned casually against the wall. I observed from behind the entrance, where Emperor Tenji, flanked by his guards, watched the scene gravely.

With an indifference bordering on disdain, Kaguya stood unfazed by the interrogation of one of the guards. The man's shouts elicited little more than a slow, controlled blink from her. It was clear that she wasn't intimidated in the slightest.

"Before you stands Lord Tenji, King and Emperor of the Land of Ancestors," proclaimed one of the men with an extravagant hairstyle and matching robes, bowing toward the monarch. Meanwhile, Kaguya maintained the same serene expression, oblivious to the rising tension in the room.

The Land of Ancestors (祖の国, *So no Kuni*) had been a small but significant country a millennium ago. Ruled by Emperor Tenji, it was composed primarily of farming villages, surrounded by vast forests that provided protection and sustenance to its people. At its heart, a great lake served as a vital source of resources, nourishing both the land and the villagers who depended on it at that time.

"Interrogate her and make her talk," ordered one of the men flanking Tenji in a calm, serious voice, stepping toward Kaguya, who remained kneeling before them, seemingly docile.

"Yes, sir," the guards responded in unison as they approached Kaguya. "The Land of Ka sent this woman to spy on us," one of them continued. But just as Tenji's men drew near, Kaguya opened her eyes, and with a simple pulse of chakra emanating from them, she knocked out the first ones who dared to approach.

Astonishment reigned in the clearing for a few seconds until the remaining guards fell, victims of her memory-altering powers.

Kenjaku raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Kaguya's display of power. In his mind, he considered the possibility that she had noticed him after neutralizing the guards, forcing him to retreat immediately. He couldn't risk that woman resetting his brain, making him lose the advantage he had over the unfolding events.

As he moved down the hallways of the complex with an impenetrable expression, his mind worked feverishly on how to approach Kaguya without raising suspicion. However, before he could formulate a plan, a sharp and energetic voice abruptly pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Brother!" exclaimed a young girl as she launched herself at him with a radiant smile, wrapping him in a suffocating yet affectionate and warm hug.

At first, Kenjaku felt irritated by the interruption, but that sensation of warmth was something he wasn't used to. Without thinking too much, he returned the hug. 'I think I could get used to this,' he thought.

"Why so cheerful, hmm?" he asked in a soft and kind voice, looking at his sister, who continued to smile from ear to ear.

"Today I had my first successful hunt. I killed several rabbits," she said, puffing out her chest with pride and innocence. Her hunting skills were so poor that even a newborn could surpass her, but her enthusiasm was contagious.

"Really?" Kenny responded, curious while giving her a few pats on the head. "I see, you're making progress, huh? You're no longer a little useless, now you're a bigger useless," he added with a playful smile.

His sister's response came quickly. With a pout on her face and an irritated look, she retorted, "Hey! I'm not useless."

Before he could reply, a sense of danger coursed through his body. Instinctively, he turned quickly, raising his hands in a high guard. His reflexes, honed by Kenjaku's cursed technique, put him on high alert.

And for good reason. Behind them, Kaguya was watching with an intense gaze. The previously unconscious guards lay behind her, while Tenji, with a kind smile, took a step forward.

"Calm down, Kenzou-san," Tenji said in a calm voice, with a hint of reassurance and nervousness, as some guards exchanged amused smiles.

"Oh, forgive me,... Tenji-sama," Kenny replied, relaxing his stance and speaking in a relieved and reverent tone. "I thought there was someone behind me, and I wasn't wrong," he added with a slight smile.

His sister, hiding behind him, looked at him annoyed before peeking out with curiosity upon noticing the silent woman behind Tenji. Always curious, she couldn't help but express what she was thinking. "Tenji-sama, excuse me, but who is that girl?" she asked, pointing at Kaguya with her finger.

The woman before her was impressive. White hair, eyes nearly the same shade but with a lavender tint, and skin as pale as snow. An unusual beauty not often seen in places like this.

"Oh, she's someone we found during one of our hunts. She was lost, so we brought her with us," Tenji replied calmly, though his tone carried a subtle lie, skillfully masked by his diplomatic finesse.

With a radiant smile, my sister approached Kaguya and naturally extended her hand. "My name is…"

(Flashback ends)

**Kenjaku's POV:**

When Madara fell defeated in the Valley of the End, my gaze settled on his beaten body. The scene was covered in a dark veil; night had fallen as the rain gently poured. Black Zetsu watched silently, his eyes fixed on the battlefield. Hashirama Senju had accomplished the impossible, overcoming Madara Uchiha with one of the simplest strategies in the shinobi world: a surprise attack using a wood clone jutsu.

The First Hokage, still panting, gazed at his friend's lifeless body with a mixture of sorrow and resignation. He lifted his eyes to the sky as raindrops slid down his face, as though the world itself mourned the tragedy it had just witnessed.

I shifted my attention to Zetsu, and he did the same. "We should kill them and take their bodies," I said bluntly, with no concern for hiding my intentions. 

I knew Zetsu's plan, but I couldn't just ask him directly what his next moves were. I needed to force him to reveal his true purpose.

Zetsu kept his gaze cold and analytical before responding. "No. Madara survived. He used Izanagi before dying," he said with his usual calm. "If my calculations are correct, jōnin-level shinobi are approaching. It would be wiser to wait for them. Even though Hashirama is exhausted, calculating his strength and the jōnins' distance, it's more sensible to see what happens with Madara's body when they find him."

Without taking my eyes off the remnants of the battle, I nodded slightly. "It's likely that Tobirama, with his obsessive interest in the Sharingan, will be the one to take possession of the body for investigation," I commented, hoping to get a reaction from Zetsu. However, the shadowy figure remained silent.

Hashirama, wounded and on the brink of unconsciousness, staggered to the edge of the lake. Exhausted, he finally collapsed face-first, struggling to stay conscious. In the distance, the sound of several shinobi approaching echoed through the thunderclaps that lit up the night.

Within seconds, about seven shinobi descended with precision into the Valley of the End, their chakra reserves vast, worthy of experienced jōnin. Among them, some with red hair stood out, presumably from the Uzumaki clan. The tension was palpable, even though the battle had ended.

"Hashirama-sama, relax, let me help you," said a young man wearing the Senju Clan insignia on his armor, hurrying over to Hashirama. His green hair fluttered slightly in the night breeze as he used healing ninjutsu on the exhausted First Hokage. He watched with respect the man who barely remained conscious, the one known as the only true god of shinobi.

In the blink of an eye, more shinobi arrived at the scene. Among them was a tall, imposing man. His grayish hair and red eyes contrasted with the three red marks adorning his face: two beneath his eyes and one more on his chin. His blue armor, worn over a black shirt and pants, clearly identified him as an elite warrior. The forehead protector of Konoha not only covered his forehead but also the sides of his face, in a style similar to Yamato's. Around his neck, he wore a white furry scarf, giving him an even more intimidating air.

This was Tobirama Senju, Hashirama's younger brother and the future Second Hokage.

"Investigate the area. If there's any Uchiha lurking around, I want them found," ordered Tobirama with a firm, authoritative voice. While speaking, he bent down, placing two fingers on the ground and closing his eyes, focusing deeply.

Suddenly, Tobirama frowned and opened his eyes with alarming intensity. He quickly turned his head in my direction. "THERE!" Tobirama shouted, pointing precisely. "Jōnin-level chakra signatures, just two," he exclaimed, wasting no time.

Within seconds, he launched several kunai, each equipped with explosive tags, aiming them accurately toward our position.

When the kunai exploded, the strategic retreat began immediately.

Zetsu, using his ability to sink into the ground, disappeared quickly, while I, suppressing my chakra to the maximum, moved away at high speed. I easily evaded the shinobi, and most importantly, Tobirama's detection ability.

Tobirama's gaze hardened as he considered whether to pursue us. He hadn't expected to encounter anyone in a place where a battle of such magnitude had taken place. The presence of intruders in that area was certainly something neither he nor his comrades had anticipated.

However, his rational side prevailed. He decided to stay by his brother Hashirama's side, who was in an extremely weakened state. Tobirama, being who he was, wouldn't trust anyone else to protect the man who, at that moment, was the greatest military power in shinobi history.

Looking at the guards who accompanied him, Tobirama quickly ordered the retreat toward Konoha.

"Everyone, touch my back," he commanded firmly as they approached the unconscious body of Hashirama, while one of the shinobi who protected the First Hokage quickly separated from the group and lifted the seemingly dead body of Uchiha Madara onto his back.

In a flash of blue light, they disappeared, heading towards the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

---

Five minutes later…

The arrival of Tobirama and his group of escort shinobi at Konoha's hospital did not go unnoticed. As soon as they appeared, both the medics and the patients present were stunned to see the First Hokage in such a critical state. However, there was no time for questions or exclamations. The medics barely had a chance to approach before the sharp voice of Tobirama, the coldest and most direct of the Senju brothers, echoed through the place.

"Quickly, heal my brother!" His command left no room for argument.

With the same efficiency that his reputation demanded, the medics hurried to move Hashirama to one of the hospital's empty rooms, bursting into it without ceremony. Tobirama, always calculating, immediately created a water clone and ordered it to watch over his brother while he turned to the remaining shinobi at his side.

"I'll take care of the village's matters while my brother recovers," Tobirama announced authoritatively. "You all, keep an eye on Hashirama. If the shinobi still in the forest return, tell them I want them in my office immediately. I've already notified them using the Chakra Pulse."

The "Chakra Pulse" was a unique technique created by the MC's clan, which had experts in fuinjutsu among its ranks. It involved a series of intricate seals that, when activated, could send discreet signals to authorized shinobi. It was one of the most valuable contributions of the clan to Konoha's military strategy.

With the orders given, Tobirama disappeared in a flash, heading to the Hokage's office. As he moved, his mind was already devising the next steps.

"I want the heads of the most important clans brought in," he thought, observing the grim scene looming over the village. "That includes the Kurohana (MC's clan), Uchiha, Hyuga, Nara, and the others... I need to speak with them. The village could be in grave danger."

---

-Timeskip of one day-.

In the deepest forests of the shinobi village, the birthplace of genocidal leaders, military powerhouses, monstrous prodigies, and, of course, the strongest blondes in the world, two figures were watching over a specific place. A man covered from head to toe in black clothing, his face concealed, stood observing alongside a dark presence, both hidden among the dense branches of the majestic trees. These trees, born from the power of Hashirama Senju, stood with imposing magnificence, their trunks as thick as columns, silent witnesses to Konoha's history.

The two figures slowly emerged from between the prominent branches and roots surrounding the forest. They stepped into a clearing where small rays of sunlight timidly penetrated. The place seemed to possess a life of its own, with the way the towering trees encircled the area, giving it an eerie stillness. The only sounds were the faint creaking of weaker branches moved by the gentle breeze.

**Kenjaku's POV:**

The silence was deep, almost absolute. If I could describe this place, it would be the most peaceful and isolated spot in all of Konoha.

It was evident that this place had been specifically chosen to hide or bury the body of that man. It was clear that Tobirama, with his typical meticulousness, had picked this location to ensure that Madara Uchiha's body wouldn't fall into the hands of any cunning shinobi whose intelligence exceeded their combat abilities. *Cough* *Cough* "Pedomaru" *Cough* *Cough*.

I turned my head slightly to observe Zetsu beside me. His dark figure stared intently at the spot where Tobirama and the ANBU squad had "carefully" buried Madara's body.

"What will we do when he wakes up?" Zetsu asked in his characteristic cold voice, though laced with a veiled curiosity.

"Leave that to me," I replied calmly. "We must be prepared for any scenario, even the worst."

As I spoke, I kept my voice steady, seeking to ease the doubts of the being accompanying me at that moment. I had already switched bodies, now inhabiting that of a Uchiha, something that was extremely convenient. One of the advantages of body-switching was the ability to make binding vows in order to amplify my techniques.

What I often do is sacrifice certain jutsus or even the dojutsu of a body to fully enhance the body-switching technique.

For a long time, I've been using these practices.

One of the binding vows that helped me the most with this technique was when, during the "Era of the Great Clans," I possessed one of the Uchiha bodies before the formation of Konoha and the global shinobi system.

By sacrificing the dojutsu of that body, meaning the Sharingan, which caused the eyes to lose their light, I was able to strengthen my technique. This improvement granted me the ability to adapt to the body's abilities and physical capacities, as well as absorb related memories in just seconds.

This not only allowed me to use more bodies to enhance my techniques but also gave me the ability to switch to another body if I lost one of my own.

---

**[A/N]: The Healing Resuscitation Regeneration Technique (治活再生の術, *Chikatsu Saisei no Jutsu*) is a technique that uses a part of a relative's body (usually hair) to regenerate a severely damaged body part. This technique takes a lot of time to complete, as four ninjas are needed in fixed positions within a large room. The medical ninjas must be periodically replaced due to the prolonged duration and the large amount of chakra consumed. This technique is first seen in the series when after the mission to rescue Uchiha Sasuke, the gravely injured shinobi require this jutsu. It is used on Hyūga Neji, who had a punctured stomach and lung.[A/N Finished]**.

Thanks to a binding vow that eliminates the need to use hair, ninjas, and a room for the procedure, in exchange for the body from which the vow is applied losing its mobility, the chakra used in this technique becomes "sealed" in the brain of the body. This chakra cannot be used at will, as the condition established is that it activates automatically two hours after the subject's death.

There are at least eight other binding vows, possibly more than Kenny lets on; who knows...

As they watched the earth shift slightly, they saw a worn-out Madara, covered in multiple cuts, emerge from beneath the soil. Staggering, the Uchiha seemed to be holding a kunai in his hands. Madara's vacant gaze caused Kenny to raise an eyebrow as he calmly approached the unsteady figure.

The use of Izanagi in one of his eyes had taken its toll, leaving Madara practically blind in one eye. Kenny disappeared and reappeared behind Madara, who didn't react, and delivered a sharp blow to the back of his neck, knocking him unconscious onto the ground.

"I've got a question for you..." Zetsu commented, looking at the unconscious body of someone who, in the past, would have been an almost bijuu-level threat. "What do you plan to do with him? Knowing his character, I doubt that once he wakes up, he'll thank you for your help."

"Relax. What I did to the Uchiha stone tablet gives me a pretty interesting ability to play my cards," Kenjaku replied with a calm smile as his eyes evolved from the 3-tomoe Sharingan to the Mangekyo Sharingan.

Zetsu, still uncertain, decided to venture into a question that likely wouldn't receive a completely serious answer.

"Kenjaku... Are there ways to evolve the 3-tomoe Sharingan into the Mangekyo without needing to kill, suffer, or even perform transplants? Judging by the age of the body you possess, I can deduce that you're not an ordinary shinobi. Yet, here you are with a Mangekyo, probably the only one besides Madara Uchiha."

"I'm no prodigy or anything like that, I simply obtained the Mangekyo in the conventional way," Kenjaku responded with a friendly smile. However, his explanation only stirred more doubts in Black Zetsu's mind, who thought: 'This guy is too unpredictable... Trusting him is definitely problematic. Did anyone really think he was going to be their friend? As soon as he slips up, I'll make sure to take him out of the picture.'

"And where will we take him? Don't think we're going to wander around the shinobi world so carelessly with someone who's probably worth more than an entire village according to the bingo book," Black Zetsu commented.

"Obviously, to the Valley of the End," Kenjaku replied confidently.