Friendship and an old man

The sun beamed down on the training grounds, casting a warm glow as Tobirama, Naruto, and Sasuke stood before their targets. Today's lesson with Iruka-sensei was focused on shuriken practice, and Tobirama was ready to test his skills alongside his friends.

"I'm going to show everyone that I'm the strongest!" Naruto announced, puffing up his chest with determination.

Sasuke rolled his eyes, not missing the chance to tease. "Yeah, sure, Naruto. You say that every time, but you're always the one missing the target."

"Hey! This time's different!" Naruto shot back, his cheeks reddening. "You'll see!"

Tobirama watched them with a knowing smile. "Let's just focus on hitting the targets, okay?" Tobirama said, hoping to calm them before they got too carried away.

As they arrived, Iruka gave them an encouraging nod. "Alright, everyone! Today's goal is accuracy. I want each of you to aim for the targets and focus on your form."

Naruto's eyes sparkled with excitement as he lined up his throw. "Easy! Watch this!" He flung his shuriken with all his might, but they missed the targets and fell on the ground.

"Good try, Naruto," Iruka said gently. "Remember, accuracy comes from calmness, not force."

Sasuke smirked as he stepped up, his movements precise and focused. His shuriken hit dead center, prompting a small nod of approval from Iruka.

Tobirama took his turn, his shuriken striking the targets cleanly, each landing close to the center. Iruka praised him, clearly impressed. "Excellent work, Tobirama. Your control is very advanced."

As they took turns, Tobirama continued to focus, imitating the composure he'd learned from the Second Hokage. Sasuke, noticing his demeanor, tilted his head thoughtfully. "You don't have to act like the Second Hokage, you know," he said quietly.

Tobirama paused, not expecting such bluntness. Before he could reply, Naruto stepped forward, oblivious to Sasuke's comment but eager to prove himself. To Naruto, Tobirama's serious nature seemed natural, strong people were weird like that after all.

When practice ended, Iruka gathered them. "Good work, everyone. I can see you're all improving."

Afterwards, as they walked away from the field, their earlier competitiveness faded, leaving behind an easy sense of camaraderie. They laughed and teased each other, a bond beginning to form through these shared moments.

Far away, deep within a secluded cave, a pair of piercing eyes watched the trio's practice. Madara Uchiha, observing from the shadows, followed each movement with an intense gaze. His focus lingered on Sasuke, the striking resemblance to his brother Izuna filling him with a mix of nostalgia and longing.

"Sasuke…" he murmured, almost to himself. "Could it be? Are you truly Izuna, reborn?" The way Sasuke held his gaze, his fierce determination, reminded Madara so deeply of his brother.

Madara's eyes then drifted to Tobirama, who bore the legacy of the Senju with undeniable strength. The way he held himself, his precision with shuriken—it was unmistakably similar to the Second Hokage. Madara's suspicions only grew stronger. "And you, Tobirama… carrying on the Senju legacy, no doubt."

As he watched, conflicting emotions surfaced within him, memories of his life and battles with his beloved brother. His gaze returned to Sasuke, the thought of Izuna's spirit returning through this boy stirring his heart. But a shadow passed over Madara's expression as he remembered his own Eye of the Moon plan—a plan to force peace upon the world by trapping everyone in a dream.

For a moment, doubt crept in. If Sasuke was truly Izuna, would he stand by his side? Or would he, like before, reject this dream of peace, preferring the harsh reality of their world?

Madara's hand clenched unconsciously. He was sure of himself—he had always been. Yet, he could not shake the worry. He remembered Izuna's fierce sense of honor, his unwillingness to surrender to illusions or live in false peace. Izuna would have chosen to fight until his last breath rather than live in a lie.

"Would you hate me for it, Izuna?" he whispered, feeling an ache he rarely allowed himself to acknowledge. "If I forced the world into this illusion, would you turn your back on me?"

The doubt lingered as he imagined the possibility of Izuna's disapproval. He was prepared to let the world die if it meant his brother could live a full life this time—a life that wasn't cut short by the endless cycle of conflict. If it came down to it, he'd rather have the world fall into darkness, just so his brother could grow old without pain.

But he knew the choice might one day stand before him, and he wasn't sure if he could give up the plan that had driven him for so long. Watching Sasuke and Tobirama from afar, he felt the weight of his own intentions more heavily than ever, his heart torn between his dreams and the memory of his brother's wishes.

And so, Madara withdrew into the shadows, the silent observer, his mind still haunted by the possibility of Izuna's return with a tear falling down his eye.