The Tailed Beast Project and My Sister's Worries
01 Undercurrents Beneath the Peace
The dawn of Konohagakure Village always brings a new hope. Smoke rises from every home, the energetic shouts of young ninjas echo from the training grounds, and the market gradually begins to bustle. Beneath this seemingly calm surface, a storm is brewing that could change the entire landscape of the ninja world.
Senju Hashirama stood at the window of the Hokage's office, gazing at the Hokage Rock being carved in the distance. His brows were furrowed, a rare frown, and his fingers tapped unconsciously on the window frame.
"Are you still hesitating, Hashirama?"
Uchiha Madara's voice came from behind him. He sat on the sofa at one side of the office, his posture still uninhibited, but his eyes burned with a fiery light.
Hashirama turned, his face solemn, "The power of the tailed beasts is too dangerous, Madara. If you're not careful, it could lead to an even greater disaster."
"Precisely because it's dangerous, we must control it." Madara stood up and walked to the huge map of the Ninja World. "Look at this continent—Oonoki of the Land of Earth has begun to integrate the power of Iwagakure, and the Land of Water, Kirigakure, is also ready to make a move. Do you think they will be content with the status quo and watch Konoha rise?"
The office door opened, and Tobirama walked in, holding a thick scroll. His silver hair shone with a cool sheen in the morning light.
"Brother, Madara is right." Tobirama spread out the scroll on the table. It densely recorded the movements of ninja villages in various countries. "According to the latest intelligence from the Anbu, Kumogakure is already secretly searching for the traces of the Two-Tails. If we don't take action, when other countries master the power of the tailed beasts, Konoha will be in a passive position."
Hashirama sighed heavily and walked over to the map. His eyes swept over the familiar places—the desert where the One-Tail lived, the Thundercloud Valley where the Two-Tail roamed, the lake where the Three-Tail might be hiding...
"Using the power of the tailed beasts to maintain peace is a kind of irony in itself." Hashirama's voice was low, "We established Konoha to keep children away from war. And now, we have to come into contact with these monsters that once brought destruction."
The corners of Madara's mouth curled up in an almost arrogant arc: "It is precisely to protect the peace of Konoha that we must master this power. Let other countries know that any provocation against Konoha will face a devastating counterattack."
Tobirama added, his tone as calm as if he were presenting experimental data: "According to ancient records and existing intelligence, the power of the nine tailed beasts varies greatly. If they can be properly distributed or sealed, it can indeed create a strategic balance. When other countries consider launching a war, they will have to weigh the deterrent effect of the tailed beasts."
The sunlight outside the window gradually brightened, but the three people in the office seemed shrouded in a shadow. A plan that concerned the fate of the entire ninja world quietly took shape on this ordinary morning.
02 The crisis I heard about accidentally
Uchiha Aoi gently trimmed the wisteria branches in the courtyard. These were seedlings she had brought from the Uchiha clan's territory, and now they had taken root and sprouted in the soil of the Senju clan. Caring for these flowers and plants had become a rare comfort in her married life.
"Madam, Lord Tobirama is back." The maid's voice came from the corridor.
Aoi put down her flower scissors and straightened her clothes. She noticed that Tobirama came back earlier than usual today and went straight into the study, omitting even the usual greetings.
This is very unusual.
She came to the study with tea and was about to knock on the door when she heard a suppressed discussion coming from inside.
"...The chakra reaction of the Eight-Tails has been confirmed. It is in the sea east of the Land of Lightning." This was an unfamiliar voice, probably a member of the Anbu.
Tobirama's response was calm and clear: "Continue to monitor, but do not alert the enemy. Madara-sama will be there personally to deal with it soon."
Madara-nii? Yaobi? Aoi's hand trembled slightly, and the tea set on the tray made a subtle clinking sound.
The conversation in the study came to an abrupt halt. The door was flung open, and Tobirama stood there, a flash of surprise in his red eyes.
"Aoi?" His eyes fell on the tray in her hand. "What's going on?"
"I... prepared some refreshments." She tried to remain calm, but her voice still revealed a hint of trembling.
Tobirama stepped aside to let her into the study. The ANBU member had disappeared. They were the only two left in the study, and the air still lingered with the atmosphere of the tense discussion.
"I heard..." Aoi put down the tray, her fingers tightly gripping her sleeves, "Are you talking about Madara-nii... and the tailed beasts?"
Tobirama was silent for a moment, then walked to the desk and sorted out the files: "These things are not your concern."
"But that's very dangerous!" Aoi couldn't help but raise her voice. "The tailed beasts are not ordinary enemies. They are forces that can destroy an entire country! Why must Madara-san go?"
Tobirama turned around, his expression still calm, but with a hint of seriousness in his eyes: "This is for the safety of the village. Madara is strong enough to deal with the threat of the tailed beasts, and... this is also his own choice."
Aoi looked at her husband's calm face and suddenly felt powerless. In their eyes, the tailed beasts seemed merely strategic resources that needed to be controlled, and Madara-san was merely the right person to execute their plans. No one cared about the inherent dangers, and no one considered the consequences of failure.
That night, for the first time, she couldn't enjoy her food at the table.
03 Questioning after dinner
The atmosphere at dinner was even more silent than usual. The maids seemed to sense the unusual atmosphere and served the dishes with exceptional slowness.
Aoi barely touched her chopsticks, the conversation she had heard that day echoing in her mind – "Madara-sama will be there soon to deal with it personally." These words were like a thorn, piercing her heart.
When the last dish was removed and the maids left the restaurant, Aoi finally couldn't help but speak. Her voice was soft, but it was particularly clear in the silence.
"Brother... do we have to go? Those tailed beasts... are too dangerous!" She raised her head and looked directly into Tobirama's eyes. "I've heard legends about the tailed beasts. They are beyond human power to contend with."
This was one of the rare times after her marriage that she expressed her concern about something so directly, especially something involving Uchiha Madara.
Tobirama put down the file he was reviewing, unsurprised by her expressed concern. He explained calmly, his tone like a military analysis, "The tailed beasts are indeed powerful, but they are not uncontrollable. The First Hokage's Wood Release technique can suppress most tailed beasts, and Madara's Sharingan... according to ancient records, has a special inhibitory effect on tailed beasts."
He paused, then continued in a rational tone, "This is for the long-term safety of the village. All nations are now searching for the tailed beasts. If other powers gain control of their power first, Konoha will be in extreme danger. Only by possessing the power of the tailed beasts can we effectively deter other powers and maintain the current peace."
His fingers lightly traced an invisible strategic map across the tabletop. "Madara is incredibly powerful and is indispensable for executing this plan. Furthermore, this was his own initiative."
Aoi's fingertips trembled slightly. "So, just because he's powerful, he has to face such danger? Isn't there another way? Through diplomacy, or..."
"Diplomacy?" Tobirama interrupted her, his voice still calm, yet filled with unquestionable determination. "Faced with an absolute disparity in power, diplomacy is merely the lament of the weak. The peace we have established now is precisely because of the overwhelming strength of my brother and Madara. If other great powers obtain the power of the tailed beasts, this balance will be broken."
He looked at her pale face and softened his tone a little: "Believe in Madara's strength. He is not someone who will fail so easily."
However, this rational, yet cold, explanation couldn't alleviate Aoi's anxiety. She knew her brother was powerful, a top ninja, but the terrifying legends of the tailed beasts were deeply rooted in people's minds. She remembered the accounts she'd read in ancient Uchiha texts as a child—the one-tailed Shukaku once destroyed an entire oasis in the Wind Kingdom overnight; the nine-tailed demon fox's chakra was powerful enough to cause landslides and earthquakes.
That is simply not a force that ordinary ninjas can contend with.
04 Shadows in Memory
Late at night, Aoi sat alone by the window, gazing at the moonlit pond in the courtyard. A few wisteria petals floated on the surface of the water, gently swaying with the ripples.
Her thoughts drifted back to her childhood.
At that time, the Uchiha clan land was not as grand as it is now, but to her, it was the whole world. Whenever her brother Madara was about to go to war, she would always hide behind the door and secretly watch him and her brother Izuna pack their equipment.
"Xiao Kui, what are you hiding there for?" Young Ban noticed her, squatted down and rubbed her hair.
"Brother... do you have to go?" She remembered that she always asked this question, with tears in her voice.
Madara's smile was confident and flamboyant: "Of course I will go. This is to protect our family and to protect you."
Izuna would also comfort her: "Don't worry, Brother Madara is very strong. When I grow up a little bit, I can go to the battlefield with him."
However, war is cruel. She remembered the scars on her brother's body every time he returned, remembered the tribesmen who never came back, and remembered the last of her brother Izuna...
And now, history seems to be repeating itself. Brother Madara is about to embark on a dangerous journey again, and this time, the enemy he will face is stronger than any before.
She seemed to recall the fear she'd felt before her brother went off to battle as a child. This time, however, her worry was even greater. This time, Madara wasn't facing a human enemy, but rather a tailed beast known as a "natural disaster."
The pond rippled under the moonlight, and a wisteria petal slowly sank to the bottom. Aoi unconsciously clenched her hands.
05 Silent Farewell
A few days later, the day for Uchiha Madara to set off arrived.
Aoi arrived at the Uchiha clan's territory early, wanting to personally see her brother off. She had specially prepared some high-quality energy pills and special medicine for injuries—all of which she had specifically requested from the Senju clan's medical ninja.
Madara was sorting his equipment, his expression as calm as ever, even a hint of anticipation. For a warrior like him, fighting a powerful enemy was a pleasure in itself.
"Brother," Aoi called softly, handing over the prepared supplies, "Please be careful."
Madara took the package, weighed it casually, and smiled knowingly: "Medicine for the Senju clan? It seems that you have already established a foothold there."
His tone was casual, but Aoi could hear a hint of deeper meaning. She lowered her head, not knowing what to say.
"Don't worry." Madara patted her shoulder, his gesture rare and gentle. "It's just a tailed beast, not worth your worry."
His voice was filled with absolute confidence, that kind of domineering aura that seemed to be able to overcome everything was a unique trait of Uchiha Madara.
Suddenly, the image of Izuna appeared in Aoi's mind. She remembered that when Izuna's brother went to the battlefield, he also said confidently, "Wait for me to come back."
"Brother..." Her voice was choked, "You must come back safely."
Madara looked at her deeply, and a hint of imperceptible softness flashed in his eyes, which were always as sharp as an eagle.
"Ah, I promise you." His voice was soft, but with unquestionable seriousness.
Not far away, Hashirama Senju and Tobirama were waiting. Hashirama's face was filled with worry, while Tobirama remained calm as always. They too would provide support for this operation.
Aoi stepped aside and watched the three men who would decide the fate of the ninja world standing together. The sunlight stretched their shadows so long that they seemed to cover the entire Konoha.
Madara gave her a final nod, then turned and reunited with Hashirama and Tobirama. The three of them quickly disappeared at the end of the street.
Aoi stood there for a long time, not moving. She remembered what Tobirama had said—"This is for the long-term safety of the village." She also remembered the excitement and anticipation in Madara's eyes.
The road to peace still seemed to be paved with thorns and risks. As a sister, as the daughter of Uchiha, as the daughter-in-law of Senju, all she could do seemed to be praying.
The wind blew through the courtyard, and the wisteria flowers fluttered down. Amidst the purple rain of flowers, Aoi silently clenched her hands.
May my brother return safely.
May this hard-earned peace not be destroyed by the pursuit of power.
This silent prayer, along with the fluttering petals, dissipated in the morning breeze of Konoha.
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