Hashirama glared up at his opponent, Madara Uchiha. "I will not allow anyone to destroy our… no, my village." He bore holes through his eyes with pure resolve. "You will die by my hands."

Madara chuffed. "Are you implying you can take me down?"

"I'm not implying anything! I wish to move forward with my friend, but you leave me no choice." Hashirama weaved various hand signs. "I WILL take you down! Wood Style: Wood Dragon Jutsu!" He said before summoning a large wooden dragon.

Madara bit his thumb, wiping blood across his palm before placing it on the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!"

In a cloud of smoke and debris, the Nine-Tailed Fox spirit emerged from darkness. With its mighty roar, it rippled the night, terrifying Hashirama Senju. "The nine-tailed fox spirit? Is it really true?!"

Kurama looked to Hashirama with rage and confusion. "What is the meaning of this?" He turned his head to see none other than Madara, his summoner. "Madara!" He roared. "How could you betray Reina?!" But all that came out was fox-like chitter and roaring.

Madara lowered his head. "I am deeply sorry, Kurama, but I had no choice. I know I promised Reina to never use you… but Reina is-"

Kurama paused and listened to the man. "What is it?"

Madara looked him in the eyes. "Reina is dead… because of her clan." Kurama roared his grievances before Madra continued. "I seek world peace, but through my own treacherous means. I require you to do it." He readied his scythe. "I'm sorry, but it's the only way."

'

"You!" Kurama grumbled. "You couldn't protect her! And now she's dead and you're going against her wishes! You're using me against my will! How DARE YOU! SELFISH HUMAAAAN-!" He screeched, but as his rage spiked…

"Mangekyou Sharingan!" Madara chanted, taking complete control of the nine-tailed fox spirit. "Hashirama! This is the end for you!" He hollered before charging in.

The fight lasted until just before dawn. Hashirama stabbed Madara through the chest from behind with a sword. He stood there in silence, a grimace of pain and disgrace plastered on his face as Madara bled out.

Madara gasped as blood ran down his chin. "I cannot- believe my back was taken."

Hashirama opened his eyes with stark conviction. "I will protect my village… whatever it takes." He raised his head. "I still believe protecting the village will in turn protect all people. Shinobi and civilians alike! I won't forgive… ANYONE who would dare to threaten the village, be they friend, sibling, or even my own child."

Madara collapsed onto his knees. "You have changed… Hashirama." He paused. "You have got your priorities backward… it will someday lead the village to… darkness…" He uttered before collapsing into the water of what would later be named "Final Valley," where Madara met his apparent demise.

…

Jun and Kazuko raised baby Kagami, eventually gifting him with a little brother. Kagami would beget a son who would beget a daughter, who would beget Shisui Uchiha. Kazuko and Jun's child would beget a son who would beget Fugaku Uchiha. Fugku and his wife, Mikoto, would birth Itachi Uchiha and Sasuke. Itachi would eventually become the grim reaper of the Uchiha clan, wiping them out to prevent war all catalyzed by a faulty and prejudiced government as Madara predicted.

…

An old Madara hobbled over to the healing boy who had stirred from his slumber. His eyes slowly opened as he looked up at the old, white-haired man standing above him. "Where… where am I?"

Madara grumbled. "Somewhere halfway between life and death… Child of Uchiha."

Said child would be come to known as Obito Uchiha, to which Madara would entrust his plan for world peace, starting with his resurrection.

…

Madara Uchiha flew toward the moon, as a grown Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura failed to stop him. The man possessing the power of the Sage of the Six Paths had enough of his plans being halted. He was mere minutes from his dream coming true, a shining world of peace and love with no shadows. A world he so dearly wished his beloved Reina could be a part of.

Sasuke promptly switched gears from flying toward Madara with his purple Susano'o to protecting Team 7 from Madara's genjutsu. Naruto scolded his teammate for almost getting torn apart by his tailed beast rasen shuriken, when Sasuke gently wrapped the wings of his Susano'o around them.

Madara closed his eyes, meditating on his plan before ripping the calcified shield from his forehead. He glared up at the moon, forming a hand sign before casting his genjutsu. "Shine upon the world… Infinite Tsukuyomi!" Madara's face contorted into a wicked grin. "Now! Become one!"

A light brighter than any angel gleamed throughout the entire shinobi world. One by one, every living being fell victim to Madara's Infinite Tsukuyomi; all save for Team 7. Madara used Hashirama's Deep Forest Emergence to collect each and every body, rooting it to the God Tree. Madara floated in front of the shining moon as it faded into a blood red. He eyed the Susano'o from a distance, marking his final target stopping from from complete world peace.

Madara teleported down to the ground, landing on one knee. He slowly stood up, more determined than ever. "I won't allow you to do anything further." He stood up, facing his final foe. "I just severed the karmic cycle of this world. I've transformed hell into heaven." Madara eyed Team 7, "I have corrected Hashirama's blunder. His dreams of peace based on trust alone were childish fantasies at best. Nothing of what he did accomplished peace. The number of lives that were lost because of him, the number of lives lost afterward, under the rule of incompetent Kage trying to emulate him. However, fear, suspicion, and resentment never subside. The human population has never witnessed true peace." He paused. "Although I admit that I did trigger the Fourth Great Ninja War… Through my efforts, I have made amends for all of humanity's wrongdoings."

Sasuke immediately clapped back. "Is this your idea of a perfect world? You're just deceiving people. Better yet, you're deceiving yourself!"

"Me? Deceived… I'm not Obito." Madara smirked and chuffed. "Just know this… it's all over." Instantly, Madara's back was taken as Black Zetsu stabbed a hand through his heart.

Black Zetsu growled. "How can you say that, unlike Obito, you cannot be deceived when you have been this whole time…? You, Madara, have also been living inside the phantom of a dream…"

Madara coughed. "But… how? You're my will incarnate!"

"No!" Zetsu grumbled. "My will… is Kaguya's!" Massive chakra vents opened from beneath the ground, Black Zetsu grinned. "Thus concludes the tale of her revival…"

The chakra started funneling into Madara's size, expanding him to an uncanny enormity. "Hashirama…" He muttered as a world of black enclosed him. "Where… did I… go wrong?"

…

"Reina… Reeeinaaaa…" A voice called from within a dark pool of nothingness.

Reina's consciousness came to. "Yes?"

"It's time…" Kaguya called.

"I'm in the backseat this time?"

"Yes, Reina…"

"I wonder… what the world is like now."

"I don't think you'll be pleased."

…

Reina was suspended in a dark, damp space. She felt her body enveloped in a mass of tar as she stirred from her slumber. Reina watched as her black cradle filled with light as she emerged forward. Now exposed to the chill of night, Reina looked ahead to see nothing but rubble. Facing the moon, was a gargantuan plant.

"Is this… war?" Reina inquired.

"Why don't you sit back, Reina? Enjoy the show." Kaguya called to her.

Reina succumbed and sank into darkness where she could peep in and watch as Kaguya fought young shinobi, one of Uchiha origin, and one of the Uzumaki clan. She was quite impressed with their power. They could probably give her an entertaining fight. Reina sighed, sinking back, wondering if an eternity as Kaguya's double would be this lonesome when there was a presence.

Reina jolted, feeling the familiarity, but unsure as to who or what it belonged to. "Something's not right." She whispered. "How did Kaguya even become resurrected in the first place?" Reina, with profound confusion, closed her eyes to meditate. She located the energy source and smirked. "There you are." Reina opened her eyes, and once she did, was transported to a bonfire. Through the flickering flames, Reina could see another person. "H-hello-?"

"Reina?" A familiar voice called.

Reina furrowed her brows and stood up simultaneously with the person before her. Her breath caught in her throat. "M-Madara?"

The two had a moment of genuine catatonic shock before running over to one another, taking the other in a warm embrace. "Oh my god… Reina!" Madara held onto her with all his might, slowly crying.

Reina wailed as she clung to him for dear life. "Madaraaaa!" She cried. "Wh-why are you here?!" She looked up at him,

"I…" Madara wiped his tears before guiding her over to sit beside him. "I went down a wrong path and my body was taken over by Kaguya."

"The Infinite Tsukkuyomi." She muttered.

Madara paused. "How did you know?"

"I've known since I had the Rinnegan." Reina lowered her head. "I was honor bound to not say anything… Not like having a solution like this would have fixed anything anyway."

Madara couldn't argue with her, nor did he want to. "However, we did agree not to keep secrets."

Reina nodded. "True, however, Kaguya and I are one and the same. Upon my birth, we always resided in one body. It's like a karmic chakra signature, but I was able to communicate with mine. Just as she is my double, her grandsons, Ashura and Indra, were reincarnated into you and Hashirama. Then Naruto and Sasuke. It's a sibling rivalry that has gone on through the ages."

Madara pondered. "Essentially what you're saying is you were honor bound to put yourself first and let everything play out to break cycles?"

Reina looked up at him with a sheepish smile. "Could you ever forgive me?"

Madara pulled her in with one arm. "Of course… life without you was merely entertainment. I couldn't be mad at you even if I tried. I was on a war path upon your death as is. Hell… Maybe after this war, the shinobi world will see true peace after taking so many strides together."

Reina smiled sweetly. "In the end, you may get what you've wanted all along… even if temporary, you were the cause of world peace."

Madara lowered his head with a warm grin. "You always know what to say to make me smile."

Reina gently pulled away and looked deep into Madara's eyes. "So… what exactly happened after I died?"

Madara sighed and held her hand. "For starters, I had Jun and Kazuko take Kagami into custody before defecting the Hidden Leaf."

Reina nodded. "Did he live a good life?"

Madara smirked and nodded with watery eyes. "He did… I monitored him as much I could after my presumed death."

"Death?" Reina's eyes widened.

Madara nodded. "Yes, I fought with Hashirama to the death and… well, I couldn't bring myself to kill him… I had plans and let him think he killed me. I took out a chunk of his flesh mid-fight and after supposedly dying, fused his cells with mine to awaken the rRnnegan."

Reina nudged him with her elbow. "Was that inspired by yours truly?" She winked.

Madara chuckled. "Honestly, yes, that and the Uchiha stone tablet." He pondered. "So, after that fight, I watched over Kagami. He and Hiruzen grew to be splendid shinobi who fought in the Second Great Shinobi War. Tobirama, the Second Hokage, gave up his life to save them and their squadron."

Reina smiled and squeezed Madara's hand. "He… kept his promise."

Madara nodded. "That he did… which makes me wonder if should have stayed, but… let bygones be bygones."

Reina shrugged. "There's really no right answer to your woes. Stay and risk it, or leave and watch everything play out as expected. You can't beat yourself up over that."

Madara lowered his head before turning to face his beloved wife. "I suppose we've all made mistakes."

Reina nodded. "And just remember I will love you always."

Madara held her close and closed his eyes. "I love you too." A bright light forces Madara's eyes to open.

Reina looked at herself as her body began to glow. She smiled up at Madara. "Kaguya has been defeated…" Reina leaned in. "See you on the other side." She gave him a sweet kiss, and as Madara opened his eyes, he was confronted with the evening stars.

Madara's eyes adjusted as the sound of footsteps toward him could be made, a figure coming into view. "Is that you, Hashirama?" He called weakly.

Hashirama grunted. "Mmm…"

Madara paused before continuing. "I guess neither of us… could achieve what we wanted."

"It's never that easy!" Hashirama protested. "Our job is to do all that we can, while we're alive, bequeathing the rest for future generations to accomplish."

Madara's face softened. "So naive… as usual." He gave a light chuckle. "You… were always… the optimist… But perhaps… that is the correct path." Madara took a shallow breath before continuing. "My dream… was squashed… But your dream… still lives on."

Hashirama gave a sympathetic smile. "We were both too hasty. We didn't need to fulfill our dreams ourselves. It was more important to cultivate those who would come after us, to whom we could entrust our dreams."

"Which means I would have failed anyway. Since I always hated someone… standing behind me…" Madara joked.

Hashirama gave a bittersweet smile. "When we were kids, you once said we're shinobi and we don't know when we'll die. For neither side to die, we'd both have to reveal our guts and pour each other drinks to toast like brothers." He looked his friend in the eyes. "But we're both about to die. Right now, we can drink together, as war buddies.

Madara's eyes began to slowly close as his voice faded. "War buddies… huh? Well… I guess… that's okay… by me." Madara's eyes closed and his breathing stopped, passing away on the battlefield that he created.

….

"Madara?"

"Yes, Reina…?"

"It's time to go. Everyone is waiting."

"Is… Hashirama coming?"

"He is… But, Kagami misses us… Shall we?"