Seeing Hashirama's excited expression, Renye revealed a look that said, 'Just as I thought.'
He knew that Hashirama’s physical condition hadn’t reached a point of no return.
He just wanted to give up.
When the mind cannot bear immense pain, the body will share the difficult-to-digest emotions.
This is what people often say: after a major blow, one falls seriously ill.
This was exactly Hashirama's situation…
He was slow to recover from the grief of killing Uchiha Madara.
In addition, he had sustained quite severe injuries in his battle with Madara.
As time passed, his body naturally developed problems.
This also shows how strong Hashirama's physical constitution was; if it had been anyone else, under such successive blows, the grass on their grave would already be three meters high.
"Renye, you said Madara isn't dead?!"
Hashirama, seeing Renye stop mid-sentence, immediately grew anxious, scratching his ears and cheeks.
If his body had permitted it, he would have gotten out of bed long ago to question him.
Ever since he killed Madara, he had been immersed in immense pain every day.
Every time he recalled that scene, his heart ached so much he could barely breathe.
Madara's blood splattered on him, scalding and blinding.
They were close friends who dreamed of a peaceful future and skipped stones together.
Yet now they had reached a point of life and death; where did it all go wrong?
Hashirama suddenly raised his hand, looking at his slightly trembling fingertips, recalling the scene where Madara's blood stained them, like an indelible mark of guilt.
"Madara…"
He mumbled, his voice hoarse and unrecognizable, tears uncontrollably welling up, blurring his vision.
If what Renye said was true, how wonderful would it be if Madara wasn't dead…
Wait, Renye?!
Hashirama looked up at Renye, urgently asking, "Renye, is what you're saying true?"
This was his third time asking.
This time, Renye answered his question.
"Hashirama, Uchiha Madara isn't actually dead."
At these words, a golden light appeared in Hashirama's eyes, and his previously pale face gradually turned rosy.
"Ren... Renye, how do you know?" Hashirama breathed heavily, his gaze fixed on Renye.
A normal person hearing such a thing would question it immediately.
After all, Uchiha Madara was personally killed by Hashirama.
How could he not know whether Madara was truly dead or not?
However, Hashirama did not question it; he seemed to genuinely believe Renye's words.
Perhaps it wasn't really belief; Hashirama simply took Renye's words as his hope to continue living…
If Madara wasn't dead, then he wouldn't need to rush to his demise.
At the very least, he had to wait until Hashirama personally found Madara and apologized to him.
"Hashirama, do you know Izanagi?" Renye asked.
Upon hearing this, Hashirama's pupils suddenly constricted, as if he had thought of something.
Of course, he knew of Izanagi.
This was a forbidden Ninjutsu of the Uchiha Clan, which had existed since the Warring States Period, and the Uchiha would use this Ninjutsu in battle.
He had personally witnessed Uchiha Clan members achieving resurrection from death at the cost of losing an eye.
It was only after asking Madara later that he learned this was a forbidden Ninjutsu of the Uchiha Clan.
Madara had told him that only a few Uchiha Clan members knew how to use this Ninjutsu.
Although Hashirama hadn't asked Madara if he knew this Ninjutsu, he knew that Madara must have learned it!
If it was truly as Renye said, and Madara used Izanagi…
Thinking of this, Hashirama excitedly sat up from his bed.
"Madara, perhaps he isn't dead!"
Renye was startled by Hashirama's reaction.
What the hell, what's going on?!
He was just thinking about how to trick Hashirama into believing him.
But before he could even speak, he saw the other person jump out of bed.
Completely unlike his previous sickly appearance, he had become full of vigor.
If Uzumaki Mito and Senju Tobirama outside had witnessed this scene, which could be called a medical miracle, their jaws would surely drop!
He didn't know that Hashirama had already completed his mental reconstruction.
Hashirama extended both hands and placed them on Renye's shoulders, his face full of gratitude: "Thank you, Renye!"
If Renye hadn't reminded him, he would never have thought of this matter until his death.
If Madara wasn't dead, wouldn't his death have been in vain?
Thinking of this, Hashirama's face was filled with lingering fear.
Renye looked strange. "Hashirama, don't you doubt the truthfulness of my words?"
No, Hashirama's heart is too big, isn't it?
Not questioning it at all?
If it were Senju Tobirama, he would immediately question the truthfulness of his words, the possibility of this happening, and analyze Madara's motive for faking his death.
Then, to be safe, he would definitely go and dissect Madara's corpse.
But Hashirama didn't utter a single word of doubt…
Renye decided to give Hashirama a preemptive shot, to make him believe that Madara was truly alive.
Otherwise, if he couldn't find Madara, he might think Renye was lying to him.
This could lead to his heart breaking and him questioning life.
Ultimately, he might not be able to withstand the blow and just die.
Facing Renye's rhetorical question, Hashirama was momentarily stunned.
He seemed to have genuinely not questioned the truthfulness of Renye's words.
He didn't know why, but when he heard Renye say that Madara wasn't dead, his heart suddenly pounded.
There was a feeling in the depths of his being telling him—Madara truly wasn't dead!
This feeling was like a blood connection…
Renye saw Hashirama remain silent and felt a bit speechless.
This guy really is impervious to persuasion!
There was nothing he could do; he could only answer his own question.
"The reason Uchiha Madara wanted to destroy Konoha was because his ideals clashed with yours. Both of you held firm to your own views, which led to this point."
"After Madara realized he couldn't defeat you, he used Izanagi to fake his death, hiding in the shadows to prepare to implement his ideals…"
"That's my view." Renye told Hashirama his opinion. "If you want to verify it, you can go and look at Madara's body from back then."
Hashirama stared blankly at Renye, not expecting Renye to analyze the matter so logically and with such strong evidence.
It seemed like he was speaking the truth.
Based on his understanding of his close friend, this possibility was very high.
He had only felt that Madara wasn't dead, but Renye could say so much; he truly was the child Tobirama raised.
"I understand, Renye," Hashirama said softly.
"Hashirama, you believe it?" Renye was a bit bewildered.
He felt as if Hashirama didn't seem particularly happy…
Hashirama seemed to have noticed Renye's confusion and said with a bitter smile:
"Even if Madara really isn't dead, I'm almost dead myself."
Even knowing that Madara was alive only allowed his body to recover briefly; it wasn't true recovery.
Necrotic cells would not regain vitality.
Hashirama's life force was indeed incredibly strong.
But he was still human, and humans die!
In his current condition, he could last at most another three years.
Even using Ninjutsu would accelerate his death…
However, three years was already enough time for him!
Hashirama was a dying man; his only hope was to find Madara and apologize to him.
Thinking of this, Hashirama looked at Renye.
"Renye, please do me a favor, I beg you!"