The embers of the campfire crackled, and Madara’s voice echoed in the dim cabin.
Madara scoffed, his scarlet Sharingan appearing particularly sinister in the firelight.
“With this bunch who can’t even awaken the Mangekyō, they dare to launch a coup?”
Shisui’s brow furrowed, his tone filled with helplessness.
“The Uchiha clan’s situation is very complicated. We are being excluded from the village’s power center, and even the authority of the Police Force is constantly being reduced…”
“So what?” Madara interrupted him, a mocking curve on his lips.
“Retaliation is a good thing, but acting without absolute certainty is no different from rushing to your death.”
The Nine-Tails flicked its tail.
“Hey, old man, didn’t you rebel back then too?”
Madara snorted coldly.
“That’s not the same. I wanted to create a new world, not struggle for survival like a stray dog.”
Back then, no one except Hashirama could stop him, which is why he dared to act like that.
A hint of anger flashed in Shisui’s single eye.
“Then what do you think should be done?”
Madara crossed his arms, a dangerous smile appearing.
“Since you’re sincerely asking, I’ll generously give you a few options.”
Madara raised his hand and extended his index finger.
“Hang the heads of the current clan head and those few elders who advocate for war on the gates of Konoha. The rest of the rabble will naturally behave.”
Madara said it so casually, as if the other party were already dead and wouldn’t resist at all.
But Shisui’s face turned instantly pale upon hearing this.
“Are you crazy?! Those are our clansmen!”
Madara waved his hand impatiently.
“Indecisive. Back when Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju founded the village, seven elders of the Senju clan opposed it. The next day, they all ‘died of illness’.”
Naruto’s eyes widened.
“Dad! That’s too cruel!”
The Nine-Tails grinned.
“I actually think it’s quite efficient.”
After all, the fastest way to solve a problem isn’t to find a solution, but to eliminate the problem itself.
Seeing Shisui’s reaction, Madara could only extend his second finger.
“Then use the second method. Don’t you have the Mangekyō?”
Madara pointed to the bottle in Shisui’s hand.
“Round up all the coup plotters and use your genjutsu to brainwash them, turning them into Konoha’s loyal dogs.”
Shisui’s fingers trembled slightly.
“Kotoamatsukami is meant to protect peace, not to be used for—”
“Naive!” Madara interrupted sharply.
“Do you think Hashirama Senju made the clans lay down their hatred back then? By giving speeches?”
“The strongest genjutsu isn’t meant to control people’s hearts, is it meant to be kept as a decoration?”
Back then, when they first formed the Konoha village, besides the opposition from the two clans, there were also some major powers who objected.
If Hashirama hadn’t warned him not to nuke them, Madara wouldn’t have bothered using genjutsu to brainwash them one by one.
Shisui was somewhat speechless at Madara’s perspective and could only continue to ask, “Are there any other ways?”
Madara suddenly revealed a sinister smile.
“Or… I can help you ‘report’ to Danzō.”
“What?!”
“Let Root and the ANBU suppress the coup. When they’re both weakened… ” Madara made a throat-slitting motion.
“Solve two problems at once.”
Shisui suddenly stood up, then staggered due to his injuries.
“You… you’re even scarier than Danzō!”
Madara finally stretched lazily.
“If all else fails, I’ll let the Nine-Tails out for a stroll and level both Konoha and the Uchiha. Rebuilding is easier than reforming anyway.”
The Nine-Tails’ ears perked up.
“Hey! Why should I listen to you?”
Madara chuckled playfully.
“Aren’t you always wanting to get out for some fresh air?”
Shisui was completely speechless, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
He was now absolutely certain—the “child” before him was definitely a monster a hundred times more dangerous than Danzō!
“What? None of you are satisfied?” Madara looked at him mockingly.
“Then don’t put on that savior’s face in front of me.”
Shisui took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
“…Who exactly are you? Why do you know so much about the Uchiha?”
Madara turned towards the door, the moonlight outlining his small yet dangerous silhouette.
“Just a restless spirit who can’t stand to see things.”
Just as Shisui was about to ask something else, Madara sensed something approaching at high speed.
“Tsk, trouble’s here.”
Almost at the same instant, the wooden window shattered with a cold glint!
An ANBU ninja wearing a tanuki mask infiltrated like a ghost, his short sword aimed directly at Naruto’s limbs—
Kunai and short sword clashed, sparks flying.
Madara, controlling Naruto’s small body, actually managed to block the blow.
But the gap in strength forced Madara to retreat several steps.
The ANBU ninja leaped back, his voice coming through the mask.
“Who are you? Why are you controlling Konoha’s Jinchūriki?”
Madara flicked his numb wrist, a hint of amusement flashing in his Sharingan.
“Oh? You attack first and ask questions later? Aren’t you afraid of accidentally killing the Jinchūriki?”
Shisui struggled to his feet.
The air suddenly froze.
The ANBU ninja’s hand hung in mid-air as he slowly removed his mask.
Beneath the black hair was a face that, while resembling Shisui’s age, was already etched with weariness.
“Shisui… brother?”
Upon seeing that the one blocking him was indeed Shisui, Itachi’s tense nerves relaxed.
However, upon seeing Shisui’s bandaged right eye, his three tomoe Sharingan began to spin wildly.
“Your eye…”
Shisui touched his bandaged right eye.
“Danzō ambushed me, and this person helped me get my eye back.”
After speaking, he even took out the glass bottle containing his right eye for Itachi to confirm.
Madara appraised Itachi with interest.
“Is this the contemporary genius of the Uchiha?”
Itachi’s killing intent slightly subsided, but his Sharingan remained fixed on Madara.
“Who exactly are you? Why are you possessing Naruto?”
Madara suddenly laughed.
The laughter came from the child’s body, but it carried a hoarseness born of long experience.
The three tomoe in his eyes began to twist and connect, gradually forming a more complex pattern—
Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan!
“This question,” Madara’s childlike voice suddenly turned into a deep, authoritative male voice, “you should go ask the stone tablet in your clan’s ancestral hall.”
Itachi was struck as if by lightning, retreating three steps.
“Impossible… this chakra…”
Not only Itachi, but Shisui was also greatly shocked.
Because this chakra could not be wrong.
Uchiha Madara, the legendary ninja of the Uchiha clan.
However, this person should have been killed by the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, at the Valley of the End decades ago.
But this chakra fluctuation couldn’t be wrong.
Only the Uchiha possessed it.
And such a powerful one could only be Uchiha Madara.
It was only then that Shisui remembered that during their conversation, this person knew so much about the inner workings of Konoha’s founding.
“But why? You…”
“I am no one now. I am just this child’s father.”
The two wanted to ask more, but Madara interrupted their questions.
____________________
Update: “Monday to Friday – Update 3 Chapters a Day”
“Saturday and Sunday – Off”