Inside the Tai Chi Hall of Pangu City,
Kaito frowned as he listened to Hatake Mayo’s report.
“According to our investigation, the Land of Water and the Land of Lightning have both been conducting frequent shinobi deployments recently.
Their intentions remain unclear.”
“It’s only been thirty days, and Black Zetsu is already unable to sit still.”
Leaning against a pillar nearby, Madara slowly opened his eyes.
A faint purple glow radiated from them.
“Perfect.”
“I can use them to test these eyes.”
The people around them instinctively shuddered under the pressure emanating from him.
The Hokage had already been terrifyingly powerful before.
Now, he was on an entirely different level.
“Those are the eyes of the Sage…”
Tobirama, meanwhile, wore a gloomy expression as he reviewed the latest experimental reports.
Ever since Madara had awakened those eyes, Tobirama had not smiled once.
Creak.
The rosewood doors opened.
Senju Shūmō entered carrying a stack of bamboo scrolls.
“F-Father…
Your Majesty, I’ve completed the appointments for the Empire’s various administrative offices.
Please review them.”
After an attendant delivered them, Kaito quickly looked through the documents.
“Well done.”
“You’re still inexperienced, but continue working hard and learn from Sasuke and the others.”
At that moment, a messenger entered.
“Report!
Governor Shamon of Wind Province and Governor Ishikawa of Earth Province request an audience!”
Kaito exchanged a glance with Madara.
Ever since Madara had killed the daimyō and Kaito had pacified the Land of Wind last month, Wind Province had remained relatively stable.
Earth Province, however, had been making small moves in secret.
Now that the Lands of Lightning and Water were showing unusual activity, this was the perfect opportunity to test their loyalties.
“You’ve both arrived at an opportune time.”
“The Lands of Lightning and Water are mobilizing shinobi forces with hostile intent.”
“What are your thoughts?”
After lavishing Kaito with praise, Shamon declared that all of Wind Province was willing to obey His Majesty’s orders.
Ishikawa, however, replied indifferently.
“The affairs of the world are matters for Your Majesty and the Hokage.”
“If enemies arise, simply destroy them.”
“Why ask insignificant people like us?”
Kaito answered calmly.
“The purpose of my actions is to eliminate hatred and barriers.”
“I intend to bring true peace to all of you.”
“In time, you’ll understand.”
“This world belongs to everyone.”
Tobirama’s expression darkened.
“If you have any complaints, say them now.”
“I can help you resolve them.”
“…”
Ishikawa fell silent.
At that moment, Madara released his chakra pressure.
“W-What?!”
“Damn it…
he’s become even stronger!”
Madara stared at them as if they were already dead.
“Obey Hashirama’s commands.”
“Or die.”
Ishikawa suddenly noticed Madara’s eyes.
His entire body trembled.
“T-This…”
“Could these be…
the legendary…”
Madara smirked arrogantly.
“So, you have some knowledge.”
“These eyes are indeed the legendary eyes of the Sage.”
Shamon immediately dropped to his knees.
“Lord Hokage!
Wind Province has already received His Majesty’s promises.
How could we dare withhold our loyalty?
Our devotion is as clear as the sun and moon!”
Although visibly reluctant, Ishikawa also expressed his willingness to obey.
Madara merely snorted and withdrew his pressure.
The two men silently breathed sighs of relief, feeling as though they had narrowly escaped death.
Kaito then spoke solemnly.
“Based on our analysis, war is now unavoidable.”
“And I have no intention of avoiding it.”
“Hear my command.”
“All nine Tailed Beasts will be mobilized.”
“Wind and Earth Provinces will each dispatch five thousand shinobi to join Madara’s army and engage the Land of Lightning.”
“Tobirama and I will personally lead the main force against the Land of Water.”
He then turned toward Madara.
“Remember what I told you about Black Zetsu’s plans.”
“Be careful not to let him manipulate you.”
“I know.”
After the meeting ended, Kaito and Madara headed together toward a secluded residence within the city.
The person who opened the door was one of Kaito ‘s attendants.
“One hundred fifty-six!
One hundred fifty-seven!
One hundred fifty-eight!”
A seven-year-old boy with a bowl haircut and thick eyebrows was painfully doing push-ups.
Sweat had already soaked the ground beneath him.
There was no need to guess who he was.
Might Duy sat nearby with a stern expression, staring at the faded family photograph in the boy’s hands.
When he noticed Kaito and Madara entering, he visibly relaxed.
“Dai.”
“Do another hundred.”
“If you can’t finish them, no dinner.”
He struggled to stand.
Kaito quickly stopped him.
“I heard what happened recently.”
“My condolences.”
Duy sighed heavily.
“My wife passed away from illness before she could see the arrival of this new era.”
“What cruel fate.”
Kaito patted his shoulder.
“At least you’re still alive.”
“If we hadn’t saved you back then, Dai would have had an even harder life.”
“So live for both yourself and your wife.”
“If you need anything, just ask.”
Duy’s eyes reddened.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“I have no way to repay you.”
“I’ll raise Dai to become a pillar of the nation and have him serve the Shinobi Empire faithfully.”
“Good.”
“By the way, where’s Chen?”
“Usually he’s the one who visits the most.”
“Oh, him?”
“He’s attending the Taijutsu Squad’s training today.”
“I have to admit, his talent for taijutsu is extraordinary.”
“That special technique of his even shocked me.”
“Oh?”
“Then let’s go see how they’re doing.”
After hesitating briefly, Duy said:
“Please pass a message to Chen.”
“If he becomes squad leader, I’ll consider teaching him the Eight Gates.”
“I’ll make sure he hears it.”
“Goodbye, Duy.”
“Goodbye, little Dai.”
“G-Goodbye, Uncle!”
“Ahhh!
Two hundred!”
Might Dai shouted with all his strength.
“Youth…”
Madara unexpectedly sighed.
“Not bad.”
There was a nostalgic look on his face.
No one knew what he was remembering.
“Yes.”
“The future belongs to them.”
“Our responsibility is to create a better future so that children can grow up safely.”
After leaving Duy’s residence, they headed toward the mountains behind the city.
Passing through the checkpoints, they entered the training grounds.
The Taijutsu Squad truly lived up to its reputation.
By focusing entirely on physical training, their progress had been remarkable.
In just one month, Chen had already reached the upper limits of a Chūnin’s strength and was approaching Jōnin level.
And that was without using his ultimate technique.
Bang!
Fists and kicks collided.
Chen and another Jōnin engaged in fierce close combat.
Despite being at a disadvantage, Chen managed to hold his own.
In the end, however, he lost by a narrow margin and was knocked to the ground.
“Chen has lost the ability to continue.”
“Hatake Sakumo wins.”
The speaker was Hatake Mayo, the chief instructor of the training camp.
Another match also concluded.
“Maruboshi Kosuke wins!”
“Excellent.”
Kaito nodded.
“They’re all seeds of the future.”
The trainees immediately stopped and bowed.
“Greetings, Your Majesty!”
“Greetings, Lord Hokage!”
Among them, one person particularly caught Madara’s attention.
The instructor.
Uchiha Kagami.
This man was completely unlike a traditional Uchiha.
To Madara, he was practically a disgrace to the clan.
“At ease.”
“We only came to observe your training.”
“And I must say, you’ve all done very well.”
“Continue improving your physiques and endurance first.”
“You are the Empire’s sharpest blades.”
“Sharp blades!”
“Sharp blades!”
“Chen.”
Kaito smiled.
“Might Duy asked me to tell you something.”
“If you become squad leader, he’ll teach you the Eight Gates.”
Chen’s eyes widened.
“Really?!”
“That’s amazing!”
“Then I’ll train extra today!”
“Hatake Sakumo!
Another match!”
Sakumo grinned.
“Sure.”
“Who’s afraid of who?”
At that moment, Madara walked toward Uchiha Kagami with a stern expression.
Meanwhile, Hatake Mayo quietly approached Kaito .
“I’ve never had a chance to properly thank you.”
“Thank you for clearing my father’s name and punishing the Senju…
uh…
the wrongdoers.”
He immediately knelt and kowtowed three times.
Kaito hurriedly helped him up.
“There’s no need to avoid the subject.”
“The corruption within the Senju Clan was an undeniable fact.”
“Don’t worry.”
“The Great Elders have already been imprisoned.”
“They won’t cause trouble again.”
“The Hatake Clan will receive the same fair treatment as every other clan.”
He smiled.
“Speaking of which, that boy Sakumo is your son, right?”
“Interesting name.”
Hatake Mayo looked embarrassed.
“I actually named him after Prince Shūmō.”
“I never expected His Highness would become a prince so quickly.”
Kaito laughed.
“That’s fine.”
“I don’t care about such things.”
“If anything, it’s an honor for Shūmō.”
“Our families should interact more in the future.”
“The Hatake Clan’s kenjutsu and Lightning Release techniques have great potential.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Suddenly, Madara’s furious voice echoed across the training ground.
“You brat!”
“You’ve thrown away all of the Uchiha Clan’s honor!”
He raised his fist.
But after seeing Kagami’s stubborn gaze, he hesitated.
Eventually, he lowered it.
“What’s wrong, Madara?”
Kaito walked over.
“It’s a good thing for young people to have their own ideas.”
“Or would you rather he become another one of those rigid, decaying elders?”
Madara glared at Kagami.
“He deliberately distanced himself from the Uchiha and became close to the Sarutobi and Shimura clans.”
“That alone was bad enough.”
“But he even criticized the Uchiha’s laws and ancestral teachings!”
Kagami immediately refuted him.
“The Uchiha way of thinking is too extreme.”
“Our clan laws are unreasonable.”
“I’m doing this to save the clan.”
“You…”
Madara trembled with anger.
“You insolent fool!”
Kaito sighed.
“Come on.”
“When you were young, didn’t you ignore clan rules and spend all your time hanging around with me?”
“That’s different.”
“I didn’t know you were a Senju.”
“Really?”
Kaito smiled.
“Did you truly not know?”
“Or did you just pretend not to know?”
“The truth is, we both guessed each other’s identities long ago.”
“We simply chose not to say it.”
Madara fell silent.
After a long moment, he glared at Kagami.
“Remember this.”
“If I ever hear you insulting the Uchiha again…”
“I won’t let you off.”
“You disgrace.”
With that, Madara ignored Kaito entirely and stormed off by himself.
Kaito watched his retreating figure and sighed.
“There he goes again.”
“I just exposed a few embarrassing childhood memories in public, and now he’s sulking.”
“What an unbelievably stubborn tsundere.”