Chapter 19: Konoha's Greatest Detective
Black Zetsu...
The embodiment of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's will.
White Zetsu...
A lifeform created by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
But when the two worked together...
They became creations shaped by one man—
Uchiha Madara.
As the former head of the Uchiha Clan...
And the unquestioned strongest Uchiha of his era...
Madara's way of thinking was something ordinary people could never hope to understand.
For example...
Having White Zetsu secretly monitor the Uchiha Clan for decades.
---
"Lord Madara."
"This is the record of yesterday's Uchiha clan meeting."
"White Zetsu overheard it while observing Konoha."
"...There's also some discussion about you."
Before White Zetsu sat an old man wrapped in a gray robe.
His hair was completely white.
His face was covered in wrinkles.
His breathing was so faint that it was almost imperceptible.
No one would have imagined...
That this frail old man had once been the Uchiha Madara who shook the entire shinobi world.
Looking at the deeply sleeping Madara...
White Zetsu waved the sheet of paper in front of him.
"Lord Madara?"
"Lord Madara?"
"..."
Did he die?
After calling several more times without receiving any response...
White Zetsu stroked his chin thoughtfully.
His eyes slowly wandered over Madara's sleeping figure.
Before Black Zetsu gets back...
Should I poop on Lord Madara's head?
It's true I can't exactly...
But if I squeeze hard enough...
---
Cough... Cough...
A weak cough suddenly interrupted White Zetsu's dangerous train of thought.
Seeing Madara slowly awaken...
He hurriedly handed over the report.
"Lord Madara."
"It contains information about you..."
"...and Lord Izuna."
"...Hm?"
Madara's eyes opened.
The instant he heard his younger brother's name...
His cloudy gaze sharpened.
"...Izuna?"
"Yes."
Madara accepted the report.
Lowering his head, he slowly read.
Kneeling and begging...?
Courting the Senju...?
Making up excuses...?
After reading the entire "conversation" between himself and Izuna...
He quietly closed his eyes.
Searching through decades of memories...
As one of the people involved...
Why couldn't he remember Izuna ever saying any of this?
He certainly hadn't said those things himself either.
"..."
...Although...
It strangely sounded plausible.
A long moment later...
Madara reopened his eyes.
Calmly folding the paper, he set it aside.
"...How are the Uchiha faring these days?"
"They're doing fairly well."
"The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze..."
"...doesn't seem to hold any prejudice against them."
"...I see."
Madara nodded.
Then quietly closed his eyes again.
If you're living well...
Then I wish you continued happiness.
If you're not...
Then I hope your future improves.
Though the clan expelled me...
I was once its head.
Before Izuna died...
He entrusted the Uchiha to me.
So...
May all of you live better lives.
There isn't much time left.
True peace for the shinobi world...
Is drawing near.
Thinking of his younger brother...
Madara's weathered face gradually relaxed.
I wonder...
Will I see Hashirama again after I die?
---
Author's Note:
«To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how to write Madara.
Deep down, I think he's fundamentally a good person, but his way of thinking is extremely radical.
Decades have passed. Considering Madara's personality, I don't think he'd still resent the clan for abandoning him.
After all, once he entrusted his Rinnegan to Nagato, he only had one Three-Tomoe Sharingan remaining, while the other eye socket was empty (as shown in Episode 564 of the anime).
There are many possible explanations for that, but I prefer to interpret it positively.
After all...
Surely the Asura of the Shinobi World couldn't have spent decades unable to find another ordinary Sharingan?
...That would be a little far-fetched.
So in this story, I'll write Madara as someone who still has some lingering affection for the Uchiha Clan...
Just not very much.
If any readers have better ideas...
Please leave a comment.
I'll shamelessly borrow them.»
---
"A bunch of idiots..."
Asuka trudged toward the Uchiha compound with slumped shoulders, looking like a walking corpse.
He simply couldn't understand it.
The gap between people...
Was somehow even greater than the gap between people and cats.
Today he'd taught his three students the Tree Climbing Exercise.
Such a simple skill.
Yet after an entire day...
Forget walking normally on tree trunks—
The moment they stood still...
They immediately fell off.
Recalling the three bruised, swollen children...
Asuka turned toward the plump orange cat resting on his shoulder.
"You're smarter than those three."
"When we get home..."
"Practice your Transformation Technique some more."
"Don't embarrass yourself like you did today."
The orange cat lazily opened one eye.
After licking its nose...
It replied tiredly,
"...You're the one who said being chubby was beautiful."
Asuka nearly exploded.
The instant he remembered today's...
Cylinder-shaped cat girl...
His face turned bright red.
"I did say that."
"But your reference should've been Lady Tsunade."
"Or at least Kushina."
"Why did you model yourself after an Akimichi?"
"Those are two completely different kinds of fat!"
"Alright, alright."
The orange cat covered both ears impatiently.
"Tomorrow..."
"I'll transform into Tsunade instead."
"..."
Images immediately flashed through Asuka's mind.
Tsunade...
With cat ears.
Whiskers.
A cat tail.
Squatting on the floor...
Occasionally licking her paws.
"...How strange."
After several seconds of silence...
He turned toward the cat again.
"What I want..."
"...is a beautiful woman with cat ears."
"Not Tsunade pretending to be a cat."
"If you really can't manage that..."
"Practice using Kushina first."
"I've already seen what her son looks like."
"So I'm mentally prepared to accept whiskers on her face."
As he spoke...
Asuka pushed open the front gate.
Then...
He froze.
Looking at the people gathered in his courtyard...
An awkward smile slowly appeared.
"...Sorry."
"Wrong house."
Bang!
He immediately closed the gate again.
Standing outside...
He patted his chest.
"...That scared me."
"I opened the door..."
"And suddenly there were five pregnant women chatting in the courtyard."
"When did Mikoto move in next door?"
"Did they really sell their house already..."
"...so they could buy an apprenticeship under Lady Tsunade?"
"They work fast."
Shaking his head...
Asuka wandered around the block once.
Eventually...
He returned to the exact same gate.
Looking at the familiar house...
He took several deep breaths.
Then expressionlessly pushed the gate open once more.
Facing the five women, he declared solemnly,
"...This is my house."
The five women nodded together.
"We know."
Asuka inhaled again.
Then pointed toward the courtyard.
"...You're all standing inside my house."
"Mikoto brought us."
Asuka's eyes shifted toward Mikoto.
Looking at her noticeably larger belly...
An inexplicable feeling of melancholy washed over him again.
Nezha stayed in his mother's womb for three years.
Ace's mother carried him for one year and three months.
So why...
Is Sasuke's mother progressing this fast?
An immature idea suddenly surfaced in his mind.
With my medical skills...
Could I somehow keep Kushina pregnant a few extra months?
"...Asuka-kun?"
Seeing him standing absentmindedly at the entrance while staring pitifully at her stomach...
Mikoto instinctively covered it with both hands.
Then smiled.
"We came today because..."
"...there's something we'd like your help with."
"Come inside."
Asuka finally snapped back to reality.
Opening the front door...
He invited everyone into the living room.
Pointing toward the sofas, he gestured for them to sit.
Only after everyone had settled down...
Did he carefully look around.
A trace of confusion appeared on his face.
The wife of the Nara Clan Head.
The wife of the Yamanaka Clan Head.
The wife of the Akimichi Clan Head.
The wife of the Uchiha Clan Head.
The wife of the Inuzuka Clan Head.
"...What can I do for the five of you?"
"If you're here seeking medical treatment..."
"I'm afraid you've come to the wrong person."
"You all have the influence to invite Lady Tsunade yourselves."
"No."
Mikoto gently shook her head.
Then she repeatedly glanced toward Nara Yoshino.
Speaking softly, she said,
"Lady Yoshino wanted to see you."
"So..."
"I brought her here."
"...Mm."
Yoshino nodded.
Then carefully observed Asuka.
Tall.
Well-built.
Medium-length black hair.
A handsome face that still retained a masculine edge.
Even through his sweat-soaked clothes...
The scars covering his body were faintly visible.
He truly looked every bit like an Uchiha.
It was hard to imagine...
That this very man had done all the outrageous things she'd heard about.
Remembering that he was also a medical ninja...
Yoshino couldn't help becoming a little curious.
It really did match the rumors circulating throughout Konoha.
The stronger an Uchiha becomes...
The less stable they seem to be.
"...Ahem."
After giving a light cough...
She took an envelope from her pocket.
Placing it carefully on the coffee table...
She narrowed her eyes slightly before asking,
"Asuka-kun..."
"I've heard..."
"...that you're Konoha's greatest detective?"
***
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