Land of Fire.
Within a hidden stronghold once constructed by Uchiha Madara himself—now long abandoned.
Black Zetsu, finally feeling somewhat at ease, turned sideways and glanced at the figure beside him.
That face was still dark and unreadable.
He was Uchiha Madara.
A man who never entertained the notion of retreat in battle.
Especially now—this wasn't even his true body. This was the Impure World Reincarnation form, one not bound by fatigue or mortality. If he truly fought with full force, defeating Konan wouldn't have been an issue.
Yet both remained in heavy silence.
Black Zetsu understood all too well why he'd stopped Madara.
Because that was Konan.
Putting aside the fact that Nagato—his precious companion—would be devastated if something happened to her, there was a bigger problem.
Konan was now the focus of Uchiha Bai Ye—a chaotic variable, one of the many women entangled in his orbit.
This wasn't someone Madara could casually strike.
"Madara-sama, I suggest we postpone testing Nagato," Black Zetsu said, voice low.
Though once Madara's scheming right hand, Black Zetsu was crystal clear now—this was no longer the old era.
"Rather than that, it's more important for you to understand how the ninja world has evolved during your absence."
"Your revival wasn't just because Obito was on the verge of collapse. Things have… changed."
Madara's expression remained frozen, cold and indifferent.
The ninja world had changed?
To him, that statement was laughable.
Since Hashirama's death, peace treaties had crumbled. War was always inevitable.
That was why he set the Infinite Tsukuyomi in motion.
"No matter how the world changes, what of it?" he muttered, rising to his feet, sneering as he clutched his chest.
The God of Dance did not fear change.
"What? Have the Five Great Shinobi Nations united?"
He doubted anyone else could accomplish that—not in the manner he envisioned.
But to his surprise, Black Zetsu nodded solemnly.
"Not fully united, but practically under one command. If that man wished, he could complete the unification at any time."
Madara's eyes gleamed—interest piqued.
"Speak."
"You remember the Konoha Military Police, yes?"
Madara gave a slight nod.
"That was Tobirama's invention—a division to isolate the Uchiha, strip them of public trust, and suppress them beneath false authority. A subtle but cruel move that no one in the clan could see through."
"If things had followed that trajectory, the Uchiha's reputation would have collapsed. The Guard would be hated, feared, and disbanded eventually."
Madara's eyes narrowed, acknowledging the truth in Black Zetsu's words.
He had predicted this fate long ago.
But Black Zetsu's next words were jarring.
"That timeline collapsed. Because someone changed everything. A strange Uchiha—terrifying, calculating, powerful. Your descendant."
"He reshaped the Guard. Imposed new laws. Collected protection fees. Locked up rule-breakers without mercy."
"He even punished the Hokage. When Sarutobi Hiruzen violated the law, this man personally broke his limbs. The Third Hokage now bangs his head against a prison wall in madness every day."
"The Guard—under him—is feared across the nations."
Madara's eyebrows twitched.
Powerful?
Could he be stronger than Hashirama?
"Not just strength," Black Zetsu continued. "His subordinates are like elite Anbu, trained and indoctrinated. And beyond that—he's spread his influence. Cloud and Mist are already part of his sphere."
"Three great shinobi villages, under one man."
Black Zetsu sighed.
"And to complicate matters—Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, is now his woman."
Madara fell silent.
The reality of such influence was… unprecedented.
Unifying three villages?
That was the dream he once shared with Hashirama—but Hashirama refused to act beyond Konoha's borders. Too hesitant. Too narrow-minded.
But now… there was another Uchiha following his path?
"How?" Madara asked, intrigued. "Through war? Conquest?"
"No. Through dominance," Black Zetsu replied. "Cloud was crushed when Raikage challenged his law."
"Mist, on the other hand… surrendered willingly. Their Mizukage, Terumi Mei, offered herself up. Rumor is, she insisted on sleeping with him first."
Madara's eye twitched.
This era… what happened to it?
He was quiet, looking into the distance.
"We're not far from Konoha."
Konan was untouchable. Hurting her would provoke Nagato into madness.
But the Nine-Tails and Two-Tails were both in Konoha.
He had to go.
"You're… going to Konoha?" Black Zetsu was horrified.
Madara had always been bold—but this was madness.
Black Zetsu had worked tirelessly to revive him so they could regain control over the Akatsuki.
Be it by seizing Obito's Mangekyō or confronting Nagato with the truth—either was safer than entering Konoha.
"Please, Madara-sama!"
Black Zetsu grabbed at him in panic.
"You can't go! Konoha isn't what it used to be! Even in your prime, you would not walk out unscathed!"
"There are several people there as powerful as you!"
Madara turned his gaze coldly toward Black Zetsu.
"Have you even seen me in my prime?"
His presence surged. The air trembled.
He took a single step forward.
Black Zetsu panicked and hastily tried to activate the control seal embedded in the Impure World Reincarnation.
But—
Clap!
Madara's hand slammed into the ground.
"Impure World Reincarnation—Release!"
He broke the summoning contract himself.
No one would control Uchiha Madara. Not this time.
"Forbidden techniques aren't toys for children."
Leaving behind that scathing line, he strode out of the stronghold.
Black Zetsu stared at his back—feeling an eerie sense of finality.
Like a lone figure standing in wind and rain, heading to a battlefield without return.
It was all… falling apart.
"Tired. Just destroy it all."
With a pounding headache, Black Zetsu slumped in place.
In truth, he already feared being inside the Land of Fire.
Now, to follow Madara into Konoha?
Madara had immense pride.
He truly believed he could dismantle any new generation ninja. To him, Jinchūriki were trivial.
His real plan?
Let Black Zetsu possess Nagato, activate Rinne Tensei, and return to life in full.
Once resurrected, he'd be unstoppable—even against Hashirama.
So he claimed.
But every time he said that…
He got thrashed.
This time would likely be no different.
The Valley of the End.
Madara wandered through the Land of Fire, feeling the subtle shifts in terrain and chakra flow.
Nostalgia pulled him toward a familiar direction.
He arrived, quietly, at that fateful place.
The Valley of the End.
The place where he once battled Hashirama, their clash reshaping the land, birthing legends.
Statues were erected here—monuments to their final confrontation.
He looked up at his own statue.
And frowned.
There, on his stone head, a large justice cloak had been spread out like a picnic blanket.
More than a dozen shinobi lounged on it—laughing, eating, drinking.
"Brother Cong, I toast to you."
Uchiha Itachi, vice-captain of the Guard's Third Division, raised his cup toward Uchiha Satoshi.
The Uchiha clan's troubles were resolved.
Today, they patrolled the Land of Fire—not just to confront remnants of resistance, but also as a team-building outing.
The Guard had dispatched all five divisions.
Third Division's area was the Valley of the End.
But much had changed.
Even the "divisions" had expanded. Within the Third Division alone were now three teams.
Itachi brought his unit. So did Uchiha Satoshi.
And now, a new addition—Hoshigaki Kisame, the reformed Mist Swordsman.
For three years, Kisame found peace and purpose.
He sat now with a rare, relaxed look on his face—chewing on a homemade bento.
Rumor was, a widow from the Guard made it for him.
"If not for your help, Brother Cong, I wouldn't be here," Itachi said sincerely.
With the family stable, the burden in his heart had lifted.
Apart from Sasuke constantly challenging him, life was manageable.
His brother was overconfident—constantly starting duels with their patriarch.
As the older brother, he couldn't seriously hurt him.
It was… exhausting.
"You earned it," Uchiha Satoshi replied, drinking boldly.
But after sipping, he frowned at Itachi.
"You piss on my wine?"
Itachi shook his head, having just relieved himself on the Hashirama statue.
"Let's go together, Squad Leader," Kisame suddenly said, standing up…
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