The Hokage Rock of Konoha was one of the most magnificent places in the entire village and also a symbol representing it.
Saitama stood atop the Hokage Rock, resting his arms on the railing and gazing down at the four massive carved faces below him.
This place belonged to the mountains behind Konoha. Normally, few people came here, let alone tonight—it was even more deserted.
"This night view is truly beautiful!" Saitama had been here before, but never at night, nor had he felt this way back then.
Konoha was lively, its nights glowing with countless lights, giving Saitama an illusion of returning to a modern city.
Returning to this familiar place didn't stir any feelings in him. Even his afternoon conversation with Shikaku hadn't shaken him; he remained calm enough to linger here leisurely.
Baseless deductions and instinctive guesses could never be used to convict someone.
From the moment he was rescued by Madara Uchiha, the bonds tying Saitama to Konoha had been gradually severed.
On the night Kushina gave birth, he killed Konoha ninja for the first time—and not once did it feel wrong to him.
After that, action after action—capturing Tailed Beasts, invading Sunagakure… all of it gradually reshaped Saitama's very nature.
Once, Saitama had asked himself why he did all of this.
Back then, his answer was that as a member of the Uchiha clan, he bore the responsibility to restore the clan's honor and elevate its status.
Later, a man named Danzo taught him a lesson. Even if he had shown no hostility toward Konoha whatsoever, and despite the fact that his clan constantly tried to accommodate itself to the village's needs… it had all turned out futile and meaningless!
As a transmigrator, Saitama believed he had already been cautious enough, or rather, wary enough of Danzo. He had deliberately suppressed his strength, avoiding standing out too much.
But some things seemed destined, leaving him no escape.
Luckily, the one who gave him that first lesson didn't actually kill him.
So Saitama met his second teacher.
That person was none other than Madara Uchiha!
Saved by Madara, Saitama realized one truth: only when you're powerful enough do you earn the right to speak. When your power becomes overwhelming enough that no one dares oppose you, your words become law!
Thus, Saitama began walking this path. But at the time, he still thought everything he did was for others—for his clan…
However, recently Saitama suddenly realized something—his original intentions had quietly shifted. His desperate desire to complete a plan like Madara's seemed to have become merely a means to prove one thing:
Everyone else was wrong, and only what he insisted upon was correct!
The 'One Nation, One Village' system—this thing made absolutely no sense!
Therefore, Saitama desperately wanted to obtain power rivaling that of Hashirama Senju, the strongest figure in the Shinobi World. Then he would achieve the great unification Hashirama should have completed, fulfilling the unified vision even Hashirama himself deemed impossible.
Madara had given him inspiration. They were alike in many ways, yet ultimately worlds apart.
Saitama carried memories from his past life—he knew unity was the only way to completely eliminate conflict.
However, influenced by Black Zetsu, Madara Uchiha despised the dull system of one nation-one village and sought to establish peace for all within an illusory dream world.
Certainly, Saitama wasn't mocking Madara. After all, the information available to them existed at entirely different levels.
In fact, Saitama thought that had it not been for Hashirama Senju back then, Madara might have already unified the shinobi world during his own era, achieving his goal of consolidating all forces under the Uchiha!
After all, the young Madara also had a combative and ambitious heart. If he hadn't encountered someone with peerless strength yet an abnormally strange way of thinking like Hashirama Senju, the shinobi world today absolutely wouldn't look like this.
Even Black Zetsu likely couldn't influence Madara's judgment or willpower back then, nor lead him down a mistaken path.
Thinking so much, Saitama just wanted to tell himself—to bravely move forward, to be as domineering as the Uchiha during the Fourth Great Shinobi War, and keep that dominance forever! Only the weak cling to principles—real power forces the world to bow to your will!
At this moment, Saitama's inner thoughts underwent earth-shaking changes again.
Moreover, he realized his previous mindset had been too immature, perhaps even weak?
Because he still put others before himself, rather than thinking like a true ruler. Those who defied him, hindered him, harmed him, opposed him—even those who remained neutral or didn't support him—he could actually deal with all using far more powerful methods!
Only by eliminating every obstacle blocking his path could he establish the unified world he remembered, fundamentally resolving all conflict once and for all.
Every great success comes at the cost of countless broken lives beneath their feet. *"Greatness is always paved with the bones of the fallen"—*this was exactly the truth behind that saying.
Although unity eventually breeds division, if Saitama managed to unify everything just once, he could lay a foundation for those who followed.
Just as Saitama remembered, Emperor Qin Shi Huang was the first to unify the warring states of China—setting a precedent that future rulers would follow.
Furthermore, understanding this principle, Saitama gathered the Tailed Beasts for precisely this reason.
Once the most supreme weapons were fully under his control, enemies would absolutely lack the courage to resist!
*"Pop!"* Saitama grabbed the ring pull of the soda can with his right hand and yanked it open.
This was a Cola he'd randomly bought from a convenience store before coming here—not chilled, but still pleasant going down.
Saitama hadn't come just to admire the view—he needed a quiet place to think through this sudden shift in his mind.
Looking up, the dark sky held a round bright moon, its silvery glow spreading across the land.
"Yo, didn't expect someone else to arrive here before me!"
Saitama paused mid-drink, glancing sideways to see a figure already standing several meters away beside him.
He'd let his guard down—completely failing to notice someone approaching until it was too late.
"I'll leave now—you enjoy watching the view!"
Saitama narrowed his eyes toward the person next to him—it was none other than Jiraiya, one of Konoha's Three Legendary Sannin.
Saitama looked at Jiraiya, and at the same time, Jiraiya was observing Saitama as well.
Jiraiya gave Saitama an unfocused stare, his expression distant as memories of what Shikaku had said in Minato's office came flooding back.
"That Yufei, the Jonin from Amegakure Village… he feels rather unusual. I've never heard of him before, yet somehow he seems familiar to me! Even though his chakra signature and aura are unlike anything I've ever seen…"
"There's no need for that. If you're willing, we can have a little chat right here, engaging in a conversation across two different ninja villages… Isn't that right, Yufei Jonin?"
Jiraiya tilted sideways, leaning his right arm on the railing of Hokage Rock, using it to support his entire body.
He smiled toward Saitama with an amused expression.
Though Shikaku had only mentioned it briefly before, Jiraiya—who had been unusually tense lately—still pressed for details about Yufei's appearance. In the end, he decided to come check things out himself.
Shikaku wouldn't speak without reason, especially at such a critical moment.
Besides, Jiraiya had nothing better to do; he might as well go around and check things out himself.
It wasn't a waste of time—just a way to make sure nothing slipped through the cracks.
"Does Jiraiya-sama know about me?"
Saitama stayed laid-back, popping open his drink and taking a long swig.
"Aren't you also aware of who I am?"
Jiraiya locked eyes with Saitama, his tone peculiar.
"You give me too much credit, man—I'm not even in your league."
Saitama shrugged his shoulders.
"I wasn't completely certain at first, but after hearing your tone just now… I believe we already have our answer."
Jiraiya fell silent for a moment, then pushed himself upright, his playful look fading into something sharper and more intense.
"What do you think, Saitama Uchiha?"
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