Half a month later, in an underground chamber beneath the Grass Country.
Obito was fully immersed in training, diligently practicing various powerful jutsu that Madara Uchiha had taught him. Meanwhile, Madara sat quietly on the side watching, though his inner thoughts were far from calm.
"Did this guy's talent all go into matters of love and emotions? Once he shuts off his feelings, his growth speed is unbelievably fast!"
Even by his own high standards, Obito's talent was staggering.
After all, what he was teaching weren't simple ninja techniques — they were powerful arts like the Six Paths Technique and the Yin-Yang Release.
The fact that Obito could master these so quickly truly exceeded his initial expectations.
"Take a break for now."
"No need. I can keep going."
Madara asked listlessly, "What? Don't you want to know anything about that Rin anymore?"
Obito suddenly looked up, his voice trembling slightly as he asked, "Rin?"
"Her name has been brought up repeatedly recently!"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"She, a mere chunin, became the catalyst for the Mizukage's death!" Madara chuckled sinisterly. "Of course people are curious about her!"
"The Mizukage was killed?" Obito frowned. "How did that happen exactly?"
"You must be familiar with the name Seiki Shimaseki! He led over a dozen kids charging into the Mist Village's campsite, killing the Mizukage right in front of all those Mist shinobi — the very 'culprit' who caused your Rin's death!"
Madara's voice turned low and heavy. Even by his standards, that brat called Seiki Shimaseki was remarkably impressive.
After all, he himself didn't awaken his Sharingan until age fifteen, yet this kid outperformed even his younger self at the same age.
"My senior..." Obito looked conflicted, then after a brief silence finally asked, "This also means Rin is truly dead, right?"
Madara leaned back against the stone wall. "That should be something you know better than me!"
Obito took a deep breath, determination returning to his eyes. "Let's begin again. We don't have time to waste anymore!"
A slight smirk appeared on Madara's lips. "Indeed, there's little worth caring about in this false world!"
...
In an abandoned building in the Rain Country.
"Incredible! No wonder he's Seiki!" Yahiko shouted in admiration. "Defeating someone at that level of strength!"
"I heard Mist is already preparing to surrender, planning to abandon their continental interests and retreat back to the Land of Water!" Konan said.
"It's not just Mist. Cloud and Iwagakure seem to have ceased fighting too, apparently out of caution!" Nagato murmured thoughtfully. "So this is what true strength can accomplish. In other words, if someone became powerful enough that everyone feared them, perhaps our world wouldn't experience war anymore!"
Noticing Nagato speaking like that, Konan couldn't help but ask, "Nagato, what exactly are you saying?"
Nagato shook his head slightly. "Nothing really. I'm just glad we might finally see hope!"
"Yes! We'll finally get to see hope!"
Yahiko eagerly took over the conversation, his eyes gleaming with hope. "From what I've observed, after every war there's usually about a decade of peace. That's the time we should be working hardest! If we can spread the idea of peace while everyone still remembers the pain of war, maybe we'll prevent the next war altogether!"
However, Konan cautiously pointed out, "The war has truly ended—for the great nations."
Yahiko hesitated before asking, "Konan, are you worried about Hanzo?"
She nodded with concern. "Our cause is growing fast, and that's exactly what worries me."
Yahiko waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry! We have no ambitions to occupy Rain Country. Once this misunderstanding is cleared up, everything will be fine!"
...
Outside the Conference Hall in the Land of Iron,
Shinobi from each village gathered in clusters, murmuring among themselves.
"The Five Kage's peace negotiation should've already begun, right?"
"I heard they haven't even selected the Fourth Mizukage yet."
"They say their Yuan Shi Elder is temporarily representing them at the meeting."
"How nice! This war finally can end!"
"As much as I hate to admit it, we might actually owe that Konoha ninja Seiki Shimaseki for ending the war sooner than expected!"
"There are rumors saying he was the direct reason this conference was convened—supposedly he killed the Third Mizukage!"
"I wonder how he managed that. He may be younger than us, but he's already grown strong enough to shake the Five Great Hidden Villages!"
As they walked, Seiki could feel the mixed stares coming from shinobi of other villages—filled with surprise, fear, admiration, and even hatred.
Surprise, fear, admiration, hatred—they all swirled around him at once.
"Seiki, you've truly become famous now!" Asuma couldn't help but express his envy. "Maybe future textbooks will mention you—the man who ended the Third Great Ninja World War!"
Seiki smiled nonchalantly. "I just hope future students don't complain too much—I've made an already thin history book so much thicker."
Kurenai smiled faintly. "I wonder if we'll get written into history too? Somehow, that feels exciting!"
Shizune mused dreamily, "All of a sudden, it feels like we're actually walking through history."
Mizuki reflected thoughtfully, "Shimaseki must've seen this coming. He risked everything just to bring peace to the whole ninja world."
"Now that makes sense!" Guy exclaimed admiringly. "Still, Mizuki—you understand your senior classmate best!"
A proud smirk crept across Mizuki's face, his eyes narrowing into sharp slits. "Of course! There's no one who knows Seiki better than I do!"
Just then, a graceful beauty approached them. "Excuse me, may I ask if you're Master Seiki Shimaseki from Konoha Village?"
Seiki stopped walking and turned toward her. "That's me. May I ask who you are?"
The woman gracefully clasped her hands before her waist. "Forgive the intrusion, but I am Miroku, the shrine maiden from the Land of Demons. Would you mind giving me a few minutes of your time?"
...
Meanwhile, inside the Conference Hall,
The atmosphere was far from harmonious—in fact, it felt ready to ignite at any moment, practically filled with smoke and gunpowder.
"Well well, Tsuchikage, looks like you've been working awfully hard!"
"A still holds a deep grudge against Iwagakure for killing his father," he said, taking the opportunity to strike first. "An old man with crippled legs still insists on making this long journey to attend the meeting? Even someone like me can't help but think it's ridiculous!"
"You're quite rude, young man!" Onoki, having seen countless confrontations in his lifetime, naturally wasn't easily provoked. He replied mockingly, "Though I suppose it's understandable—you've simply got no one left to teach you manners anymore!"
A slammed the table. "What did you just say?"
Onoki feigned surprise. "Not only does he lack basic etiquette, but he can't even understand simple words. Has the Raikage's upbringing truly fallen this low?"
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