"Madara-sama... disciple?"
Obito repeated the name Naruto had casually thrown out, his expression darkening behind the mask. A sense of unease began to stir in his chest.
"In the entire shinobi world, the only one capable of training someone at that level… and who could be respectfully addressed as 'Lord Madara'—has always been one man."
Beneath the mask, Obito's eyes narrowed, his tone low and grave:
"The Shura of the Shinobi World—Uchiha Madara."
He murmured again:
"That terrifying strength… has gotten even stronger."
"That must be a Mangekyō Sharingan dojutsu. At this level… probably the Eternal Mangekyō by now."
Obito had no doubt.
It had to be a taijutsu-type dojutsu—focused on raw power. He had seen something similar once before, but that version had prioritized agility.
The Mangekyō Sharingan's abilities came in all shapes and forms:
Genjutsu types like Tsukuyomi and Kotoamatsukami
Space-time abilities like Kamui
Even offensive types like Amaterasu, the black flames that burned everything...
So, a taijutsu-type wasn't too far-fetched.
Unfortunately for Obito, he had no concept of "ki," or of the Saiyans—or of a mysterious world where gathering seven glowing orbs could summon a dragon and grant any wish.
A world full of endless adventures and enemies that thrilled the heart.
"So that's why you took Uchiha away…" Obito spoke to no one in particular, muttering aloud as pieces of the puzzle clicked together.
"It was all to evolve the Sharingan."
"If I hadn't impulsively helped Itachi annihilate the Uchiha clan… I suppose you would never have shown up."
"No wonder even Zetsu couldn't trace your movements…"
"Because you were in on it—all of you."
Was everyone playing me this whole time?
Obito thought of "Tobi"—the goofy, fart-obsessed idiot mask persona he often used.
He added bitterly:
"…Well, maybe partially in on it."
There's no way that moron fooled me completely... right?
"You even took the Two-Tails' jinchūriki…"
"Was it because you sensed something unusual from me?"
Obito's furrowed brows slowly relaxed as he started to connect the dots.
"Besides the curse mark over my heart and the embodiment of your will… you left behind another piece."
"If not for today—this strange coincidence—I would have gone my whole life never realizing."
He should have seen it long ago.
A man like Madara Uchiha—the so-called Shura of the Shinobi World—someone who had remained hidden in the shadows for decades... how could he possibly pin all his hopes on someone like him, a once-mediocre orphan of the Uchiha clan?
Even if he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Even if he had Hashirama's cells.
Zetsu, that so-called assistant, was never just support. He was surveillance.
This Kashin Koji—he was probably like what Obito himself had once been to Nagato.
Layer after layer, plan after plan.
If he hadn't orchestrated the Uchiha clan's downfall…
If he hadn't randomly passed through the Hidden Cloud Village today…
He would have never known.
And who knew how many more of Madara's contingencies were hidden behind Kashin Koji?
"You never disappoint… Uchiha Madara."
Obito gazed into the sky, his face more serious than ever before.
---
'I wonder how far the "Obito" in the readers' heads will go with this theorizing,'
'I'm actually kind of excited,' Naruto thought to himself, still carrying Yugito Nii.
---
The shinobi world wasn't just the Five Great Nations.
To the far north and far east, there were vast lands untouched by civilization—harsh, uninhabitable territories where ordinary humans couldn't survive.
But for Tailed Beasts, such conditions were hardly a problem.
Still, most preferred to be near humans, either because of the Sage of Six Paths' dying wishes… or simply because they were playful by nature.
To humans, even the weakest of Tailed Beasts was immensely dangerous.
Flying north from the Land of Lightning, Naruto soon arrived at a barren, isolated island—untouched by man. Colossal insects and animals roamed here, all many times larger than their mainland counterparts.
Mosquitoes the size of fists, centipedes stretching several meters long… creatures that would terrify any ordinary person.
But to a Tailed Beast? Just snacks.
Naruto casually dropped Yugito's body to the ground and began inspecting her seal.
Compared to the flawed Tailed Beast seals used in the Hidden Sand, the Hidden Cloud's sealing methods were clearly superior.
Still, they couldn't match the intricate Eight Trigrams Seal of Konoha.
Naruto began breaking down Yugito's seal, releasing Matatabi, the Two-Tails.
As the beast emerged into the world once more, Yugito's life came to an end.
When a jinchūriki loses their Tailed Beast, death is all but certain—unless they possess exceptional vitality.
"Ah… the taste of freedom!" Matatabi exclaimed joyfully.
She was elated. How many years had it been since she'd last breathed fresh air?
Since her capture, she had been imprisoned in cold, damp, and cramped sealing spaces.
Who wouldn't want out?
Not everyone had Naruto's ability to remodel the seal space into something more… livable.
"Matatabi, I kept my word. I've given you freedom," Naruto said as he watched her prance around like a giddy husky.
"But I need you to form a summoning contract with me. If I ever need help, I'll summon you.
And if you are ever in danger, you can reverse-summon me. With my abilities, I can handle almost anything you might face."
"Deal."
To Matatabi, this was nothing. A summoning contract didn't take away her freedom—and it meant having a ridiculously powerful ally on her side.
Just thinking of Naruto's overwhelming strength, she agreed without hesitation.
As Matatabi vanished, Naruto patted his stomach and said sincerely:
"Kurama, if you want to be free one day… I'll release you too."
…
One second.
Ten seconds.
Half a minute.
No reply.
Normally, Kurama would have roared by now. Why so quiet?
Was he… moved to tears?
Heh. I better get ready to roast him if he is.
Smirking to himself, Naruto entered his seal space.
—Only to find something was… different.
The space had changed. There was a strange, nostalgic feeling in the air.
"You little brat with a tail—stop running! I'M GONNA EAT YOU!!"
Kurama's furious roar echoed throughout the seal space.
Naruto: ?!!!
A strange excitement welled up inside him.
Could it be… Could it really be… Sensei?!
Wait… did he say "brat"... with a tail?
Naruto's expression changed. He immediately bolted toward the seal gate.
What he saw left him stunned.
Standing in front of him was a young boy—wearing an orange and yellow Taoist-style robe, carrying a red staff on his back, and a bit shorter than Naruto.
Most notably, the kid had a long, wagging tail sticking out from his backside.
And most shockingly—he was sitting on top of Kurama's head, who was currently face-down on the floor.
Kurama had clearly been beaten into that position.
"Wow! Such a huge fox! I'll be eating for days!"
The boy gleefully raised his right hand again, preparing another strike.
"HEY!!!" Naruto shouted in panic,
"LEAVE THE FOX ALONE!!"
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