Three days passed quickly. During that time, many of the clan's elders came to plead with Madara, but he turned them all away. Even Izuna, his closest kin, was denied entry.
Frustrated and restless, Izuna decided to seek out the only person he could still confide in.
At the village snack shop—
"Big cousin, why aren't you worried at all? You said you'd persuade big brother not to leave, but here you are, eating shaved ice without a care!" Izuna pressed anxiously.
Gin ignored him, focused on devouring his mountain of shaved ice with full toppings.
"Sugar forever~"
He licked the bowl clean, sighed in satisfaction, wiped the syrup from his mouth, and finally glanced at Izuna.
"Instead of fretting, maybe you should think about when you'll take over as clan head."
"Hah? This isn't the time to talk about that—"
"Oh? So you do have thoughts of usurping the seat. Noted." Gin smirked, pulling out a notebook.
"Year Two of Konoha, month X, day X: little cousin plots treason."
"Big cousin!" Izuna fumed. "Enough joking! Big brother's shut himself in the shrine for three days already!"
Three days already? Gin's brow lifted. Tobirama's three-day deadline had expired. Tonight, Madara would likely leave.
"Relax, Izuna. Maybe he just needs a little fresh air. He'll be back after clearing his head."
"I know him! If he's leaving, it's because of something he's hiding. It's that damn white-hair's fault—he drove big brother away!" Izuna snarled, fists clenched.
Gin blinked. …He actually guessed right.
"I'm going to stop him!" Izuna declared, running off.
Gin sighed deeply. "So hard being me."
From behind the counter, apron-wearing Uchiha Chiri carried over Gin's empty bowl.
"Sir Gin, is it true the clan head's leaving? He's so close to becoming Hokage."
"Yeah. But he'll be back," Gin answered lazily.
"If he's gone too long… can he still be Hokage?" she asked cautiously, brow furrowed.
"Of course. Look, some people spend years gambling, cheating, scamming—and still come back to rule."
"…Hah?"
…
Midnight.
Kneeling before the stone tablet, Madara opened his eyes. The three days had flown by. The voices of his clansmen hadn't shaken his resolve.
"It's time."
He packed his fan and armor into a scroll, slung a small bag over his shoulder, and headed for the door.
He hadn't expected Izuna to be kneeling outside, still waiting.
The door creaked open. Izuna jerked awake, saw the bag on Madara's back, and cried out: "Brother! Don't—"
Madara's eyes twisted into the pattern of his Mangekyō. Izuna's own Mangekyō snapped open instinctively.
"Forgive me, Izuna."
Regular Mangekyō could never match Eternal. With a mere push of his eyes, Madara forced Izuna into sleep. He caught his brother's limp form, sighed softly, then vanished into the night.
…
On Konoha's empty streets, his heart was heavy. But ahead, two familiar figures stood waiting. The Senju brothers.
"Madara, have you decided?" Hashirama asked quietly, sadness in his eyes.
Madara rolled his eyes. I've got a pack on my back and you're still asking? Blind already?
"Hashirama, next time we meet, you'll see a different me," Madara declared proudly.
"Don't forget—you're still a Konoha ninja," Tobirama reminded coldly.
"I brought this." Madara produced a fresh Konoha forehead protector.
"Good. When it's time to flex, don't hold back. Show them Konoha's strength," Tobirama said, satisfied for once.
"And remember to send reports. Intelligence is vital."
"I'll use the ninja cats. They'll pass messages to big cousin," Madara replied.
"Madara, take care. Don't get carried away. Come back soon," Hashirama urged, heart heavy.
"I'll be Hokage. I'll return as a king," Madara said firmly.
"Then you'll need a codename. This is a secret mission—you can't use your real name," Tobirama reminded.
"Shura of the Ninja World," Madara offered.
"Too villainous," Hashirama rejected instantly.
"Then you pick one."
"…How about Dark of the Ninja World?" Hashirama suggested. "I'm the God of Shinobi, you're the Dark. Perfect match!"
"…Fine."
Madara waved a hand, turned, and walked into the night. At the gates of Konoha, he looked back at the village they had built together.
"I'll be back."
He turned—and nearly jumped out of his skin.
A shadow emerged under the moonlight. Messy curls, dead-fish eyes—Gin.
"You're really sneaking out tonight, huh? You knocked Izuna out cold and didn't even cover him with a blanket. What if he catches a cold?"
Madara's heart warmed. "Big cousin… don't try to stop me. My mind is set."
"I'm not here to stop you. Just to send you off," Gin said. He handed over a storage scroll. "Travel's expensive. Don't skimp. Eat well, drink well. Enjoy yourself."
"…Thank you." Madara accepted it after some protest, tucking it carefully at the bottom of his bag.
"Oh, and if you run into anyone from Iwa, teach them a lesson. That old man Ishiwa ran his mouth about me at the Five Kage Summit," Gin added with a scowl.
"I'll remember," Madara promised.
Gin looked at the moon and gave his final farewell.
"May fortune favor you in battle."
…
Days later, news spread: Madara had left.
The village was shocked. An Uchiha clan head, Hokage's aide, Hokage's heir—gone.
But Hashirama did not declare him a missing-nin. Nor did he explain. He let the matter fade. Rumors swirled of shady deals within Konoha's leadership.
At Sarutobi's house, the minor clans gathered.
"Uchiha Madara's gone. Will Konoha change?" Shimura Kenichi asked grimly.
"Has the Uchiha clan stirred?" Sarutobi Sasuke pressed.
"If not for Izuna keeping order, they'd have stormed the Hokage office," Yamanaka Minako warned.
"Keep our clans quiet. Don't make trouble now," Sasuke ordered.
"Yes."
…
At Gin's house—
Since Madara's departure, the Uchiha had grown quieter, more restrained. Even the slackers worked harder. The air was heavier.
"Don't be sad. Maybe your brother's just sulking," Banma said softly, handing Gin tea.
"…Do I look sad?" Gin asked.
"You couldn't even drink your favorite strawberry milk. What else would it be?"
Gin sighed, pulled out a chilled 1-liter red drink from his robes, and chugged it. "Hey, man!"
Banma's brow twitched. "Tch! Wasted my worry!" She stormed off.
"Haaah, can't a man nap in peace?" Yuko descended from upstairs in a thin robe, sipping Banma's tea before frowning. "Too sweet."
She leaned against Gin's shoulder and asked flatly, "Want me to kill the Senju brothers?"
Gin nearly spat his drink everywhere. "No! Let's just live quietly, alright?"
"…Fine. But tonight—"
"As long as you don't cause chaos, I'll agree."
…
Over time, the storm of Madara's departure calmed. It became just another old story.
Under Izuna's leadership, the clan remained steady, though more subdued.
…
Year Four of Konoha. Two years since Madara's departure.
The Uchiha compound bustled for once. Red lanterns hung from the eaves, and rare smiles lit their stern faces.
Izuna paced in a black kimono, nervous. "Big cousin's still not here?"
The doors banged open.
"Little cousin! I'm here!"
Gin entered, sharp in formal wear, lugging two huge chests that clattered with coins.
"No fancy gifts. Just cash for the new house."
"Finally!" Izuna sighed in relief. He straightened his outfit.
"Bah, too plain. Should've gone with the groom's suit I picked," Gin complained.
"Meh. Mihoko wanted me in white."
At her name, Izuna's eyes softened with rare tenderness.
Gin snorted. "You old fossil, how'd you trick a young girl into marrying you?"
Izuna smirked. "Thanks to you, cousin."
"Hah?"
"If not for buying lemons for you, I'd never have met her."
"…Tch. Fine, let's get going." Gin waved.
"…Any word from big brother?" Izuna asked quietly.
"Not lately. Last letter was a month ago. He was in Iwa, planning to knock some sense into them."
Izuna's shoulders slumped for a moment. Then he smiled again. "Let's go."
At the wedding, major clans and alliances gathered: the Sarutobi, Hyūga, Inuzuka, Aburame, Kurama—all offering congratulations.
Even Hashirama and Tobirama came, carrying fat envelopes.
"Hashirama, Madara's brother is marrying. That means you lost again," Gin teased.
"Tch! I'd never marry a girl half my age!" Tobirama grumbled, though his eyes betrayed envy.
When the groom appeared, Gin waved at the Uchiha clansmen. "What's with the long faces? It's a wedding—smile!"
Music and celebration resumed.
"Shame Madara isn't here," Hashirama sighed.
"Yeah… life's strange," Gin muttered. "Big sausage in small casing."
(End of Chapter)
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