Riding atop the Nine-Tails, Madara galloped across the vast forests of the Fire Country. After traveling day and night for a week, he calculated that three more days would bring him home. Then this precious gift, the Nine-Tails, would surely shock Hashirama.
"Grumble~"
His stomach's protest broke his pleasant daydream. Realizing he hadn't eaten since yesterday, Madara dug into his bag only to find his rations long gone.
"Looks like I'll need to restock."
With the fox secured, he no longer had concerns. He halted the sweating beast, scanning the horizon until he spotted faint lights ahead.
"Stay here. I'll buy food."
The Nine-Tails, too large to appear in public, obediently tucked its tails and crouched like a docile hound under Madara's command.
"Good behavior. I'll bring you a share."
Satisfied, Madara disguised himself in plain clothes and strode into the small town. Evening meals were underway, fragrant aromas wafting from every house, making him ravenous after months of dry rations.
He soon found a restaurant.
"Boss, bring me all your signature dishes."
In high spirits, Madara ordered boldly.
"All of them? How many guests?"
The boss, cautious, looked around and saw only Madara.
"Two. One's outside the town, I'll pack his later."
Thinking of the fox, Madara raised two fingers.
The boss eyed him up and down. The man's face was handsome, but his worn clothes screamed poverty.
"You're not local, eh?"
"Just passing through."
"Forgive me, traveler. We have a rule—payment upfront."
Clearly, the boss suspected a freeloader.
"Hmph, I've never heard of such a rule."
Annoyed but understanding, Madara reached into his pack. His hand stilled, face darkening. No money. He'd lived rough too long, never noticing his coin pouch was empty.
"…I might've forgotten my money. Make the food, my companion will pay later."
He recalled the Nine-Tails' pack, with items gifted by Gin. Surely some coins were tucked in there.
The boss sneered. "I've seen plenty like you. Get out!"
Madara's teeth ground together. The insult from a mere civilian! But his pride forbade striking back. He glared, ready to leave—
"Wait."
Madara turned, expecting maybe free generosity.
The boss licked his lips, eyes roving over Madara's face. "Handsome fella like you, care to drink with me? Eat whatever you want…"
Madara froze. Someone dared flirt with him.
"Crack!"
His foot nearly shattered the threshold. Even Hashirama had never treated him this way!
The boss shrieked, terrified, soiling himself.
"Disgusting."
Madara pinched his nose, appetite gone, and vanished.
"Forget it, I'll fetch money from the fox first."
But as he left, a hooded man stepped from the shadows. His aura wasn't ordinary.
"Don't misunderstand. I saw you had trouble. Do you need help?"
Glowing green eyes peered from beneath the hood.
"Who are you?"
Madara's tone was sharp.
"I'm different from that boss."
The man removed his hood, revealing an unremarkable middle-aged face, skin dark, eyes emerald. Madara sensed something oddly familiar in his presence.
"I'm a bounty hunter."
"Bounty hunter? I'm not wanted."
Madara narrowed his eyes. Was Tobirama shameless enough to put him on the black market?
"That's only one of my jobs. I'm also an honest moneylender."
"…A loan shark?"
Madara realized. A peddler of debt!
"I don't need it."
"You do."
The man pressed. He had seen the aura flare from Madara in the restaurant. Clearly, this was no ordinary man—likely a fallen elite or rogue ninja. Either way, worth investing in.
"If you can pledge collateral, only 300% interest! A rare deal!"
Madara's irritation spiked.
"No collateral? Fine, sign a contract—interest rises to 500%."
The man leaned closer, voice like a viper.
"Get lost."
Madara's Sharingan flared scarlet. A simple genjutsu lashed out, and the man froze, eyes dimming.
Within his mindscape—
"Idiot!"
The voice of Chōmei, the Seven-Tails, raged. "Do you know who you just provoked?! That was Uchiha! I once fought him—nearly died!"
"Great beast… who is he, that even you fear?"
Kakuzu asked with genuine curiosity.
"Five-five split," Chōmei lied flatly. (In truth: Madara cut him into five pieces in five minutes.)
"…Uchiha, from Konoha…"
Kakuzu's face twitched. Memories of near-death at the hands of the Wood Dragon returned.
"Forget it. Can't afford that one."
Breaking free of the illusion, Kakuzu watched Madara vanish. A pity—such a lucrative target. Still, he brightened.
"At least this town hides another bounty target. I'll recover my losses."
Indeed, he had come here not by chance, but chasing whispers of a well-priced fugitive. Madara was just incidental.
Meanwhile, Madara noticed the townsfolk thinning out. Those remaining hurried nervously. Curious, he stopped a passerby.
"Why's everyone leaving?"
The man flinched, then whispered, "Stranger, you'd best leave too. At month's end… the ghost comes."
"Ghost?"
"When night falls, it takes anyone left outside."
With that, the man fled.
Madara smirked, intrigued. A so-called ghost? He'd see for himself.
An old man soon urged him inside as well. Reluctantly, Madara followed to avoid fuss. The elder poured him tea, voice trembling.
"I once was the mayor. This town thrived until five years ago. Then the ghost appeared."
"Have you seen it?"
"Only shadows. Those who saw its face… left only remains. Mixed with filth. Eaten alive."
Madara's eyes narrowed. Beasts he understood. But a man, eating men? In peacetime? Disturbing.
"You sought ninja aid?"
"We did. Early on, wandering shinobi came. They never returned."
"…Were they from Konoha?"
"No. That was before the village formed."
"And after?"
"Yes. We issued a B-rank. Konoha ninja arrived today. They are investigating."
Madara's stomach sank. He wasn't ready to meet his old 'comrades.'
"…Who came?"
"I remember… a monkey-faced middle-aged man. With a few children."
Elsewhere.
In a prepared lodging, Sarutobi Sasuke sat sternly while six eager youths knelt before him—the so-called disciples of Gin.
"Hiruzen, did you gather intel?"
He asked his son seriously.
Assigned by Tobirama, Sasuke was forced to take these children on a safe task.
"Captain Sarutobi!" little Hiruzen replied, face taut. "We heard the restaurant boss loves eating people—especially young men! Definitely important intel!"
Sasuke's fist clenched. His blood pressure soared.
"…Fine. What else?"
The others shook their heads.
"Perhaps the Academy is needed. These brats lack basic training." Sasuke thought grimly.
Then Uchiha Kagami raised his hand timidly.
"I heard… before us, another ninja took this mission. He disappeared. His name was Hoshin."
(End of Chapter)
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