Against those people earlier, Madara might have been able to hold out for a few rounds using strategy.
But facing the man before him now, he had no—no will at all—to resist.
He knew that no matter how he attacked, the outcome would be the same: death.
At the same time, he couldn't help but wonder… why did this man know his name?
"To be able to contend with those enemies at your age is commendable. Only someone of the Uchiha could manage such a feat," Kaede said.
He almost forgot that he himself was only in his teens.
Yet his strength now was beyond compare—no one could stand on equal ground with him.
"What do you want?" Madara asked warily.
He still felt an inexplicable sense of kinship toward the man before him, and this contradiction between wariness and familiarity made him uncomfortable.
But Kaede didn't answer.
Instead, he released a surge of overwhelming pressure.
Feeling the crushing weight, as if a mountain bore down upon him, Madara's face went pale in an instant.
He desperately wanted to run, but his body refused to move.
He couldn't even twitch a finger.
Only now did Madara truly understand how terrifying this man was.
He had known the man was strong… but he had still underestimated him.
Yet within that oppressive force, he sensed a familiar burning aura—something only the Uchiha could possess.
Even though he had never seen this man in the clan before, he knew now without doubt: this was a fellow Uchiha.
A Uchiha with such strength could only be a blessing to the clan.
Perhaps the reason he had never seen him before was because he had left long ago.
Kaede soon withdrew his power.
Madara, finally freed, nearly collapsed where he stood.
Despite his pallor, his eyes glimmered with excitement.
A thought took root in his heart, growing like a towering tree—irreversible, unstoppable.
"Sir, I know you are of the Uchiha… will you take me as your disciple?" Madara pleaded, dropping to his knees.
Ever since the earlier battle, Madara had realized his own strength was still lacking.
If he were stronger, he could have made different choices… but he had not forgotten his dream:
to build a village where everyone he wished to protect could live in peace, grow in safety, and thrive.
To do that, he first had to become far stronger—strong enough to shield his people from any storm.
"Oh? You want me to be your master?" Kaede asked.
His original plan had been to gain Madara's cooperation, then question him about recent events before finding a place to lay low, waiting for Ōtsutsuki Isshiki to appear.
He hadn't expected Madara, upon learning he was Uchiha, to immediately ask to become his student.
"That's right! I want you to be my master. Your strength surpasses anyone in the clan… no, anyone in the world. If I want to become a true powerhouse, the only path is to learn from you!" Madara said earnestly.
Kaede had not planned to take Madara as a disciple; it would leave too deep a mark in history.
He was here for one reason—to find Isshiki and kill him, then return to his own world, where enemies still awaited him.
Even the Sage of Six Paths would inevitably clash with him someday.
But hearing Madara's words, Kaede smiled.
He had changed his mind.
If he was truly in the past, he could reshape it—perhaps even alter the future.
And he was curious: under his guidance, how strong could Madara become? Strong enough to defeat Hashirama?
If the Senju were destroyed by the Uchiha… what would the future of the Five Great Nations look like then?
"Very well. Since you are so sincere, I'll take you as my disciple."
Kaede nodded and removed his black hat.
Madara froze—beneath it was a young face, barely older than his own.
For a fleeting moment, he felt the man was not so unreachable.
But that thought quickly faded.
No matter the small gap in their ages, Kaede's talent and Sharingan were on a completely different level.
"Yes, master! Thank you, master! From now on, I will train diligently at your side. Please come back to the clan with me—everyone will be overjoyed at your return," Madara said, elated.
The Uchiha were in the midst of fierce war with other clans.
With such a powerful force joining their side, they could greatly reduce their casualties—and perhaps even crush the Senju entirely.
"Mm. But as my disciple, I will be strict. If you fail to meet my standards, you will lose the right to call yourself my student."
Kaede didn't refuse his request outright.
Whether he stayed in a town or went to the Uchiha settlement made no difference to him.
Turning to lead the way, Kaede stepped forward.
Truth be told, his steps felt strangely light—he was, in a way, looking forward to this.
(End of Chapter)
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