"Ah, brother, I'm so jealous of you. Sir, can you take me as your disciple too?"
Hearing Kaede's words, Izuna's heart was filled with envy.
He too wanted to grow stronger, to protect the entire clan. After all, several of his younger brothers had been killed by members of the Senju Clan because they lacked strength.
If he could become stronger, he wouldn't be a burden to his elder brother. On the battlefield, Uchiha would surely secure great victories, and perhaps he could help fulfill his brother's dream as well.
But Kaede shook his head. He had taken Madara as his disciple mostly for fun, not out of any deeper intention. Moreover, Madara was destined to be the Shura of the Ninja World, someone who could trade blows equally with Hashirama on the battlefield.
Izuna, although he would one day awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, ultimately still lost to Hashirama.
One disciple was enough.
"I understand, brother…"
Izuna lowered his head, a hint of disappointment in his heart. But he also knew that strong people had their own tempers and ways. For someone as powerful as Kaede to take his brother as a disciple was already more than enough—he had no right to ask for more.
Still, he would not stop training in private. He would become stronger, no matter what.
After respectfully bowing to Kaede, Izuna left the room. Madara also bowed before leaving.
By evening, the welcome banquet for Kaede began as planned. Izuna had long since ordered a lavish feast to be prepared. The clan members sang and danced, their joy unrestrained.
During Kaede's time, the Uchiha Clan in the Warring States era might have been constantly at war, but their prosperity far exceeded that of their future in Konoha. Perhaps it was also due to Kaede's arrival—only the strong could lead the clan to greater strength, and the Uchiha had always revered the strong.
"Sir, I offer you a toast!"
Uchiha Shizuru, one of the five in the clan who possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, approached Kaede with a shy smile. She was both strong and of high status, belonging to a branch close to the clan leader's bloodline.
Kaede raised his cup and clinked it lightly against hers. Shizuru drank with a smile, her gaze carrying a faint trace of flirtation. Kaede only smiled back, uninterested in pursuing anything further—he would not be staying here for long, so there was no point entangling himself with the women of this era.
Other clan members followed suit, each stepping forward to toast him. Kaede accepted every cup, which lessened some of the fear they felt toward him.
"Sir, since you took Madara as your disciple, could you also take a look at my son? His talent is no less than Madara's…" one man asked cautiously.
Kaede turned to him with a half-smile that seemed to pierce right through his thoughts.
"That's enough. Sir is not the Uchiha Clan's instructor. I'll arrange someone else to teach your son in the future," Tajima quickly intervened, sensing Kaede's impatience.
The hall grew quieter, save for the crackle of the firewood. The night sky outside was serene. After a while, Kaede set down his cup, his fingers tapping lightly against the table before he addressed the crowd.
"I understand what you're thinking. Being a teacher is a tiring job. I've taken Madara as my disciple, but I won't take on anyone else. However, you can learn from Madara."
Though this was the Warring States era, the Uchiha were still his people. If he could make Madara even stronger than in the original history—strong enough to suppress Hashirama—that alone would be worth it. Still, the clan needed more than one powerhouse to fully overpower the Senju.
Even if Madara and Hashirama founded a village as they once agreed, this time the defeated side would be the Senju. If the Uchiha still ended up in the same position as in the future, that would mean they had been utterly foolish.
"Yes, I will share everything my teacher teaches me," Madara promised, standing to address the clan.
The words eased many hearts. Laughter and congratulations soon filled the hall again, the conversation shifting to gossip rather than war.
When the banquet ended, Kaede returned to rest while others stayed behind to clean up.
The next morning, Madara was still drowsy when he spotted Kaede standing in his room.
"Ah—!" he exclaimed, instantly waking up.
"Get ready and come with me. We're going to the Nanga River," Kaede said, turning to leave.
Madara hurried to wash up before following. The Nanga River wasn't far from the clan's current settlement, and they often encountered Senju shinobi there. Sometimes the two sides would clash fiercely, and other times they would simply keep watch over each other.
It was a place of constant contention—a true strategic location.
"Teacher, why are we here…?" Madara asked as they arrived. The river flowed clear and bright. This was where Madara had once met Hashirama, where the two had talked as close friends—though everyone knew how that story ended.
(End of Chapter)
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