The direct rejection from Uchiha Yato left Uchiha Madara momentarily stunned, cutting short his impassioned speech.
Uchiha Yato then added, "Before discussing these topics, shouldn't we clear out the outsiders?"
As he said this, Uchiha Yato deliberately glanced at White Zetsu, Black Zetsu, and the restrained Danzo.
After all, the following conversation couldn't be known by these individuals. As always, Uchiha Yato was an extremely cautious person.
Understanding his meaning, Uchiha Madara easily dismissed everyone.
Once White Zetsu, Black Zetsu, and Shimura Danzo were all sent away, Uchiha Madara looked at Uchiha Yato again, feeling slightly uneasy.
Indeed, Uchiha Yato's Summoning Beast was still present.
Uchiha Madara asked in surprise, "Aren't you going to dismiss your Summoning Beast as well?"
Uchiha Yato replied, "He doesn't count as an outsider."
Tom Cat nodded very human-like from the side, with a hint of provocation in the gesture.
This caused Uchiha Madara's agitation to grow slightly—proof that Uchiha Yato's double standards were notorious.
Unwilling to give up, Uchiha Madara pressed further, "Why do you refuse?"
"You came here with your own intentions. I want to know the reason."
Uchiha Yato didn't bother mincing words and stated plainly,
"Dreams are illusions. The peace gained this way is like a dream—easily shattered by a single knock."
"Rather than that, it's better to maintain the status quo."
"Though the shinobi world remains flawed, there will always be those who mend and repair it."
Uchiha Yato's words seemed to say nothing, yet they said everything.
This left Uchiha Madara momentarily unable to grasp his true meaning.
Uchiha Madara said, "During the Warring States period, people killed every other day."
"You should be glad you weren't born in that era. Otherwise, your hands would be just as bloodstained as mine."
"That's why I want to end this tragic era. I've had enough of such slaughter."
As he spoke, it sounded like a lament for the past, or perhaps an elder's lecture to a younger generation.
Uchiha Yato chuckled and said, "Please don't force your emo literature onto me."
Uchiha Madara didn't understand the term "emo."
Uchiha Yato kindly explained it to him, instantly making Madara's expression even more colorful.
Ignoring Uchiha Madara's current expression, Uchiha Yato continued,
"You talk about leaving a future for the children, but why don't you believe the children can achieve what you couldn't?""You should be able to see what I've done within the Uchiha Clan."
"Why should I impose my thoughts on them? Isn't it better to let them choose and think for themselves?"
Hearing Uchiha Yato's words, Uchiha Madara retorted.
"They'll make mistakes, they'll learn bad habits—are you just going to ignore all that?"
Uchiha Yato replied, "That's why there's something called punishment."
"Only after falling and feeling the pain will they remember the lesson."
"If they don't remember, it means the pain wasn't enough."
Truth be told, Yato's argument was somewhat sophistical, but it did leave Madara momentarily stunned.
Yato then rubbed salt in the wound.
"I don't know what will happen if your plan succeeds, but as things stand now, the Uchiha Clan is only getting better."
"That's enough. If the clan can't be managed well, what hope is there for an entire village?"
Madara, unwilling to concede, said, "My method is permanent and efficient."
"Your method has too many variables and unknowns. I can't accept it."
Yato replied, "Then let's skip this topic. I didn't come to visit you, old man, to argue about useless things."
"Mainly, I'm here to deliver some gifts and give you a heads-up."
The phrasing piqued Madara's interest.
There was a hint of threat in it, which made Madara curious about Yato's true purpose.
Yato continued, "Looking after an empty-nest elder—I hope Lord Madara can spare the Uchiha Clan."
The words were cryptic, and Madara didn't immediately grasp their meaning.
Yato added, "These are some products from the Uchiha Clan now. They'll be good for your retirement."
As he spoke, Yato had Tom Cat pull out a heap of items from his storage space.
Some were system-produced, like Quick-Acting Heart-Saving Pills and senior formula milk.
Others were from the Uchiha Clan's current ventures, such as canned goods and tea products.
Yato meticulously arranged and categorized the items while explaining them to Madara.
Then, Yato said, "Consider these a token of filial respect from a junior to you, old man."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Yato activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, fixing his gaze on Madara. Still basking in the rare gesture of respect from a younger clansman, Madara barely noticed before he was ensnared.
After just a brief daze, Madara snapped out of it and demanded, "Did you plant a psychological suggestion or cast a genjutsu on me?"
As a veteran of the Warring States era, he was no stranger to such underhanded tactics.
But after checking himself thoroughly, Madara found nothing amiss.
Yato explained, "Afraid you might not live long, so I extended your lifespan a bit."
Indeed, Yato had used his ability to slow Madara's aging.
Currently, Madara could still move freely, but he needed periodic infusions of life force from the Gedo Statue.
After any strenuous activity, he would enter a prolonged dormant state.
Yato had essentially reduced the passage of time for him, lowering his cellular activity slightly without affecting his daily life.This made Uchiha Madara even more eager to obtain Uchiha Yato's Mangekyo, but he also knew it would be extremely difficult.
Uchiha Yato said, "I wish to know how Lord Madara evolved his Mangekyo, and I also thank you for holding back and not using your Mangekyo Sharingan against me so far."
Yato's words were entirely meant to give Madara an honorable way out.
He himself was already exploring the path to the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, and with the system shop allowing him to obtain Mangekyo Sharingan, it was relatively easy for him.
Madara definitely wouldn't use his Mangekyo or Rinnegan against him.
After all, those eyes weren't even in his possession right now. These words were purely meant to make Madara happy.
Yato still had some filial piety in him, after all.
Uzumaki Mito: "Doesn't your conscience hurt saying that?"
Madara didn't dwell on it too much.
He explained the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan to Yato.
With a hint of lament, he added, "Without siblings, it's very difficult to obtain the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. At least, my method wouldn't work for you."
Yato obviously knew this, but he was genuinely happy that Madara was being honest with him.
This showed that Madara still trusted him to some degree.
Trust was the foundation of everything. No matter what, he needed to free this old man from Black Zetsu's deception.
So it was necessary to start building this foundation of trust now.
At this point, Yato brought up another topic.
"Therefore, I ask you to spare the Uchiha Clan."
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