Everyone inside the group appeared as soul forms.
At this moment, Uchiha Madara stood there in the state he had been in when he died of old age—long white hair cascading down his back, his body frail and thin.
Yet there was no mistaking it.
The pressure radiating from his Mangekyō Sharingan proved that he had once been the unrivaled strongest of the Uchiha.
Still—
"Ancestor," Fugaku pressed, "was the Nine-Tails attack truly your doing?"
"The culprit wore a mask and called himself Uchiha Madara."
"After that incident, the Third Hokage distrusted us. The clan was relocated to the outskirts."
"We were effectively separated from the village."
"Rebellion was considered—but stopped."
"Now we exist in a strange, fractured coexistence."
"Was all of this your design?"
"Did you resent the clan for not following you… and seek revenge?"
One question followed another.
Madara could trace the origin of each.
The Nine-Tails incident had been Obito's doing.
Madara had entrusted him with the Eye of the Moon Plan—collecting all the Tailed Beasts.
Konoha housed the Nine-Tails.
Naturally, it had to be captured.
What Madara hadn't expected was that Obito would start with the most difficult one.
To Madara, the Nine-Tails was merely a beast.
But Obito had caused chaos in the process—and had even acted under the name "Uchiha Madara."
That part, Madara had never known.
So Obito had concealed it from him.
As for resentment toward the clan—
After founding Konoha with Hashirama, Madara had grown disillusioned. He had wanted to take the Uchiha and leave.
But the clan refused.
And Fugaku thought that meant he held a grudge?
Hmph.
Who did they think he was?
He was Uchiha Madara—once Hashirama's equal.
He was not so small-minded.
He had believed coexistence with Konoha was impossible, so he chose to leave alone.
He did not resent the clan.
After decades—centuries—of war with the Senju, it was only natural that the Uchiha would grow attached to peace.
He understood that.
A man destined for great undertakings did not obsess over trivial matters.
One needed vision.
[Uchiha Madara]: And you—what is your position now?
[Uchiha Fugaku]: Seventeenth Uchiha Clan Head since the founding of Konoha.
[Uchiha Madara]: What year is it?
[Uchiha Fugaku]: Year 61 of Konoha.
[Uchiha Madara]: …
So.
He had been dead for twelve years.
He had died around the time of the Nine-Tails attack.
Obito had failed to capture it.
But Madara's lifespan had already run out.
He had entrusted everything to Obito.
One key step was his resurrection—using the Rinnegan he had awakened from his Mangekyō and implanted in Nagato to cast Rinne Rebirth.
Obito had claimed Nagato wasn't ready yet.
Wait a few more years.
But now—
Twelve years had passed.
And Obito still hadn't begun?
Madara felt faint irritation.
At that moment, the system displayed a new message.
[Congratulations to Uchiha Madara for obtaining the title: Elder Madara.]
[Elder Madara]: …
Very well.
He was old.
[You may now specially invite one blood relative. Inviting Uchiha Izuna.]
Izuna?
Elder Madara blinked.
Then it struck him.
His younger brother.
It had been so long since he had heard the name that it took a moment to register.
As the eldest brother, seeing Izuna's name stirred something deep within him.
Like Hashirama, Madara had loved his brother dearly.
Among the Uchiha, fraternal bonds ran deep.
[Welcome Uchiha Izuna to the group. @Uchiha Izuna, your strength does not meet the entry requirement, but due to Uchiha Madara's status, you have been specially invited. Yes, your big brother is here. Greet him.]
[Uchiha Izuna]: ?
[Uchiha Izuna]: Big brother… am I mistaken?
[Uchiha Izuna]: I'm seeing you again?
[Elder Madara]: Yes.
After death, Madara's soul had entered the Pure Land.
In that realm, one could seek out departed loved ones.
But Madara had harbored ambition.
He had not moved on.
Thus, he had never gone to see Izuna.
Wait—
He suddenly remembered another reason why.
The next message arrived.
[Uchiha Izuna]: Big brother, you look that old… so you must have lived a long life.
[Uchiha Izuna]: Tell me—did you cut down Senju Tobirama for me?
[Uchiha Izuna]: That damned Senju Tobirama killed me right after I awakened the Mangekyō!
[Uchiha Izuna]: Big brother, how many times did you slash him?
[Elder Madara]: …
…?
Madara realized it instantly.
One reason he had not gone to see Izuna—
He had failed to avenge him.
He had failed to protect him.
And afterward…
He reconciled with the Senju brothers.
He co-founded Konoha.
Tobirama had lived on.
Which meant—
Izuna's death… had amounted to nothing.
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