"The Ninja Academy… it's changed a lot."
Uchiha Madara stood at the entrance, quietly observing everything around him.
It was much larger than when he left Konoha.
"…There are statues here too?"
His gaze landed on them—
Senju Hashirama.
Uchiha Madara.
Side by side.
Madara's lips curved upward.
"…Uchiha Ren."
"…I like you more and more."
To restore the Uchiha's standing—
To undo the subtle suppression during Tobirama's rule—
Ren had gone to great lengths.
A movie.
Public narratives.
Statues across Konoha.
Gradually reshaping perception.
Even—
History itself.
Given time—
Madara might just become a "traveler of the world."
And the Valley of the End?
…Just a friendly spar.
Madara looked at his own statue—
Then at Hashirama's.
Memories surfaced.
"…That time…"
"…I made a little girl cry."
Damn it.
Why could Hashirama fix it with a flower?!
—
Ring—!
The school bell echoed.
Moments later—
Students poured out.
Laughing.
Running.
Noisy.
Alive.
Madara smiled faintly.
"…This is Konoha's future."
He observed them closely.
More than half—
Were civilian children.
"…Universal education…"
Back in his time—
The academy was small.
Mostly Uchiha and Senju.
Then—
More clans joined.
And later—
War.
More civilians.
Now—
Under Ren—
Education had exploded.
Massively funded.
"…Impressive."
Thousands of voices filled the air.
Madara didn't linger.
He had someone to find.
Ito Sosuke.
He wouldn't break a promise—
Especially not to a child.
His eyes scanned the crowd—
Locked on.
A step forward—
Grabbed his arm.
"I came to return your book."
"Ah! You scared me!"
"You're a ninja."
"You should stay alert."
"On the battlefield, that would get you—"
"Grandpa… I'm not a combat-type ninja."
"I'm 'functionally versatile.'"
Madara paused.
"…Right."
"Still—stay alert."
"I will."
"…Have you eaten?"
"No."
"…Come with me."
—
Soon—
They stood in the student cafeteria.
"You all eat here?"
"Yes!"
"Hokage-sama built it."
"We get free meals with tickets."
"It's better than what my mom cooks."
"…I saved some tickets."
"I'll treat you."
"…You look like a refugee too."
Madara didn't respond.
Just watched.
Students.
Food.
Meat.
…Meat.
That alone—
Spoke volumes.
Ren…
Had done well.
Education.
Food.
Support.
In this world—
That was revolutionary.
—
They sat.
Sosuke devoured his meal.
Madara ate more slowly—
But not much better.
Ten years in a cave—
Didn't leave room for manners.
"…What do you think of Uchiha Ren?"
Madara asked casually.
"Grandpa!"
"You should say Hokage-sama!"
Madara paused.
…He had to say that?
Even Hashirama didn't get that treatment.
"…Fine."
"What do you think of Hokage-sama?"
Sosuke's expression changed.
"He's the greatest person in the world."
"…Before Konoha…"
"…We had nothing."
"My dad…"
"…died protecting us."
"We ate bark… dirt… bugs…"
"…just to survive."
Madara listened silently.
"…But we made it."
"To Konoha."
"And everything changed."
His voice—
Was full of light.
Madara said nothing.
"…Let's go."
"I'll walk you back."
"No!"
"I'll show you something better!"
—
They arrived at a busy street.
Packed with students.
One shop—
Overflowing with noise.
"What is this place?"
"Watch!"
"Boss! One more pack!"
"I'm getting something rare today!"
"Another First Hokage?!"
"Again!"
Students shouted—
Tearing open packs.
Excited.
Frustrated.
Obsessed.
"…Cards?"
Madara frowned.
Sosuke nodded eagerly.
"This is the most popular game!"
"You can collect cards!"
"First Hokage!"
"Second Hokage!"
"Tailed Beasts!"
"And—"
"…Uchiha Madara!"
Madara blinked.
"…Me?"
"Yes!"
"Yours is the rarest!"
Madara froze—
Then slowly smiled.
"…I see."
The system was simple.
Scarcity.
Excitement.
Collection.
Status.
Ren had designed it perfectly.
Children—
Were completely hooked.
"…Pointless."
Madara said flatly.
But didn't leave.
"…Stay a bit, Grandpa!"
"Just watch!"
Madara folded his arms.
"…Fine."
"…For now."
Students continued shouting—
"Not Hashirama again!"
"Why always him?!"
"Give me Nine-Tails!!"
"I got Six-Tails!!!"
"…WHAT?!"
"…Lucky bastard!"
Madara frowned.
"…They're upset about getting Hashirama?"
"…And happy about Tobirama?"
This…
Was unacceptable.
Sosuke explained.
"…Hashirama cards are common."
"Tobirama's rarer."
"Rarity matters."
Madara narrowed his eyes.
"…Then who is the rarest?"
Sosuke grinned.
"Uchiha Madara!"
Silence.
Then—
Madara smiled.
Genuinely.
"…Perhaps…"
"This game…"
"…isn't so bad after all."
"…Whoever designed it—"
"…has excellent taste."
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