Chapter 209: Hellish Special Training for Obito, The Fractured Sunagakure Battlefield

"You kid really take everything you can get..."

Kinkaku cast a sympathetic glance toward Obito. Even a violent man like him, thinking about what Tobirama Senju was going to do to this Uchiha, couldn't help but sigh that an Edo Tensei puppet body was sometimes slightly better than living flesh...

"Death? Death is not terrifying. Death is a cool summer night, offering a worry-free slumber..."

Ginkaku racked his brains to find a cultured metaphor. "This place is the interstice between life and death."

Being around these Kage, if his daily speech was too crude, A-Huo would mock him!

Was that it? All brawn and no brains; no wonder the Third Raikage reaped all the spoils of your labor back in the day!

"What are you guys talking about?"

Obito instinctively tried to rub his eyes, only to realize he had been wrapped up like a giant mummy. His left arm and left leg were entirely gone, and even his torso was heavily stitched together.

"Where are my arm and leg?!"

Obito wanted to cry but had no tears. However, he comforted himself in the next moment:

"It's fine, I should be able to get artificial limbs installed once I'm back in the village. The set Uncle Homura uses is quite flexible..."

Konoha's artificial limb compatibility was well up to standard now. Though they couldn't channel chakra like the originals, it was better than having nothing.

"Artificial limbs? Konoha has this kind of technology?"

The Second Raikage's heart stirred, and he asked aloud, "But it must be extremely expensive, right? A brat like you, even from the Uchiha Clan, would likely find it hard to afford unless your family has substantial savings..."

"Injuries sustained in war are treated for free. Konoha shinobi also get discounts during peacetime, along with interest-free loans..." Obito answered almost instinctively.

The reason he was so well-versed in this was that many of the elderly in the village didn't fully understand the welfare policies, often requiring someone to break them down and explain them in simple terms.

Obito frequently acted as this "explainer," educating the seniors on the village's various benefits.

And he would seize those opportunities to pull them into Hiruzen Sarutobi's camp of hardcore supporters...

"Free? And discounts..."

The Second Raikage frowned, nodding thoughtfully.

After the Third Great Ninja War commenced, due to their absence from Konoha, the White Zetsus found gathering intelligence convenient and plentiful once again. After all, the Nine-Tails and Mito weren't on the battlefield.

The Six Paths puppets possessing the Rinnegan could choose to share vision with the White Zetsus, watching live broadcasts of various battlefields.

Thus, these Kage frequently gathered together to critique the major hidden villages, much like watching a stream.

Even Gengetsu and Mu, who were far away in Kirigakure hunting down the former Third Mizukage, would sometimes connect to the telepathic link...

Even though they were far away, the White Zetsus were inherently natural telepathic relay stations.

It only required bouncing the signal a few times, with hardly any noticeable delay.

Obito's words made the Second Raikage understand exactly why Konoha's shinobi, despite having a distinct numerical disadvantage, still possessed an incredibly tenacious and fearless will to fight...

Although killing and fighting were the natural duties of a shinobi, objectively speaking, when an ordinary shinobi lost a limb, their standard of living and future prospects would instantly plummet several tiers...

This profession offered zero guarantees.

Therefore, once war erupted, shinobi would fight the enemy bravely, but they would also carefully ensure they sustained as little injury as possible. Even dying was preferable to being crippled...

But Konoha was clearly different.

"Not just free limbs; Konoha also provides pensions and medical scrolls..." Obito, as if triggering muscle memory, rambled off a string of village benefits.

The Second Raikage's mouth twitched as he listened.

Kinkaku and Ginkaku exchanged glances and shrugged.

Though they were crude men, they understood the basic principle that men die for wealth just as birds die for food.

When the material foundation and logistics were solidly in place, many things became significantly easier, naturally including morale.

Not to mention the spiritual aspect, where the Will of Fire was renowned throughout the shinobi world...

"Kumogakure didn't lose unjustly. Relying solely on hot-blooded courage and brotherhood to maintain the village's morale can work in the short term, but it is clearly unsustainable. The vision of those militant factions is simply too narrow!"

"Always thinking about robbing, never understanding the concept of mutually beneficial trade. They've utterly ruined Kumogakure's reputation!"

The Second Raikage sighed.

He was a rare intellectual in a village like Kumogakure, one who wanted to take the diplomatic route.

But unfortunately, he got sneak-attacked by the two brainless idiots beside him...

Most importantly, it would have been one thing if he just died from the sneak attack.

But it had caused Tobirama Senju, who had finally walked onto the righteous path of cooperation, to go completely dark. Faking his death for all these years had allowed him to accumulate the ultimate ruthless trick...

Reviving all of them in one breath!

The Second Raikage was already pondering how to find time to apologize to Tobirama Senju, giving him a chance to communicate privately with the Third Raikage so they could stop crossing blades with Konoha...

Didn't they see what happened next door? Onoki targeted the Uchiha, and it resulted in the birth of a brand-new pair of Mangekyo Sharingan!

To the Second Raikage, the village of Konoha was like an anomalous rule-based horror game!

If you don't fight them, they develop steadily at a terrifying pace...

If you do fight them, and fail to secure results, it rapidly evolves into "what doesn't kill it only makes it stronger."

They absorbed the fruits of war at an alarming rate during combat...

The Second Raikage had astutely observed this.

Iwagakure's Explosion Style and Lava Style, Kumogakure's Magnet Style, and the entirety of Kirigakure being swallowed whole by Konoha. It was visibly apparent that Sunagakure was going to be pierced through as well... Their sand manipulation and puppet jutsu would also become Konoha's resources.

In the Second Raikage's view, compared to Kumogakure and Iwagakure who would likely have to pay massive reparations and sign defeat treaties, Sunagakure's situation would probably resemble Kirigakure's.

Completely annexing the village was unlikely, as Suna's territory was far too desolate; swallowing it all would be like poverty alleviation.

Digestion requires manpower and resources, and eating it all in one bite was unnecessary when extra energy had to be spent on stabilization... But as for the Rouran region, bordering the Land of Rivers, independent from Sunagakure, and possessing specialized puppet technology—the Second Raikage felt Hiruzen Sarutobi would highly likely annex it.

It was legally justifiable and would allow him to radiate influence over all of Sunagakure...

Ashina Uzumaki glanced at the Second Raikage. Seeing his flickering gaze, he shook his head with a sigh.

No wonder he couldn't be a proper leader of a major hidden village!

Calculating profits and interests at every turn was annoying to death...

"Brat, tell me first, is Konoha's current Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, very proficient in sealing jutsu?"

Ashina Uzumaki asked with a beaming smile.

The village and clan were certainly important, but they weren't as important as his life's pursuit...

If the jutsu he created could rival the bloodline powers of the Uchiha and Senju at their peak, then the name Ashina would be praised by future generations as the 'Little Sage of Six Paths'...

"Why are you asking this?"

Obito's expression instantly tensed. Even though he was at an absolute disadvantage, he stated warily, "Don't think you can get anything out of my mouth!"

"Oho, quite the sense of secrecy..."

"Looking at you, you should know who we are..."

Ashina Uzumaki teasingly pinched Obito's ear, pulling it just enough to cause a slight twinge of pain. "I won't blame you for keeping secrets from these three Kumogakure guys, but look closely—who am I?"

Obito blinked.

Recognizing the 'Kage' from foreign villages was already the peak result of his Academy education, given he was a terrible student in academics...

He had studied obscure topics like the Warring States period earnestly, but forgot them right after graduation...

However, Ashina Uzumaki's vibrant red hair acted like a cheat sheet, helping Obito recall the textbook knowledge he had forgotten.

"I am Butsuma Senju's sworn brother, Hashirama Senju's father-in-law, Mito Uzumaki's father..."

"The earliest constructor of Konoha's sealing jutsu system, the strongest sealing shinobi of the Warring States period, the founder of the Land of Whirlpools and Uzushiogakure, and the acknowledged friend of Sasuke Sarutobi..."

With each name spoken, Obito's mouth gaped a little wider.

Holy crap...

The ultimate veteran had arrived!

This wasn't even just from the village-founding era...

This was the kind of person whom even the First Hokage would have to call 'Father'!

The Second Raikage, Kinkaku, and Ginkaku shrugged.

In front of Ashina Uzumaki, they were mere juniors.

"Kid, if I wanted to know what's in your memories, I have plenty of methods..."

Ashina Uzumaki said with a smile. "Besides, I am an important ally to Konoha. Is it a problem to ask about the Hokage's current situation?"

"Tell me secretly, and I won't tell the others. If the Hokage blames you later, I'll take responsibility for it. I'll personally explain it to him!"

Obito hesitated for a moment and figured he had no choice.

After all, the other party was a powerhouse who had legitimately slain a massive number of Iwa shinobi, and his stance was currently on Konoha's side.

Plus, he had the reputation of Ashina Uzumaki as a guarantee...

As long as he gave some vague details about Lord Hokage's daily training routines and intelligence that had likely already been exposed on the Kirigakure battlefield, he could probably gloss over it.

Obito felt he had to go deep undercover in this mysterious organization to uncover the truth!

Since he was going undercover, he naturally had to put on an act.

However, Obito still felt that once he returned to the village, he had to report to Lord Hokage...

If his judgment was flawed, then he deserved to be punished!

Obito signaled Ashina Uzumaki to lean his ear closer.

Ashina obligingly leaned in, saying understandingly:

"I know all about Hiruzen Sarutobi's performance on the Kirigakure battlefield. His immunity to genjutsu and Water Style chakra—just pick these two and tell me some details you know..."

Obito was stunned.

This only strengthened his resolve to go deep undercover within this organization...

Weren't they a little too well-informed?

For a split second, Obito was reminded of a mysterious organization mentioned in his favorite novel, Ninja Breaking the Heavens...

The 'Hall of Souls'!

But it was also somewhat different, because although Ashina Uzumaki's appearance was incredibly eerie, his status was special, and his attitude and methods were relatively friendly...

There was even a certain aesthetic to them wanting to take turns educating him...

Could it be that his 'Yao Lao' had dropped from the sky?

Obito's left and right brain fought with each other.

"My clan members and I have served as Lord Hokage's sparring partners. In the beginning, the three-tomoe visual prowess could still affect Lord Hokage..."

"But it quickly became ineffective. In just a few months, whenever visual prowess landed on Lord Hokage, it felt as though it was dismantled..."

Ashina Uzumaki was ecstatic listening to this!

It matched...

It all matched!

"Kid, let me ask you another thing..."

"How is the relationship between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Mito Uzumaki?" Ashina Uzumaki stroked his long beard.

"It's naturally very good! Lady Mito is Lord Hokage's master's wife..."

Obito said, highly perplexed. "Lady Mito often says that Lord Hokage is the inheritor of Lord Hashirama's will. Don't you know this?"

Ashina Uzumaki's expression turned subtle as he made a rare sarcastic remark:

"In our era, it was generally considered that Tobirama Senju was Hiruzen Sarutobi's teacher..."

But this also gave Ashina Uzumaki a shot of adrenaline, making him faintly understand something.

No wonder Tobirama Senju went dark...

The shinobi of his own village all believed that Hiruzen Sarutobi had nothing to do with him, and was instead Hashirama's successor...

Such an excellent disciple like Hiruzen Sarutobi was essentially the shining culmination of his precious Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration...

If the authorship was given to someone else, how could that be tolerated?

Ashina Uzumaki felt that Tobirama Senju still loved Konoha, but was just acting out of spite...

Hiding in the shadows to let loose, his behavior entirely consistent with the public's stereotypical impression of him...

He was just dropping the act!

And hearing Tobirama Senju's name, Obito laughed awkwardly yet politely, saying dryly, "Not really, I heard Lord Second has no relationship with Lord Hokage..."

"The elders in the clan all say so..."

For a moment, the cave was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Everyone held back their laughter, not daring to laugh out loud for fear of being heard by a certain someone.

However, at this moment, even Madara Uchiha felt the corners of his mouth twitch slightly upward...

This brat was okay...

Although a bit dense, at least his eyes worked reasonably well...

He could treat him just a little bit better...

Ashina Uzumaki nodded thoughtfully. "If you put it that way, then I understand again!"

Back in the day, Tobirama Senju harshly criticized his jutsu as "fantasy," "lacking practical application," and "leaving endless future troubles," yet researched kinjutsu non-stop, pissing Ashina off endlessly.

For Hiruzen Sarutobi to be able to cultivate the Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration, it seemed inextricably linked to Tobirama's invisible cutting of ties...

After all, Hashirama had thought the jutsu was feasible back then, just unnecessary...

"Do the ninja ways of master and disciple clash? Tsk, this ninja world!"

Ashina Uzumaki mused, shaking his head.

Right at that moment.

A-Huo walked in with a smile, pushing a wheelchair. "Did everyone have a good chat?"

"Very good! This young man isn't bad..." Ashina Uzumaki said cheerfully.

He was no longer in a rush...

The small details he gleaned from Obito, combined with Hiruzen Sarutobi's performance on the Kirigakure battlefield, made Ashina certain that the Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration had been successfully cultivated!

Now he could rest easy...

Tobirama Senju could throw whatever tantrums he wanted, as long as Hiruzen Sarutobi was fine...

As for the advanced construct of the Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration, Ashina Uzumaki had already engraved it into the bodies of Kakashi and Rin. Once Hiruzen Sarutobi saw it, he would definitely understand...

After all, this was the genius who had successfully cultivated his ultimate kinjutsu!

He surely had that level of comprehension...

"Let's go, someone wants to see you!" A-Huo carefully picked Obito up and placed him in the wheelchair.

He had to treat this brat a little better...

This was the first explicit contact he had developed in Konoha!

"Who wants to see me?" Obito asked tentatively.

"Can we say it now? Mr. A-Huo..." Ginkaku spoke up mischievously.

"Try it? If you can say it out loud, then naturally you can say it..." A-Huo shrugged nonchalantly.

It knew Lord Madara was constantly observing...

A-Huo and Madara had already coordinated this. They brought Obito over to let the boy properly temper himself, first raising his foundational attributes so that he'd have the strength when it came time to awaken his eyes.

The plan to set him up had essentially been finalized.

Through the White Zetsus' observations and analysis, A-Huo and Madara recently discovered something was off with Danzo...

Danzo was constantly advocating for proactive strikes. Uncharacteristically, he kept demanding to lead the main assault, proposing to break the unwritten rules of the shinobi world and drag both the Third Raikage and Onoki into the fray!

This clearly did not align with Konoha's tone as the defending party...

Konoha didn't need the intensity of the war to escalate further. Defending and counterattacking to secure the maximum spoils with minimal casualties was the most cost-effective approach.

When people raised doubts, Danzo assertively claimed he had a method to handle the Kage, attempting to force it through.

However, because someone proposed reporting it to the Hokage for a final decision, the matter eventually fizzled out.

Danzo displayed obvious resistance, seemingly unwilling to let Hiruzen Sarutobi know.

And after A-Huo provided this intelligence.

Madara Uchiha easily deduced Danzo's self-destructive tendencies from his recent, continuously strengthened Reverse Four Symbols Sealing and his secretive inquiries regarding the Tsuchigumo Clan's kinjutsu, Fury...

Madara had seen far too many similar classic types within the Uchiha Clan!

Yet another old-school shinobi seeking 'sublimation through death'—nothing new to Madara...

Leveraging his unique bond with Hiruzen Sarutobi, Madara Uchiha decided that when the time came, he would let Iwagakure and Kumogakure show a flaw. He'd give Danzo a perceived opportunity to 'seal two Kage in one battle', luring him deep alone...

Given Hiruzen Sarutobi's personality, there was a high probability he would find a way to save his old brother...

Then, Madara would set another trap. When Obito rushed back, he would be led to believe Hiruzen Sarutobi was dead and witness Kakashi and Rin in grave danger—the emotional stacking would be complete!

And during these days, Madara would instill his ideals into Obito...

The hatred of the shinobi world cannot be severed!

He needed to make him open his eyes and see the ugliness of this shinobi world, to ensure he wasn't blinded by the momentarily blooming Will of Fire...

"It's..." Ginkaku tried to say, "It's Tobirama Senju who wants to see you!"

After speaking, Kinkaku paused for a second before understanding.

They had already arrived at the main base; there was no need for further concealment of identity...

Obito's eyes widened drastically!

How could it be Tobirama Senju?

"What are you talking about! That's Lord Second Hokage!"

Obito said in disbelief. "Are you crazy?"

"I love your expression, brat..."

Ginkaku admired Obito's shock and grinned.

"Do you know your fate now? An Uchiha falling into the hands of Tobirama Senju, you're in for a treat..."

"I don't know if you've ever seen Wood Style or the First Hokage's chakra, but looking at Mr. A-Huo's body, don't you feel a sense of familiarity?"

"Besides Hashirama Senju's brother, who else could use his cells to create so many artificial humans?"

Obito was plunged into immense shock.

Did the former Hokage branch off on his own and abandon Konoha?

Why on earth!

A-Huo coughed lightly. "You're talking a bit too much, Ginkaku."

A-Huo pushed Obito until they stood before Madara Uchiha.

At this moment, the Rinnegan's genjutsu activated formlessly. In Obito's eyes, Madara Uchiha's image transformed into the Tobirama Senju carved on the Hokage Rock.

"Lord Second, why don't you return to the village!"

The moment Obito saw Madara, he couldn't help but ask out loud, "What are you doing here?"

"You naturally evil Uchiha brat,"

Madara curled his lip, mimicking Tobirama Senju perfectly.

"Are you questioning the decisions of the Second Hokage?"

"No, I don't mean that..."

Obito was stunned for a moment.

"But I don't understand, why don't you use this military power to stop the war from happening! Although the village has the advantage, going to war inevitably means comrades will unfortunately die..."

"Do you think you live in the Pure Land?" Madara Uchiha said with an amused laugh.

"Babies protected in swaddling clothes have no resistance against the changing environments of the outside world..."

"Just like you, haven't you experienced the powerlessness brought by a lack of strength? Could you protect your comrades Kakashi and Rin? Even when facing just a few Iwa grunts."

Obito's face stiffened.

That was indeed the truth...

"The shinobi world never lacks geniuses, and the demands of geniuses are always uniquely distinct and sit above others."

Madara Uchiha said flatly.

"If you think the shinobi world is all harmony, that just shows you're a naive brat."

"The reason Konoha and the shinobi world can exist today is because of powerhouses like Hashirama Senju, whose inner desire was peace, not conquest."

"What if he wanted to destroy the shinobi world? Or enslave everyone..."

Obito couldn't help but retort, "But Lord First didn't! He established Konoha together with the Great Clan Head!"

Madara Uchiha's heart skipped a beat.

He even knew to mention him...

"That is precisely Hashirama's true value."

Madara Uchiha said unhurriedly. "It is also the fundamental reason Konoha was able to exist. The world knows he pacified a chaotic era, so they are very grateful for his ideals..."

"But let me ask you, why is Hashirama's pacification of the warring era and pursuit of peace worthy of respect?"

Obito's heart trembled. He seemed to grasp something...

"It is precisely because a powerhouse like him is fundamentally someone who cannot be restrained. His self-limitation is the fortune of other weaker beings, but it does not mean every powerhouse will be like Hashirama."

"If one day, another powerhouse like Hashirama appears in the shinobi world, not in Konoha, but in Kumogakure, Iwagakure, or Sunagakure, or a small hidden village..."

"Or perhaps even some sort of demon, or a visitor from beyond the heavens..."

Madara Uchiha spoke as he pleased.

"But this powerhouse is different from Hashirama. He has no interest in peace, only thoughts of destruction. What will Konoha do then?"

"If Konoha cannot resist such a powerhouse, it proves that the so-called village and the Will of Fire are merely a child's game created on a powerhouse's whim, completely devoid of any value for existence!"

Obito listened to Madara's theory, dumbfounded.

You could hypothesize like that?

But in this moment, Obito also recalled a famous quote from Hiruzen Sarutobi: "If peace can be brought by one person, it can also be taken away by one person..." Was this the same meaning?

Obito nodded thoughtfully, and the Uchiha youth began to think.

"I think I generally understand what you mean..."

"Actually, it's about bringing a sense of urgency to the village through controllable means, forcing everyone to hurry up and get stronger, instead of resting on the laurels of the First Hokage and the Great Clan Head?"

Obito's mind whirred to the extreme as he probed,

"It's actually quite similar to Lord Hokage's line of thought. We all know Lord Hokage didn't want to start a war, but since war was inevitable, it had to be utilized."

"For instance, through defense and counterattacks, making the shinobi in the village experience the intensity of war. While this indeed brings casualties, fundamentally, it allows everyone to grow stronger at the lowest possible cost..."

"Assuming logistics are handled well, in the long run, it results in fewer losses for the village."

The advantages of Konoha's committee system manifested themselves here.

Regarding the Hokage's resolutions, as long as they were permissible to share and logically sound, the other Konoha committee members and Jonin would earnestly explain them to the subordinate shinobi, achieving a top-down harmony and alignment in thinking.

For example, as Minato's student, although Obito was occasionally dense, he nonetheless hailed from the Uchiha Clan—currently one of Konoha's largest propaganda departments—and was firmly aligned with the Hokage's faction.

Plus, his best friend Kakashi's father was the Anbu Commander.

He could understand a few basic concepts.

Madara Uchiha looked at Obito with slight surprise.

Heh!

This kid didn't seem as stupid as he thought?

Back in the Warring States period, having this level of cognition at his age would absolutely classify him as a smart person...

"It seems Hiruzen is doing an acceptable job..."

Madara Uchiha couldn't help but think.

Being able to make an idiot like Obito dare to argue reasonably in front of him showed a degree of education without discrimination.

"For example, Madara Uchiha..."

"If he were to attack Konoha again right now, could Konoha withstand it?"

"Hashirama Senju isn't here anymore!"

Madara asked, possessed by a sudden urge.

Obito instantly grew vigilant and frowned, saying:

"What are you talking about? How could Lord Madara attack Konoha! Wasn't what happened back then already definitively settled? Although it was a bit extreme, in essence, it was just a clash of ideals..."

"Even if you are the Lord Second Hokage, you can't just speak nonsense! The current Hokage is the Third!"

"I can understand your various actions towards the Uchiha back then as legacy issues and misunderstandings stemming from the Warring States period. After all, you did lead the village in defending itself during the First Great Ninja War, you are a Hokage who has made contributions..."

"But you cannot stigmatize the Uchiha again! Especially not the Great Clan Head!"

Obito said, somewhat agitated.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi was undeniably ranked first in Obito's heart.

Then right below that gap, the rehabilitated Madara Uchiha was second.

Freeing the Uchiha Clan from the baggage of history inevitably involved addressing the past conflict between Tobirama and the Uchiha.

This was an unavoidable topic.

Although Tobirama believed he wasn't targeting the Uchiha and was a fair man.

But his absolute wariness towards Madara and Izuna back then, and his various hard and soft restrictions on the Uchiha Clan, were difficult to explain away to others... Because they couldn't exactly say that the Sharingan inherently carried the original sin of instability, right?

This was clearly detrimental to Konoha's unity.

No one wanted to be branded a lunatic from birth, especially since the Uchiha Clan had bled and exerted effort for Konoha.

Even if the Uchiha acknowledged this fact, it couldn't be brought out into the open, because in reality, not every Mangekyo Sharingan user was an unreasonable lunatic...

Isshin, Tomie, and now Fugaku had proven that Mangekyo users could also love Konoha!

So, someone had to take the blame, and it could only be Tobirama Senju...

Someone had to take responsibility.

But neither Hiruzen Sarutobi nor Tobirama Senju cared too much about this.

Because this was inherently a part of Hiruzen Sarutobi's design.

And Tobirama himself had already reincarnated as an Uchiha, strictly severing ties with the Senju.

Though he occasionally felt displeased, he believed history would naturally reach a fair verdict, and his beloved disciple would find an opportunity to tell heartwarming little stories about his past life... It shouldn't be a big issue.

And Obito's attitude clearly won him a tremendous amount of favor from Madara Uchiha.

He actually dared to defend his reputation right in front of Tobirama Senju?

He hadn't seen such a gutsy Uchiha in a very long time...

And it was just a brat!

"Brat, I'll give you a chance..."

"Take those words back now, you still have time..." Madara Uchiha fixed his gaze on Obito.

A powerful, oppressive aura suddenly exploded within Obito's heart!

It was a pressure countless times stronger than the Iwa shinobi, giving him an immediate sense of impending death...

But this time, Obito stood firm.

He had compromised with Ashina Uzumaki because the old man's status was special and the topics discussed weren't sensitive.

But to deny Madara Uchiha...

To Obito, that would be an absolute betrayal of Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had slaughtered all over the Kirigakure battlefield clad in Madara Uchiha's armor.

And he also quite liked Madara...

This was absolutely non-negotiable!

"I won't say it!"

"I support Lord Third Hokage, and I believe the Great Clan Head is a founder of Konoha!"

"I am weak, but I won't bow my head to absolute authority and military might! I misjudged you; I never expected that you, as the Second Hokage, would have no Will of Fire in your heart..."

Obito stiffened his neck and yelled,

"Thank you for saving Kakashi and Rin. I have no way to repay you. If you feel regret, then take my life and my Sharingan!"

"But I hope you wake up soon and stop going further down an extreme path!"

Madara Uchiha stared intensely at Obito.

After a long while, he laughed from the bottom of his heart.

Acceptable...

He was a good young man!

In this instant, Madara somewhat lost the desire to treat Obito as a mere pawn.

Witnessing Konoha's orderly master-disciple inheritance, Madara sometimes felt that, as a founder, he should perhaps take a disciple too, even if Hiruzen Sarutobi was essentially his disciple.

It was a bit of a shame not to have one constantly by his side!

It could only be said that as shinobi aged, they inevitably had such thoughts, and even Madara was no exception.

Meanwhile, next door.

Ashina Uzumaki and the others pricked up their ears, eavesdropping, and shook their heads with deep emotion.

Well...

What a pure, stubborn Uchiha!

Negotiations broke down, huh...

Madara Uchiha waved a large hand, shielding the perception of those melon-eating bystanders.

"Brat..."

"You're not bad. Although your understanding of the shinobi world is shallow, and you haven't grasped that the chains of hatred are nearly impossible to sever, you at least have your own persistence."

Madara Uchiha slowly dispelled the genjutsu on Obito. "Do you recognize me?"

Obito stared dumbfounded as the Tobirama Senju before him transformed into the image of Madara Uchiha in an instant!

He looked very much like the textbook pictures, except his hair was half black and half white.

"This..." Obito's immediate reaction was to question Madara Uchiha's identity.

However, Madara's eyes at this moment had transitioned from the Rinnegan to the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. It was the unique identity verification of the Uchiha Clan, leaving Obito speechless.

"Obito, I know you have a lot you want to say."

"But the words of the weak are worthless. I saved you because I value your talent and moral character."

Madara Uchiha looked directly at Obito:

"Do you want power?"

"To understand the meaning of life, and to clearly know the value of your own ninja way..."

Obito felt his head spinning.

Just moments ago, he had been fantasizing about encountering a classic Ninja Breaking the Heavens scenario with the 'Hall of Souls' and 'Yao Lao'...

How did it actually come true!

As if reading his mind, Madara Uchiha said in amusement, "Your most pressing task right now is to put down the novels written by Jiraiya. If you want to read, read historical records and serious literature..."

What Madara didn't tell Obito was that he actually loved reading it too, but just felt that the protagonist wasn't ruthless enough...

He assaulted the Yunlan Village but didn't slaughter them all?

He still went soft!

"I do, Great Clan Head..."

Obito gulped. He felt the situation had entirely exceeded his understanding.

He needed a moment to calm down...

A purple gleam flashed in Madara Uchiha's eyes. "Do not even think about telling anyone else my identity..."

"You can try. If you succeed, that is your ability, but if you fail, you will permanently lose your memories regarding Hiruzen Sarutobi, Kakashi, and Rin."

"Is this a test? Great Clan Head..." Obito experienced Madara Uchiha's dominance for the very first time.

His way of doing things was truly ferocious; he didn't care in the slightest whether the other party agreed or not.

Madara Uchiha remained noncommittal. "Next, I will transplant a limb created from Hashirama's cells for you. This will benefit your visual prowess and physical constitution."

"Afterwards, you will need to rebuild your combat awareness and foundation from scratch. Having a pair of three-tomoe Sharingan and thinking you are invincible under the heavens is an embarrassment to the Uchiha Clan!"

"Do you think awakening your eyes early is such a big deal?"

Obito smiled apologetically, employing the classic rhetoric used to flatter elders about their past glories:

"How could I? Great Clan Head, I've always felt that awakening early isn't necessarily a good thing. Only by building a solid foundation like you did, and then developing the Sharingan, is the true path..."

"I was just experiencing major emotional fluctuations! I can't compare to your steadiness..."

Madara Uchiha coughed lightly.

The trauma from his Warring States period original family had been slightly healed...

This brat actually had quite a way with words?

"Hmm..."

"A-Huo, have Tobi perform a tissue match for him."

A-Huo nodded knowingly. They were going to use the good material for Obito!

Tobi was, after all, a genuine Son of the God Tree...

Madara Uchiha pondered:

"First, adapt to the limb. On Mondays, train body conditioning with the Raikage; Tuesdays, learn sealing jutsu with Ashina Uzumaki; Wednesdays, practice taijutsu sparring with Kinkaku and Ginkaku..."

"Thursdays, learn Wood Style with Tobi; Fridays, practice sensory skills with Gengetsu Hozuki and Mu. For now, you can just chat with them via telepathy to lay a foundation. Once those two return, you'll move on to practical combat."

Obito was flabbergasted listening to this. "Wait, no, Great Clan Head..."

Not even Lord Hokage trained like this!

In the past, Obito had felt that Minato-sensei was already very strict with them, training until they were drenched in sweat without resting...

Compared to the Great Clan Head, that was practically a vacation.

"Saturday and Sunday morning I'll personally instruct you. A half-day off is enough, right?"

Madara Uchiha said considerately.

Back in the day, Tajima Uchiha didn't even give him a half-day off...

This was progress!

"Obito, with the First Lord's cells, your body can theoretically handle the burden."

A-Huo provided a timely explanation for Madara. "The only difficulty will be your willpower."

"Willpower?"

Obito seemed to catch the keyword. "Don't underestimate my Will of Fire!"

Madara Uchiha was amused by Obito's foolish display and shook his head.

When he discovers that the shinobi world, aside from the unique exception of Konoha, is filled with nothing but barbarism, betrayal, and deceit, and that the chains of hatred have spread across this land for a thousand years without ever being severed.

I wonder if he'll still be able to maintain this optimism?

Even regarding Konoha, Madara Uchiha intended to show Obito the example of Danzo, who, driven by obsession, greedily advanced for merit, shattered the village's strategic plans, and failed...

Working from both the inside and outside, Obito would logically develop a yearning for the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

However, there was one uncertain variable in this...

The response of the Hokage himself!

But as for what Hiruzen Sarutobi would do, even Madara Uchiha couldn't figure out his own attitude.

He both hoped Hiruzen could break the deadlock and simultaneously didn't want to see his own plans fail...

"Lord Madara, I'll take Obito to do the tissue match now..."

A-Huo pushed Obito's wheelchair, saying with a beaming smile, "My name is A-Huo. I am Lord Madara's servant and butler. If you need anything in the future, you can tell me."

Obito nodded. For some reason, he felt a strange vibe from A-Huo.

It was like running into a shinobi from his own village...

And A-Huo realized that Obito's behavior meant it had gained a new ally for the future.

As for Madara's rhetoric, A-Huo understood all too well that it was typical shinobi world paranoia. It would find opportunities to guide Obito and ensure the brat didn't get led astray...

As long as he didn't do anything extreme, even if he bent the rules a little, it was all negotiable...

Madara waved his hand. "Go on, stop bothering me!"

Yet, even as he said this, he secretly felt that having this brat around might make future life a bit more interesting, rather than always listening to those old fossils sharp-tonguedly critique the shinobi world...

He had heard enough of that Warring States rhetoric!

It was time for a change...

While Obito entered the mysterious organization to begin his elite crash course.

Tension began to rise on the Sunagakure front as well.

However, compared to the Iwagakure and Kumogakure fronts, the Sunagakure front was surprisingly relaxed.

This was because Hanzo, Sakumo, and Nagato all realized that something was odd about Sunagakure. A portion of their shinobi were incredibly fierce, but a significant portion seemed unwilling to participate in this war at all.

They would set up puppet mechanic encampments in plain sight, completely out in the open, and choose locations that weren't even particularly strategic. Or they would occasionally toss a few kunai or senbon at the Konoha shinobi...

They looked exactly like they were just coasting through their shifts...

When Konoha shinobi tentatively passed by, these Suna puppet masters didn't even attack!

Over these past few months, the Konoha shinobi had even formed a tacit understanding with these Suna forces. Upon seeing a puppet, they would hold back, tokenly casting a few jutsu just to go through the motions...

Because Konoha was inherently the defending party, there was no need to clash with these highly defensive puppet masters, who were experts in positional warfare.

Inside the Konoha Sunagakure Front Command Center.

Hanzo's eyes flickered. "I say, can't we take the initiative and attack?"

"The other fronts have secured results... Although because of the sheer number of enemies, they haven't been able to fully capture a Tailed Beast..."

"But it's different here with us!"

"I see that the One-Tail has an affinity with Konoha and Amegakure!"

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