Hiruzen Is an Outstanding Ninja...

The trouble was finally resolved.

That was the thought that surfaced in both Tobirama Senju and Shirou Emiya's minds at the same time, though the troubles they had resolved were not the same.

While Shirou Emiya had been trying to persuade them, Tobirama Senju had long since stopped his pretense of undoing the Impure World Reincarnation.

As the one who truly held power in Konoha, he had long anticipated Shirou Emiya's temperament. He knew Shirou Emiya would never have the heart to let the Shinobi World fall into war.

Shirou Emiya was far too easy to fool...

Tobirama Senju knew how to make use of his kindness.

However...

He still needed to be on guard.

Tobirama Senju suspected that Shirou Emiya's goodwill might be exploited by others. Since it was inconvenient for him to restrict Shirou Emiya's movements, he might encounter people from other ninja villages.

This sort of thing...

Required caution.

After all...

Shirou Emiya would remain in this era for a long time.

Tobirama Senju quietly made plans in his heart. Perhaps he could arrange for Shirou Emiya to see the dark side of the world, so he would not be so easily deceived in the future.

This was a new era even crueler than ancient times.

Murder, deception...

The ninjas had long grown accustomed to such a life.

For example, Madara Uchiha might deceive and exploit Shirou Emiya. Otherwise, after faking his death, why would he sneak over to Shirou Emiya's residence in the middle of the night?

"Speaking of which..."

Tobirama Senju narrowed his eyes and deliberately brought up the subject. "Madara used his battle with my brother to fake his death and escape, then secretly infiltrated Lord Shirou's residence. He must be plotting something..."

"One of Madara's eyes went blind."

Hashirama Senju's thoughts were simpler. He merely voiced his opinion. "That was the price he paid for escaping death. Perhaps he wanted to treat his eye..."

"Is that so?"

Shirou Emiya frowned, unable to understand Madara Uchiha's actions. "Then why did he want to use Sharingan genjutsu to control me? Shouldn't he just tell a doctor if he wanted treatment?"

"Lord Shirou is too kind!"

Tobirama Senju began his lesson, taking the opportunity to insult Madara Uchiha as well. "Madara is evil by nature. He has always believed that everyone in the Shinobi World should submit to his power. He thought he could control Lord Shirou with genjutsu..."

"However..."

"Lord Shirou must remain cautious."

Tobirama Senju hoped Shirou Emiya would not be fooled. "Madara's evil plan failed this time, but that does not mean he will not use other methods to infiltrate Konoha in the future. He may use lies to deceive you into helping him treat that blind eye..."

"The hearts of people in this era are not pure..."

Tobirama Senju used the opportunity to instruct Shirou Emiya. "There will always be people in this world who use carefully crafted lies to deceive others in order to achieve their goals."

"..."

Shirou Emiya merely frowned without speaking.

At this moment, Shirou Emiya still seemed somewhat unaccustomed to the ways of ninjas in this era. He was also wondering whether Tobirama Senju was trying to imply something to him.

Speaking of which...

Where had Black Zetsu gone?

Could it actually be busy at a time like this?

In fact...

Black Zetsu really was quite busy.

It was somewhat worried about Madara Uchiha's safety.

Madara Uchiha carried the hope of awakening an entirely new pair of Rinnegan. Before Shirou Emiya truly created new Rinnegan, Black Zetsu had no wish to see the weakened Madara Uchiha captured by Konoha's ninjas!

Outside Konoha Village.

Inside Konoha Village, they were still dealing with the Nine-Tails.

Outside the village, the weakened Madara Uchiha was still evading Konoha Anbu tracking him down. He did not care about these Konoha Ninjas; he was only worried that the Senju brothers would catch up to him.

"Hmph..."

"That scheming bastard Tobirama always thinks things through so thoroughly..."

Madara Uchiha cautiously glanced at the Anbu ninjas blocking his path. He knew they must have been sent out in advance by Tobirama Senju before he left Konoha.

That guy...

Had long anticipated that he would escape Konoha again!

However, Madara Uchiha knew he could not remain here any longer. Even if he could evade these ninjas' senses, he could never escape the endless stream of Konoha ninjas sent to pursue him and search for his whereabouts!

Within Konoha Village.

There was also a special ninja clan.

The Hyuga Clan, which possessed the Byakugan Kekkei Genkai.

The Hyuga Clan's ninjas could use the Byakugan's penetrating vision to observe everything. Their eyes were perfect for hunting down enemies, and sooner or later, he would be exposed!

"I'll kill my way out!"

Madara Uchiha suddenly charged forward!

The four Anbu ninjas patrolling the area hurriedly drew their ninja blades. They shouted loudly as they tried to block Madara Uchiha's path!

"Madara Uchiha is here!"

"Don't think you can escape through our side!"

"Hmph..."

Madara Uchiha snorted disdainfully.

In but an instant.

The four Anbu ninjas were taken down by him.

The moment Madara Uchiha charged at them, the four of them did not even have time to mount an effective counterattack before Madara Uchiha crushed them outright!

It was not merely a difference in strength...

There was also an incomparable gap in talent and experience.

However...

That was enough!

Because another, more troublesome ninja squad discovered his trail!

As a guard ninja highly valued by the First Hokage and Second Hokage, Sarutobi Sasuke personally led an Ino-Shika-Cho formation as they rushed toward Madara Uchiha!

"Stop him!"

Sarutobi Sasuke shouted for his teammates to act. His fingers formed hand seals as he urgently urged, "As long as we prevent him from leaving here, Lord Hokage and Lord Tobirama will catch up as soon as they deal with the Nine-Tails!"

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet!"

Sarutobi Sasuke spewed a long stream of flames toward Madara Uchiha, which flew at him like a wildly dancing fire dragon!

"Sarutobi Sasuke?"

Madara Uchiha's brow twitched. A mocking smile actually appeared at the corner of his mouth as he narrowed his eyes and leaped aside from the incoming flames. "Hmph. I thought the ninja Hashirama praised would be exceptional. I never expected him to be foolish enough to use a Fire Style technique against an Uchiha..."

"Shadow Imitation Technique!"

A man with a ponytail pressed both hands to the ground. The shadow beneath his feet stretched out like a long line and connected with Madara Uchiha's shadow. His voice was tense as he reminded his teammates, "You'd better move quickly. The gap between us is too great. My shadow can't hold him for long..."

"I'll reinforce it! Ninja Art: Mind Transfer Technique!"

A blond man raised his fingers, and his consciousness abruptly entered Madara Uchiha's body, attempting to seize control of it!

"Don't underestimate us, Madara! Multi-Size Technique!"

A stout, muscular figure appeared behind Madara Uchiha. His body suddenly expanded until it was as massive as a mountain, and he swung an enormous fist down at Madara Uchiha!

If that punch landed!

Madara Uchiha might be smashed into a lump of meat paste!

Against such a coordinated combination attack...

No ninja could afford to be careless!

Not to mention Sarutobi Sasuke, a formidable ninja, was also present...

However...

Madara Uchiha instantly resolved his crisis.

Facing the blond ninja who sought to seize control of his body, Madara Uchiha immediately used genjutsu to take control of him instead!

Under Madara Uchiha's genjutsu, the blond ninja directly used the Mind Body Switch Technique to send his consciousness into the ponytailed man controlling the shadows!

The blond ninja controlled the ponytailed man, using the Shadow Imitation Technique to manipulate the shadow of the stout, muscular man behind Madara Uchiha!

Boom!

The stout, muscular man's body rolled involuntarily, sending both the blond ninja and the ponytailed man flying. The flawlessly coordinated Ino-Shika-Cho formation collapsed outright!

Even...

Their defeat was a little too humiliating!

No...

Calling it humiliating was giving them too much credit!

Because Madara Uchiha had only glanced at them.

It should be said...

Madara Uchiha had not even truly looked at them!

This terrifying man merely used the blond ninja's consciousness after it invaded his body to cleanly defeat the Ino-Shika-Cho formation. The entire exchange had lasted only seconds.

A few seconds...

And only Sarutobi Sasuke remained in the pursuit squad.

"My Chakra has recovered a little too."

Madara Uchiha kept his gaze fixed on Sarutobi Sasuke, whose forehead was beginning to bead with cold sweat. His fingers slowly formed hand seals. "A ninja like you does not seem easy to shake off. Then I suppose I'll get a little serious and let you witness true Fire Style..."

"..."

Sarutobi Sasuke's eyes abruptly tightened.

Half a minute later.

The Ino-Shika-Cho formation returned to the battlefield.

Madara Uchiha, the target they had been pursuing, was already gone.

In fear, they saw their captain, Sarutobi Sasuke, covered in severe burns. He had completely fallen unconscious, and even his breathing was faint.

"We can't catch Madara anymore!"

The stout, muscular man carried the severely wounded and dying Sarutobi Sasuke on his back and hurried toward Konoha. "We need to get the captain to the hospital first!"

"The captain's condition doesn't look good..."

The blond ninja had awakened from the genjutsu after being seriously injured by the impact. He nervously asked his teammates, "Should we tell the captain's family about this?"

"There's no way we can hide it..."

The ponytailed man rubbed his brow. "I've met the captain's son. Hiruzen is an outstanding ninja. He won't be frightened because his father has suffered misfortune..."

"I hope..."

"Someone in the village can save the captain..."