Madara, I am the protagonist of this world!

If a small unit encounters Crimson Eyes and the Yellow Flash, abandoning the mission is permitted.

As long as you make it back to the village alive, no punishment will be given.

Though this unwritten rule exists, those who survive an encounter with both are few and far between.

The handful of survivors have summed up their experience.

If you can threaten Namikaze Minato's teammates, there's a chance he'll let you off and not give chase.

But when facing Kagami Uchiha...

Luck.

Luck is the only criterion.

If he's eating and you haven't provoked him, odds are he won't put down his food to attack you.

Sadly, Cloud Village has not only provoked him now, but picked a time that isn't mealtime.

"Run!!!"

Toroi's scream was heart-wrenching. As calm as he'd been moments ago, that was how frantic he was now.

Knowing the chance of escape was vanishingly small—did that mean they shouldn't run at all?

Don't underestimate Cloud Village, you bastard!

In the Cloud Village ranks, only Toroi managed to muster the courage to flee.

Can't do it...

My limbs won't obey!

Thud.

Something dropped, and it seemed to make a rolling sound.

Toroi kept running, running for his life!

He felt nothing but blood surging, the blood pumping from his heart rushing straight to his brain!

Something's wrong.

Why can't I see?

Why... is my head touching the grass?

His skull rolled once, catching sight of the body still sprinting.

Come back...

Take me with you!

Don't you realize your brain's gone!

Kagami Uchiha lowered his hand, followed by several sounds like fruit hitting the ground.

Waist cuts are too bloody; beheading is more refined.

For scum like this, Kagami Uchiha had no interest in shouting out a technique—it would only cheapen him.

He turned around.

"Pretty pathetic, Kakashi. You can't protect anything."

Kakashi carefully pried his short sword free from the shuriken and shot Kagami a glare.

"You think everyone's a freak like you? That was a Jonin with a Kekkei Genkai—not the kind of opponent someone at my level should be facing."

Aware of the vast gap between himself and his two senior brothers, Kakashi hadn't even considered the front lines. He'd been taking small missions, hanging out with his old classmates.

Back at the Ninja Academy, Kakashi had once had the ambition to compete with Kagami, but that mindset was long gone.

Anyway, I've already achieved things beyond my age. I'm pretty impressive.

Is this guy already giving up?

Kagami Uchiha's gaze shifted to Rin.

It's fine, Kakashi.

When you truly taste that powerless pain, you'll crave strength again.

"Jing... Lord Jing, thank you for saving us."

Nohara Rin's face still held a fading flush. Being that close to death for the first time—fear was natural.

Though they were similar in age and had been classmates for years, Nohara Rin understood clearly that Kagami Uchiha was on a completely different level from them now.

"Thanks... thanks..." Obito turned his head away. "But even if you hadn't come, I could've protected Rin just fine!"

No...

You couldn't.

Kagami Uchiha let out an inexplicable chuckle as Kakashi approached.

"Kagami, what are you doing here?"

Only Kakashi knew they were responsible for transporting supplies to the Western Front, while Kagami Uchiha was stationed at the Northern Front.

"Classified. No comment."

Kagami Uchiha said flatly, "Kakashi, Rin, leave for now. I have something to say to Obito."

"Hey! Don't go! That Kagami Uchiha is definitely going to hit me! Don't leave!"

"Kagami... don't think I'm afraid of you!"

If you weren't trembling, you'd be more convincing.

Kagami Uchiha didn't waste words with Obito. A flash of crimson appeared in his eye sockets.

"Aren't you... going to... talk to me..."

Thud...

Kagami Uchiha pressed his hand onto Obito's body, murmuring to himself.

"I'm just using you as a conduit."

The infusion of dojutsu power caused Obito's back to bulge, as if something was trying to burst out.

A strange white substance let out a piercing shriek as it seeped from his collar, horrifying to behold.

"You... you are..."

Before the White Zetsu Clone could finish its question, its eye sockets were also overtaken by Sharingan.

It was like... a number being dialed.

Invisible ripples connected two consciousnesses.

Hmm—

An unknown underground space.

The White Zetsu Original, attending to Uchiha Madara's side, suddenly cried out in pain, clutching its head tightly.

"What's wrong."

Uchiha Madara slowly opened his eyes, only showing clear emotional fluctuation when he saw one of White Zetsu's eyes transform into a Sharingan.

"Ah!!!"

White Zetsu still resisted fiercely, trying to expel this dojutsu invasion.

"Don't resist." Uchiha Madara said indifferently.

Soon, a pair of Sharingan occupied White Zetsu's eye sockets, and its expression also turned indifferent.

"Interesting."

"This level of dojutsu power—it's Kagami, isn't it. Have you awakened the Mangekyo."

Kagami Uchiha adjusted slightly, speaking through White Zetsu's mouth.

"Lord Madara, you really are still alive."

No need for excessive words.

Kagami Uchiha knew Madara must have been watching him from the shadows, and Madara wouldn't ask how Kagami Uchiha had tracked down the clues.

With dojutsu power like this, he must have seen the Shrine Stone Tablet.

Finding the Spore on Obito was indeed a bit surprising, but since he was an Uchiha, being capable of such a thing was only natural.

Uchiha Madara's voice was aged, yet lacked an old man's sluggishness.

"Obito is the successor I chose. Don't harm him."

"Of course. I won't actively harm the Clan Members, just like you."

"Clan Members..."

Uchiha Madara seemed to recall that dusk—not a single clan member had followed him.

"Jing, what do you want?"

"I wanted to see you in person, to verify something."

"No need. I'm about to die. This wretched, lingering form is far too ugly."

A faint smile appeared on White Zetsu's face.

"Lord Madara, I want to know—how far am I from the legends?"

A hoarse, aged laugh rang out.

"You really are like Izuna, only..."

"Far too ignorant of the vastness of heaven and earth."

Boom!!

The terrifying Dojutsu Power of a Sea of Corpses and Blood flooded the space, like countless demons howling!

The Three Tomoe in White Zetsu's eye sockets spun wildly.

The bone-piercingly cold Dojutsu Power forcibly erected a reef amidst the Sea of Corpses and Blood, standing unmoved!

"You're truly too old, Lord Madara."

"A man like you—how can you endure such a feeble body? What exactly are you plotting?"

Uchiha Madara showed no anger, speaking frankly.

"The Peace of the Ninja World."

"Jing, not everything in this world can go as you wish. The longer I live, the more I understand the helplessness and sorrow that fill reality."

"If there is a victor, the concept of a loser is born from it. The two share an inevitable Causal Relationship."

"Love breeds hate. Entanglement of Love and Hate—that is what war is."

"Reality is just so."

"With your Dojutsu Power, you cannot see the final inscription on the Stone Tablet. Otherwise, you wouldn't ask such a question."

"Tell me, what is your view of the ninja world?"

"With this Dojutsu Power, you too are qualified to be my successor!"

After a moment of silence, Jing laughed.

"Don't think that just because you've lived a few more years, you can lecture me."

"There will always be someone who becomes the victor. Why can't that someone be me?"

"Who cares about being your successor?"

"Uchiha—the future of the ninja world is mine to decide."

"I am the protagonist of this world!"

"Madara!"