Who knew how much time had passed.
Hearing some movement, Madara slowly opened his eyes again and lazily stretched.
Ever since the holiday began, he had always felt as though something was missing. Even sleeping felt somewhat uncomfortable.
But this nap today...
It was probably the most comfortable sleep he had had all year!
If he had not sensed something, he might have continued sleeping.
Madara raised his head and looked at the White Zetsu body that had returned.
Before he could speak,
the White Zetsu body grinned and said, "Lord Madara, are you awake?"
"Mm." Madara nodded expressionlessly. He looked at the White Zetsu body before glancing at Spiral White Zetsu, who was drawing nearby, and said flatly, "What intelligence did you gather this time?"
"Mm, since the war ended not long ago, the ninja world is generally still at peace. It's just..." The White Zetsu body sighed wistfully. "Many places... smaller countries are still trapped in endless warfare."
This time, he had indeed secretly gone out with Black Zetsu to gather intelligence.
Although Lord Madara had told them to keep a low profile for now and never expose themselves before the time for peace arrived, watching the course of the ninja world was something they had to do.
After all, only endless war would make Lord Madara despair, thereby strengthening his resolve in his ideals.
With disappointment and regret on his face, he said, "There have been unusual movements among the ninjas of Iwagakure and Kumogakure. Although the war has only just ended, they seem to be making preparations for something. Honestly! Can't everyone just live happily? Lord Madara clearly longs for peace so much."
As soon as he finished speaking,
Madara's pale brows rose slightly. A cold smile curled across his lips as he said flatly, "As expected, that idiot Hashirama's method was wrong. Only my ideals are right."
Establishing the ninja village system would create peace?
Distributing the tailed beasts so the Five Great Ninja Villages could compromise with one another?
How ridiculous!
And what was the result?
Nothing changed. Even after that idiot died, war remained endless.
"Peace is not compromise, nor is peace some dinner invitation! Peace cannot be obtained through negotiations. Blind compromise will never bring peace. Peace gained through mere compromise can only be temporary. Only strength can bring lasting peace."
"We must remember the reasons behind history in order to strengthen our ideals. Hashirama..." He let out a long sigh. "He was wrong! Utterly, outrageously wrong!"
"...Lord Madara is right!"
Although Lord Madara seemed to make sense, something still felt strange. Yet he could not put his finger on what it was.
The White Zetsu body stared blankly at Lord Madara, who had said so many profound things today.
Normally... Lord Madara would only give a cold snort, perhaps adding, "That idiot Hashirama!"
Cold and arrogant!
How could he be like this now... saying so many grand principles and even encouraging them to stand firm in their ideals?
He had only been gone for one winter. What exactly had happened here?
But after hearing Lord Madara's words, there did not seem to be anything wrong with them!
So he said no more. Scratching his head, he said, "As for Lord Madara's eyes..."
After thinking for a moment, he took a sheet of paper from his clothes and handed it over.
"Although he moved from the Land of Rain to the Land of Grass, not much has changed. Oh, right, Lord Madara, he has begun training in ninjutsu. Although Kusagakure is only a small ninja village, the Grass Ninja Leader is quite capable and has no problem teaching that child. That child's academic performance is also quite good..."
Originally, the intelligence here should have been handled by Spiral White Zetsu, but that guy... unless he was forced to work and watched closely, he was truly unreliable!
As he spoke, Lord Madara read.
Written on the paper was...
Nagato Uzumaki's Academic Report:
Straight As in every subject!
There was also a teacher's comment afterward: Student Nagato is an excellent and polite child. He politely greets teachers whenever he sees them on his way to and from school. He is also happy to help his classmates at school and is very well-liked in class. At the same time, he possesses excellent observational skills and patience, and he enjoys thinking through problems when he encounters them.
At the very bottom was likely an addition from the White Zetsu body himself.
He has a good relationship with Yahiko and Konan. He respects the leader of the Land of Grass—Kusana—and Kushina Kana. Together with his mother, these five can serve as important bonds.
Although Lord Madara had instructed them not to interfere with his growth, as long as his eyes remained there, that was enough.
That child was merely a container for Lord Madara's eyes.
And now was indeed not the time for the Rinnegan to awaken. After all, Lord Madara still needed the husk of the Divine Tree to sustain his life. Once they awakened and summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path... would Lord Madara not die on the spot?
Still, some investigation was necessary.
Before long,
Madara seemed to have finished reading. He said flatly, "Looks like his grades are quite good. He has not disgraced this old man's eyes!"
"???"
The White Zetsu body froze, again feeling that something was off. But at that moment... Madara had already slowly closed his eyes and said flatly, "If there is no important intelligence, this old man is going to sleep."
"...Lord Madara, are you tired? Then I won't disturb you." White Zetsu came back to his senses and said with a grin, "Lord Madara, just give me your orders if you need anything."
A tool needed to have the self-awareness of a tool. Though curious, he did not ask further. Besides... he did not even know where to begin asking.
But just as he turned around, he seemed to notice something. His face froze as he looked at several thin wooden sticks casually tossed on the ground.
Skewers?
When had those things appeared here?
And there were several of them?
Where had they come from?!
Elsewhere,
Kusana, still unaware that he had been placed on Nagato's list of important bonds, took a brief tour of the academy before heading to the meeting room.
Today
was the first meeting of spring in the Land of Grass.
It was therefore an extremely important meeting!
Other than a certain guy who was still squatting somewhere, every high-ranking official in the Land of Grass had to attend.
After once again emphasizing that development was the hard truth and further refining the five-year construction plan proposed at the first meeting,
under everyone's watchful eyes, Kusana clasped his hands before his chin and solemnly announced another important topic for this meeting.
"We're out of money!"
As soon as those words fell,
everyone froze and stared in shock at their solemn leader.
They were out of money already?
When they went to the Land of Tang, they had even brought back the wealth hidden in the Land of Eddies along the way. Yet they were out of money so soon?
But after thinking it over, with all the expenses of the Land of Grass over this period... they really were about to run out of money.
After all, rebuilding and developing the Land of Grass both required money.
One could even say...
it was rather unbelievable that the Land of Grass had managed to last this long without selling intelligence!
But what were they supposed to do now?
At that moment,
just as Kusana was about to see whether anyone had any ideas,
an old Grass ninja tremulously raised his hand and once again proposed Kusagakure's old method of making money.
"How about selling intelligence?"
As soon as he finished speaking,
"That's right, the Land of Grass still needs to sell intelligence!"
"We're good at selling intelligence!"
"Can the Land of Grass still be the Land of Grass if it doesn't sell intelligence?"
"..."
Seeing the old Grass ninjas bring up selling intelligence again, Kusana immediately looked helpless.
Mujie was already gone, so why did these guys still have only this one idea?!
Before you continue