Madara Uchiha: Everything You Cherish Will Ultimately Betray You; An Appetizer Before the War!

Obito awoke to a chilling cold and a hard, unyielding touch.

Consciousness struggled to rise from the dark depths of the sea like a sunken ship, a splitting headache throbbing, and the wound on my right shoulder still throbbing.

He opened his eyes abruptly, only to be plunged into even deeper darkness.

A near-absolute, suffocating darkness.

"Where... am I?"

He muttered unconsciously, his voice echoing faintly in the small space, carrying a clear sense of panic.

"Lin? Kakashi?"

There was no response.

There was only deathly silence, and a faint musty and earthy smell permeating the air.

He struggled to sit up, but found his limbs heavy, and a strange sense of weakness enveloped him.

He groped around, his hands touching cold, rough stone walls; the space seemed extremely small.

Like a...

cell?

Fragments of memory flooded my mind in a chaotic rush...

The foggy canyon, the fake Minato-sensei, the attack from Kirigakure, being injured while protecting Rin, the Sharingan, and Mikoto's timely appearance...

Then what?

Then he seemed to faint, and when he woke up, he was here.

"Is anyone there? Let me out! I am Konoha's Uchiha Obito!"

He pounded on the stone wall and shouted, but only the hollow echo of his own voice answered him.

Fear, like cold vines, slowly coiled around his heart.

This is definitely not Konoha Hospital!

Just then...

An aged, hoarse voice, like the rubbing of sandpaper, rang out without warning in the absolute darkness.

It carries a sense of decay that transcends time and a chilling majesty.

" Konoha, Uchiha... Hmph, noisy brats."

"Who?! Who's there?!"

Obito abruptly turned towards the direction of the sound, even though he couldn't see anything.

He tried to widen his eyes.

The newly awakened Two-Tomoe Sharingan was slightly warm in the darkness, barely able to outline an extremely blurry silhouette sitting not far away, as if it had merged into the darkness.

"Someone who can show you the true nature of this world."

The voice spoke slowly, its tone calm, yet it contained an undeniable power.

"Someone who can give you real strength to fulfill the wish of 'protection' that you speak of."

"Nonsense! Who are you? Let me out! I need to get back to Konoha, Rin and Kakashi are waiting for me!"

Obito retorted loudly, but his unease only grew stronger.

The sound, the place—everything about it exudes an eerie aura.

The old man's voice was filled with undisguised sarcasm and hatred.

Everything you cherish will eventually betray you.

And that so-called Will of Fire is nothing but a beautiful lie used by the strong to manipulate the weak."

"Shut up! You're not allowed to slander the Lord Hokage and the village!"

Obito angrily pounded on the stone wall.

"I won't listen to your nonsense! Let me out!"

"Ignorance."

The old man's voice turned cold.

"Just as naive as Hashirama then."

Do you think you can change anything with just a moment of courage and these newly awakened, immature eyes?

Look at yourself now, you can't even protect yourself, how can you talk about protecting others?

That little girl named Lin, you were lucky enough to save her this time, but what about next time?

When an even more powerful enemy appears.

What can you do when your so-called 'comrades' back down out of fear or self-interest?

Obito was stunned. The old man's words were like cold needles, piercing precisely into the deepest unease in his heart.

He wanted to argue.

But the helplessness of being trapped in the canyon, the fear of facing powerful enemies, and the predicament of needing Kakashi and Mikoto's rescue...

These images appeared uncontrollably.

No, that's not it!

As long as I become stronger, as long as I work hard...

"Effort?"

The old man let out a low, mocking laugh.

"Striving on the wrong path will only take you further and further away from your goal."

The Uchiha's power originates from love, but it is the pain of losing love and the hatred that unleash its true potential.

Obito was startled.

How does he know so much about the Uchiha?!

"Who... who are you?!"

In the darkness, a pair of even deeper, more terrifying eyes seemed to slowly open.

Even though he couldn't see it, Obito could feel that gaze seemed to penetrate his soul.

Who I am is not important.

The important question is, are you willing to continue indulging in that false dream of peace, like a lamb being led into a pen?

"Or are you willing to open your eyes, see the cruel reality of this world, and acquire the power to truly protect what you want to protect?"

"I... I..."

Obito's mind was a complete mess.

The mysterious old man's words were both tempting and dangerous, yet they subtly touched upon his deep-seated desire to become stronger and no longer hold him back.

But what he said about "betrayal," "hatred," and "truth"...

Obito couldn't understand it at all, nor did he want to.

"I don't know what you're talking about! I just want to get back to my friends! Let me out!"

Obito ultimately chose to follow his most direct instincts, refusing to think about those complex and dark things.

A very soft sigh came from the darkness.

There seemed to be a hint of disappointment, yet also an air of complete control.

"It seems the time is indeed not yet ripe."

The despair of reality has not yet been etched into your bones; the guidance of words is ultimately pale in comparison.

The sound faded away.

"Hey! Say something! What do you mean? Let me out!"

Obito shouted again, but no matter how much he yelled, cursed, or even begged, the voice never rang out again.

It was as if everything that had just happened was merely his illusion.

He was enveloped only by endless darkness and icy silence, like a true tomb.

Obito felt a chill run down his spine, not because of the low temperature.

Rather, it stems from the unknown fear of being completely isolated and controlled.

He was completely trapped here.

at the same time.

On the sea thousands of miles away, three figures were walking on the waves at an astonishing speed.

Our destination is that island nation shrouded in thick fog year-round!

The Land of Water.

Chiyo took the lead, his black clothes fluttering in the sea breeze, his expression cold and stern.

Beside her, Tsunade's expression was solemn, her golden twin tails drawing sharp arcs in the air, and her occasional glances at Chiyo were filled with complex emotions.

While I was awestruck by his absolute power in suppressing Sunagakure, I also felt a pang of worry and heartache for the more drastic measures he might take on this mission.

She was afraid...

Chiyo Uchiha will lose herself and eventually follow the lonely path of Madara Uchiha.

Kushina followed closely behind, her long red hair like burning flames, and she tried her best to maintain a serious expression.

But his eyes flickered with tension for the unknown battle and a hint of barely perceptible excitement.

"The situation in Kirigakure is unique. Its long-term isolation and the Blood Mist Policy policy within the village have made its ninjas even more fanatical and irrational."

Chiyo spoke softly, her voice carrying through the sea breeze.

"Judging from their previous acts of launching wars and their precise ambush of Konoha, it's clear they're paying exceptional attention to Konoha."

"Who cares if it's Blood Mist Policy or water mist, just smash it!"

Kushina clenched her fist, her knuckles cracking.

The violent "little golden man" seems to have become even more violent.

"Perfect timing to settle both old and new scores!"

"Yes, yes! We will absolutely not let them hurt the villagers again!"

Chiyo smiled at her.

He reached out and affectionately ruffled her hair.

His gaze then drifted towards the thickening sea fog ahead, a profound light gleaming in his scarlet Sharingan.

" The Kirigakure will not submit as easily as the Sunagakure Village."

This time, perhaps only when the 'fog' is completely stained with the color of 'blood' will they truly learn to be in awe.

His words were calm.

However, Tsunade and Kushina beside him both felt a chilling killing intent.

A thick fog is approaching.

It resembles a gigantic maw, waiting to devour any intruder.

The outline of the Land of Water was faintly visible in the mist, like a lurking ferocious beast.

"That direction leads to Kirigakure!"

Chiyo stopped in her tracks.

The Sharingan quickly transformed into Six-Petaled Blood-Colored Manjushage pattern.

His Dōryoku suddenly erupted.

Susanoo began to change.

Chiyo and Kushina, Tsunade were following Chiyo Uchiha, were also lifted up and flew into the air with him.

In the blink of an eye.

The towering, terrifying Complete Body Susanoo thus formed.

Chiyo stood in the center of Susanoo's Chiyo, with Tsunade and Kushina unconsciously glancing at him from either side.

"Give him a stab first! Consider it an appetizer before the battle!"