Old Man, Are You Deaf?!

There was no way he could take out this many people in a short time.

And losing them would be just as difficult!

On top of that, they had ended up in this place. After a brief moment of hesitation, Qingye immediately decided to use someone else to do the dirty work.

He'd bring everyone along to visit Uchiha Madara, the lonely old man, and give him a surprise!

"Eleven o'clock, two kilometers away. That cave... The area beneath it really has been hollowed out?!"

Hyuga Himon activated his Byakugan to look into the distance, unable to stop his eyes from widening.

Then he immediately remembered what Qingye had just said, quickly looked away, and deactivated his Byakugan.

"Are we heading over there now?" Yūhi Kurenai asked.

"Exactly."

Just thinking about what might happen next put Qingye in a cheerful mood.

Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Madara! During that mission to destroy Iwagakure's medical supplies, White Zetsu had put him through hell, and he'd nearly died at Kitsuchi's hands!

It was about time Madara got a taste of what it was like to be set up!

"But, Qingye, didn't you say there was something terrifying over there?"

"Hmm? Oh, I guess I did say that."

"Are you sure it's safe for us to go there?"

"Don't worry!"

Back then, he'd only had the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, so of course he couldn't afford to provoke Uchiha Madara.

But now he had Chakra worth ten cards at level nine, Mangekyo ocular power, and those two Mangekyo abilities. Besides, he could always put off repaying his debt!

It wasn't as if he was going to fight Uchiha Madara to the death. What was wrong with paying him a visit?

The lonely old man had gone decades without anyone bothering with him. He ought to thank Qingye for coming!

A minute or two later, a small mountain loomed just ahead.

Qingye showed no intention of stopping. With Yūhi Kurenai and Himon, he leaped up the slope and charged straight toward the cave.

He even deliberately slowed down, to avoid getting too far ahead of the Iwagakure Ninja behind them.

"Move!"

"We're almost on them!"

"We absolutely can't let those three little bastards get away!"

Dozens of Iwagakure Ninja chased after them relentlessly, reaching the narrow-mouthed cave.

By then, Qingye was only about twenty meters ahead of them.

"Take this!"

Qingye reached into his pouch, pulled out several bundles of Explosive Tags, and hurled them hard behind him—not at the Iwagakure Ninja, but at the ground!

Rumble—

Each bundle contained a hundred Explosive Tags. Several bundles went off at once, blasting cracks across the ground.

Then the slope began to collapse!

The Iwagakure Ninja charging up after them lost their footing. Before they could recover from the blast, the entire hillside gave way, and those at the front plunged underground.

"Good. Let's go!"

Seeing this, Qingye immediately picked up speed and tore off at full tilt without stopping for even a moment.

Behind them.

The Iwagakure Ninja had already been held up by the Explosive Tags. Now the slope suddenly collapsed, and the people up front inexplicably fell underground. Chaos broke out at once.

"Cough, cough... Wh-what's going on?"

"Why did the mountain collapse?"

Had the Explosive Tags caused it?

Even if the mountain wasn't very big, surely it shouldn't have been that unstable?

Dust filled the cavernous underground. At the front, an elderly figure slowly turned around, looking at the unexpected intruders.

"..."

Uchiha Madara stared coldly at them without saying a word.

Could someone explain what was going on?

He'd been using White Zetsu to keep an eye on Obito. Where had these people come from?!

"This place... The mountain didn't collapse. Someone carved this out!"

"Strange. Did the village build an underground base here?"

"Wait, there's someone down here!"

As the dust gradually cleared, someone finally noticed Uchiha Madara deep underground.

The Iwagakure Ninja had been shocked and wary, but when they saw how old and frail the man across from them looked, they immediately relaxed.

What? So he was just an old man.

He didn't look strong at all!

"Hey, old man. What's going on here?"

One of them stepped forward and demanded an answer without the slightest courtesy.

"..."

Uchiha Madara said nothing. He almost felt like laughing.

"Hey, old man! Can't you hear me? Are you deaf?!"

When the old man didn't answer, the Iwagakure Ninja grew even more annoyed, his tone turning increasingly rude.

Across from them, a scarlet gleam flashed beneath Uchiha Madara's pale hair. He brushed the dust from his clothes, then slowly rose to his feet, his body frail with age.

One of the Iwagakure Ninja swallowed nervously, sensing that something was wrong.

Just who was this old man?

Why was he in a place like this?!

"Fire Style—"

Facing the mass of Iwagakure Ninja, Uchiha Madara slowly formed Hand Seals. "Great Fire Destruction!"

The flames and dust faded away together.

Brilliant sunlight poured directly into the dark underground cavern.

Now the ground was covered with charred corpses, making the place look like a gloomy mass grave.

Uchiha Madara caught his breath, then slowly sat down, exhaustion washing over him.

"White Zetsu!"

His voice rang out, thick with anger.

"I'm here, I'm here, Lord Madara..."

A White Zetsu cautiously emerged from the cavern wall beside him.

"Tell me what happened!"

Uchiha Madara was so furious he almost laughed.

He, the great Uchiha Madara, had just been so brazenly insulted by a bunch of young Iwagakure Ninja!

Ōnoki's people certainly had some nerve!

And, most importantly, even now he had no idea why these people had suddenly appeared!

He was practically being kept alive by the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and rarely ventured out into the Shinobi World. No one should have known he existed.

He'd only had this cave dug out recently so he could secretly observe and guide Uchiha Obito from nearby.

Where had these Iwagakure Ninja come from?!

"Lord Madara, I don't know either..."

White Zetsu sounded completely innocent.

He'd been right here with Lord Madara the whole time and hadn't paid attention to what was happening outside.

"Um, Lord Madara." Another White Zetsu came swimming through the ground from outside and spoke cautiously. "Uchiha Qingye led those people here."

He was the White Zetsu assigned to track Uchiha Qingye.

When he'd seen Qingye heading this way, he'd wondered if the boy might go straight to Lord Madara.

Haha, as if that could happen!

And then he'd actually come here!

"Uchiha Qingye?"

Uchiha Madara paused. After hearing White Zetsu recount what had happened while following Qingye, he pondered the matter but couldn't make sense of it.

What was going on?

Was it a coincidence?

Uchiha Madara wanted to believe that, but he just couldn't convince himself.

What were the odds of such a coincidence?

But in theory, Uchiha Qingye shouldn't have known he existed... Much less known where he was!