Sasuke Wants to Become My Disciple?

"You're that Uchiha junior—the only Uchiha left in Konoha before now."

At that moment, looking at Sasuke Uchiha before him, Chen Yiban spoke calmly, his eyes still their usual black.

"Yes, Senior Madara. My name is Sasuke Uchiha." Sasuke Uchiha spoke to Chen Yiban with great respect.

I know you're Uchiha Sasuke!

At the same time:

Sure enough, he really does look so much like Izuna...

Because of Uchiha Madara's memories, Chen Yiban's gaze grew somewhat complicated as he looked at Sasuke Uchiha before him.

However, Chen Yiban quickly composed himself:

"So, you've been waiting for me out here the whole time?"

Chen Yiban looked at Uchiha Sasuke before him and asked calmly once more.

In response:

"Senior, the former clan leader, I wish to become your disciple!"

Uchiha Sasuke suddenly knelt before Chen Yiban and performed a formal bow.

Seeing this, Chen Yiban couldn't help but freeze for a moment.

Become my disciple?

You really know how to make a scene, Uchiha Sasuke!

And besides:

"You called me clan leader?"

Chen Yiban looked somewhat teasingly at Sasuke Uchiha, who was kneeling with his head bowed, and continued:

"What a clever little Uchiha junior!"

Hearing this, Sasuke Uchiha felt somewhat embarrassed as well.

After all, calling Chen Yiban "clan leader" did carry an element of flattery and was clearly meant to put Chen Yiban on a pedestal.

However, looking at Chen Yiban's current bearing...

Sasuke Uchiha felt that he really might have been a little too clever for his own good!

But:

"Senior Madara, I sincerely hope to become your disciple."

"I... I want power. I want to take revenge on someone."

Sasuke Uchiha pressed his forehead to the ground and performed an even deeper bow to Chen Yiban.

Chen Yiban could of course guess that the person Uchiha Sasuke was referring to was probably Itachi Uchiha.

"Let's go eat first. I'm hungry!"

Chen Yiban neither directly rejected nor accepted Uchiha Sasuke's request to become his disciple.

Instead, he bypassed Uchiha Sasuke and walked toward the outside of the Hokage Building!

Seeing this,

A determined look appeared in Sasuke Uchiha's eyes. He immediately rose and jogged after Chen Yiban.

Soon, the two of them left the Hokage Building and arrived at the main entrance outside:

"Lord Ma... Madara!" ×2

At the entrance, two Konoha Ninja were standing guard as usual.

When they saw Chen Yiban appear, both of them immediately looked visibly nervous. They dropped to one knee before Chen Yiban and saluted!

"Mm!" Chen Yiban replied lightly.

His footsteps never stopped as he continued walking, not slowing down until he had completely left the Hokage Building.

Sasuke Uchiha, however, paused to glance at the two kneeling guards...

Uchiha Sasuke could tell that both of them were at least Chunin, perhaps even Elite Chunin.

They could already be considered minor experts!

But in front of that man up ahead...

What did it matter if they were Chunin, or even Jonin?

They could only kneel and submit—or... die!

"Is this what an absolute powerhouse is?"

Looking at Chen Yiban's retreating figure, clad in red armor with long hair reaching his waist, Sasuke Uchiha couldn't help feeling a trace of admiration.

And longing, too!

He longed to know whether he might one day become as powerful as that man ahead of him.

As he thought about it, a smile rarely seen on his face appeared at the corners of Sasuke Uchiha's mouth.

Then he jogged after Chen Yiban with even firmer steps!

→

Thus, Uchiha Sasuke followed closely behind Chen Yiban like a little shadow.

... ...

On Konoha's streets, which were still being repaired and rebuilt, there were once again faint traces of the prosperity they had shown a few days ago.

At the very least, those who had businesses were doing business, those who sold things continued selling, and those who needed to buy things continued buying.

It was as if nothing had happened before!

Of course,

If only the bottomless abyss carved out by Perfect Susanoo had disappeared, that would have been even better.

The thousand-meter rift kicked into Konoha's rear mountains by Night Guy had not been dealt with either.

Besides, where did Chen Yiban's more than one hundred "Low-Level Draws" come from?

They had come from killing people—or, more precisely, beating them until they collapsed and lost their ability to fight!!

The battle a few days ago...

Leaving aside the civilians and speaking only of the ninja, Konoha had lost at least three hundred ninja.

Among them were:

Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, Choji Akimichi, Shikamaru Nara, Neji, and many other outstanding Konoha ninja.

There was even... Shimura Danzō from the council of elders!

Speaking of which, no one knew where the council's other two members had hidden themselves these past few days.

Chen Yiban thought that once he saw them, he would send them straight to Western Heaven with a single strike from Susanoo...

And at that moment,

They had already reached the main street, which had partially regained the prosperity it had shown a few days ago.

Chen Yiban noticed that most of the Konoha Ninja and civilians on the street would immediately bow and salute when they saw him.

But the fear, dread, and hatred hidden in their eyes...

Chen Yiban could see all of it!

Then he remembered what Sasuke Uchiha had said about "revenge" not long ago.

"Sure enough, the only thing that can be inherited... is hatred!"

Chen Yiban merely smiled faintly and indifferently.

Then he continued walking forward!

Along the way, Sasuke Uchiha, who followed tightly behind Chen Yiban, naturally noticed the strange looks from the many Konoha civilians and ninja around them.

Moreover, because he had the same Uchiha surname, possessed the Sharingan, and was following Chen Yiban at that moment...

Some people around them even couldn't help hating Sasuke Uchiha along with him!

"Hmph!" Sasuke Uchiha gave a cold laugh.

He simply didn't care about other people's looks!

Uchiha Sasuke was almost completely unaffected and continued following closely behind Chen Yiban.

During this time, Chen Yiban noticed Uchiha Sasuke's state. Seeing him face those people's looks with disdain...

Chen Yiban smiled faintly to himself. This kid actually has a pretty good state of mind!

In the end, after walking and stopping along the way while constantly receiving bows, hateful glares, and fearful looks:

Chen Yiban eventually arrived at a place that served noodles.

That's right—Ichiraku Ramen!!

"Uchiha... Ma... Madara?"

When Uncle Ichiraku, nicknamed "Ōtsutsuki Ichiraku" by netizens from another world, saw Chen Yiban appear, he immediately looked nervous.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" At that moment, Uncle Ichiraku's daughter, Ayame, suddenly stepped forward and shouted angrily at Chen Yiban from behind the counter.

"Ayame, don't be rude!" Uncle Ichiraku hurried over and covered his daughter's mouth. At the same time, he apologized to Chen Yiban: "Lord Madara, please forgive her."

"Ha, it's nothing!" Chen Yiban simply smiled lightly, not taking offense.

Then:

"Do you have anything to eat?"

Chen Yiban glanced at Uncle Ichiraku and asked casually.

"Yes, yes, yes! Our shop serves noodles. Lord Madara, what flavor would you like?" Uncle Ichiraku pushed his daughter Ayame aside before stepping forward to serve him.

At that moment, he was terrified that if Chen Yiban became displeased, he would release Susanoo and crush his ramen shop beneath one foot.