I am Madara Uchiha, Send Money

The Uchiha people saw the Sannin and seemed to spot a stern father; they immediately shut off their Sharingan and pretended to be law-abiding citizens.

The Root members also dared not step forward to disturb the standoff between the Sannin and Liao Wu—such was the status of the Sannin.

The crowd shifted their gaze from the Sannin to Liao Wu, their eyes tinged with both admiration and greed.

Liao Wu's youthful face and healthy body could not be faked; they were the greatest proof of his Immortality Forbidden Technique.

Who wouldn't want eternal life? Who wouldn't want to restore their youth?

But Fugaku looked at Liao Wu with a hint of melancholy, which then turned into ruthlessness.

Liao Wu's reputation among the Uchiha was poor, because after graduating, he didn't report to the Police Department but instead went to study medicine at Leaf Hospital.

And at his age, he had no wife or children, couldn't awaken the Sharingan, and couldn't perform ninjutsu—all negative reviews.

His peers were already the village's Sannin or Jonin.

His reputation was bad in the clan, but good in the village. The ninjas he had saved all said his medicine was harsh, but it worked.

Was a child faking illness? Was an elder having trouble with their legs? One beating from him would tell.

On the day he was branded a rogue ninja, patients who had received his kindness went to the Third Hokage to argue his case.

As for the rumors that Liao Wu was embezzling from Leaf Hospital and selling fake medicine, Fugaku dismissed them as gossip.

To the Uchiha clan, Liao Wu was clearly a bridge to improve relations between the family and the village. To Fugaku, he was also Mikoto's distant cousin.

Itachi also liked to follow this uncle, Liao Wu.

But now...

Human experiments? So what? Which department in Leaf Village hadn't been involved with human experiments?

The Anbu had to understand human anatomy to kill! The Medical Department needed to know human structure to treat internal injuries, and the Interrogation Department loved to dissect the interrogated alive.

Liao Wu's case fell under the needs of researching ninjutsu through human anatomy; his only mistake was lacking official permission.

And eternal life! That wasn't something you could just toy with!

The moment it was exposed, the Uchiha Police Department had Liao Wu under control, ready to make him commit seppuku before the village high command.

But unexpectedly, Liao Wu miraculously escaped the watch of the Uchiha Jonin.

Fugaku Uchiha urgently led the Police Department in pursuit of Liao Wu.

Jiraiya stepped forward, continuing his earlier words: "Liao Wu, you said someone in the village is still conducting illegal human experiments? Who?"

Liao Wu looked at Orochimaru.

Jiraiya and Tsunade also stared at him, and everyone present unconsciously turned their gaze to Orochimaru.

The atmosphere was like when everyone looked at Duan Zhengchun, wondering who Xu Zhu's father was.

This was... reputation!

With Orochimaru's cold, sinister aura, people would believe he had just eaten someone.

Orochimaru said calmly, "Liao Wu, if you speak, you need evidence. Without evidence, it's slander."

Liao Wu really couldn't find evidence.

Orochimaru wouldn't be exposed for human experiments and forbidden techniques for another year or two, and he was still competing for the Fourth Hokage position, hiding deeper than anyone!

Liao Wu couldn't produce proof, so he just rambled: "Tsunade, Jiraiya, I don't want to say much more."

"This kind of thing, I only say those who know, know. Those who don't, I won't explain. The interests involved are too big; saying more won't do you or me any good..."

"Ha!"

Tsunade let out a low shout and stomped the ground hard. The crude Shen Wubi Bridge immediately shook violently.

Liao Wu was startled and pointed at Orochimaru: "Orochimaru, I'll say this now—if you don't become a rogue ninja for human experiments within two years, may my whole family die out."

Orochimaru chuckled: "Liao Wu, you don't have much family left. That oath is just baseless slander from a cornered man. It doesn't count."

Orochimaru kept his face calm, but inwardly he was on high alert. He thought he had hidden it well—how had Liao Wu seen through him?

Besides, would he defect?

Ridiculous. The position of Hokage was still up for grabs. If he became Hokage, would he be a lost dog like Liao Wu?

To avoid more trouble, he had to capture Liao Wu quickly.

"Orochimaru—"

Tsunade and Jiraiya were stunned. Orochimaru was getting impatient—could it be true, as Liao Wu said?

Orochimaru had done it too!

Orochimaru suddenly twisted his body, slithering along the bridge like a snake, his speed like a ghost shadow, reaching Liao Wu in the blink of an eye.

Liao Wu quickly called out: "Wait, Orochimaru, let's talk this out, talk this out."

Orochimaru showed no sign of stopping. His charge was no different from a fierce ghost emerging.

Liao Wu went all in: "By the gods, Orochimaru, if you don't stop, I'll blow my own head off!"

Orochimaru halted abruptly.

Liao Wu had already stuffed an Explosive Tag into his mouth, his hands forming seals. With just a Tiger Seal, his head would detonate.

Orochimaru didn't know if Liao Wu had inscribed the forbidden technique onto a scroll. If not, then the Chimera Forbidden Art was stored in his brain.

Orochimaru wasn't the type to sacrifice himself for the Leaf's Will of Fire. Liao Wu's Immortality Technique meant too much to him—he couldn't afford any misstep.

Liao Wu breathed a mental sigh of relief, but he didn't lower his hand seals for a moment.

He was dancing on a knife's edge now. For all he knew, the Orochimaru in front of him was a clone, with the main body hidden underground.

A ninja's battle was all about deception—each one more cunning than the last!

"Orochimaru, I've really got you under control!"

Liao Wu's Tiger Seal shifted into a gun-hand gesture aimed at Orochimaru, as if pointing a pistol at him.

"Back off, go to the other side of the bridge, or my head blows up and you get nothing!"

"..."

Orochimaru gave a cold laugh, watching Liao Wu without moving.

The Anbu and Root members held their breath. Those hiding in the forest had their hearts in their throats, terrified that Orochimaru might act rashly and let the Immortality Technique slip through their fingers.

"Orochimaru, calm down!"

"Orochimaru, don't be impulsive!"

Tsunade and Jiraiya called out to him. Only then did Orochimaru use a Body Flicker to return to their side.

On another tree branch, an Uchiha ninja quietly asked Fugaku: "Captain, should we?"

The members of the Police Force activated their Sharingan, signaling the use of Illusion Technique to control Liao Wu.

The Uchiha were also coveting Liao Wu's forbidden art. Getting their hands on it would clearly give them leverage to bargain with the higher-ups!

Fugaku shook his head: "Hold steady. The Sannin are here. We don't need to act rashly and stir up trouble."

Liao Wu shifted his tone, pointing at the Anbu and Root members behind him, their hands gripping their ninja tools: "Anbu, Root dogs—all of you, back off. Don't let me see you."

The Anbu and Root didn't move.

Jiraiya barked: "All of you, withdraw."

Instantly, the Anbu and Root members vanished into the dense forest with a Body Flicker.

Liao Wu turned to the Uchiha Clan and shouted: "Uchiha, I may never have awakened my Sharingan, but my research on it surpasses all of you."

"All of you, close your eyes and turn around. If you dare look, I'll die right in front of you."

The members of the Police Force looked at Fugaku, who nodded.

All the Uchiha ninja turned their backs. They didn't dare look back—because one more glance and they'd explode!

Fugaku closed his eyes too. In this situation, he had to forget Liao Wu's past achievements, pull the Uchiha out of this whirlpool, and sever ties with him.

In front of the Sannin, Fugaku loudly berated Liao Wu: "Liao Wu, I always knew you harbored malice. I never thought you'd dare lay a hand on your fellow villagers—you've disgraced the Uchiha name."

"Before we came, the clan already struck your surname from the clan registry—you are no longer an Uchiha!"

Liao Wu flew into a rage: "Fine, Fugaku, you've really set this up. I delivered Itachi myself, and you're this heartless?"

Fugaku snapped coldly: "Surrender immediately and go before Hokage-sama to commit seppuku."

Liao Wu roared: "Cao Ni Ma, Fugaku! If it weren't for my bloodline disease, would Mikoto and the Uchiha Police Force captain's position even be yours?"

"Liao Wu, you—"

Fugaku was startled, doubting whether Liao Wu's words were true. Did Liao Wu really have feelings for Mikoto, or was he just cutting ties with the clan?

Liao Wu and Mikoto were relatives, but distant—beyond three generations.

As a child, Liao Wu had no Floating Wood to cling to, so Mikoto's parents raised him. Mikoto called Liao Wu "older brother," and he took good care of her.

Their bond sometimes made Fugaku jealous.

Because of Liao Wu, Mikoto was noticeably less submissive to Fugaku than the traditional Uchiha wife was to her husband.

Seeing Liao Wu's attention drawn away by Fugaku, Orochimaru quietly launched a Body Flicker and charged forward.

Tsunade wanted to shout a warning but stopped herself—Liao Wu was now a rogue ninja.

Liao Wu suddenly felt a chilling presence behind him. Panic surged, but it was too late.

Orochimaru was too fast.

Just as Orochimaru was about to use Male Silver Entanglement to lock Liao Wu down, his body seemed to freeze for a moment. Liao Wu seized the chance to backflip several times.

Then, with a vicious look, he pressed his hand seal to his own head: "Orochimaru, you broke free of my control. There's no peaceful end to this today."

"Apologize now, or I'll punch my own head off!"

"..."

Orochimaru took a step back, chuckling: "Liao Wu, no need to panic. I was just joking with you."

Liao Wu slowly retreated backward until there was nowhere left to go—behind him was a cliff, and he could clearly hear the roaring rapids at the valley floor below.

Look at how this turned out. How was he supposed to make an exit now?

Liao Wu had no way to escape the pursuit of the Sannin, let alone them—even the Root Anbu would be hard to shake off.

Liao Wu cursed in his heart: Where the hell is that damned Madara Uchiha? Why isn't he here to escort me yet?

That's right, Liao Wu had defected and come to defect to Madara only after receiving his secret letter.

"Junior, I am Madara Uchiha. I'm not dead. Bring your Forbidden Technique to Shen Wubi Bridge and help me restore my youth."

"Once I return to my peak, I'll fight back to the Leaf Village and take you as my adopted son. Then the beauties of the Leaf Village will be yours to choose from."

That was the gist of it, but after arriving, Liao Wu realized... this was a scam!

If he had known earlier, he might as well have given the Forbidden Technique to Orochimaru and let him protect him.

Liao Wu secretly glanced at the valley floor. At this point, the only option was to jump off the cliff and hope to survive.

But the ninjas weren't idiots. Even if Liao Wu died, they would still take his corpse.

Because of the Yamanaka Clan's secret technique, they could probe the information in your mind even after death.

Suddenly, Liao Wu spotted a white, pitcher-plant-like humanoid creature hiding on the opposite cliff face.

It was very well concealed—if you didn't look carefully from the right angle, you couldn't see it at all.

Liao Wu was overjoyed. It was White Zetsu, and a high-ranking Main Body White Zetsu at that—the Seal Eunuch by Madara's side.

Perfect. Madara was nearby.

Liao Wu suddenly gained confidence. Pointing at Orochimaru, his tone was contemptuous, as if crushing dust: "Orochimaru, you followed the current and trapped me here in this endless abyss—that's not yet a great upheaval. But if you dare take one more step forward, heaven and earth will be turned upside down!"

Seeing that Liao Wu wasn't making a move, Orochimaru cautiously stepped forward: "Liao Wu, were those Explosive Tags you just used ones you drew yourself?"

There were rumors in the village that Liao Wu, besides selling fake medicine, also sold fake tags.

Sometimes he mixed them together, claiming that the Talisman Water he had chanted over could cure illnesses, and saying that the Senju were dead and the Uchiha were in charge.

With Liao Wu being so shrewd, how could he commit suicide?

Both pursuing immortality, Orochimaru feared death more than anyone. He believed Liao Wu was the same.

Seeing that Orochimaru wasn't intimidated by his threat of self-destruction, Liao Wu hurriedly shouted: "Ancestor, save me!"

"..."

At the bottom of Shen Wubi Bridge, there was dead silence. The White Zetsu Liao Wu had seen earlier was gone, as if it had been a hallucination from his dazed mind.

Damn it. Uchiha scam!

Liao Wu cursed inwardly.

He steeled himself, gathering Chakra at his fingertips, slowly pressing his hands together in a Hand Seal.

"Orochimaru, want to make a bet? See if my Explosive Tags are ones I drew myself?"

Orochimaru stopped in his tracks.

Tsunade and Jiraiya appeared beside Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru, don't push him too hard. You should know the Village High Command wants Liao Wu's Forbidden Technique, right?"

Orochimaru gave an evil smile: "Yeah, I'm afraid the Daimyo has also gotten word and is rushing over."

Jiraiya and Tsunade said nothing. Liao Wu's Forbidden Technique was an evil art—one that came at the cost of taking others' lives.

If it fell into the hands of the Leaf Village or the Land of Fire's high command, the whole world would fall into chaos.

Liao Wu had always thought it was overkill for all three Sannin to come after him. In truth, if it weren't for their teacher, the Third Hokage, holding them back—

Danzo, and all the cattle and horses and snake gods of the village, would have come for him long ago.

Tsunade and Jiraiya had also been sent from the front lines by the Third Hokage to handle Liao Wu's matter.

This matter had grown so big that even the Hokage couldn't suppress it.

If the news really reached the Daimyo, then—

Liao Wu kept his hands sealed. How was he supposed to wrap this up now?

He proposed a negotiation: "Orochimaru, let me cross the bridge first. I'll toss you half of my Forbidden Technique Scroll. Once I survive, I'll give you the other half."

Liao Wu took a scroll from his Ninja Tool Pouch. Everyone's eyes immediately locked onto it.

Liao Wu slowly backed up, stepping onto the bridge, then carefully retreating to the opposite bank.

But he couldn't let his guard down yet. At this distance, it was just a Body Flicker away.

Liao Wu hurled the scroll into the dense forest on the opposite side. Instantly, except for Tsunade and Jiraiya, everyone's eyes followed the scroll's arc.

Orochimaru turned into a blur as he chased after it.

With the Forbidden Technique ahead and immortality at hand, some people couldn't resist their greed and jumped out to fight for it.

"Get back! This is mine!"

Seeing the chaos break out on the other side, Liao Wu turned around to smoke-bomb his escape.

But suddenly, a golden shadow streaked through the air, a kunai wrapped in biting cold sharpness, instantly piercing through Liao Wu's heart.

"Minato—"

Tsunade and Jiraiya stood frozen on the spot.

Liao Wu's eyes went wide, clutching his chest, trying to stem the blood, but no matter what, he couldn't stop it.

"...Mi...nato, what a Minato..."

"Minato, Liao Wu's Forbidden Technique is too dangerous. The Daimyo's Mansion has already been pressuring me. Immortality?! Even this old man of over fifty feels tempted hearing that!"

"But a person's meaning never lies in the length of their life, but in using their limited time to create the most substantial value."

"Minato, I know the Rasengan was passed down to you by Liao Wu, and you've always cherished that bond."

"But now Liao Wu must be killed, his Forbidden Technique destroyed, and everyone's evil thoughts cut off."

"Minato, Jiraiya and Tsunade are sentimental people. They can't bring themselves to do it."

"Orochimaru acted on his own. This kid, I understand him less and less. I sent Jiraiya and Tsunade after him to keep an eye on him."

"Minato, it's up to you!"

Orochimaru beat back a bunch of cowardly rats, opened Liao Wu's scroll, and saw only a single line of text.

"Eat shit, you!"

"(╬Ò﹏Ó) Damn it, I've been tricked!"

Orochimaru turned his head, saw the scene across from him, and his pupils shrank: "Minato! No, sensei, you could actually be this ruthless!"

Blonde hair flying, forehead protector straight, blue eyes bright as stars—but even those dazzling eyes were now dimmed.

"Senior Liao Wu, I'm sorry..."

Minato didn't dare to meet Liao Wu's gaze.

Liao Wu felt his life force slipping away: "...Minato, the Monkey put you up to this, didn't he!"

"..."

Minato said nothing.

Liao Wu gave a bitter smile, blood at the corner of his mouth: "...Faced with such temptation and still unmoved, he really is a good Hokage!"

Minato finally spoke: "Hokage-sama said that if he had been able to withstand the pressure from the Higher-ups back then and taken you as his disciple, things wouldn't have come to this today."

Liao Wu slowly climbed to his feet, his steps unsteady, barely able to stand. Minato wanted to help him, but Liao Wu raised a hand to refuse.

"Cough, cough... I've never regretted ending up like this. That day when I ran with all my might, I was so moved I cried. I finally broke free from that fragile shell of a body I used to have."

"...I'm just angry—which bastard reported me? Don't let me catch them!"

Tsunade and Jiraiya appeared beside Minato. Tsunade wanted to step forward and use Medical Ninjutsu to stop Liao Wu's bleeding, but Jiraiya held her back.

Orochimaru appeared shortly after. Tsunade and Jiraiya subtly blocked his path.

Orochimaru's expression was somewhat dark, but he wasn't yet furious. There was still a chance. Even if Liao Wu died, his head was still there—and with the head, he could dig out the Forbidden Technique of immortality.

But these two in front of him?!

When did sensei start suspecting him?

Was he too impatient this time?

But—sensei, I hope you can understand me on this matter. I want immortality too badly!

Liao Wu looked up at the setting sun, a hint of loneliness in his voice: "Green mountains at sunset, autumn moon and spring breeze—truly, morning hair black as silk turns to snow by dusk; right and wrong, success and failure, all turn to nothing in a turn of the head."

The few behind him made no move, quietly watching Liao Wu's flame flicker out. Orochimaru tensed his body, ready to snatch Liao Wu's corpse.

I just need the head! Soul juice, pour it on!

"Haha..."

"Next life... I'll still be a demon!"

Liao Wu let out a loud laugh with all his remaining strength, then threw himself off the cliff at Shen Wubi Bridge, the Tiger Seal clearly formed.

"Explode!"

"No—"

Among all the pursuers from the Leaf Village, only Orochimaru followed him in death.

Leaf Village, Uchiha Clan. Uchiha Mikoto was washing dishes when suddenly her heart seemed to clench in pain.

"Older Brother! No, it can't be. Fugaku promised me he'd bring you back."

"Mother, what's wrong?"

Uchiha Itachi ran over, a look of worry on his face.

Mikoto regained the composure of a household matriarch and patted Itachi on the head. "It's nothing, Itachi."

Itachi hesitated but still spoke up. "Mother, the villagers say Uncle killed Village Compatriot and became a Rogue Ninja. Is This True?"

"..."

Mikoto fell silent, then hugged Itachi. "False, all false. Your uncle is an upright man, the kindest ninja in the entire village."

Itachi was no longer a Three-Year-Old Child. He was four years old now—a hardened veteran who had been to the battlefield and cut down men.

But Itachi didn't say that, because his mother was sobbing as she held him.

She was more heartbroken than anyone!

Uncle—

Leaf Hokage's Office.

An Anbu reported to the Third Hokage. "Hokage-sama, everything has been investigated. Hiruko abandoned his Nindo many years ago and secretly researched Evil Arts."

"As for Uchiha Ryobu killing him, it may have been to monopolize the Forbidden Technique. In their Cooperation, Hiruko held the dominant position."

The Third Hokage's pipe had never left his Hand. He nodded. "Understood. Leave the report and go."

"Yes!"

The Third Hokage gazed toward Shen Wubi Bridge and took a long drag from his pipe.

He had told a small lie to Minato earlier.

Even if he could go back to those days, the Third Hokage would not take Ryobu as his disciple. Because back at the Ninja Academy, he had already seen the deep ambition gleaming in Ryobu's eyes.

It was the look of "He can be replaced"!

Once, when Ryobu was leaving the office and the Third Hokage called him back, his neck twisted a full 180 degrees.

Eagle-Gaze Wolf-Look!

At that moment, the Third Hokage's pipe dropped from his hand in shock.

As it turned out, he was right. Ryobu harbored a profound ambition.

"A pity, Ryobu. If only you weren't an Uchiha..."

"Sigh..."

With a bang, the Hokage's office door was shoved open violently.

"Hiruzen, why did you pull Minato Namikaze back from the front lines?"

Shen Wubi Bridge.

The sun had already set. Ryobu had been blasted into a holy relic and fell into the great river below Shen Wubi Bridge. Only Orochimaru went after him; the others returned in grief.

Who would have thought it would come to this? The Third Hokage was as ruthless as ever—one move and he snuffed out all the undercurrents stirring in the village.

Did he have no longing for immortality at all? Even if he didn't, obtaining that Forbidden Technique would have allowed him to bargain with the faction leaders in the village and the Daimyo's Mansion.

Helpless, everyone could only pack up their dismal feelings and leave.

Minato, Jiraiya, and Tsunade set up a cenotaph for Ryobu beside Shen Wubi Bridge.

Given Ryobu's contributions to the Leaf Medical System, he could have been buried in the Hero's Cemetery. But now he was a Rogue Ninja.

Even a ninja like White Fang couldn't enter the Hero's Cemetery because of Public Opinion, let alone a Rogue Ninja cursed by the Villagers.

Minato stood before Ryobu's tombstone, silent for a long time.

In the Land of Grass, Minato had been too late once—he couldn't save Obito. And now, he had arrived just in time for Ryobu's defection?

Did the Flying Thunder God only target acquaintances?

Jiraiya patted Minato on the shoulder. "Minato, don't blame yourself. You did nothing wrong. The fault lies with..."

"Sigh... Ryobu must have known this day would come when he started researching Forbidden Techniques."

Jiraiya was probably the one in the village with the best relationship with Ryobu. They had been birds of a feather since childhood—both had a Secret Crush on Tsunade, both wanted to win her over.

Too bad, Jiraiya lacked the looks. Ryobu was an Uchiha.

Jiraiya hadn't come from the front lines just because of the Third Hokage's orders, but also out of his bond with Ryobu.

Jiraiya glanced at Tsunade, who stood silently nearby. She must feel the same, right?

Jiraiya had a Secret Crush on Tsunade, but he didn't have the Uchiha's handsome face.

Tsunade and Ryobu had feelings for each other, but those feelings never came together due to various reasons.

Sigh... What a slippery, soapy twist of fate!