Uchiha Madara?! Don't Be Afraid of Him-I'll Take Him On

"You bastard!"

The Third Hokage's temper flared. He took out his pipe and tapped Yu Sun on the head with it.

"You had plenty of guts when you were embezzling, but now you don't even dare look Uchiha Madara in the eye. You're bringing shame on the Senju Clan's name."

Yu Sun rubbed his head.

Yūhi Shinkō analyzed the situation. "Hokage-sama, if Uchiha Madara really is still alive, he must be over eighty by now."

"A Ninja that old probably can't even use Ninjutsu anymore!"

Being a Ninja was a profession governed by science. Ninjas, too, had to contend with the cycle of life and death; even the strongest fists feared the young.

The Third Hokage shook his head. "No. A legendary Ninja like Uchiha Madara can't be judged by ordinary standards."

"And besides—"

"Although Orochimaru's intelligence didn't mention it, I think Ryobu is still alive. Orochimaru must have discovered Uchiha Madara while seeking his Immortality Technique."

"Only Orochimaru would have that kind of patience."

Shinnosuke caught on. "Father, if that's true, then Uchiha Madara is behind Uchiha Ryobu?"

The Third Hokage nodded. "Ryobu escaped from the Uchiha Police Department, defected from the Leaf Village, and evaded the Anbu's pursuit... There are too many unanswered questions behind all of it."

"If Uchiha Madara really is the one backing him, then it all makes sense. Madara wants Ryobu's Forbidden Technique so he can Restore Youth and return to the pinnacle of his power."

Yu Sun clutched his head on the ground, feeling as if the sky had fallen. "If that's true, then we're all doomed. Without First Hokage-sama, the Ninja World can't stand against Uchiha Madara once he's restored his strength."

"Don't panic, don't panic. We have the Sannin. Jiraiya and the others will definitely stop Uchiha Madara."

Suddenly, a golden figure appeared out of thin air at the Hokage's residence. The elite Anbu immediately went on alert.

But once they recognized who it was, they relaxed.

It was Minato and Jiraiya.

"Hokage-sama, hurry and save my teacher!"

The Third Hokage looked at Jiraiya, who had been beaten within an inch of his life, and his eyes widened.

"Jiraiya!!"

Asuma and his friends heard the commotion and hurried over.

By the time they arrived, the Hokage's residence was already surrounded by the leaders of the various clans. They couldn't push their way in.

All they could do was listen from the side.

When the Anbu realized it was Asuma, they didn't stop him.

The Third Hokage had the Anbu medics treat Jiraiya.

The Anbu removed Jiraiya's tattered clothes and saw a blue-and-white Slug on his chest.

Before the battle, Tsunade had given Jiraiya and Orochimaru a fragment of herself each.

The Slug had kept Jiraiya's heart meridians intact and held on to the last thread of his life.

The Third Hokage's expression grew grave as he looked at Jiraiya's horrific injuries.

If even Jiraiya, who had mastered Senjutsu, had been beaten this badly, Uchiha Madara had clearly used Ryobu's Forbidden Technique to restore himself to his prime.

The Third Hokage looked at Minato, puzzled. "Minato, had you already received the news in the Mist Village?"

It hadn't even been a day since the Third Hokage had sent word to the front lines. There was no way Minato could have received it so quickly.

Minato answered, "It was the Contact Frogs from Mount Myōboku. They told me about Uchiha Madara."

The Third Hokage nodded.

Shinnosuke came over and quietly whispered something in the Third Hokage's ear.

Jiraiya and Minato's arrival hadn't escaped anyone's notice, and Jiraiya's near-death condition had everyone worried.

What kind of enemy could have beaten one of the Sannin this badly? Everyone was abuzz with speculation.

The Third Hokage couldn't keep it from them any longer. He sent Shinnosuke to summon the heads of the various clans and the village's Jonin.

At that moment.

The Hyuga Brothers, Hyuga Hiashi, and Hizashi Hyuga from the Hyuga Clan.

Inuzuka Tsume from the Inuzuka Clan, Shikuro from the Aburame Clan, the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio, the Kurama Clan...

Along with some Civilian Ninjas and Anbu, there were about fifty people in all, every one of them a Jonin.

There was no other choice. It was wartime, and many of the village's Ninjas were out on missions. Otherwise, the Third Hokage could have assembled tens of thousands of Ninjas and worn Uchiha Madara down.

The Third Hokage took a drag from his pipe. As soon as he spoke, everyone stared at him in confusion.

"Uchiha Madara... is alive!"

"(◐_◑)."

The Ninjas from the various clans wondered if they'd heard wrong. Some of the Civilian Ninjas didn't even know who Uchiha Madara was.

"Uchiha Madara? Who's that? Is there someone by that name in the Uchiha Clan?"

"No idea. Probably some Uchiha powerhouse! Don't be afraid of him—I'll take him on!"

"Oh, is that all? I thought it was something serious. Everyone, break it up. Go home and bring in the laundry!"

"..."

The Third Hokage looked at the clueless Civilian Ninjas, at a loss for words.

The blame lay with his teacher, Senju Tobirama. The Leaf Village's textbooks didn't mention Uchiha Madara at all.

To uphold the legitimacy of the Senju Lineage—or perhaps out of fear of Uchiha Madara's power and the possibility that the Uchiha people might follow him—the higher-ups had removed all mention of Uchiha Madara from the textbooks.

Not just the rest of the village—even the Uchiha themselves had probably forgotten their Old Ancestor.

History had always been a tool that rulers could rewrite as they pleased.

And it had been a long time. Uchiha Madara's story went back to the founding of the Leaf Village, fifty years ago.

In fifty years, the Ninja Clans had gone through three generations. The Ninjas of this generation had forgotten the Uchiha Clan's ultimate power.

The fact that Senju Tobirama hadn't written a book denouncing Uchiha Madara was already a sign of magnanimity. Most people would have branded him the greatest criminal in history and nailed him to the pillar of shame forever.

The leaders of the various Ninja Clans all stared at the Third Hokage, hoping to confirm his news one more time.

When the Civilian Ninjas saw how serious the clan Ninjas were, their smiles faded.

Looks like this Uchiha Madara might be trouble!

Ninja Clans all had their own family traditions. Their records of history might not be complete, but they wouldn't raise stupid children.

Choza and Inoichi exchanged a glance with Shikaku. No wonder the Third Hokage hadn't brought the Uchiha along.

If the Uchiha Ninjas heard that their Old Ancestor was still alive, would they defect on the spot? Then shout, "Though Madara's spirit returned too late, he'll turn the Uchiha against the Leaf!"

"Ahem..."

Jiraiya coughed up two mouthfuls of blood. Minato hurried to his side.

"Teacher!"

"Mi...nato..."

The Third Hokage ignored the Ninjas' questions and went over to check on his most trusted student.

"Jiraiya!"

Jiraiya cracked his eyes open and looked weakly at the Third Hokage. "...Old man, where's Orochimaru?"

The Third Hokage looked at Minato.

Minato lowered his head without saying a word. When he left, he had seen the Wood Golem Arhat slam a fist down on Orochimaru.

He was probably already...

Seeing Minato remain silent, Jiraiya seemed to understand. His face turned pale.

The Third Hokage clenched his fist so hard that the veins stood out.

His most promising student... was dead!

Some of the clan Ninjas had started wetting themselves.

Jiraiya had been beaten within an inch of his life, Orochimaru had been killed, and Tsunade was nowhere to be found.

Uchiha Madara really was alive!

Heavens! The Ninja World was doomed!

Fighting back his grief, the Third Hokage stepped forward and asked Jiraiya, "Jiraiya, where's Tsunade?"

Before Jiraiya could answer, the Slug on his chest spoke. "Lord Tsunade was captured by Uchiha Madara. He handed her over to Ryobu, saying he would marry Hashirama's granddaughter to his grandson."

After the Slug finished speaking, it grew smaller and smaller. In the blink of an eye, it had used up all its Chakra and disappeared.

Jiraiya's face grew even paler. Minato feared that he wouldn't last much longer if they kept talking, so he quickly gave the Third Hokage a look.

The Third Hokage understood immediately. "Jiraiya, don't worry. We'll rescue Tsunade. The most important thing for you now is to rest."

Jiraiya struggled to cough twice, then forced the words out. "Teacher, I have important information to share."

"Jiraiya, listen to me!"

"Teacher, I can feel how bad my injuries are. I'm not going to last much longer. I'm the only one here who knows about Uchiha Madara. Let me finish what I have to say."