Madara's Failing Health, Dividing the Inheritance

Third Hokage shouted, "Everyone, scatter! Don't bunch together."

All the Leaf Ninja scattered in every direction.

Third Hokage formed hand seals and cast a ninjutsu. "Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"

Earthen walls condensed into being, blocking Liao Wu's Ghost Lanterns.

The other Ninjas did not just stand by and watch either. One after another, they cast ninjutsu to hold off the Ghost Lanterns.

"Meat Tank!"

"Insect Wall Technique!"

"Heimaru!"

"Woof!"

"Fang Over Fang!"

With the Leaf Ninja's coordinated assault, they successfully exhausted Liao Wu's sure-kill technique.

Third Hokage flashed forward swiftly and pressed a Kunai against Liao Wu's neck.

"Liao Wu, it's over."

At that moment, Liao Wu did not even have the strength to stand steady, and he had not guarded against Third Hokage at all.

What puzzled Third Hokage was that Liao Wu did not show the panic of someone who had been caught. He remained calm and composed.

Liao Wu even still had the leisure to chat with Third Hokage about the past. "Third Hokage, if we went back to that day at the Ninja Academy, would you choose me as your subordinate?"

Liao Wu had one regret: when he graduated from the Ninja Academy, he had failed to be taken in as Third Hokage's Disciple.

Back then, apart from lagging behind in actual combat, Liao Wu had been at the level of a top student in every other area at the Ninja Academy, and he had also dreamed of receiving Third Hokage's guidance.

Most importantly, Liao Wu knew better than anyone that Sarutobi Hiruzen, who at the time was only a Jonin, would one day become Konoha's Third Hokage.

Liao Wu wanted to invest early. For one, it could change the Uchiha Clan's political position; for another, it could bring him closer to Tsunade.

But Third Hokage did not choose him, and after that, Liao Wu was casually manipulated by the Higher-ups.

Hearing Liao Wu's words, Third Hokage felt somewhat moved. Liao Wu still Cared About this matter a great deal.

If he had taken Liao Wu as a disciple back then and educated him properly, Liao Wu would not have become what he was now.

With his talent, once his Kekkei-genkai Illness was resolved, he would have had talent on par with Jiraiya and the others, and with the Sharingan added on, he would have been even greater.

But Third Hokage understood his own Teacher very well, as well as the Senju Clan's resistance toward the Uchiha. Taking Kagami Uchiha into the Shadow Guard had already been the greatest concession.

The people of the Senju Lineage had always guarded against the Ninjas of the Uchiha Clan.

"Sorry, Liao Wu!"

Third Hokage responded with some guilt.

Liao Wu burst into laughter, then gave a Cold Laugh. "Monkey, the grudges between you and me are settled. The next time we meet, it'll be life or death."

Third Hokage found it strange. Could Liao Wu still escape from his hands?

"Liao Wu, stop playing tricks. Behave yourself and tell us Madara Uchiha's intelligence, then properly accept judgment."

"Judgment? There's no one in this world who can judge me. Screw you, Heavenly God—"

"Explode!"

All of Liao Wu's last remaining Chakra transformed into Fire Attribute explosive Chakra. With a boom, he resolutely blew himself up.

Third Hokage rushed out of the explosion, his gaze somewhat complicated.

"Liao Wu, This Guy... even if it meant self-destruction, you still wouldn't accept Konoha's judgment?"

Minato and several Jonin walked to Third Hokage's side, looking at the Traces left after Liao Wu's self-destruction.

From beginning to end, Third Hokage had never believed that Liao Wu had come as a clone.

He did not think one of Liao Wu's clones could have held out for so long, or possessed that much Chakra.

The clue on Liao Wu's side was considered cut off, and Minato also had no way to learn Obito's whereabouts.

He was somewhat disappointed, but he still braced himself and looked at Third Hokage.

"Hokage-sama, what should we do now?"

Third Hokage looked in the direction of the Land of Grass. Madara Uchiha was within the borders of the Land of Grass; how could Third Hokage possibly just leave him alone?

But the Sannin had all been wiped out. Could ordinary Ninjas still deal with him?

When Sage Fukasaku left, he had specifically warned them that Madara Uchiha absolutely could not be confronted by force. Such Person had to be destroyed by gathering the power of the entire Ninja World.

Third Hokage made the following arrangements: leave a portion of reconnaissance-type Ninjas within the Land of Grass to monitor Madara Uchiha's movements, while the rest all withdrew to Konoha.

Third Hokage prepared to convene the Five Kage Summit and form a Ninja Alliance to crusade against Madara Uchiha.

"Lord Madara, the Leaf Ninja army has left!"

The Land of Grass, Kusagakure, the location of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Madara's Underground Base had been destroyed by Orochimaru's snakes, and Madara had abandoned that base as well.

Now that Madara had regained his youth, he no longer needed to hide.

He had simply brought the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and occupied Kusagakure.

By the time he arrived, Kusagakure's shinobi had already fled without a trace, so Madara settled down in Kusagakure.

At this moment, White Zetsu was reporting the situation in Konoha to Madara, while also telling him about some of Liao Wu's movements.

The giant snakes of Ryūchi Cave, the Fourth Shinobi World War...

Madara gave a cold laugh. "Orochimaru. What an Orochimaru. I didn't expect that Wood Golem's punch failed to kill him. He really is one stubborn snake."

As night drew close to dusk, Liao Wu followed his clone's signal and found Kusagakure.

On the way there, the Spore Clone had already sent back the memory of his confrontation with Konoha. The Leaf Village People thought he was dead.

In truth, he was not dead yet.

Liao Wu jogged toward the location of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Outside, he struck hard with heavy fists; at home, he had to act meek and submissive.

"Ancestor, your Grandson has already taken care of that Orochimaru. I didn't expect his life to be that tough. He was hit by Ancestor's Forbidden Technique and actually still survived."

Liao Wu observed Madara Uchiha out of the corner of his eye and discovered that tubes from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had once again been inserted into Madara's back, while part of his skin was still black.

It seemed Orochimaru's Poison Curse Mark was pretty fierce. Even now, Madara Old Demon still had not recovered.

"Ancestor, I see you're about done for too. Let's seize the opportunity and divide up the family assets!"

"Give Obito a few White Zetsu as girlfriends! The rest can go to me."

"Unfilial Descendant!"

Madara roared and slapped Liao Wu flying with one palm.

Madara was so angry he started coughing. Seeing this, Black Zetsu hurried forward to pat Madara's back.

"Lord Madara, please calm down. Don't let yourself be angered by such an ungrateful bastard."

Black Zetsu was a truly filial son and looked down the most on disloyal, unfilial people like Liao Wu, who were just like those two ungrateful bastards, Hamura and Hagoromo.

After Liao Wu made such a fuss, Madara did not bring up Liao Wu signing a contract with Ryūchi Cave.

At the level of Madara and Hashirama, Summoning Beasts could no longer keep up with their battles, unless they were Tailed Beasts like the Nine-Tails.

Madara looked down on Ryūchi Cave's giant snakes entirely.

But the White Snake Sage truly made people wary.

Madara had been struck by the White Snake Sage's Sage Snake Poison and had to rely on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to detoxify it. For the next few days, he probably would not be able to go to the Land of Rain to retrieve his own eyes.

He prepared to arrange for Liao Wu to go, but before that, he had to handle some matters first.

"Where is Obito? Bring Obito up here."

Liao Wu's Orange Cat, Fish Ball, called Tobi over to drag Obito up.

After Obito woke up, he was still stubborn.

"Let go of me! Let go of me!"

The moment Obito saw Madara Uchiha, he started cursing. "Madara Uchiha, your ambition to rule the Ninja World will never be realized! My teacher will definitely deal with you."