Konoha, I, Madara Uchiha, King's Return!

evening

As the sun slowly sank below the horizon, it painted the sky with a gentle orange-red hue.

"Konoha... I truly miss it."

"I, Madara Uchiha, have returned!"

Madara Uchiha stood on a high ground, looking at Konoha not far away, and couldn't help but sigh.

Since faking his death and escaping after his battle with Hashirama, Madara Uchiha has never returned to Konoha, focusing solely on awakening the Rinnegan and implementing his Moon's Eye Plan.

"Third Hokage of Konoha, Uchiha, I hope you won't disappoint me."

Madara Uchiha formed hand Hand Seals and cast the Transformation Technique Jutsu. After disguising himself, he slowly walked towards Konoha. This time, he returned to the village specifically to investigate Uchiha Nan, to find an opportunity to let Uchiha Nan see the truth of this Ninja world, and then persuade Uchiha Nan to join the great plan of the Eye of the Moon!

"Is Konoha really that good now? I haven't even entered Konoha yet!"

Madara Uchiha walked on the hard cement road. Although the sun had not yet completely set, the streetlights on both sides were already on, and there were vendors hawking their wares on both sides of the road, selling simple rice balls and tea.

Once you enter Konoha to buy food, the prices will be a bit higher. Shops and street stalls all charge you money. Outside the village, which is still a no-man's-land, saving money will make the food cheaper.

Workers finishing their night shifts at sweatshops often frequent this place. They get tired of eating protein cubes all the time and need a change. This roadside stall is cheap, plentiful, and filling. It's great!

Has Konoha become so wealthy that they've even built roads outside the village?

And this light is really bright!

The cries of roadside vendors attracted a group of workers finishing their night shift. They bought dinner and squatted in small groups by the roadside, chatting and joking under the streetlights while eating heartily.

Madara Uchiha at the scene, his heart stirred with emotion. Any ordinary person who came to Konoha for the first time would be amazed by this scene.

Madara Uchiha slowed his pace involuntarily, perhaps because he was getting old. Madara Uchiha was now enjoying the atmosphere—peaceful and harmonious.

"This is... my statue?"

Upon reaching the entrance to Konoha, two enormous stone sculptures stand on either side of the gate, guarding Konoha like gatekeepers.

Madara Uchiha somewhat curious. He knew very well his status in Konoha; he would undoubtedly be labeled a rogue ninja by Tobirama Senju. And indeed, he had defected from Konoha. Bearing the title of a rogue ninja, why would his statue be placed at the main gate of Konoha, just like Hashirama's?

"A tribute to Madara Uchiha, the uncrowned shadow of Konoha"

A line of red characters was engraved on the base of the statue, and after reading it, Madara Uchiha's emotions were instantly stirred.

As the founder of Konoha, Madara Uchiha passed the position of First Hokage to Hashirama Senju. According to their plan, Madara Uchiha would become the Second Hokage of Konoha.

It was only because of a certain treacherous villain that the Second Hokage of Konoha was unable to become Madara Uchiha. This also became the opportunity for Madara Uchiha to later resolve to awaken the Rinnegan according to the method under the stone tablet and realize the Moon's Eye Plan.

On that day, Madara Uchiha was betrayed; the Senju did not accept the Uchiha. Suspicion and jealousy still lingered between people.

Nevertheless, Madara Uchiha still harbored a deep desire to become the Hokage of Konoha. Though faint, it was undeniable.

"The Uncrowned Shadow. The Uncrowned Shadow sounds pretty good."

Madara Uchiha murmured to himself, immediately guessing who was behind all this. The only person in Konoha who could clear his name and have the authority to place his statue at the gate of Konoha was Uchiha Nan.

This is truly interesting; Madara Uchiha is becoming increasingly curious about Uchiha Nan.

Even before entering the village, Madara Uchiha had a premonition that this return to Konoha would bring him some interesting discoveries.

"Stop!"

"What's your name? Age? Gender? Where are you from?"

The ninjas guarding the Konoha Gate stopped Madara Uchiha, who was trying to enter the Konoha.

"Hey! Run Er, watch your manners, don't scare the old man."

"Don't take it to heart, sir. This is a routine check. There have been far too many merchants coming to Konoha to do business lately, so there's a new regulation that everyone entering or leaving Konoha must register here."

The ninja standing next to Run Er spoke in a much gentler tone. After explaining Konoha's new regulations to Madara Uchiha, the ninja guarding the Konoha Gate led Madara Uchiha into a room next to the gate.

The room contains a genjutsu specially designed by Konoha, specifically used to identify spies from other ninja villages with ill intentions; even weaker Jonin can fall into it.

"Madara Pillar"

56 years old

"Coming to Konoha to do business."

Madara Uchiha naturally noticed the genjutsu in the room. However, this level of genjutsu had negligible effect on Madara Uchiha, so he casually revealed his false identity and passed the check smoothly.

"Welcome to Konoha, Madara Pillar."

"This is a poster for immigrating to Konoha. Buy a new house in Konoha. It's fully equipped with amenities, including electricity and a water heater. All the dining, entertainment, and shopping options nearby are available. Just buy a house in Konoha and live there to obtain Konoha resident ID card."

"If you want to buy a shop in Konoha to do business, what's the current policy?"

"This is a map of Konoha, marking the Konoha's most bustling commercial street and entertainment district, which are brightly lit even at night."

As instructed by Uchiha Nan, the ninja on duty promoted Konoha's new policies to merchants traveling to and from the Konoha, encouraging businessmen from across the Ninja world to establish themselves and invest in Konoha.

He also handed Madara Uchiha a map of Konoha, welcoming merchants visiting Konoha to spend money Konoha.

"Okay. I understand."

Madara Uchiha watched as the ninja on duty, acting like salesmen, tirelessly promoted Konoha's new policies, highlighting which shops were worth investing in and which commercial street was the most fun.

I'm a bit out of touch with the times.

After putting away the promotional posters on the table, Madara Uchiha that he hadn't been back to Konoha for a long time. The current Konoha was so different from what he had imagined that Madara Uchiha decided to tour Konoha according to the map given to him by the ninja on duty.

On the map, a ninja wearing a green vest from Konoha is uttering a string of bold, elongated red characters.

"When you come to Konoha, you have to explore."

Let's go check this place out first. Listen to advice and you'll eat your fill. Since Konoha is promoting this commercial street so much, this place must be worth a visit.

Soon, Madara Uchiha entered Konoha. He strolled through the streets of Konoha, enjoying the streetlights, the passersby, the chirping of Insects, and the cool evening breeze. This was a wonderful experience for Madara Uchiha, a lonely old man who had spent most of his time in a dark underground cave.

This kind of life is really nice. Speaking of which, why hide in an underground cave to awaken the Rinnegan?

I am Madara Uchiha! Hashirama is dead. Although I am old now and my life force is still being drained by my eyes, so what?

There is still no one in the entire Ninja world who can rival him!

The idea is to buy a new house in Konoha and live Konoha. What's the difference between trying to awaken the Rinnegan Rinnegan Konoha and trying in an underground cave?

The moment this thought arose, it lingered in Madara Uchiha's mind like a spell, taking root and sprouting in an instant.

Madara Uchiha was enjoying his leisurely stroll as an elderly man, and not far behind him, a dark creature followed his Madara Uchiha.

"What's wrong with Madara Uchiha lately?"

"You just watched a movie, why can't you suppress your loneliness? Wouldn't it be better to stay in the underground cave and activate your Rinnegan?"

"Now it's even affecting Konoha!"

"What a terrible thing to do!"

Black Zetsu was filled with sorrow; his long-planned opportunity, which he had been working on for a thousand years, was finally making progress.

The fact that Uchiha, Madara Uchiha member of the Uchiha clan, possessed the Rinnegan and believed the story he left on the stone tablet, made him the perfect tool that God had given to Black Zetsu.

It's a pity. That "tool" guy has recently developed new ideas and become restless. He even dared to show his face and run back to his old employer, Konoha! What if he gets discovered? Will he just smash through Konoha and overturn the entire Ninja world?

Black Zetsu inwardly complained about Madara Uchiha, but his legs followed him closely, fearing that something might happen to Madara Uchiha.

There are so many people!

Madara Uchiha followed the light and walked forward until he arrived at the commercial street marked on the map. This was the most prosperous street in Konoha. The wealthy merchants and nobles of the Land of Fire, as well as the ninja clans of Konoha, had all invested heavily in this street. It was the most active free market in the entire Ninja world.

The nobles Konoha moved to Konoha love to spend money recklessly on this street. They spend lavishly on shopping, buying all sorts of luxury goods. Konoha even launched luxury products specifically for them. For example, bags and perfumes were all branded with the Konoha logo, and the prices skyrocketed afterward.

To enter the luxury boutiques of Konoha, one must possess a Konoha -specific black card, a symbol of status and wealth. Konoha from the first batch of black cards issued to nobles, other black cards are obtained through a referral system, requiring recommendations from two existing black card holders and approval from Konoha before a chance to acquire one.

This status-conscious purchasing method precisely targets the wealthy aristocrats who have nowhere to spend their money. This has also attracted a large number of wealthy merchants from the Ninja world to open shops here, making outstanding contributions to Konoha's GDP.

Madara Uchiha wandered through the streets, with pedestrians passing by like a tide. The bustling commerce Madara Uchiha, an old man who had lived since the Warring States Period, and he wandered around like a curious child.

His long-dormant heart was nourished by the popularity of Konoha, and he temporarily forgot about the Moon's Eye Plan he had been thinking about all along. The prosperous and peaceful world was exactly the ideal world that Madara Uchiha had always pursued, and all of this was right before his eyes.

I'm a little hungry.

Madara Uchiha wandered around for a long time, until his stomach began to protest. Even Madara Uchiha was ultimately made of flesh and blood and needed to eat human food.

Candied hawthorn berries.

"Stinky tofu"

"Mom, I want to eat roasted sweet potatoes, fragrant and sweet roasted sweet potatoes!"

Madara Uchiha followed his instincts and arrived at the food street. The entire street was filled with the temptation of delicious food, a forbidden place for those who wanted to lose weight by running, an area they could not touch.

Considering his teeth, Madara Uchiha thought for a moment and then chose a food that was easy for him to chew—roasted sweet potato.

Madara Uchiha walked to the roasted sweet potato stall. The stall owner wasn't an adult, but a little kid who was sitting on a stool, engrossed in doing his homework.

"Kid, I want to buy two roasted sweet potatoes."

Madara Uchiha, who spent most of his time hiding in underground caves, had probably not interacted with children for over ten years. His speech was still somewhat halting, and he wore a forced smile, trying his best to make his expression as kind as possible. He, Madara Uchiha, was always very gentle with children!

"Okay, Grandpa!"

Seeing a customer come to him, the little boy immediately put down his pen and skillfully took two roasted sweet potatoes from the stove.

After Madara Uchiha paid, the little boy saw Madara Uchiha standing there eating sweet potatoes and kindly lent Madara Uchiha a stool before going back to writing diligently.

"Sweet"

Madara Uchiha sat on a small stool, peeling open a sweet potato to reveal its yellow flesh. He took a bite, finding it soft, sweet, and glutinous. Watching the bustling crowd, he felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

"Hashirama. This is the kind of life he leads."

Madara Uchiha's old habit resurfaced; he became lost in everyday memories, muttering incoherently to himself.

"Grandpa, if you're thirsty, there's water here, it's free."

The little boy pointed to the teacups on the stall. Free boiled water was provided here; such thoughtful and humane service was what attracted more customers.

"Little one, what's your name?"

"Suke Ito. Itou Sousuke."

Madara Uchiha's thoughts were interrupted. He slowly stood up, walked to Suke Ito's side, and looked at Suke Ito's notebook— Chakra is the body.

"You're a student at the Ninja Academy, aren't you?" Madara Uchiha became somewhat interested, carefully examining the child before him. The faint fluctuations of Chakra, the subtle movements, the manipulation...

Madara Uchiha, with his discerning eye standing at the pinnacle of the Ninja world, immediately discerned Itou Sousuke's talent—that he would become a Genin genin, a nobody who could be killed with a simple Shuriken on the battlefield.

A pang of sadness flashed through Madara Uchiha's heart, as if he were witnessing the passing of a life; the Ninja world was still so cruel.

"Yes, I just enrolled in a school in Konoha this year. My mom and I were very lucky; we fled to Konoha. She works in a factory and even took out a loan to buy a house in Konoha."

"The Lord Hokage is an incredibly kind person. He gave us jobs and the opportunity to go to school. As long as we work hard, we can pay off the mortgage in twenty years."

"After school in the evening, I have time to come here and help my mom sell sweet potatoes."

Madara Uchiha managed to extract all of Itou Sousuke's family background and occupation in just a few words.

"Good boy." A smile crept across Madara Uchiha's lips.

"My teacher said I have very little talent and can only become Genin."

"As long as I graduate smoothly from the Ninja Academy and become Genin, Konoha will arrange a job for me. I can work on a construction team. The construction team can earn a lot of money, much more than my mother earns in the factory."

"I heard from my teachers at school that Konoha will eventually open factories all over the Ninja world, requiring many new types of multi-talented individuals. However, this will require further training at the new school established by the Lord Hokage."

"The Lord Hokage said that technology is the primary productive force. Only by mastering knowledge can one change their destiny and the entire Ninja world. Ninjas should not only engage in Ninjutsu but also study physics and chemistry."

"???"

Madara Uchiha was momentarily stunned by what Itou Sousuke, this kid, was saying.

Is this Ninja Academy teaches now?

How could someone kill someone if they weren't taught?

Esteemed Readers, Happy National Day! I need your votes!!