Tobirama Senju's expression darkened abruptly.
Uchiha Madara had come from the direction of the Land of Fire's border, along the route leading to the Land of Rain. That was precisely the route Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others were supposed to take.
Had something happened to Hiruzen and the others?
The moment that thought surfaced, Tobirama Senju's heart sank. If that were true, the situation was disastrous. Hiruzen Sarutobi was the disciple he had painstakingly trained, and his first choice for Konoha's next Hokage.
What was more, Hiruzen had come with Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Torifu Akimichi, and others. They were all elites of Konoha's younger generation, each a future pillar of the village.
If they had all fallen along the way... Tobirama Senju dared not think any further.
Nearby, Uchiha Ao was equally surprised by Uchiha Madara's arrival.
He knew perfectly well that Uchiha Madara was not dead. Not only had the man survived, he had clung to life for more than another decade. Even then, the legendary shinobi Asura had still been alive, and had taught that twisted, evil brat, Obito Uchiha.
But the question was, why had Uchiha Madara come here now?
Could it be... A sudden realization flashed through Uchiha Ao's mind.
Tobirama Senju's death was connected to Uchiha Madara.
He had always found it strange that Tobirama Senju, a master of the Flying Thunder God Technique, could have been overwhelmed and killed by Kinkaku and Ginkaku, two brutes who only knew how to wield nine-tails chakra.
It simply made no sense.
With Tobirama Senju's strength and the Flying Thunder God Technique's elusive movements, if he wanted to escape, how could those two worthless fools, Kinkaku and Ginkaku, possibly stop him, let alone kill him?
But Uchiha Madara's appearance today neatly answered that question.
It seemed Uchiha