Meeting Madara Uchiha Again (Second Update—Please Support and Bookmark)

Konohagakure.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed.

First came the funds from the Land of Lightning to purchase the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails. Then, people from the Land of Earth and the Land of Waterfalls arrived in Konoha with their funds.

Since the Land of Water was farthest from Konoha, its people arrived late, only after the representatives of the other countries had departed.

After Konoha and Kirigakure completed the exchange of funds for the Three-Tails and Six-Tails, Hashirama Senju threw in a Sealing Jutsu for sealing Tailed Beasts.

Over the past few days, neither Byakuren nor Hozuki Gengetsu had taken the initiative to mention Takenaka Kaguya visiting Hashirama Senju's home, as though nothing had happened.

What was more, after tearing off all pretense last time, Hozuki Gengetsu wore a smile whenever he saw Takenaka Kaguya, as if they had already buried the hatchet.

Unfortunately, under Takenaka Kaguya's top-tier Observation Haki, their thoughts could not be hidden from him at all.

Once the funds and Tailed Beasts had been handed over, Takenaka Kaguya was just about to leave Konoha with Byakuren's group when a Konoha Ninja suddenly appeared and cupped his hands toward him. "Lord Takenaka Kaguya, Lord Madara Uchiha requests your presence."

Takenaka Kaguya did not find this strange. After all, Madara Uchiha had not sought him out these past several days. Now that he was about to leave Konoha, Madara Uchiha naturally wanted an answer from him to the question that had troubled him for days.

However, Byakuren and Hozuki Gengetsu, standing nearby, looked somewhat unnatural, their faces even darkening for a moment.

"Lord Byakuren, why don't you go on ahead? Once I've met Madara Uchiha, I'll catch up with you quickly." Takenaka Kaguya noticed their reaction, but he did not care what Byakuren and Hozuki Gengetsu thought of him.

After all, Hozuki Gengetsu had already torn off all pretense with him, while Takenaka Kaguya's top-tier Observation Haki had exposed Byakuren's truest thoughts. He no longer wished to keep up the false cordiality with Byakuren.

"Fine!"

Byakuren gave a stiff smile, as if he truly did not care in the slightest.

Yet seeing Byakuren agree so readily, Hozuki Gengetsu immediately said coldly, "Takenaka Kaguya, I hope you remember your identity. Don't forget the relationship between us and Konoha."

Once those words fell, the Konoha Ninja who had come to notify Takenaka Kaguya looked somewhat surprised, but he said nothing.

Takenaka Kaguya likewise said nothing. He merely turned to glance at Hozuki Gengetsu, nodded, and followed the Konoha Ninja away.

A moment later, watching Takenaka Kaguya's retreating back, Hozuki Gengetsu said coldly, "Teacher, we truly cannot keep indulging that fellow Takenaka Kaguya. If he really betrays the village, it will be a tremendous blow to us."

Byakuren naturally understood this, but he shot Hozuki Gengetsu an annoyed look and warned, "I have my own judgment. And Gengetsu, I know what you're thinking, so put away your little schemes.

"Also, don't show that dissatisfied expression in front of outsiders again. Are you afraid Konoha's people don't know that you and Takenaka Kaguya are at each other's throats and cannot get along?"

Seeing Byakuren expose his little scheme the moment he spoke, Hozuki Gengetsu did not dare argue. He had indeed done it deliberately, merely to make the matter a fait accompli.

Or rather, to force Byakuren to make a choice.

He simply had not expected Byakuren to be so wary of Takenaka Kaguya. Even though Hozuki Gengetsu knew Byakuren had already made up his mind, he still did not dare reveal it at a time like this.

"Yes, Teacher. This disciple knows his mistake," Hozuki Gengetsu admitted respectfully.

"Enough. Let's go. We'll leave Konoha first and wait for him to catch up slowly."

Byakuren nodded, then turned and led the people of Kirigakure out of Konoha.

Meanwhile, on Takenaka Kaguya's side.

As they proceeded, Takenaka Kaguya discovered that Madara Uchiha intended to meet him within the Uchiha Clan compound.

It had to be said that Tobirama Senju was not without reason in believing that the Uchiha Clan needed to be guarded against for Konoha's stability.

Judging solely by the current number of Ninja in the Uchiha Clan, Takenaka Kaguya had never found so many Jonin in any clan within Kirigakure.

Factor in the hatred between the Uchiha and Senju Clans, and Tobirama Senju's vigilance toward the Uchiha Clan was entirely understandable.

After all, how could one allow others to sleep soundly beside one's bed? Especially a clan that could gain great power at any moment and constantly sought to become Konoha's upper echelon, or even Hokage.

In the original Naruto story, perhaps because of his hatred for the Uchiha Clan, or perhaps because of his own pride, after discovering the depth of the Uchiha Clan's love, Tobirama Senju stubbornly concluded that they were vessels of hatred and even called them inherently evil.

Even Kagami Uchiha, an anomaly among the Uchiha Clan, only made Tobirama Senju's judgment somewhat less absolute.

However, from Tobirama Senju's perspective, he could not possibly gain an in-depth understanding of every Uchiha clansman. Thus, in the original story, his apprehension and wariness toward the Uchiha Clan led him to impose a blanket policy.

As for whether Tobirama Senju's treatment of the Uchiha Clan was right or wrong, without God's perspective, no one truly knew.

But for Takenaka Kaguya, if he were Tobirama Senju, he would never be so wary of the Uchiha Clan. After all, once they had lost Madara Uchiha, they were merely people for him to manipulate as he pleased.

Of course, whether Hashirama Senju's death because of Madara Uchiha was also a factor in Tobirama Senju's decision to treat the Uchiha Clan that way was another matter entirely.

Before long, when the Konoha Ninja brought Takenaka Kaguya to the entrance of a large residence, he respectfully said, "Lord Takenaka Kaguya, Lord Madara is waiting for you inside. Please enter."

"Alright!"

Takenaka Kaguya nodded and pushed open the gate.

Before him lay an empty courtyard that looked somewhat desolate.

Madara Uchiha sat in the courtyard, watching Takenaka Kaguya with a smile.

"I didn't expect you to have me come here to meet you." Takenaka Kaguya smiled and, like an old friend, casually walked over and sat before Madara Uchiha.

"Hahaha, then where do you think I should have met you?

"Compared to Hashirama's place, mine isn't bad either, is it?" Madara Uchiha laughed heartily as he personally poured Takenaka Kaguya a cup of tea.

Taking the tea, Takenaka Kaguya nodded and looked around. Then he commented, "The surroundings are somewhat better than the Hokage's place, but there is no sense of life here. The fact that none of your clansmen live even near your residence shows that the Uchiha Clan truly fears and reveres you from the bottom of their hearts."