Land of Frost, Mountain Pasture. Located in a remote, uninhabited corner of the Shinobi World, this was a secluded place. After temporarily setting up the secret base, Uchiha Madara decided to travel the Shinobi World. The purpose of this expedition was chiefly to search for the Nine-Tails.
A few days later, clues indicated that someone had spotted the Nine-Tails within the Land of Lightning, where it had also fought a fierce battle against Kumogakure's pursuing forces.
However, Madara received unexpected intelligence at a rural tavern.
"Have you heard? That Uchiha Madara is searching all over the Shinobi World for the Nine-Tails!"
As he drank and ate, Uchiha Madara froze upon suddenly hearing this and looked toward the tavern patrons speaking.
They were two caravan leaders who made their living as traveling merchants, their weathered faces etched with hardship.
"How could I not have heard? The news has practically spread across the entire Shinobi World."
Who was it!?
Madara's expression tightened. Who had guessed my plan!?
Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Not even Hashirama knew what I was planning!
"Tell me, after Uchiha Madara catches the Nine-Tails, will things really develop that way?" one of them asked mysteriously.
Develop how? Madara's brow furrowed deeply.
"Going by common sense, it's almost certain," the man said darkly. "There will inevitably be a life-or-death battle between the God of the Shinobi World and Uchiha Madara—a world-shaking battle to the death."
Uchiha Madara's face darkened at those words.
"That's true..." The two continued discussing all manner of things they had encountered on the road.
Madara ate in silence, his expression grim.
He racked his brains, yet could not figure out where the information had leaked from.
But an inevitable battle?
It was true, but it still irritated him immensely.
A dangerous gleam flashed in Uchiha Madara's eyes.