"Has the plot finally started?" Uchiha Shin murmured. Others might not know what Madara practicing stone skipping by the river meant, but he remembered. In the original story, hadn't Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama first met while skipping stones by a river?
Judging by the timing, the New Year had just passed, and Madara was now nine. That was roughly when he had met Senju Hashirama in the original story, too.
I can't miss this historic moment, Shin thought. He wasn't sure whether Uchiha Madara had already run into Hashirama, but now that he knew, he would be a disgrace to transmigrators if he didn't go join in.
So he ignored the shattered teacup scattered across the floor, rose, and headed out of the clan compound. Once outside, he became a dark blur darting through the trees at tremendous speed.
Slap... slap... slap...
A flat stone skipped across the water three times, then fell in with a plop.
Looking disgruntled, Uchiha Madara picked up another stone and tossed it in his hand twice. "Next time, I'm definitely getting it to the other bank," he said irritably.
Whoosh...
In a distracted instant, a stone flew past him from behind, skipped rapidly across the river three times, and landed on the opposite bank with a smack.
Uchiha Madara glanced back. A boy about his age was still holding his throwing pose. He wore a pale green shirt that was nearly white and a triangular white towel around his neck. The bowl cut on his head was particularly memorable.
"Remember to lift it a little when you throw. That's the trick," the boy with the bowl cut said with a friendly smile.
Madara turned around, looking annoyed. "Of course I know something that simple. If I throw properly, I can definitely make it.