The Trap

Looking at the enormous hole before him, Uchiha Madara fell into thought. A moment later, a faint smile appeared on his face. "Interesting. I never expected someone to dare pluck the tiger's whiskers."

He had not been at the base before this. Instead, he had chosen a secluded place to live in seclusion. As time passed, the grief caused by Hashirama's death had gradually eased.

Recently, however, he had noticed unusual activity in the Hashirama cells within his body. That was why he had risen and come to the Akatsuki base for a thorough examination. He had not expected to encounter this scene.

He lightly leaped down, following the hole Otsutsuki Guiyan had blasted open into the base's passageway. Ninja corpses lay fallen on both sides. When he saw the corpse of an Uchiha clansman wearing a cat-faced mask, anger flashed across his face before vanishing.

"Looks like someone truly has a death wish."

Tap, tap... Clear footsteps echoed through the base as Otsutsuki Guiyan constantly surveyed his surroundings. Even with his standards, he had to admit that this base was built on a grand scale. Leaving aside the maze-like bridges outside, the passage he was walking through alone had walls at least twenty meters apart. The walls were

made of grayish-white metal plating, and the surroundings were as bright as day.

"This base must span at least several hundred li." Thinking of the intricate bridges from before, Otsutsuki Guiyan sighed softly. Calling this place a base would be less accurate than calling it an underground city.

"I really want to meet the leader here." As he walked, he pondered inwardly. He suspected that the leader of this base was the powerful individual who had awakened the Rinnegan.

After all, the Uchiha clansmen he had encountered upon entering had given