Madara felt that the road beneath his feet was wider and sturdier than it had been before as he headed toward the village.
Carriages occasionally sped past, and he marveled to himself at how much more prosperous Konoha's trade had become.
The villagers he met along the way wore smiles on their faces. His keen senses told him they were genuine, filled with longing and hope for the life they led.
His heart began to race.
He couldn't wait to return to Konoha, which he had been away from for so long, and see the changes with his own eyes.
He quickened his pace.
His figure flickered into the dense forest.
With each beat of his heart, chakra surged into his body, already poised for action.
At the forest's edge, he saw the village standing on the land. His eyes flickered as he took in the sight. Konoha had indeed undergone a dramatic transformation.
The statue on Kage Rock was still Hashirama, but the village below bore little resemblance to the one in his memories. Its area had expanded more than threefold.
The gates, too, had grown from the original four main entrances to eight.
It was a massive city disguised as a village, its developed area several times larger than the Land of Fire's bustling Daimyo Mansion.
Thud!
Madara leaped down from a branch. The Barrier around the village couldn't stop him; he entered as easily as if there were no guards at all.
"Transformation Jutsu!"
As the smoke cleared, Madara's appearance had changed. He took out a kunai and examined his reflection. It was an utterly ordinary face, the kind no one would notice in a crowd.
Disguised, Madara strolled leisurely down the street.
He carefully observed Konoha's streets. Unlike before, when they had sold ninja tools and