"More or less."
Setsuna Uchiha answered blandly.
He forced himself to keep his body under control, revealing not the slightest abnormality.
Yet the unconscious hunch in his back still exposed the weakness beneath his bluster.
Noticing Uchiha Shingen's questioning gaze, Setsuna Uchiha explained, "We hadn't seen each other in many years. He returned to the village this time, so we happened to catch up here."
"I heard from Shisui that something went wrong at the Chunin Exams, but judging by how you look, the situation should still be under control."
"Not exactly."
Uchiha Shingen shook his head, pulling a strained smile. "I was one step away from being driven into a corner."
"That guy known as Sasori of the Red Sand was strong—the strongest ninja I've ever fought."
"Including me?!"
Setsuna Uchiha's gaze froze. When he said that, he did not look at Uchiha Shingen. Instead, his eyes fell on Madara beside him.
He had thought Madara had come alone, never expecting him to have a companion.
And based on Uchiha Shingen's description, this person's strength was likely enough to make him a major figure even across the entire ninja world.
"Who knows?!"
Madara replied indifferently. His hood concealed his face, making his expression impossible to see.
Yet Setsuna Uchiha could still make out the teasing smile at the corner of his mouth.
Madara continued, "You once roamed the ninja world freely. Even after Izuna's death, you fought Tobirama Senju for decades. But now, you're already an old man at death's door."
"You passed that sword technique you learned from Izuna down to this kid, didn't you?"
Setsuna Uchiha remained silent, merely staring quietly at the teacup on the table as tension gradually rose within him.
If Madara's previous claim that he was interested in Uchiha Shingen had merely seemed