One Year Later

Time flies, and it has already been a year since Obito arrived in the Naruto world.

Perhaps it was because he consumed the Three-Turn Golden Elixir, but he has grown significantly taller over the past year... his physique is now a head taller than his peers.

The novel is selling very well, and Xiaoxiaosheng is now considered a well-known novelist... I hear he even has many fanatical fans, which has truly caused some negative social impact.

Several bookstores couldn't resist the temptation of money and printed pirated copies, but after Cheping brought the Uchiha police force to pay them a visit, they all became well-behaved. They not only voluntarily handed over their illegal profits but also paid a hefty fine.

His peer Kakashi has already applied for graduation to become a glorious Konoha genin. One can see his busy figure every day, either catching cats or dogs. Obito even spent money to post missions, having Kakashi run errands for him several times. The feeling is, frankly, quite refreshing, especially seeing Kakashi looking unconvinced yet unable to do anything about it.

After spending a year together, Obito and Tsunade have become very close. Legends of them circulate through every casino in Konoha, earning them the title of the Big Spender Duo. Every gambler who mentions them gives a thumbs up, exclaiming, "Damn, they are truly loaded!"

"Call the landlord!" Tsunade said, flipping over the three hidden cards at the bottom. Not bad, there is a 2.

In the living room of Tsunade's house, three children are playing cards. He discovered not long ago in a casino that the Naruto world actually has playing cards.

After returning, he taught Tsunade and Shizune the game of "Dou Dizhu" that was once popular on Earth. Since then, it has become a daily routine for the three of them, playing until late every night after dinner. Obito also successfully secured the convenience of boarding at Tsunade's house.

Don't overthink it; they sleep in separate rooms.

Moreover, Obito discovered that Tsunade's gambling addiction has little to do with the amount of money; she simply enjoys the process. She plays the nightly games of Dou Dizhu with tens of thousands of ryo at stake just as happily and enthusiastically.

Playing until late into the night, Obito went straight to the room Tsunade had prepared for him to lie down. Thinking about things before sleep helps him drift off.

Another year closer to the main plot. Now that he hasn't become a registered ninja, he naturally won't be teamed up with Kakashi and Rin, so Rin shouldn't have to die, right? His eyelids grew heavier and heavier...

North of the border of the Land of Fire lies a no-man's-land, a massive graveyard where many powerful summoning beasts are buried. Skeletons the size of small mountains can be seen everywhere. It is known as the Graveyard of Mountains!

No one would ever imagine that Uchiha Madara, who is as famous as the God of Shinobi, is still alive! And he is right here in an underground base beneath this graveyard.

In the dim environment of the underground base, oil lamps placed in holes in the walls flicker, making the place feel even more eerie and terrifying.

Inside the base, there is a giant humanoid statue sitting cross-legged with nine closed eyes, its expression as painful as a demon or an Asura! Ten pillar-like protrusions extend from its back, resembling a humanoid tree with its branches hacked off! This is the husk of the Ten-Tails—the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path!

Sitting on a stone chair in front of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path is an old man, withered in appearance, with messy, straw-like hair covering one eye. His other eye is tightly shut. Several tubes behind him connect to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and his chest rises and falls weakly, proving he is still alive.

This decrepit old man is none other than Uchiha Madara!

"Go to Konoha and scout the Uchiha clan for children aged 4 to 7 with good aptitude. Investigate them thoroughly and come back to tell me." Madara's aged voice sounded weak and listless.

"Why must you choose the Uchiha clan?" The person speaking looks as if he were molded from white dough, with pale, sickly skin. It is White Zetsu.

"The Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha clan is one of the strongest powers in this world. Moreover, I understand the Uchiha; they become stronger after being baptized by pain! The more painful, the stronger! Just focus on gathering intelligence and don't ask questions!" Madara's tone deepened at the end.

"How could a low-grade experimental subject like you understand how great the Uchiha are! You stupid bastard! If I were a few decades younger, I wouldn't have any use for trash like you!"

Madara looks down on White Zetsu in his heart. If he weren't so old and frail, forced to rely on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to barely stay alive, he would rather work alone than use him! However, White Zetsu is decent at gathering intelligence; he is at least a piece of trash with some utility.

"Yes." As a remnant of Otsutsuki Kaguya's Infinite Tsukuyomi, White Zetsu's intelligence is fine, so he naturally sensed the displeasure in Madara's tone. However, he is already used to it... used to being treated as a tool that can be insulted and discarded at will! White Zetsu's body slowly sank into the ground and vanished.

Madara also closed his eyes. No one knows what he is thinking; perhaps it is skipping stones by the river with Hashirama in his youth, or perhaps it is their life-and-death battles...

The Hokage's office is brightly lit. The Third Hokage is still reviewing documents, holding a pipe in one hand and taking occasional puffs, exhaling thick clouds of smoke.

"Hiruzen, are you really going to let that brat from the Uchiha clan get close to Tsunade?"

Danzo stands in the shadows of the room; one wouldn't even notice someone was there if he didn't speak.

The Third Hokage doesn't even look up, continuing to review documents as he says, "What is there to fear from a child? Do not doubt Tsunade's loyalty to the village."

"Hmph! Your good student has been brooding over the death of Dan Katō and hasn't taken any missions for years. Furthermore, if that brat finds out about her hemophobia, it means the entire Uchiha clan will know! Hiruzen, you are too soft! As long as the Uchiha clan exists, they will always be a hidden danger!" Danzo said sinisterly.

"Danzo! Know your place! I am the Hokage; do not overstep your boundaries!" The Third Hokage finally looks up, his sharp eyes staring straight at Danzo, his deep forehead wrinkles forming several furrows, looking like an aging alpha wolf still possessing residual power.

"Hmph! The biggest mistake the teacher ever made was letting you become Hokage! My informant planted in the Uchiha clan received news that the brat awakened his Sharingan last year. He was only five years old last year! Do you still think he is an ordinary child? If the Uchiha produce another figure like Madara, can you still suppress them?" Danzo raged.

"I will say it again: I am the Hokage. Do your job, Danzo. As for whether the teacher's decision was a mistake, you can ask him yourself when you see him!" After saying this, the Third Hokage lowered his head and began reviewing documents again. Danzo took a deep look at the Third Hokage, stood up, and walked out.

"Do my job, hmph. Hiruzen, you really are a hypocritical person! If you want to be the good guy bathing in the sunlight, then let me be the villain!" Danzo's face was gloomy, and he had already made up his mind: this Uchiha brat must not be allowed to grow up! He must be nipped in the bud!