Uchiha Madara

While Uchiha Aoba was listening absentmindedly, Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato were discussing their countermeasures.

Meanwhile.

In a dark cave located somewhere in the ninja world.

An elderly man with white hair, on the verge of death, sat upright on a stone platform.

He held a scythe-like polearm in his hand, looking at a glance like a grim reaper capable of controlling life and death.

Behind the old man, a massive Demonic Statue with a hideous expression stood silently.

Several thin, tough, tube-like substances extended from the Demonic Statue, connecting to the old man's back and continuously pumping life force into him.

This old man was none other than the Asura of the ninja world who once made everyone tremble in fear: Uchiha Madara.

Unfortunately, time is a ruthless thing.

No one can escape the erosion of the years; even Uchiha Madara could now only barely cling to life with the help of the Demonic Statue.

The cave was silent.

Until a white figure with a spiral-patterned body emerged from the ground.

Uchiha Madara, whose aura was weak, finally reacted.

"Tobi, is it?"

"Hello, Lord Madara."

Tobi greeted him playfully before reporting, "I have some good news to tell you."

"The two children of the Uchiha Clan you asked me to keep an eye on."

"Uchiha Aoba and Uchiha Obito have both appeared at the front-line camp of the war between Konoha and Iwagakure."

"Hmm, how are the plans coming along?" Uchiha Madara asked in a low voice.

"No problem, I guarantee it will be implemented smoothly."

No expression could be seen on Tobi's face, but one could sense his mood from his tone.

Hearing Tobi's confident statement, Uchiha Madara felt slightly more at ease.

For the sake of his dream, the Eye of the Moon Plan, Uchiha Madara had waited too long to find a suitable proxy—so long that if not for the Demonic Statue supplying him with life force, the grass on his grave would likely be several meters high by now.

Fortunately, the heavens were still looking out for him.

Or so Uchiha Madara believed.

They had actually sent him two candidates at once who were qualified to be proxies for the Eye of the Moon Plan.

"When pushing forward with the plan, you must be especially careful to guard against that brat Aoba."

"Tobi, remember this."

"Lord Madara, I understand." Tobi's tone was now filled with seriousness. "The growth of this little guy is truly astonishing; a thirteen-year-old Kage-level powerhouse is simply unheard of."

"When I discovered this situation deep underground in his home at the time, it scared me so much I almost exposed myself."

"That is why he is only my second choice," Uchiha Madara said slowly.

"Although the proxy for the Eye of the Moon Plan should be as strong as possible to ensure the plan proceeds smoothly, compared to the brat Aoba who has already awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan at this stage..."

"Uchiha Obito's strength is weaker, and he hasn't even awakened his Sharingan yet, but he is much easier to control. As for his deficiencies in strength, I have plenty of ways to improve him."

"Very well, that is all I will say."

"Go down and have White Zetsu prepare. As soon as their squad acts independently, find a way to lure Namikaze Minato away. Before the war between Konoha and Iwagakure ends, you must bring Uchiha Obito back."

"I understand, Lord Madara."

After Tobi finished speaking, he sank back into the ground and vanished from Uchiha Madara's sight.

In the cave.

It became quiet once again.

"Achoo!"

After listening to the discussion between Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato, Uchiha Aoba had already left the command tent.

Just as he was about to go find Kakashi and the others, he suddenly felt an itch in his nose, causing him to sneeze.

"Which bastard is talking about me behind my back?"

Muttering to himself, Uchiha Aoba didn't take it too much to heart.

He was more concerned at the moment about the upcoming major battle, the head-on clash between Konoha and Iwagakure.

In this regard.

There was one thing Uchiha Aoba didn't quite understand: knowing that Iwagakure's logistics supply line was at Kannabi Bridge, why insist on a head-on battle?

Did they not know what it meant to "openly repair the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang"?

They knew how to use such clever tactics during the previous Battle of Kikyo City, yet this time they were thinking of a direct confrontation.

I don't get it, I really don't get it.

But then again, for Uchiha Aoba, he was more than happy to fight on the front lines.

This meant he could eliminate more enemies and rapidly increase his system panel fusion rate once again.

Therefore, when Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato were discussing, even though Uchiha Aoba sensed something amiss, he didn't speak up to offer a reminder, choosing instead to just listen with his ears the entire time.

Currently, his fusion rate had reached 46.1%, leaving him only 4.9% away from the next stage.

He was very confident that he would reach his target value on the upcoming battlefield.

Guided by a member of the Logistics Department, Uchiha Aoba arrived at the tent where Kakashi and Uchiha Obito were staying.

As for Nohara Rin, she was certainly in the area designated for female ninjas.

At this moment, the two of them were arguing about something again, completely disregarding the gazes of those around them.

They only quieted down once they saw Uchiha Aoba.

"I'm telling you, you've been traveling for so long, don't you feel tired at all?"

"If you don't hurry up and rest to adjust yourselves, will you even have the energy to kill enemies and earn merit once we hit the battlefield?"

"Aoba, it's not that I want to argue, it's that idiot Kakashi who started it."

"Was I wrong to say it?"

Regarding Uchiha Obito's attempt to complain, Kakashi shot him a look of disdain before saying to Uchiha Aoba, "Aoba, you know me. Unless Obito does something stupid, I can't even be bothered to pay him any mind."

"If I hadn't pulled him back earlier, this guy would have followed Nohara Rin all the way to the female ninjas' living quarters."

"I didn't do it on purpose."

Uchiha Obito's face flushed red as he defended himself, "I was just thinking about something and got distracted."

"Sigh, I really don't know what to say to you."

Uchiha Aoba sighed, "Obito, we are currently on the front lines, which means war could break out at any moment. So, I'm begging you, please put your love-struck brain away for now."

"No matter what you're thinking about or what you want to do, leave it all for after the war is over."

"You should know that a lack of focus on the battlefield gets people killed."

Hearing these words, an apologetic look appeared on Uchiha Obito's face, "Sorry, it won't happen again."

"Alright, no need to say it out loud; just realize the severity of it yourself."

Uchiha Aoba waved his hand. Looking at Uchiha Obito, Kakashi, and the others in the tent, he said sternly, "Everyone, hurry up and rest. You all know I just came back from Lord Jiraiya."

"So, I can tell you all clearly: a major battle is waiting for us."