The Fifth Chapter

The senses deceived you, yet you didn't even dare fight back against the illusion.

You feared reality even more than you feared falsehood.

Before your eyes lay nothing but darkness and emptiness.

You knew neither the direction nor the way back, nor whether the next step would bring death or the hope of escape.

All you could do was take one step after another into the vast unknown.

You wanted to speak, yet feared the answer—or the lack of one.

Perhaps you knew full well there would be no answer.

What were you afraid of, and what did you yearn for?

Darkness, utter silence, unfathomable depths.

This was a fear etched into human nature, an inescapable part of existence.

Loneliness and the unknown.

Standing high above, in the dark, in the void, at the threshold between life and death, the messenger of Hades looked down upon humanity, toying with his claws as he toyed with the secrets buried deep in people's hearts—haughty and full of contempt.

Matatabi, what a wonderful surprise you've brought me!

After wandering through the pitch-black darkness for a long time, Uchiha Madara showed not the slightest panic. Instead, a pleased smile spread across his face. If he'd been merely curious at first, now he was determined to claim this power!

Outside the illusion, alarm bells rang in Matatabi's mind. It slowed its breathing and continued feeding chakra into the illusion. Most people trapped in this world without light, sound, or scent, where they couldn't even sense their own existence, broke down in less than half a day. Yet this human had stayed there calmly for three whole days! What a freak! Were you even human? Matatabi licked its paws, feeling a little vexed.

Still, it had been a long time since it had met someone this entertaining. Matatabi rallied. With a lifespan beyond measure, it had seen plenty of strange things; this little setback was nothing. Its catlike eyes narrowed with interest, and it flicked its tail. "Meow~ Let's see how long you can hold out!"

Who knew how much longer it went on—perhaps a dozen minutes, perhaps several months. People who remained in darkness for long periods couldn't accurately sense the passage of time. In the dead silence, memories of the past surfaced in his mind like stirred-up mud and algae, jumbled and hazy, like a final flicker before death. Then, as if a film had ended, everything faded into a void.

Memories of his previous life faintly rose to the surface, only to be forcibly suppressed by some unknown power. The feeling of being watched in the darkness slowly faded, but the sensation of his soul being torn apart grew ever more pronounced.

At last, the illusion changed a little. Madara suppressed his discomfort and released his mental energy to search the way ahead. He paused, then made a subtle turn to the left—even though he knew there were no obstacles around him.

Light suddenly stabbed into his pupils. Madara squinted and blinked in discomfort, then gradually made out the exit ahead.

It was a very realistic exit: black rock walls, air that stirred faintly, and patches of moss clinging to the stone. His spirits lifted, and he hurried out.

He had seen the light of day again.

Everything seemed to have settled. Madara let out a soft breath. He'd finally made it out!

His wooden sandals pressed into the soft grass. Birds chirped all around him, and a gentle breeze carried the faint fragrance of grass and trees. Of the twelve Military Ration Pills in the pouch at his waist, only three remained, each enough to sustain him for a day. Madara picked a peach-blossom-flavored one as a snack.

A golden chipmunk poked its head out of the grass. Its round, black eyes darted around, then it zipped behind a tree and scampered up the trunk. Huh? Hey, hey, hey! Why am I flying?

Long, slender fingers pinched the little creature by the scruff and brought it to his chest. The chipmunk found itself in a dark but very warm place. It clutched the soft fabric with its tiny paws, trying to climb up, but plopped back down. After several tries, it finally gave up and huddled there, eyes brimming with tears.

Madara scratched the little creature's fur in approval.

...Lord Madara, just how good is the quality of your clothes?!

Feeling a little more at ease, Uchiha Madara began carefully observing his surroundings. The familiar woods, the familiar path, and the familiar-looking windmill in the distance... He remembered this place. It was the outskirts of Muyun City in the Land of Lightning.

Wasn't I... Where was I? The Land of Lightning? Why was I in the Land of Lightning? Right, the Uchiha Clan's main compound was here, so I... must be here.

Muyun City had originally been a lowly town called Guyuan. After he expanded the clan's influence outward, Guyuan had become a natural hub for merchants. In just seven years, it had rapidly developed into one of the foremost cities in the Land of Lightning. The Uchiha Clan naturally had its own business establishments, reception centers, and intelligence posts there.

A faint peach-blossom fragrance drifted on the breeze from somewhere in the city. Uchiha Madara disliked cherry blossoms, whose bloom was short and intense and whose petals fell too easily, making them a nuisance. He'd ordered a vast peach grove planted in the newly built Muyun City, and it had become a distinctive sight.

Pale blossoms drifted, like a spring dream; wine warmed the songs rising over Muyun City.

Something seemed to flash through his mind. Madara furrowed his brow almost imperceptibly. What was that? A haiku?

...No.

What was it?

"...Brother, why not cherry blossoms?"

"Does Izuna dislike peach blossoms?"

"No... It's just a little strange. Don't people usually plant cherry trees?"

"Cherry blossoms bloom for too short a time, and they're not very useful. They can't compare to peach blossoms. When spring comes, the grass is fresh and fragrant, and fallen petals scatter everywhere. They'd grow into a grove along the stream, just like the saying goes: 'Peach blossoms drift away with the flowing water, leading to another world, far from the mortal realm.' We could build a simple retreat on the outskirts of Muyun City, by the mountains or the water. Doesn't Izuna like the peaceful life of ordinary people? When you have some free time, you could come stay here for a while. Flowers in spring, fruit in summer, and beautiful scenery all year round."

"Ah, hearing you say that makes me eager to go already!"

Something seemed wrong. What was it...?

A warmth touched his fingertip, followed by a faint sting. Madara returned to his senses and looked down. The little creature in his arms gazed up at him with round eyes. It was hungry! It wanted food!

He had only just reached the peach grove outside the city. The warm breeze made passersby drowsy as they strolled along the cobblestone path in twos and threes, carrying sake and food boxes on their spring outings. All was peaceful and cheerful. The peach blossoms stretched as far as the eye could see, and the main city was still some distance away. For the first time, Madara regretted having so many peach trees planted.

Didn't chipmunks eat hazelnuts or something? Where was he supposed to find those? He stroked the little creature's back to soothe it, but it kept squirming around.

Madara's lips curled up. He fished a chestnut-flavored Military Ration Pill from his pouch and gave it to the little creature. Uchiha-brand Military Ration Pills tasted even better than candy!

At last, it settled down.

They traveled in silence until they reached the gates of Muyun City. Six guards were checking people's passes at the entrance. Madara pulled out the Uchiha Clan identification plate he wore close to his body. The guards' expressions changed at once. They exchanged glances, then one finally said hesitantly, "Uchiha... sir, please come in."

Madara's expression remained unchanged, but his heart slowly sank. Something must have happened to the clan...

The main street was much wider than those in other towns. Shops lined it, and neat rows of street stalls stood on either side. The streets were packed with people, bustling with activity.

"Fresh flowers~ Pretty flowers~ One hundred ryo each!"

"Dumplings~ Sweet dumplings~ Savory dumplings~ Octopus dumplings~ Fresh off the griddle~!"

"Would you like to try our Muyun City wontons, sir?"

Wontons...?

That sense of incongruity surfaced again. Madara froze for a moment, then turned and entered a dessert shop marked with a Gunbai emblem.

As soon as he showed his identification plate, the manager became even more deferential. He personally arranged a top-tier private room and served a full meal.

"Sir, please eat first. Lord Yan will be here shortly."

"Uchiha Yan?"

"Yes."

"You may leave."

The manager bowed and left the private room. Madara looked at the table full of delicious-looking dishes and prodded them with his chopsticks. He didn't seem to want to eat... Military Ration Pills could provide nutrition, but they couldn't ease hunger. Still, when he faced the meal, all he felt deep down was revulsion.

The chipmunk in his arms chirped and leaped onto the table, scampering all over it. The food was soon a mess, and now he couldn't eat it even if he wanted to.

"...Sir?" a server asked in surprise, hurrying in at the noise.

"This little thing made a mess." Madara tapped the chipmunk's paw. Its fluffy tail curled up in a sulky display. Madara's lips curved into a smile. "You don't need to prepare anything else."

"Yes." The server cleaned up the mess, then left a small plate of sweets before departing. Madara seemed to understand why. He glanced at it once, then ignored it.