The heartwarming scene didn't last long.
Uchiha Izuna wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and looked up somewhat embarrassed.
He is older than everyone else present.
He kept crying and sobbing, and even he felt embarrassed.
"Uchiha Izuna, can we ask these people to leave now?"
Uchiha Kei patted his head.
Although Uchiha Izuna had grown old, he was still that boy in his eyes.
Uchiha Izuna did not answer immediately, but lowered his head and remained silent.
"What are you waiting for Uchiha Izuna?"
White Bone Momotao was somewhat anxious.
For so many years, she has followed Uchiha Kei's instructions, leading the White Bone Clan to live in seclusion in the mountains.
She wouldn't have appeared if it weren't for Uchiha Izuna's killings in recent years.
Now that her master has been found, she can't understand what reason Uchiha Izuna could possibly have not to go back.
"Teacher, there's no going back now."
Uchiha Izuna lowered his head deeply, his voice becoming very muffled.
Uchiha Kei did not press the matter further.
He was waiting for Uchiha Izuna's explanation.
"After you left, the relationship between the four of us got better and better, and our strength improved rapidly. The Uchiha and Senju also joined forces."
"Everything is moving in a positive direction; the peace that the brothers dreamed of seems to be coming soon."
Uchiha Izuna's voice was filled with sorrow.
Uchiha Kei listened quietly.
He also wanted to know what exactly caused Hashirama and Madara to break up again.
"My brother and Senju Hashirama disagreed on how to achieve peace, but in the end my brother compromised and agreed with Hashirama's approach."
"At that moment, something happened that changed the whole situation."
Uchiha Izuna clenched his fists tightly, his lowered face contorted in a ferocious expression.
Uchiha Kei frowned.
With the Uchiha and Senju clans joining forces, along with Hashirama, Madara, Tobirama, and Uchiha Izuna, their strength would easily sweep through the entire Warring States period.
What kind of events could change the situation?
Could it be...?
Black Zetsu?
"One day, my father suddenly summoned my brother and me back to work and told us something."
"About..."
"Eye of the Moon Plan!"
Uchiha Kei sighed.
Really.
The Black Zetsu was saving his mother has come out to cause trouble.
"Although my brother and I strongly opposed it, our father seemed to be bewitched. No matter how much we tried to persuade him, the Uchiha Clan still broke with the Senju Clan."
Uchiha Izuna's tears flowed uncontrollably once again.
Over the years, every time he dreams of this past, he feels immense regret.
If he had been more resolute back then...
Be more resolute!
Does that mean none of what happened later will occur?
Uchiha Kei listened quietly.
According to Uchiha Izuna's account, what happened later was largely the same as the original story, with not many differences.
The only difference might be the battle between Uchiha Izuna and Tobirama.
In the end, Tobirama showed mercy, and Uchiha Izuna did not die, but was in a state of suspended animation.
After that, Uchiha Izuna secretly sent Izuna to the White Bone Clan to train in swordsmanship in seclusion.
The news of Ban's death didn't reach the White Bone Clan until...
"Teacher, can you understand how I feel?"
Uchiha Izuna's voice sounded like that of a wounded little animal.
"My brother is dead... he died at the hands of Senju Hashirama!"
"There was no war, the Shinobi World was at peace, so why... why did Hashirama kill my brother?"
Uchiha Izuna raised his head and looked at Uchiha Kei for help.
Why?
Because of Madara's personality.
In a peaceful Shinobi World, there is no need for a ruthless and decisive Madara.
Konoha has stabilized...
There's no need for the Uchiha.
"I'm not reconciled! A man like my brother shouldn't have died in a place like this!"
Uchiha Izuna let out a painful roar.
He knew best the strength of Hashirama and Madara.
It must have been that my brother held back; otherwise, Hashirama alone could never have killed him.
The seeds of hatred were sown, Uchiha Izuna lured a group of members of the White Bone Clan away from the valley.
"Sandalus is not dead."
Uchiha Kei spoke softly.
Regardless of any other reasons, he was certain that Madara was not dead.
Just like in the anime, the Battle of the Valley of the End ended with Madara's defeat.
Under Izanagi's influence, he tore off a piece of Hashirama's flesh and hid.
If not, there would be no Nagato and Obito as we know them today.
Therefore, it is certain that Uchiha Kei...
Madara was not dead at that time.
"What... what did you say?"
Uchiha Izuna.
"Madara isn't dead, it's Izanagi. He's gone into hiding."
Uchiha Izuna staggered, all the sadness on his face fading away.
"My brother isn't dead... my brother isn't dead... it's good that he's alive..."
A long time.
Uchiha Izuna looked at Uchiha Kei.
The resentment and pain on his face vanished completely.
"Teacher, I want you to see how much progress I've made over the years."
Uchiha Izuna gave a goofy smile.
"You always said I was stupid back then, but I'm actually very smart. I can't compare to my brother in Ninjutsu and Dōjutsu, but I definitely surpass him in swordsmanship."
Uchiha Kei a pang of pain in his heart.
His eyes dimmed.
Uchiha Izuna...
Is this a death wish?
Yes, for years he went against his conscience, unleashing endless carnage in the Shinobi World, and in the end...
They're just doing something meaningless.
"You're not stupid, it's just that your teacher is too harsh on you."
Uchiha Kei reached out and patted his head.
"Teacher... could you please check this one last time?"
Uchiha Izuna's voice was pleading.
Uchiha Kei fell silent.
This was not the ending he wanted.
But even if it were him, what could he do?
Who will pay for the blood debt of the Twilight Ninja Village?
Who will avenge these fallen Konoha Ninja?
"Good."
Uchiha Kei's lips trembled, his voice barely audible.
"Itachi, come here."
After hesitating for a long time, Uchiha Kei ultimately couldn't bring himself to do it.
Uchiha Izuna did not object.
He just wanted the teacher to see; it didn't matter who it was.
Itachi appeared in front of Uchiha Kei in a flash, opened his mouth as if to say something.
"Take a gamble."
Uchiha Kei patted him on the shoulder, interrupting him.
Itachi pondered for a moment, then nodded heavily.
Holding onto White Bone Momotao, Uchiha Kei left the battlefield to the two of them.
"You're Itachi? A very good junior."
Facing Itachi, Uchiha Izuna once again displayed the aura of an elder.
"Uchiha Izuna."
Itachi bowed slightly to him.
"Come on, let's go all out and have a good fight."
Uchiha Izuna smiled.
He was laughing very happily, and his wrinkled face showed an innocent look.
Just like when Jing was teaching him back then.
Just like...
That boy from back then.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, two streams of Chakra, one red and one black, shot into the sky.
Two Susanoo statues, each over a hundred meters tall, appeared out of thin air.
They were all imposing and fully armed.
"Junior, how is your swordsmanship?"
Uchiha Izuna's voice rang out from within the black Susanoo.
"Nestorianism has been practiced."
Within the red Susanoo, Itachi the God.
"So the teacher taught it, then it must be extraordinary."
Uchiha Izuna murmured softly.
The next moment, a giant, jet-black Ninja Blade appeared and slowly slashed towards the red Susanoo.
"This is what my teacher taught me: a knife can be as swift as lightning, and as heavy as a mountain!"
Itachi's Totsuka Blade appeared in his hand, and he stared in horror at the slowly moving Ninja Blade.
Heavy as...
Mountains!
It was indeed heavy; he couldn't even lift the Totsuka Blade now!
This kind of swordsmanship can no longer be called swordsmanship!
It's entirely thanks to the power of heaven and earth!
This kind of knife...
How can we defend against it?
"A knife, whether heavy or swift, is merely a weapon. What matters is the person wielding it..."
"Only with a fearless heart can one be fearless with a fearless sword!"
Uchiha Kei's past words suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Itachi raised his eyes, the fear in them completely gone.
Instead, there is fearlessness!
"Cut!"
A furious roar.
The red Susanoo raised the Totsuka Blade -Tsurugi high in its hand.
With a sudden swing, the black blade pierced through his body, heading straight for Uchiha Izuna's sword.
Clang!
A collision sound rang out.
The sky suddenly turned white, as bright as day!
"Uchiha Izuna... went easy on me."
Looking at the two knives locked in a stalemate in mid-air.
Uchiha Kei sighed softly.
White Bone Momotao suddenly turned around.
"Master... Uchiha Izuna ..."
Uchiha Kei did not reply.
The sorrow in his eyes said it all.
Uchiha Izuna never intended to survive.
When the white light in the sky disappeared, a hideous wound appeared on the chest of the black Susanoo.
Blood trickled from the corner of Uchiha Izuna's mouth, but a relieved smile graced his face.
With difficulty, he turned his head to look at Uchiha Kei in the crowd.
His eyes held a mixture of reluctance and dependence.
"Teacher..."
"Tens of millions..."
"Watch out... Isshiki!"
Uchiha Kei's pupils suddenly contracted.
Isshiki...
Otsutsuki...
Isshiki!