The Age Belonging to the Uchiha!
The night was quiet, but his heart was in turmoil. After a moment of silence, he finally asked the most crucial and unforgettable question in his heart.
Will you stay in this world?
Natsu did not answer immediately.
A cool night breeze swept through the hall, passing by the two people, causing the candlelight of the lone lamp under the eaves to flicker. The swaying light and shadows floated back and forth on the ground, making the silence in the air seem even more profound.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, his tone slightly softer than before, yet revealing a hint of unshakeable limitation.
"I can only stay here for a month at most. The shattered spacetime anchor can only sustain the passage for this long. After one month, Yaoyu, Yakumi, and I must leave this world."
Ban's brow furrowed slightly.
He slowly released Natsu's hand, his movements calm and without a trace of disappointment.
The answer came so suddenly that he needed some time to process this fleeting hope.
One month.
Thirty days passed in the blink of an eye.
Once Natsu and her group leave, the world will revert to its original course.
Hashirama still harbored a naive and sincere vision of peace, Tobirama still carried a deep-rooted vigilance against the Uchiha. The entire Uchiha clan still had to proceed cautiously and struggle to survive within the framework dominated by the Senju Clan.
He looked up at Natsu, his eyes calm and still, every word a realistic consideration.
"Then what should be done about the Uchiha in this world?"
"A month is simply not enough to erase years of grudges and clear up all hidden dangers. After you leave, who can guarantee that the Uchiha won't repeat the mistakes of the past and fall into the quagmire of fate again?"
That's why I contacted you immediately and invited you to come with me.
Natsu met his gaze calmly and clearly, her expression serene and insightful, having already devised a foolproof plan.
"I won't put all my hopes on anyone. So next, we're heading to one more place— the Flame Ninja Village —to see Uchiha King."
Ban lowered his eyes and pondered for a long time before slowly nodding.
He was familiar with the name.
Uchiha King can be considered one of the most eye-catching and enigmatic figures in the Jonin world in recent years.
To be able to quietly take away a branch of the Uchiha clan right under his nose and send them to a distant place to establish their own sect is already a remarkable feat.
What's even more remarkable is that this person was able to win over and form alliances with several major families, including the isolated Kaguya Clan Uzumaki, the secretly lurking Yuki clan, and the naturally aloof Minazuki clan, and even stabilize the position of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, obtaining official tacit approval and support.
Such masterful manipulation is unparalleled, not only within the Uchiha Clan but throughout the entire chaotic Ninja World.
"This person is indeed worth meeting." Madara raised his eyes, his tone cautious. "But what makes you so certain that you can trust Uchiha King?"
Natsu's lips curved into a faint smile, a cool smile that concealed a chilling clarity.
"I don't trust him. At least not now, far from it."
"That's why I need to go to Flame Ninja Village in person to see his true nature, his vision, and his bottom line. I need to judge whether he's worthy of me entrusting him with the future of the Uchiha."
His tone was frank, and his assessment of the pros and cons was exceptionally clear.
"If he has the vision and temperament to shoulder heavy responsibilities, I wouldn't mind leaving him with a powerful trump card that can sweep away the conflicts and unify the Ninja World."
"But if he proves unworthy of my trust, I will leave all my resources to you. You will take the helm and decide the future and destiny of the Uchiha Clan in this world."
Ultimately, the only person he ever truly believed in was Madara Uchiha, not the rising tyrant of the Flame Ninja Village.
After a brief pause, Natsu added softly.
"Besides, even for the sake of Hashirama's sincere ideals, I must ensure that the Uchiha of this world firmly grasps a way out."
Upon hearing this, Ban's expression remained calm and composed as he calmly replied, "The second half of the sentence is completely superfluous."
"It's unnecessary," Natsu noncommittally, her smile gentle, "But I still want to say one more thing."
Ban gave him a deep look, then stopped dwelling on the topic and turned to walk out of the courtyard.
"Set off at dawn."
Natsu followed slowly behind him, a faint smile never fading from her lips.
The two walked one after the other through the secluded paths of the Uchiha Clan District.
The night was thick and dark, enveloping the entire tribe's territory. The distant sound of the Naka River flowing could be faintly heard, unchanged year after year.
But Ban's steps had long lost the heaviness and sluggishness of nightfall, replaced by a long-lost lightness and certainty.
He was about to meet an extraordinary and ruthless figure who could hold up a corner of the Uchiha in the midst of chaos and despair.
The boy accompanying him broke the fatal deception that had plagued him for half his life, giving him hope and a way out, allowing a glimmer of hope for the future to re-emerge in his long-dormant heart.
The campfire at the edge of the dense forest burned all night, its flickering orange flames licking at the dry branches, and tiny embers occasionally drifting up on the night breeze before gently falling back into the fire.
Yaoyu squatted by the fire, his fingertips pinching a thin, dry twig, idly poking at the red-hot coals, breaking the whole lump of coals into pieces.
The long wait wore us down, and the only sound in the forest was the crackling of burning wood, so quiet it made us feel empty inside.
Beneath an ancient tree not far away, Yakumi leaned against the rough, mottled trunk, closing his eyes to rest.
With his arms crossed and his posture upright like a pine tree, he appeared to be in a completely relaxed resting position, but the tapping rhythm of his fingertips on the hilt of his sword was much faster than usual.
This is a unique little habit of his, which only shows when his patience runs out and he feels a hidden anxiety.
"Young Master Natsu has been inside for so long, could he have really caused some huge trouble in Konoha and turned the village upside down?"
Yaoyu casually tossed the remaining twig into the fire, and sparks suddenly burst into a cluster of light. He looked up towards Konoha, his tone half joking and half revealing his barely concealed unease.
The Yakumi lingered, and though his eyes remained closed, he only slightly opened one eyelid, revealing flickering Kakkō reflected in his dark pupils. His tone remained cool and detached. "If Susanoo destroy the village, the Konoha above Konoha would have been filled with Chakra anomalies, which we could have clearly seen even from across this forest."
Although his words were simple, a barely perceptible worry lingered deep in his eyes.
The moment the words left his mouth, two extremely familiar Chakra auras suddenly pierced through the forest mist, moving at incredible speed and rapidly approaching the dense forest.
Yaoyu froze for a moment, then immediately stood up, brushing off the bits of grass and charcoal ash clinging to her clothes. Her heart, which had been hanging in suspense all night, finally settled down, and a relaxed smile instantly bloomed on her face.