The Old Village Is Gone, the Dark Giant Appears

"Third Hokage, sir."

In the Hokage's Office, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was reviewing documents when an ANBU ninja suddenly appeared.

"Did you uncover anything?"

Stopping what he was doing, Hiruzen asked. This ANBU ninja had been assigned by him to stay near Uchiha Sen and gather information.

"Yes. At dusk, Uchiha Sen suddenly became agitated and shouted that there was only one way to awaken the giant: become light."

"He also mentioned several names I had never heard before. Something about Golza, the monster that shakes the earth; Melba, the monster that tears apart the sky; and Ultraman Tiga."

After saying that, the ANBU ninja vanished.

"Become light?"

Hiruzen muttered to himself as he took a document from his desk drawer.

<Investigation Report on Uchiha Sen's Behavior in Recent Years>

"Every day at noon, he trains under the blazing sun..."

Could it be?!

No way?

A bold thought surfaced in Hiruzen's mind. Not long ago, in his office, he had given Uchiha Sen a chakra nature test. The result had stunned him. Most members of the Uchiha Clan possessed Lightning and Fire chakra natures, yet Sen had extraordinary talent and was naturally aligned with—

Like him, he also had that chakra nature... Could it be that as long as one bathed in sunlight every day, one could nurture Wood Release within their body??

The giant Sen spoke of must have been the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. Becoming light was the method. Then there was only one truth!

There had been countless experiments involving Wood Release, and every single one had ended in failure. What belonged to others was ultimately theirs. After eliminating every possibility, the final answer, no matter how impossible, had to be the truth.

That was what Hiruzen Sarutobi believed now.

Besides, as Hokage, even if he was getting old, there was no way his talent could be inferior to that of a lunatic...

As for the other things...

Golza, the monster that shakes the earth? What was that...

A monster? A tailed beast!

Could it be?? But how did Sen know?

The only thing Hiruzen could connect it to was the tailed beasts. At this stage, the only ones who could possibly threaten the village were Naruto, the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, and Sunagakure's One-Tail jinchuriki, who had never shown himself. Could it be that Sen was trying to warn him of danger to the village in this way?

But Leaf Village and Sunagakure were allies. There was no reason for them to do something like this...

Maybe I was overthinking it...

Still, for some time afterward, the Third Hokage would mysteriously disappear from the Hokage Building every day at noon, not returning until dusk...

A few days later.

"It's back! The old village is back!"

"Hahaha, I see it too! It's exactly the same as before, still as dark as ever. Look, my village is back!"

"That's the village watchtower! There's a clear little river there, and across from it is the lotus root pond!"

Uchiha Sen stood excitedly on the sofa, jumping up and down. As the images on the blue screen played before him, his emotions grew even more intense.

At that moment, Sen looked like he was performing some sort of ritual, pacing back and forth across the sofa with wild gestures.

Vaguely, it seemed as though he could see his former companions through the screen. They had been warriors fighting at Blue Star Headquarters. The braised pork in the cafeteria had been unforgettable, while the striped curtains would always mysteriously disappear...

Zabuza Momochi looked awkward and kept his distance. He could no longer tell what kind of person Uchiha Sen really was. Looking at the equally helpless Haku beside him, he asked in a low voice,

"Should we call out the ANBU ninja nearby? This has been going on all night, hasn't it...?"

There was a trace of sadness in Haku's eyes. Sen's behavior seemed to remind him of a painful memory. Lowering his head, he said softly,

"Forget it, Zabuza-sama. I heard that Sen's clan was once exterminated... Perhaps he is also someone lost in his heart..."

After hearing Haku's words, Zabuza showed an expression of sudden realization... When put that way, Sen's experience did resemble Haku's in some ways. When he looked at Uchiha Sen again, there was a hint of pity in his gaze. Perhaps even great power could not change the lonely nature of a ninja. As expected, I still cannot let go of my feelings...

[You're overthinking it... This guy is just getting hyped from watching television...]

Then another voice came from the blue screen. Both the characters on the screen and Sen fell silent.

"Isn't that the village... In that darkness... Is the old village already gone...?"

"Why did the old village disappear...?"

"That's impossible. Blue Star Headquarters can't have disappeared... My planet... the old place..."

Uchiha Sen suddenly quieted down. Holding his head, his face twisted in pain as he kept repeating those words...

Zabuza's pupils constricted. This chilling feeling... Damn it!

The ANBU ninja observing nearby sensed it too. A shocking wave of chakra erupted from Uchiha Sen's body, cold enough to make one feel as though they had fallen into hell.

"Damn it, we have to report this to the Third Hokage immediately!"

[ Ding! A violent fluctuation in the host's mental energy has been detected. Medium-grade bloodline fully activated. Mangekyō Sharingan awakening imminent. ]

"Haku, retreat!"

Driven by a ninja's survival instincts, Zabuza grabbed Haku and fled. What a joke. With the strength of the person before them, who besides the Third Hokage could stop him?

Pitch-black chakra spread in every direction. The wooden house began to tremble, while the three tomoe in Sen's eyes spun without end. His body hunched over as he crouched on the ground.

Hokage Building.

The Third Hokage slammed his hand onto the table and rose to his feet.

"What? The things you just mentioned, Sen really said them?"

Hiruzen was completely flustered. This was practically devastating news. If the secret behind the Uchiha Clan had been discovered by him, it was difficult to imagine what that lunatic would do.

In such a short time, Hiruzen could only analyze this much. That sentence could not have been clearer. In that darkness, the old village was gone... This was no longer a hint. It was an outright declaration.

Which damned bastard had done this? I hope it wasn't you, Danzo!

I will never allow anyone to do anything that harms the village!

Others might not know, but Hiruzen Sarutobi knew Sen's strength very well. He was someone capable of creating forests!

Most importantly, if Sen went mad, there would be no way to communicate with him...

"Immediately gather the ANBU, the Sealing Team, and every jonin in the village! We absolutely cannot allow unrest to break out during the Chunin Exams!"

Inside the residence, a black skeletal frame formed from chakra covered Sen's side. Yet this was far from over. Veins of chakra were slowly condensing one after another, while Zabuza and Haku stood in the distance, trembling...

"What kind of power is this...?"

Within his scarlet eyes, the three tomoe spun at high speed before gradually merging together, forming a hollow star-shaped pattern. A small black dot sat in the center of the pupil, with lines branching outward to connect to the star's points.

[ Ding! The host has successfully awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. An abnormal mental fluctuation has been detected. Accept system treatment? (The system may only act after the host confirms this option.) ]

[ Ding! The host has unconsciously used a massive amount of ocular power! Please regain your composure! This is extremely dangerous! ]

"You said you would find a quiet place for me to live..."

Sen's tone was cold and devoid of emotion. His hollow eyes stared at the world outside. The scene he had just witnessed shattered like a bubble, completely vanishing. Everything felt so unfamiliar.

[That wasn't said to you! Daigo said that to Obik! Turn off the television! Turn off the television!]

The blue screen instantly went dark.

It seemed to have no effect. Uchiha Sen had already fallen into his own world.

"If this is not the old village..."

"If this is not the old village..."

"Then I'll destroy this place!"

Sen suddenly raised his head. The black skeleton gradually solidified, and a stern giant face emerged. A gem-like space between its brows protected Uchiha Sen within. The giant, which had originally possessed only half a body, rose from the ground and instantly became the most eye-catching sight in all of Konoha.

[ Ding! Warning to the host: this is extremely dangerous! Please regain consciousness immediately! ]

"My God... What is that thing?!"

"Run for your lives! It's a black giant!"

After generations had passed, very few in Hidden Leaf Village still recognized Susanoo. The villagers panicked and scattered in every direction.

Hiruzen Sarutobi leaped onto a rooftop and gazed at the towering black giant, his heart pounding. If he were ten years younger, he might have been able to fight that giant...

If there was no other way...

Then he could only use that technique...

In another corner of the village, inside a gloomy underground cavern.

"Send word. Every member of Root is to remain still. Guard against scoundrels from other villages taking advantage of this moment to cause trouble."

Shimura Danzō stared thoughtfully at the ceiling and silently mused,

"I never expected it to appear in an abandoned Uchiha child. What a ridiculous joke. But Orochimaru, will you be able to resist making a move? After all, killing Sarutobi is one of the goals of your visit, isn't it...?"

"This power must be controlled by me!"

"Hurry! Everyone below jonin rank, gather at the shelters!"

"Do not shove! The Hokage has already gone to the front line. Move forward in an orderly manner!"

Iruka continuously directed the crowd toward the shelters. Within the crowd, two plainly dressed civilians looked toward the black giant in the distance with meaningful expressions.

"Orochimaru-sama, perhaps there is a better choice than Sasuke Uchiha."

Kabuto adjusted his glasses and spoke calmly.

"No. Sasuke's body is more suitable for me. Using ocular power so frequently is not a good thing..."

There was not the slightest trace of attachment in Orochimaru's eyes as he turned and followed the crowd away.

On the main battlefield, no one dared to act rashly. Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted at Uchiha Sen in the sky,

"Hole-Hole Monster! Have you forgotten that you are the bravest warrior on the planet?!"

His words shocked everyone.

Every ANBU member present, as well as the jonin who had rushed over first, froze in place.

Was this really something the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, would say?

Of course Hiruzen knew that speaking like this in front of everyone would damage his prestige. If he could do it over...

"Hole-Hole Monster, wake up! It is not yet time to carry out Headquarters' plan!"

His words stunned the crowd.

What the hell?

What Headquarters plan?

Was this still the Third Hokage they knew?

Why did it sound as though the Third Hokage and that guy were on the same side?

"Hey, Asuma, do you know what's going on here?"

On the rooftop, Kurenai Yuhi jabbed Asuma Sarutobi in the waist with her elbow and asked.

"I have no idea..."

Asuma Sarutobi also looked utterly confused. He had no idea what kind of madness his father had suddenly come down with...

Could it be that one became like those they spent time with? Was he gradually becoming Sen-like?

If Hiruzen's previous words had been like thunder exploding in everyone's minds, then what the Third Hokage said next was an outright bombshell.

Had he really regained his senses? Could he no longer hide it... No...

The Third Hokage's expression darkened, his face filled with struggle. After a long moment, he clenched his teeth and said,

"Sen! I know the village has wronged the Uchiha Clan, but please believe in the village. Believe in me. I will give you justice, and I will give the Uchiha Clan justice as well!"

Everyone questioned their very existence.

Wasn't the Uchiha Clan preparing to rebel against the village?

Wasn't the Uchiha Clan arrogant, conceited, and detestable?

Why was he clearing their name?

What was the Hokage talking about?

What did the village owe the Uchiha Clan?

While all the ninja were still trying to process the overwhelming amount of information in the Third Hokage's words, Sen spoke. His tone carried a trace of sorrow, and his eyes were filled with undisguised desolation.

"Double-Zero Seven, the old village is gone. Blue Star Headquarters is gone. The lotus root pond is gone. The braised pork is gone too..."

"This is not the old village! It is not the old village!"

Sen was already nearing madness. Seeing him like this gave the Third Hokage an oddly familiar feeling, and a figure gradually overlapped with him...

"Uchiha... Madara."

Shaking his head, Hiruzen realized that things did not seem to be unfolding as he had expected. At least that matter had not been exposed, so there was still room to ease the situation. Perhaps Sen had suddenly awakened a new power that he could not control, resulting in the current situation. As long as no one had been injured, everything could still be salvaged.

"No, Hole-Hole Monster. Headquarters still exists. Those are all your illusions. The lotus root pond is there, the braised pork is there, everything is there. Just yesterday, Headquarters contacted me and praised you as the strongest warrior the planet has produced in thousands of years."

As though he felt he had not said enough, the Third Hokage continued soothing Uchiha Sen's emotions.

"Calm down first. I do not know what you have experienced, but please deactivate your ocular power first. You have already exposed too much, and that is extremely unfavorable to our plan! How about this? I'll treat you to the best barbecue. You can eat as much as you want."

"How do I deactivate this...?"

Clarity returned to Sen's eyes, but he had no idea what to do with his own power.

[ Ding! The system is automatically canceling the Susanoo state... ]

Although the disturbance in Konoha had passed, news of the black giant quickly spread. Over the following days, Konoha received visits from many spies belonging to various nations.

As for Uchiha Sen, the man who possessed godlike power, he became a terrifying existence feared by everyone throughout Hidden Leaf Village.