Night fell once more. Inside a teahouse in Feather Emperor City.
Yu had arranged to meet Izuna alone.
Under Madara's constant influence, Izuna had finally let go of his grudge against the Senju Clan. Though the knot in his heart had not fully unraveled, he was making an effort to fit into the greater whole and regard himself as part of the Ninja Kingdom.
"Lord Feather King, I know all about what you've done. You're practically an Uchiha legend!"
Izuna's expression was fervent, and he did not hold back his praise and worship of Yu.
"Not at all. Your brother is the truly remarkable one. He was the Uchiha pioneer. Without the path he paved, there would be no me today."
Yu was as modest as ever, but it was also the truth... Without the Rinnegan Madara had awakened, the gap in power between ninjas and the Heavenly People could never have been bridged.
Yu asked, "Izuna, are you living comfortably in the Ninja Kingdom these days?"
Izuna answered frankly, "Comfortably? It's wonderful! I never dreamed that ninjas could live without going to war and even be loved by the people!"
The times had changed. Ninjas had gone from tools to aristocrats.
But Izuna's expression turned grave. "Still, I know there's a group of bad guys called the Ōtsutsuki. They're the greatest threat to ninjas... My brother and the Senju Clan are all guarding against them. Even Tobirama has his own mission!"
"Before Lord Feather King returned, my brother had to go to war. The atmosphere was especially heavy. Even I couldn't help worrying for him. I want to help my brother... Lord Feather King, is there any way to make me stronger?"
"..." Yu gently swirled his teacup, his expression unchanged as though he were weighing the matter.
Seeing