The Proud Madara Uchiha

The Anbu Ninja beside him, whose mask was still intact, could only leap back into the tree.

When little Naruto woke again, night had fallen.

He struggled to his feet and wiped the blood from his mouth.

Clutching his stomach, he limped out of the silent forest.

Pure Land

Hashirama Senju looked at Tobirama Senju beside him in confusion.

Sensing his elder brother's strange look, Tobirama hurried to explain. "I never taught Hiruzen any of that."

Hashirama said helplessly, "I should've listened to Madara back then. If we'd united the Shinobi World, we wouldn't have left so many dangers for future generations."

The scenes were still vivid in Hashirama's mind.

He kept remembering Hiruzen Sarutobi's helpless, bitter expression in the future shown on the screen.

Hashirama deeply regretted his choice.

It had left Konoha at the mercy of an enemy nation.

The more he thought about it, the more helpless he felt. He sighed.

"I was wrong, Tobirama."

Seeing that his elder brother wanted to say more but couldn't, Tobirama tried to comfort him. "It takes me back. I never thought Hiruzen would get so old."

Tobirama folded his arms and said calmly, "Don't dwell on it, brother. You and I are both dead."

"But if we ever find a way back to life, the enemy villages that need to be destroyed will be destroyed."

"I kept telling you that back then."

"They stayed in line because you were overwhelmingly stronger than they were. The moment you were gone, the Shinobi World was bound to grow more chaotic."

Hashirama lowered his head in shame. "I'm sorry, Tobirama. I caused all of you trouble."

Tobirama folded his arms and scoffed. "Don't get the wrong idea, brother. Those disgusting Kumogakure bastards only got me because they ambushed me."

"Otherwise, I would never have died at Kinkaku and Ginkaku's hands. I was almost out of Chakra at the time."

Hashirama looked at his younger brother and understood that Tobirama was trying to comfort him.

But Hashirama made a firm decision in his heart.

If I ever get another chance to return to the Shinobi World alive...

This time, I won't make the same mistake.

Elsewhere in the Pure Land

Izuna Uchiha sneered. "What a useless bunch."

"Hah! They had it coming."

"All the Uchiha's pride has been lost in Konoha."

Madara Uchiha said dismissively, "Hmph! When I left, not one of them was willing to follow me."

"The Five Great Ninja Villages? Hmph."

"As far as I'm concerned, they're nothing but slightly bigger ants."

Izuna looked at Madara with admiration. "Brother, will you find a way to bring me back to life when the time comes?"

Madara answered mysteriously, "Don't be impatient, Izuna. I'll revive you when the time comes."

Izuna nodded happily, then asked, "Brother, is that Obito Uchiha you chose really so reliable?"

Madara had never intended to tell his younger brother about the plan.

But then he thought of the Light Screen that had suddenly appeared to show the future.

Izuna would find out sooner or later, so he might as well tell him outright.

Madara folded his arms and replied confidently, "That boy is impressive. His Sharingan awakened with Two Tomoe, and his Mangekyō Sharingan has space-time abilities."

"He also integrated Hashirama's cells perfectly. Besides, I have a backup plan."

Izuna gazed up at his elder brother in admiration. "Brother, how many backup plans do you have?"

The adoration in his brother's eyes made Madara feel immensely pleased with himself.

Folding his arms, Madara explained in a mysterious tone, "Those are far from my only contingencies, Izuna."

"I'll tell you about one more. My second backup is my own will."

"His name is Black Zetsu."

"Hahaha! Just watch, Izuna. My era is about to begin."

Izuna eagerly agreed. "That's my brother for you. Hmph, and they call Naruto Uzumaki a savior."

"Those fools will never realize that my brother is the true savior of the Shinobi World."

"Hahaha!"

Madara felt thoroughly satisfied as he watched Izuna laugh beside him.

Then Madara spoke cryptically again. "You didn't think that was all, did you, Izuna?"

Izuna admired his elder brother even more now.

His eyes practically sparkled.

Madara folded his arms and declared with a flourish, "Hmph! The truth is, all of this is under my control."

"Those fools think I, Madara Uchiha, have fallen."

"But who would imagine that I left a pair of Rinnegan behind in the Shinobi World?"

"Hashirama, just watch when the time comes. The stage will be mine."

"I, Madara Uchiha, am the true savior of this Shinobi World! Hahaha!"

Izuna hadn't understood a word. He just stared blankly at his elder brother as Madara laughed to himself.

Madara noticed the baffled look on his foolish little brother's face.

He felt a little embarrassed.

Madara cleared his throat a few times.

Ahem, ahem.

He quickly folded his arms and resumed his usual mature, composed, aloof bearing. "It's only natural that you don't understand yet, Izuna. You will when the time comes."

"Someone will use the Rinne Rebirth to bring me back."

"Once I'm alive again, I'll revive you."

Izuna listened quietly and kept nodding.

Then Madara's expression changed. He stared coldly at the Light Screen overhead and said, "I, Madara Uchiha, would never accept some reward from that thing in the sky to bring me back."

Coming back to himself, Madara thought of his old friend. Hashirama, I told you you'd regret it one day. Now I've been proven right.

"Hahaha!"

"You fools can dance around all you like."

"When I return to the Shinobi World, it'll be my turn to dance!"

Hyuga Clan Compound

Hyuga Hiashi mocked himself. "The future me really was a fool."

"To take out all my frustration over my own cowardice on my daughter."

Hiashi looked at the unconscious little Naruto. "Naruto, was it? I owe you one."

"If we meet in this lifetime, I, Hyuga Hiashi, won't let the villagers mistreat you again."

Hizashi Hyuga spoke up beside him. "Count me in, brother. Lady Hinata really was..."

"That boy Naruto did so much for her."

Little Neji refused to be left out. "Me too, Father!"

"I'll protect Lady Hinata when I grow up."

"And I'll give those three awful kids a proper lesson for what they did to her."

Ever since the screen had shown Hizashi dying for him in the future,

Hiashi had changed completely.

He no longer put on a stern face around his younger brother.

The three of them lived together in peace.

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