Through all his years of learning, Madara Uchiha had come to understand one crucial truth: any great undertaking needed a justifiable cause.
Civilians and shinobi alike longed for peace. If he started a war for his own selfish ends, he would stand against the righteous cause from the very beginning. Even if he gained the upper hand for a time, countless people would rise to oppose him. One day, everything he had built would be shaken by the combined efforts of the world.
Conversely, if he was the one who ended the war, he would be seen as the man chosen by destiny. The civilians and shinobi who had suffered through the fighting would rally around him.
Although Madara Uchiha had already lived his life anew, he had no intention of stopping Obito from carrying out the Eye of the Moon Plan in this life. He would wait until Obito forced the Five Great Shinobi Villages to unite, just as they had in his previous life, before stepping in to reap the final rewards. Besides, Madara was deeply curious whether his original self in this world could still be resurrected.
"I'm leaving Konoha to become one of the Daimyo's guards. Itachi, is there anything you want to say to me?"
After Obito left, Madara Uchiha continued playing the role of a worthy successor to the Hokage in Konoha. Then, one day, his teacher, Kazuhiko Sarutobi, came to see him alone.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire had twelve powerful retainers responsible for his safety. They were known as the Twelve Guardian Ninja, and Konoha naturally had to fill some of those positions.
It seemed the time had come to rotate their members.
"No. Have you told Hayato about this?"
Madara did not quite understand why Kazuhiko had come to