Sasuke and Neji, both nearly out of chakra, exchanged a glance. But a second later, they no longer even had time to discuss a plan.
Though Ranmaru had grown several times larger after merging with his wolf, he was roughly twice as fast as he normally was.
A black blur charged straight at Neji and Sasuke. Neji unleashed Rotation, but Ranmaru's tremendous impact broke through it. Had Jūgo not stepped in front of them at the last moment, Ranmaru's claws would have pierced Sasuke's heart.
"Still not going to intervene? That boy Jūgo has been gutted. He's close to Sasuke, isn't he? Sasuke would be heartbroken if he died."
That was the scene Kabuto and Madara witnessed when they arrived at the battlefield. Watching pieces of Jūgo's flesh scatter through the air, Kabuto adjusted his glasses and turned leisurely toward Madara beside him.
"Jūgo isn't someone who dies that easily. Just watch quietly. If Jūgo or Neji dies here, then that, too, is something Sasuke needs to experience."
Unfortunately, Kabuto saw none of the anxiety he had hoped to find on Madara's face. If anything, Madara looked even calmer than he did.
"How cruel, Lord Fifth Hokage. Have you chosen Sasuke to become Konoha's Sixth Hokage? You're even willing to sacrifice Neji to nurture him."
"Sasuke is my chosen successor, but he won't become Hokage."
Faced with Kabuto's probing, Madara openly stated the role he envisioned for Sasuke.
At his core, Sasuke was kind and innocent. He was a blank canvas, and Madara was the artist painting upon it.
In this life, Sasuke had grown up under Madara's watchful eye from birth. Having already moved beyond the ninja mindset, Madara would never allow Sasuke to remain confined to the mere identity of a ninja.
Sasuke would become Madara's finest successor,