Each with His Own Agenda

Before hundreds of his soldiers, Shinhiko Kōzuki handed his treasured sword directly to Madara Uchiha. It was an unmistakable affirmation of Madara Uchiha's status.

From that day onward, whenever Madara Uchiha appeared before these samurai, it would be as though Shinhiko himself were present.

"Congratulations, Lord Itachi!"

Madara Uchiha reached out and accepted Shinhiko Kōzuki's long sword. As he took it, thunderous cheers surged toward him from every direction.

Why slaughter an army when all you had to do was make its master submit?

Madara Uchiha glanced at Shinhiko Kōzuki, who stood atop his palanquin surveying his surroundings with imperious confidence, and smiled.

A youngster like Shinhiko Kōzuki was worthy of becoming my subordinate.

Atop the palanquin, Shinhiko Kōzuki regarded Madara Uchiha with deep admiration.

What a pity. Shinhiko Kōzuki had wanted to take Madara Uchiha as his adopted son, but what he had learned about him during their journey told him that the boy would surely refuse if he asked. In that case, he would make Madara Uchiha his trusted confidant instead.

Now that Madara Uchiha had accepted his sword, he would be considered one of his closest retainers wherever he went, and even the Uchiha Clan would bear the mark of the Kōzuki family.

Madara Uchiha and Shinhiko Kōzuki, one old and one young, exchanged smiles, each harboring his own agenda.

In the Hokage Office in Konoha, Shimura Danzō, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu—four elders whose combined ages exceeded three hundred—had gathered to examine the same mission report.

It was a message Kazuhiko Sarutobi had sent from afar.

Apart from glossing over Sōsuke Aburame's involvement, Kazuhiko Sarutobi had recorded everything they had encountered on this mission in detail. Although the mission was rated A-Rank, it involved protecting Shinhiko Kōzuki, after all, and Konoha's leadership took