The next day, the skies still had not cleared.
But the storm had weakened considerably compared to the previous few days.
Perhaps the earlier heat had been too intense, and the weather had swung the other way, bringing intermittent downpours and drizzles.
Basking in the rain of the Shinobi World, Madara Uchiha smiled with unclouded joy.
He no longer had the face of his previous life, but his presence was even more pronounced and intimidating than before.
Yanbai stood at the entrance to the Princess Mausoleum, simply watching Madara bathe in the summer rain.
Thinking back carefully, every smile Madara had shown in the few days since their return had been clear and genuine.
"Madara-"
Exasperation written all over his face, Yanbai called out, "I only went inside to get you an umbrella. Why did you run off? You're like a child. Come back!"
Sasori stood expressionlessly behind Yanbai, a large pile of scrolls strapped to his back. They looked heavy, but he simply stood there in silence.
"Just use Flying Thunder God to go to Konoha. I want to walk around." Madara Uchiha walked back without any change in his expression. He snatched the umbrella from Yanbai's hand and said disdainfully, "It's just a little rain. I got rained on all the time in Sumeru. You have no idea what a gift rain is when you're being scorched by the desert."
"Then I'm leaving." Yanbai gave Madara Uchiha a peculiar look.
As he spoke, Yanbai took two steps back and casually rested a hand on Sasori, who had remained silent all this time.
Madara Uchiha glanced at the expressionless Sasori and said to Yanbai, "Go on. Or do you want to hug me before you leave?"
"Oh, get lost..."
Yanbai grumbled irritably, then immediately activated Flying Thunder God and