Madara Uchiha's heart was heavy. The Uchiha Clan was indeed beyond his power to influence right now, but his chest heaved, making it clear that he was far from calm.
"Are you done, Madara? I'm heading back." Yanbai turned his back to Madara Uchiha and said softly, "I don't know when I'll be going home, either. Until then, I'll do my best to help you grow stronger."
There was little negativity in Yanbai's voice, as though he were discussing something perfectly ordinary.
Yanbai was merely staying here for a while and helping Madara Uchiha along the way, without asking for anything in return.
It was just like when Yanbai had asked Uchiha Tajima for the "Reconciliation Agreement"-he seemed to be going with the flow.
Whether you did it or not, Yanbai never seemed inclined to force you.
As Yanbai had said, having a wish come true was a good thing, but there was no regret if it didn't.
Yet Yanbai had barely taken a step before Madara Uchiha reached out and clamped his hand onto his slender shoulder, gripping him tightly and refusing to let him leave.
With difficulty, Madara Uchiha spoke. "Don't die..."
Yanbai wore a smile. He had been smiling from the start, so even when his words did not match his expression, it somehow seemed normal.
"Madara, is there any reason I have to stay alive?"
Yanbai turned back, still wearing that same gentle smile.
Looking at Yanbai's smiling face, Madara Uchiha felt for the first time that there was nothing beautiful about that smile.
Madara Uchiha hesitated before asking, "Can't your father be your reason to live? Can't your brothers be your reason to live?"
"Father thinks of nothing but the Senju Clan. If I weren't useful to him, I'd be no more than one of