The spring cherry blossoms looked like pink clouds.
It was an afternoon when the cherry blossoms were at their loveliest.
Beneath the clear sky, a dense flurry of tiny pink dreams drifted through the Cherry Blossom Grove, catching the sunlight and scattering its dazzling glow once more.
Madara Uchiha straightened his rumpled clothes and raced toward the Clan Grounds.
As time passed since his parting with Yanbai, the rose fragrance clinging to Madara Uchiha gradually faded.
This route lay far from the battlefield between the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan.
Madara Uchiha had no intention of joining a boring battle without Hashirama, but he did not want to linger in these woods for long either.
Every encounter with Yanbai left Madara Uchiha overcome with exhaustion. Even so, he was in a good mood.
Yet...
Just before he reached the Clan Grounds, Madara Uchiha spotted his father, Tajima, wearing purple layered armor.
Uchiha Tajima wore the same ambiguous smile as always. Fully armed, with his worn blade strapped to his back, he stood with his arms folded.
"Madara, you've been gone all morning. Where did you go?"
Uchiha Tajima's tone drifted unpredictably, like dandelion fluff.
Madara Uchiha remained silent.
A gentle breeze swept past. Uchiha Tajima narrowed his eyes and sniffed. "A woman's scent... Madara, you went to see her, didn't you?"
Madara Uchiha lowered his head, still saying nothing.
The man before him was his father.
Madara Uchiha recalled what Yanbai had told him:
"Why should you trust adults?"
"Why should you trust the rules?"
"Why should you trust something just because everyone else does it?"
"The truly strong never became strong by following the rules."
"The shinobi world never rewards people who follow the rules. Instead, you should get everything you want by breaking them sensibly."
"Behind the