Her eyes grew brighter and brighter, as though she had seen a ray of hope.
Especially when she heard that she would never go hungry again, she sprang to her feet in excitement and eagerly asked, "As long as I call you Master, I'll never go hungry again, right?"
Madara smiled and nodded in confirmation.
He showed unprecedented patience with O-Tama's questions.
O-Tama was overjoyed. She turned to Shō, her eyes full of anticipation. "That's great! Can Brother Shō come with me too?"
Shō also looked expectantly at Madara, hoping for an affirmative answer.
But Madara shook his head and said firmly, "No. He and I aren't destined to be master and disciple."
Shō's expression first darkened, as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, but he quickly recovered and smiled, encouraging O-Tama. "It's all right, O-Tama. Study hard with this uncle, and remember to come back and visit me once you've mastered what he teaches you."
"Yes, I will, Brother Shō!" O-Tama nodded emphatically, her eyes full of trust and determination.
Hearing O-Tama's unhesitating answer, Shō suddenly stiffened for a second. Though his composure slipped for only an instant, the sharp-eyed Madara still caught it.
Unfortunately, noticing such a minute change was child's play for Madara, who possessed the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. It could not escape his scrutiny at all.
Madara inwardly shook his head helplessly.
To actually scheme against an innocent child who knows nothing of the world. What a contemptible creature. He seemed decent enough, but he turned out to be another piece of trash who can share hardship but not prosperity.
Madara had seen far too many people like him.
They often showed remarkable resilience in adversity and could weather hardships alongside others, but once they gained power or wealth, they became