Chapter 247: A Perfect Opportunity
The Valley of the End wasn't far from Konoha, which was certainly a good thing for Uchiha Madara.
After all, Konoha currently held the nine tailed beasts that Uchiha Dali had painstakingly gathered.
And right now, Uchiha Dali was probably still in that other dimension fighting Jigen. Wasn't this the perfect chance for him?
"And my eyes… I'm taking them back too!"
Madara clenched his fist lightly.
However, he didn't act rashly.
Even though this was a golden opportunity, his body hadn't fully recovered its strength yet.
Outwardly, he seemed fine, but the chakra within him was recovering very slowly. Clearly, that earlier beating from Jigen had taken its toll.
"In any case, I'll scout out the situation first."
Madara flew straight toward the Konoha he remembered.
At that moment in the village, the sensory-type shinobi quickly detected Madara's chakra signature appearing nearby and reported it immediately.
"A powerful, unfamiliar chakra has been sensed approaching the village perimeter. Report at once to Lord Fugaku and Lord Minato!"
The barrier team members rushed to the Hokage's office, and after hearing the report, Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Fugaku took it very seriously.
"Any sign of the Fourth's chakra?" Fugaku asked.
"No sign of the Fourth Hokage's chakra for now, but this unfamiliar chakra was detected near the village once before!"
"Likely the same individual!"
The sensor replied.
Fugaku and Minato exchanged glances, their expressions instantly sharpening.
"The only formidable enemy who's come this close to the village before was Uchiha Madara. Could it be that he's returned?" Fugaku's tone was tense.
"I'll go see for myself! The village is in your hands!"
Minato left a marked Flying Thunder God kunai with Fugaku. "Keep this—might come in handy soon."
With that, he vanished in a flash.
"Need my help?" Uchiha Obito approached.
Fugaku gave him a steady look. "If the approaching enemy is Uchiha Madara, and the Fourth isn't here, every one of us has a duty to protect Konoha. You're one of our comrades too, Obito."
The acknowledgment warmed Obito's heart.
After all, he had done much to betray Konoha—and nearly caused disaster.
Now, receiving recognition from both clanmates and clan head, he couldn't help but feel relieved.
"That guy Madara… I've dealt with him before. I know his abilities. If it really is him, I might be able to stall him. But… we'll probably need one more person's help."
"Who?" Fugaku asked immediately.
"Orochimaru."
"Orochimaru?"
"I clearly remember that Uchiha Madara was dead. I even handled his body myself. If he's alive now, there's only one possibility—someone used the Impure World Reincarnation to summon him back."
"And as far as I know, the only one in Konoha researching that jutsu is Orochimaru," Obito explained.
Having once been in Akatsuki, he had investigated Orochimaru's abilities in detail—it wasn't surprising he knew this much.
"You're saying Orochimaru summoned Madara?" Fugaku's expression grew even more serious.
"Not necessarily. But either way, talking to him is the right move. An Edo Tensei Madara is no easy opponent," Obito warned.
Just then, Uzumaki Nagato spoke. "One of his goals in coming to Konoha will definitely be me. Another will be the tailed beasts and their jinchūriki."
"Which means we must protect them."
"Leave that to me."
Fugaku had no reason to refuse—he knew exactly how formidable the Rinnegan was.
"Shisui, you, Nagato, Yahiko, Konan, Tekkō, Hachidai, Dōka, and Obito form a squad to guard the tailed beasts and jinchūriki!"
"Kakashi, please inform Orochimaru and have him attend a meeting!"
"Everyone else, stay with me to hold the village!"
Fugaku made his decision on the spot.
Everyone took their orders and split up.
Outside the village, Minato suddenly appeared to intercept Madara's path.
Perched atop the highest branch of a great tree, he caught sight of Madara flying ahead. By now, Madara's chakra had recovered to about eighty percent, and he instantly noticed Minato as well.
He merely glanced at Minato—ignoring him completely—and continued toward Konoha.
"So he's underestimating me."
Minato's heart tightened. That casual look from Madara carried an overwhelming pressure—the kind only a truly supreme warrior could give off.
"Uchiha Madara, whatever your purpose here, I'm not just going to sit back and watch!"
Speaking, Minato threw a special Flying Thunder God kunai.
It wasn't an ordinary kunai, but a marked one—its trajectory like lightning, overtaking Madara. In the next instant, Minato teleported to the kunai's location, appearing behind Madara, a Rasengan already swirling in his palm.
"Flying Thunder God, huh?"
"That underhanded sneak-attack jutsu of that scummy Second Hokage, and you actually learned it."
"If you're so eager to die, I'll oblige."
Seeing Minato behind him, Madara stopped at once. Not only did he speak with disdain, mocking the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama who had developed the technique, he also looked down on Minato entirely.
As he spoke, two black chakra rods appeared in his hands, which he thrust mercilessly toward Minato.
Minato twisted in midair with a perfect 365-degree spin, dodging Madara's strike while keeping his Rasengan aimed along the original line of attack.
Madara, a bit surprised that Minato could evade him, snorted coldly and used the other chakra rod to block the Rasengan.
Then he kicked Minato in the left arm, sending him flying.
But he didn't stop there—having seized the advantage, Madara went on the offensive, pursuing Minato through the air.
"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
Slamming his hands together, Madara unleashed a colossal fire jutsu that surged toward Minato like a blazing tide.