Chapter 167 – Tobirama and Uchiha Fugaku's Cross-Time Confrontation
"Clan Leader, Uchiha Makoto is still alive!"
That sentence struck Uchiha Fugaku like a thunderbolt on a clear day.
Impossible. How could Makoto still be alive?
Uchiha Makoto had always been Fugaku's most prized disciple.
Not only had he awakened his Sharingan at a young age, but even during his time at the Academy, he was already capable of defeating lower-ranked clan shinobi.
Especially after losing to Kazane, Makoto had applied for early graduation. After a year of growth, he entered the battlefield and immediately defeated a Chūnin from Iwagakure—he even survived an encounter with a Jōnin.
Losing to Kazane wasn't disgraceful—it was, in fact, a mark of distinction.
After all, no one in the entire shinobi world had ever bested Kazane. Be it Hanzo the Salamander or the undefeated Third Raikage—Kazane had never lost.
So Makoto had always carried Fugaku's hopes.
Fugaku firmly believed that Makoto had the potential to become a top-tier shinobi.
Put simply, as long as Makoto didn't die young, his worst-case future was that of an elite Jōnin.
Makoto wasn't just a promising junior to Fugaku—he was also the pillar he was preparing for Itachi.
Itachi's generation was full of geniuses. Even within the clan, his greatest rival was Uchiha Shisui, who was no pushover.
Shisui was the son of Uchiha Kagami, a man whose loyalties didn't lie with the clan. Even so, Fugaku had never tried to hinder Shisui's growth—because Shisui's strength still benefited the clan.
But before Itachi matured, Fugaku needed someone who could counterbalance Shisui—someone who could challenge or even suppress him.
Makoto was that person.
Fugaku had arranged for his early graduation so Makoto could receive direct cultivation and rise quickly.
When Fugaku received word of Makoto's death on the battlefield, he had grieved for a long time.
Now, hearing from Obito that Makoto was still alive, Fugaku was shocked—but his mind also spun into overdrive.
Was Makoto the one who killed the ANBU?
If he's alive, why didn't he return to the clan?
Did Makoto do this to Obito?
A hundred questions buzzed through his head—but deep down, Fugaku was beginning to believe.
Because if things were as he suspected, then everything began to make sense.
Makoto killed the ANBU.
Obito happened to witness it.
Makoto tried to eliminate Obito to silence him.
In that critical moment, Obito awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan and used Susanoo to repel Makoto.
Then came the part where the others arrived.
"Obito, explain everything clearly."
Fugaku hurried to Obito's bedside, eager to learn the truth.
"I saw a masked man holding an ANBU by the throat, turned away from me," Obito began. "As I moved to stop him, he crushed the ANBU's neck."
"I rushed forward to capture him—but when he turned, I saw Sharingan in his eyes behind the mask."
"He called himself Uchiha Madara."
"I was shocked and got caught in his genjutsu."
"The situation was urgent, so I fought him immediately."
"But I didn't expect... he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and could use the First Hokage's Wood Release."
"We fought for 800 rounds, evenly matched. Then he used Wood Release to catch me off guard and gained the upper hand."
"But at my lowest point, I thought of my clan, the people I love, and those who love me."
"With their strength behind me, I awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"I used the forbidden technique—Susanoo—and drove him back. At that moment, I recognized his voice."
"We were rivals at the Academy. I could never mistake his voice—it was Makoto."
Obito gave a concise account, though he embellished the story a bit with Sonoko present.
If Makoto hadn't been Fugaku's own disciple, he might have believed it all.
Fugaku could believe Makoto awakened the Mangekyō—he had always been a genius.
But the idea that Obito had fought Makoto to a standstill? Fugaku didn't buy it.
He knew exactly how strong Obito was.
Still, with Sonoko here, and Obito now a Mangekyō Sharingan user—the clan's second top-tier elite—Fugaku wasn't going to embarrass him.
What surprised him more was that Makoto allegedly used Wood Release.
This revelation made Fugaku uneasy—but Obito's current state was evidence enough.
During the Warring States era, Uchiha Madara had often clashed with Senju Hashirama. Many Uchiha killed by Hashirama ended up looking just like Obito now.
There were records of that in the clan's history.
They had simply never considered Wood Release, since it had supposedly vanished decades ago.
Now, with Obito's account aligning with historical details, Fugaku realized—everything suddenly made sense.
Aside from the battle details, everything else Obito said might very well be true.
But even if it was...
Even if Makoto was the killer—it was still a problem.
Makoto was his disciple. He was an Uchiha.
No matter what, the clan would be implicated. And that was exactly what Fugaku didn't want.
Still, he hadn't gotten this far by being stupid.
There were too many unresolved questions.
Why was Makoto using Wood Release?
Why call himself Uchiha Madara?
Why sneak into the village now?
Why kill an ANBU? Why try to silence Obito?
The whole thing stank of conspiracy—and Fugaku could smell it.
"Obito, are you sure the killer was Uchiha Makoto?"
"Yes, Clan Leader. I'm sure!"
"And you're sure he used Wood Release?"
"Look at me, Clan Leader. He almost drained me dry with it."
After confirming again, Fugaku's heart sank completely.
This is no simple matter. It's beyond my power to contain.
He needed to report to Orochimaru immediately—before something happened that dragged the whole clan down.
"Obito, don't worry about this. Focus on recovering. Sonoko, look after him for me."
With that, Fugaku left in a hurry, heading for the Hokage's office.
But when he arrived, he found Orochimaru absent.
Sitting in his chair was—Minato Namikaze.
After Hiruzen Sarutobi took Orochimaru's place at the Chūnin Exams, the mundane affairs of the village had fallen back onto Orochimaru.
Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal.
But Orochimaru's experiments had just reached a breakthrough.
Being stuck in an office was intolerable.
At that moment, Orochimaru had thought of only one name—Minato Namikaze.
And really, who could blame him?
Minato had been outstanding. Ever since Kazane dumped the ANBU on him, Minato had greatly improved their efficiency.
He worked tirelessly, proving his dedication.
Orochimaru had noticed—and at this critical moment, Minato was the most trustworthy choice.
Fugaku was slightly surprised to see Minato in that seat—but with urgency pressing, he didn't dwell on it.
"Minato, where's Lord Hokage?"
Seeing Fugaku so flustered, Minato didn't ask questions. "Elder Fugaku, Lord Hokage is in the rear lab. If it's urgent, I'll take you there."
"Please do, Jonin Namikaze."
Fugaku didn't hesitate. He followed Minato to Orochimaru's lab.
…
Inside the Lab
Orochimaru and Tobirama Senju were conducting soul transference experiments using animal spirits.
The research was nearly complete. Once the data was compiled, they could move on to human trials.
Both men were excited.
One was thrilled by progress on the road to immortality.
The other—seeing hope for resurrection.
Ssshhh...
The faint sound of friction echoed as the lab's door slowly opened.
Barely audible to normal ears—but Orochimaru and Tobirama were far from ordinary.
Both turned their eyes toward the lab entrance.
The lab's location was a well-kept secret. Other than Kazane, only Minato knew of it.
And Kazane wasn't in the village.
So Orochimaru immediately guessed it was Minato.
He had told Minato not to disturb him unless it was urgent.
If Minato had come, it meant something was happening that even he couldn't resolve.
Remembering last night's events, Orochimaru felt a sense of foreboding.
Please, let it not be trouble...
Kazane's absence has brought all kinds of monsters crawling out...
A cold glint flashed in Orochimaru's eyes.
He wasn't worried about the village's safety—but if it disrupted his experiments, that was unacceptable.
Anyone who blocked his path to immortality—would die.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Footsteps echoed in the quiet lab.
Soon, Minato and Fugaku appeared before Orochimaru and Tobirama.
Seeing Fugaku, Orochimaru asked directly, "Clan Leader Fugaku, what brings you here?"
Fugaku noticed the unfamiliar man beside Orochimaru—but the urgency of his mission pushed it aside. He immediately relayed what Obito had told him.
Of course, with Minato present, he gave Obito's embellished version—for the clan's sake.
Minato, while surprised, also had doubts.
He had heard of Uchiha Makoto—many, including his own teacher Jiraiya, had praised Makoto's genius, saying he rivaled Minato himself.
Minato wasn't one to care about such comparisons—but the praise had left an impression.
Which made Fugaku's story hard to believe.
Obito was Minato's student—he knew Obito's capabilities well.
After the war, Obito had joined the Konoha Police Force, but they still kept in touch.
Just recently, Obito had been completely thrashed by Kakashi during training.
Minato had witnessed it himself. Obito's Sharingan still had only two tomoe, and he was—at best—a Chūnin.
Plus, Minato had been the second to arrive at the crime scene. He had seen Obito's condition firsthand.
If Makoto was really that powerful, how did Obito survive?
But before Minato could ask, a cold voice came from beside Orochimaru—
"So it's the Uchiha again. Haven't they all died out yet?"
Fugaku instantly flew into a rage.
Someone actually dares to say that to my face? The nerve!
"Second Hokage Lord Tobirama!!!"
Before Fugaku could explode, Minato's shocked voice cut him off.
Minato had never seen Tobirama in person—but he had always admired him.
Before Minato, Tobirama had held the title of the fastest in the shinobi world.
Not to mention, Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique had been Tobirama's invention.
At first, he hadn't linked the armored man beside Orochimaru to Tobirama.
But hearing those words—so dismissive of the Uchiha—he immediately connected the man to the image on the Hokage Rock.
Because really, who else would dare speak of the Uchiha like that?