A special thank you to my patrons:
—Jacob Mooe, kevin Williams, Jose Sierra, Archer, Acedia, kurtis newman, Little Sand, Kyle.S406, Alin Kadas, sediaz, Flavio Rodrigo.
You can read 30 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - [email protected]/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
-------------------------------------------------------------
By the time Kagaya stepped out of Ryuchi Cave again, his entire appearance had transformed. He was clad in a black robe, with a hood and mask bearing snake eyes covering his head.
The moment the Five-Tails saw Kagaya, it hesitated briefly, not recognizing him at first. But very quickly, the Five-Tails identified him through chakra perception and couldn't help but tease,
"What's the matter? Dressed up like that—afraid to show your face?"
Kagaya nodded.
"Indeed, I can't afford to show my face right now."
The Five-Tails was immediately somewhat surprised. "Eh? You're serious? I was only joking just now."
Kagaya shook his head. "I'm serious. Speaking of which, I suppose I can tell you about my origins now."
"Origins? Haven't I long since known your origins? Other than being of the Uchiha clan, what other origins could there be?"
"You're not wrong in saying that. But my origins are a bit more complicated than that. I... am not a person of this era."
"Ha? Not a person of this era?"
"Mm. I am an Uchiha clansman from the future."
"You're serious?"
"At this point, I have no reason to deceive you."
After listening to Kagaya's words, the Five-Tails' voice couldn't help but carry a trace of displeasure.
"If what you say is true, then you shouldn't have told me. The repercussions would be far too great! Not knowing your origins... that would have been best for you."
Kagaya smiled faintly. He could tell that the Five-Tails was genuinely worried about him. The Tailed Beasts of this era still retained that purity unique to them.
"No, there's no need. The White Snake Sage gave me a scroll. According to her, this scroll will seal away all memories of me within the minds of every living being in my vicinity."
"Including me, I take it?"
"Mm."
The Five-Tails smiled faintly, masking the flicker of loss that passed through its eyes.
"If that's the case, then that's good. For you, that truly is the best way to handle things."
Kagaya reached out and adjusted the black robe on his body.
"It's November now. The weather's getting colder and colder. Come to think of it, Five-Tails... you've kept me company for seven months now, haven't you?"
The Five-Tails nodded, then shook its head. "It seems so, I suppose. But I can't be certain. My sense of time is far too vague. After all, to me, it doesn't matter how much time passes."
Kagaya leaped up onto a tree branch. "Over these past seven months... thank you."
The Five-Tails spoke dismissively. "Why thank me? I didn't do anything."
"No. That reminder you gave me a month ago... it truly helped me immensely." Kagaya spoke.
The Five-Tails rose to its feet.
"Fine. Let's not talk about that for now. So, are you setting out next to erase the memories of you from this era?"
Kagaya answered. "Yes, that's right."
The colossal, white, mountain-sized head drew slightly closer to Kagaya. "Do you need my help?"
Beneath the snake-eyed mask, a pair of Eternal Mangekyo slowly materialized. "No. Not this time. Five-Tails... tell me, we're already friends, aren't we?"
"Mm."
"Then... can you tell me your name?"
"Kokuō."
"I see. Kokuō... remember these eyes of mine. This pair of Eternal Mangekyo is one of a kind. Remember them. We... will surely meet again."
With those words, Kagaya turned around and swiftly departed from that place.
At the same time, the small scroll within Kagaya's robes began to emit a faint glow. Within Kokuō's mind, the memories of Kagaya began to vanish at an astonishing speed.
By the time Kagaya had completely left, Kokuō raised its head and looked around in bewilderment. A voice filled with confusion spoke.
"Eh? How did I end up here? What's going on? Wasn't I heading northwest?"
Its head throbbed faintly with pain. Yet Kokuō could no longer recall why it had come to this place. It only remembered that, it seemed... there had been a person, telling it to remember his eyes.
Mm... his eyes... what kind of eyes were they?
It racked its mind ceaselessly. Finally, Kokuō remembered. They had been a pair of crimson eyes, marked with complex, intricate patterns.
Beyond that, Kokuō could no longer remember anything at all.
*****
The Leaf Village.
It had been over seven months since Kagaya had left the Leaf Village.
Madara stood at the end of a bustling street, gazing at the jubilant, overjoyed people up ahead.
Peace had descended for a full ten months now. Such a prolonged period of peace was something the people had never before experienced.
Time stood serene, the days tranquil and still.
Yet, the greater the cheer and bustle of the people up ahead, the colder Madara's heart grew.
It was a cold far beyond the reach of the November chill.
That coldness deep within his heart—written as fury, read as despair.
Big brother!
The words Izuna had spoken before his death still faintly echoed by Madara's ears.
But...
In days past, Madara had been lofty and supreme, his radiance shrouding the entire shinobi world. Yet now, on this tiny street, not a single person spared him a second glance. People consciously kept their distance from Madara's presence, as if he were the very source of evil—filthy garbage from a stinking ditch.
By now, who still remembered that this peace had been forged because Madara had forcibly suppressed the hatred within his heart?
No one remembered! No one remembered anymore!
Madara's presence within the Leaf Village grew weaker and weaker. All the credit for peace was attributed solely to Hashirama. As for Madara? He was merely an evil Uchiha leader who had started wars.
Madara didn't care about so-called reputation. Years of baptism by war were enough to make him ignore anything anyone said.
But now, things were different. If Madara lost his prestige now, then the next Hokage would undoubtedly be Tobirama.
Madara knew Hashirama well. As long as Hashirama remained in power for even one more day, the Uchiha would certainly be safe and sound.
But Madara also knew Tobirama well. Once Hashirama and Madara himself were no longer present, the moment Tobirama took office, the Uchiha would without a doubt suffer suppression!
Madara understood the Uchiha very well. The Uchiha were a proud people, unwilling to bow their heads. Once this group faced oppression, resentment would inevitably accumulate within the hearts of the Uchiha clansmen. Until one day in the future, when that accumulated resentment finally erupted, only one could survive between the Leaf Village and the Uchiha.
With Tobirama's methods, he would surely leave behind countermeasures to deal with an Uchiha uprising. Madara didn't believe for a second that the Uchiha clan, after he was gone, would possess the ability to stand against Tobirama's contingencies.
Thus, in this very moment, Madara could already sense it. Starting from Tobirama's era, the Uchiha would definitely be pushed step by step toward an end of annihilation!
Everyone knew that Madara would never allow the Uchiha to perish. And likewise, everyone knew that Madara would never bring harm to the Uchiha.
Yet, ironically, it was the Uchiha clansmen themselves who had forgotten this truth that even outsiders understood. When Madara told the Uchiha to leave the Leaf Village with him, the Uchiha clansmen protested with swift and decisive refusal. When Madara, insisting on his own way, was about to lead the Uchiha away, the Uchiha clansmen, without the slightest hesitation, ignored him completely.
That swift decisiveness, that resolute firmness—how utterly laughable it was.
Madara was still Madara. He was still the leader of the Uchiha clan. But Madara... could no longer command the Uchiha clansmen.
Madara smiled. Sometimes, Madara truly wondered—should he suddenly go on a rampage within the Leaf Village and destroy it? At least that way, the proud Uchiha clansmen wouldn't have to be trampled upon and oppressed in the future by those who once dared not even look the Uchiha straight in the eye.
But the moment he laid eyes upon the Uchiha clansmen, Madara's heart softened again. Even though these Uchiha clansmen might meet their doom in the future, at least right now, they could still live their lives without worry. Even if they were destined for annihilation, they shouldn't have to die so prematurely by his own hand... wouldn't you agree, Izuna?
Madara, after all, bore the name Uchiha.
Izuna... I'm sorry. Your big brother couldn't protect the Uchiha.
Turning around, Madara left that bustling street behind, leaving only a solitary, desolate silhouette.
The next day, Madara resigned from his position as the leader of the Uchiha clan, becoming an ordinary Uchiha clansman.
Toward this action, although the Uchiha clansmen felt a slight, faint reluctance, on the whole, everyone was largely in agreement. After all, no one wanted to leave the Leaf Village. How could they abandon such a peaceful time? The clan leader must have fought too many wars—perhaps he was seeing things.
Madara was not the least bit surprised by this. The cruel and inhuman wars had spent who knows how many years just to barely chip away at the Uchiha's backbone, causing some members of the Uchiha to begin surrendering to the Senju.
Yet peace, in merely ten months' time, had completely shattered the Uchiha's backbone. They had already wallowed and sunk deep into this peace.
At a time like this, who would still follow Madara? Probably only the departed Izuna. His eyes... would represent him, always following Madara, never retreating even half a step.
Oh, right. Perhaps also that kid who left seven months ago.
Madara smiled faintly.
If it's that kid... perhaps he could use his eyes to see the same scenery as me.
Madara rose to his feet and strode forward. In this moment, that sense of utter desolation completely vanished from his person. That domineering and fearless Madara... had returned!
He was going to find Hashirama. To have one last conversation before leaving the Leaf Village!
Madara had found another path. He didn't know whether that path was right or not, but... he had to try it, no matter what.
He heard Izuna furiously roaring the word "Uchiha" by his ear. He saw the end of annihilation awaiting the Uchiha clan. He recalled what he had looked like when he had first agreed to peace.
Ah... yes. How could he, Uchiha Madara, listen to his younger brother's furious roar and yet calmly, placidly watch the peace he had personally brought about destroy the Uchiha?
How could he?! How could he?!
He could not!
Using his Mangekyo, he had found another path leading to peace. This path... just might save the Uchiha and achieve true peace.
Of course, it might also be wrong. But there was simply no way Madara could not try.
Calmly, serenely watching the Uchiha walk step by step toward annihilation... sorry, but that was not Uchiha Madara!
Closing his eyes, Madara placed his hand over his eyelids.
"Izuna..."
As if from the void, a familiar voice seemed to answer.
This cry was not one of urgency. What it contained was immense expectation and trust. In Izuna's eyes, Madara was still that same Madara from back then. Still the man whose word was law. Still one of the only two gods in the entire shinobi world. Still the man whom none dared to defy—Uchiha Madara!
Absolutely!
Madara smiled faintly. This time, it was a smile from the very depths of his heart.
"Mm. Izuna... Uchiha!"
*****
[Two months until teleportation back to the future.]
Hearing the system's voice, Kagaya scratched his head. It seemed his time in the Warring States era had reached its end.
Come to think of it, from the moment Kagaya had arrived in the Warring States era up until now, a full ten months had already passed. That was hardly a short period. Adding two more months would make it an entire year.
"After making a trip to the Leaf Village... I'll be about ready to head back as well."
Saying this, Kagaya began advancing toward the Leaf Village.
This time, Kagaya was traveling at full speed, so he was somewhat faster than when he had traveled to Ryuchi Cave.
Actually, Kagaya had initially wanted to use the Flying Thunder God to hurry back. But when he tried to use it, he discovered that the Flying Thunder God had actually failed!
With something like this happening, given Kagaya's cautious nature, he naturally began thoroughly investigating what was wrong with his Flying Thunder God.
Fortunately, Kagaya's talent had always been concentrated in the realm of Body Flicker techniques. For a technique like the Flying Thunder God, Kagaya's talent was also very high. It wasn't long before he discovered that something might have gone wrong during his training process.
Almost instantly, Kagaya knew who had tampered with it. It had to be Tobirama!
Thus, Kagaya began figuring out and repairing his Flying Thunder God technique on his own. To prevent using a faulty Flying Thunder God and consequently encountering some unforeseen accident, Kagaya decided that before his Flying Thunder God was fully repaired, he absolutely would not touch it!
One day later.
Kagaya arrived at the Leaf Village.
With the enhancement of Sage Mode, Kagaya's speed had increased significantly.
A shadow flickered. Kagaya instantly infiltrated the Leaf Village from its outer perimeter.
Dressed in a black robe and wearing a mask, he naturally couldn't enter through the main gate.
Moreover, because Kagaya had activated Sage Mode and deliberately merged himself with nature, even Tobirama within the Leaf Village failed to detect Kagaya's arrival.
After all, given Kagaya's strength, if he deliberately concealed himself, it was already not easy for Tobirama to discover him. Now, with Sage Mode added on top of that, he was naturally even harder to detect.
In the entire Leaf Village, only two people detected Kagaya. One was named Senju Hashirama. The other was named Uchiha Madara.
A dark underground chamber. Before the Uchiha clan's stone tablet.
Madara and Hashirama stood there. At that moment, both of them simultaneously paused.
Madara smiled faintly.
"So he's still around. And he actually came back. Perfect timing... before I depart, I should indeed see him one last time."
Saying this, Madara turned around, preparing to leave this place.
Hashirama, at this moment, was completely unable to focus on Kagaya's arrival. Seeing Madara turn to leave, he immediately stepped forward and spoke.
"Madara... can we truly not complete the dream you spoke of, together?"
Madara turned his head slightly. The black pupils in his eyes gradually transformed into the Eternal Mangekyo.
"Hashirama... saying such things now is useless. You are the only person in this entire world who can match me. Before reaching that true dream... I will thoroughly enjoy my battle with you."
"Madara..."
"Hashirama... you should know this, shouldn't you? No one can stand behind me! Even if you try to chase after me, it's useless."
With those words, Madara strode away from this place. Before Kagaya had arrived, he had already spoken enough with Hashirama. Now... it was time to leave.
Kagaya wandered ceaselessly through the Leaf Village, allowing the scroll in his robes to continuously seal away memories concerning him.
Because this was a shinobi village, even if one wore a black robe and a mask, it wasn't particularly strange. After all, for shinobi, covering one's face was perfectly normal.
What's more, recently, other places in the world had also begun establishing their own hidden villages. The Leaf Village was gradually starting to build interactions with these shinobi villages. So, having foreign shinobi visiting the Leaf Village at this time was quite normal.
And foreign shinobi—dressing up in strange and unusual ways was also quite normal.
"Didn't you leave? Why are you dressed up like this?"
At a deserted corner, Madara looked at Kagaya, who had arrived at this spot, and spoke with a faint smile. He had been waiting here for Kagaya for quite some time.