"Be careful of Wood Release!"
The Anbu's Fox had said that Uchiha Madara's subordinates also mastered Wood Release. Uchiha Mahiru warned his brother Kirika before charging to the front.
The Three Tomoe spun wildly within his crimson pupils.
The White Zetsu at the forefront exclaimed, "As expected, the same Sharingan as Lord Madara... These eyes are truly beautiful... Huh!"
White Zetsu had no concept of death; they were countless split bodies.
Even during battle, they kept chattering incessantly.
Uchiha Mahiru's long sword cleaved the White Zetsu before him.
From the top of its head down to its crotch, split in two.
The cross-section of the White Zetsu was very clean, no brain, just white wood fibers inside.
It was truly hard to understand how such a White Zetsu could move and think.
Konan fell into panic once again, just like last time.
Konoha ninja suddenly appeared to capture them, then some inexplicable people appeared beside them, blocking the Konoha ninja.
Yahiko stood in front of Nagato and Konan, shouting, "Don't panic! I'll protect you!"
Uchiha Mahiru body-flickered in and kicked Yahiko away.
It was as if Yahiko was just some bothersome wooden post.
Yahiko slammed heavily against a tree trunk nearby, shattering a whole box of liquor bottles on his back.
Ignoring the glass shards piercing his back, Yahiko looked at the Konoha headband on Uchiha Mahiru's forehead and drew a kunai.
Uchiha Kirika body-flickered in front of Yahiko and punched him, smashing him against the tree trunk.
Glass shards deeply embedded themselves into Yahiko's back.
By the time he slid down the trunk, it was covered in glass shards and bloodstains.
Konan realized, just like last time, Nagato was the primary target of the Konoha ninja.
Konan also stepped in front of Nagato.
However, Konan was also kicked away like a wooden post.
Perhaps they would all become renowned figures in the shinobi world later, but at this moment, Yahiko and Konan were too weak.
Uchiha Mahiru headed straight for Nagato.
Nagato looked at the kicked-away Konan, then at Yahiko collapsed at the base of the tree. Konan had blood at the corner of her mouth, and Yahiko's back was torn with bloody gashes from the glass shards.
Nagato's bangs lifted!
A strange chakra spread around Nagato.
Uchiha Mahiru in front of Nagato, and another Uchiha ninja sneaking up from behind, both suddenly felt as if they had hit an invisible wall.
Both were instantly sent flying!
Yōkō thought from a distance, Nagato's talent is really strong; he's already mastered Shinra Tensei.
Nearby White Zetsu were also affected, several being repelled by the Shinra Tensei.
The White Zetsu shouted excitedly in mid-air.
"That technique! As expected of the one chosen by the lord!"
The area around Nagato was instantly cleared.
Even the puddles and short grass on the ground disappeared, exposing the yellow soil.
A few seconds later, the rain from the sky began falling again.
The four Uchiha Special Jōnin were sent flying, getting up from the ground in pain.
One of them had an arm hanging unnaturally; it seemed to be broken.
What ability was this?
Why did a 9-year-old orphan have such a hand-seal-less ninjutsu?
In the distance, Uchiha Kane asked, "Captain Fox, do you know what technique this is?"
"No, perhaps it's some secret technique of the Uzumaki clan."
Uchiha Mahiru and the others charged towards Uzumaki Nagato again.
But just like last time, they were repelled again by Shinra Tensei.
Uchiha Mahiru looked at the spot where he landed the second time, then at the first spot. The second was much closer.
"Continue! The target is just a 9-year-old child, his chakra reserves aren't high! His power is weakening!"
After three consecutive times, Nagato exhausted all his chakra and wobbled, falling down.
A White Zetsu emerged from the ground and caught Nagato.
More and more White Zetsu emerged from the ground around Nagato, numbering in the hundreds.
Some White Zetsu stayed behind to cover the retreat, while others picked up Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, fleeing in a certain direction.
Yōkō said to Uchiha Kane, "Clan Leader Kane, our chance has come! The White Zetsu are taking Uzumaki Nagato to Uchiha Madara!"
Uchiha Kane felt bitter inside. From Fox's tone, he seemed somewhat excited?
What if they really found Uchiha Madara?
Was it necessary to be so eager to find Uchiha Madara?
They were here to investigate Uchiha Madara, not necessarily to find him.
Seeing Fox leading the Anbu to follow, Uchiha Kane had no choice but to follow as well.
Fox's speed wasn't fast, following at a leisurely pace for a few minutes.
A few kilometers away from the town, there was a dense forest.
Within the forest, the trunk of a large tree seemed to come alive, slowly opening.
Uchiha Madara's aged appearance appeared within the tree hollow.
Uchiha Kane's heart trembled.
Uchiha Madara's face was full of annoyance.
Without a doubt, Konoha had disturbed Uchiha Madara once again.
Time and again. Uchiha Madara's gaze was unfriendly.
Leaning on his sickle, Uchiha Madara looked Uchiha Kane over and said:
"You are the son of that traitor Uchiha Hikaku?"
"Not killing Uchiha Hikaku when I left Konoha was my biggest regret and mistake."
"And you dare come before me?"
When Uchiha Madara defected from the village, no one from the Uchiha clan followed him, because Uchiha Hikaku led a coup, ending Uchiha Madara's rule over the clan.
Uchiha Madara would never admit his own failure; he would only believe everything was due to traitors among his subordinates.
Especially since Uchiha Hikaku's actions had the shadow of Senju Tobirama behind them.
Senju Tobirama even eventually gave Uchiha Hikaku the position of Head of the Konoha Military Police Force.
After Uchiha Hikaku's death, both the clan leadership and the Head of the Military Police Force were passed to Uchiha Kane.
"How ironic. The proud Uchiha clan ultimately submitted to their mortal enemies, the Senju clan," Uchiha Madara said:
"Konoha Military Police Force? I wonder what the Uchiha ancestors of the past thousand years would think, seeing the Uchiha clan become the watchdogs of the Senju clan..."
"No, not even watchdogs for the Senju."
"Konoha now has little to do with the Senju clan. The Uchiha are watchdogs for trash like the Sarutobi, Shimura, and Ino–Shika–Chō... even more disgusting."
"Uchiha Kane, I know your name."
"Have you been to your father's grave to tell him that the Uchiha clan wanted to be the Senju's watchdogs but couldn't even manage that?"
"So, how does being Sarutobi Hiruzen's watchdog measure up to all of Uchiha Hikaku's expectations for the Uchiha?"
Yōkō couldn't help but applaud Uchiha Madara internally.
If the Naruto from the original story was number one in "Talk no Jutsu," then Uchiha Madara was number one in verbal abuse, number one in trash talk, the master of psychological warfare in the shinobi world.
Those who had faced Uchiha Madara directly – Ōnoki, the Five Kage, etc. – all ended up psychologically scarred by him.
Senju Hashirama did have the upper hand over Uchiha Madara, but his intimidation factor was far behind Uchiha Madara's.
Uchiha Kane's eyelids lowered, remembering the many times he had been oppressed by Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō.
The Second Hokage said that the Uchiha clan, after losing everything and suffering mental stimulation, were extremely prone to drastic personality changes and a great increase in power.
Konoha had always restrained the Uchiha clan precisely because of their highly unpredictable nature.
Uchiha Hikaku and his son Uchiha Kane strove to control the situation, preventing the clan from being dragged down by extremists.
Who would have thought that the person causing the most trouble for the Uchiha clan was none other than their former leader from two generations ago: Uchiha Madara himself?
Uchiha Kane looked up at Madara and said,
"Father and I chose the right path! At least the Uchiha clansmen are still alive!"
"Uchiha Madara, stop this."
"Stop targeting Konoha! By protecting the Uzumaki remnants and sending your subordinates to assassinate the Anbu and Guardian Ninja, you are only making the situation of the Uchiha clan more difficult!"
Yōkō felt a pang of guilt. What if Uchiha Madara denies these accusations?
***
Next bonus chapter goal=300 Powerstones
Dive deeper into the story with 50+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!
(End of Chapter)