Uchiha Madara!
The pride of the Uchiha clan, but also their nightmare!
It was he who led the clan and the Senju clan's Hashirama to jointly establish Konoha.
It was also he who wanted to lead the clan away from Konoha but was rejected by the clan.
And it was he who brought the Nine-Tails to the village, fought the First Hokage to a draw, and caused the Uchiha clan to be suppressed since the Second Hokage!
Hearing this name from Kizaru, Fugaku understood that indeed something significant was happening.
On the way to the main residence of the clan, Fugaku's expression was solemn, maintaining silence throughout.
He didn't know what news Kizaru had brought this time, and what kind of turmoil it would cause in the Uchiha clan.
"I hope it's not that Madara is still alive!"
As the voices and influence of the militant faction within the clan grew louder, if news of Madara's survival surfaced, then...
Responsible and composed, Fugaku couldn't even imagine what consequences it would bring.
"Madara is still alive!"
Seated side by side with Sakumo in the guest room of the Uchiha clan's main residence, Kizaru smiled as he uttered the sentence Fugaku least wanted to hear.
Kizaru's words caused a stir in the guest room.
Listening in, Fugaku, Fugaku's father, the current clan head of the Uchiha clan, and the two elders of the clan, except for the clan head of the Uchiha clan who barely maintained his composure, the other three stood up excitedly.
"It's impossible, absolutely impossible!" one elder with white hair and beard denied excitedly.
"Where's the evidence? Kizaru!" Though only in his twenties, Fugaku's performance was much better than that of the two elders.
"The last time I left the village, Madara attacked me." Speaking as if it were a trivial matter, Kizaru replied casually.
"Then why are you still alive?" Another Uchiha elder questioned skeptically.
With a smile, Kizaru leisurely reached out and picked up the teacup on the table in front of him.
Under everyone's gaze, Kizaru took a sip of tea slowly and then placed the teacup back on the table.
With his mouth open, Sakumo, who was getting impatient, was about to answer for Kizaru.
"Because he's not my match!" With a serene smile, Kizaru finally spoke.
With different expressions, the two elders who had experienced the era of Madara were completely unable to accept it.
"It's impossible, you can't be Madara's match!"
"Under those eyes, you couldn't possibly defeat him!"
One elder after another, they denied excitedly.
"Oh, Madara's eyes! They're indeed terrifying, like a monster," Kizaru agreed with a nod before changing the subject with a smile. "But unfortunately, he's too old!"
Too old!
Hearing these words, the two Uchiha elders, who were also in the twilight of their lives, couldn't help but pause.
Gradually calming down from their agitated expressions, the two elders, who had been driven irrational by the mention of Madara, gradually regained their composure.
Nodding silently, one of the elders, a bit reluctantly, said, "If Madara is still alive, he's indeed too old."
Maintaining silence, the clan head of the Uchiha clan had been pondering one question.
As the young master of the Shimura clan, the heir of the Hokage lineage, why did Kizaru come to the Uchiha clan with this news?
What was his purpose? What did he want to achieve?
Information about Madara? Or to threaten the Uchiha clan with it? Or something else.
"Is Madara still alive?" Looking at Kizaru, the clan head of the Uchiha clan spoke for the first time.
"He was defeated by me, used the forbidden technique of your clan to reverse life and death, and then fled."
"Izanagi!" Hearing Kizaru's account, the four Uchiha present seemed somewhat convinced that Kizaru had indeed fought against Madara.
Because the forbidden technique to reverse life and death had long been sealed away, only a very few Uchiha knew about it, and even fewer could actually use it.
"Why would you tell us such confidential information?" the clan head of the Uchiha clan continued to inquire.
Engaged in political struggles with the village's top brass for years, the Uchiha clan head deeply understood that the village didn't trust the Uchiha.
News of Madara still being alive, logically speaking, shouldn't have been disclosed to them.
"This information is indeed top secret, and theoretically shouldn't be revealed to you," Kizaru admitted bluntly.
Nodding, the Uchiha clan head looked at Kizaru, waiting for his next words.
"However, Madara left behind something very interesting, which made me think that perhaps we can have a good discussion."
"What thing?" Stirred by Kizaru's words, the Uchiha clan head asked directly with curiosity.
"A wooden clone, Madara used Wood Release!"
Finishing his sentence, Kizaru looked at the shocked expressions of the Uchiha quartet and smiled before picking up his teacup again.
Sitting next to Kizaru, seeing Kizaru divulging such important secrets to the Uchiha clan, Sakumo was filled with worry.
If the Hokage blamed them for this, he would have to help Kizaru shoulder all the responsibility.
Knowing that Kizaru was saying all this to persuade the Uchiha to cooperate in the experiment as a gesture of gratitude, Sakumo made a decision in his heart.
"Why would Madara use the First Hokage's Wood Release?" one Uchiha elder asked, puzzled.
"Because Madara stole the power of the First Hokage," Kizaru replied with a smile.
"How did he manage to do that?" Like a duet, the other elder asked eagerly.
"On the wooden clone he left behind, we found cells of the First Hokage. It's highly likely that Madara transplanted cells of the First Hokage into himself," Kizaru explained.
"Then...," the Uchiha elder who was about to continue speaking suddenly realized something.
After many years of leaving the village, Madara suddenly returned with the Nine-Tails and attacked the village.
Regarding Madara's attack, everyone had previously thought it was an act of revenge.
But through the information just revealed by Kizaru, this elder seemed to understand something.
"The second time Madara attacked the village was to obtain the flesh and blood of the First Hokage. Killed by the First Hokage, he used Izanagi to reverse life and death," the elder said suddenly, lifting his head, expressing his inference.
"Not bad! You got it right," Kizaru complimented the elder.
"But after he transplanted the cells of the First Hokage, he has been hiding and living until now. What is his purpose?" Frowning, the Uchiha clan head asked in puzzlement.
"Oh, maybe there's some conspiracy!" With a relaxed tone, Kizaru smiled.
Feeling heavy-hearted, the Uchiha quartet looked at Kizaru, who seemed carefree and even cheerful, with many question marks in their minds.
This was information that could overturn the entire ninja world. Madara definitely had grand ambitions. Why wasn't Kizaru nervous or afraid, but rather so optimistic?
"Does the Third Hokage know about this? What's his attitude?" The Uchiha clan head wanted to know the attitude of the Third Hokage and the top brass of Konoha.
"Yes, he knows. He's secretly investigating Madara's whereabouts," Kizaru replied.
That's the style of the Third Hokage!
The Uchiha clan head, who knew the Third Hokage very well, nodded in agreement.
"Kizaru, what do you want by coming to us this time?" Examining Kizaru, the Uchiha clan head asked again about Kizaru's purpose in coming.
"Sharingan, Uchiha cells, and one of your people?"
"Impossible! Uchiha..." Hearing Kizaru's request, one Uchiha elder was about to reject it excitedly.
"Are you trying to repeat the experiment of Madara transplanting the cells of the First Hokage?" Understanding Kizaru's intention from his words, the Uchiha clan head asked.
"Are the Uchiha willing to participate?" Smiling at the Uchiha clan head, Kizaru extended an invitation.
"What do we get out of it?" the Uchiha clan head asked in return.
"A portion of the experimental results, and a promise from me." Raising his right hand and extending his index finger, Kizaru smiled.
"What promise?" Knowing the village's style very well, the Uchiha clan head knew that even if he didn't agree today, the village could still obtain these things from the Uchiha.
Therefore, the Uchiha clan head wasn't particularly concerned about the experimental results mentioned by Kizaru but was more interested in Kizaru's promise.
Looking up at Fugaku standing there, Kizaru smiled and said, "The first child of Fugaku will become my personal disciple."
Fugaku, being looked at by Kizaru, didn't immediately grasp the deeper meaning of Kizaru's words and just froze for a moment.
But his father, the Uchiha clan head, and the two shrewd elders all showed a hint of joy in their expressions.
Kizaru was recognized as the successor to the Hokage by the village, so his disciples would be the disciples of the future Hokage.
With such an identity, the future child of Fugaku would have the opportunity to compete for the position of Hokage after Kizaru.
For the Uchiha, who had been suppressed and sidelined by the village for too long, this was simply an unprecedented opportunity. (Uchiha Kagami is just a member of the Second Hokage's escort, not his personal disciple.)
"Just a personal disciple?" The Uchiha clan head, unsatisfied, asked a bit greedily.
"Who knows what the future holds?" Looking back at the Uchiha clan head with a smile, Kizaru said meaningfully.
Nodding, reminded by Kizaru, the Uchiha clan head, who had been momentarily swayed by greed, regained his senses.
The Uchiha, who had been suppressed and sidelined by the village for too long, were eager to participate in the power games of the village's elite and were eager for the position of Hokage.
And judging from Kizaru's promise and attitude, he was different from the Third Hokage, as well as his uncle.
Perhaps through Kizaru, the Uchiha could unlock their shackles and truly enter the upper echelons of the village.
Thinking of this, the Uchiha clan head's gaze towards Kizaru also changed, adding a hint of goodwill and closeness.
Still needing to observe, if Kizaru didn't deceive him, then perhaps the Uchiha could consider placing their bets on Kizaru in the future!