novelnext Chapter 254 And this correctness will ultimately bring glory to Konoha!
Chapter 254 And this correctness will ultimately bring glory to Konoha!
Chapter 254 And this correctness will ultimately bring glory to Konoha!
"Tick-tock—tick-tock—"
In the dark, damp cave, water droplets dripped from the rock walls.
The hideous and terrifying outline of the heretical demon statue disappeared into the shadows.
Obito met Madara's deep, downcast gaze, and involuntarily swallowed, trying his best to appear nonchalant.
"I—I just happened to be passing by and stopped by to see you."
The words fell.
He thought that if he were a young man in the real world, his body might be better, but the boy's body made him feel insecure and trembled slightly. He also felt that this excuse was too perfunctory.
"snort."
Madara Uchiha chuckled, his hoarse and cold voice echoing in the cave.
"Let's drop that lame excuse."
"Kid, I can smell your restless aura from miles away. Speak quickly if you need something!"
One sentence exposed Obito's clumsy lie.
Obito felt a little embarrassed when Madara saw through him, but at the same time he felt relieved.
As expected, beating around the bush in front of Madara was pointless.
He also understood that the true purpose of this trip could not be stated directly.
According to the current timeline of this dream, the present self is unaware of the existence of White Zetsu.
Therefore, we must rephrase the statement to achieve our goal.
Obito took a deep breath, forcing a respectful and admiring smile, and subtly began flattering Madara Uchiha: "Lord Madara—you've lived in seclusion behind the scenes for so many years, secretly observing the entire ninja world. With your vision and methods, you must be intimately familiar with all the intelligence in the ninja world, right?"
He abandoned his arrogance in the real world, becoming obsequious and respectful, as if he greatly admired Ban's extraordinary wisdom.
Upon hearing this, Madara Uchiha let out a crooked chuckle and said with utter pride, "Heh, that's natural. Nothing in the ninja world escapes my eyes."
Sensing the smugness in Madara's tone, Obito was secretly delighted.
It seems that Ban is in a good mood.
Taking advantage of Madara's softened attitude, Obito immediately pressed his advantage, respectfully saying, "In that case—could you please use your all-knowing intelligence network to help me investigate something? It's extremely important to me!"
He spoke with almost impatience towards the end, his dark eyes revealing eager anticipation.
On the stone platform, Madara Uchiha did not answer directly upon hearing this.
He stared coldly at Obito below, and after a long while, he suddenly let out a hoarse, cold snort: "Hmph, I knew it, you brat—"
Madara narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Obito from head to toe, as if blaming Obito for having ulterior motives, as if trying to see through every hidden thought in his heart.
The oppressive silence lasted for several seconds before Madara finally waved his hand lightly.
"Fine! Tell me, what do you want to investigate?"
Madara naturally understood Obito's subtle actions.
But he didn't mind; in fact, he was somewhat pleased.
Obito actively sought his power, which was part of his plan.
When Obito heard Madara say that, he was overjoyed and could not hide his excitement.
It actually worked!
Will he finally be able to use Madara's power to find the mastermind behind everything?
Obito felt his chest pounding, and his blood rushing.
He suppressed his excitement and quickly stepped forward, saying excitedly, "Lord Madara, I would like to ask you to investigate who is behind the Kirigakure squad that attacked me on the border of the Land of Rain ten days ago!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the cave fell silent.
On the stone chair in the distance, Madara Uchiha, who had been lazily leaning against the back of the chair, suddenly stiffened.
His expression froze as if carved from stone, and a dangerous glint flashed in his narrowed eyes.
This kid—
An absurd sense of astonishment flashed through his mind: Obito actually came to ask me to investigate myself?
For a moment, even with Ban's composure, a strange and indescribable feeling arose in his heart.
Obito stared nervously at Madara, every second of waiting feeling like a thorn in his back.
He was unaware of the turmoil in Madara's heart. Madara remained silent, his expression shifting between light and shadow, and Obito's heart leaped into his throat.
He couldn't help but start to worry.
Is Madara going to back out?
Are you unwilling to help with this?
In a moment of desperation, Obito's eyes darted around quickly, and he immediately adopted a skeptical expression, cautiously probing, "What—even you can't find out anything about that guy?"
This blunt question was like a bucket of cold water, waking Uchiha Madara from his brief moment of astonishment.
He was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.
Ban gradually went from laughing loudly to laughing wildly, his thin and old body trembling. His voice was loud and deep, echoing endlessly in the silent cave, revealing no emotion.
"Interesting! Very interesting!"
Madara glanced at Obito, his eyes filled with both surprise and amusement. "You've even learned to use reverse psychology now?"
Obito stood there, not daring to interrupt, and could only nervously watch Madara, wondering what that laughter meant.
Finally, Ban's laughter gradually subsided.
"I thought you were just a brat who acted on brute force—but I was wrong."
"You actually thought of asking me to investigate this? It seems your brain works a bit better than I thought."
Upon hearing this, Obito was overjoyed.
Ban's tone seemed to soften somewhat!
He quickly pressed for confirmation, "So—you agree?"
"Hmph—" Madara Uchiha snorted softly, slowly leaning forward from the stone chair and looking down at Obito below.
"This is a piece of cake for me."
Obito held his breath, staring intently at Madara, his heart pounding in his chest.
Then, Ban abruptly changed the subject: "But—!"
Obito's heart tightened. Before he could think it through, Madara continued, "There's no such thing as a free lunch. I'll help you find the culprit, but what will you give in return?"
Madara squinted, watching Obito with great interest.
Obito stood there, stunned, his expression shifting.
Ban's words were undoubtedly a bargaining chip, but at this moment, as long as we can find the mastermind behind it all, we are willing to pay any price!
After a brief silence, Obito raised his head, his gaze hardening.
He replied firmly, "I'll do anything you ask, as long as you can help me find that guy!"
Upon hearing this unwavering promise, Madara Uchiha's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and then a satisfied expression appeared on his face.
He nodded slowly, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: "You said it yourself."
The hoarse voice lingered in the empty cave, and Obito, hearing it, inexplicably felt a chill run down his spine.
in the audience.
Those secretly observing all of this gasped in shock.
The conversation between Madara Uchiha and Obito just now left the audience in complete silence.
Kakashi noticed something amiss in the details.
Judging from Madara's reaction, he clearly had anticipated Obito's attack!
Obito appeared in the cave covered in wounds, but Madara showed no surprise whatsoever.
Kakashi found it strange at the time, but now, comparing it with Madara's attitude just now, everything is almost obvious.
The mastermind behind the attack on Obito and his group was very likely Madara Uchiha himself.
Upon thinking of this, Kakashi felt a sudden chill run down his spine, and cold sweat seeped out silently.
After all, the old man on the screen was the culprit who led Obito into the abyss of darkness!
Those Sharingan eyes, hidden in the shadows, now looked like an abyss that devoured light, sending chills down one's spine.
Even Kakashi, who is usually calm and collected, was shaken to his core at this moment.
[Ding! Kakashi Hatake's emotional fluctuations have been detected! Emotional value +700!]
on the screen.
Upon hearing Madara Uchiha finally agree, Obito's tense nerves immediately relaxed, and he let out a long sigh of relief as if his whole body had gone limp.
However, this relaxation had a disastrous effect, as the pain that had been suppressed due to the intense tension immediately surged back and rushed back to the body.
"hiss"
He felt a tearing pain in his ribs and couldn't help but gasp.
Obito gritted his teeth, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. Without thinking, he hurriedly looked around for a place to rest.
Just a few steps away was a relatively flat rock. He limped over, raised his hand to cover his abdominal wound, and carefully sat down, trying not to aggravate his injuries.
We need to catch our breath quickly—otherwise, how will we get back later?
Obito wiped the cold sweat from his face, barely managing to regulate his breathing, allowing the surging pain to subside slightly.
Once the pain subsides, I need to hurry back so Lin won't worry.
For a moment, the enormous cavern fell into a deathly silence once more.
Only the occasional dripping of water from the cave ceiling echoed gently between the two.
Obito sat on the rock, clutching his wound, and while regulating his breathing, he couldn't help but secretly observe Madara Uchiha.
At this moment, Madara had his eyes closed, as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.
However, the immense, invisible pressure emanating from him remained undiminished, still weighing heavily on Obito's mind, making it hard for him to breathe.
For a long while, Madara did not say another word. He neither urged Obito to leave nor showed any other emotion, as if he had really fallen asleep.
The dim light in the cave illuminated his aged yet still sharply defined profile, and the shadows outlined his cold, stern features.
Obito gazed silently at Madara Uchiha's wrinkled yet still dignified face, his thoughts drifting inappropriately away.
In a daze, the scene he had witnessed in the audience resurfaced deep in his mind.
Madara Uchiha, who appeared in his prime with a cold and sharp gaze!
Those were images that had appeared in my previous dreams.
At his peak, Madara Uchiha was unparalleled in both his aura and his demeanor.
But then, a scene from the real world flashed into Obito's mind like a nightmare.
A blood-red night, raging flames—the Uchiha clan's territory was reduced to a blood-stained ruin.
The Night of Extermination
Obito's pupils contracted slightly, and his breathing froze for a moment.
The sudden thought made his heart race, and a sense of guilt and unease rose from the depths of his heart.
If Madara knew that I had almost completely wiped out the Uchiha clan in reality, how would he react?
Will he be so enraged that he'll tear me, the "sinner," to pieces on the spot?
Or perhaps—they are completely indifferent?
Thinking of this, Obito couldn't help but swallow hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.
He wasn't sure what Madara Uchiha's feelings for his clan were, but there was no doubt that the blood debt he owed to the Uchiha clan that night must not be exposed to Madara.
Yet, a strong sense of curiosity was stirring within him.
What is Madara Uchiha's view on the current Uchiha clan?
Only by figuring out this problem can he determine whether Madara will take his anger out on him once he learns the truth.
Conflicting emotions churned within me.
Obito's forehead was covered in a little cold sweat, and his lips were a bit dry.
He hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't resist the urge to pique his curiosity and nervousness. He gently licked his dry lips and broke the silence, forcing himself to speak: "Um—Lord Madara—"
Upon hearing Obito suddenly speak, Madara Uchiha raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, but remained silent with his eyes closed.
Seeing that Madara had no reaction, Obito was even more uneasy.
He carefully chose his words, asking slowly and deliberately, "What is your view on the current Uchiha clan?"
After saying this, he held his breath and stared intently at Madara Uchiha's face, afraid of missing any change in the other's expression.
In the silence, Madara Uchiha slowly opened his eyes.
He merely glanced at Obito, a fleeting red light flashing in his pupils.
Immediately afterwards, he frowned slightly, a clear look of displeasure flashing across his face, as if he had been asked an extremely boring question.
"The Uchiha clan?"
Obito felt uneasy under Madara's gaze and couldn't help but nod nervously to show that this was exactly the question he had asked.
"snort--"
Madara Uchiha let out another extremely disdainful sneer.
"A bunch of ignorant cowards who have long lost the true character and power of the Uchiha clan!"
His comments were filled with contempt and sarcasm, as if he were talking about a bunch of worthless trash.
Such a merciless critique left Obito momentarily stunned.
However, after a brief moment of surprise, he felt a sense of relief and joy.
Yes, thankfully.
Madara's attitude toward the Uchiha clan seemed even colder than he had imagined.
This means that even if the Uchiha clan were to perish in reality, Madara might not do anything to him because of it!
Thinking of this, Obito's previously anxious heart calmed down a little.
He subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, his voice lowering slightly as he cautiously pressed on, "Then—if—I mean, if—"
Obito's eyes flickered.
"Would you feel sorry if the Uchiha clan, as you described, were to be completely wiped out one day?"
His voice trailed off as he waited breathlessly for Ban's reply.
Upon hearing this, Madara Uchiha's pupils contracted slightly, and a mysterious and profound expression appeared on his previously calm face.
He stared intently at Obito, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly asked coldly, "Extinction?"
The next instant, a cruel smile slowly curved the corners of Ban's lips.
"Their demise was inevitable."
As soon as he finished speaking, Obito swayed slightly, almost doubting that he had misheard.
He opened his mouth, only to find that he couldn't utter a single syllable.
Madara Uchiha's answer was without the slightest hesitation, nor even the slightest bit of sympathy.
That ruthless tone seemed to be announcing a trivial fact, declaring that the destruction of the Uchiha clan was utterly insignificant in his eyes.
This was exactly the answer Obito subconsciously wanted to hear.
But when Obito actually heard such a cold-blooded statement from Madara, he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
Looking at the indifferent old man before him, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
Is this... Uchiha Madara?
[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Uchiha Obito have been detected! Emotional value +500!]
in the audience.
Everyone was shocked by Madara Uchiha's cold words, as if an invisible cold current swept through the dark viewing space.
Kashi and Jiraiya exchanged a glance, both reading deep horror and apprehension in each other's eyes.
Madara Uchiha was so ruthless to his own clansmen, and now this same guy has become their real enemy!
Both of them frowned simultaneously, feeling a terrible headache.
How difficult it would be to deal with such a formidable enemy with such mental fortitude and skill!
Danzo, who had been silent for a long time, now stared wide-eyed at Madara Uchiha on the screen, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.
To be honest, ever since Danzo witnessed the prowess of the First Hokage, Madara Uchiha, he felt both respect and fear towards Madara, and could even be said to be impressed by his demeanor and strength.
For this reason, Danzo has been reflecting on and doubting himself during this period.
He was brainwashed by Tobirama Senju and, from a young age, was influenced by Tobirama's fear and prejudice against the Uchiha clan, believing that the Uchiha clan was inherently evil and could not be relied upon.
Based on this belief, he ultimately personally orchestrated and participated in the massacre of the Uchiha clan.
However, when Danzo witnessed Madara Uchiha's magnanimity and methods as Hokage in his dream, and saw how powerful Konoha was under Madara's leadership.
He couldn't help but begin to waver.
Did I really do something wrong in the first place?
Danzo was once lost and confused, with a cloud of self-doubt hanging over him.
However, just now, Madara Uchiha's extremely cold words were like a wake-up call, completely waking him up!
Danzo's tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed, and a glint of light flashed in his single eye.
That's right! What kind of Uchiha clan is it without Madara Uchiha leading it?
Those guys like Fugaku Uchiha, so weak and incompetent, even their resistance is hesitant and ineffective—
Do ordinary Uchiha clan members who only indulge in glory, magnanimity, pride, and eye power, but have long lost their fangs and ambitions, deserve to be called Uchiha?
Overcome with excitement, Danzo couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.
"Their purity is too low! Not even as good as mine! They're pitifully weak, and every pitiful person has something hateful about them! They deserve to die!"
His single eye gleamed with a fanatical light.
Yes, these decadent Uchiha are utterly foolish. Their so-called bloodline has long lost its former glory, so what's the point of keeping it?
Danzo thought about it more and more and felt that his previous actions were completely blameless.
Such a clan, if allowed to continue to exist, would only tarnish the name of the Uchiha!
Danzo stared at the screen as if possessed, his chest heaving rapidly.
It seems I didn't do anything wrong before!
The one who was wrong was Tobirama Senju!
The Uchiha who were wrong were the ones without Madara!
Finally, Danzo slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair and stood up.
He stood tall and proud, his aged face now brimming with barely suppressed excitement: "I, Shimura Danzo, have always walked the right path! And this righteousness will ultimately bring glory to Konoha!"
[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Shimura Danzo have been detected! Emotional value +800!]
>