"This is..."
Minato stared at the Susanoo with a pounding headache. This technique shouldn't be...
Uchiha Madara let out a heavy breath as the Susanoo began to fade.
"I'm really getting old," he said. "I wouldn't normally have to rely on something like this to deal with you."
His current condition was terrible. Without his original Rinnegan, and with his aging, weakened body, even keeping the Susanoo active for a short time was taxing. He doubted he had much longer to live. Was it time to fall back on that contingency plan?
The situation wasn't in his favor—especially with the blond youngster across from him, who could use that high-speed Flying Thunder God technique.
Damn that Tobirama. Always skipping the proper development process, always relying on tricks and shortcuts!
He cursed Senju Tobirama repeatedly in his heart. Even after death, the man was still a nuisance—typical of him!
"You're Uchiha Madara, aren't you?"
Minato spoke.
Madara raised an eyebrow and admitted it without hesitation.
"That's right. I'm Uchiha Madara!"
Kakashi's eyes widened in shock. That was the Madara—the man said to have been killed by the First Hokage after a fierce battle, according to the history books. And yet, here he was, alive and well, having outlived almost everyone.
What could such a legendary figure possibly want with Obito?
"As expected," Minato said grimly. "That level of Fire Release, that Sharingan, and that terrifying jutsu... only one man could do all that. You should be dead—killed in battle with the First Hokage."
"Hahaha—cough cough—"
Age had caught up with him. The laughter got stuck in his throat, and he started coughing. Even a man as seasoned as Madara found it awkward. Just as he was about to speak again, Kiyosuke suddenly said,
"Minato-sensei, he's embarrassed."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Really? Was now the time to say something like that? How did this kid's mind even work?
Madara ignored him and turned back to Minato.
"Who says I'm dead? Hashirama, on the other hand, has long since returned to dust. His body probably got dissected by his adoring students by now."
Hashirama Senju might be dead, but Konoha still had plenty of his tissue samples lying around. And where did they come from?
Heh...
Minato knew a few of the village's darker secrets, but all he said was,
"You're still alive—but what are you doing with Obito?"
It wasn't like Obito just enjoyed helping old men cross the street and got roped into this.
Madara replied, "That boy is full of potential. Even though I've left Konoha, I still want someone to carry on my legacy. I can't let all the Uchiha's secret techniques die with me. But the current Uchiha clan is pathetic—blinded by the petty favors Tobirama fed them, puffed up with arrogance."
Nothing escaped Madara's notice. With White Zetsu's stealth infiltration and nature-blending abilities, monitoring Konoha was effortless. But the Uchiha clan now was nothing like the one from his era—just a bunch of bloated fools with no sense of reality.
"Obito is the only one who's halfway decent."
Even as he said it, he didn't fully believe it himself.
Neither did Kiyosuke. He said, "Come on, not even you believe that. Obito's an idiot. He forgot even the most basic Uchiha Fire Release techniques—how's he going to master your clan's secret arts? Here's an idea: why don't we bring you back to Konoha? It's been years, surely the hatred's cooled down a bit. Go back, take on some disciples. I think the current clan leader's son has potential."
"…"
Minato: If I recall correctly, Fugaku-san's son isn't even three yet. Also—are you sure you're really friends with Obito?
"…"
Madara: If I had any other option, I wouldn't have chosen Obito! It's not like there aren't other idiots in the Uchiha clan! But he's the only one close enough. And the truth is—I really don't have much time left.
Even with the power boost from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, his body wouldn't hold out much longer. At most, five years—and this vessel would reach its end.
Time was running out.
He had spent decades working toward his dream. He couldn't afford to be delayed now.
"You sure talk a lot, brat," he said. "Obito is my chosen successor. I won't hand him over."
"And what if we insist on taking him back?" Minato narrowed his eyes. He couldn't leave Obito behind—not when it clearly wasn't good for him. He had a bad feeling about this… something terrible would happen to Obito one day.
"That's not for you to decide!"
Madara erupted with Susanoo once again.
"My time is short. You'll die here with me!"
A massive half-body Susanoo rose behind him, its chakra blade slamming into the cavern wall.
BOOM!!!
The entire cave trembled violently.
"Shit!"
He flipped the table!
Minato hadn't expected Madara to stop negotiating and go straight to destruction. He knew they couldn't stay any longer. In a flash, he grabbed Kiyosuke and Kakashi, teleported to Rin's side, slung her over his shoulder, kicked aside a White Zetsu corpse, and bolted from the cave.
Massive rocks crashed down, burying the entire cavern. Madara held the debris at bay with Susanoo, a shadow hanging over his lone remaining eye.
"...I'll have to move to the backup plan."
And find a new hiding place...
...
Minato returned to the surface with the three kids—and the corpse of White Zetsu.
"I can't believe a man like that is still alive," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow. Sage Mode had worn off and vanished.
"What does he want with Obito?" Kakashi frowned.
Rin bit her lip. The good news was that Obito was alive—but the bad news was that some ancient monster had taken an interest in him.
Kiyosuke said, "Well, at least we know Obito's still out there. We'll get another chance to find him. Also, Minato-sensei, I think it'd be safest to have Rin working at the Konoha Hospital. Obito cares a lot about her. If Madara ever tries to use her as leverage, Obito might actually do something reckless."
Keeping Rin safe in Konoha was way better than risking her getting captured and turned into a jinchūriki on the battlefield.
Minato thought about it and nodded. That made sense. He knew how much Obito liked Rin. He couldn't let Madara use that against him.
"Alright," he said. "I'll ask a friend to arrange for Rin to work at the Konoha Hospital. Rin, I'm sorry—but this is for your and Obito's safety."
Rin understood the urgency and nodded. "I will, sensei. Kakashi, Kiyosuke—please, bring Obito back. No matter what."
"We will!"
"Yeah. I don't even like this eye he gave me—it doesn't turn off and just wastes my chakra." Now that he knew Obito was alive, Kakashi was much more relaxed—and back to being his usual tsundere self.
Kiyosuke laughed. "He's much better off as a gullible idiot, honestly."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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