July 3rd, 8:10 a.m.
After breakfast, Akira's family of three prepared to accompany the two "headliners" to the legendary Anyin Ninja Village.
Before heading out, Kaori changed her clothes.
She took off her usual kunoichi dress and put on a long blue trench coat she used to wear in her youth. A fitted belt cinched her waist, highlighting her tall, slender legs above a pair of ninja boots.
The gentle, feminine aura faded away, replaced by a sharp and heroic presence.
From the wardrobe, she took out two brand-new outfits and walked into the living room.
Madara and Obito were sitting face to face on the sofa.
Kaori placed the clothes neatly on the cleaned coffee table between them.
"Uncle Madara," she said warmly, "I went to the nearby town yesterday to look for ninja outfits."
"The standard armor you used to wear is no longer made, so I picked something suitable from what's available and had it altered."
"Try it and see if it fits."
"Oh? How thoughtful." Madara picked it up.
It was a deep-red ceremonial robe, similar in style to Akira's black one.
Besides the temporarily added Uchiha crest, the cuffs and collar were embroidered with roses.
"Hmm? What's with the roses?" Madara asked.
Kaori narrowed her eyes and smiled playfully.
"Because Akira gave you that nickname, so I added them myself~"
"Hahaha! Battlefield Rose—nice, I like it!"
Madara laughed heartily.
He took off Akira's black robe, hung it up, and changed into the new one.
Afterward, he turned around, inspected himself, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad. Fits perfectly."
Kaori then turned around.
"Brother Obito, this is the style you used to wear. I bought it shortly after you went to see Rin."
Madara noticed a small detail.
She had added roses to his clothes—but not Obito's.
So she was more playful with elders?
Instead of being annoyed, Madara found it charming.
Obito unfolded his outfit.
It was the cloak he had worn during his White Mask days, now in light gray instead of purple—better matching his gray-white hair.
"This really brings back memories…" he said.
He put it on, then asked,
"No mask?"
"Mask?" Kaori blinked.
Obito replied seriously,
"Of course. If people recognize my face or Madara's, it'll shake the entire ninja world."
"It'll bring Akira trouble."
Madara nodded.
"True. I've never worn a mask in my life, but after dying once, I suppose I can make an exception."
Akira walked in holding Yue's hand, having finished dressing her in sun-protective clothes.
Hearing them, he said,
"Where we're going today, it doesn't matter."
"As for later, I'll respect your wishes."
Before leaving, Madara picked up a photo frame from the TV cabinet.
It was a family portrait.
Besides Akira, Kaori, and Yue, there was an older girl—about seven or eight years older than Yue.
Their eldest daughter, Uchiha Xue.
Born the same year Akira and Kaori married.
Yue resembled Akira.
Xue, however, was practically a miniature Kaori.
Twelve years old—just the age to step into the ninja world.
From the moment he first saw the photo, Madara felt a strange affinity with her.
Perhaps he would meet her on this trip…
He put the frame back.
"Let's go."
With his right eye's spacetime technique, Akira enveloped everyone.
Bang!
The moment they left, Naruto and Sasuke—tracking Akira's chakra—burst into the living room through a space portal.
"Damn it!"
"The chakra signal vanished completely!"
"Too late?"
After searching in vain, Naruto walked to the TV cabinet.
He picked up the photo and stared at it thoughtfully.
…
Whoosh!
The spacetime vortex settled.
The group appeared in a narrow valley.
Water flowed beneath their feet.
Dense mist lay ahead.
Madara instinctively grabbed Yue's hand.
But the little princess giggled.
"Hehe, water~!"
She released chakra to her feet and stood steadily on the surface.
Madara was stunned.
"Only four years old, and she already knows chakra control?!"
Akira laughed.
"Sorry, Uncle Madara. Early education is popular these days."
"She's only learned the basics."
"No Three Techniques, no shuriken, no Fire Style yet."
Madara and Obito thought in unison:
That's already extreme early education…
Akira led the way toward the mist.
"This place lies at the junction of the Wind, Earth, and Bird Countries."
"A nameless nation's southern valley."
"People think it's barren."
"But it hides a sacred training ground from the Sage of Six Paths' era."
"It's called 'Peachspring.'"
"Protected by barriers, isolated from the world."
"Even now, its location is a mystery."
"I found it and built Anyin Village there."
Madara asked curiously,
"A Six Paths relic? How did you find it?"
Akira replied,
"I once had a master."
"A descendant of Asura's lineage."
"I met him at my lowest point."
"He saved me."
"Everything I am today comes from his guidance."
"Peachspring's clue was his final gift."
Madara pondered.
So Akira had a master…
"No name?" he asked.
"He was a wandering monk. No name."
"I called him 'Zen Master.'"
"Strong?"
Akira smiled secretly.
"He knew no ninjutsu."
"His lineage followed Asura's creed."
"Rejecting Indra's obsession with techniques."
"Focusing on cultivating the heart."
"They mastered meditation."
"He taught it to me."
Meditation?
Just sitting still?
Madara scoffed inwardly.
Indra's reincarnation wasn't impressed.
Akira continued calmly.
"Ninja focus doesn't even count as beginner-level meditation."
"True meditation leads to samadhi."
"And what does that do?"
"In samadhi, I fight imaginary enemies."
"Body, mind, and spirit grow as if in real combat."
"I trained from thirteen to sixteen to achieve it."
"Sixteen years have passed since."
"Six of those were spent raising Xue."
"So I've practiced seriously for ten years."
"But my combat experience…"
"…equals a hundred years."
"A hundred years of Warring States-level battles."
Madara and Obito froze.
"That's possible?"
"Time acceleration?"
"And imaginary enemies are just you, aren't they?"
"If you're weak, won't they be weak too?"
Akira chuckled.
"I thought the same before mastering it."
"But once you enter, you understand."
"It's beyond words."
"The Sage's teachings were truly profound."
"No wonder Asura and Indra fought over them."
Madara's eyes shimmered.
So that's why…
Few real battles, yet such refined skill.
"But that's not why I see him as my benefactor."
Akira stopped before a cliff wall.
He formed a seal.
With a rumble, a door appeared.
The Gate of Peachspring.
The only entrance.
Creak.
Akira pushed it open.
Light poured out.
His voice grew low.
"Uncle Madara, Obito…"
"You probably won't believe this."
"I used to be violent and unstable."
"I even caused my parents' deaths…"