The Third Hokage departed with heavy steps, and for the first time in a long while, the strongest shinobi in Konoha seemed visibly weary.
Faced with a threat like Uchiha Madara—the lifelong rival of the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi himself—even Shimizu could only feel powerless.
Although Konoha now had the help of Shimizu Uzuki, the enemies they faced were not only more numerous than in the original timeline, but far stronger as well.
Madara, who should only have appeared at the very end, had somehow regained his youth ahead of time?
Then how much of his strength had returned?
Had he already reached that monstrous level from the later years—limitless chakra, earth-shattering forbidden techniques, power beyond reason?
If that were true… who could possibly stop him?
In this era, when even the Mangekyō Sharingan was an exceedingly rare existence, there was likely no one capable of standing against a fully restored Madara.
For a brief moment, Shimizu almost felt as though he could glimpse the end of the entire world of Naruto drawing closer.
…No.
Enough pointless speculation.
Everything would have to wait until Jiraiya regained consciousness and explained what had truly happened.
After all, the one who fought Madara directly was Jiraiya. Only he knew the real reason behind that battle—and Madara's actual strength.
Then they could see what plans the Third Hokage intended to make to finally eliminate this hidden threat once and for all.
Still…
Shimizu couldn't help wondering whether Madara still wanted him to defect from Konoha.
And more importantly—
What exactly did Madara see in him?
Could he really compare to Obito, whose talent in the original story bordered on absurd?
The more Shimizu thought about it, the deeper his confusion became.
Perhaps…
Madara simply hadn't encountered many other shinobi from Konoha.
Lost in chaotic thoughts, Shimizu eventually arrived at the Hokage Rock—the highest point in the village. From there, he overlooked the entirety of Konoha.
Under the veil of night, the shinobi village appeared peaceful and quiet.
It was difficult to imagine that this seemingly tranquil home had already been at war for over a year and a half.
"Time really does pass quickly…" Shimizu murmured to himself. "It's already the summer of Konoha Year 46."
He stood there absentmindedly, gazing up at the moon hanging high in the sky, as though lamenting the relentless passage of time.
Then suddenly—
A violent gust erupted from beneath the ground.
Caught completely off guard, Shimizu was struck instantly by several dark shadows.
Scarlet blood splattered through the air.
"I knew it," a voice said lazily. "White-haired guys aren't usually that alert."
That voice—
Tobi!
His smug tone drifted from behind Shimizu.
"Well, this is Konoha after all. In a safe environment, everyone relaxes sooner or later. And once people relax… they get careless."
Six wooden branches had pierced straight through Shimizu's body, lifting him slowly into the air.
"Come on, turn around," Tobi whistled casually as he manipulated the branches, forcing Shimizu to face him directly. "Let me get a good look at you."
Their eyes met.
"…Tobi."
Shimizu's gaze burned with fury and unwillingness.
"Now that's a nice expression." Tobi snapped his fingers approvingly.
"So Madara came too?" Shimizu asked coldly. "You're here to kill me?"
"How did you know Madara was here?" Tobi tilted his head in confusion, though he quickly dismissed the thought. Then he reminded Shimizu casually, "Notice how I carefully avoided your vital points? And you're smart enough to figure things out…"
Madara had long wanted to recruit Shimizu. He had repeatedly schemed to drive a wedge between him and Konoha, and now he had even personally entered the village.
Clearly, Madara and Tobi had come to take him away.
Since manipulation had failed—
They had decided to use force instead.
"Our guts are impressive, aren't they?" Tobi laughed. "Bet you never saw this coming."
The moment Tobi finished speaking, a burst of lightning suddenly exploded behind him.
"BOOM—!!"
Dust and debris erupted into the air.
In the next instant, Tobi retreated violently, dragging along half a body scorched black by the blast.
"Damn it…"
His eyes flicked toward the "Shimizu" still suspended in midair under the control of the wooden branches.
This bastard… had discovered him long ago and deliberately set a trap?
Where had he slipped up?
When had he been noticed?
How could anyone possibly detect his presence in advance?!
"Didn't expect that, huh?" A cold sneer echoed through the dust cloud.
At the same time, reflected in Tobi's eyes were nine dazzling streaks of blue-white light. They tore through the swirling smoke from nine different directions, converging toward him at terrifying speed—
There was nowhere to dodge.
Instinctively, Tobi pushed Wood Release to its limit. Every branch under his control surged forward at once, including the six that had impaled the fake Shimizu moments earlier. Countless wooden tendrils intertwined in an instant, forming a solid defensive barrier.
"BOOM—!!"
The collision between Storm Release and Wood Release triggered another violent explosion.
"This guy…"
Tobi glanced down at his now miserable condition.
Even after defending with everything he had, two of those blue-white lightning arcs had still curved around his Wood Release at impossibly strange angles and struck his real body directly.
"…He's becoming more troublesome by the day."
For the first time, the playful tone in Tobi's voice vanished, replaced by something dark and cold.
"This is what happens when you underestimate your opponent," another voice spoke from the darkness. "After so many lessons, have you still learned nothing?"
"You're right, Madara. I got careless." Tobi had completely dropped his usual frivolous demeanor.
In the past, he had personally killed the Second Hokage. And the young man before him hadn't even reached Kage level yet.
Every previous failure in their encounters, Tobi had always managed to justify somehow.
But this time…
Even after launching a surprise attack and gaining the initiative, he had nearly been turned around and defeated.
This undeniable failure finally shattered the pride he had clung to for so long.
"Besides," Madara continued coldly, "that commotion was too loud."
"I know. I'll finish him quickly."
"We don't have time to waste. Within minutes, this place will be swarming with Konoha Anbu."
Under the moonlight, Madara's Sharingan glowed with an eerie brilliance.
But this was no ordinary three-tomoe Sharingan.
The three tomoe had fused together into a single pattern, like three sharp blades intertwining endlessly within blood-red eyes.
The Mangekyō Sharingan.
"I've already subdued him," Madara said, his voice sounding strangely weary. "Break his limbs first."
"…You used that technique again." Tobi let out a sigh before immediately controlling more than a dozen wooden branches, sending them whipping toward the immobilized Shimizu. "You should appreciate the trouble we're going through for you."
In the blink of an eye, countless branches wrapped tightly around Shimizu before violently piercing through all four of his limbs.
Blood splattered through the air once more.
"We've taken quite a risk for your sake."
After completely restraining Shimizu's movements, Tobi glanced toward the rapidly approaching chakra signatures of Konoha's Anbu in the distance.
"Time to go."
But just as Tobi and Madara turned to leave, both of them suddenly sensed a lethal threat erupting from behind.
Their bodies halted instantly.
Then, with impossible reflexes, they simultaneously twisted away in opposite directions.
A heartbeat later—
Countless razor-sharp Water Release needles tore through the space they had occupied moments earlier, punching straight through the forest ahead and leaving the trees riddled with holes in an instant.
...
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