In the forest far from the battlefield of the Sannin and Madara.
Ryūzetsu carried Obito on her back as she fled with all her might. Obito's expression was still somewhat dazed, with Ryou's instructions still echoing in his ears.
"Listen to me, Obito. Don't go back to Konoha. The Uchiha in the Village are already lambs to the slaughter; they will be wiped out in a few years."
"Why?"
"Why? If you want to seek death, then go back! That's all I'll say. From now on, you'll have to decide for yourself which path to take!"
"Hey, Ryou, you're not really going to help Uchiha Madara regain his youth, are you? He'll destroy Konoha."
"You idiot, it's better if you stay unconscious!"
Obito asked Ryūzetsu, "Hey! Ryūzetsu, what did Ryou say to you?"
Ryūzetsu said, "Lord Ryou told me to take you as far away from the Land of Grass as possible. The coming battle will affect the entire Land of Grass."
Obito's eyes turned red with anger as he activated his only two-tomoe Sharingan. "Ryūzetsu, put me down quickly. I have to go back and kill Ryou. I absolutely cannot let him resurrect Uchiha Madara."
Ryūzetsu didn't know what to do. In Obito's broken state, he only made it this far because she was carrying him. If he really went back, it would be a near-certain death.
Suddenly, several Ninja with grass-patterned forehead protectors appeared.
Ryūzetsu was overjoyed to see her teacher and Muku's father. "Teacher, Lord Mui! Lord Kusakage!"
But the Kusagakure Ninja didn't offer a tearful reunion. A group of Ninja faintly surrounded Ryūzetsu and Obito.
The Kusagakure Leader stared intently at Obito's Sharingan and licked his lips. "Well done, Ryūzetsu. Quickly hand over the Uchiha on your back."
At these words, Ryūzetsu froze on the spot, and Obito's heart sank to the bottom.
"Leader, he is my friend. We were both captured by the same people."
Chizu wanted to say something, but a Sharingan and an Uchiha Ninja were too important to a small hidden Village like Kusagakure.
Even if he was a bit ugly, having a Sharingan made him a prize. They would take him back and use him as breeding stock.
Chizu said, "Ryūzetsu, think of the Village's interests. Hand over the friend on your back."
"He's already a cripple. We, Kusagakure, will take care of the rest of his life."
"But... Teacher!"
At her young age, Ryūzetsu witnessed the unscrupulous methods adults used for profit.
Obito jumped off Ryūzetsu's back and roared, "Kusagakure, Konoha is your ally! Do you dare to attack a Konoha Ninja?"
The Kusagakure Leader sneered, "Ally? Konoha has always been carving meat from us small hidden Villages. Besides, as long as this doesn't leak out, no one will know."
"Go! Capture this Uchiha and bring him back as a stud!"
This is bad!
Obito felt that he was already a cripple, that the Village wouldn't want him, and that Rin would despise him.
But in fact, in other hidden Villages, Obito's Sharingan and his Uchiha bloodline were always highly sought after.
Even if he was as ugly as a ghost, plenty of people would fight over him.
Tobi's voice sounded from within Obito's body. "Obito, you're really far behind Ryou!"
Obito was startled. "Poop-talker, how did you end up in my body?"
Tobi said, "Ryou planted spores in both your and Ryūzetsu's bodies. Zetsu was afraid he was up to something, so he had me stay in your body to clean up any of Ryou's hidden tricks."
"Obito, you're in a real hurry now!"
Obito didn't want to be taken back by Kusagakure to be a breeding pig, tainting his pure heart for Rin.
"Tobi, lend me your power quickly."
"Obito, I know you're in a hurry, but don't be in a hurry just yet. I know you have a point, but let's not be reasonable first. As far as I know, I still know nothing."
Obito clutched his head, nearly breaking down. "You bastard Tobi, stop wasting time! I'll give you whatever you want, just lend me your power."
Tobi responded, "Obito, you'd better think carefully. If I lend you power, you'll be Lord Madara's man from now on."
Obito looked at the Kusagakure Ninja charging with ferocious expressions and said anxiously, "I'll do whatever you say. Just help me get through this crisis first."
"Obito, don't you go back on your word!"
Tobi slowly emerged from Obito's body. Obito felt the abnormality on the left side of his body completely vanish.
He was now in surprisingly good condition.
"Just as well. After absorbing that big snake and Ryou's two spores, my Chakra is very active. It's enough to deal with these people."
"Wood Release: Cutting Technique!"
...Konoha, Hokage Building.
"Nani!!"
The Third Hokage suddenly stood up, looking at the note Shizune had handed him on Tsunade's behalf.
"Uchiha Madara isn't dead?!"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
The Third Hokage stared blankly at the portraits of the two previous Hokage on the office wall: the First Hokage and the Second Hokage.
In the 2nd year of Konoha, Hashirama completed the distribution of the eight Tailed Beasts, with only the Nine-Tails missing.
At the end of that year, Madara returned to Konoha with the Nine-Tails.
Hashirama and Madara fought an earth-shattering battle at the Valley of the End.
In this battle, Hashirama killed Madara and sealed the Nine-Tails. After returning to the Village, he went into complete seclusion.
When Tsunade was five or six years old, having enjoyed the happiness of family, he let go of all attachments and passed away.
The Ninja legend of Hashirama and Madara came to an end, also marking the conclusion of the Warring States Period.
The Third Hokage hadn't been at the scene of that earth-shattering battle, but he later visited the battlefield. The destructive power of the First Hokage and Madara had surpassed that of ordinary Ninja.
But how could Madara still be alive?
The Second Hokage had stated categorically that Madara was dead, and his body had even been brought back.
How could he possibly still be alive?!
But Orochimaru wouldn't lie, and Tsunade wouldn't lie either.
Madara is indeed still alive!
The Third Hokage took a deep drag of his pipe and instantly calmed down. "Orochimaru, Tsunade, you're too hasty. You're both too hasty."
"That's Uchiha Madara. You will never know how terrifying he is."
The closer one was to the Warring States Period, the more one understood the terror of Hashirama and Madara.
Villages outside of Konoha were all very fortunate that Hashirama was a benevolent man, and that Madara and Hashirama were always at odds.
Otherwise, with the Susanoo-clad Buddha, the two of them could have destroyed the four nations.
"Shinnosuke, withdraw all Ninja squads from Kirigakure front!"
"Father!"
"Also, have Minato abandon the front-line positions and have Danzo cease all operations related to the Land of Rain. Return to the Village as soon as possible."
"...Ryou, I'm just an orange cat. Please don't make things difficult for me, okay?"
Without another word, Fish Ball jumped off Ryou's shoulder and fled far away.
Even his Summoned Beast had been scared off, making Ryou look quite bad.
He gave the Sannin an awkward smile. "I won't disturb you. I'm leaving now!"
"Ryou, where do you think you're going?"
Orochimaru's body chased after him like a flying snake, weaving hand signs as he flew.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A violent wind erupted from Orochimaru's mouth, attacking Ryou.
"Perfect timing!"
"Uchiha Reflection!"
Ryou held up the Gunbai and blocked it firmly. In an instant, Orochimaru's Wind Release was reflected back.
Orochimaru couldn't dodge in mid-air and took his own Wind Release head-on.
Orochimaru stood back on Manda's head, looking somewhat embarrassed. "What kind of Ninja tool is that?"
Sage Fukusaku recognized it. "Little Jiraiya, Little Orochimaru, that is the sacred treasure passed down through the Uchiha Clan for generations, the Uchiha Gunbai. It can reflect all Ninjutsu attacks!"
Ryou laughed loudly. "Orochimaru, after three days apart, one should see things in a new light. I have already shed my snake skin and ascended into a dragon!"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and smiled dangerously.
He had to admit that Ryou's growth was rapid. Even Reanimated Hiruko couldn't hold him down. One must know that Hiruko had integrated his white snake cells and could transform into a Great White Snake.
Even an average Jonin wouldn't be able to handle him.