"You brat!"
The Third Hokage grew angry, taking out his pipe and tapping Gyokushun on the head.
"You were so bold when embezzling, yet now you don't even dare to look at Uchiha Madara. You're truly a disgrace to the Senju Clan's name."
Gyokushun rubbed his head.
Kurenai analyzed, "Hokage-sama, if Uchiha Madara is truly still alive, he must be in his eighties by now."
"A Ninja of that age probably can't even use Ninjutsu anymore!"
Ninja was a profession that followed science, as well as the laws of aging and death; the young often surpassed the old.
The Third Hokage shook his head. "No, a legendary Ninja like Uchiha Madara cannot be judged by common logic."
"Furthermore—"
"Though Orochimaru's intelligence didn't mention it, I suspect Ryou is still alive. Orochimaru likely discovered Uchiha Madara while seeking his Immortality Technique."
"Only Orochimaru would have that kind of patience."
Shinnosuke realized, "Father, if that's the case, then Uchiha Madara is the one behind Ryou?"
The Third Hokage nodded. "Ryou escaping the Uchiha Police Force, defecting from Konoha, evading Anbu pursuit... the suspicious points behind all this are too great."
"If Uchiha Madara is indeed the one behind him, then it's clear. Uchiha Madara wants Ryou's forbidden jutsu to restore his youth and return to his peak."
Gyokushun clutched his head on the ground, feeling as if the sky was falling. "If that's true, then it's all over. Without the First Hokage, the Ninja World cannot stop Uchiha Madara once he regains his strength."
"Don't panic, don't panic. We have the Sannin. Jiraiya and the others will surely stop Uchiha Madara."
Suddenly, a golden figure flashed into existence at the Hokage's location, and the Anbu elites immediately became alert.
But they relaxed once they saw who it was.
It was Minato and Jiraiya.
"Hokage-sama, please save Sensei!"
The Third Hokage's eyes widened to the limit as he looked at the battered Jiraiya, who looked like a dead dog.
"Jiraiya!!"
Asuma and his companions hurried over after hearing the series of panicked voices.
By the time they arrived, they found the Hokage's location surrounded by high-ranking members of various clans, making it impossible for them to squeeze in.
They could only eavesdrop from the side.
The Anbu noticed it was Asuma and didn't mind.
The Third Hokage ordered the Anbu Medical Ninjas to treat Jiraiya.
The Anbu undid Jiraiya's tattered clothes and saw a blue and white slug on his chest.
Before the battle, Tsunade had given both Jiraiya and Orochimaru a division of Katsuyu.
It was Katsuyu who had protected Jiraiya's heart and kept him alive.
The Third Hokage's expression grew heavy as he looked at Jiraiya's horrific injuries.
If even Jiraiya, who had mastered Senjutsu, was beaten like this, then Uchiha Madara had clearly restored himself to his prime through Ryou's forbidden jutsu.
The Third Hokage looked at Minato, somewhat puzzled. "Minato, you've already received word in Kirigakure?"
Not even a day had passed since the Third Hokage sent the message to the front lines; Minato couldn't have received it so quickly.
Minato replied, "It was a communication frog from Mount Myōboku. They told me about Uchiha Madara."
The Third Hokage nodded.
Shinnosuke stepped forward and whispered something into the Third Hokage's ear.
Jiraiya and Minato's appearance hadn't been hidden from anyone, and Jiraiya's critical condition filled everyone with worry.
Just what kind of enemy could beat Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, into such a state? Everyone was buzzing with discussion.
The Third Hokage could no longer keep it from everyone. He had Shinnosuke invite the heads of the various clans and the Jonin of the Village.
At that moment.
The Hyuga brothers, Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi.
Inuzuka Tsume of the Inuzuka Clan, Shibi Aburame of the Aburame Clan, the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, the Kurama Clan... along with some civilian Ninjas and Anbu, totaling about 50 people, all Jonin.
It couldn't be helped; because it was wartime, many of the Village's Ninjas were out on missions. Otherwise, the Third Hokage would have gathered an army of tens of thousands to wear down Uchiha Madara.
The Third Hokage took a puff of smoke, and his first words left everyone stunned.
"Uchiha Madara... is not dead!"
"(◐_◑)."
The Ninjas from the various clans doubted their own ears, while some civilian Ninjas were even confused about who Uchiha Madara was.
"Uchiha Madara? Who's that? Is there such a person in the Uchiha?"
"No idea. Probably some Uchiha expert! No need to fear him, I'll take action!"
"I see. I thought it was a big deal. Everyone disperse, go home and bring in your laundry!"
"..."
The Third Hokage looked at these ignorant civilian Ninjas, not knowing what to say.
The responsibility for this lay with his teacher, Tobirama, because Konoha's textbooks didn't record anything about Uchiha Madara.
To maintain the legitimacy of the Senju line or out of fear of Uchiha Madara's power and the worry that the Uchiha would follow him, the higher-ups had deleted all mentions of him from the textbooks.
Not just the rest of the Village, but even the Uchiha themselves probably didn't remember how powerful their ancestor, Uchiha Madara, was.
History is a tool that rulers can paint over at will.
Furthermore, it had been too long. The events involving Uchiha Madara happened during the founding of Konoha, fifty years ago.
In fifty years, the Ninja Clans had seen three generations. This generation of Ninjas had forgotten the ultimate power of the Uchiha.
Tobirama not writing books to smear Uchiha Madara was already a sign of character; an ordinary person would have branded Madara as history's greatest criminal, pinning him to a pillar of shame forever.
The various clans all looked at the Third Hokage, wanting to confirm the news one more time.
Seeing how serious the clan Ninjas were, the civilian Ninjas stopped laughing.
It seemed this Uchiha Madara was a bit of a handful!
Ninja families had their own education. The history they recorded might not be complete, but they wouldn't raise their children to be fools.
Choza and Inoichi glanced at Shikaku. No wonder the Third Hokage hadn't brought any Uchiha members.
If the Uchiha Ninjas heard that their ancestor wasn't dead, would they defect on the spot? Then they'd shout, "Do not say Lord Madara's soul returns late; let us stir the Uchiha to revolt against Konoha!"
"Cough, cough..."
Jiraiya coughed up two mouthfuls of blood, and Minato stepped forward with concern.
"Sensei!"
"Mi... nato..."
The Third ignored the Ninjas' questions and went forward to check on his most trusted student.
"Jiraiya!"
Jiraiya half-opened his eyes and looked weakly at the Third Hokage. "...Old man, where's Orochimaru?"
The Third Hokage looked at Minato.
Minato lowered his head and said nothing. When he left, he had seen Orochimaru smashed down by a punch from the Wood Golem.
He was likely... Seeing Minato's silence, Jiraiya seemed to realize something, and his face turned pale.
The Third Hokage's palm clenched tightly, veins bulging.
His proudest disciple, dead!
Some of the clan Ninjas began to wet themselves.
Jiraiya was beaten until he had only one breath left, Orochimaru was killed, and Tsunade's whereabouts were unknown.
Uchiha Madara really isn't dead!
Heavens! The Ninja World is doomed!
Suppressing the grief in his heart, the Third Hokage stepped forward and asked Jiraiya, "Jiraiya, where is Tsunade?"
Before Jiraiya could speak, the slug on his chest said, "Lady Tsunade was captured by Uchiha Madara. Uchiha Madara handed her over to Ryou, saying he wants to marry Hashirama's granddaughter to his grandson."
After the slug finished, it grew smaller and smaller, vanishing in an instant after exhausting all its Chakra.
Hearing this, Jiraiya's face grew even paler. Minato suspected that if they continued, Jiraiya wouldn't make it, so he quickly gave the Third Hokage a look.
The Third Hokage understood immediately and said to Jiraiya, "Jiraiya, don't worry. We will rescue Tsunade. The most important thing for you now is to rest."
Jiraiya coughed twice with difficulty and then said firmly, "Teacher, I have important intelligence to share."
"Jiraiya, listen to me!"
"Teacher, I can feel my own injuries. I'm not going to make it. Only I know the situation with Uchiha Madara. Let me finish speaking."