Night fell.
As the last trace of sunlight vanished, the streets of Konohagakure lit up one by one. The commercial districts shone like daylight.
"Still as lively as ever… seems even more crowded than before."
Uchiha Madara walked through the streets with a faint smile.
He hadn't been here in a while.
Night shifts.
Factory work.
Midnight hours.
All for those so-called "electric tricycle" parts.
"There you are."
His eyes lit up.
Itō Sōsuke was exactly where he expected—selling roasted sweet potatoes.
"Kid. Two sweet potatoes."
Sōsuke looked up—
"Grandpa!"
Long time no see.
He quickly handed over the food and pulled out a stool.
Madara sat down.
Hungry.
He hadn't even eaten dinner—went straight to the card shop after work.
Factory meals?
He was getting tired of them.
Same rotation.
Same taste.
Unlike his coworkers—
Who were just grateful to eat.
Madara?
Born into the Uchiha Clan.
He had standards.
They chatted.
School gossip.
Class drama.
Young relationships.
Then—
Inevitably—
Ninja talk.
Madara's domain.
He spoke of the past.
Names omitted.
Stories reshaped.
Still—
Enough to ignite imagination.
"You must've been an amazing ninja…"
Sōsuke's eyes sparkled.
Madara snorted.
"Don't envy it."
"Killing strangers. Fighting for your life."
"You? At best a fodder genin."
"On the battlefield—you'd just waste one shuriken."
Blunt.
But honest.
Better crushed dreams—
Than a meaningless death.
"…You really know how to ruin the mood."
"I'm saving your life."
Madara meant it.
He liked this kid.
Didn't want him dying somewhere unknown.
"By the way, why'd you come today?"
Finally.
The question.
Madara's lips curved.
He took out a box.
Elegant.
Complete.
"The full set."
Sōsuke froze.
"…Wait."
"…No way."
"You actually did it?!"
"Of course."
Madara tossed it over.
Sōsuke caught it—
Hands shaking.
Opened it.
One by one—
"First Hokage…"
"Second Hokage…"
"Tailed Beasts…"
"…Nine-Tails…"
"All of them…"
"IT'S COMPLETE!!!"
He exploded with excitement.
Jumping.
Shouting.
Laughing.
Madara watched—
Satisfied.
Yes.
This reaction.
Exactly this.
"I never break promises."
"Y-you're giving this to me?!"
"Obviously."
"GRANDPA YOU'RE THE BEST!!!"
Sōsuke nearly bowed on the spot.
For him—
This wasn't just cards.
This was status.
Recognition.
A way to finally stand out.
Madara scoffed.
"Kids are easy to please."
"Hey, this means we can meet the Hokage!"
Sōsuke's eyes shone.
"Let's go together!"
Madara paused.
…That's right.
A perfect opportunity.
He had wanted to meet Uchiha Ren for a long time.
This "junior"—
Who broke Tobirama Senju's system.
Became Hokage.
And was reshaping the shinobi world.
Madara saw something familiar.
A reflection—
Of himself.
"…Then tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?! I need to pick my clothes!"
"…It's just a Hokage."
"Hey—lower your voice! That's the Hokage!"
Sōsuke panicked.
People nearby were already looking over.
Madara clicked his tongue.
"…I'm telling the truth."
"Yeah yeah, I believe you."
"That look says otherwise."
"…Just eat your sweet potato."
In the shadows—
Black Zetsu watched.
Silently.
Despair growing.
What was Madara doing?
Factory work.
Card games.
Using Sharingan to cheat.
Collecting cards?!
"THE MOON'S EYE PLAN!!!"
Zetsu screamed internally.
This wasn't the Madara he waited centuries for.
This was—
A retired old man enjoying life.
Unacceptable.
"…Maybe I should change targets."
The requirements were brutal:
Mangekyō SharinganEternal MangekyōCompatible sibling sacrificeHashirama cells
He had waited a thousand years for Madara.
Now?
He might have to wait another thousand.
"…No."
But what choice did he have?
Madara was useless.
Hopeless.
Zetsu made his decision.
Abandon him.
Find another Uchiha.
"I… will try again."
He cast one last look—
Then vanished into the darkness.
Next day.
Morning.
Uchiha Ren sat in the office, sipping goji tea.
Nara Shikaku reported:
"Land of Iron agreement secured."
"Amegakure will withdraw."
"…But Hanzō is dangerous."
"Given time—he'll become a major threat."
Ren nodded.
"Agreed."
The Rain Village—
If left unchecked—
Would ignite the future.
The Second Great Ninja War—
Would begin exactly this way.
Not suddenly.
But through constant friction.
Provocation.
Escalation.
Until everything exploded.
Ren leaned back slightly.
Eyes narrowing.
"Konoha shouldn't act directly…"
A thought formed.
Cold.
Calculated.
"…A proxy war."
Now that—
Was interesting.
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