Logically speaking, the more absurd a rumor was, the fewer people should have paid attention to it.
But this rumor was different.
The more ridiculous it became, the more people focused on it.
Combined with the intense reactions from the Senju clan and the Uchiha clan, not only did they fail to stop the rumor from spreading, they instead caused it to spread even more fiercely.
"I never expected there to be such hidden secrets behind what happened back then."
"That explains it. No wonder Uchiha Madara suddenly defected from Konoha even though he had already reconciled with the Senju clan and Konoha had already been founded."
"There was clearly no reason for it."
"The other members of the Uchiha clan clearly didn't want to follow him."
"It was all because of love."
A round-faced man with a full beard sighed emotionally.
"If that's really the case, then Senju Hashirama really did let Uchiha Madara down."
"The moment Konoha was founded, he turned around and married Uzumaki Mito. It's only natural that Uchiha Madara couldn't take it."
"If it were me, I would have defected from Konoha too."
"The one in the wrong wasn't Uchiha Madara. It was Senju Hashirama!"
Compared to the fury of the Senju and Uchiha clans, everyone else was simply enjoying the spectacle.
Onoki was laughing so hard his mouth could barely close.
Toward Senju Hashirama, Onoki held respect.
But toward Uchiha Madara, Onoki had no favorable impression whatsoever. The psychological shadow Madara had left on him back then had made Onoki hate him deeply.
"I never expected Uchiha Madara to be that kind of person."
"How pathetic."
"Now I finally understand why someone's personality could be so vile."
"Because that man was simply a pervert!"
The Fourth Raikage also mocked the matter without restraint.
However, for the red-haired people in the shinobi world, their attention was focused on the first half of the rumor.
"Red hair is the mark of the Uzumaki clan?"
"The Uzumaki clan was destroyed by Uchiha Madara, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Danzo Shimura?"
Sunagakure.
At her young age, Karin clenched her little fists angrily.
"Mother, I'll train hard. I'll become very strong, then defeat those three big villains—Uchiha Madara, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Danzo Shimura—and avenge our Uzumaki clan!"
A nostalgic look appeared in Kōsō's eyes.
Even though she had still been young at the time, Kōsō did retain some memories of Uzushiogakure.
But afterward, Uzushiogakure had suddenly come under attack.
She had watched helplessly as clan member after clan member fell.
Blood had splattered everywhere.
Many of her clansmen had died at the hands of the attackers to protect children like her.
Those surviving clansmen who had been lucky enough to escape had not lived well after scattering across the shinobi world.
It was only after arriving in Sunagakure that she had finally been treated like a human being.
Toward Sunagakure, and toward Rasa, Kōsō was deeply grateful.
Not only had Rasa allowed her to live a normal life, he had also allowed her daughter to grow up in a normal environment, without having to repeat her tragedy.
"Mother believes in you."
Kōsō gently rubbed Karin's head.
The sudden rumor disrupted Uchiha Obito's plan.
At first, Uchiha Obito had not realized it.
When he first heard the rumor, he had simply enjoyed the gossip with great interest.
"Lord Madara, I never expected you to be that kind of person back then."
But very quickly, Uchiha Obito sensed that something was wrong.
Because he had appeared before Nagato and Konan under the identity of Uchiha Madara.
And Nagato was a member of the Uzumaki clan.
Once Nagato heard this rumor, how would he react?
Uchiha Obito could not help but worry.
"Senior Madara, you really screwed me over."
"If I had known you had this kind of dark history, I never would have borrowed your name."
At the same time, a trace of doubt also arose in Uchiha Obito's heart.
That was—
Were the things Uchiha Madara had told him true or false?
Was the reason Madara defected from Konoha really what he had claimed?
Or had it actually been hatred born from love, just like the rumor said?
At this time, Nagato also received news of the rumor.
Konan walked in carrying the contents of the rumor.
Nagato sat in his wheelchair.
He wore the uniform of the Akatsuki.
"Nagato, take a look at this."
Konan directly handed the rumor to Nagato.
"What is this?"
"You'll know once you read it."
Nagato opened it. At the very first glance, his pupils could not help but shrink.
Beside him, Konan said, "Nagato, your identity as a member of the Uzumaki clan should not be wrong. You don't remember much from your childhood, but your hair does not lie."
"You possess every characteristic the Uzumaki clan should have."
"According to what is written here, the people who destroyed the Uzumaki clan were Uchiha Madara, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Danzo Shimura."
"If that is truly the case, then Uchiha Madara's words may not be trustworthy."
"It is very possible that he wants to obtain something through us."
"After all, Nagato, your eyes are very special."
"They should not be eyes that belong to the Uzumaki clan."
Nagato quickly finished reading it. Afterward, he closed his eyes and sank into thought.
Only after a long while did Nagato open his eyes again.
"For now, we can set aside whether this rumor is true or false. The Uchiha Madara who appeared before the two of us is likely not the real Uchiha Madara. Because of that, whether this rumor is true or not is not so important to me."
"The Uzumaki clan is already a thing of the past."
"What we need to be clear about is one thing—the shinobi world has truly rotted beyond saving. Only by making these shinobi villages experience ultimate pain will they finally stop."
"So long as we possess sufficient power, we can bring peace to this world."
Konan hesitated for a moment.
"Then we will continue collecting the Tailed Beasts according to the previous plan? We do nothing else? But what if that Uchiha Madara suddenly takes action against us?"
Nagato thought for a while.
"We will take things one step at a time. If he intends to act, there will certainly be signs. We will hide some methods of our own. With these eyes, it will not be so easy for him to take us down."
Konan sighed.
"That is all we can do."
In the end, Uchiha Obito still did not return to the Akatsuki base to explain the rumor.
Because Uchiha Obito felt that if he explained it himself, it would seem far too deliberate.
"If Nagato and Konan bring it up, I only need to say one thing—all rumors are false. That will be enough."
Uchiha Obito's heart settled slightly.
"There is no need to trouble myself over nothing, panicking over a mere rumor and creating problems for myself."
"I'll wait first."
"After a few days, Nagato and Konan will inevitably learn of this rumor. I'll see how they react then."
…
…
The expected attack from Uchiha Obito against Sunagakure did not arrive.
Rasa knew then that the rumor he had spread had definitely produced some effect.
"But it still isn't enough!"