Under the setting sun, at the main gate of Konoha Village, two strange individuals slowly approached.
Dressed in black robes adorned with red clouds, wearing bamboo hats, their robes fluttered in the wind.
As they drew closer, the two Konoha shinobi guarding the gate instinctively lifted their heads.
They only saw that one of the approaching individuals, who was nearer, had his fingers and toes painted with strange, rainbow-colored nail polish.
Just as they were about to open their mouths to inquire—
Suddenly, that person glanced at them.
What they saw were a pair of crimson eyes, with three tomoe inside, continuously spinning...
In the next instant, the two gate guards completely ignored this strange duo and simply... allowed them to swagger into Konoha Village...
———
Uchiha Madara stepped onto Konoha's streets. As he looked around, taking in the scenery, which was far more prosperous than when he had left, his heart was not entirely satisfied.
"Konoha's defense system is truly lacking nowadays. Outsiders can come and go as they please, and even a simple genjutsu is enough to bypass security."
"Back in my time, even the gate guards had at least three-tomoe Sharingan as a baseline."
Beside him, Uchiha Obito, disguised as a tall young man in his late teens, glanced back toward the gate and nodded in agreement, "Yeah, Konoha's vigilance is indeed weak. Even the barrier has remained unchanged since you left."
"Originally, guarding the village gate was the duty of the Police Force. But as the Uchiha gradually lost influence within the higher-ups, their power was slowly eroded bit by bit."
"Right now, it may not be obvious, but signs are already showing. The Anbu, especially the Root division, have started taking over. They've developed a mindset where they believe they can manage everything the Police Force can, and even things beyond the Police Force's jurisdiction."
Madara sneered coldly, "When I left back then, I had already foreseen this day would come. You all just refused to believe me and continued indulging in that false sense of peace."
Obito couldn't help but try to reassure him, "Madara, don't be so absolute. I believe the Uchiha will only become more prosperous in the future."
Madara shot Obito a look of disdain, "Tell me, in the future you came from, what ultimately happened to the Uchiha?"
Obito was immediately embarrassed.
In his previous timeline, under his own manipulations, the Uchiha Clan had been driven to annihilation. After the Fourth Great Ninja War, only a single survivor remained.
He could only hope that Sasuke, who seemed utterly disinterested in women, would at least have a few sons. Otherwise, the Uchiha were truly finished.
Seeing Obito's expression, Madara instantly understood and mocked,
"So, even if the Uchiha flourish in this lifetime, it's only because of special circumstances. Like your presence as a variable."
"When the winds are favorable, even pigs can fly, isn't that right?"
Obito couldn't help but retort, "Madara, you were once the leader of the Uchiha Clan. Do you really have to be so spiteful toward them?"
Madara scoffed, "The fact that I haven't come back for revenge is already my final act of mercy."
Seeing that Madara was completely unyielding, Obito had no choice but to change the subject.
Lowering his voice, he asked, "By the way, Madara, don't you think that walking into Konoha in full Akatsuki attire like this is a bit too blatant?"
Madara snorted, "Kid, your strength isn't weak. Tell me, what can a few of Tobirama's disciples and Hiruzen's students do to us?"
Obito was speechless, "We're not afraid, sure. But we might end up dragging others into this mess. Your identity alone could expose the Akatsuki Organization."
Madara glanced at his hands and feet, still covered in rainbow-colored nail polish, and his expression darkened, "Damn it, I actually trusted that little girl's nonsense and let her put this stuff on me. If people get caught up in this, they have only themselves to blame!"
Obito also glanced at Madara's painted nails and felt an uncontrollable urge to laugh.
He had to admit, Konan was truly bold.
Just like that, the two of them made their way toward Konoha's Ninja Academy.
Madara stopped in front of it, gazing at the teaching building for a long while before sighing, "Tobirama's decision to establish the Ninja Academy was indeed somewhat remarkable, but..."
Madara's gaze then shifted toward the Hokage Building in the distance.
"Hashirama founded Konoha so that children wouldn't have to go to war. Yet now, with war breaking out, they're being forced to graduate early in droves."
"Tell me, if the flames of war were to reach Konoha, how many of these children do you think would survive?"
Obito sighed, "Probably less than one in ten. But at least... they're older than the children during the Warring States Period."
Madara scoffed, "Back then, even the most intense battles involved only a few thousand shinobi at most. While children were sent to fight, it was mainly within special clans like the Uchiha and Senju."
"But now? According to White Zetsu's reports, battles now involve tens of thousands of shinobi. The scale of war has expanded several times over."
Obito had no argument, because Madara was right.
The establishment of the major ninja villages had indeed brought about a period of peace, but it had also turned once-small conflicts into full-scale global wars.
As the two conversed, the Ninja Academy's school day came to an end.
One by one, the students walked out, their faces filled with innocent smiles.
They had yet to experience the brutality of war, nor did they truly understand what it meant to be a ninja. Instead, they eagerly looked forward to becoming shinobi as soon as possible.
Obito pointed at the children, "Madara, I understand your frustration, but what Hashirama wanted to protect was precisely this—these smiles."
"His methods may have been extreme, but seeing these children, who wouldn't want to believe in a better future?"
For a moment, Madara stood frozen, deep in thought.
After a while, he turned away and said calmly, "Take me to see the Uchiha Clan."
Obito, sensing a slight softening in Madara's stance, immediately took advantage of it.
He grinned, "Alright, let's go."
Just like that, the two of them slowly made their way toward the Uchiha district.
Along the way, many Uchiha clansmen noticed the two unfamiliar figures and approached to investigate—
Only to fall under Madara's Sharingan genjutsu, rendering them oblivious to the duo's presence.
Of course, it also helped that no high-level Uchiha were around for some unknown reason. Not a single three-tomoe Sharingan user had appeared.
The two finally stopped in front of a ninja tool shop.
At that moment, an elderly shopkeeper was sitting outside, basking in the sun. When he noticed the two strange figures, he asked, "Are you here to buy ninja tools? It's rare to see non-Uchiha customers around here."
Madara looked at the shopkeeper and asked, "There aren't many people around today. Where is everyone?"
The old man scrutinized Madara, feeling that this person seemed familiar—like someone he had seen before.
The aura around him made the old man instinctively afraid, yet there was also a strange sense of familiarity.
Subconsciously, he replied, "Today is the Uchiha Clan Assembly. Most of the awakened clansmen have gathered at the Naka Shrine. By the way, have we met before? You look familiar."
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