Chapter 57: Uchiha Madara

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Uchiha Madara

Nagato and Konan immediately drank the nutrient solution in their hands upon hearing this. Feeling their bodies gradually warm up, Konan’s eyes lit up. She timidly glanced at Uchiha Xuan before carefully storing the glass bottle in her hand.

On the other side, Orochimaru, who had been silently tending to the fire, narrowed his eyes upon seeing the glass bottles in the hands of the three children. With a flick of his wrist, a long snake slithered out from his sleeve and swallowed the glass bottle in Yahiko’s hand in one gulp.

The scene unfolded so quickly that it startled Yahiko.

Uchiha Xuan paid it no mind, merely casting a cold glance at Orochimaru before turning his attention to Yahiko.

"Do you have any belongings?"

"N-no... they were all stolen."

Yahiko spoke softly, still shaken by the sudden appearance of the snake. However, perhaps because Uchiha Xuan had given him, Nagato, and the others the nutrient solution, Yahiko didn’t seem particularly afraid of this fierce-looking peer.

"Alright."

Uchiha Xuan nodded lightly upon hearing this, then turned and returned to the fire, ignoring the three children.

He had already placed Flying Thunder God Marks on all three of them. Even if they tried to leave, he could retrieve them at any time.

A gift delivered to his doorstep—he wouldn’t let it slip away so easily.

"Taking orphans who harbor hostility toward you back to Konohagakure... Hah, is this what you Uchiha are like?"

After Uchiha Xuan sat down, Orochimaru spoke in a low, eerie tone.

"That’s not it! Nagato, he... Sir Ninja, our families died because of the war, not because of any single side! So, please believe me, believe Nagato. He... he just hasn’t been able to accept it yet."

As Orochimaru spoke, Yahiko anxiously interjected, looking at Uchiha Xuan as if afraid he would kill them.

After all, he could tell that this ninja, who was around their age, was not subordinate to the others and seemed to hold considerable authority.

Given the current situation, their only way out was to follow Uchiha Xuan to this so-called Uchiha clan.

If they refused, regardless of what Uchiha Xuan might do, that snake-like ninja would likely take action against them.

"If he ever seeks revenge against Konohagakure, I will deal with him myself. But until then, as long as he behaves, he will be considered part of my Uchiha clan."

Uchiha Xuan’s calm words acted like a shot of adrenaline, easing the tension in Yahiko.

’We’ve survived...’

...

In an unknown, dimly lit underground cave.

Apart from the sound of burning candles, there was no other movement. Silence seemed to be the only theme here, like a tomb.

In the faint glow of the candlelight, an elderly man sat leaning against a stone chair, his eyes tightly shut.

"Lord Madara! Something terrible has happened~ Nagato has been taken away by your descendant~"

The quiet atmosphere was shattered as a pale, deformed figure emerged from the ground, speaking in a strange tone to the old man on the stone chair.

A pair of crimson eyes opened, and a terrifying aura instantly spread throughout the cave. It was... the manifestation of extreme Ocular Power.

"Kill them. Let Nagato remain in the Land of Rain to build those ridiculous bonds."

Three tomoe slowly rotated as the old man’s hoarse voice softly pronounced the verdict.

"It might be quite difficult~ That Uchiha descendant who took Nagato away—his strength is truly terrifying. Even Hanzo of the Salamander was no match for him and fled in disgrace.

Moreover, he has already discovered our existence. He can even see us hiding inside rocks~ Not only that, he has mastered the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama’s Flying Thunder God Technique and Uzumaki Mito’s Yin Seal.

Oh~ and also, he is accompanied by the three disciples of the Third Hokage. Their strength is quite impressive as well. If we want to capture them all, we would need to reveal a lot of our capabilities."

The deformed White Zetsu spoke with a smile, showing no sense of urgency whatsoever about Nagato being taken away.

"Defeated Hanzo of the Salamander? And mastered that fool’s Flying Thunder God Technique? Even Mito’s Yin Seal?"

Uchiha Madara, who had been about to close his eyes and rest again, paused upon hearing this. For a moment, he wondered if White Zetsu had mistaken the person.

How could a descendant of his Uchiha clan be connected to the Senju family?

But to defeat Hanzo of the Salamander? Had he overlooked someone during his previous observations?

Aren’t the current members of the Uchiha clan all just useless trash?

"Report all the details about that Uchiha descendant to me."

For a moment, Uchiha Madara felt a strong curiosity about Uchiha Xuan.

Upon hearing this, the White Zetsu beside him immediately began gesturing animatedly as he recounted Uchiha Xuan’s experiences in the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain.

...........

"A Three-Tomoe Sharingan at the age of ten, or even earlier. A pity. Judging from his behavior and experiences, his will has already been corrupted, or rather, his thinking is too self-centered.

His demeanor is overly mature because of those eyes, I suppose. Hah, unfortunately, he lacks the true talent of the Uchiha clan.

Uchiha Xuan, is it? Compared to the successor I envisioned, he is still far too lacking. However, a junior with such talent is indeed rare. Have Zetsu make contact with him. Perhaps... he could become a useful blade."

After listening to White Zetsu’s full report on Uchiha Xuan, Uchiha Madara shook his head slightly and spoke in a low voice.

"Understood. What about Nagato?"

"The cost of keeping him in the Land of Rain is too high. Let him be. The Rinnegan possesses a self-protection consciousness; they cannot harm my eyes.

Perhaps growing up in a hypocritical village like Konohagakure will accelerate Nagato’s development. However, monitor Konohagakure closely from now on. In the future, bring all intelligence regarding Konohagakure directly to me."

In the end, Uchiha Madara abandoned the plan to have White Zetsu and the others ambush Uchiha Xuan and his companions.

Now was not the time for them to be exposed to the Ninja World.

Under the flickering candlelight, the dim cave was filled with an eerie atmosphere. The shadow of a colossal demon statue loomed, shifting between light and darkness in the candle’s glow.

...........

"Ahead lies the Land of Fire."

On a hillside, Tsunade gazed forward and spoke softly. Behind her stood everyone, including the three members of ’Akatsuki.’

Screech—! Screech—!

A hawk’s cry echoed from the sky. Uchiha Xuan raised his arm, and a ninja hawk swiftly descended, finally landing on his hand.

The next moment, several dark figures flashed from the border of the Land of Fire, rushing toward this direction. On their clothing, the Uchiha clan’s fan emblem was clearly visible.