At the same time, the underground base of Kannabi Bridge.
Uchiha Hikari quietly walked into the stone gate, fine sand and soil rustling down, the stone slabs on both sides shifting inward, fitting together seamlessly.
As soon as she entered, she heard heavy breathing coming from the inner chamber.
Uchiha Madara lay weakly on a stone chair, his face pale. His chest was covered in blood, and a piece of flesh that clearly didn't belong to him was neatly stitched into the center of the wound.
The scene was gruesome and terrifying, the piece of flesh like a bright red heart, pulsing with his breath.
Hearing the movement, he slowly raised his eyes, like a brown bear awakening from hibernation, his mismatched red and white eyes turning eerily towards the doorway.
"How is it outside?"
Light ignored his question, walking in without a word. She picked up a towel from the washstand, expertly wetting it and wringing it out. Clear water flowed down her pale hands as she approached Madara and wiped away the blood around his wound.
Madara groaned. Even though Light's movements were gentle, merely touching the area around the wound caused him to twitch in pain. The flesh was like some kind of corrosive acid, eating away at his entire body along his veins. The damp towel quickly became stained with blood.
This bone-deep, heart-scorching pain tormented his nerves constantly.
Light frowned slightly. "It's been two days already. Why is there no sign of healing? Isn't Hashirama Senju's Chakra supposed to contain life force?"
Madara gasped for breath, forcing a ghastly smile. "This is the only path to peace. If it went smoothly, I'd have to doubt its authenticity!"
Light frowned, washing the bloodstained towel, wringing it out, and placing it back. Then, she said softly, "Hashirama Senju woke up before we started the transplant."
"Is that so?" Madara sat up slightly, signaling her to continue.
"According to the information I extracted, Hashirama left the village as soon as he woke up. In less than three days, he captured all the tailed beasts except the One-Tail and Nine-Tails from all over the Shinobi World. At the same time, Hidden Leaf Village sent a message to the other four great ninja villages, wanting to gather the leaders of the five great nations' ninja villages to hold a..." Light struggled to recall the term, "...Five Kage Summit?"
Madara exhaled a long breath and snorted coldly. "That guy must be planning to divide the tailed beasts equally among those ants to maintain that laughable balance."
"Divide equally?" Light tilted her head, not quite understanding. "With that kind of power, why not just unify the Shinobi World? Wouldn't that be more peaceful?"
She had already witnessed the power of the Nine-Tails. As for a ruthless person who could subdue seven of them in such a short time, she couldn't understand why he would lower himself to the weak.
"That's why I can't get along with him." Madara was somewhat frustrated. "What truly creates balance isn't the tailed beasts, but me and him. That wooden head of his just can't understand that!"
"He's making a mistake. Once peace collapses, the tailed beasts will definitely become a disaster for ordinary people!"
At this moment, Madara noticed the hesitant expression on Light's face, and his tone softened. "Is there any news about Shin'yu?"
"Ah!" Light's eyes flickered, and she quickly said, "According to the information we received, he was entangled by Tobirama Senju at the time. A huge, crimson barrier rose at the site of the battle. When the barrier dissipated, Shin'yu was gone, as if he had evaporated from the world."
Madara pondered for a moment. "He was probably transferred away by Tobirama's Flying Thunder God. Hmph, that guy Tobirama, still using those tricks when fighting a child."
"Chi...ld?" Light raised her head slightly, giving Madara a strange look, thinking that his perception of his disciple might be a bit one-sided.
"Well, then there's no need to worry about it. We can't count on Shin'yu for the time being." Madara laughed as a matter of course. "He can't tell east from west. It must be hard for him to find his way back. Give him some time."
"I understand." Light nodded, then pouted, clenching her small fist. "He actually made us worry. When he comes back, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind."
"Hehe, I wasn't worried in the slightest." Madara suddenly chuckled.
Light didn't dare to meet Madara's teasing gaze, deliberately avoiding looking at him.
Fortunately, at this moment, Madara instructed, "Alright, if there's nothing else, go back and rest. You've worked hard these past few days. This should have been Shin'yu's job."
"But... Lord Madara, you..." Light glanced at his bloody chest with some worry.
"It's fine."
"Alright." Only then did she move her feet and leave the stone room.
The moment her front foot left, Madara's originally peaceful face suddenly turned ferocious, his veins bulging, and his features twisted together!
The flesh in his chest kept squirming, and each struggle caused blood to gush out. The pain was simply about to erode everything he had!
It was as if it was the master of the body, wanting to eliminate Madara, the intruder!
His palms dug deeply into the stone, his knuckles turning white. The stone chair made of bedrock was easily crushed by him.
In his mind, a life-threatening thought frantically invaded his spirit, forcing him countless times to personally dig out the flesh in his chest, that flesh that did not belong to him!
But he suppressed it all with his almost inhuman willpower!
"Is this the price of All Things in Nature? Come on, I, Uchiha Madara, can bear it!"
...
Hidden Leaf Village, Uchiha Clan Territory.
Uchiha Kagami, having finished a day of training, returned to his room. Looking at the empty bedroom and the clean and tidy Tatami Mat, his eyes trembled, and he slumped against the wall.
"Nii-san..."
Unconsciously, he recalled that familiar yet unfamiliar face. The scenes from a few days ago played like a slideshow, finally freezing on those delicate and beautiful pupils, so much so that they were bewitchingly strange.
"Those eyes... are really strong."
At the thought of those eyes, an icy chill ran from his fingertips to the crown of his head. He hugged himself and couldn't help but shiver.
"Brother's Chakra has completely changed, cold, fierce, and full of killing intent, but he didn't kill me..."
He lowered his head, his fingers digging into his messy hair. "In the squad, I was the only one who was the least injured..."
"Since you hate me so much? Why... didn't you kill me?" He buried his head deeply into his arched legs, his cheeks wet. "I... was prepared to die..."
"Brother, Tobirama-sama said that your life or death is uncertain, but I still hope you're alive..."
After a while, there was a knock on the door.
"Kagami, are you home?"
Uchiha Kagami's spirits lifted, and he immediately stood up, wiped his face, and adjusted his expression in the mirror before heading to open the door.
"Captain Uchiha Fire Core?"
Uchiha Fire Core leaned against the door with his arms crossed. "There's something I need to trouble you with."
"What is it?" Kagami walked out of the room, glad that he hadn't removed his equipment, so he could leave at any time.
This young man, dressed in a combat suit, was the clan's recognized strongest since Madara and Shin'yu left Hidden Leaf Village, and had a high appeal.
Kagami looked at this candidate for clan leader, wondering what it could be that would trouble him to seek him out.
Fire Core explained, "There's a group of children in the clan who are about your age, and they've reached the age to sign a Summoning Contract. They need at least two Jonin and several Chunin to escort them to the Cat House. Originally, I was in charge of this mission, but with the Five Kage Summit approaching, Tobirama-sama personally ordered me to lead people to maintain order at the venue. I'm too busy to get away..."
He revealed a hint of embarrassment, "I've been thinking, among the Jonin in the clan who are trustworthy, you're the only one. Although you're still young, your strength and reputation are well-matched. I was wondering if you..."
"I'll go." Kagami nodded immediately, "There's nothing to be embarrassed about."
"Really! That's great, Kagami, you're such a good person!" Uchiha Fire Core was very happy. He patted Kagami's shoulder, his eyes suddenly becoming complicated, "About your brother... I heard about it. He was once a comrade who fought alongside me... To be honest, I don't feel good about it either..."
"It's okay." Kagami pretended to be relieved, "Everyone has to pay the price for their actions."
"Oh, right, there's one more thing." Uchiha Fire Core suddenly leaned closer, with a vigilant tone, "Your other partner is Uchiha Setsuna. That guy, I don't know what's been up with him lately, but he's been quite critical of Lord Tobirama and may be hostile towards you. Be careful..."
Kagami arrived at the main gate of the Clan Territory as agreed. What came into view were twenty or so young boys and girls, noisy and clamorous, with about twenty Chunin standing around the periphery. At the very front of the group was a young man wearing a half-face mask, with a gloomy expression.
He crossed his arms, his gaze like a cold, venomous snake, sweeping over Kagami without any reservation, full of aggression.
"Hello, Uchiha... Kagami."
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