Near the Land of Fire—by the wide river not far from the Uchiha Clan's territory:
Clang!
Ding—!
Splashes danced across the water's surface as [Wood Clone Leo] and [Uchiha Sasuke] clashed atop the river. Steel rang out as their kunai collided, sending brief sparks into the air before vanishing with the ripples below.
It was clear: the Wood Clone fought with practiced ease, while Sasuke struggled to keep up, his attacks seemingly futile.
"Fire Style, Ho—!"
Sasuke had begun forming seals for a Fire Style jutsu.
But—
Shua!
Bang!
The Wood Clone moved in a blur, sidestepping the attack before lashing out with a powerful kick. Sasuke had no time to react. The force sent him flying nearly eight meters backward, crashing into the water with a heavy splash.
"So fast…!"
He winced, clutching his stomach as he floated briefly before activating Chakra to stand shakily atop the water again.
"I just awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan… and I can barely follow his movements!"
His jutsu was interrupted mid-cast. Gritting his teeth, Sasuke rebalanced himself, soaked but still determined.
"Again!"
Leo's Wood Clone simply nodded, calmly gesturing for him to continue. Sasuke growled in frustration.
Damn it… Even a clone is this powerful!?
Then again, he remembered—the Konoha War just days earlier. Leo's Shadow Clone had suppressed countless elite shinobi, including Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage. That memory alone explained everything.
Now it made sense why Leo used a clone to guide his training. Fighting him firsthand revealed the true gap between them.
Still… having a master like this…
Sasuke clenched his fists.
I will grow stronger. I have to!
"Senior Wood Clone," Sasuke called out, his voice steady. "I'm going to use my strongest move."
"Please be careful."
With that, he took a deep breath, gripping his right wrist tightly. Lightning began crackling in his palm—sharp and violent.
Zzzzt… zzzzt…!
Chidori.
This was the period just after the Chūnin Exams. The timing aligned—this was when Sasuke first began using Lightning Style: Chidori.
"Oh?" Leo's Wood Clone smirked slightly, showing a trace of interest.
Then—
Whoosh whoosh—
He raised his right hand calmly. Pure chakra began condensing in his palm.
A swirling orb took shape—tight, concentrated, and potent.
Rasengan.
Sasuke's eyes widened in shock.
"That's… Naruto's technique!"
In that moment, Sasuke's vision blurred. It wasn't Leo's clone standing before him, but Naruto.
This time… I won't lose like I did on the rooftop.
With Sharingan flaring, Sasuke charged. "Lightning Style: Chidori!"
"Haha." Leo's Wood Clone chuckled as he too rushed forward, Rasengan spinning.
Boom!
The jutsu collided—force against force. Sparks of chakra exploded outward.
"Urgh…!" Sasuke was launched backward, tumbling across the water. Just as he was about to hit the surface again—
A hand caught him.
It was Leo himself—the original body.
"You still lost?" Sasuke murmured weakly, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth before he lost consciousness in Leo's arms.
Leo looked down at him and then at the clone standing nearby, its right hand slightly damaged from the clash.
"Rasengan and Chidori…" Leo mused aloud. "Each has its strengths. The lethality differs."
With that, the Wood Clone dispelled into timber and dropped into the water with a soft plop.
---
Three Hours Later
Sasuke awoke to the smell of grilled fish.
He blinked.
In front of him sat a figure in red Sengoku-style armor by a small campfire.
"Madara-senpai's clone…?" Sasuke muttered groggily.
"You're awake," Leo said, turning his head. His black eyes scanned Sasuke calmly. "The clone's already dispelled."
"Huh?" Sasuke sat up quickly, flinching. "So… you're the real Madara-senpai now?"
Leo smiled faintly and passed him a grilled fish.
"Eat. You'll need it."
"Th-thank you!" Sasuke took it quickly, feeling awkward and flattered at once.
Hiss…
Pain jolted through his chest as he sat up. His mind flashed back to the earlier clash, when he was thrown back by the Rasengan.
Seeing his gloomy expression, Leo said casually, "Didn't the one who taught you Chidori explain its characteristics?"
Sasuke looked up at him.
"Watch," Leo said simply.
He stood up, walked to the nearby cliff wall, and gathered a Rasengan once more.
Boom!
It smashed into the rock, creating a crater nearly four meters wide and over two meters deep.
"I used chakra control similar to yours," Leo said, turning. "Now you try. Use Chidori."
Sasuke nodded and formed the jutsu.
Zzzzt—!!
Chidori pierced the cliff, forming a thinner but deeper hole—only two meters wide, but almost five meters deep.
He nearly lost his footing and fell in.
"I get it now!" Sasuke said, eyes lighting up.
Chidori and Rasengan weren't about superiority—but about different killing effects.
"Thank you, Madara-senpai!"
Leo sat back down and continued eating his fish in silence, satisfied.
That day on the rooftop… Naruto didn't win. Just like Madara-senpai said—our jutsu work differently!
The pain in Sasuke's chest? Suddenly, it didn't matter anymore.
---
Three Days Later – Konoha Cemetery
Yuhi Kurenai stood before Asuma's grave, laying down flowers.
Memories flooded her mind. Tears formed.
"Hm?" she heard a voice behind her.
Turning, she saw Nara Shikaku also approaching with a bouquet in hand.
"Shikaku," she said quietly. "Have you… thought about revenge? For Shikamaru?"
"I have," he answered immediately.
"Then—"
"But I won't."
Kurenai blinked. "Why not? Don't you want justice?"
Shikaku's eyes darkened.
"We can't win. You know that. Going after him will only provoke him."
He turned toward her, expression grave.
"You really want to risk the entire village? You want to see everyone in Konoha… wiped out?"
Kurenai lowered her eyes. There was nothing she could say.
If revenge meant the destruction of the entire village…
She turned and left in silence.
Shikaku looked at Asuma's grave, sighing deeply.
Shikamaru… would you understand?
---
Meanwhile – Back by the River
Clang!
Clang!
The sound of battle echoed once more.
Sasuke fought Leo's Wood Clone again, both standing atop the water.
This time, Sasuke held his ground better. He wasn't winning—but he was improving.
His Three Tomoe Sharingan was becoming more refined.
His chakra control was better. He no longer fell into the river after every attack.
Every clash sharpened his instinct. Every defeat pushed him forward.
Nearby on the riverbank, Leo sat cross-legged, eyes closed.
He had recently awakened the Rinnegan, and the power of Ashura and Senju Hashirama surged through his body.
Each day, he grew stronger—power stabilizing, reaching equilibrium.
Finally, he opened his eyes.
"Konoha… complete."
"Now, the second target… Akatsuki."
A calm wind blew across the river as Leo stood, eyes filled with ambition.
He remembered a comment from his previous life:
> "Madara could've been the Hokage version of Qin Shi Huang."
Why not?
Unifying the ninja world—bringing peace through dominance.
What kind of reward would the system offer for that?
He smiled.
Just then—
"Lightning Style: Chidori!!"
Two voices shouted in unison—Sasuke and Leo's Wood Clone.
The jutsu collided again—both users staggered back.
Leo watched with a knowing smile.
Sasuke… you're training like your life depends on it. Is it for revenge? Against Itachi?
He understood that drive all too well.
Though he knew the truth about Uchiha Itachi, he decided it was better for Sasuke to find out later.
Let that hatred fuel his growth.
---
Later that day…
"Sasuke," Leo said as Sasuke applied medicine to his arm. "I may be gone for a few days."
"Teacher… are you leaving Konoha?" Sasuke asked, surprised.
Leo nodded. "Konoha alone isn't enough."
"…Teacher. Can I come with you?"
Leo paused.
"…Akatsuki is next. Uchiha Itachi will be there."
Interesting.
Will Itachi try to stop me? His death… might be the moment Sasuke truly awakens.
After a moment's thought, Leo nodded.
Sasuke, stunned, smiled—genuinely—for perhaps the first time in a long while.