In this vast desert, time always seemed to crawl.
It had only rained once, after which the sky remained clear.
Before they realized it, Kawaki and the others had already spent two boring months here.
During these two months, Madara seemed to have completely vanished from the Ninja World. No one discovered any trace of him.
Everyone's emotions gradually became impatient as time passed, with no one knowing how much longer they must wait for Madara's appearance.
"Teacher," Minato said while sitting across from Kawaki inside a small desert house, his tone full of naivety. "Do you think Madara might've decided not to show up because he lacks confidence?"
"No way."
"You don't really understand Madara."
Kawaki shook his head with a smile. He knew Madara wasn't the type to back down easily.
"Based on my understanding of Madara,"
"He must be preparing something else."
"When he sets his mind on something, no one can change his decision."
Hashirama said firmly. He didn't believe Madara would obediently hide somewhere.
"But where could he possibly be?"
"We've practically combed through the entire Ninja World without finding any news about him."
"If he keeps hiding, we obviously can't stay here forever, right?"
Minato had dispatched wave after wave of people, but they'd found nothing. It was understandable he thought this way.
"He'll come."
Tobirama, somehow, seemed just as confident, his eyes filled with determination.
"We mustn't let our guard down."
"I'll go remind Hayato and the others."
Since even they themselves were experiencing negative emotions, Tsunade believed ordinary ninjas probably felt even more restless.
The Jonins led by Hayato had gathered in the nearest town, ready to provide immediate assistance if anything happened here.
"Go ahead."
Kawaki nodded, watching Tsunade walk out the door.
"Brother-in-law," Kushina suddenly asked, "do you think there's a possibility that—"
"Spit it out."
Kawaki shot his future brother-in-law a wary look, already suspecting he was about to say something stupid.
"What if Madara wants to wait until you die naturally?"
As soon as Nawaki said this, Kawaki nearly laughed in anger.
This kid really takes the cake! Was he seriously comparing Madara to Sima Yi?
"I think I'll live longer than him."
Kawaki glared at Nawaki with irritation. He wasn't just bragging either.
At least with his current body, he wouldn't die before Madara.
"If you can't talk properly, keep your mouth shut. Nobody will call you mute."
Mito sighed and rubbed her forehead. Her eldest grandson's thought process was beyond comprehension.
"Well, at least you're not dumb."
"You waited until Sister Tsunade left before speaking."
Kushina teased Nawaki. If Tsunade had still been in the room, he'd have gotten beaten up for sure.
"That's right. I'm clever, alright?"
Nawaki didn't seem the least bit ashamed, wearing a self-satisfied grin instead.
With this joker around, the mood in the room finally started to lighten a little.
By the time Tsunade came back from her errands, the group had somehow wandered off into completely unrelated topics.
Pressed by Kawaki's questions, Hashirama recounted every detail of his time during the Warring States era, which satisfied Kawaki's curiosity immensely.
Mito also spoke fondly of the days she lived in Uzumaki Country, offering everyone a new perspective on the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques.
As for Tobirama, his face turned red when Kawaki asked why he hadn't married yet. He hesitated for a long time, unable to give a coherent response.
"Him? I'll tell you everything you need to know."
"Hahaha~"
Hashirama burst into laughter, prompting everyone to lean in and listen closely to the gossip about Tobirama.
"Brother~"
Tobirama gave his brother a desperate, pleading look, hoping to stop Hashirama from revealing his embarrassing past.
"There are no outsiders here—it's not that big of a deal."
"What was he like when he was younger?"
Just as Hashirama was about to speak, his expression suddenly changed dramatically.
Without even appearing to move, he vanished from inside the room.
However, just as fast as he was, Kawaki was even faster.
By the time both of them disappeared, the others finally reacted and chased after them.
Following the lingering chakra, Kawaki practically reached the southernmost border of the Land of Wind.
He narrowed his eyes at a raised patch of sand. Though he couldn't see anyone, he was certain someone was hidden there.
"Do I need to invite you out?"
Kawaki approached step by step, already suspecting who the visitor might be.
"I guess I can't hide from you two forever."
A figure completely wrapped in bandages appeared on top of the sand dune—none other than Mu, the Second Tsuchikage.
"Here to spy on us?"
Kawaki didn't rush into attacking. To him, Mu wasn't much of a threat at all.
Even the Dust Release technique wouldn't be effective against him anymore.
After all, Truth-Seeking Balls could easily block attacks like that.
"Would I really stoop to that?"
The moment those words were spoken, Kawaki immediately realized it was Madara controlling Mu's body.
"So… you've finally revealed yourself."
"The tailed beasts are in our hands now. If you want them, come and take them."
Kawaki could recognize that voice, let alone Hashirama.
He arrived slightly later than Kawaki, just in time to see Mu reveal himself.
"Well then, I'm here."
[Summoning Jutsu.]
With that, Mu slammed one hand onto the ground. Dozens of coffins rose upright before him.
Meanwhile, Tsunade and the others had also arrived, facing off against the reanimated army under Madara's control.
BOOM! A figure slammed into the ground, creating a massive sandstorm.
Who else could it be if not Madara?
Immediately afterward, the coffin lids toppled forward one after another, and the reanimated warriors stepped out.
"Long time no see, Tobirama Senju."
As the smoke cleared, a reanimated figure stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Madara.
"What the hell?! Sasuke?"
At the sight of the face, Kawaki's pupils contracted sharply. The man looked exactly like Sasuke—the second brat.
Oh...!
Naruto: Starting from Pursuing Tsunade, please bookmark this site:
"Izuna Uchiha?"
How could Tobirama not recognize this old rival? A thought flashed through his mind as he quickly looked behind Madara and his brother.
Besides several reincarnated Kage from different generations wearing unfamiliar robes, dozens of the reanimated figures wore uniforms bearing the Uchiha clan emblem.
They were all familiar faces—names that Tobirama could still remember, for the most part.
Clearly, Madara had resurrected all his former allies—the core warriors of the Warring States era who had once clashed violently with the Senju clan.
There was no doubt regarding their strength.
"This time, I won't fall for your tricks again."
As Izuna spoke, his eyes—once fixed with Three-Tomoe Sharingan—began to spin wildly before morphing instantly into Mangekyou Sharingan.
"Even if we fought a hundred times, your fate would still be the same."
Tobirama glared back just as fiercely, though he carefully avoided meeting Izuna's gaze.
"I was starting to wonder where you'd run off and hidden yourself."
"Did it really take you two whole months to dig your own grave?"
Kawaki stepped forward, taunting Madara with his words.
"Don't think I don't understand what's on your mind."
[Reincarnation of the Pure Land] isn't some jutsu you can just use whenever you like.
"The people behind you are destined to remain dead."
Madara also stepped forward, his face betraying no anger.
He stretched out his finger, pointing at each of Kawaki's Reanimation bodies one by one.
Without waiting for Kawaki's reply, he continued speaking.
"You're right about one thing—the Moon's Eye Plan doesn't truly bring peace."
"What right does Kaguya Ōtsutsuki have to influence my will?"
"I've decided—I will lead the Uchiha Clan to rule over the entire Ninja World."
"Come to think of it, I suppose I should thank all of you. This world isn't utterly hopeless, after all."
"In the days to come, peace in the Ninja World will be safeguarded by our Uchiha bloodline for generations."
"And even after your deaths… none of you will be forgotten."
Ever since sealing away Black Zetsu, Madara's mindset had shifted.
...
Naruto: A Journey Beginning with Courting Tsunade — Please Bookmark: (m.