Chapter 325: Apologies Should Be Made in Person
"How can this be?" Izuna's voice trembled, utterly unable to believe what he'd heard.
He cared most deeply about his clan among all Uchiha.
Every battlefield slaughter, he fought at the forefront—protecting clan members, unwilling to see them suffer excessive casualties.
But now... the Uchiha were extinct?
Yasushi observed quietly, admiring the spectacular expression on Izuna's face—frozen as though plummeting from heaven to hell. His Mangekyou Sharingan slowly rotated, cold and cruel.
"Oh my, Lord Izuna—don't blame Lord Madara!"
Yasushi strolled leisurely, voice drawn out long while continuing his sarcastic oil-pouring.
"The Uchiha clan lived in Konoha Village. When the village wanted exterminating them, what could Lord Madara do?"
Yasushi spread both hands in a helpless, innocent gesture—though his eyes overflowed with mockery as he repeatedly stabbed at Madara's wounds.
It was Madara's absence after leaving the clan, Madara's foolish plan's indirect consequences that ultimately brewed the Uchiha clan's extermination tragedy.
As the clan's leader, Uchiha Madara bore inescapable guilt!
Izuna breathed heavily, looking at Madara with eyes full of disappointment and pain.
"Brother, this is how you protected the Uchiha?"
"What about your promise to me?"
"Hehe, what promise?" Yasushi continued adding fuel to flames. "Lord Madara's vision wouldn't be limited to one clan's rise and fall. His sights were set far longer—aimed at the vast, boundless shinobi world, determined to struggle for eternal peace across the entire shinobi world for life."
"Whatever obstructed Lord Madara's great goal—forget Uchiha clan members, even you, Lord Izuna—if necessary to kill, he absolutely wouldn't hesitate!"
The disappointment in Izuna's eyes grew heavier. Now he couldn't even bother questioning. He simply fell silent, turning his head away—unwilling to even look at Madara.
This strike proved sharper than Senju Tobirama's blade, directly piercing Madara's heart.
Madara's proud head bowed lower and lower. Those invincible Mangekyou Sharingan no longer contained their former arrogance—only shattered remorse remained.
Watching the tear tracks on his brother's face, Madara's pain finally became unbearable. He collapsed to his knees with a thunderous crash.
Hard knees smashed into the ground, emitting a dull sound—like atonement for fallen clan members.
"It's my fault..."
Madara raised his hand to cover his eyes—the eyes Izuna had given him, now burning like red-hot iron, making him suffer.
"Obsession blinded my heart. I forgot your entrustment. I... I'm sorry to you, and sorry to the Uchiha."
Izuna's expression turned wooden, all hope extinguished. He completely ignored Madara's apology.
The Uchiha clan's destruction struck Izuna too devastatingly—even harder to accept than his own death.
Clap clap clap...
Sudden applause rang out. Yasushi vigorously clapped beside them.
"Good!"
"You finally admitted your mistake! Finally acknowledged you wronged the Uchiha!"
"But you know—apologies require being made in person to show true sincerity!"
Yasushi rapidly formed hand seals before slapping the ground.
Amid rumbling sounds, a row of coffins slowly rose from underground.
He'd summoned the Uchiha Edo Tensei army again.
"Oh, we're out for air again!"
"Who's the enemy this time?"
A group of Edo Tensei Uchiha cheerfully emerged from their coffins, appearing before Madara and Izuna.
"Come, come! Let me introduce everyone. This is our clan's legendary infamous rogue ninja Uchiha Madara. Beside him is Uchiha Izuna."
"Lord Izuna died fighting for the Uchiha clan, dedicating his life to battling for the Uchiha. Everyone, quickly bow to our clan hero."
The Uchiha group hastily formed ranks, bowing respectfully.
"Lord Izuna, thank you for everything you did for the Uchiha clan."
"Ah, that..." Izuna never expected receiving public thanks from his clan members after death. His face immediately flushed bright red as he frantically returned the gesture.
"Actually, this isn't necessary. I'm also an Uchiha member. Fighting for the clan is naturally my duty."
"Don't say that, Lord Izuna. The clan thanks every member who dedicated themselves."
Yasushi exchanged pleasantries with Izuna for ages before finally sneering coldly at Madara:
"Madara, didn't you realize your mistakes?"
"Then properly apologize to these dead Uchiha clan members before you!"
"Apologize for abandoning the clan!"
"Apologize for defecting from the village, causing the clan to suffer oppression and suspicion within the village!"
"Apologize for recklessly pursuing 'shinobi world peace,' implicating the clan and leading to its extinction!"
Under Yasushi's aggressive gaze, Madara slowly turned toward the Uchiha crowd. He assumed the standard dogeza posture before apologizing with profound grief:
"I'm sorry. Everything was my fault."
"I was foolish and arrogant, manipulated without realizing it, acting recklessly and causing everyone's deaths."
He slammed his forehead down, striking the cold ground heavily with a dull thud.
"When I defected from the village, I thought I was pursuing righteousness. Never imagined that turning away would push the Uchiha into opposition with the entire village."
"I thought I was pursuing shinobi world peace, but Black Zetsu's lies led me by the nose. 'Infinite Tsukuyomi's' illusory dream covered my cowardice in facing reality."
"When clan members were ostracized and oppressed, I remained in distant places scheming my so-called 'grand plan'—unwilling even to look back at their suffering."
"I personally destroyed the Uchiha's roots. I let the clan Izuna protected with his life reach this end!"
"I'm sorry, Izuna. I failed protecting everything you entrusted to me. Your sacrifice was in vain."
"I'm sorry, fellow clan members. I trampled your trust in the name of 'clan leader,' burying the entire Uchiha with my arrogance and stupidity."
"I'm the most selfish, most bastard coward!"
Facing Madara's apology, the Uchiha crowd exchanged glances, uncertain how to react.
Actually, compared to their hatred for Itachi and Obito, the Uchiha felt almost nothing toward Madara.
These people had all heard Madara's legends. Many strength-worshipping Uchiha had always taken pride in this powerful ancestor.
Even though they'd been exterminated, what did that have to do with Madara?
He'd already been dead!
However, no one spoke. Since the clan leader said he should apologize, he must be guilty!
Whether to forgive still depended on Lord Clan Leader's meaning.
So everyone turned their gazes toward Yasushi.