Overseas, Neutral Island.
This was an island that belonged to no nation. It was commercially prosperous and economically developed, a place frequented by wealthy merchants of the ninja world.
There was a very unique venue here called the Arena.
The Arena was similar to a colosseum. The difference was that the combatants fighting each other weren't beasts, but ninjas.
"This is your training ground. Watch the ninjas entering the ring below."
"If you think you can defeat them, tell me, and I'll arrange for you to enter."
"You'd best not pick ninjas who are too weak, nor those who are too powerful."
"Just pick an opponent not too far off from your own level; that way, you'll achieve the effect of training."
"I must remind you, if you lose in the Arena, you will be taken away by others."
"Although I will rescue you afterward, you won't like that experience."
Yagyu stood in a private box, looking down at the two ninjas fighting below, and explained calmly to the group behind him.
"Interesting!"
"So this is the training Teacher Yagyu prepared for us? It looks fun!"
Zabuza licked his lips. "Is killing allowed in the Arena?"
Yagyu said coldly, "Of course! But if you get killed by someone, that won't be fun at all!"
Zabuza said confidently, "That won't happen. I trust I'm not that fragile of a man."
Yagyu nodded. He believed that much.
Those who could leave their names in the original story were basically not weaklings.
After all, they came from Kirigakure. The cruelty of the Village of the Bloody Mist was no joke.
A little training like this wouldn't kill them.
"Someone else is entering. It's a Kekkei Genkai user."
"Truly surprising. I've already seen several Kekkei Genkai users."
"Why are there so many ninjas with Kekkei Genkai here?"
Terumi Mei spoke with a look of surprise, turning her puzzled gaze toward Yagyu.
"Because most of those who come here to participate in the arena battles are wealthy merchants from the Five Great Nations."
"These merchants keep many ninjas in their employ and specifically collect Kekkei Genkai users."
"Don't underestimate the power of money. Even Kage-level powerhouses can have a price tag."
"It's not surprising that these merchants, who control vast wealth, keep a group of Kekkei Genkai users under their command."
Yagyu spoke calmly, explaining the situation to them casually.
"To toy with ninjas like this... despicable!"
"What do they think ninjas are? Beasts?"
Minazuki Ao spoke indignantly, looking very angry.
"Don't worry, this situation won't last long."
Yagyu smiled and comforted Ao, casting a mocking glance at the crowd in the spectator stands.
These wealthy merchants from various countries in the ninja world were already on his hit list.
Since they did things that angered the ninja class, Yagyu could rightfully confiscate their assets in the future.
"A Water Style ninja has appeared. Looks like he has Jonin-level strength. How about letting me take a crack at this one?"
Yagura's eyes lit up; he had found an excellent opponent in the arena.
"No problem!"
Yagyu waved his hand, and immediately a staff member went out to announce that the candidates for the new match had been decided.
Yagura's opponent didn't possess a Kekkei Genkai, but he had a massive amount of chakra and quite impressive Water Style skills.
Water Style ninjutsu mainly relies on quantity and kinetic energy for attack power, placing high demands on chakra reserves.
Both Yagura and Kisame possessed massive chakra reserves, and the opponent appearing below was no inferior to Yagura in terms of chakra volume.
"What a spectacular Water Style duel!"
Hoshigaki Kisame looked enviously at Yagura and his opponent fighting below. Currently, he didn't possess that many Water Style jutsu.
"Oh right, I remembered!"
"The ninjutsu you need to learn are all here. I've prepared them for you."
Yagyu thought for a moment and took out several scrolls from his person, containing various ninjutsu.
Yagyu said, "Adapt to this place quickly. I won't be staying here with you."
Terumi Mei was surprised. "You're leaving?"
Yagyu nodded. "There's a very tricky enemy that requires me to deal with him personally."
"My battle with him will be very dangerous, so I can't take you along."
Terumi Mei was astonished. "That formidable? Who is this enemy you're dealing with? Is it the Kage of some village?"
Yagyu smiled mysteriously and said, "The enemy I'm dealing with this time isn't a Kage, but he's much more formidable than a Kage."
"Among the current five Kage of the Five Great Ninja Villages, I'm afraid none of them are his match, even though he is already old and frail."
Terumi Mei became even more surprised and asked Yagyu about the enemy's identity.
But Yagyu just shook his head and chuckled lightly. "I won't tell you for now. You'll know when the time comes."
Yagyu stayed there for two days until Terumi Mei and the others adapted to the place.
Then Yagyu left, taking a boat alone to the mainland.
Valley of the End.
Yagyu strolled through the dense forest of the Valley of the End, his Observation Haki fully activated, searching for Uchiha Madara's location.
"Not here?"
Yagyu looked thoughtful. He ran to the vicinity of Kannabi Bridge to search, but similarly found no trace of Uchiha Madara.
Although the current Uchiha Madara was old and frail, relying on being plugged into the Gedo Statue to sustain his life, it didn't mean he lacked the ability to move.
A cunning rabbit has three burrows; Madara, who had spent half his life in war, couldn't possibly be unaware of this logic. The underground palaces at the Valley of the End and Kannabi Bridge were likely just some of his underground bases.
"This is troublesome!"
Yagyu sighed faintly.
"If I can't find Uchiha Madara, then I'll go find Nagato!"
"The Rinnegan is a good thing; I'll collect that!"
Yagyu mused for a moment, muttering to himself with a smile.