Inside the summoning space, a chakra clone formed from Ito Akira's chakra stood facing Uchiha Madara.
"What's wrong, Madara?"
"Hmph. Kid, you're way too casual when you talk to me," Madara said coldly."So this is the real you, huh? Figures."
"I have to say—your acting earlier was terrible. Especially in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen. Putting on that innocent, obedient act… it made my skin crawl."
Akira looked at him helplessly.
Did this guy really drag me in here just to roast me?
"Then what should I call you?" Akira replied lazily."How about the man of the God of Shinobi?"
"My current strength isn't exactly impressive. If I don't behave properly, what if someone kills me one day?"
"And if you were actually willing to obey my orders like a proper summon, I'd already be kicking Hiruzen out of the Hokage's office and taking the hat for myself!"
"Enough!" Madara barked."Stop spouting nonsense! I called you here because I have something serious to discuss!"
Despite himself, Madara felt a faint chill.
This brat kept bringing up the man of the God of Shinobi—as if there really were something strange between him and Senju Hashirama.
"…Fine. What is it?" Akira asked.
Madara's expression darkened.
"Who is that Shimura Danzō?"
Akira raised an eyebrow.
Interesting…
He hadn't expected Madara to ask about Danzō.Could it be that Madara had sensed the Sharingan fluctuations?
"He's one of Konoha's current elders," Akira replied casually."And the leader of ROOT."
"An old bastard."
Madara didn't know what old bastard meant exactly, but he could tell it wasn't praise.
"Shimura…" Madara muttered, frowning."But why does he carry the chakra fluctuations of the Uchiha Sharingan?"
"And not just that…"
Madara's expression tightened even further.
Because what he'd sensed earlier wasn't just Sharingan chakra.
There was something else—something painfully familiar.
Senju Hashirama's chakra.
"Isn't it normal for that old bastard to have Sharingan fluctuations?" Akira said casually."After all, his arm is basically covered in Sharingan."
Madara froze.
"…What?"
From within Akira's summoning space, Madara could perceive the outside world as long as Akira didn't fully seal it off. Earlier, he had clearly sensed the presence of Sharingan chakra.
He'd even noticed that one of Danzō's eyes was sealed.
But—
An arm of Sharingan?
Since when had the Uchiha Sharingan become something you could just stack onto limbs?
And that bandaged arm—there was no mistaking it.
It carried Hashirama's presence.
"Kid," Madara said slowly, "what exactly do you know?"
"I know a lot," Akira replied."What do you want to hear?"
"That arm you mentioned," Madara said sharply. "Explain it."
"Well… I do know," Akira said with a shrug."But why should I tell you?"
"You—!""Don't push your luck, brat!"
Madara was genuinely angry now.
This hateful kid was taking advantage of the fact that Madara couldn't lay a finger on him—and was getting bolder by the second.
Since the Warring States Period, no one had dared speak to him like this.
Except for that idiot Senju Hashirama.
Everyone else who tried ended up dead.
"How about this, Madara," Akira said suddenly."I'll tell you everything."
"In exchange—teach me."
Madara stared at him.
Akira already knew he couldn't force Madara to obey.The man's pride was carved into his bones.
So instead of commanding him…
He'd learn from him.
Madara's strength, combat experience, and mastery of ninjutsu were beyond question.
More importantly, Akira now possessed Indra's chakra.
Being taught by Indra's reincarnation himself?
That was practically cheating.
With Indra's chakra as the foundation, awakening the Sharingan was only a matter of time.
"Teach you?" Madara scoffed."In your dreams. I've never taken a disciple in my life."
"Then forget it," Akira said calmly, turning away."I'll leave. You can guess the truth on your own."
"…Damn it!"Madara ground his teeth.
"Didn't I say I wouldn't teach you?!"
"…Fine!" he snapped a moment later."I'll teach you, brat! Now tell me—what is going on with Shimura Danzō?!"
Akira's lips curved upward.
"Damn brat!" Madara roared."That disgusting expression again!"
"You don't know anything," Akira replied smugly."This is called the Crooked-Mouth Dragon King."
"Dragon King?" Madara sneered."All I see is a crooked mouth. And I really want to slap it straight."
"Do you still want the truth?"
"…I do!" Madara snarled.
Akira didn't tease him any further.
"The truth is simple," he said calmly."The Uchiha clan was wiped out. Their eyes were harvested."
"The eye you sensed on Danzō today—that sealed one—is a Mangekyō Sharingan."
"And that arm of his? It's embedded with Sharingan."
The words landed like thunder.
Madara's eyes widened.
"What did you say?!"
"You're telling me the Uchiha clan was exterminated?!"
"Impossible!"
"Absolutely impossible!"
"How could the Uchiha clan be wiped out?!"
"Brat—don't you dare lie to me!"
Akira sighed.
"You asked for the truth, and now you don't believe it."
"Want me to take you to the Uchiha district?" he added flatly."It's a ghost town now."
Madara shook his head violently.
"No. You're lying!"
"If the Uchiha were wiped out, then how did I see an Uchiha in your class today?!"
"You mean Uchiha Sasuke, right?" Akira replied."He's the only Uchiha left in Konoha."
"As for the one outside the village—his older brother."
"Uchiha Itachi."
Madara fell silent.