Black Zetsu was dead—Raijin was satisfied.
The truth had been revealed—Uchiha Madara was satisfied.
The remaining survivors of Kirigakure and Kumogakure were wiped out—Konohagakure was satisfied.
As for Otsutsuki Isshiki, even though he was far from pleased with the situation, he had already started making his next move.
Before Otsutsuki Momoshiki and the others arrived in the ninja world, Isshiki was preparing to form his own group.
And the method? Using one of the Otsutsuki clan's core abilities—Karma.
It didn't matter if it was a black Karma or a white one.
As long as it was implanted, it granted some level of power.
Success rate? It didn't matter—there were plenty of people in the ninja world.
This idea came to Isshiki after observing Kumogakure and Kirigakure.
Peace could lead to corruption among some leaders.
But peace also allowed a village to build up strength.
Isshiki couldn't control the first part, but he could definitely use the second.
In his eyes, the reason Kirigakure and Kumogakure failed was simple—too many people, but not enough individual strength.
So, Isshiki believed that as long as his group members were strong enough and had the ability to use space-time ninjutsu to retreat at any moment,
This organization would become Konohagakure's worst nightmare.
And so, as Konohagakure enjoyed its peace and Isshiki carried out his plans, time moved forward.
A new generation was also growing up in this era of Konohagakure.
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
Raijin looked up and shouted at the blond-haired boy standing on top of the Hokage Rock, holding a bucket of paint.
"What's it to you, old man?!"
Naruto stood tall with his hands on his hips, looking down at Uchiha Raijin.
Of course, Naruto knew what he was doing was wrong, but he wanted his father—the one who was always too busy to even see him—to stop him.
Not this random old guy who didn't even have a ninja headband!
As he spoke, Naruto casually tilted the bucket in his hands.
Green paint poured down, flowing over Senju Tobirama's face and dripping from his chin.
"Hey?!"
Raijin stared at Naruto. What the hell? I've only been gone for a decade, and kids are this wild now?
"Stay right there! Let's see if I don't beat some sense into you!"
Raijin shouted and dashed forward.
Naruto smirked, made a funny face, and took off running.
What kind of idiot would just stand still and get caught?!
Raijin didn't use the Body Flicker Technique or anything like that—he just followed behind Naruto at a steady pace, never too close, never too far.
Before he gave this brat a beating, he was going to tire him out first!
"Idiot…"
Not far away, a boy wearing a cloak with the Uchiha crest watched while munching on a dango. His face was expressionless as he commented.
"Yeah, seriously. A ninja that old, and he can't even catch a kid? How embarrassing."
A voice suddenly spoke next to Sasuke's ear, making him instinctively turn to look.
"And you are…?"
Sasuke asked the man before him—Uchiha Madara.
Ever since Raijin passed the permanent Sage Mode to Madara, the legendary Uchiha had used his actions to show the world what true mastery looked like.
Thirteen years.
For thirteen whole years, Uchiha Madara had never once stepped outside his courtyard.
And because of that, the only other ninja in Konohagakure who could rival him—Uchiha Raijin—had also been forced into seclusion to train.
So even though Sasuke was a member of the Uchiha clan, he had never seen Madara before.
"Me? I'm Uchiha Madara."
When Sasuke saw Madara, he froze for a moment.
He looked exactly like him.
Just like Izumina when he was young.
"Are you the legendary Uchiha Madara?"
Sasuke was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up with excitement.
"Hmm, the legendary Madara."
Madara chuckled and nodded lightly.
But no matter how much he looked like him… he wasn't Izumina.
"Can I learn ninjutsu from you?"
Sasuke quickly asked Madara.
Even though he had never seen Madara before, Sasuke knew the weight that name carried.
The strongest person in Konohagakure, and even in the entire ninja world!
"Oh? And why do you want to learn ninjutsu from me?"
Madara clasped his hands behind his back and looked at Sasuke, neither agreeing nor refusing.
The last person who had asked him so directly was Uchiha Shin.
But unlike Shin, Sasuke lacked a good father.
And right now, Madara really wasn't interested in taking on another disciple.
The ongoing competition with Raijin was already exhausting and tense, even for Madara.
Every time they sparred, Raijin's progress was no less impressive than his own.
It reminded Madara of his past battles with Hashirama—the same tension, the same rivalry.
If he took on a student now...
Even if Sasuke resembled Izumina, Madara would rather not let Raijin surpass him.
After all, looks were just looks.
Still, even if he didn't plan to train Sasuke, that didn't mean he couldn't have a conversation with the boy.
"I want to defeat my brother!"
Sasuke blurted out, his eyes filled with determination.
"Oh?"
Madara couldn't help but chuckle and nod slightly.
Izumina probably thought the same way back then.
"Hmm… I'll give you a task. If you complete it, I'll teach you ninjutsu. How about that?"
Madara paused for a moment before speaking.
"Tell me! I'll complete it no matter what!"
Sasuke's usual cold demeanor as an Uchiha was gone.
Well, at least in front of Madara, he knew his place.
The Uchiha always respected those who were strong enough.
Especially those who carried the Uchiha name.
"Make that blond brat become that foolish young man's disciple."
Madara pointed at Raijin and Naruto, who were running along the Hokage Rock.
"Alright!"
Sasuke nodded, hesitated for a moment, then rushed toward the blond boy.
No matter what, he had to stop them first.
But just then, a silent vortex of space suddenly appeared in the sky above Konohagakure.
"What a heartwarming scene, Lord Raijin."
The newcomer was wearing a black robe and a white mask, floating in midair as he watched Uchiha Raijin and Naruto running in the sunlight.
"Hmm?"
Raijin vanished instantly.
The next moment, he reappeared, gripping Naruto by the back of his collar, staring at the unknown ninja in the sky.
Sasuke froze on the spot.
That person… was Uchiha Raijin?
This…
He stood there instinctively, unable to move forward or back.
Make that blond idiot Raijin's disciple?
If I had the ability to do that, why wouldn't I just make myself Raijin's disciple instead?
But no matter what, Sasuke knew that right now, he couldn't take another step forward.
Raijin-sama seems to have... encountered an enemy?
Is there really someone in the ninja world who dares to go against Konohagakure?
Meanwhile, Uchiha Madara, who was standing under the tree earlier, had silently disappeared.
"You guys must have had a pretty rough time all these years, huh?"
~~
Raijin chuckled lightly at the words. He didn't know who this person was, but throwing out some trash talk wouldn't hurt.
"Heh... As expected of Raijin-sama, your mouth is just as impressive as your Lightning Release."
The masked man spoke in a sarcastic tone. It was clear he was already getting annoyed.
"I came to Konohagakure this time to declare war. I hope you're ready."
As soon as he finished speaking, a space-time Uzumaki appeared again. The masked man put his hands behind his back and casually floated toward it.
"Tch... If you're gonna fight, just fight. What's the point of giving a heads-up?"
Raijin scoffed, clearly unimpressed.
Hearing that, the masked man paused for a moment before turning around to face Raijin.
"The revenge has already begun."
With those words, he turned back again. But at that moment, he realized—the space-time Uzumaki had disappeared.
And somehow, the entire area around him had transformed into a vast, snowy landscape.
Almost instinctively, the masked man tried to activate the power of his wedge again to summon another space-time Uzumaki.
But to his shock, what once felt like second nature... wasn't working.
"You didn't actually think a single space-time Ninjutsu would let you come and go freely in Konohagakure, did you?"
Raijin's voice rang out, making the masked man snap his head toward him.
"As much as I hate to admit it, Senju Tobirama was truly gifted when it came to creating jutsu."
Another voice came from behind him—Uchiha Madara.
The masked man froze. His heart sank. He shifted his stance to keep both Raijin and Madara in his field of vision.
What now? How was he supposed to survive facing Uchiha Raijin and Uchiha Madara at the same time?
But Raijin wasn't about to give him time to figure that out.
Almost the moment Madara finished speaking, Raijin appeared right in front of the masked man.
For a split second, Raijin saw his opponent's pupils widen in shock.
His hand landed on the masked man's throat. In the next instant, purple-gold lightning completely engulfed him.
Raijin had no idea what voltage his lightning was at this point.
All he knew was that if he unleashed his full power, even Uchiha Madara wouldn't be able to withstand it.
Not even Truth-Seeking Orbs could block it.
That's why Raijin had to be careful when using it against the masked man.
It was like driving in his past life—pressing the accelerator lightly and gradually increasing speed.
So instead of outright destroying him, the lightning only paralyzed him, rendering him unable to fight back.
A green energy orb formed in Raijin's hand. Slowly, he pressed it into the masked man's forehead.
Killing a skilled ninja just like that would've been a waste.
And with the Tenseigan, Raijin could not only extract his memories but also control his thoughts.
Moments later, the masked man obediently stood by Raijin's side.
"I have to admit, your eyes are somewhat useful."
Madara floated over and spoke to Raijin.
"Mm, not that strong, but good enough."
Raijin raised an eyebrow at his words, then slowly disappeared into Madara's Heavenly Prison.
The masked man summoned another space-time Uzumaki and stepped into it.
"Damn you, bastard!"
Just as Raijin appeared on the Hokage Rock, a familiar voice roared.
Uzumaki Naruto?
The name popped into Raijin's mind.
At the same time, he saw a blond-haired kid charging straight at him, a Rasengan in hand.
So that blond kid holding a paint bucket earlier was Uzumaki Naruto...
Man, without those six whisker marks, he was really hard to recognize.
Raijin raised his right hand slightly, and a green chakra sphere appeared in his palm.
The green light spread out slowly, gently wrapping around the Rasengan in Naruto's hand.
In no time, Naruto's Rasengan completely faded away, turning into pure chakra that flowed into Raijin's body.
When it comes to dealing with ninjas who use chakra, the Tenseigan is definitely the best tool.
"What are you trying to do?"
Raijin looked at Naruto, who was half-kneeling on the Hokage Rock, panting lightly.
Did I ever offend him or something?
Not far away, Sasuke saw this scene and immediately slapped his forehead.
Great, here I was thinking about how to help that blond idiot become Uchiha Raijin's disciple.
Forget it. No need to think anymore. That mission is already impossible.
"I'm going to defeat you!"
Naruto lifted his head upon hearing the question, his eyes filled with determination as he stared at Uchiha Raijin.
"Huh? Why?"
Raijin was stunned for a moment, looking at Naruto in surprise.
Seriously? In the original timeline, the only thing Naruto was ever this determined about was bringing Sasuke back, right?
"My mom said the reason my dad doesn't come home every day is because of you!"
Naruto slowly stood up, crossing his index and middle fingers.
That familiar hand sign immediately made Raijin think of a certain jutsu.
"Stop!"
Raijin raised his hand and spoke to Naruto firmly.
"Hm?"
Naruto was caught off guard, looking at Raijin in confusion.
"You want to defeat me so your dad can come home and be with your mom?"
Raijin asked Naruto.
"That's right!"
Naruto responded loudly.
"…Ah, just try your best to beat me, then…"
Raijin originally wanted to say he'd just give Namikaze Minato some time off, but he swallowed the words before they left his mouth.
Nope, that won't work…
It would've been fine yesterday, but today is different.
That guy Jigen is making a move on Konoha again. If Minato takes a break now, Raijin will be so busy he might just drop dead on the spot!
---
-----
Read +20 advanced chapters on my patreon
patreon.com/GustinaKamiya
---