Chapter 12: Chapter 12
Madara stood atop a rocky outcrop, gazing down at the vast, shadowy expanse of the Forbidden Forest. The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and the distant hoot of an owl. He exhaled slowly, watching his breath fade into the cold air.
His mind was burdened with questions—about this world, about his purpose, and about the strange system that had tied his fate to this magical realm.
The encounter with Avery had given him some valuable insight. Voldemort had fallen, but his remnants still lingered.
If this world was anything like the one he had read about, then conflicts were far from over. He needed to understand the power dynamics of the wizarding world. He needed to learn magic.
A flicker of movement in the trees caught his eye. His Sharingan activated instinctively, and he watched as a cloaked figure slipped through the underbrush, moving with careful precision. Madara smirked. Someone was watching him.
With a flicker of chakra, he vanished from his spot, reappearing directly behind the figure. Before the intruder could react, Madara grasped the back of their cloak and yanked them into the moonlight.
"Ah!" A startled yelp escaped from the figure, revealing a young witch with auburn hair and wide, terrified eyes. "P-Please don't hurt me!"
Madara studied her carefully. "Who are you, and why are you following me?"
The girl swallowed hard, trembling. "M-My name is Helena Rosier. I—I was sent to find out who you are. There have been strange reports of someone with red eyes and unbelievable power. The Ministry is... worried."
Madara raised a brow. "And you thought sneaking up on me was a good idea?"
She shrank back. "I—I didn't think you'd notice me so quickly. No one's ever moved that fast before."
Madara released his grip, letting her stumble back a step. "You're a Rosier? A family of former Death Eaters. So tell me, Helena, are you loyal to Voldemort's ideals?"
Helena's face twisted in conflict. "I... I don't know. My family always believed in blood purity, but... I never truly cared for those beliefs. I just want to survive in this world. And right now, knowing who you are could mean survival."
Madara nodded slowly. She was honest, at least to a degree. He admired those who sought knowledge for survival—it was a shinobi trait, after all.
"You wish to know who I am?" he mused, folding his arms. "I'm someone who was not meant to exist in this world, yet here I stand. A force that neither the Ministry nor the Death Eaters can control."
Helena's breath hitched. "Then... what do you want?"
Madara glanced up at the sky, the full moon casting its silver glow over the forest. "I want to understand this world. Its magic. Its power. If you can help me learn, I may consider you an ally."
Helena hesitated, then slowly nodded. "I—I can teach you. But the Ministry will come looking for me soon. If I don't return—"
"Then you should return," Madara interrupted. "Tell them whatever you wish. But if they come after me, I will not be kind."
Helena paled at the warning, nodding quickly. "I understand. I'll find you again, and I'll teach you magic. But you have to promise me one thing."
Madara tilted his head. "Oh? And what's that?"
She met his gaze with newfound determination. "Don't destroy everything. Please. This world has already suffered enough."
Madara chuckled, turning away. "We'll see."
As Helena disappeared into the night, Madara's smirk widened. The pieces were slowly falling into place. He had found a potential teacher, and soon, he would master this world's magic just as he had mastered chakra. And once he had control over both...
This world would have no choice but to acknowledge his power.