Mastermind of the Akatsuki

"Yes, the Uzumaki clan has been virtually wiped out for generations. We can no longer truly call ourselves Uzumaki ninjas."

Those were the words of 12 years old boy.

Karin sighed with a smile. Saying those words aloud felt like a physical weight had been lifted from her shoulders, a burden she'd carried for far too long.

The Uzumaki clan name, once a source of pride, now carried a dark stain. After the Land of Whirlpools fell, the scattered Uzumaki survivors faced not only the struggles of rebuilding their lives but also the constant threat from those who coveted their power.

After all, Uzumaki ninjas were renowned for their immense chakra reserves and formidable sealing techniques, making them prime candidates for gruesome experiments and unwilling vessels for powerful-tailed beasts – Jinchūriki.

Both fates spelled a life of agonizing misery.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Karin met Byakuya's gaze directly.

"Lord Byakuya, let's begin learning the Adamantine Sealing Technique right now. I'm prepared to dedicate myself completely to mastering it."

Byakuya, observing Karin's steely resolve, offered a curt nod of approval.

He had finally managed to subtly steer the conversation away from the sensitive topic of their Uzumaki heritage. He, too, had chosen not to reveal his lineage.

This way, if any other bloodline traits or unique Kekkei Genkai manifested within him in the future, he wouldn't be forced to explain their origin, providing him with a layer of strategic secrecy.

---

Underground Space.

Uchiha Madara, the Shinobi World's Asura, furrowed his brow. His expression was a mask of grim frustration. Teaching Obito to master Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation was proving far more difficult than battling Kage-level opponents.

In Madara's eyes, the jutsu was a mere trifle. All it required were two or three hand seals and the manipulation of fire-natured chakra. It shouldn't have taken over a week to master.

He was getting suspicious of Obito. Was this brat holding back, purposefully dragging his feet? Obito's eagerness to return to Konohaga suggested otherwise. He should have been putting in twice the effort.

Obito, diligently practicing hand seals nearby, remained oblivious. He naively believed mastering such a high-level jutsu would be simple.

Compared to the Great Fireball Technique, which had taken him months to learn, the Great Fire Annihilation felt like an insurmountable wall.

Obito couldn't deny a sliver of laziness on his part, but it also highlighted a stark difference in talent compared to Kakashi. He just wouldn't admit it aloud.

However, this time, Obito didn't blame himself. He suspected the problem stemmed from Madara's teaching methods. The jutsu scroll clearly outlined over ten hand seals, but Madara used only three during his demonstration.

How could Obito, even with his Sharingan, replicate a technique with incomplete information? His attempt to clarify this discrepancy fell upon deaf ears. Madara's disdainful scoff seemed to dismiss Obito's concerns as those of a clueless academy student.

Uchiha Madara's scowl deepened as he watched Obito struggle. "Your talent is abysmal, Obito," he growled. "Learning the Majestic Destroyer Flame shouldn't be this difficult. Perhaps I made a mistake saving you. Maybe you were better off dead."

Obito bristled under the constant criticism. "It's your teaching that's awful, old man!" he shot back. "If Ikkaku Umino-sensei were teaching me, I would have mastered this jutsu by now!"

Madara's brow furrowed. "Ikkaku Umino? Who in the world is that?"

"He's a teacher at the Ninja Academy," Obito explained. "Just a Chunin, but his teaching skills blow yours out of the water."

"A Chunin?! Did you just compare me to a Chunin?! A freaking Chunin!"

Madara sputtered, his eyebrows twitching in disbelief. He readily admitted many surpassed him in skill, like Senju Hashirama or the legendary Sage of Six Paths. But being compared to a Chunin was a new low, it was just unacceptable.

"Don't try to shift the blame, Obito. This is clearly a talent issue. Back in my day, we learned the same way, and even Hashirama only needed a seal or two for his jutsu. Only those underhanded Senju fools relied on elaborate hand signs. Besides, my teaching methods are perfectly standard. I haven't just tossed Uchiha scrolls at you and left you to decipher them on your own. I've provided detailed jutsu scrolls! If you still can't learn, the fault lies entirely with you."

Madara was getting fed up with Obito. He summoned White Zetsu and instructed him, in a hushed tone.

"Project a live feed from the Akatsuki training ground, Obito. Watch closely and see how others learn their jutsu!"

Obito, despite his disdain, complied. He watched the projected scene with a mixture of curiosity about the outside world and a burning desire to find fault with Madara's teaching. He needed to prove it wasn't his own shortcomings, but Madara's inadequate instruction.

The scene shifted to Byakuya, who calmly unfurled a scroll containing the Adamantine Sealing Chains jutsu. He then launched into a detailed explanation of the jutsu's principles, including the intricate chakra manipulation involved.

Karin, his student, listened intently, asking clarifying questions whenever she encountered something confusing. Byakuya patiently addressed each of her inquiries.

Once Karin grasped the theoretical foundation of the jutsu, it was time for practical application. Byakuya meticulously demonstrated the hand signs, explaining each movement and the corresponding chakra flow positions.

After several hours of dedicated practice, Karin managed to manifest a single, unstable Adamantine Sealing Chain. It was slow and flimsy, collapsing within seconds, but it was a start nonetheless.

Obito seized on the opportunity.

"See, old man Madara? That's how a real teacher acts! Look at Byakuya's gentleness and patience, just like Umino-sensei!"

Madara muttered under his breath, his face clouding with disbelief.

"This is… unbelievable. The last time I saw him teach, Nagato was struggling with some obscure mythological texts…"

He couldn't stomach the idea of being inferior to a Chunin, let alone a young upstart. He scrambled to justify himself.

Sensing Madara's wavering confidence, Obito pressed his advantage.

"That's called adapting your teaching to the student, old man! Different students need different approaches. Nagato's a prodigy, obviously requiring a different method than Karin. That's why Byakuya shifted his methods according to Karen's level."

Madara, forced to confront his shortcomings, conceded with a begrudging nod.

"Perhaps I was too hasty in my expectations. You're no Nagato, that much is clear. You're…unremarkable, a dead-last at best."

The sting of those words – "unremarkable" and "dead-last" – ignited a fire in Obito. He may have accepted that label in his past, but hearing it from Madara was unbearable.

"I'm not a dead-last! I just haven't put in the effort. Just you wait, old man Madara, I'll master this jutsu! And you'll see what a useless teacher you truly are!"

With newfound determination, Obito snatched the jutsu scroll and devoured its content, vowing not to rest until he succeeded. Perhaps Madara, deep down, recognized his own shortcomings as a teacher.

He remained silent in the face of Obito's outburst, his gaze fixed on the projection. He observed Byakuya's meticulous approach with Karin, a flicker of something akin to…learning…crossing his features. Maybe, just maybe, he could salvage some pride by learning from Byakuya. After all, Hashirama was his only true defeat. Everyone else had fallen before his might.

But teaching? That wasn't his forte. Hashirama hadn't been much better. Perhaps, by gleaning some knowledge from Byakuya, Madara could finally surpass Hashirama in this one area, a small victory after thirty years.