Reborn in Konoha; I Think I’m Cultivating Immortality

After resolving the inner conflict in his heart, Madara didn't choose to return to Konoha.

He was a proud man. It was impossible for him to leave that place and return so soon.

Besides, Konoha was a place he had willingly "abandoned" in the past. If he were to return now, it would be humiliating for him.

Of course, Madara knew there wasn't anyone in Konoha who would genuinely welcome his return.

Why bother going back to Konoha, then?

As for the important matter that Hui had mentioned...

Madara hesitated for a moment, but in the end, it wasn't enough to change his decision.

Returning... perhaps later.

For now, he wanted to seek out that person known as Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.

The man from the Ōtsutsuki Clan who had been betrayed by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya and narrowly escaped death.

Madara had a plan. To face Ōtsutsuki Isshiki alone and settle the grudge from their last encounter.

To repay him for the serious injury he had suffered at Isshiki's hands!

As Hui had guessed, Madara really had encountered Ōtsutsuki Isshiki during their last encounter.

It was astonishing. It was hard to tell whether Madara had the best luck or the worst.

Hui had spent so long in the shinobi world without ever discovering Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's whereabouts, yet Madara happened to stumble upon him.

The outcome of that encounter?

Of course, Madara had been utterly crushed by Isshiki.

If it weren't for the fact that Isshiki didn't want to go all-out, fearing that using his full strength would accelerate the collapse of his body, Madara might have lost his life in that battle.

That devastating defeat had been the reason for Madara's sense of hopelessness and frustration when he was in Konoha.

But now that his body had returned to its peak condition, and with the power of the Rinnegan in his grasp, Madara believed he could face Ōtsutsuki Isshiki once more.

Of course, this was just Madara's belief.

If Isshiki were to truly fight with everything he had, Madara would undoubtedly be crushed again. Whether he could survive was questionable at best.

Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's strength was at a level that could completely overwhelm Sage of Six Paths Mode Naruto and Six Tomoe Rinnegan Sasuke.

In the original story, during the battle where Isshiki descended upon Konoha, his power was displayed in all its terrifying glory, forcing Naruto and Sasuke into a desperate struggle.

Even when they both fought with all their might, with Naruto unleashing Baryon Mode, they still couldn't defeat Isshiki.

Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's power wasn't something Madara could hope to match at his current level.

To put it bluntly, the gap between Madara and Isshiki was akin to the gap between Tengai Shinsei and Rock Lee's primary taijutsu techniques.

It was similar to the moment when Ōnoki believed that the Five Kage had a chance to defeat Edo Madara, only to realize that Madara hadn't been fighting seriously at all.

Once Madara fought in earnest, the Five Kage were helpless.

And now, Madara was planning to face an enemy far more powerful than himself.

If Hui knew about this, he would be speechless.

Still, this was also an oversight on Hui's part.

He should have sent a shadow avatar to follow Madara at the time.

…

In Konoha, Hui was currently seated in the Hokage's office, staring at a shimmering water screen in front of him.

The water screen displayed a scene from somewhere in the village.

This was a jutsu created by Hui, similar to the Telescope Technique used by Sarutobi Hiruzen in the original series. It allowed him to observe various locations remotely.

The difference was that instead of using a crystal ball, Hui had modified it to use a water screen, making it easier to watch.

Thus, Hui had named this jutsu: Heaven's Veil.

Everything beneath the heavens was within its gaze, nothing could escape its sight.

This was the essence of Heaven's Veil.

The water screen displayed a young boy undergoing an observation period.

The boy appeared to be around fourteen or fifteen years old. His features were sharp and defined, and his expression was cold and resolute.

At that moment, he was diligently training.

The young boy's name was Uchiha Fugaku, the future head of the Uchiha Clan, as well as the father of Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke.

Uchiha Fugaku was also an avid admirer of Hui. Ever since receiving Hui's encouragement, he had treated Hui's expectations as his life's goal.

Fugaku was already an exceptionally talented individual, and after that, he had become even more remarkable.

For this reason, Hui had chosen Fugaku as one of the candidates for the next group to receive the Sage Seal.

And he had his reasons for doing so.

Not only was Fugaku highly talented, but his mindset was also commendable. He was one of the few within the Uchiha Clan who could think from a broader perspective.

In the original series, Fugaku possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan and could have used it to control the Nine-Tails and stage a coup against Konoha. 

However, he chose to abandon the coup because he didn't want Konoha to suffer losses that other villages could exploit.

Moreover, when the Uchiha clan members wanted to take back the Sharingan that Hatake Kakashi had inherited, it was Fugaku who opposed them, allowing Kakashi to keep the eye.

Of course, there may have been other reasons behind his actions, but in the end, Fugaku's character remained admirable.

Thus, Hui regarded him as a worthy candidate.

After observing him for some time, Hui concluded that Fugaku was indeed exceptional.

In terms of talent and character, Fugaku stood out among his peers.

At only fifteen years old, Fugaku had already awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan, and his combat strength had reached the level of a Jōnin.

When it came to his ideals, Fugaku held Konoha in high regard, perhaps even more so than his clan.

"Should I make an exception for him?" Hui murmured to himself, resting his chin on his hand as he contemplated.

The Eight Gates Sage Ascension Technique was best cultivated from a young age. 

Fugaku's age was already older than most other candidates. If he waited another three years to inscribe the Sage Seal, Fugaku would be eighteen by then. At that age, his body's potential would decrease, and his future potential would undoubtedly be limited.

It would be a shame to waste such a promising Uchiha who could awaken the Sharingan, someone destined for greatness.

"Hmm... maybe I should go and take a look. I've got nothing else to do, anyway."

Hui stretched and stood up.

He had plenty of free time nowadays since Konoha's development was proceeding according to plan. 

Unless something catastrophic happened, there was rarely a need for him to personally intervene.

For now, his daily routine was to observe the individuals he had selected and watch how their lives unfolded.

…

In a remote part of the Forest of Death, Fugaku was repeatedly attempting an A-rank Fire Release jutsu.

The jutsu required an instant burst of power, but Fugaku kept hesitating at critical moments, unable to muster the resolve needed to execute the technique perfectly.

Just then, a voice came from behind him.

"The key to this technique lies in the explosive release of chakra. When you perform it, you must not hesitate. You need the spirit to charge forward, no matter what stands in your way."

Fugaku was startled. He instinctively threw a few shuriken behind him while quickly leaping away to create distance and reposition himself in a defensive stance.

"Impressive instincts. Not bad."

Hui's figure flickered as the shuriken zipped harmlessly past him.

"Lord Third!"

Upon recognizing Hui, Fugaku's eyes widened in surprise, and his face lit up with excitement.

"I'm sorry, Lord Third—I didn't know it was you!"

Fugaku immediately bent at the waist and bowed in apology.

"No need. It's my fault for showing up unannounced." Hui waved his hand dismissively.

"I was getting bored and decided to take a walk around the village. I didn't expect to see someone training so diligently in a place like this. You've worked hard, Fugaku."

"Ah! Thank you for the praise, Lord Third! I'll work even harder. I'm determined to become a ninja worthy of Konoha!" Fugaku declared, his voice filled with resolve.

"Hahaha, good! I believe you will become a great ninja of Konoha!" Hui replied, pleased. Then, almost casually, he added, "Don't let me down."

The next thing Fugaku knew, the scene around him dissolved.

He opened his eyes and found himself lying on his bed.

"It... it was just a dream..."

Disappointment flashed in Fugaku's eyes. He had hoped to truly meet his idol.

But he quickly collected himself and prepared to leave the house.

What Fugaku didn't know was that this day would be anything but ordinary for him.

Because today, he would uncover a dark secret of the Uchiha Clan.

Some members of the clan were planning to stage a coup!

Faced with the choice between village and clan, Fugaku stood at a crossroads of fate.

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