Konoha: Rebuild the glory of the Uchiha!

Madara Uchiha walked down the street with a smile on his face. He hadn't been here in a long time; he'd been working the night shift lately, often until midnight.

A new order for parts arrived at the factory and they said it was urgently needed for electric tricycles.

found it!

Sure enough, that brat Sosuke Ito was selling roasted sweet potatoes here. Madara Uchiha's eyes lit up, and he walked straight toward Sosuke Ito.

"Kid, give this old man two roasted sweet potatoes!"

Sosuke Ito was doing his homework with his head down when he heard the familiar voice. He subconsciously looked up and then a look of surprise appeared on his face.

"uncle!"

"It's been so long since I've seen you!"

Since Madara Uchiha's unfortunate defeat in his last gacha pull, Sosuke Ito has never seen Madara Uchiha again.

Ito Sousuke deftly took two roasted sweet potatoes from the oven and handed them to Uchiha Madara, also finding him a stool.

Madara Uchiha sat down and decided to eat a roasted sweet potato first. He had gone to the shop to draw cards as soon as he got off work today and hadn't even eaten dinner. He was really hungry now.

Moreover, he was getting tired of the food at the factory. It was the same few dishes every day. At first, Madara Uchiha thought the taste was good, but after a while, he couldn't stand it anymore and felt he needed to eat something different to change his appetite.

However, my coworkers haven't gotten tired of it yet.

After all, Madara Uchiha was born into a prestigious family in the ninja world, and his diet and living conditions were definitely not lacking from childhood. The cattle and horses in the factory were different. Some of them had never had a full meal before they came to Konoha. They were lucky if they had any food at all. Those who were picky had long since starved to death.

Madara Uchiha sat on a stool, eating roasted sweet potatoes and chatting with Sousuke Ito. At first, Sousuke Ito and Madara Uchiha talked about interesting things at school, gossip among classmates, and how another couple in the class had started dating early. Cough cough, it seems that there is no concept of early dating in this world, and students are generally precocious.

Then, the conversation inevitably turned to becoming a ninja, which brought Uchiha Madara to the forefront. Uchiha Madara skillfully began to tell Ito Sousuke stories from the past, changing the subject and omitting key names, which made Ito Sousuke yearn for it.

"The old man must have been a powerful ninja when he was young. I really hope I can become a ninja and go on missions."

Ito Sousuke's face showed envy. To become a powerful ninja and carry out covert missions—that's so cool, so stylish!

"Don't look so envious. Carrying out this kind of mission is not a good thing. You will inevitably have the blood of strangers on your hands. Two strangers who don't know each other, facing each other with swords drawn, fighting to the death."

"Even if your talent is only enough to make you a low-level ninja, on the battlefield you'll just waste an enemy's shuriken."

Although Madara Uchiha enjoyed Ito Sousuke's admiring gaze, he directly advised Ito Sousuke against his unrealistic ideas, suggesting that low-ranking ninjas should obediently go work in factories or construction sites. He said that Uchiha Nan's ninja diversion system was quite good, giving those weaker ninjas a new way to survive.

"Sir, you're really a spoilsport."

Ito Sousuke pursed his lips. "Everyone needs to have dreams; what if they come true?"

"Kid, I'm saving your life."

Madara Uchiha actually quite liked the brat Sosuke Ito. Although he was weak, he had a good heart. Madara didn't want Sosuke to make a foolish mistake and become a genin, only to die somewhere in the ninja world.

Ninjas still rely too much on their background. Madara Uchiha was well aware of this.

"By the way, sir, what brings you here today?"

Hmph. You finally asked me that question!

Madara Uchiha couldn't help but smile as he pulled an exquisite box from his pocket, inside which was a complete set of cards.

"Kid, I promised you last time I'd give you the whole set of cards."

"Grandpa, how do you still remember this? I almost forgot. I sold all those rare cards last time, and I haven't paid you back yet."

Ito Sousuke suddenly remembered this matter and was about to return the money on the card to Uchiha Madara when he saw the box in Uchiha Madara's hand.

"Is this the complete set of cards?"

"Grandpa, you really collected them all!"

"No way!!"

Ito Sousuke visibly showed delight, and his voice trembled.

"Hmph, would I lie to a brat like you?"

Madara Uchiha tossed the card box in his hand to Sousuke Ito.

Ito Sousuke hurriedly took the card box, quickly opened it, and began to examine each card one by one.

"The First Lord"

"Nidaime-sama"

"One tail, two tails, three tails, nine tails"

"And there are the latest cards: the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village) and the Kazekage of Sunagakure (Hidden Sand Village)."

"I've really collected them all!!!"

Ito Sousuke started yelling and gesturing wildly. He had always thought that Uchiha Madara was just bragging. How could such a powerful ninja have fallen so low as to be unable to afford to sell roasted sweet potatoes with him?

I was skeptical of the stories Madara Uchiha told me; he probably just heard them from somewhere and made a few minor alterations.

I can't believe it's true!

"I would never lie to a child!"

Madara Uchiha raised his head with a rather arrogant air, quite satisfied with Sosuke Ito's performance.

Yes, that's it, the more excited the better.

I, Uchiha Madara, keep my word!

"You're giving me this whole set of cards?"

Sosuke Ito felt dizzy, probably from being too excited and breathing too fast, which caused his brain to be a little oxygen-deprived, but he couldn't stop smiling.

"of course!"

"Yay! Long live the old man!!"

Ito Sousuke wished he could kowtow to Uchiha Madara. This set of cards would be enough to make him a star at school; it was a real tool for showing off.

Sosuke Ito had been poor for too long, and had always been a nobody at school with little presence. Being poor for so long made him like to show off.

"Tch, kid, you're so easily satisfied." Madara Uchiha took a bite of his roasted sweet potato, looking completely nonchalant. He's so happy over a mere set of cards; he really can't keep his temper in check!

"Grandpa, with this set of cards you can meet the Hokage and even get his autograph!"

Ito Sousuke looked expectant. The Hokage was the Hokage, the strongest ninja in Konoha, and the number one ninja in the world—his idol!

"Grandpa, let's go see the Hokage together."

Sosuke Ito was so engrossed in the joy that a casual remark made Madara Uchiha fall into deep thought.

Yes, it seems like I can take this opportunity to meet Uchiha Nan.

I almost forgot about that!

Madara Uchiha had always wanted to meet Uchiha Nan, but he just hadn't found a suitable opportunity.

This junior broke through the limitations imposed by that bastard Tobirama Senju and became the Hokage of Konoha. He possessed a complete and feasible plan for reforming the ninja world and was moving step by step toward his goal. Madara Uchiha saw his own past self reflected in Nanami Uchiha.

I'm really curious.

Madara Uchiha felt that he should take this opportunity to meet with Nana Uchiha.

"Then let's go see Uchiha Nan tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Okay, I'm really looking forward to it. What kind of clothes should I wear to see the Hokage tomorrow?"

"Whatever, he's just a Hokage."

"Wow, grandpa, I've noticed you're getting increasingly arrogant lately. And please, keep your voice down. That's the Hokage, after all. Be careful someone hears you and they'll surround you and beat you up!"

Ito Sousuke gestured for Uchiha Madara to lower his voice and stop bragging. He now believed that Uchiha Madara was a powerful ninja in his youth, but to compare him to the Hokage was impossible, absolutely impossible!

Moreover, such disrespect for the Hokage could easily lead to a beating if the surrounding vendors heard it. Fortunately, there were many people around, and the noise was quite loud, so the people were busy with their business and didn't have time to listen to what was happening here.

"Hmph, what's so special about the Hokage? Back in my day..."

Madara Uchiha naturally didn't take Nan Uchiha seriously; he could make Nan Uchiha kowtow to him during the New Year just by virtue of his seniority.

Their strength goes without saying!

"Alright, alright, I believe you now. Keep your voice down. I think the owner of the stall next to us is looking at you strangely."

Ito Sousuke signaled to Uchiha Madara to stop talking; if he kept showing off like that, he'd really get beaten up.

"What I said is true."

Madara Uchiha didn't continue speaking. He also noticed the strange looks from the surrounding vendors. It wasn't that he was afraid of these ordinary people; it was simply that Madara Uchiha disdained to harm them.

"I believe you now, sir."

"Your eyes don't look like you believe me at all."

Madara Uchiha pursed his lips, then focused on eating his roasted sweet potato.

In the darkness of the shadows, Black Zetsu continued to spy on Madara Uchiha, his eyes filled with boundless disappointment.

If Black Zetsu could, he really wanted to slap Madara Uchiha twice. Madara Uchiha must have really gone mad. What on earth has he been doing for so long?

They spend all day in the factory tightening screws, so unambitious, so unambitious!

Project Eye of the Moon!!!

Madara Uchiha, can't you do something serious for once? Hurry up and go back to the underground cave. Trying to awaken the Rinnegan is the most important thing.

Besides working and fixing screws, he goes back to the dorm with those ordinary people to play cards as soon as he gets off work. He even secretly uses his Sharingan to memorize the cards. Don't think I'm so naive that I don't know.

How embarrassing! How shameful!!

I went to that run-down shop after get off work today to draw those paper cards. The atmosphere was incredibly lively; anyone who didn't know better would think Madara Uchiha was dueling with Hashirama Senju.

Black Zetsu roared inwardly. He was truly exhausted. Black Zetsu couldn't understand what Madara Uchiha was thinking right now. Perhaps that was just the Uchiha type—a bit eccentric.

Perhaps we should choose someone else. Black Zetsu is almost in despair, watching helplessly as Madara Uchiha goes astray. There's nothing he can do, and now he'll probably have to give up on Madara with tears in his eyes and choose a new Uchiha to carry out the Eye of the Moon Plan.

But this is just too difficult!

The newly selected Uchiha must not only awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan, but also the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. This means that the family members of the newly selected Uchiha must also awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan and must even offer up their own Mangekyou Sharingan.

This is still a condition that must be met as a member of the Uchiha clan; Hashirama cells, representing Ashura's chakra, are also a necessary condition.

After gathering these stringent conditions, they also need to guide him toward the plan of the Eye of the Moon.

To bring all these conditions together, the right time, the right place, and the right people are all indispensable. Black Zetsu waited for a thousand years to find Uchiha Madara as a candidate. If a new candidate were to be chosen now, who knows how long they would have to wait? Another thousand years?

Black Zetsu couldn't help but shudder!