Born in Sunagakure, dedicated to antagonizing Konoha for decades

What exactly did the Senju clan use to utterly dominate the Uchiha clan back then?

Could it be that my great-uncle and great-grandmother were just bragging...?

As for Sakumo Hatake, he didn't have many thoughts on the matter. Although the Hatake clan was small in number, it was still a renowned clan of geniuses. While they hadn't produced a powerhouse like Madara, the Hatake clan's tendency to have low chakra reserves and weak legs meant they were destined to never produce such a formidable figure. However, aside from Madara, the Hatake clan members were truly on par with the Uchiha in terms of talent and strength. So, he didn't even bother to be envious. As for the Sharingan... his son had one, and that damned Sharingan had left him practically half-dead, making him arguably the weakest member in the family's history...

777. Being targeted by Madara is incredibly stressful!

"I'll leave Rope Tree in your care. I need to get back to the village now..."

Although Hatake Sakumo didn't have that many thoughts, he felt that this guy's analysis made sense. That wild Uchiha from the Land of Water wouldn't be recognized as an Uchiha clan member, so there must be some untold story behind it. He didn't know what the story was, but it was certain that he had a grudge against the Uchiha in the village. Even if this wild Uchiha didn't have any grudge against Konoha, if he went to Konoha to cause trouble while Kushina was giving birth, he would have a chance to frame the Uchiha. If it were him, he wouldn't let such an opportunity pass by.

The opponent's ability is a rather troublesome space-time ninjutsu, the kind that doesn't require a medium, even more impressive than Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique. If this guy really goes to Konoha to cause trouble, that would be a real problem. He knows how powerful the Nine-Tails is, but the fact that other tailed beast jinchūriki don't need the Uzumaki clan, while the Nine-Tails needs the Uzumaki clan with high bloodlines as its jinchūriki already speaks volumes.

The village is left with only him, Minato, and the old leader—three weaklings with low health. He's not in the village right now. If that wild Uchiha really goes and causes trouble by releasing the Nine-Tails, then things will be in trouble.

Therefore, he had to go back and inform Minato and his old leader to take precautions. Even if that wild Uchiha didn't cause trouble, it was better to be prepared. Just like Shiki said, a Jinchuriki giving birth was a big deal, and two double-flowered red sticks at home were clearly not enough. After saying that, Hatake Sakumo hurriedly left.

This is Shiki's territory. Even if Rope Tree is being attacked, it's a slap in the face for him. Someone as proud as him wouldn't just stand by and do nothing to save him...

"...What's the rush? Honestly, we finally get to meet, and you're leaving before even having a couple of drinks. Really..."

Shinto watched Sakumo Hatake's hurried departure and pouted as he spoke.

In his view, whether Sakumo Hatake returned to Konoha or not, the outcome would be the same. Even if the Legendary Sannin hadn't left, the result would still be the same when facing the Nine-Tails' full power. Although Konoha had many elite warriors, they were mostly warriors, mages, or squishy assassins. There wasn't a single one who could both tank and deal damage, so how could they possibly defeat the Nine-Tails? At most, the final result wouldn't be as tragic as in the original story. But with Konoha's current lineup, even with Sakumo Hatake, if the Nine-Tails unleashed its full power, Minato Namikaze would still have to die for love. Konoha's fate would be no different from the original story. At most, Sakumo Hatake would save a few more people who should have been saved, which wouldn't be of much practical significance.

People weren't dying in the ninja world that day. In the Land of Wind alone, there were dozens of gold prospectors in the desert every day, not to mention the various villages secretly competing against each other. What did a few deaths matter?

"Can you handle the Nine-Tails?"

After Sakumo Hatake left, Tsunade asked with a rather solemn expression. Although she had been away from Konoha for several years, Konoha was the village founded by her two grandfathers, and she could not erase this connection. Although she was very unhappy that the four old guys had made a mess of the village, it was still her village. Kushina was, in fact, her distant cousin and the Nine-Tails successor after her grandmother, so of course she was also very worried about the village.

If Kurama (the Nine-Tails) were to appear, it would be great if he could take down those four old guys. Hopefully, he wouldn't harm the innocent villagers or Kushina, but that's clearly impossible...

Even a person locked in a house for decades would go insane if they came out, let alone a tailed beast, especially the most powerful one. She knew the situation in the village. Whether it was Sakumo, Minato, or the old man, or even herself, if Kurama really escaped, they wouldn't be able to stop it at all. None of them were like her grandfather, capable of lifting a heavy burden.

Right now, the only person in the entire ninja world who dares to say he can beat up a tailed beast is this guy. If this guy can handle the Nine-Tails... well, at worst, he'll just be bitten by a dog!

She'd been flirted with by this guy for so many years; anyone in the ninja world who'd been around for more than ten years had been flirted with by him. When she was younger, she felt embarrassed, but now she didn't care anymore. It was just that she couldn't get over that hurdle in her heart. After all, they each had quite a few heads on each other's villages, and she also had to take care of Nawaki, so she was too lazy to think about those troublesome things.

"...If it were the Eight-Tails, I'd be 100% confident I could beat it into calling me 'Dad.' But the Nine-Tails is a different story; it's hard to say. You should have heard your grandma say that although the Nine-Tails only has one more tail than the Eight-Tails, its actual chakra is more than the combined chakra of the One-Tails to the Eight-Tails. And the Nine-Tails has the luck of a boss but not the fate of one. Its personality is even worse than the One-Tailed Fat Cat in our village, though that fat cat is simpler and easier to fool. But the Nine-Tails was tormented by Madara, so it knows the cruelty of ruthlessness. Its temper and personality are even more stubborn than the fat cat. Unlike other tailed beasts that have been sealed for so many years and have resigned themselves to their fate, some even starting to cooperate with their Jinchuriki, the Nine-Tails has been in your grandma's belly for decades, and then in that little girl's belly for over ten years, without changing at all. That tells you how difficult the Nine-Tails is to deal with. To be honest, I might be able to take down the Nine-Tails, but I don't have your grandpa's Wood Release to drain it into a dried-up fox. So, it's impossible for it to obediently seal us like the Seven-Tails. At most, I can only fight it and draw its fire..."

When Tsunade asked this, Shinto, though unaware of her true intentions, understood her general meaning. If it was just a matter of asking him to fight the Nine-Tails, that would be fine. It wasn't that he was a sanctimonious fool; even if Tsunade hadn't asked, he would have wanted to test his current toughness to see if he could fight the Nine-Tails hand-to-hand, so that he could compare himself to the future Ten-Tails. After all, the Ten-Tails was far more powerful than the Nine-Tails. If he couldn't even withstand the Nine-Tails, then during the Fourth Shinobi World War, he could simply play a minor role, forming a supporting cast with Hiruzen Sarutobi to tell stories and boost morale.

But it seems that won't work. Even if he wants to just be a bystander, Madara probably won't let him. Madara is very vengeful. Back in the Land of Water, he almost made Madara die a few years too soon. When Madara is summoned by that snake man named Kabuto, he'll probably be the first one to settle scores. Even if he can withstand Madara's infinite blue power, there's still the real resurrected Six Paths Madara behind him!

If we can't even withstand the Ten-Tails, how can we withstand Six Paths Madara?

I wonder if the perfect Sage Mode plus the One Piece buff can hold its own.

In short, being targeted by Madara is incredibly stressful!

However, while he could fight the Nine-Tails, it was hard to say whether he could actually defeat it. The Nine-Tails' fate meant it would be incredibly resilient and impossible to subdue. He also lacked the means to make the Nine-Tails weak like Hashirama Senju had. In the end, it all depended on Konoha and the fate of the savior's parents.

778. Could that person be Madara Uchiha?

"...No matter what, please help me out. Although I have left Konoha, Konoha was founded by my grandfather and second grandfather."

Grandma was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki for many years, so Tsunade naturally knew how difficult the Nine-Tails was to deal with. Even after being beaten up by her grandfather and imprisoned in her grandmother's womb for decades, she still couldn't tame it. It would be extremely difficult to subdue this guy by force.

However, it would be better to invite this guy over when Kushina gives birth, just in case. After all, there is a mysterious wild Uchiha in the ninja world who can control the Nine-Tails' eyes, so we have to be careful. If nothing happens, that's fine. But if that wild Uchiha really causes trouble and summons the Nine-Tails when the seal is loose, just like he said, it can attract fire and minimize the damage. That way, she can have peace of mind.

"Since you've already asked, there's naturally no problem. It's not wartime now, and we, the Five Mountains Sword Sect... ugh! The Five Great Villages, should be united. For the sake of peace in the ninja world, I can't just stand by and watch Konoha be targeted, can I? Let's see how Nawaki's progress is; once it's about time, we'll go to Konoha. Speaking of which, it's been many years since I've been there..."

"I'll poison you with two cups of horse urine," Zhen Dou said, patting his chest as he agreed.

........

On the other side, after leaving Sunagakure, Hatake Sakumo sped along at 1500 km/h, running red lights for half a month. When he returned to Konoha in the middle of the night, he didn't go home to see his son, but went straight to the Hokage Building. Namikaze Minato and Konoha's Grand Marshal, who were staying up all night, saw that Hatake Sakumo looked serious and like something big had happened. As usual, they sent their ANBU underlings to invite the three retired emperors and the three giants of Konoha.

Another powerful figure, Danzo, resides at his Root headquarters, making him difficult to summon even by ordinary ANBU subordinates. In fact, Danzo himself is practically impossible to invite; he'd likely come on his own without being asked...

When the three leaders of Konoha heard that it was Sakumo Hatake who had returned, and that he looked very serious as if something big was about to happen, they were all startled. They got up in the middle of the night and rushed to the Hokage Building without even washing their faces or brushing their teeth.

Hatake Sakumo has been in the ninja world for decades and has seen all sorts of things, even the Second Hokage's body, which he and Shiki personally collected. Now, it seems like something big is about to happen, making them all very nervous.

Could something have happened to Rope Tree?

"Lord Sakumo, weren't you protecting Nawaki in Sunagakure? Could it be that something happened to Nawaki?"

Once the three leaders of Konoha were all present, they were more concerned with appearances and looked at Minato Namikaze, who had already taken the position. Minato was still a newcomer and was only good at handling trivial matters. He had no idea about the intricacies of the situation and looked at them blankly, not understanding the meaning of these three retired leaders. It was the Grand Marshal of Konoha who spoke up. Before taking the position, he had been reminded by his father that the four leaders of Konoha, except for Danzo, were all people who cared about appearances. So, seeing that his companions did not understand, he was the one who spoke up first.

"Nawaki is fine. I came back because of Kushina. Does the Third Hokage remember when Shiki fought a Mangekyou Sharingan user in the Land of Water?"

After explaining, Hatake Sakumo looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"...If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten. It's been so many years since I heard from that guy, I really had forgotten about him. But Kushina and him...you mean..."

"No way?"

"This is a huge problem!"

When Hiruzen Sarutobi heard Sakumo Hatake mention the wild Uchiha from the Land of Water, his heart tightened. To be honest, that wild Uchiha from the Land of Water was the one he cared about the most over the years. After all, that was someone who had the same eyes as Madara. He was someone who had lived through Madara's era, and he still remembered the battle at the Valley of the End vividly. That incredibly domineering figure was something he could never forget in his entire life.

Upon hearing the leader mention Kushina and then this wild Uchiha, Hiruzen Sarutobi and his two companions simultaneously realized something, their eyes widening in shock as they stared at Sakumo Hatake. Before Hiruzen could finish speaking, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exclaimed in shock at the same time.

"(⊙_⊙)??? My lords, what's going on?"

Seeing the three giants in such a state, Minato Namikaze, who was already on edge after hearing about Kushina, was now even more terrified by their behavior, especially since the third one only said half of what he was saying before getting too shocked.

"Here's what happened. Kirigakure didn't participate in World War II and subsequently declared itself isolated. Coupled with its geographical location, the entire ninja world was thrown into chaos. We didn't know about the other villages, but I sent Zixiao with men to investigate Kirigakure. They never returned. Later, we heard that Shiki was fighting a mysterious powerful figure in the Land of Water. Many people knew about this, but no one knew who this mysterious figure was. Later, Sakumo went to Sunagakure to find Shiki and learned that the mysterious figure fighting Shiki was a member of the Uchiha clan, someone we didn't know. This Uchiha possessed eyes like Madara Uchiha's, who once used such eyes to control the Nine-Tails to attack Konoha. Normally, the Uzumaki clan's seal wouldn't be a problem, but if Kushina gave birth, the Nine-Tails' seal would naturally loosen. If this guy came to Konoha and caused trouble, it would be a huge problem..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi also explained with a solemn expression.

Others only knew that the Nine-Tails was powerful, but they had no idea just how powerful it was. Only those who had witnessed Madara controlling the Nine-Tails understood just how powerful it was. These three people had all personally witnessed the Nine-Tails unleash its power. Back then, Konoha had the First Hokage, so it wasn't a problem, but now, there was truly no one in Konoha who could stand up to the Nine-Tails.

If the Nine-Tails gets out, Konoha will be in big trouble.

"Is it possible that this Uchiha is Madara Uchiha from back then?"

Konoha's Grand Marshal suddenly blurted out something that terrified the three leaders. Of course, this was just an immature idea of ​​his. After all, Madara Uchiha's eyes were not so easy to appear. Since Madara Uchiha left Konoha, no Uchiha clan member in the village had had such eyes for decades. And coincidentally, the creature in the Land of Water that was suspected to be a wild Uchiha had such eyes.

Intelligent people never believe in coincidences. No one in the village had awakened that kind of eye for so many years, but an Uchiha who had wandered outside had awakened it. No matter how he thought about it, it didn't make sense. The only explanation was that perhaps Madara Uchiha didn't actually die when he fought the First Hokage, or maybe he faked his death and resurrected. After all, the Uchiha are one of the oldest clans in the ninja world, so it's not surprising that they have some unknown secret techniques.

779. Madara isn't the type to run away.

"...I know your reasons for doubting. Although I only heard about it from my father, judging from the ability of those eyes that Shiki explained, this person is not Uchiha Madara. That guy from the Land of Water has a space-time ninjutsu similar to Minato's, which is why he was able to escape from Shiki back then. As far as I know, Uchiha Madara's ninjutsu doesn't have this ability. However, this guy's fire release is also very strong. The place where they fought back then is still extremely hot. If it's a powerful fire release, it does seem somewhat similar to Uchiha Madara. Back then, the Third Hokage and Chiyo of Sunagakure both speculated about Uchiha Madara, but they both denied it. They all knew that Shiki's idol was Uchiha Madara. If it really was him, they probably wouldn't have needed to take action. Actually... Shiki isn't the kind of person who likes to fight."

Hatake Sakumo shook his head and said that if people didn't know that Uchiha's abilities, many would suspect that guy was Uchiha Madara. He himself had suspected it before, even though his old leader and Chiyo and other elders denied it. But such a powerful fire jutsu, in his knowledge of Uchiha, no one could do it, only the legendary Madara.

However, since Shiki explained that the guy had space-time ninjutsu and used it to escape when he couldn't beat Shiki, then this person couldn't possibly be the legendary Madara. Given Madara's established persona over the decades, Madara wouldn't be the kind of person who would run away.

"Hiss...! No wonder he was able to escape from the flying Golden Lion... Minato, from now on, the village is on high alert. Also, move Kushina to a hidden place. Sakumo's worries are not unfounded. Although we don't know if this guy has any grudges with our village or the Uchiha, it's better to be safe than sorry."

When Hiruzen Sarutobi heard that this wild Uchiha actually knew space-time ninjutsu, he felt a chill run down his spine. The Sharingan of the Uchiha was truly beastly. Madara's summoning giants technique back then was already a huge challenge, but with the First Hokage around, it wouldn't have been too much of a problem. However, this Uchiha actually knew space-time ninjutsu. His strength might not be as great as Madara's, but he was far more troublesome than Madara.

Previously, he was the only perfect grand-disciple in the ninja world who knew space-time ninjutsu. He earned the reputation of "Yellow Flash" in the Third Shinobi World War with this ninjutsu. He knew exactly how awesome this ninjutsu was. To put it bluntly, if their teacher hadn't covered their retreat and intercepted Kinkaku and Ginkaku, even if Kinkaku and Ginkaku had the Six Paths Tools, they wouldn't have been able to kill their teacher. That's how awesome the Flying Thunder God Technique is.

Now this wild Uchiha who might cause trouble in Konoha also knows space-time ninjutsu. It's like the proverbial bird that hunts birds all day eventually gets pecked by them...

"Understood, I'll arrange it right away."

Even Minato, the Hokage's tool, knew the seriousness of the situation. The fact that the other party possessed eyes like Madara Uchiha's, capable of controlling the Nine-Tails, was already dangerous enough, especially since it involved his wife and children. Now, they even knew space-time ninjutsu! If he weren't inherently kind, he would have reported the Uchiha for cheating. He himself had worked himself to the bone, risking being strangled by chaotic space, to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique developed by the Second Hokage, spending two or three years mastering it. And yet, the Uchiha's eyes just evolved and they already had it! That's insane!

However, now is not the time to think about these things. His wife and children might be in danger. After hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Minato Namikaze nodded and immediately arranged for his wife's relocation and the village's preparations for war.

He already knows the Flying Thunder God Technique, and he knows how powerful space-time ninjutsu is. At least until his chakra is depleted, he could go toe-to-toe with his rumored father, Golden Lion Shiki. While he can't break through his father's defenses, and he doesn't have Sakumo-sama's god-like agility, his father still can't possibly hit him. So, if the opponent also knows space-time ninjutsu, just close your eyes and imagine fighting yourself...

It seems impossible to fight...

.......

"You just came back from Sunagakure. What exactly did Tsunade and Nawaki do in Sunagakure?"

After dealing with the wild Uchiha, Hiruzen Sarutobi also began to pay attention to the matter of their Konoha treasure, Nawaki.

"...Golden Lion brought Tsunade and Nawaki to Sunagakure to solve Nawaki's problem of getting married. Golden Lion planned to have Nawaki woo a Sunagakure scorching ninja, and Tsunade agreed. I think it's not bad. Putting aside their identities, among Nawaki's generation, the most talented and the most suitable for him is Golden Lion's disciple."

Speaking of this precious child, Hatake Sakumo was also somewhat helpless. He was clearly the offspring of the First Hokage, so why was his talent so poor? If he didn't have a girl with amazing talent to marry Nawaki, the genes of the Senju clan would be even more diluted in the next generation, and it would be difficult to produce any super geniuses.

"...That bastard, let's see how things go first. Contact Jiraiya and tell him to stop looking for Orochimaru and go back to the village immediately."

When Hiruzen Sarutobi heard that Shiki was sending girls to Nawaki, he had an even bigger headache. It was one thing for that bastard to want to steal Tsunade, but now he wanted to steal their precious treasure away. A few days ago, he had picked out a few good-looking girls from his own clan and the Shimura clan and reserved them for Nawaki. But this bastard was faster than him.

He even suspected that the Golden Lion was some kind of tapeworm from his stomach reincarnated into the Sand Village...

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't in the mood to think about Nawaki right now. He knew that Shiki was a disciple of the Scorch Release, the only Scorch Release ninja in Sunagakure for decades. In the past two years, he had made a name for himself in the ninja world. Although his talent was not as good as Tsunade's, just based on his status as the only Scorch Release ninja in Sunagakure, it was impossible for the Sunagakure high-ups to deal with him so easily. So there was no rush for this matter.

The real concern now is the wild Uchiha. He hadn't thought much of it before; the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had a child, and he didn't think it was a big deal. He figured he'd just be more vigilant. But now, with Touma's reminder, he's getting more and more anxious.

The main reason was that he knew how powerful the Nine-Tails was, and at this time, Konoha simply didn't have anyone who could withstand it. Minato and Sakumo were both fragile assassins, and he was also a fragile mage; the Nine-Tails could pierce through him with just a fingernail. To fight a tailed beast head-on, you needed an all-around mage or warrior like the First Hokage, the Third Raikage, or Shiki, who could both tank and deal damage. Ordinary people simply couldn't withstand the pressure from the Nine-Tails.

The key problem is that Konoha doesn't have anyone with that kind of talent right now. They can only recall their beloved student Jiraiya, hoping his half-baked Sage Mode can hold the line in the front lines...

780. Destined to be a supporting character

The 51st year of Konoha, this year is an extraordinary one. The future Konoha Twelve have been born one after another, and not long after the birth of the second male lead, the savior will also arrive tonight.

Because of Sakumo Hatake's earlier warning, Konoha was on high alert tonight. In a small grove of Konoha, outside a makeshift house built with Earth Release techniques, various seals and barriers were set up, and Anbu members surrounded it in layers. The entire village was guarded every three steps and sentries every five steps. The four great Red Strike Generals of Konoha were also on high alert outside the barriers. This situation was more exaggerated than a world war.

However, to prevent the production address from being leaked, no one else in the village was not notified except for the Anbu and a few high-ranking members. Konoha is still peaceful and quiet, and every household has closed their doors and gone to sleep.

"Old man, there's still no news. Can you please stop being so nervous? You're making me nervous too."

Jiraiya, who was urgently recalled, felt a chill run down his spine when he saw his teacher take off his Hokage robe, put on his battle suit, and carry a fire poker, looking ready for battle. Even when he fought his old rival Onoki, he had never seen the old man in this state.

"Sigh! The Nine-Tails' power is beyond your imagination. I hope everything goes well tonight..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed helplessly as he looked at his clumsy and impulsive disciple Orochimaru. He wished that his disciple Orochimaru were here. Although Jiraiya was kind-hearted like him, he never felt as at ease as Orochimaru. What time was it now? Even Sakumo had drawn his short sword, but this guy was still acting all relaxed and careless.

"Don't worry, Third Master. The Anbu have already placed the entire village under surveillance. That guy hasn't shown up yet, so he probably won't be coming..."

Minato Namikaze was already incredibly nervous about his son's birth, and the constant screams from his wife inside the house only added to his unease. However, seeing his over-fifty-year-old father, the Third Hokage, personally donning his armor and making the atmosphere so serious, he couldn't help but speak up.

I don't know if I'm comforting him or myself...

.....

"Obito, White Zetsu has sent word that Konoha is now on high alert. Going there might be dangerous."

In a small grove not far from the outskirts of Konoha, Black Zetsu was no longer in the mood to vent his emotions, but instead spoke quite seriously to Obito.