"You're the Uchiha junior... the only remaining Uchiha in Konoha before this."
Standing tall, his long black hair gently swaying behind him, Leo looked at the young man before him—Uchiha Sasuke—with calm, expressionless black pupils.
"Yes, Senior Madara—my name is Uchiha Sasuke," Sasuke said with a respectful expression, his posture tense as he stood before Leo.
Leo's thoughts churned at the sight of him.
"Erzhuzi, huh? So you're still alive... and actually came to me."
Even though he appeared composed, deep down, Leo couldn't help but compare the young man to someone else. "He really does look a lot like Izuna..."
That resemblance stirred something old and complex within him. Yet, as quickly as those emotions came, he pressed them down and returned to his usual detached demeanor.
"So," Leo asked coolly, "have you been waiting outside all this time for me?"
Sasuke nodded firmly. Then, in a completely unexpected move, he knelt down with both knees and placed his forehead against the ground.
"Former clan leader... I would like to become your disciple!"
Leo froze.
Become my disciple? He blinked, his expression unreadable.
You brat... you really know how to make things complicated, Leo thought in mild amusement.
"And... did you just call me 'clan leader'?" Leo asked with a faintly teasing smile, looking down at the kneeling Uchiha.
Sasuke's face flushed slightly with embarrassment. It was true that calling Leo "clan leader" was a deliberate move, designed to show respect—and to curry favor.
He wanted Leo to see him as a loyal Uchiha, to make himself more acceptable.
But judging from Leo's reaction...
Sasuke couldn't help but feel like he had overplayed his hand.
Still, Sasuke gritted his teeth and pressed on.
"Madara-senpai, I am being sincere. I truly want to be your disciple. I... I need power. I want to take revenge."
As his voice dropped lower, Sasuke pressed his forehead even harder against the ground. His determination was palpable.
Leo didn't need to guess. He knew who Sasuke's target was.
Uchiha Itachi... of course it's him.
But Leo didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he turned and began to walk away.
"Let's eat first. I'm hungry."
He didn't say yes. He didn't say no.
He just left.
Behind him, Sasuke was stunned for a moment—then, determination surged through his veins once again. He stood up quickly and jogged after Leo.
The two exited the Hokage building.
At the main gate, two Konoha Shinobi stood on guard duty. When they saw Leo's figure walking toward them, both visibly straightened in alarm and dropped to one knee immediately.
"Lord Madara!" they called out respectfully.
"Mm." Leo gave a curt nod, his eyes forward, not breaking stride for even a second.
Sasuke, following closely behind, looked at the two kneeling ninja. Judging from their chakra and the way they carried themselves, they were at least Chūnin—maybe even Elite Chūnin.
But in front of Leo...
It didn't matter if they were Chūnin or even Jōnin.
They knelt.
Or they died.
This was true power—absolute and terrifying. Sasuke couldn't help but glance up at Leo's broad back, the crimson armor gleaming slightly in the sunlight.
"Is this what it means to be truly strong...?"
That thought stirred something deep within him. A desire. A longing.
Sasuke's rare smile flashed briefly across his face. He wanted to catch up. To walk beside that man.
To one day become even stronger.
With renewed resolve, Sasuke quickened his pace to keep up with Leo.
And so, a strange duo—a shadow from the past and a youth burdened by vengeance—walked side by side through the recovering streets of Konoha.
The village was still healing.
Shops had reopened. Merchants were shouting out their deals. Children were playing, some laughing, some pointing cautiously at the armored man passing through.
Though the wounds of battle were far from gone.
The massive crater left by Leo's [Perfect Form Susanoo] still split the streets in the center of the village. Another deep scar—a one-kilometer-long chasm created by [Night Guy]—remained like a wound at the back mountain of Konoha.
And the price paid for that battle?
Too steep to forget.
Over three hundred Konoha ninja had died. Names that once rang with promise were now gone.
Might Guy. Sarutobi Asuma. Akimichi Choza. Nara Shikamaru. Hyuga Neji.
Even Shimura Danzō, once part of the Elders' Group, had perished.
And the whereabouts of the remaining elders?
Still unknown.
Leo didn't care. He wasn't interested in politics. If he saw them again, he would strike them down with Susanoo—without a second thought.
As Leo and Sasuke passed through one of the more bustling streets, villagers and shinobi alike turned their heads. Some bowed instinctively. Others looked away in fear.
But even those who bowed had unmistakable hatred in their eyes.
Leo saw it.
And he smiled coldly.
"Revenge... Hatred... That's the only thing we pass on, isn't it?"
It was a bitter truth, one the Uchiha clan had known for generations.
Behind him, Sasuke noticed the reactions too.
The glances.
The fear.
And the hatred—aimed not only at Leo, but at him as well.
After all, he bore the same name: Uchiha.
He had the same blood.
And he was walking behind the most dangerous man in the village.
But Sasuke didn't flinch.
He scoffed under his breath and kept moving forward, his gaze as cold as ever.
Let them hate.
Leo, observing Sasuke's cool demeanor from the corner of his eye, raised an eyebrow slightly.
"The kid's got spirit. I like that."
Eventually, after navigating through salutes and glares alike, they stopped in front of a small food stall at the side of the street.
The sign was simple. Familiar.
Ichiraku Ramen.
"U-Uchiha... M-Madara-sama?" stammered the shop owner, Teuchi, as he spotted the crimson-armored figure.
His hands trembled slightly, and he instinctively reached for the counter to steady himself.
Behind him, his daughter Ayame narrowed her eyes.
"What are you doing here?" she asked sharply, pointing at Leo without hesitation.
Teuchi's face turned pale. "Ayame! Don't be rude!" he hissed, rushing to cover her mouth and bowing repeatedly.
"Madara-sama, please forgive my daughter's words!"
Leo blinked once—then chuckled lightly.
"No harm done," he said, his voice relaxed for once. "I'm just here to eat."
That stunned both of them.
"E-eat?" Teuchi asked, voice shaking.
Leo stepped closer and asked casually, "So, what's on the menu?"
"Yes, yes!" Teuchi said hurriedly. "We serve fresh ramen every day. Please, what flavor would you prefer, Madara-sama?"
He rushed to shove Ayame aside, afraid that Leo might react violently and demolish the entire stall with a single punch—or worse, Susanoo.
"I'll take miso. Double meat."
Leo took a seat.
Sasuke sat beside him, still silent, soaking in the weight of everything happening around him.
Sitting beside the most feared man in the village... in a simple ramen stall... and yet, the entire place seemed to hold its breath.
Leo glanced sideways.
"Erzhuzi."
"Yes?"
"Why do you really want to be my disciple?"
Sasuke clenched his fists slightly.
"I told you. I want power. I want revenge. And I believe... I believe you can show me how."
Leo leaned back.
"Revenge isn't a path to strength. It's a path to ruin. But..." he looked at the young man beside him and smirked.
"That's what makes you interesting."
Sasuke didn't reply, but the fire in his eyes didn't fade.
Maybe it was a reckless choice.
Maybe it was a gamble.
But if there was one person in the world who could teach him the true meaning of power...
It was Leo.
---
End of Chapter 34