Leo had been secluded in the Hokage building for three days and three nights...
And in those short days, the entire ninja world was thrown into chaos.
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Land of Earth, Iwagakure
"Tsuchikage-sama!"
A Rock Shinobi burst into the Tsuchikage's office, dropping to one knee before the aging Ohnoki. Kurotsuchi, who had been casually chatting with her grandfather, immediately perked up.
"What is it?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Is it something about the ninja world? Or something specific to our village?"
Even Ohnoki, usually composed, showed a flicker of interest. "Urgent news?"
The kneeling shinobi nodded solemnly. "Tsuchikage-sama, it's not just about us. It's a major disturbance in the entire ninja world... a report has come in: the legendary shinobi, the former Demon of the Ninja World—Uchiha Madara—has returned."
Ohnoki went stiff in his seat. Kurotsuchi blinked in disbelief.
"Uchiha Madara? I thought he was long dead. What do you mean by 'returned'?" she asked, puzzled.
But she didn't notice the way her grandfather's hands trembled slightly, nor the haunted look that had overtaken his expression.
In Ohnoki's mind, images from the past surged violently.
"There is no such thing as peace."
"Submit to the might of Konoha."
He could still remember the intense gaze of Madara's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan burning into his memory.
"Tsuchikage-sama! Hey, old man!"
Kurotsuchi's voice pulled him from his daze. She handed him a classified scroll. "Here's the detailed report. Intelligence from our agents confirms the event. But seriously... weren't Madara and Hashirama supposed to be from ancient history? How strong could they have really been?"
She was skeptical. Youth often made one fearless.
"You don't understand how terrifying those two were…" Ohnoki muttered, gaze still lost in a fog of old battles. He broke the seal and unfolded the scroll.
A quick scan of the contents made his heart skip a beat.
"Blue... Susanoo? It's really him..."
"Wait, what?" Kurotsuchi stepped closer and peeked over his shoulder.
> [...Uchiha Madara appeared alone, facing off against thousands of Konoha shinobi led by Princess Tsunade. He activated the full-body Susanoo—a colossal, armored blue titan measuring over 230 meters tall. With one swing of its sword, the Susanoo cleaved Konoha in two, creating a massive chasm hundreds of meters wide and thousands long. The village suffered catastrophic losses. The Nine-Tails was extracted from its Jinchūriki and taken by Madara. Konoha... fell.]
Kurotsuchi stared at the words, stunned.
"This... this is insane. Are we reading a novel?!"
She couldn't believe it. Even fictional stories didn't dare exaggerate this much!
But Ohnoki's face had turned ashen. His mouth moved silently.
"Nine Tails… again… Madara has the Nine Tails again..."
"It's said that Madara once fused Susanoo and the Nine Tails together…"
His voice trailed off, disbelief thick in his tone.
"How can he be alive? He should've died at the Valley of the End with Hashirama. How is this possible?"
The old man shook his head. "I'm nearly at the end of my life, and yet the ghost of a man older than me comes back—stronger, younger, and more terrifying than ever…"
---
The World Reacts
The shockwaves rippled across every major shinobi nation—Kumogakure, Kirigakure, Sunagakure—as well as across minor countries and even rogue shinobi wandering the land.
One name was on everyone's lips: Uchiha Madara.
And at the heart of this upheaval stood Leo—the man who had shaken the world in only three days.
---
Unknown Location – A Dark Chamber
In a dimly lit cavern, a figure cloaked in a black robe with red clouds and a spiraling orange mask stood in silence.
"White Zetsu… is it true?"
From the earth, a pale humanoid emerged slowly—White Zetsu.
"I'm not sure," he said. "But that guy looks exactly like Madara-sama. Only... younger. And he had the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Even the Susanoo he used matched Madara-sama's in every detail. It's uncanny."
Obito's Kamui eye narrowed.
Resurrected...?
That wasn't what he wanted. Obito intended to fulfill the Eye of the Moon Plan on his own terms—not with Madara revived to interfere.
Then another figure slowly rose from the ground—Black Zetsu.
"That person is not Madara-sama," Black Zetsu said flatly.
Obito turned toward him, interested. "Oh? Then who is it?"
"Madara's Rinnegan is still in Nagato's possession. I checked it myself in Amegakure," Black Zetsu explained. "If the real Madara were alive, he would've reclaimed his eyes."
"And another thing—Madara could use Wood Style. This person never used it once during the battle. More importantly… he doesn't even have the scent of Hashirama cells. I was nearby in Konoha when it happened. That man is not Madara."
Black Zetsu's voice was confident and sharp.
Obito was relieved—but still troubled.
"Even if he's not Madara, the power he demonstrated… is dangerous."
He clenched his fist. "I'll go to Konoha myself. I need to see him with my own eyes. If he threatens the Moon Eye plan…"
He has to die.
---
Elsewhere – Akatsuki Meeting Place
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—figures materialized in ghostly projections atop the massive Gedo Statue.
Among them stood Deidara, grinning as he looked around.
"Have you heard? The biggest headline in the ninja world!"
"I've just left Konoha," said Kisame, standing beside Itachi. "Haven't had time for news."
On the far side, Uchiha Itachi stood calmly, his expression unreadable.
Pain, from his central position, broke the silence.
"This news concerns Itachi."
All eyes turned to him.
Kakuzu crossed his arms. "I've heard too. It's true. And hard to believe."
"It's just some Uchiha ghost coming back. Nothing compared to Jashin-sama!" Hidan scoffed.
"What did you say?" Kisame blinked.
Even Itachi's pupils shrank.
Madara? Alive...?
A shadow loomed large in his mind—a man with a mask, whispering of moonlight plans and false promises.
---
Back in Konoha…
Leo opened his eyes.
Outside the Hokage building, the world had changed.
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