The Land of Fire, Konoha!
Leaving Konoha Hospital behind, Leo made his way directly toward the back mountains of the village.
Trailing behind him like a loyal shadow was none other than Uchiha Sasuke. He still followed Leo closely, clinging to him like a fledgling to its master.
As they walked, Leo suddenly asked without turning his head,
"What's the current stage of your Sharingan?"
Sasuke was momentarily stunned but quickly regained his composure. He answered with a trace of hesitation in his voice,
"Madara-senpai, I currently only have two tomoe."
"Double tomoe?" Leo murmured to himself.
"When you awaken the third tomoe, come find me again," he said at last, turning briefly to glance back at the young Uchiha.
"Madara-senpai, I…" Sasuke started, clearly reluctant to part ways.
"Sever your bonds. Once you do, your Sharingan will evolve." Leo spoke flatly, already walking away again.
Just like that, Sasuke parted ways with his former comrades: Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi...
Well, if you recall the original story, didn't Sasuke awaken his three-tomoe Sharingan during a fierce clash with Naruto when he left Konoha?
This time, perhaps it can be reenacted differently.
Leo had laid out the conditions. Whether Sasuke chose to fulfill them was his own decision.
Leo didn't force anyone.
In the end, everyone walks their own path.
Sasuke touched his eyes gently.
"...Naruto."
His eyes glimmered for a moment.
But in the next instant, they were filled only with hatred.
"What I need now isn't friendship. It's power..."
"Power to take revenge on that man!"
"So..."
His decision was made.
As he stood alone, his [Two-Tomoe Sharingan] began to spin faster. The chakra swirled, the tomoe rotating in his eyes as though they were on the verge of a breakthrough.
Yet in the end, the transformation didn't come. It wasn't the right time. His eyes remained at the two-tomoe stage.
But—he was close.
Soon after, Sasuke chose to leave and stopped following Leo.
Once he awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, he would seek Leo out again.
With that, Leo was once more walking alone toward the back mountain of Konoha.
Eventually, he arrived at a ravine carved beside a valley—scarred land created years ago by the mighty kick of the Eight Gates-released Might Guy.
"Madara-sama!"
"Lord Madara!"
Voices rang out.
At the edge of the valley stood five ANBU from Konoha, posted as guards.
Upon seeing Leo, their expressions tightened, and they immediately bowed deeply to him, a mixture of awe and terror in their eyes.
Why were they stationed here?
Because in the center of the valley…
A giant beast with crimson fur and nine tails lay sprawled on the ground.
The Nine-Tails—Kurama!
Atop the great fox's head, a man identical to Leo sat cross-legged.
It was Leo's Shadow Clone!
A few days ago, after the battle settled down, Leo had left a clone in charge of Kurama, instructing it to move the beast to this secluded area.
But it had already been days...
"Rooooar!!"
Suddenly, Kurama let out a deafening roar—though it was the Shadow Clone who prompted the outburst, speaking through the beast.
"You're late, main body!"
The clone sounded quite irritated.
Understandably so. After all, it had been sitting atop Kurama's head, bored out of its mind, for three full days and nights.
Even clones had emotions!
"You're noisy," Leo said calmly.
"Hmph!" the Shadow Clone snorted arrogantly. "Since you're finally here…"
Puff—!
Without hesitation, the Shadow Clone dispelled itself.
Like an overworked office employee finishing an overtime shift, it vanished without a second thought.
Leo chuckled softly.
Then he turned his attention to the ANBU.
"Tsunade-hime sent you?" he asked, his sharp black pupils sweeping across the masked guards.
They straightened in unison.
"Yes, Lord Madara!" one of them answered quickly. "The Fifth Hokage said… it was for safety reasons…"
The rest echoed hesitantly. Clearly, they were nervous. No one wanted to provoke the man known as the second coming of Madara.
"I'm not that petty. You may leave." Leo waved them off with a casual gesture.
"Thank you, Lord Madara!"
As if granted a royal pardon, the five ANBU fled without hesitation.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
They vanished like wind-swept leaves, desperate to escape the presence of both the Nine-Tails and the living legend known as Uchiha Madara.
Who could blame them?
To be in the same canyon with both was the stuff of nightmares.
…
Finally alone, Leo turned toward the colossal Nine-Tailed Fox.
"Nine Tails."
Kurama's pupils were still under Sharingan control, visibly locked in a trance.
Leo focused his chakra.
Zheng——!
His Mangekyō Sharingan activated, its intricate pattern spinning.
The control over Kurama's mind returned fully to him, and in the next moment, the beast's consciousness sharpened.
"ROOOAARRR!!"
Kurama snapped out of his daze, seething with fury.
"Madara!" Kurama roared, his voice thunderous.
Rage burned in his eyes, and his massive paw swept toward Leo in a deadly strike.
Sharp claws sliced through the air.
But—
Shua!
Clang—!!
In an instant, Leo summoned the Second Form Susanoo—its four arms and dual faces flashing with blue light. It effortlessly intercepted Kurama's claw.
"Kurama," Leo said coldly, "do you still wish to remain enslaved to pupil power? A mindless beast under the illusion of control?"
"Submit to you?!" Kurama growled, his massive form trembling with anger.
"Madara! Stop dreaming!!"
He let out another furious roar.
"Oh, what a stupid beast you are," Leo replied mockingly, his Mangekyō Sharingan glowing coldly.
"Madara!" Kurama's eyes burned with hatred. His mouth opened wide, chakra condensing into a black sphere.
He was preparing a Tailed Beast Bomb!
But—
Zheng—!
Leo's eyes flared again. The Mangekyō's power surged.
A three-tomoe pattern appeared in Kurama's pupils, freezing him in place once more.
"Ngh…! Damn it…!"
Kurama trembled, unable to move.
Why—why was he always dominated like this?
He was the strongest of the Tailed Beasts. Why was he always at the mercy of this wretched Uchiha?
It was humiliating!
Infuriating!
Leo, however, was calm.
'System,' he spoke silently in his mind, 'I've inherited Uchiha Madara's strength template, but I don't have a Summoning Contract with Kurama. Is there a way for me to summon him at will?'
'Also… is there a more advanced method for summoning and control?'
The Achievement Sign-In System responded quickly:
> [Consume 1 Medium Achievement Draw to forcibly sign a Soul Contract with the Nine-Tails, binding him as your Summoning Beast.]
> [Consume 3 Medium Achievement Draws to create a private alternate dimension to imprison and summon your pet at will.]
Leo's eyes gleamed.
Perfect.
He would make Kurama more than a weapon.
He would make him a personal Summoning Beast—loyal, inescapable, and completely his.
And with that, the next stage of domination was about to begin.
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