Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, several days had passed.
Today, after finishing a morning filled with official duties, Princess Tsunade had finally wrapped up her work and stepped out of the Hokage Building. Just as she exited, she instinctively turned to glance at the rooftop behind her.
The red figure that had appeared a few days ago was no longer there. It had vanished without a trace.
"Where did that guy disappear to?" she murmured to herself.
"I hope he doesn't stir up more trouble... I don't know why, but I have a really bad feeling about this."
Her voice was low, filled with unease.
The return of the legendary Uchiha Madara—now reincarnated as Leo—had already begun shaking the shinobi world. Every move he made seemed to alter the course of destiny itself. He was simply too powerful.
Worse yet, the Nine-Tails, which had once been sealed within Naruto, had now been seized by him.
He was already a fearsome force, but now, empowered with the chakra of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, Tsunade couldn't even fathom how terrifying he had become.
She shook her head, forcing the thoughts out of her mind.
"It would've been nice if Grandpa were still alive. The legendary Asura of the Shinobi World—Uchiha Madara—perhaps only my grandfather could've suppressed him..."
Muttering these words softly, Tsunade turned and walked away.
---
Far outside the Land of Fire—at the junction between the Lands of Wind, Earth, and Fire...
Amegakure (Hidden Rain Village).
A village like no other—where it rained nearly all year round.
Due to the constant rain, its infrastructure had evolved into something akin to a steel fortress. Towering iron-clad skyscrapers filled the skyline, and on the streets below, civilians and shinobi alike moved with crimson umbrellas in hand.
Despite its somber weather, the village thrived. Peaceful and prosperous, it was clear its current leader had managed it well.
Tap-tap-tap.
Two figures appeared on the main road, walking calmly through the gentle rain. One tall, one short. A man and a boy.
The man had waist-length black hair, wearing Sengoku-style red armor. The boy wore a sleek black outfit, with the Uchiha clan crest boldly displayed on his back. Both of them wore bamboo hats, shielding them from the rain and concealing their identities.
These two were none other than Leo—the man known today as the true Uchiha Madara—and his disciple, Uchiha Sasuke.
They had arrived in Amegakure, home to the Akatsuki's true leader.
Leo's objective: Uzumaki Nagato, wielder of the Rinnegan.
"Let's deal with the Akatsuki's leader first," Leo thought to himself. "Then I'll clean up the rest."
"Teacher," Sasuke asked after gazing at the village's unique architecture, "Why did we come to this place?"
Leo replied casually, "The leader of this village is also the leader of the Akatsuki."
Sasuke's expression changed immediately. "The same Akatsuki that Itachi is part of?!"
He unintentionally interrupted, his voice laced with excitement and hatred.
Leo gave a faint smile beneath his bamboo hat. "Exactly."
"Then... should we eliminate them?" Sasuke asked, unable to contain his eagerness. In his mind, he could already see the face of his hated brother—Uchiha Itachi.
"Sensei," Sasuke said more seriously, "Could I ask you to not lay a hand on Itachi?"
Leo glanced at his young disciple, just a boy of twelve or thirteen. "You want to kill him yourself, don't you?"
"Yes, Sensei!" Sasuke nodded firmly.
"With your current strength, that's still nearly impossible," Leo commented.
"I know. But with your training, I'll be strong enough soon! I'll kill him myself!" Sasuke's eyes burned with resolve.
Leo looked at the boy again. He had guts and ambition. He was the reincarnation of Ōtsutsuki Indra, after all. If Sasuke could fully awaken that power, even defeating Itachi wasn't beyond reach.
However...
"I don't need to kill anyone," Leo muttered. "If I can settle things with words, I'd rather avoid unnecessary bloodshed."
Swish—swish—swish—swish!
Suddenly, six shadowy figures dropped from the rooftops, landing directly in front of Leo and Sasuke. The road that had been bustling moments earlier fell eerily silent. The crowd had vanished, almost as if on cue.
The oppressive silence was now broken only by the rhythmic pattering of rain.
Sasuke looked up. The six individuals bore purple, concentric-ringed eyes.
"Teacher, their eyes..." he began.
"Pain's Six Paths," Leo said, recognizing them instantly.
These were the same figures that had once destroyed Konoha and killed Jiraiya. And now, they stood in Leo's way.
"Sasuke, can you handle yourself?" Leo asked.
"Don't worry," Sasuke replied, activating his Three Tomoe Sharingan. "Thanks to your training, I've grown stronger!"
Shuaa—
Another figure landed beside the Six Paths—Konan, with her paper wings spread wide.
"Sharingan..." she murmured at the sight of Sasuke's eyes.
Leo removed his bamboo hat, letting the rain drench his long hair. His eyes opened to reveal a pair of swirling, blood-red Mangekyō Sharingan.
"That's... Mangekyō, like Itachi's!" Konan said, alarmed.
"Uchiha... Madara," Pain's Tendo Path added solemnly.
Konan's eyes narrowed. "Then who was the man in the spiral mask all this time? The one who claimed to be Madara..."
Now she realized—Leo was the real thing.
"Want to dance?" Leo asked calmly, his Mangekyō gleaming.
"You've entered the domain of a god," Tendo Pain responded, his voice cold.
"A god?" Leo scoffed. "In front of me?"
A chilling wind blew as Leo's chakra erupted. The pressure around him intensified.
"Surrender and help me unify the ninja world," he said, "and I might spare your lives."
"Even if you are the legendary Uchiha Madara, so what?" Konan retorted. "The Rinnegan is the true power of God!"
"Yes," Leo smiled. "But it depends on who's using it."
ROOOAAAR!
From the earth beneath them, a massive blue warrior rose—Susanoo: Third Stage. Towering above the battlefield, it roared with overwhelming presence.
Nagato, watching from afar, murmured, "Is this... the rumored force that can destroy everything—Susanoo?"
Konan stared at the towering warrior in awe. "Such immense chakra..."
"Shinra Tensei!" shouted Tendo Pain.
A powerful repulsive force surged toward Susanoo—but it was no use. Susanoo raised its massive hands and blocked it effortlessly.
"He blocked it..." one of the other Paths muttered.
ROAR!
In response, Susanoo unleashed a devastating counter—Yasaka no Magatama, a massive energy sphere hurtling straight at the Six Paths.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Again, Tendo Pain barely deflected it in time.
"Such power..." he gasped.
"Be careful!" Konan shouted as Susanoo slashed its great swords, sending waves of cutting blue energy across the battlefield.
The Six Paths scattered, and Konan took to the air.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Steel buildings were razed to the ground wherever Susanoo's swords struck. Konan, enraged, countered with a swarm of paper cranes—each embedded with explosive tags.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions covered Susanoo's body—but when the smoke cleared, it still stood tall and untouched.
"No effect?" Konan muttered in disbelief.
"Universal Pull!!"
Tendo Pain manipulated the ruined buildings into a massive iron boulder and launched it.
CLANG!
Susanoo shattered it with a single punch.
"Summoning Technique!" shouted the Animal Path.
A giant bull materialized and charged—but Susanoo blocked it with both arms, then cleaved it in half with a mighty sword swing.
BOOM!
Missiles and cannon fire erupted from the Shura Path, but Susanoo's four arms deflected everything.
ZAP—
A massive laser cannon fired. Susanoo raised its arms again, blocking—but was forced back nearly ten meters.
Still, its defenses held.
"Tch... a walking fortress," Konan hissed.
"The enemy is strong," Sasuke whispered in awe from behind Susanoo, "but Sensei is stronger..."
He looked up with admiration and determination. This was the power he aspired to reach—and the man he believed would reshape the ninja world.