Chapter 9: It'll Be Quiet in a Month
I am Madara Uchiha.
Known in the shinobi world as the Asura, and the one who fought the God of Shinobi to a standstill.
Of course.
If that old fool Hashirama hadn't used some underhanded tricks in the battle at the Valley of the End back then, I would have won long ago. I should be called the sole defeater of the God of Shinobi!
However.
From a grander perspective, I still won. After all... I'm still alive, and that guy Hashirama is already dead.
Madara, with several tubes stuck in his back, expressionlessly touched the liquid dripping onto his face.
Sticky.
Thick.
This is…
Cement!
However.
He remembered that the base he found was clearly in a small country that had already been destroyed.
What was going on now?
And for the past few days... it's been "bang, bang, bang" every day. What on earth are they doing?
It's so noisy!
Don't they know that old people don't sleep well?
Just then.
"Lord Madara, is it time to get up and pee?"
"..."
Madara's face darkened as he turned to look at the grinning, swirly-faced Zetsu.
This idiot...
He said in a cold tone, "What happened? Why is it so noisy all the time? Don't you know I need to be in deep sleep?"
He couldn't leave until he found someone to act as his representative.
For the true peace of the shinobi world!
To prove that he was right!
Therefore, he had to live on.
Struggle to live on!
He had to wait until everything was ready before he could temporarily leave, to await his true resurrection.
Therefore, to keep this already decaying body going, he had to remain in a deep sleep all day long.
"Oh my~, has something happened?" The swirly-faced Guruguru scratched his head, seeming a bit embarrassed. "I've been creating art recently, so I don't know. Should I go out and take a look? Lord Madara, you can get up first and release some water, take a big..."
Before he could finish.
"Shut up!"
Madara's face turned black. If he weren't in a state where he couldn't get angry easily, he would have already air-dried this guy.
How did I create such a creature?
As expected, Hashirama's cells only bring stupidity.
"That idiot Hashirama!" he cursed inwardly.
Just then.
Another White Zetsu original body emerged from the ground nearby and said cheerfully, "Lord Madara, don't mind that idiot Tobi! I know what's going on!"
"Speak!"
"Two years ago, a guy quelled the civil unrest in the Land of Grass. Now the country is being rebuilt, so that's why it's so noisy."
However.
As soon as he finished speaking.
"..."
Rebuilding the Land of Grass?
Madara stared in silence at the pillar that had almost been drilled through.
This base of his was located extremely deep underground.
What in the world were they building that required them to dig so deep?
They must be digging a tunnel!
"It seems to be because the Land of Grass is finally at peace, so those guys are very enthusiastic about rebuilding it!" Seeming to notice Lord Madara's confusion, the White Zetsu original body gave an awkward laugh. "That's why it's so exaggerated! Oh, right, that guy also brought Lord Madara's eyes to the Land of Grass! I was just about to tell you."
"My eyes... that Uzumaki clan baby from back then?"
Madara seemed to remember something.
However.
"Why did he bring him to the Land of Grass?" A cold sneer touched the corner of his mouth. "Could it be that he also has his sights set on my eyes? That little brat should have grown up by now, right? How is he doing? Being targeted by a greedy fellow, he must be having a hard time."
"Ehh~, after coming to the Land of Grass, he's actually doing quite well!"
He eats well, wears warm clothes, there's no war, and his mother is with him.
The White Zetsu original body also scratched its head. "And the current leader of the Land of Grass even took him in as a disciple and treats him very well! It doesn't seem like he's coveting Lord Madara's eyes!"
At his words.
Madara was stunned for a moment, then frowned, his gaze firm as he said, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Those are the Rinnegan! The legendary eyes that only the Sage of Six Paths possessed! That so-called leader of the Land of Grass... if he keeps the boy by his side and isn't after my eyes, then what is he after?"
"Maybe... he's after his mom~"
"???"
What the hell?!
Madara, who had been sneering coldly just a moment ago, now looked as if he had choked. He stared blankly at the White Zetsu before him, completely stunned.
It was as if he had misheard.
Not after the Rinnegan, but after what?
That's not very ninja-like!
His mouth opened and closed, as if he was gagged, at a loss for words.
After a moment, he finally recovered and said with a scornful sneer, "Just... just just like that guy Hashirama? Lusting after women! An idiot who has lost his way! A complete moron!"
"..."
That might be a little different.
It seems Lord Madara still holds a deep grudge against Hashirama Senju.
Of course, the White Zetsu wouldn't say anything about this. After all, Hashirama Senju was a minefield.
Only Lord Madara was allowed to talk about him. Anyone else couldn't. If they said the wrong thing, Lord Madara would be displeased.
Looking at the constantly sneering Lord Madara, he quickly added, "Is this disturbing you, Lord Madara? Should we think of a way to throw the Land of Grass into chaos again? It's just a mere Land of Grass! I believe we can solve it quickly!"
No matter what.
The current Madara Uchiha was their master, an important chess piece in rescuing Lady Kaguya. Therefore, no accidents could be allowed.
However.
"No need." Madara, his face full of wrinkles, pondered for a moment before shaking his head and saying flatly, "Now is not the time to expose ourselves."
He hadn't prepared anything yet.
Therefore, for the peace of the shinobi world, to prove himself right, for Hashirama... every action now had to be taken with caution. They absolutely could not be discovered.
Since that guy was able to pacify the Land of Grass on his own, even if it was just a small country, his strength must be considerable.
These foolish White Zetsu would be no match for him.
"Since we haven't been discovered, and those guys are just building some random stuff, then let's ignore them."
"What you need to do now is continue according to the plan I've laid out. Then, keep an eye on my eyes, and find a suitable candidate for me."
Madara looked up at the huge pillar that had been poked through the ceiling and fell silent for a moment. "Fill that hole! Don't expose us! Just wait for them to finish on their own. Those guys can't possibly build for a whole year."
"Lord Madara is wise!" Hearing Madara's command, the White Zetsu nodded and quickly offered some flattery. "I just checked, it should take about a month at most... it should be finished by then."
"A month? Then I will wait for a month before entering deep sleep again."
"A month should be about right."
Kusa Hikaru had no idea that the academy was being built right on top of Madara's grave... cave. After all, the hole the White Zetsu had dug was quite deep.
He looked at the thick stack of paper on his desk.
These were the textbooks he had prepared for the upcoming school.
That's right.
He wrote them himself.
After all, education was of the utmost importance and could not be taken lightly.
Otherwise.
What if something went wrong?
Kusa Hikaru pondered as he muttered to himself, "Morning reading is essential! The sound of students reading aloud... it sounds so pleasant."
Besides, morning was the golden time for memory. The mind is clear, and one can remember things quickly and firmly. Morning reading could help children open up their spirit and their learning mindset for the day.
"Broadcast calisthenics can't be left out either! Having a strong body is more important! Whether it's a ninjutsu-type ninja or a genjutsu-type ninja, as long as you're a ninja from Kusagakure, you must have a strong body!"
Then they'd have a loud broadcast, which would also help wake the children up.
And after-school recreational activities... children, let's have a ninjutsu sports match!
How about basketball?
With some ninja characteristics added?
In this era of scarce entertainment, there was nothing more fun than sports!
Speaking of which, the school was also getting a playground.
The more he thought, the more a smile involuntarily appeared on Kusa Hikaru's face. Then, as if remembering something else, he sighed, "Unfortunately, there seem to be very few Chunin and Jonin in the Land of Grass who are suitable to be teachers."
After all, most Chunin and Jonin had their own missions to carry out.
There were still too few people.
As soon as he finished speaking.
Knock, knock~
A knock on the door.
Kusa Hikaru returned to his senses, looked at the door, and called out, "Come in!"
"Hikaru!" Kana walked in excitedly, but seeing the thick stack of documents on Hikaru's desk, she knew he was busy and immediately calmed down, hesitating. "Hikaru... am I interrupting?"
"It's fine, I'm already done. Go ahead," Kusa Hikaru shook his head and said, "Looks like... it's good news?"
"Mujina just sent word. They seem to have found some more members of the Uzumaki clan!"
"?!"
(End of Chapter)