The evening wind carried raindrops through the open window, splashing lightly before an elderly man with graying hair.
He seemed completely unaware of it. His attention was fixed on the intelligence report in his hands, and before long, a faint chuckle escaped his lips.
This Fourth Mizukage truly exceeded his expectations. His strength might be unremarkable, but his scheming mind and sheer audacity were more than enough to earn serious consideration.
Who would have thought that after the Third Mizukage's death, the Fourth—elected in such haste by Kirigakure—would turn out to be this capable?
Using the Land of Fire as a shield for the Land of Water, while simultaneously leveraging the Land of Wind, Earth, and Lightning to suppress Fire.
Using the clash of four great nations to buy precious development time for the Land of Water.
A true talent…
Even Uchiha Madara found himself applauding inwardly.
With this move, the Land of Fire was now surrounded by enemies on three sides. Its so-called ally, the Land of Water, was no longer reliable. The only remaining ally it could still try to win over was the Land of Rain.
In that case… there was something to be done here.
As Madara pondered this, a figure entered his room.
"Teacher, you called for me?"
The boy had bright orange hair, a tall frame, and a gentle expression. He spoke with clear respect toward Madara.
Yahiko did not know the old man's true identity. He only knew that, aside from Jiraiya-sensei, no one had ever treated him, Konan, and Nagato better than this man.
"Yahiko…"
Madara was just about to speak when Yahiko interrupted him with mild reproach.
"Teacher, you're already old. It's raining outside—what if you catch a chill?"
As he spoke, Yahiko stepped forward and closed the window for him.
"Heh… old age dulls the mind," Madara chuckled.
"But the rain outside helps keep my thoughts sharp."
He did not mind Yahiko's actions and continued calmly.
"Yahiko, I have a task I need you to carry out."
"A task?"
Yahiko's eyes lit up.
"Leave it to me! I won't let you down!"
He smiled with confident enthusiasm.
"You've heard about what's happening between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water, haven't you?"
Yahiko nodded immediately.
"I have. It's caused quite a stir."
Madara smiled faintly.
"The Land of Water's treaty submission to the Land of Fire was nearly outright surrender. That has only made Fire stronger."
"Right now, Konoha has the White Fang, the Three Legendary Sannin, the Third Hokage, the shadows of the shinobi world—"
"And a Nine-Tails jinchūriki who single-handedly crushed an entire village."
"Today's Konoha can be called the strongest in the shinobi world without exaggeration."
"It's worth the power of two… even three great villages."
"The Lands of Wind, Earth, and Lightning will never allow such growth to continue unchecked."
Yahiko stared at him, hesitation creeping into his expression.
"Does that mean… war is coming again?"
Madara sighed softly.
"Yes. Only a few years have passed, and war will return."
"But this is also the foundation of peace."
"With Konoha's strength—and the support of the Land of Water—pacifying the other three nations is not difficult."
"Rather than returning to that chaotic era of five warring great nations, why not let Konoha unify the shinobi world and end war completely?"
"Teacher… you mean…?"
Yahiko looked at him in disbelief.
"Hanzo of the Salamander has already decided to support Konoha," Madara said calmly.
"To put an end to this age of chaos and bring true peace to the world."
Yahiko's breathing grew heavy.
Peace—
It had always been the dream he longed for more than anything.
And now, the opportunity was right in front of him. How could he not seize it?
Just one more war.
Just one more.
And an unprecedented era of peace would arrive.
Fight war with war.
"Teacher—what do you need me to do?!" Yahiko asked urgently.
"I want you to act as an envoy of the Land of Rain," Madara replied.
"Go to Konoha and deliver a treaty of alliance."
"Declare that the Land of Rain is willing to fight alongside Konoha—"
"To conquer the three nations and unify the shinobi world."
"To restore clarity and order to the world!"
Staring at the old man's solemn expression, Yahiko felt his blood boil.
"Yes!"
"Teacher!"
"I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"
Madara gazed deeply at the naïve boy before him, momentarily lost.
From Yahiko, he saw the image of his one true rival—
Senju Hashirama.
"Enough. You may go. You leave tomorrow."
Madara waved his hand, signaling dismissal.
Yahiko left the room, heart blazing, filled with purpose and resolve.
Yet just as he was about to depart, he ran into a familiar figure.
She had jet-black hair cascading like a waterfall, delicate features that accentuated her striking presence, a slender figure, and a cool, distant beauty—like a snow lotus blooming atop a high mountain.
"L-Light… Miss Light…"
Yahiko's face reddened slightly as he greeted Uchiha Hikaru.
"Mm."
She replied indifferently.
Yahiko wanted to say more, but realized she was already walking straight toward the old man's room.
"Ah…"
He instinctively raised a hand.
"What is it?"
Hikaru turned back, looking at him calmly.
"Well… the teacher isn't in great health," Yahiko said awkwardly.
"And he likes leaving the window open even when it's raining."
"Miss Light… please try to persuade him…"
Hikaru nodded faintly.
"I understand. Thank you for the reminder."
She disappeared from Yahiko's sight.
He watched her go with visible regret.
As he turned to leave, he nearly collided with a tall red-haired boy his own age.
Nagato—his closest friend.
"So?" Nagato teased.
"Miss Light still the same?"
"Uh… hehe…"
Yahiko scratched his head sheepishly.
His feelings for Miss Light were no secret.
—
The black-haired girl looked at the frail, aged Uchiha Madara and spoke coolly.
"How long can you last?"
Madara's gaze was calm.
"At most five years. After that, everything will depend on you."
"But that isn't important right now."
"The Fourth Mizukage has created an opportunity for us."
"An opportunity to shape Nagato into a savior."
Hikaru crossed her arms and leaned against the wall.
"What do you need me to do?"
"I need you to take a team," Madara said evenly.
"Disguise yourselves as Konoha shinobi."
"And kill someone."
Hikaru's expression did not change.
Killing meant nothing to her. Before she was sealed away, her hands had already been drenched in blood.
"Who?" she asked.
"Yahiko."
Hikaru remained expressionless, replying with a single word:
"Alright."
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