Ryou couldn't stand Obito's preaching and said impatiently, "Enough, Obito. You've never been seriously ill, so you don't know how a single bottle of specialty medicine can bankrupt a family."
"Take your previous injuries, for example. If Madara hadn't transplanted White Zetsu cells into you, even if your teacher Minato became a rogue ninja, he wouldn't have been able to scrape together the exorbitant fees for your surgery."
"Konoha is by no means a Village bathed only in sunlight."
Obito continued to ramble, "If you think Konoha isn't good, then go build it up. If you think the Village is corrupt, you should run for Hokage—"
Ryou cut him off before he could finish: "Run for Hokage? You think the Hokage is actually elected? The Hokage position is a hereditary system passed down through the Senju lineage."
"For an Uchiha to become Hokage, unless Sarutobi's old ancestor suddenly resurrects and opens up shop."
"You're talking nonsense! Lord Third is definitely not such a narrow-minded person."
Black and White Zetsu suddenly appeared in front of Ryou, giving him a fright.
"What are you doing? Suddenly popping up like that—good grief, you scared the life out of me!"
Black and White Zetsu was speechless, and White Zetsu spoke bluntly: "Lord Madara has awakened; he wants to see you."
Ryou's heart tightened. The deadline Madara had given was approaching; it seemed he couldn't escape this time.
"Let's go. The technique I developed for the Ancestor is a success. I'm just waiting for him to return to his peak and unite the Ninja World."
...Ryou jogged over to Madara, putting on the act of a filial grandson: "Ancestor, you've awakened! Your grandson hasn't been able to eat or drink properly these days, worrying that something might happen to you!"
Madara didn't have the energy to joke with Ryou. He looked at him weakly and said, "...Ryou, is your technique ready?"
"This..."
Ryou's tone was hesitant as he spoke, pausing before the words left his mouth.
Madara grew angry, and lightning flickered in his hand as if he were about to shock Ryou.
Ryou spoke quickly: "Ancestor, it's ready! There's no problem now. I can transfer my life to you right now and restore your youth."
Madara withdrew his hand and made a promise: "As long as you help me restore my strength, once I've regained my energy, I'll help you awaken your eyes, straight to the three tomoe."
Ryou showed a look of surprise: "Ancestor, say no more! I'll give you my life right now."
Ryou's hand was just about to touch Madara's chest.
Rumble—
Suddenly, the entire underground base was thrown into chaos, as if a giant creature had crashed in and was destroying everything.
Black and White Zetsu turned into a pitcher plant, firmly protecting Madara to prevent any accidents.
In the chaos, White Zetsu noticed that Ryou's figure had vanished.
"Crap, that brat Ryou took advantage of the confusion to run away."
Black Zetsu followed up: "The Gunbai and the Kama are gone too; that kid made off with them."
Madara was so furious he spat out a mouthful of blood: "That little beast!"
He wasn't even dead yet, and the boy was already rushing to divide the inheritance. If he actually died, the kid would probably dance on his grave.
How could the Uchiha of Konoha raise such a scoundrel?
"Hahaha..."
Ryou clutched the Uchiha Clan's heirloom, the Uchiha Fan, also known as the Gunbai, and activated the Mayfly Technique to sprint underground.
The function of this tool was to reflect Ninjutsu; it could even reflect Naruto's small Tailed Beast Ball. Its power was no less than Kumogakure's basho fan.
In addition, Ryou had swiped Madara's personal weapon, the chained sickle, also known as the Kama.
This scythe had no special abilities, but it was incredibly sharp and hard. The fact that it didn't break during Madara's great battle with Hashirama proved its hardness was not inferior to the kusanagi sword.
It could also be considered a divine artifact.
The Kama and the Gunbai were meant to be used together, one for offense and one for defense, complementing each other perfectly.
Unfortunately, the Gedo Statue was too big; otherwise, Ryou's auto-pickup would have snatched that up too.
Ryou returned to his own base, vines extending from his hands to scoop up Ryūzetsu and Obito as he continued his escape.
Obito was a bit confused: "Ryou, is there an earthquake? Why is there so much commotion?"
Ryou replied: "It's not an earthquake. I expect Ninjas from the outside have discovered Madara's tracks."
Obito looked delighted: "It must be people from Konoha! Ryou, let's go meet them. If we take Uchiha Madara's head, we might be able to atone for our crimes with this merit."
Ryou raised his hand, wanting to shock him, but then decided against it.
This kid was beyond saving.
Just as Ryou was about to leave with Ryūzetsu, Tobi blocked him: "Ryou, where are you going? Aren't you going to play with poop with me anymore?"
"Play with your mother! Tobi, don't block me. You can't beat me, and I need to get out of here."
"Old Demon Madara is too dangerous. I have no guarantee that he won't kill me after he regains his youth."
Tobi stepped aside and said, "Ryou, are you running away again? You fled from Konoha to here; where else can you go?"
"..."
Ryou froze. In the vast Ninja World, where was his home?
Maybe he should just find a bridge to camp at for the rest of his life!
Obito urged, "Ryou, don't listen to this poop-eater. You can still turn back. As long as we take down Madara, Lord Third will forgive you."
Suddenly, a giant python the height and diameter of two men burst through the rock wall above, opening its bloody maw to swallow Ryou and the others.
At the critical moment, Ryou used Earth Release to escape with Obito and Ryūzetsu, while Tobi was swallowed directly by the great snake.
He actually seemed quite happy: "Haha! I can finally be excreted like poop!"
Obito was pleasantly surprised: "It's Lord Orochimaru's summoned snake! Lord Orochimaru is here! Ryou, surrender now!"
Ryou's hands were full, so he could only shout to Ryūzetsu: "Ryūzetsu, quick, shock him! Shock him!"
Ryūzetsu was already used to Ryou's orders: "Lord Ryou, I don't have the Lightning attribute. I only know Fire Release Ninjutsu."
"Burn him then! Burn his eyebrows!"
"O-Okay, Lord Ryou."
"Dammit, Ryūzetsu, you've colluded with Ryou too!"
"Don't burn my eyebrows! I'm already ugly enough; if I get any uglier, Rin really won't recognize me!"
As Ryou was fleeing, a giant white-scaled snake suddenly blocked his path.
"Ryou, my old classmate, I've had such a hard time finding you!"
Ryou stopped, his heart sinking to his stomach. He said solemnly, "Orochimaru!"
Obito's eyebrows practically jumped with excitement: "Lord Orochimaru, you've finally come to save me! Quick, kill Ryou! He has a forbidden jutsu that can restore Uchiha Madara's youth!"
"Orochimaru?"
The white python across from them gave a sinister laugh, then transformed into a white-haired Ninja with snake-like pupils. He wore a beige robe, his entire body wrapped in white bandages, and his exposed skin looked like porcelain tiles pasted together.
"Hiruko!"
Ryou was shocked. He hadn't expected the Ninja blocking him to be Hiruko, whom he had killed.
"Why are you wearing Orochimaru's clothes? And using his techniques?"
Obito was stunned: "Hiruko? Who's that?"
Although Hiruko was a Jonin, there were so many Jonin in Konoha Village that Obito couldn't possibly know them all.
Furthermore, Hiruko had been quite mediocre as a Jonin, usually hiding in his nest working on forbidden jutsu and rarely showing his face, so very few people knew of him.
Hiruko's expression turned gloomy. This was exactly why he wanted to become a great figure like the Sannin, because... he really didn't want to continue being mediocre.
If it was Hiruko, Ryou didn't need to be so nervous.
"Hiruko, really now, why pretend to be Orochimaru? You almost made me piss myself."
"Looking at you, this must be Orochimaru's Edo Tensei. Orochimaru still ended up on the path of the 'Ninja World's Number One Grave Robber' after all!"
Hiruko roared at Ryou in a fit of rage: "Ryou, who do you think is responsible for you being where you are today? We were researching the Chimera Technique together, and I never expected you to stab me in the back!"
"It's one thing to kill me, but you even threw me into a latrine!"
"You... you bastard!"
Hiruko was so angry that his Chakra flared out like a flame, looking like a ball of blue light in the dark underground base.