211-215

Chapter 211: Confrontation 

--- 

Orochimaru's lips curved into a slight, knowing smile, seemingly pleased with Kakashi's reaction. 

"No, old man Hiruzen was very kind to Sasuke... I'm not sure of the exact reason myself..." 

"Perhaps it was due to other events, leading him to completely lose hope in the Leaf Village. To end the village he protected with his own life..." 

Orochimaru looked up at the main light, speaking almost in a trance. 

Kakashi fell silent after hearing him. 

But moments later, he snapped out of it... 

He couldn't just stand by. He had to go to the Leaf Village and get clear answers. He had to confront Itachi and find out what was really going on... 

He couldn't just watch the village, which his Sensei and Rin and others had protected with their lives, be destroyed like this... 

--- 

As Kakashi left, Orochimaru remained unperturbed, simply gazing deeply at the light. 

"I hope you succeed, Kakashi... While I also want to kill Sensei, I... don't really want to destroy the Leaf Village... and I want the old man to live for a couple more years... Then I'll personally bring Sensei down from his pedestal, let him die as a hero..." 

Orochimaru's voice trailed off into a complex monologue. 

After all, Orochimaru's own family had died protecting the Leaf Village. 

Orochimaru had no intention of completely destroying the Leaf Village. 

At most, he just wanted to "change its blood," give them a sense of crisis, and stop them from being so naive. 

--- 

"Madara, why are you showing up now?" 

In a two-bedroom, one-living-room wooden house, two grown men sat at a wooden table. 

On the table sat a small brazier with a small teapot, steaming hot. 

Hashirama asked Madara, whose eyes held a lot more in them now. 

"I came out because I felt like it. But you, you followed me as soon as I appeared. What do you want?" 

Madara initially didn't want to answer Hashirama. 

But the other man's fervent gaze made it hard for him to look directly; it was just too intense. 

--- 

"Oh, I see... Are you here to do something this time? As long as it's not too much, I can help you." 

Seeing Madara's distrustful look, Hashirama felt incredibly wronged. 

But he still spoke earnestly. 

It's your business if you don't consider me a brother, but I consider you one, so I have to ask about your affairs. 

As for whether I'll help or cause trouble, we'll see about that... 

It has to be said that Hashirama's way of thinking hadn't changed much. 

He was still so unconventional and unpredictable. 

--- 

"Our last remaining Uchiha seedling is quite good. I'm thinking of seeing if I can pass on my legacy." 

Madara let Hashirama's words go in one ear and out the other. 

However, he still came up with an excuse to trick Hashirama. 

After all, Hashirama was just too annoying. 

Like a shadow, it was simply exasperating. 

He wasn't a terrorist; why was Hashirama always fixated on him? It had been so many years. 

--- 

"That's great! Is he in the Leaf Village? I happen to be free, we can go see the village we created together." 

Hashirama said enthusiastically after hearing Madara. 

"See what?! My Uchiha clan has been wiped out... In a few more decades, probably no one will even remember the Uchiha clan." 

Madara said unhappily after hearing Hashirama. 

As for why he was unhappy, of course, it was because Hashirama had a good younger brother. 

But then, thinking that the Senju clan wasn't doing much better, Madara felt a little better. 

Who would have thought that the two clans who pacified the Warring States period would end up like this? 

One clan was left with only two or three members, like stray cats. 

The other clan had just faded into obscurity, with only one girl remaining. 

--- 

Hearing Madara's disgruntled words, Hashirama fell silent. 

He couldn't help but wonder, had he really done the right thing? 

All the high hopes his father had placed on him, was he doing this correctly...? 

And the Uchiha clan's fate was Tobirama's doing, it had nothing to do with him... 

Hashirama thought to himself. 

"What are your plans for the future?" 

Hashirama summarized the topic; he was afraid Madara would get angry again, and the hard-won stable situation would crumble. 

"Nothing yet. I'm not sure how I'll walk the path ahead." 

Madara shook his head, answering Hashirama directly. 

At the same time, Itachi's image appeared in his mind. 

It was time to meet him. 

Letting Itachi hide like this all the time wasn't going to work. 

He wasn't trying to beat him up, so why was Itachi acting so cowardly? 

The Itachi in his memories was so arrogant, reckless, and full of youthful spirit. 

Why had he become like this now...? 

He saw him run off without looking back. 

And he just hid. Didn't he say he wanted to train him to be his opponent? 

This... 

Madara thought to himself, a smile spreading across his face, finding it quite amusing. 

--- 

After hearing Madara, Hashirama said nothing, just stared at the teapot. 

The water was almost boiling; he was eager to drink some tea. 

He hadn't expected Madara to have such good stuff, unlike himself, who was completely broke. 

Sponging off others was great... 

--- 

Time flew by, and a few days passed. 

Many strangers, dressed in various ways, began arriving in the Leaf Village. Without exception, they all wore ninja headbands. 

These were ninjas from other villages, come to the Leaf for friendly exchange as competitors and their skilled team leaders. 

Of course, there were also some bored wealthy individuals, here on vacation to watch the events. 

But. 

Precisely because of these wealthy people, every village was preparing to put on a good show. 

After all, many high-value missions were issued by these rich patrons. 

And if they performed well and were remembered by these wealthy people, there was a high chance they would be given missions in their own villages. 

--- 

"Itachi..." 

In a small courtyard, Itachi was watering flowers. 

Suddenly, a voice came from behind him, and Itachi's movements paused slightly. 

From the voice, he knew who had arrived. 

It seemed Orochimaru had a change of heart and wanted to stop his plan. 

Itachi had already guessed Orochimaru's thoughts. 

But it didn't matter; no one could stop what he wanted to do. 

Why would he need to act based on others' expressions? 

--- 

"Is something wrong, Kakashi...?" 

Itachi set down the watering can. Without turning around, he walked inside the house. 

Kakashi felt a pang of discomfort that Itachi wasn't acknowledging him, but as Itachi's figure entered the house, he finally spoke. 

This made Kakashi sigh with relief. 

"Itachi, are you really going to destroy the Leaf Village that you personally protected?" 

Seeing Itachi slowly pouring tea, Kakashi, unable to sit still, asked directly. 

He didn't believe Orochimaru's words; he wanted to hear it from Itachi himself. 

--- 

"Destroy?" 

Itachi paused slightly, the word making him momentarily bewildered. 

"Not really. I just want to cause a big commotion in the Leaf Village, and take Hiruzen Sarutobi's head while I'm at it." 

Itachi slowly took a sip of tea, then looked calmly at Kakashi. 

"How 'big' of a commotion? How many people will die?" 

Hearing Itachi's words, Kakashi frowned deeply. 

He hadn't expected Itachi to actually have such a thought, and to plan to act on it. 

However, what Itachi said didn't seem as severe as what Orochimaru had claimed. 

--- 

Itachi's original letter was written with exaggerated language to test Orochimaru's thoughts. 

So he made it sound a little more serious. 

After all, he wouldn't be launching a surprise attack, and the Leaf Village would have time to evacuate civilians. 

With his former self's love for the Leaf Village, Itachi couldn't bring himself to commit a village massacre. 

He would just cause trouble, like Orochimaru did in the original story. 

Most importantly, he wanted to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi and complete his scheme. Everything else was minor. 

If it were just about killing, why would he need a scheme? 

Chapter 212: Conversation 

--- 

"So, Orochimaru won't be on my side this time, huh?" 

Compared to the contemplating Kakashi, Itachi thought to himself. 

"What are you planning to do?" 

Kakashi looked at the quiet Itachi, thinking for a moment before speaking. 

He didn't understand why Itachi would have such an idea, and he wanted to stay as close to Itachi as possible, to guide him a bit. 

Having dealt with Itachi for so long, he knew Itachi wasn't a bad person. 

On the contrary, Itachi was truly loyal to his comrades. 

--- 

"I'm thinking about how to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi in broad daylight, but I don't want to do it myself." 

In response to Kakashi's question, Itachi thought for a moment before revealing his intention. There was no need to hide it. 

This was his inner thought. 

As for the specific execution... 

He hadn't quite figured it out yet. 

But he figured he'd cross that bridge when he came to it; if he couldn't think of a good plan, he'd just force it. 

Many times, strength was king. 

If there was no good idea, then overwhelming power would break all rules. 

Actually, Itachi still felt a bit nervous recalling Hiruzen Sarutobi's Reaper Death Seal. 

If Danzo hadn't been so weak, this 'blade' could have easily been handed to him. 

--- 

"Sasuke, how are your preparations coming along?" 

Hiruzen Sarutobi gently stroked Sasuke's head, his face filled with doting affection. 

"Yes, Grandpa, I'm ready. This time, I'll definitely secure a spot for Chunin promotion." 

Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's pale hair, his tanned skin, and increasingly deep wrinkles, Sasuke felt a pang in his heart. 

Before he knew it, Hiruzen Sarutobi was getting older and older. 

"Silly child, as long as you're safe and sound, Grandpa will be content. You are Grandpa's pride..." 

Looking at Sasuke, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt immense satisfaction. 

From having ulterior motives to genuinely caring, from foresight to becoming a true family member, he was quite moved. 

His affection for Sasuke had deeply ingrained itself. 

Now, all he wanted was to enjoy his remaining years... waiting for someone worthy of the Hokage position to appear, then he could fully retire. 

The village was thriving, and everything was looking up... 

--- 

In the shadows, a figure gradually faded. 

"Sigh..." 

Standing on the Hokage Rock, Itachi looked at the village, his heart incredibly conflicted. 

Especially just now, seeing Sasuke's dependence on Hiruzen Sarutobi. 

Itachi's heart felt heavy. 

If he personally killed Hiruzen Sarutobi, what would Sasuke think? 

Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi initially only intended to use Sasuke, as time passed, Hiruzen Sarutobi had given his genuine affection; a human heart isn't made of stone... 

He had already personally stripped Sasuke of his family, was he going to do it again? 

And right under Sasuke's nose. 

--- 

At this moment, Itachi deeply felt the situation's complexity, much more intricate than he had imagined. 

It was better not to look; when he did, it felt truly cruel. 

Itachi put himself in Sasuke's shoes; it would be hell on earth. 

Was the power gained from such a situation truly what Sasuke wanted? 

Itachi thought with complexity. 

But then, he remembered Madara, and that Six Paths level power had already appeared. 

He really couldn't delay any longer. 

If he waited any longer, the situation would only get worse. 

At that point, he wouldn't be able to protect Sasuke at all. 

He could only rapidly increase Sasuke's strength. 

--- 

"Once this is done, I'll send Sasuke to Ryuchi Cave to train in Sage Mode..." 

Itachi cast another deep glance at the seemingly prosperous Leaf Village, which had long been rooted and corroded by darkness, and murmured to himself. 

Time flew by, and half a month passed. 

And the long-advertised Chunin Exams finally arrived... 

"Naruto, are you ready?" 

Sasuke informed Naruto that the exams were starting tomorrow. 

He was afraid Naruto would oversleep. 

--- 

"Already ready! This time, I'm going to..." 

Naruto's gaze was firm, but halfway through, a strange look entered his eyes... 

He almost blurted something out. 

"Looks like you've figured things out and aren't planning to hold back. Let's work hard together!" 

Seeing Naruto's spirited eyes, Sasuke's heart swelled with joy. 

If Naruto had that kind of resolve, the Chunin Exams were going to be fun. 

They could fight side-by-side again. 

--- 

The next day. 

Team 7 gathered. 

However, everyone seemed to be in rough shape, all with deep dark circles under their eyes. 

Naruto was thinking about how to cause trouble. 

Big Brother Itachi said he would protect him. He was planning to make a huge scene, and if it came to it, he'd defect. 

He'd become a rogue ninja with Big Brother Itachi and Big Brother Kakashi... 

And he had fantasized about more than one upcoming scenario in his head. 

These were things he had simulated using his imagination... 

--- 

As for Sakura, on one hand, she was afraid of holding them back, and on the other, she wanted to make a big splash. 

After all, if she was participating, she had to do it beautifully. 

The main stage was in the Leaf Village; if she messed up, she'd become famous... for all the wrong reasons. 

But... she was also afraid of danger. 

After the Land of Waves mission, she maintained a pessimistic outlook on the outside world. 

She felt danger everywhere. 

--- 

And Sasuke had spent the entire night reading ninjutsu scrolls. 

It was better to improve his strength than to waste time fantasizing. 

He was already a Three-Tomoe Sharingan user; basically, a Three-Tomoe Sharingan user could solo a Jonin. What pressure could he possibly feel participating in the Chunin Exams...? 

None at all. 

He wanted to be absolutely perfect. 

He just didn't want to disappoint the people he cared about, the people who cared for him. That's all. 

--- 

"Itachi..." 

Still in that plain, unadorned small courtyard, Itachi lay on a chair, watching the morning light. 

Suddenly, another person appeared beside him. 

A somewhat effeminate voice made Itachi pause slightly, and then his previously somewhat vacant eyes shone with a sharp light. 

"Orochimaru, you've come..." 

Itachi didn't turn to look at the person beside him, his tone somewhat complex. 

"Yes, I've come." 

Orochimaru watched Itachi still looking at the sky, showing no intention of looking at him. 

He felt a little uneasy inside. 

--- 

"Then, this time, are you friend, or foe?" 

Itachi sat up straight, picked up the teapot from the small wooden table beside him, and poured two cups of tea. 

Hearing Itachi's words, Orochimaru remained silent for a long time. 

It wasn't until Itachi picked up a cup of tea and offered it to him. 

Orochimaru's mind went blank. 

He blankly took the tea, instinctively bringing it to his lips. 

Itachi's pressure was too immense. 

Even with his strong heart and vast experience, he felt utterly unsure. 

--- 

Itachi looked at Orochimaru, whose eyes were filled with contradiction and confusion. 

He shook his head slightly, picked up his teacup, and drank it all. 

He never thought Orochimaru would have such a day. 

Even the carefree ones, it seems, aren't so carefree after all. 

"This time, I'm going all out; I can't delay any longer. No one can stop me." 

Remembering the times he had adventured with Orochimaru, Itachi suppressed the frustration in his heart and spoke gravely. 

This could be considered his indirect persuasion. 

Orochimaru didn't have to help, he just hoped he wouldn't hinder him or become an obstacle. 

Otherwise... 

Itachi touched his left eyelid... 

Chapter 213: The First Exam 

After all, he might need Orochimaru's help again in the future, and if trust was lacking between them, Itachi would have to resort to less savory methods. And a difference of opinion is the biggest enemy of friends, a hidden danger to their bond. 

... 

"Heh, since I'm here, of course I'm here to help you. But first, let's agree: Hiruzen is mine. I'll be the one to finish him." Just as Itachi was feeling a bit disappointed and about to dismiss him, Orochimaru smiled faintly and said softly. It seemed he had thought things through, or perhaps he had come with this purpose all along. He just wanted to haggle a bit and see if he could personally stop Itachi. But seeing the firmness in Itachi's tone, he gave up. 

"Welcome..." Itachi's heart relaxed when he heard Orochimaru, but he responded calmly. He was a master of emotional control, no bluffing there. 

... 

"So, what's your plan, Itachi?" Orochimaru didn't mind Itachi's coolness. Instead, he became interested. 

"A plan, huh... I haven't quite decided yet... Are you asking this because you want to leak information?" Itachi's lips curved into a slight smile as he joked. He spent his days looking at scenery here and there; he had no damn plan. However, having read the original story, he did have some ideas to 참고. But now that the exam had already started, there was no time to prepare. And Orochimaru's methods felt a bit beneath Itachi... What was the point of impersonating the Kazekage and tricking the Sand ninjas? 

... 

"Uh... as expected of you." Itachi's words made Orochimaru pause, then he said with emotion. He had been looking at intelligence for so long. And Itachi was just going to go in brute force. 

"I plan to make my move in the final round." Itachi didn't answer Orochimaru's question. Instead, he lay back down, gazing at the sky. 

"You wrote in your letter that you want to destroy Konoha, is that true?" Looking at the calm Itachi, Orochimaru pulled up a stool and sat beside him. 

... 

"Of course... not. They're just a bunch of foolish people; why would I need to put so much effort into wiping them out?" Itachi clasped his hands behind his head and shook it. This was his true inner thought. And... if Madara wasn't dead, would he interfere? Or rather, what if Hashirama wasn't dead either? Could Hashirama just watch him destroy Konoha? This was ridiculous. Itachi felt a bit frustrated inside; he had to bear this kind of burden alone. Right now, he didn't have much of a solution for these players. 

... 

Orochimaru secretly sighed in relief when he heard Itachi. Although Konoha was corrupt, too many people had poured their hearts into it, including him... If it were truly destroyed, it would be a great shame. 

"You said you'd personally deal with your teacher. Have you figured out how to handle it?" Itachi was a bit intrigued by Orochimaru's strange question and asked. 

... 

"You've been preparing for so long and still don't have a plan, what kind of plan could I have?" Orochimaru looked at Itachi with strange eyes. "Also, it seems your goal is just to eliminate Hiruzen, so now that I'm here, what will you do?" Orochimaru suddenly thought of the crucial point. If he did everything, what would Itachi do? That seemed a bit absurd. 

"I'll back you up..." Itachi said shamelessly in response to Orochimaru's question. 

"..." 

The First Exam Begins 

"Alright, the first exam begins..." At the exam site, Naruto froze. This surprise came too fast, like a tornado. He had thought of everything, including how to cause a ruckus and how to retreat. He just never thought there would be a written exam. And he certainly never thought he might be eliminated in the very first round. 

... 

Naruto had grand ambitions, but unfortunately, he was completely uneducated. 

"Damn it! Why is there a written test in the Chunin Exams?!" Naruto's eyes widened as he stared at the exam paper. He couldn't even recognize all the characters, let alone the incomprehensible questions when they were combined. During cultural classes, he was either sleeping or gazing out the window. 

"Naruto..." Hinata, sitting next to Naruto, noticed his restless demeanor and looked worried. Everyone knew Naruto's reputation as a dead last. Not only was his training terrible, but his literacy was on par with a toddler's. 

... 

Sasuke looked at Naruto, who was squirming like he was constipated, and was speechless. He also hadn't expected this. He had been all fired up and ready to go, and then they hit him with a surprise attack right at the start. Getting all fired up to take a test? Even though he was an academic genius, the questions on this paper were making him frown a bit. These garbage questions weren't within his academic genius range. That's because he only studied knowledge useful to himself, and this exam felt like some random book to him. While he could do it, he couldn't guarantee his score. Of course, passing wouldn't be a big problem. 

... 

Naruto secretly glanced around. He noticed the proctors around them were jotting something down in small notebooks. He quickly sat up straight. Naruto felt like he had daggers in his back, as if all the proctors were watching him. Fortunately, he hadn't started writing yet. He shouldn't have lost any points... 

... 

As for Sakura, she felt like she had arrived in paradise. Chunin Exams? Is this all there is? Looking at the questions on the paper, Sakura just wanted to laugh. Her academic performance was already good, and she had a wide range of interests. The questions on the paper couldn't be simpler. She was a true liberal arts prodigy. Unlike Sasuke, who not only studied cultural subjects but also trained in everything simultaneously. This also meant he had many areas where he was lacking. He also focused his energy on mastering knowledge that was highly useful to him. He was different from people like Sakura, who studied for the sake of exams. In this world, just having academic knowledge is useless. 

... 

Everyone was furiously writing their answers, while Naruto looked out the window with a bitter feeling. If he didn't know it, he just didn't know it. Even if he went into his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, he still wouldn't know it. 

"I still lack experience, huh..." Naruto thought to himself. Time was rapidly ticking by. The already monotonous sound of pens scratching on paper was now joined by the sound of pages turning. This sound was quite stimulating. Especially for those who weren't good students, hearing this sound instantly made them feel like the sky was falling. I've only done two questions, and you're already flipping pages?! It was ridiculous. As the sound of pages turning increased, those who were already flustered became even more so. To think I have such powerful strength, and I'm being eliminated without even getting to show it off... This was the bitter thought of many academic underachievers who were confident in their strength. If they could do it again, they would definitely study hard. And if they still couldn't learn it, they'd at least come up with a few cheating tricks. 

... 

"Everyone's almost done, huh? Then... it's time for me to make my move..." Naruto thought to himself. He was going to try for a miracle through sheer force. Picking the longest or shortest answer wouldn't solve this headache of a situation anymore. 

"Teacher, my stomach hurts, I need to go to the bathroom..." A student's stomach rumbled. Naruto's eyes lit up. 

Chapter 214: Not What I Expected 

"Teacher, I need to go to the bathroom too!" Naruto's eyes darted around, filled with yearning for a brighter tomorrow. 

"No. Wait until they come back, then you can go..." To Naruto's dismay, his plan was crushed before it even began. He had originally planned a surprise attack to steal the answer sheets. What the heck... He had ten Shadow Clones ready, and they tell him this? 

... 

Ultimately, Naruto still passed. Bored, he fell asleep. When he woke up, the exam was already over. All the bonus questions, all the mind-game talk—he heard none of it. He simply handed in a blank paper. After all, he had thought too much the night before, wasting brain cells, and the environment was just too hypnotic. Giving up completely, he just slept soundly. So when Naruto found out he passed the exam, he was completely bewildered. This was too reckless. It was beyond absurd. 

... 

Seven days flew by. The second stage, traversing the Forest of Death, was incredibly easy for two overpowered individuals. Their robes barely got a speck of dirt. And with no interference from Orochimaru, Team Seven naturally had an effortless time. 

"I didn't expect you to help Itachi with something like this." Orochimaru said with a faint smile, looking at Kakashi, who was intently reading a small book not far away. Since Itachi's small courtyard only had three rooms, he occupied one, and the female housekeeper occupied another. Kakashi and Orochimaru ended up sharing a roof. Fortunately, Kakashi had Wood Style, making it easy to create things, like a wooden bed. 

... 

"Sigh..." Hearing Orochimaru's words, Kakashi set aside the book he usually enjoyed so much. Time was running out. A deep, complex, and helpless sigh escaped him, causing Orochimaru to pause slightly. But he was fine. Compared to the troubled Kakashi, he had already planned to mess with Konoha, so it wasn't a big deal. He just had difficulty accepting the plan being moved up. Once he understood, it was fine. 

... 

Compared to the somewhat annoyed and troubled duo, Itachi had his eyes tightly closed, focusing on chakra suppression. He could no longer afford to be as relaxed as usual. Just as he finished his cultivation for the day, he suddenly froze, then his expression changed. His figure gradually blurred, disappearing from the room. 

Itachi's Encounter 

"So, it finally came, huh." Itachi muttered to himself, his figure flitting through the darkness. His tone was a bit complex, and he gently rubbed the furrow in his brow. His eyes were resolute; if he couldn't avoid it, he would just have to see. See what kind of trick Madara had up his sleeve. 

"Oh, you're here. I thought you were going to try to escape again... Big Brother." A man who looked to be in his thirties calling Itachi, who wasn't even eighteen, "Big Brother," made for a strangely bizarre scene. Itachi fell silent when he heard Madara's words. Sure enough, it's that Madara... 

... 

"I'm ready, Big Brother, let's have our decisive battle! Just like you said before. It's really hard to find worthy opponents." After awkwardly calling him "Big Brother" once, Madara started to get used to it. He even mimicked Itachi's past expression of solitary supremacy as he spoke. 

... 

"I was just looking for an excuse to help you out back then. After all, you're the pride of our Uchiha." Itachi was silent. Then his mind quickly worked, coming up with an explanation. He didn't know if it was sincere, but it certainly came from the heart. Hearing Itachi's words, Madara burst out laughing. How many years had it been? He had waited for this day for far too long. With a long sword in hand, his figure appeared beside Itachi. The long sword gently rested on Itachi's neck, a faint red line appearing. 

... 

"Call me Big Brother, or I'll kill you." Madara, who had just been laughing, now had a stern and domineering expression as he spoke. 

"???" Itachi was stunned by Madara's actions. Although Madara seemed to be coming on strong, Itachi didn't sense any killing intent, so he didn't use Flying Raijin to escape immediately. But what was going on now? Was this still the Madara he knew? So twisted. 

... 

"Once an older brother, always an older brother. This is an act of defiance!" There was no way he was going to call him Big Brother. His head could be cut off, blood could flow, but at worst, he'd just run away the moment the sword moved. He still had to talk tough. Otherwise, Madara would think he was a pushover and take advantage of him. After all, it had already doubled upon meeting; how would he play if it super doubled later? Would his seniority just plummet? 

... 

"Heh heh... you're still as interesting as ever... For me, too much time has passed... For you, it's only been a few months." Madara lowered the long sword in his hand and looked deeply at Itachi. 

"Is there something you need me for?" Itachi asked softly, looking at Madara, whose mood had calmed down a bit. After all, Madara's perception was cast over him, so it was impossible for him to say he wasn't here to find him. 

"I've reached a bottleneck and find it difficult to break through. How should I proceed?" Remembering Itachi's astonishing theoretical knowledge, Madara asked directly. He didn't like beating around the bush. 

... 

"I need your cells." Itachi said calmly, looking at Madara's somewhat hopeful and melancholic eyes. He didn't expect that Madara, who knew the truth, would still ask him. 

"Alright." Madara was slightly surprised by Itachi's words but still nodded. He didn't ask why. He wondered to himself, what secret did he and Hashirama possess? Was it like a key to unlock power? Sensing the same aura from Itachi as from Hashirama, Madara fell into thought. When Itachi traveled through time, that healing power must have been due to Hashirama's cells, right? But Hashirama wasn't dead? Where did the Hashirama cells on them come from? Madara felt like it was all a mystery. 

... 

However, what Madara didn't know was that Hashirama was much more honest than him. He directly performed a "golden cicada shedding its shell," and while Hashirama also did something similar, he used a mass of his own flesh and blood to create a vibrant, realistic husk. And the cells Orochimaru and others obtained were, of course, Hashirama's genuine cells. And Hashirama's cells were merely a key to obtaining Asura's chakra. Wood Style was just a bonus. After all, after obtaining Asura and Indra's chakra, one still needed to cultivate them, allowing them to become a complete part of one's power. To fully transform one's chakra into Asura chakra. After the two combined, they would transform into complete Otsutsuki chakra. When all the chakra in one's body turned into Otsutsuki chakra, the metamorphosis would naturally begin. 

... 

Of course, to enhance one's abilities, other things are needed. For example, a Byakugan of extremely high purity, almost a throwback to its origins, or an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. Only then does one have the qualification to evolve into a Tenseigan or Rinnegan. Otherwise, even if one can transcend, their combat power would be vastly inferior to a Six Paths level individual. And to become Six Paths level, another key is needed: Sage Mode. That is Six Paths Sage Mode, and the basis for creating Truth-Seeking Orbs. Possessing complete Otsutsuki chakra is the key to transcendence. And with Otsutsuki chakra, one will definitely possess seven attributes: Yin, Yang, Wind, Lightning, Water, Fire, and Earth. Sage Mode is the key to creating Truth-Seeking Orbs. The specific outcome depends on one's comprehension. 

Chapter 215: Madara's Proposal 

Seeing that Itachi had no intention of speaking, Madara cut his arm with his long sword, and blood sprayed out. A piece of flesh appeared, then the wound quickly healed. It looked quite miraculous. 

Itachi instinctively took the bloodied piece of flesh Madara offered, then put it into a container. This contained pure Otsutsuki chakra. Itachi felt a little excited; he was almost at that level himself... 

"You need to go to the moon. There's the last pure-blooded descendant of Otsutsuki Hamura there, he was born without eyes. His name is Otsutsuki Toneri," Itachi said calmly, pointing at the moon in the sky. "Secondly, you need to collect all nine Tailed Beasts. Black Zetsu knows how to do this, but you shouldn't trust him. Or, you can lay your cards on the table with him; Otsutsuki Toneri is your bargaining chip in negotiations." 

"Once you've gathered all of these, you can summon, or rather, resurrect the Rabbit Goddess, Otsutsuki Kaguya. Her realm is even higher than yours. At that point, you'll have two options." 

"One is to defeat her and take her power. The other is to obtain a map. There are many people at your level over there. I don't know what comes after Otsutsuki Kaguya's realm." 

Itachi looked at Madara calmly. Everything he said was true. He never played games. If he said he'd change the ninja world, he'd change it! Of course, he still hadn't revealed everything. For example, Hanabi's Byakugan, Hinata's Byakugan. 

Thinking about this, Itachi suddenly thought of someone: Hashirama Senju. He wasn't very optimistic if Madara went on this journey alone. Moreover, the conditions for obtaining the Chakra Fruit were too harsh. Or perhaps, could they turn Kaguya to their side and fight back together? But if Kaguya hadn't perfectly gathered her abilities, how much combat power would she have left? That was also an unknown. Itachi's mind was flooded with many thoughts at once. He had thought about these things long ago. If possible, he also wanted to see that planet, where anyone who emerged was so incredibly powerful. 

Itachi's words made Madara's eyes complex. He had never heard of any of this before. Fortunately, while Itachi knew a lot, it seemed there wasn't much more to know now... This also meant he was truly close to reaching the peak. 

"Thank you, Big Brother. If there's anything you need help with, just say the word." Madara, having collected himself, spoke softly. He had learned what he wanted to know, and his future path was no longer uncertain. This might be the best outcome. And now, what he had to do was race against time. Finish these tasks quickly and move on to the next stage. 

"Oh, by the way, don't worry about the Nine-Tails; I'll help you with that later," Itachi said, as if remembering something, seeing Madara about to leave. After all, Naruto was someone he had high hopes for, and he didn't want him to die prematurely. Plus, he quite liked the Nine-Tails' personality; it would be a shame if it was gone. He also had no idea how Baryon Mode came about; it wasn't simple, considering it could solo Otsutsuki Isshiki. These were all hidden powers... and powers that were too significant to ignore, enough to shake the heavens and earth. 

These issues that had plagued Itachi's mind finally surfaced, leaving him nowhere to hide. This also symbolized that he was finally close to reaching the peak that an individual could achieve through training. From here on, he could only rely on external forces. It was no longer something human effort alone could make up for. 

"Madara, you're back... You seem to be in quite a good mood." The moment Madara returned, Hashirama sensed it. He had no intention of prying into Madara's secrets; he couldn't beat Madara anyway. Why bother thinking so much? 

"Hashirama, have you decided on your future path?" Hearing Hashirama's words, the joy on Madara's face faded. He was about to embark on something big, and if Hashirama could help him, it would significantly accelerate his progress. If possible, he didn't want Hashirama to become a stumbling block. After all, he was going to collect the nine Tailed Beasts, and given Hashirama's personality, he'd most likely be yelling about destroying him in the name of the moon... In Hashirama's view, Tailed Beasts, which could be easily subdued, were too dangerous. He didn't even know what was going on in Hashirama's head. 

"I have decided. I want to hear what you want to do. If possible, let's fight side-by-side again. In the past, because of our clans, because of the village, our stances differed. Now we're both retired, we can be ourselves..." Hearing Madara's words, Hashirama was slightly stunned. He felt that something big was about to happen. After thinking for a moment, Hashirama stated his thoughts. He didn't know how much longer he had to live, though his vitality still seemed very strong. Being in seclusion for all these years, he felt like his bones were rusting. It was time to do something big. Hashirama thought to himself. 

"If you want to fight alongside me, your current strength isn't enough..." Hearing the hidden meaning in Hashirama's words, Madara felt a surge of emotion. However, he quickly said with disdain, remembering his past defeats, he suddenly became a bit arrogant. But what he said was the truth. Although Itachi hadn't said much, he could sense from Itachi's emotions and tone that things weren't that simple. Furthermore, Itachi knew what realm his current strength had reached. He was now at the complete Six Paths level. But the person he wanted to revive was at a higher realm than him! And this person was connected to many hidden secrets. Suppressing his urgent desire to see Black Zetsu, Madara spoke seriously to Hashirama. He knew that Hashirama likely wouldn't leave him. So he wanted Hashirama to increase his strength. 

"But my strength has already reached its limit..." Hearing Madara's words, Hashirama felt sad. He remembered that Madara had only beaten him once before, and after that, it became increasingly difficult for him to win. And now, his strength was quite a distance behind Madara's. It seemed he might not even be able to help much anymore... 

"I still have some things to take care of. Go find someone named Uchiha Itachi. Tell him I sent you; he should know how to make you stronger." Hearing a hint of disappointment in Hashirama's voice, Madara thought for a moment before speaking. 

"Uchiha Itachi? Most people our age are dead. Is he a descendant of your clan? What can he do?" After hearing Madara, Hashirama was very confused. He immediately asked. It felt incredibly surreal. 

"He's my big brother. He's traveled through time, reached our Warring States period, and helped us." Hearing the inherent pride in Hashirama's tone, Madara revealed some unspeakable secrets... 

"Big Brother?! Holy cow! That kid's that strong?! And your descendant?! Amazing!" As expected, this shocking revelation instantly stunned Hashirama. After a fleeting moment, it was replaced by surprise and admiration. He really wanted to meet the descendant who could outsmart Madara. But Madara had things to do, so it seemed they couldn't go together. This left him a little disappointed. It had been a long time since they'd seen each other; he really didn't want to be separated from Madara...