Tch…
Uchiha Madara couldn't help but let out a mocking chuckle.
While he never thought he'd be surpassed by those two brats, Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke, he hadn't expected the future "problem" would be resolved like this…
Uchiha Itachi… really ended up helping with something huge.
Even with Shigen outright revealing the truth, there was no way Konoha would ever accept Uchiha Sasuke again—a volatile element who nearly destroyed the entire village. Especially since… he almost succeeded!
"..."
The Konoha ninjas looked at Itachi with mixed expressions. None of them expected that this former rogue ninja had remained so loyal to Konoha.
Unfortunately…
His well-intentioned act had the opposite effect.
Instead, it only deepened Sasuke's hatred for the village.
"You… knew all along…"
Itachi couldn't believe that everything he'd done had already been seen through by Shigen. Even more shocking was that his effort to shape his brother's future had turned into a catastrophic mistake.
"Of course I knew."
"But don't worry."
Shigen's tone toward Itachi was rather friendly—especially given that Itachi's actions had become a critical part of the future he was shaping for the shinobi world.
"As repayment for you once willingly becoming my piece on the board, I'll make sure Sasuke ends up somewhere that suits him."
"Heh…"
Madara chuckled at Shigen's remark, already understanding his intention. And he was pleased with it.
"Let the kid follow me, then. I could use a sparring partner anyway…"
Truth be told, Madara rather liked the kid Sasuke. Especially since his growth had kept up pretty well so far.
Peace in the shinobi world was ultimately just a veneer.
Or rather—
It was only inner peace.
The external threats hadn't even begun to surface yet.
Facing these future threats, Madara knew he couldn't afford to get complacent. He'd need to train Sasuke too, so they wouldn't be powerless when the time came.
"The priority right now is stopping that fight…"
Tsunade sighed, not commenting on Itachi's decisions—she couldn't blame him. And she certainly wasn't going to argue with Madara or Shigen over Sasuke's fate. Right now, the most urgent matter was stopping Naruto and Sasuke from fighting further.
That hope now rested solely with Shigen.
"Don't worry."
"I won't let them continue."
"My goals are already achieved anyway."
Shigen had no intention of letting the battle drag on. Not only would it risk injuring one of Madara's future allies, but more importantly—it could lead to Naruto and Sasuke reconciling mid-fight, which he didn't want.
The next moment—
Shigen rose into the air.
A towering, thousand-meter-tall Susanoo suddenly manifested!
This true god of war bore winged armor that seemed to blot out the sky as it soared directly toward the battlefield!
"That's…"
Tsunade couldn't hide her shock.
Even though Naruto had described Shigen's powers to her, witnessing it in person was another matter entirely—it was breathtaking.
Every Konoha ninja was left in silent fear.
If Sasuke's complete-body Susanoo was enough to make the village tremble…
Then Shigen's Susanoo made them lose all hope of resistance.
There was no way anyone could fight someone like this!
Clearly—
Shigen's arrival brought Naruto and Sasuke's battle to a screeching halt. Their clash was stopped cold by a single swing of a massive pale-blue blade. Even Kurama's golden form and Sasuke's purple Susanoo paled in comparison.
"Hmph…"
Sasuke didn't bother hiding his displeasure at Shigen's arrival.
In that moment…
Sasuke faintly understood what Shigen had meant in their final conversation after the war. He must have known about Itachi's plan from the start!
But now—after all this chaos—Sasuke truly had nowhere left to go.
And more than that…
He didn't want to go back to Konoha.
Especially when he landed and spotted the Edo Tensei'd Itachi among the crowd. A flash of frustration and complex emotions flickered through his gaze.
That brother of his…
"Sasuke…"
Itachi's eyes were full of guilt.
But Sasuke didn't want to look at him anymore. He didn't even want to speak with him. He couldn't forgive Itachi for trying to alter his will with genjutsu. If Itachi had something to say, he should have just told him directly!
"That's enough."
Madara knew this headstrong junior all too well and gave him an out with a faint laugh.
"Sasuke, come back with us. The threats to the shinobi world aren't truly gone yet—and we could all use a strong training partner."
"Hmph…"
Sasuke gave a dismissive grunt, but didn't refuse Madara's offer. He moved to stand beside him, silently making his stance clear.
"Sasuke!"
Naruto tried to stop him.
"Naruto…"
Jiraiya placed a hand on his student's shoulder, gently shaking his head. His eyes were complicated as he gazed toward Madara and Sasuke.
The boy didn't understand.
But Jiraiya knew very well—
After Sasuke nearly destroyed Konoha, the villagers would never truly accept him again. Letting him stay would only breed resentment and fear.
Just like after the Nine-Tails' attack years ago, when the villagers directed their hatred and terror at Kurama—now it would all fall on Sasuke.
But…
Sasuke wasn't like Naruto.
He didn't care for Konoha's approval. He wasn't the type to seek recognition by giving back to the village like Naruto did.
To be honest—
Even now, Naruto still hadn't earned everyone's recognition.
"Well then…"
"Until fate brings us together again."
Shigen gave a faint nod to the group.
Behind him, a dark space-time portal opened—swallowing him, Madara, Sasuke, and the others into the void.
"..."
Tsunade and the rest of Konoha's ninjas watched in quiet resignation.
What she didn't expect…
Was that this encounter would mark the last time she ever saw Shigen.
From that day forward—
Aside from the members of the Akatsuki, no one ever saw Shigen again. It was as if he had vanished completely from the world.
(End of Main Story)
Extra Chapter 1: Shigen of the Ancient Era
Winter.
The air was biting cold.
Snowflakes drifted silently down from the sky.
A thick layer of snow had blanketed the courtyard.
The white shroud weighed down the pine and bamboo in the garden, concealing the grime in the corners, as if it could also bury the sins of the estate's master.
This was the residence of a feudal lord.
As the ruler of a nation, the lord naturally wouldn't risk venturing outside in this weather to catch a chill. Instead, he summoned his ministers for a grand banquet.
Charcoal fires warmed the hall, their heat extending even to the veranda. The room was so warm that servants had to fan the guests to keep them from overheating.
"Come, have a drink!"
The lord raised his cup with a hearty laugh, boasting about the wine he held: "I spent a fortune hiring a ninja master from the Shinobi Order. He slaughtered a village of filthy peasants just to bring me this fine wine! You all must savor it well!"
"The taste is truly refined!"
"Absolutely worth the cost!"
"Our lord is generous enough to spend lavishly on a single cup and still share it with us. Your capacity for wine and for magnanimity is truly oceanic!"
The guests roared with laughter and praise. Wine spilled from bamboo cups without concern, and lively discussion filled the room.
"Speaking of which…"
"Those Shinobi Order folks sure are useful…"
"They're all fools, not even worth paying attention to…"
Some were curious about the Shinobi Order—a group that had risen in prominence after the great calamity. People had grown accustomed to their presence and spoke of their mysterious power that could resolve all manner of troubles.
Naturally, not all members of the Shinobi Order were noble.
Some, after acquiring power, left the Order to wander the world, discovering they could use their strength for more personal gain: pledging allegiance to nobles in exchange for riches, killing and plundering for profit, or taking women by force.
They still claimed to represent the Shinobi Order, but acted with increasing boldness. Yet none dared go too far, as the founder of the Order was still alive.
Rather than upholding lofty ideals, these wandering ninjas preferred serving the powerful—for a price.
"Tch…"
"I overestimated their brains…"
"I thought they'd side with the rabble and try to resist my rule!"
The corpulent lord sneered as he spoke of these rogue ninja.
"But now I see—so long as they have desires, they're just obedient dogs. Toss them a few bones and they'll beg at our feet…"
"Truly adorable little dogs…"
The fat lord chuckled, his laughter swelling into gales of mirth.
"Hahahaha! Come, drink! Here's to a future full of obedient mutts!"
"Ha ha ha ha… Well said!"
The room filled with thunderous laughter and applause, all praising the lord's wisdom.
"Who's there?!"
Suddenly, the lord's face darkened in alarm.
He'd heard clapping—coming from behind the folding screen!
Startled, he turned—only to see a glint of steel. He recoiled in terror, flipping the table in his haste.
CRASH!
The screen was sliced clean through by a single sword slash!
"An assassin!"
"Guards, help!"
Panic erupted.
Guests scrambled in all directions. Some shouted for guards, others tried to shield the lord and help him escape.
"Shhh…"
"Please, settle down."
The intruder wore a hood, a katana in his right hand, his left finger raised to his lips in a gesture for silence.
"You—!"
One of the guests tried to shout.
SWISH!
Vines burst from the ground!
They pierced through the guests' bodies in an instant, writhing and growing like living creatures until each victim was impaled.
Blood seeped silently across the floor.
Silence returned.
The lord, now supported by two terrified ministers, steadied himself.
He pushed them aside and scanned the room, now littered with corpses, before turning to face the unexpected guest.
"Who… are you?"
"You're quite composed. Truly fitting of a nation's ruler…"
The stranger praised him mildly. "No wonder you managed to form a country so quickly after the great disaster. If I hadn't come here, you might've actually unified this land…"
"…Thank you for your kind words."
The lord's breathing steadied.
Indeed, building a nation so swiftly was something to be proud of.
Using his noble lineage from before the calamity, he had rallied followers and founded a stable regime, even expanding outward in recent months.
"In recognition of your insight, I'll give you my name."
The intruder removed his hood, revealing the serene face of a young man.
"I'm Shigen."
"For now, I'm hunting those who have spread chakra throughout this world—the remnants of the Shinobi Order. If you have any information, don't withhold it."
"I see…"
The lord exhaled, visibly relieved.
"The ninja I hired headed south two days ago. I tasked him with gathering intelligence on a few wealthy villages in that direction…"
"Thank you kindly."
Shigen gave a polite bow.
"There's no need for thanks. If we can resolve this misunderstanding…"
The lord smiled with relief, hoping to earn goodwill. But as he tried to speak further, Shigen's figure vanished before his eyes!
"…Sorry."
"I never said I was going to spare you."
Shigen's voice echoed through the hall.
"Where did he—?"
The lord turned in confusion—
—and was met with a blade piercing through his heart from behind.
"Why…?"
"No reason."
Shigen stood behind him, his tone calm. "Just killing you. That's all. No need for pleasantries."
"You… your blade is… fast…"
The lord slumped, watching blood drip from the tip of the katana protruding from his chest.
"Shame."
"Your compliments mean nothing to me."
Shigen sighed in disappointment, withdrawing the sword in one smooth motion and beheading the two stunned ministers nearby.
The hall was painted in blood.
After wiping his blade clean, Shigen replaced his hood, opened the door, and stepped back into the wind and snow.
It was warm inside—a perfect place to wait out the winter.
But Shigen didn't have time for comfort.
As a newcomer to this harsh and primitive version of the shinobi world, he couldn't afford rest. He had to grow stronger—and fast.