Hiruzen persuaded me to die

The leaves of Konohagakure rustled softly beneath a rising tension.

Days had passed since the Fifth Hokage, Hyūga Naraku, issued his order for mobilization. Unlike the frantic rush of the previous expedition against Kumogakure, this time… there was no hesitation. No uncertainty. No fear.

Because now, everyone believed they would win.

The last time Konoha marched, it had been a village divided. The Hokage had just changed hands—Sarutobi Hiruzen was ousted and subsequently defected. The old guard—Homura, Koharu, and the influential Sarutobi-led clans—had not yet been dealt with.

But that was then.

Now, those malignant roots had been cleanly severed. The old regime was gone.

Naraku's authority was undisputed.

And during the previous war, his overwhelming power on the battlefield had silenced even the most cynical voices. He wasn't just a Hokage—he was a force.

Inside the Hokage Tower, late morning sun filtering through the tall windows.

"Jiraiya-senpai, Shikaku… the village will be in your hands while I'm away," Naraku said, his tone calm but final.

Jiraiya leaned against the window, arms folded.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," he muttered. "It's funny though… when I came back, I thought I'd be thrown straight into the battlefield."

He chuckled to himself, scratching his head.

"But turns out I'm just backup now. Must be gettin' old."

His words carried no resentment—just an acceptance. The next generation had risen. And frankly? Jiraiya was proud.

Shikaku Nara, ever the thinker, sighed heavily.

"It's a lot of responsibility," he muttered. "Naraku, ever since you took office, I feel like I've been doing two full-time jobs."

Naraku smirked. "That's because you're the best man for it."

"Yeah, yeah," Shikaku grumbled. "You're not worried about me usurping power?"

"If I thought you could sit on this desk and still be sane, maybe," Naraku said with a dry chuckle.

The door opened. Uchiha Fugaku stepped in, the clan crest stark against his black cloak. His eyes were calm, but behind them, a storm brewed.

"Patriarch Fugaku," Jiraiya said, straightening. "Any progress on the identity of the masked man?"

Fugaku paused.

"…We've been investigating," he said slowly, voice tinged with reluctance. "And we have a theory. One that most would call… absurd."

Jiraiya raised a brow. "Let's hear it."

Fugaku exhaled. "We believe… he may be Uchiha Madara."

The room fell into silence.

Jiraiya blinked. "What? That's—Madara's been dead for decades!"

"Agreed," Fugaku replied. "That was my initial thought as well. But hear me out."

He stepped forward, eyes sharp, voice steady.

"First, the masked man uses a sealing barrier embedded in his mask. Even the Byakugan cannot penetrate it. We can't confirm his face, but…"

He paused.

"His knowledge of the Sharingan is… absolute. He's used Izanagi before. He understands eye evolution, Mangekyō abilities, and the intricacies of Uchiha lineage."

Jiraiya frowned, crossing his arms.

"…Go on."

"Here's our breakdown."

Fugaku raised two fingers.

"First reason: he only shows one eye—the right one."

"We believe he used Izanagi during his final battle against the First Hokage. That would mean he sacrificed his left eye and replaced it with a basic Sharingan later. The eye we see now could be a new Mangekyō."

Jiraiya stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Interesting theory. If he did survive… maybe he used some forbidden technique to extend his life. I mean, look at the Great Toad Sage. That geezer's been around forever."

Shikaku nodded slowly. "Which brings us to reason two, I assume?"

Fugaku's gaze sharpened.

"The Nine Tails."

A flicker of tension sparked in the room.

"Only Uchiha Madara was ever recorded to have truly controlled Kurama. The final clash at the Valley of the End confirmed it. The Nine Tails fought with him, not against him."

"During the Nine Tails' attack on Konoha four years ago, the beast appeared out of nowhere. Summoned."

"Summoning Jutsu…" Jiraiya muttered. "You're saying Madara signed a contract with Kurama decades ago?"

"Exactly," Fugaku confirmed. "Even if Kurama was resealed in the village, the summoning link might still exist."

"And now, the masked man targets Naruto. He wants Kurama back."

Shikaku closed his eyes, mapping every detail.

"If that's true, it explains both his knowledge and his actions."

"But… the time-space technique he uses—is that Mangekyō too?"

Fugaku didn't flinch. "We believe so."

He spoke clearly now, no hesitation.

"It's unlike any known Mangekyō ability. He phases through matter. Warps space. The only record we have of similar powers is speculative—some scrolls mention Uchiha Izuna and Madara awakening unknown Mangekyō powers."

"In short: the ability might be a unique Kamui-like power of Madara's right eye."

There was silence again.

"…It fits," Jiraiya admitted. "Madara's mastery. His link with Kurama. His tactics. His hatred for Konoha."

Shikaku added, "And if it's not Madara, it would have to be another Uchiha—someone with rare talent, someone who faked their death in past wars."

Fugaku agreed. "Yes. We're not ruling that out. Many Uchiha corpses were unrecovered during the wars. But the clearest match—still—is Madara."

Hyūga Naraku had been silent through it all, arms folded, face unreadable.

A part of him wanted to laugh.

If only they knew the truth: that the so-called "Madara" was a boy who awakened the Mangekyō after Rin's death. A child crushed by war, turned into a pawn—Uchiha Obito.

But Naraku didn't correct them.

Whether they believed the masked man to be Madara or another Uchiha didn't matter.

They would meet him eventually.

And then the truth would emerge in blood and fire.

"Enough speculation," Naraku finally said, his tone iron.

"Whether it's Madara or not, he's likely in Kirigakure. And Sarutobi Hiruzen is probably with him."

He turned to the window, the wind lifting the curtain behind him.

"Prepare for the expedition. No mercy this time."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

As Fugaku and the others exited, Naraku's Byakugan narrowed faintly.

In the shadows of the Mist, an ancient legend and a broken boy waited.

Soon, they would all collide.