"Toto!!" Yutai patted Toto's shoulder and shook his head. "Don't be sad. We've overcome so many hardships before, haven't we?"
Looking at the ruined farmland before them, he sighed. "At worst, we'll just start over."
Besides, didn't you electrocute all those Kiri-nin yesterday?
"But, but..." Toto raised his head but finally said helplessly, "I've waited so long for this."
"By the way, I never asked—what exactly were you planning to do with this farmland?" Yutai asked curiously. "You've been working on it for months."
Was it some kind of precious crop?
"This was a task given to me by Lord Jun." Toto pulled out a book from his pocket, looking dejected. "But now..."
"Oh?"
A task from Lord Jun? What could it be?
Yutai curiously took the book and saw written on it...
"Hybrid Rice Breeding and Field Experiments."
"May the world never know hunger again."
...
Underground Cave.
"To...bi." A hoarse, aged voice echoed through the narrow rocky passage.
"Huh? Ah!" A white figure with a swirled face, Tobi, walked in holding a drawing. Seeing the white-haired old man, he said in surprise, "Lord Madara, you're awake?"
"Cough, why did it take you so long to come?" Madara slowly opened his eyes, his gaze dim as he looked at Tobi. "What were you doing?"
Hearing Madara's question, Tobi spread out the paper in his hands and held it up happily. "Look at this, Lord Madara! I drew poop. Doesn't it look real?"
"..."
Why is this White Zetsu so different from the others?
Did using Hashirama's cells cause a mutation?
Madara stared speechlessly at Tobi's excited face. "You were just drawing?"
And it was poop??
"I was bored!!" Tobi lowered his head dejectedly when he saw Madara's displeased expression. "Lord Madara wasn't awake, and all the other Zetsu went out. No one played with me."
Hearing Tobi's words, Madara sighed. Indeed, being alone was too lonely. Seeing Tobi like this, he unconsciously slipped into memories, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "Back then, Hashirama always challenged me to see who could pee farther."
"Looking back, we must have been really bored."
Then, noticing Tobi staring at him intently, he immediately wiped the smile off his face and asked, "Where has Zetsu been these past few days?"
Tobi scratched his head, seemingly deep in thought, then clapped his hands. "I heard them say they went out to start a business."
"Start a business?" Madara frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know!!" Tobi scratched his head sheepishly. "Zetsu didn't explain clearly."
"I see." Madara closed his eyes again. "What about that Uzumaki brat?"
"Oh, he's fighting in a war," Tobi said. "It's really dangerous outside right now."
"The whole shinobi world is at war. From what Zetsu said, Konoha seems to be suffering heavy losses."
"War has risen again?" Madara murmured. "Konoha..."
Back then, he and Hashirama founded Konoha to bring a glimmer of hope for peace to the shinobi world. Yet in the end...
Madara chuckled bitterly and shook his head. "Hashirama, I told you your methods wouldn't work."
Then...
He shakily stood up.
"One day, I'll make you see, make you understand..." Madara's sharp eyes stared ahead as he said calmly, "Who is the one who can truly bring peace to the shinobi world?"
But then...
"Lord Madara, do you need to poop?" Tobi asked, seeing Madara standing. "Do you need me to help you?"
"You!!" Madara's imposing aura instantly deflated as he glared at Tobi. "When Zetsu returns, tell him to bring that Uzumaki brat here too."
"What's the matter, Lord Madara?" Tobi asked. "Why do you need Lord Jun to come?"
"Shut up!!" Madara snapped. "Just do as I say."
"Fine, fine!" Tobi nodded fearfully.
"You said you're bored, right?" Seeing Tobi like this, Madara softened slightly and said helplessly, "It's been a while..."
"Since I've seen the outside world."
"Let's go take a walk."
"Really??" Tobi jumped up excitedly. "With Lord Madara?"
"Yes." Madara smiled faintly. Then he added, "I'll rest for a few more days. When Zetsu returns, let me know."
It's time to go out and see how the shinobi world has changed...
...
Early July, Year 32 of Konoha's founding.
Uzushiogakure battlefield.
"Lord Jun." Uzumaki Komaki bowed respectfully as Jun returned.
As for the little red-haired girl beside him, looking around curiously, Komaki had been momentarily stunned when he first saw her but quickly ignored her.
Though he didn't know why Lord Jun had brought the Uzumaki Clan's young lady to the battlefield...
As a shinobi, it was best not to pry, lest he offend both of them.
"Has anything happened recently?" Uzumaki Jun asked, noticing Komaki's earlier expression. "The number of refugees we've taken in seems much lower these past few days."
"That's right." Komaki nodded helplessly. "For some reason, Amegakure has also been rounding up their own refugees."
"Is that so?" Jun stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Seems like Hanzo is planning something big."
No wonder he placed another large order with Uzushiogakure a few days ago.
It seemed Hanzo wanted to quell Amegakure's internal strife and establish it as the Sixth Great Nation.
"Jun-nii, I'm going to find Kyoko-nee!" Kushina, who had never been to a battlefield before, was curious about everything. But seeing that Jun was busy, she didn't want to bother him further and cheerfully said.
"Go ahead." Jun smiled. "Kyoko-nee should be in the medical tent."
"But remember, always keep your kunai on you!"
"Got it!" Kushina happily ran toward the medical tent. "I won't wander off!"
"That girl..." Jun watched Kushina's retreating figure and sighed. "I hope you can stay happy, unlike in the original story, where in the end..."
Then, he turned back to Komaki and asked after a moment of thought, "What's the situation with Konoha lately?"
"Not great." Komaki frowned. "According to reports, Iwa-nin have been relentlessly attacking Konoha. With the Senju Clan's extermination, Konoha's defenses are stretched too thin, and they lack manpower."
Seems Konoha isn't faring well either.
Jun stroked his chin, deep in thought. How would Konoha resolve this?
Or rather...
How much longer would the Uchiha wait??