E5-New Six Eyes User(Memories III)

Landing softly on the ground in a calculated manner, almost as if the air itself had comfortably cushioned against the earth, I stood as my dark hair fell over my back. 

With a sigh, I took a moment to calm my busy and somewhat hectic life, inhaling another breath of the air from the Valley of the End. 

My eyes wandered across the landscape, stopping at the two towering statues dominating the valley: Madara and Hashirama, immortalized in stone. I didn't remember seeing them the last time I was here. I didn't know when they had been built, but I had to acknowledge the skill of the sculptor. 

And smiling, I recalled the new prize I had acquired a few days ago. 

Slowly approaching the feet of the imposing Hashirama statue, I felt around near Hashirama's big toe. 

Click. 

Pressing a small stone near Hashirama's toe, a hidden compartment opened, large enough to fit a human body. 

A cold draft of air escaped the hole as if fleeing whatever was below. It was a hole that seemed bottomless. 

Without hesitation, I descended into the dark abyss, jumping in right after it opened. The compartment closed behind me, leaving me in darkness. 

Plash.

Landing calmly on the ground but with a smile still on my face, I found a long river of water below me. 

Under normal circumstances, the water would have continued its path, simply part of the natural cave formation. But this wasn't ordinary water it had chakra in it. 

'This could only be the work of the Zetsu.'

As I had suspected, a Zetsu emerged from one of the cave walls. 

"Madara already knows you're here. I'll take you to him." 

A regular Zetsu. 

"It seems Madara has refined his weapons to a great degree, though they're still not at the level shown when Yamato is connected instead of a living Hashirama clone." 

"At the very least, it seems Madara connected the chakra in this water to one of the Zetsus, using it as a chakra detection source. That's clever." 

The cave was lined with explosive seals everywhere, which would make it collapse if one were triggered, or if an unauthorized or unrecognized presence by the Zetsus did anything irregular. 

As I continued walking calmly, another cold draft of air hit my face, causing me to squint slightly at its intensity. 

Honestly, I wasn't sure what Madara wanted from me, but when I saw him sitting on a wooden throne with his typically serious expression even more serious, I had an idea of what he wanted. 

"You look quite pleased, Kenjaku," 

Madara said as he walked toward his wooden throne, just as I entered through the small cave's entrance. 

Seeing that scrolls and weapons were piled up everywhere, signaling he would move to a new hideout, I decided to say nothing and proceed as always, answering his question. 

"I just had a good hunt, that's all." 

With a lazy smile, I displayed the scroll where Tobirama's body was sealed. 

"Who is it this time?" Madara asked with some intrigue. 

He knew Kenjaku changed bodies from time to time, something he never got used to. 

"The murderer of your brother." 

Kenjaku said, slightly moving the scroll in his hands before tucking it away. 

I thought he might react to that, but apparently, not this time. 

Smiling, I looked at Madara, who sat indifferently on his throne. 

The scroll contained the carefully sealed body of Tobirama Senju. I had brought it intending to provoke him, but his reaction was surprisingly cold. 

"It's not the same as if you had killed him yourself." 

"I would have made that bastard suffer before sending him to the grave. He wouldn't have had a pleasant farewell from this world before going to Kami." 

His voice was cold and calm, with a slight touch of restrained anger and a hint of sadistic joy. 

My eyebrows raised slightly, but I remained silent as Madara spoke again. 

"So… have you heard?" 

Madara asked, looking at Kenjaku intently. 

To which Kenjaku tilted his head, curious. 

"I haven't kept up with the news from the Leaf, so I don't know exactly what you're talking about." 

Kenjaku calmly observed Madara's appearance, which wasn't too aged, as Hashirama had only passed away a year ago. 

Madara's gaze bore into me, and suddenly the temperature dropped a few degrees. 

"The new bearer of the ancestral eyes of the Kurohana clan has been born." 

Madara's voice was serious and tense as he looked at Kenjaku. His tone carried a slight caution, and his fingers gripped the armrest of his chair tightly. 

Kenjaku's eyebrows rose slightly. 

"There's a new Six Eyes user?" 

Kenjaku commented, feigning some surprise. 

Kenjaku already knew this. After all, he had founded the Kurohana clan. The descendants of the Kurohana clan were, in turn, his direct descendants. He had left teachings on how to use domains, anti-domain techniques, and the potential dojutsu that could arise in the clan. 

Madara nodded calmly. 

"It seems the founder of the Kurohana clan was right in what he said and wasn't lying." 

Madara understood the danger the new Six Eyes bearer posed to his Moon Eye Plan. He had to be killed before he grew too strong. 

"We must eliminate him. He's a potential threat to the plan." 

His gaze fell on me, clearly assigning me the task. However, what he wouldn't expect… 

"I refuse," 

Kenjaku stated calmly, looking at Madara, who widened his eyes at the refusal. 

My refusal was direct, and the silence that followed was almost deafening. 

Irritated. 

Frowning, Madara awaited an explanation for why Kenjaku rejected the offer. 

"We can't kill him now. The Second Shinobi World War is imminent after Tobirama's death at the hands of the Kinkaku and Ginkaku squad, and the Kurohana clan is more alert than ever. Also, remember that every generation of ninjas in the Kurohana clan produces at least three or four members capable of using domains. Don't doubt that the current head of the Kurohana clan will assign the four active members to guard the new Six Eyes user until he matures." 

Madara's fist tightened further, his rage causing his veins to stand out in frustration. 

However, a bloody, excited grin spread across his face. 

"Then we'll let him grow. I want to face him when he's fully grown." 

At Madara's smile, a scenario crossed my mind. 

His bloody excitement sent a shiver down my spine. I imagined that confrontation: Madara, in his Edo Tensei form, facing this world's Satoru Gojo in the Fourth Great Shinobi War. 

A faint smile crossed my lips at the thought of this scenario. 

"Honestly, I'd like to see that." I expressed my thoughts to Madara, who simply stared at me, his smile fading. 

"You're a member of the Kurohana clan too, aren't you, Kenjaku?" 

At his words, my mind went blank. However, my expression didn't betray me. 

His grin widened at my silence. 

I tensed at this. Questions raced through my mind. 'How? How did he know? Did he figure it out long ago?'

----------------------------------------------.

Konoha Village.

Meeting Room.

An important meeting was about to take place, one that would determine whether the most powerful nations would go to war.

In one of the hallways leading to the meeting room, a man walked with a firm stride and a serious expression. It was Naobito, a muscular and tall man. His hair, slightly long at the back, was styled backward, and his English-style mustache stood out alongside his long, marked eyebrows.

He wore traditional Japanese attire: a dark kimono covered by a hakama of the same color. Tied around his waist was a white haori himo and a light-colored haori. For footwear, he wore tabi and zori.

Without escorts and with overwhelming confidence in his power, Naobito pushed open the doors to the meeting room and took a seat in the chair that represented his clan, decorated with its symbol. His arrogance was evident, but it was not unfounded: his skill and reputation backed it up.

Naobito was the only shinobi who had managed to surprise Tobirama Senju in a speed battle. He was also feared by the Uchiha, who, during his reign as leader of the Kurohana Clan, never dared to disrespect him. His technique, Cursed Projection or Chakra Projection as it was known by in this world, was a unique ability that distorted the perception of time, freezing everything it touched for 24 frames (one second) and forcing him to act with millimeter precision during that brief interval. If he failed, he would suffer the consequences himself.

Naobito's ability was so great that even with the Sharingan, the Uchiha were unable to follow his movements. It was said that if he wished, he could decimate the majority, if not the entirety, of the Uchiha clan. His power level was on par with that of a Kage, and many considered him to be equal to or even superior to the Second Hokage. He was, without a doubt, one of the strongest of his era.

Despite his mask of arrogance and indifference, Naobito was worried. Tobirama Senju had been ambushed by the Hidden Cloud Village during a mission, and war seemed imminent. He knew that his clan, famous for having warriors as talented as the Senju, Uchiha, and Hyūga, would have no choice but to participate.

However, his concern was tempered by news that filled his heart with pride and happiness: the birth of a child blessed by the Sage of the Six Paths. A child with the power to change the world.

This knowledge was a high-ranking secret, known only to four people within the Kurohana Clan. Additionally, Naobito celebrated the birth of his son, Naoya, who would be the future leader of the clan after his death.

With his happiness and anxiety carefully hidden behind his usual haughty attitude, Naobito sat confidently in the chair that represented his clan. He surveyed the other leaders seated in a circle: the Inuzuka, Aburame, Hyūga, Uchiha, and others, all gathered around the newly appointed Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen's gaze was cold, solemn, and hard. The meeting of the village heads was about to begin.

"As you know, the death of my master at the hands of the Hidden Cloud Village's army is something that cannot be forgiven," Hiruzen Sarutobi began, his voice firm, laden with restrained emotion.

His solemn expression was soon replaced by a more chilling, relentless gaze.

"I didn't come here to ask you to speak," he continued, his tone hardening further.

"We've lost a man who made Konoha what it is today. And as his successor, I will prove, along with all of you, what the Konoha that Tobirama Senju built is made of."

The weight of his words resonated in the room, enveloping each leader present in a silence heavy with tension.