A Surprise (Fixed)

[Ajamu POV]

"RISE."

From Madara's corpse emerged his human form—young, at the peak of his power, clad in his war armor with the Uchiha fan emblazoned on his back and the Rinnegan gleaming in his eyes. Without hesitation, the newly revived shadow knelt before me.

Madara: "I answer the call, my king. I live to serve."

A gasp echoed behind me—it must have been Sasuke.

I clicked the name option and assigned him the name "Madara." "Stand up, Madara. You are the strongest and most entertaining shadow I've recreated thus far. From today onward, your position will be as my escort and personal guard." I would be traveling extensively through this world and others, and I couldn't afford to deal with every minor obstacle that crossed my path personally.

Madara's body trembled slightly, overcome by emotion, before he rose to his feet. Bowing deeply, his voice rang out with unwavering determination: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for these kind words and this great trust. I will protect you until my soul shatters."

I smiled approvingly. "I trust you will, Madara. Now stand—we're leaving." He obeyed immediately, taking a vigilant stance at my right side, scanning the area like a true bodyguard ready to act at a moment's notice. 'He's already slipping into the role perfectly.'

Turning to the rest of my group, who had kept their distance during the fight, I signaled them to approach. Once they were close, I sent Obito a mental command: "Take Madara's original body to your dimensional space. It needs to be buried in the Uchiha clan cemetery later. Also, extract the Rinnegan eyes from it—they're too dangerous to leave unattended."

Obito complied without question, vanishing with the corpse. Meanwhile, I turned my attention to the two youngest members of the group: Itachi and Sasuke. Itachi seemed to grasp the purpose of bringing him here; his expression reflected someone who understood the weight of responsibility and the need to grow stronger to protect his loved ones. Sasuke, however, was visibly shaken and scared, clinging to Itachi's cloak while hiding behind him. Still, in his wide eyes, I saw a flicker of resolve—the desire to become strong like me, to support his brother.

Approaching them, I gently patted their heads to bring them out of their thoughts. "So, kids, what do you think of Grandpa Madara?"

My comment elicited a chuckle from Obito (before he disappeared), a smirk from Miko and Gaku, and an indifferent shrug from Madara himself. The kids relaxed slightly, and Sasuke spoke up hesitantly: "Strong... and scary. But you're stronger."

I grinned and ruffled his hair again. "Of course I am. I'm your clan head, and I have people to look after and care for. Shouldn't I be strong enough to protect my own?"

Sasuke pondered this for a moment, then nodded earnestly. "Yes."

Ajamu: "Good. Then it's time to go home. The sun is up, and you two have a day ahead of you. Know this: starting today, you'll begin training under Piety and Love. They're among my strongest Commandments, especially when it comes to skill and experience."

I glanced at Gaku. "Gaku, assign them to their trainers, please."

Gaku: "As you wish, my lord. Thank you for your kindness."

Standing up, I addressed the brothers once more. "As I said, I have high expectations for you two. With the knowledge I've shared and what you've witnessed in this battle, I hope you understand what lies ahead of you."

Itachi and Sasuke, feeling the weight of my words and aura, bowed deeply, replying in strong, unwavering voices: "Yes, Ajamu-sama."

Ajamu: "Well then, let's head back home."

With that, I focused on my Space element, imagining a portal leading to our previous location—Gaku's courtyard. Channeling mana, I created a circular, blue-outlined portal. While it required a significant amount of energy to maintain, it wasn't overly taxing. Through the shimmering gateway, the familiar sight of Gaku's courtyard came into view.

Taking the first step, I walked through the portal, followed closely by Madara and then Obito. Itachi and Sasuke stared in awe at the portal, unsure of what to make of it, but their parents reassured them and guided them through.

Emerging on the other side, I settled into a seat in the courtyard to relax. Madara remained nearby, ever-vigilant, while Obito approached me, handing over Madara's extracted Rinnegan eyes. I placed them in my inventory for safekeeping and instructed him: "Go bury the body, and afterward, assist Yamato in tracking Orochimaru for me."

Activating his ability, Obito vanished. Moments later, Gaku and his family stepped through the portal.

Ajamu: "Gaku and Miko, you may return to your duties. And Itachi—" I paused, recalling something. "How is the Daimyo's daughter? Do you like her or not?"

Itachi stepped forward, speaking thoughtfully: "She isn't annoying like other fangirls. She knows how to carry herself and express interest without losing her dignity. From our conversations, she seems strong-willed, ambitious, and far from naive about the realities of the world." He added quietly, almost imperceptibly, though everyone except Sasuke caught it: "And she's pretty."

I nodded, suppressing a smile. Looking him in the eye, I teased: "Does this mean you like her?"

Itachi hesitated for a brief second before replying softly: "Maybe."

His response drew laughter from me and his parents. Inside, I felt a deep satisfaction knowing I'd saved him from his tragic fate. He was a good kid who deserved far better than the suffering his alternate future had held for him.

Hearing our laughter, Itachi excused himself, hurrying off with Sasuke trailing behind, calling after him and asking why we were laughing at him.

I turned to Gaku and Miko, offering them a warm smile. "You've raised a fine son—and a fine daughter too. Be proud of them."

They thanked me graciously before excusing themselves. Left alone with my thoughts, I decided to sift through my inventory. My gaze fell upon the two dungeon keys stored within. Setting aside the S-ranked key for now, I pulled out the second one and inspected it.

[Uzushiogakure Dungeon Key]

Description: The village of Uzushiogakure belonged to the Uzumaki clan, renowned for their sealing techniques, vast chakra reserves, and superhuman physical strength. It took an alliance of three great villages and Konoha's betrayal to locate and destroy it. Even so, the allied forces suffered heavy losses against the Uzumaki warriors. This key grants access to a dungeon replicating the landscape of the village on the day of its fall. You must face its army.

Ajamu: 'Well, this is definitely going to be fun. I should prepare for a quick trip.'

Glancing at Madara, I smirked. "Hey, Madara, what do you think of our clan going to war with Uzushiogakure?"

A menacing grin spread across his face, his battle-hungry aura flaring unmistakably. No further words were needed to understand his enthusiastic reply.