Chapter 227: Madara Uchiha

Somewhere in the ninja world, within an unknown cave.

In the dim light, an old man with a withered face sat on a stone platform. Beside him rested a massive scythe, exuding an ominous presence.

"Lord Madara, Nagato has left for Konoha," said a voice as a figure emerged from the ground. Its face was split into black and white halves—Zetsu, the enigmatic entity of the ninja world.

Zetsu had been secretly observing Nagato ever since he was taken to Konoha. This time, he had seized the opportunity to follow Nagato and the others to their ship, finally reporting back to Madara with precise information.

"Where did he go? Who are the people around him?" Madara's aged voice was sharp, his exposed Three Tomoe Sharingan fixed intently on Zetsu.

"The Land of Water. There aren't many experts around him," Zetsu replied.

To Zetsu, neither Minato nor Nawaki qualified as true threats. If it weren't for his own limitations in openly showing his strength, he felt confident he could defeat Nagato himself.

Madara's Sharingan glinted as his lips curled into a faint smile. "The Land of Water… You've chosen your location well. That land is mine."

"Lord Madara, the Rinnegan has not fully matured yet. What will you do about it?" Zetsu asked, his tone cautious. The Rinnegan was more precious to him than anything, even Madara.

"Find a quiet place for him to grow. When the time comes, I will die and leave it to you," Madara said calmly, as if death were merely another step in his plan. For him, this prolonged existence was torture. He was Madara Uchiha, the one destined to rule the ninja world. Death was not an end—it was the key to his ultimate strategy.

"Yes, Lord Madara," Zetsu replied.

Black Zetsu concealed his emotions expertly. Madara believed Black Zetsu to be a manifestation of his own will, while White Zetsu was a half-finished product created using Hashirama's cells.

For Madara, it was only natural to rely on Zetsu to ensure his resurrection.

"There's still one key figure missing. I wonder how much longer we have to wait," Madara said, his tone laced with irritation. "I've really had enough of this."

He reached out and touched the tube behind him, the device that now sustained his life.

"Lord Madara, I'll be going first," Zetsu said calmly, knowing that Madara's words were just complaints. Someone like Madara didn't need consolation—it would only serve to annoy him.

"Hm," Madara replied with a nod. Zetsu sank back into the ground and disappeared from the cave.

"Land of Water," Madara muttered, withdrawing his hand from the tube. Closing his eyes, he focused his energy, and his pupils glowed with power.

At the same time, in Kirigakure Village, the Third Mizukage opened his eyes in his room. His pupils were Mangekyō Sharingan, their design featuring three tomoe connected end-to-end by three vertical bars around the outer ring.

A moment later, the Third Mizukage closed his eyes again, as was his habit—a well-known peculiarity.

"Come in," he ordered.

A shadow guard appeared silently, kneeling on one knee with their head bowed low, barely daring to breathe.

"Lord Mizukage," the guard acknowledged.

"Summon the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to my office," the Mizukage instructed as he stood and made his way toward the Mizukage Building. His closed eyes didn't hinder his movements in the slightest.

As he walked, every mist ninja he passed greeted him with respect, though some trembled slightly in his presence.

The Mizukage entered his office, sat down, and waited in silence. Before long, there was a knock at the door.

"Enter," he said.

The door opened, and seven figures in unusual attire stepped inside.

"Lord Mizukage," they greeted him humbly, bowing low.

"Hm," the Mizukage acknowledged. "I summoned you to give you an assignment. Someone from Konoha has entered our Land of Water. Find and bring back a young kid with red hair."

The Mizukage provided no further details and issued the mission with absolute finality.

"Yes," the Seven Ninja Swordsmen replied in unison. Though confused by the vague instructions, they didn't dare question him. While they didn't doubt their ability to complete the task, they were concerned about the lack of specifics, particularly whether they could locate the target.

"Go," the Third Mizukage commanded, waving his hand to dismiss the group.

As Madara opened his eyes back in the cave, the Third Mizukage had already returned to his room.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist left the Mizukage Building, their faces reflecting frustration and confusion. Being summoned by the Mizukage was one thing, but receiving a vague and unclear mission was another.

"How are we supposed to do this mission with no direction?" grumbled Senjin Hōzuki, visibly irritated. He wasn't just any ninja—he came from a distinguished clan. The Second Mizukage had hailed from his bloodline, and their Water Release Secret Technique was renowned throughout the ninja world.

"Shut up. Do you want everyone to suffer because of your mouth?" Fuguki Suikazan snapped, glaring at him. The Third Mizukage wasn't one to care about lineage or status.

"Then explain how we're supposed to find someone!" Senjin Hōzuki retorted, his frustration mounting.

"Don't lose your temper. Let's talk this through," Biwa Jūzō interjected, stepping in to mediate.

"The Konoha ninja came to our Land of Water on an unknown mission. We don't know when they arrived, but that doesn't matter," Fuguki said decisively.

"Our mission is to capture one of the red-haired brats. The only way to leave the Land of Water is by water. If we station more people at the ports, we'll find them as long as they haven't left yet."

Fuguki cast a pointed glance at Senjin Hōzuki, daring him to argue further.

"I admit, you have a point," Senjin finally conceded, his tone subdued. Better to follow a plan, however incomplete, than to wander aimlessly.

"What if the person has already left?" Jinin Akebino asked, stirring up tension like a pot of boiling water, drawing everyone's attention.

"Then let's go to Konoha and block their way," Kurosuki Raiga said with an exaggerated roll of his eyes.

"That's not going to work. I'm not ready to die yet," Jinpachi Munashi retorted, following up on Raiga's sarcastic suggestion.

"Let's just say we can't find them," Kushimaru Kuriarare interjected, cutting off the increasingly ridiculous conversation.

If the target had already left, they'd just have to chalk it up to bad luck. Heading straight to Konoha to confront them would be as foolish as kicking a hornet's nest—it's just asking for trouble. Just thinking about Konoha's lineup of powerhouse figures was enough to make them reconsider and back off.

As for the punishment that awaited them from the Third Mizukage, they'd simply have to accept it.

"Let's go," Fuguki Suikazan ordered, and the seven headed toward the outskirts of the village.

Meanwhile, Minato and his group were unaware that danger was closing in.

They had not yet crossed the borders of the Land of Water. With the added numbers from the Yuki Clan, their speed had naturally slowed, and concealing their movements had become significantly more difficult.

The Yuki Clan had even been forced to visit towns a few times to buy food—there was no other choice. Watching people starve wasn't an option.

Currently, they were heading toward the eastern port, a secluded area at the back of the Land of Water. It had little trade activity and was home to only a few fishermen, offering a better level of safety.

If not for the Third Mizukage's orders, they might have been able to leave the Land of Water without incident.

"We're already halfway there. Hang in there," Minato said, offering encouragement to the group.

The Yuki Clan members, having abandoned their homeland, were understandably subdued. Their mood along the way had been far from cheerful.

"Well, we know. Finally, we can escape this hell," the Clan Head responded, though his tone was far from relaxed.

Despite Minato's words, he couldn't feel at ease. This land was where his ancestors had lived for generations.

"It's hard to leave your homeland, but we have no choice. We understand," Yahiko said gently, his words striking a chord.

However, the Yuki Clan's future in Konoha was uncertain. They likely wouldn't receive the same privileges Yahiko and his group enjoyed.

"Sigh…" The Clan Head let out a deep sigh, his expression tinged with bitterness.

"Don't worry, my sister will definitely treat you well," Nawaki said. Having spent so many days together, he had grown more familiar with the Yuki Clan members and no longer maintained his aloof demeanor.

"Thank you, Lord Nawaki," the Clan Head replied, perking up slightly. The significance of the Hokage's younger brother was not lost on him.

As time passed, the group drew closer and closer to the port. Ahead, the ship that had come to pick them up had already docked.