Uchiha Naruto: The Strongest

Chapter 23: Four Paths...

Madara, Sasuke, and Naori stood on a sturdy tree branch outside the old Uchiha Compound, their expressions reflecting their inner thoughts. Madara's face remained impassive, betraying no emotion. Sasuke's gaze was serious, his eyes taking in every detail of the once-grand building. Naori's expression was a mix of seriousness and nervousness, her eyes flickering between the structure and her companions.

The compound stood forlorn and dilapidated, a shadow of its former glory. Its walls, once a proud grey, were now faded and cracked, with moss and vines creeping up their surfaces. The traditional black roof, which had once gleamed in the sunlight, was now missing several tiles, giving it a jagged and uneven appearance. The front door hung loosely on its hinges, one side slightly askew, suggesting it had not been opened or closed properly in years.

On either side of the entrance, the Uchiha Clan symbols were still visible, though they were chipped and weathered, barely recognizable. Windows that had once been clear were now clouded and broken, some with shards of glass still clinging to the frames.

"Are you two ready?" Naori's voice quivered, betraying her nerves.

Madara gave a curt nod.

Sasuke's nod was slower, his eyes narrowing. "You don't seem to be," he observed.

Naori shook her head, her worry palpable. "What if... what if we aren't strong enough? If we just go in there... and he kills us?"

Madara folded his arms, his expression calm. "Do not come if you are incapable of facing him," he said, dropping from the branch without hesitation.

Sasuke followed suit, landing softly on the ground. The two began to walk towards the door. Naori sighed deeply, then leaped down, her landing less graceful. 'Why did it have to be those two?' she wondered, her heart pounding.

The door creaked loudly as Madara pushed it open, revealing a dark and eerie hallway.

The interior was dimly lit by the moonlight filtering through the broken windows. The once-polished wooden floors were now covered in dust and debris, each step they took echoing through the silent halls. As they walked, their footsteps disturbed the stillness, sending small clouds of dust into the air.

Entering the main room, they were greeted by a space that had seen both grandeur and neglect. The walls were adorned with intricate woodwork, though many sections had begun to rot or crack with age. Tatami mats, though mostly intact, were frayed at the edges and discolored from years of disuse. The air was thick with the scent of must and decay, a tangible reminder of the compound's abandonment.

In the center of the room stood a grey throne made of the same material used for the walls. Uchiha Itachi sat upon it, his expression impassive and his three-tomoe Sharingan activated. His presence was both commanding and unsettling, a ghostly figure in a place long forgotten.

Madara's expression remained unreadable as he surveyed the room, his eyes cold and calculating. Sasuke's gaze was hard, filled with determination and the weight of his mission. Naori's eyes darted around nervously, taking in the haunted surroundings with a mixture of trepidation and curiosity.

The trio moved further into the room, their presence a stark contrast to the desolation around them. The silence was almost oppressive, broken only by the distant sounds of the night outside. It was a place steeped in history, where the past seemed to linger in every corner, and the echoes of the Uchiha clan's legacy reverberated through the walls.

Itachi's eyes tracked their movements, his gaze steady. "You've all awakened your Sharingan, but how much can you truly see?" His voice echoed in the still air.

Sasuke and Naori's eyes narrowed, their silence heavy with tension.

Madara stepped forward, his eyes morphing into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. "Enough to reduce the number of living Uchiha to four," he answered, his tone chillingly calm.