Uchiha Naruto: The Strongest

Chapter 24: Venting

Madara, Sasuke, and Naori appeared in a swirl of smoke, finding themselves in the familiar massive cave. The cavern's vast open area was dimly illuminated by the flickering glow of countless candles placed at regular intervals along the rocky walls. Shadows danced and wavered, creating an atmosphere of eerie tranquility. The cavernous space had no visible entrance or exit, as if it were cut off from the outside world entirely.

In the center of this vast expanse stood three weathered wooden logs, each bearing the scars of countless training sessions. Madara's expression remained impassive, while Naori and Sasuke wore somber expressions, the weight of the truth behind the Uchiha massacre weighing heavily on all of their minds. The air was thick with unspoken tension, each of them lost in their thoughts as they took in the familiar, yet haunting surroundings.

"Come," Madara commanded, striding toward the narrow hallway.

Sasuke and Naori followed, their footsteps soft against the cool stone floor, careful not to disturb the sleeping residents of the hideout. As they neared the second open area, Temari emerged from the closest room on their right, rubbing her eyes groggily.

"Madara...?" she mumbled, covering her mouth as she yawned. "When will you finally let me return to Sunagakure?"

"You are free to leave whenever you wish," Madara replied bluntly, stepping into the open area with Sasuke and Naori close behind.

Before Temari could respond, Madara formed a snake seal with his hands. The hallway entrance snapped shut, morphing back into a typical cave wall.

Madara turned left, heading toward the nearest tree. It stood tall, its top branches thick and sturdy. Though he'd never admit it, this was his favorite place to rest. He leaped onto the highest branch and settled against the trunk, eyes lifting to the night sky dotted with stars.

Naori and Sasuke followed suit. Naori found a comfortable spot on a branch to Madara's right, while Sasuke took one to his left. Silence enveloped them, broken only by the distant chirping of crickets.

Naori cleared her throat, breaking the stillness. "Madara," she began hesitantly, unsure how to broach the topic. "If you don't mind me asking, what did... Obito mean when he said the original Madara practically raised you?"

Madara folded his arms, his gaze unwavering. "The original Uchiha Madara discovered a method to extend his life force beyond natural limits. Using this technique, he lived far longer than theoretically possible. He died shortly before I turned fifteen."

"How long had you known him?" Sasuke asked, his voice tinged with a subtle anger.

"I met him the day after the Uchiha massacre," Madara answered, his voice steady.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, a mix of anger and betrayal flickering in them. "So our clan was murdered... the people who raised us, right in front of our eyes, by the brother we trusted so much... and you went off with the second strongest in history to train, without even considering including me?"

Madara nodded curtly.

Naori sighed, her eyes softening as she glanced at Sasuke. "You were seven, Sasuke. After something so traumatic, who knows what was going through his head. It took me months to even say the simplest words after that."

Sasuke took a deep breath, his anger dissipating. "Sorry."

Naori turned her attention back to Madara, curiosity evident in her gaze. "Is the original really the kind of man the books say he is? And did he really help Itachi kill the clan? I mean... he has a motive, doesn't he?"

Madara shook his head slowly. "The original is much too complex a man to be understood through mere explanation. As for the clan, he bore no ill will. He treated them as tools, the same way he did everyone else, and the same way I do now. Even if he had held a grudge, he was, as Itachi said, a shell of his former self. The man who assisted Itachi was Uchiha Obito, using the original's name."