Chapter 183: A Sad Future, the Third Hokage: Even the Funeral Demands Me

Looking at the three silhouettes that suddenly appeared before him, Da Ye Mu was truly at a loss.

Although Da Ye Mu had considered that these people might appear, after all, whenever they plan some big move, these guys always show up.

But considering that the timing of their appearance was uncertain and the intervals seemed rather long, Da Ye Mu, despite his worries, kept reassuring himself.

It won't be that unlucky, it won't be that unlucky.

Moreover, even if it were that unlucky, what of it? This time the gathered forces are so many that, aside from the Hokage, all the Kage have assembled.

Such a mighty army—what could a single Uchiha Haori, or even Madara Uchiha, possibly do?

Yet, just as he couldn't help but speak those words almost recklessly, a terrifying event truly occurred!

He no longer thinks "I'm not afraid even if Madara Uchiha comes"; now he wonders why this guy has shown up again?!

"How pitiful—you can only cling to this method to fantasize about victory?"

Yuzhi himself hadn't expected Da Ye Mu to pull this stunt on him, which made him both laugh and feel helpless.

That guy Madara Uchiha—how much psychological shadow has he cast over Da Ye Mu, that even now he still thinks of him.

In fact, Yuzhi sometimes wonders that, since this guy targets Leaf Village so much, especially after Yuzhi displayed astonishing power, they should normally have settled down.

After all, he, Hikari, and Zhirui have swept through the entire Cloud Village's large force.

Even if it's not as strong as a Madara Uchiha wielding Dragon Vein power plus Nine-Tails chakra, this burst of power already exceeds imagination.

Besides that, although Yuzhi consciously or unconsciously avoids striking Leaf Village, they have not been without conflict with Leaf Village.

When they first captured the Four-Tails, he and Hikari clashed with Ziraiye and Kakashi.

Even if it wasn't a heavy punch, would you say they actually got their hands dirty?

In such a situation, others would start pondering how to unite, but this guy ultimately sided with Cloud Village.

"Could it be that when they assassinated the Third Hokage, Hikari and I displayed potential, filling Da Ye Mu's heart with dread?"

Yuzhi's contact with Da Ye Mu wasn't deep; the only thing he can recall are a handful of meetings.

Just those few encounters made Da Ye Mu prefer to clash head‑on with Leaf Village; after pondering, the only fear he felt was from Madara Uchiha, which, combined with his own talent, led to his decision.

Madara Uchiha, what a troublemaker!

Just as Yuzhi was pondering, the surrounding ninjas seemed to sense the movement and immediately surrounded Yuzhi.

But Yuzhi and his two companions ignored it, standing leisurely on the treetops, apathetically watching Da Ye Mu.

At this moment Da Ye Mu seemed to regain some reason; his gaze remained grim, as if he could never forget how this person had swept his large force.

"Isn't the illusion not what you claim? This person who doesn't belong to this world—your rightful place should be the Pure Land!"

Da Ye Mu glared at Yuzhi, speaking loudly and straightforwardly; he paused briefly, then continued angrily.

"And that sentence was spoken by me; whether you or anyone else, you cannot achieve your desired goals!"

"You other person—could it be me?"

Yuzhi's expression turned odd; Da Ye Mu was probably truly possessed by Madara Uchiha's madness.

Nevertheless, it must be said that his fear of Madara Uchiha allowed him, after a bout of brutality, to regain himself.

He even recovered that thing he had long lost, called the 'Will of Stone'.

Unfortunately, Yuzhi at this moment was somewhat amused; with his arms crossed over his chest, he gazed at the growing crowd and said with a smile.

"Being overconfident is a fine trait, but after understanding the gap, still not knowing life or death is foolish."

As he spoke, his figure settled firmly onto the ground.

He lifted his head and looked around; the surroundings were now swarmed by countless ninjas, and he noticed many Rock Ninja with faces showing fear.

He didn't know whether they were survivors from the last time, or people who, having heard the legend, were now terrified.

Da Ye Mu also fixed his gaze following his movement; though somewhat fearful, there was also a hint of resolve.

Yuzhi couldn't help but let out a light laugh, then mockingly asked.

"What's with that look, little imp of the two‑scale, you can't still be thinking of fighting me now, can you?

I thought after the previous blows you would understand the gap, but now it seems you haven't learned the lesson."

Da Ye Mu gently closed his eyes, as Yuzhi's words brought painful memories back to his mind.

But soon his eyes reopened, and this time they seemed to contain something different; his emotions grew more intense.

He stared at Yuzhi and the two others, and after a while spoke in a deep voice.

"Hmm, I have long understood our disparity, but sometimes, merely understanding the gap doesn't allow one to retreat!"

At this point his voice grew immensely loud; he looked at Yuzhi with utmost seriousness and shouted, his voice echoing throughout the forest.

"Among ninjas we have always been in constant conflict, fighting endlessly for the interests of our own nations and villages, indiscriminately plundering other nations and villages.

Some of these battles are proactive, some passive, but regardless, they continue: plundering, being plundered; when something is taken, we strive to reclaim it."

Hatred gradually swelled, leading to three Great Ninja Wars; the world is now riddled with wounds, not the world we desire.

For our dreams and the safety of our villages, we united.

And you, you all, aren't the Uchiha the ones destroying all this, ruining our dreams?

Over fifty years ago, my teacher and I came to Leaf Village intending to form an alliance; what did you do?

Your ambition is uncontrollable, your desire unquenchable; all you seek is to destroy us to fulfill your own ambition!

And now Uchiha Haori is the same; he inherited your will and also seeks to destroy the peace of the ninja world through his own means.

You are the greatest culprits of the ninja world, the ones who must shatter this peace!"

Da Ye Mu's words gave everyone a jolt; evidently his speech articulated the current state of the ninja world and clarified the ongoing upheaval.

Everything is for profit, and while pursuing profit, the shadow of war fills everyone's hearts with anger and hatred.

The lingering hatred and anger have led to the present, and now Da Ye Mu and his group seem intent on erasing that hatred.

But Yuzhi, after hearing this, couldn't help but gently shake his head; Da Ye Mu truly knows how to play the trick of shifting concepts.

"Did you unite because of me or that Fifth Hokage?"

Yuzhi raised an eyebrow, and the sarcasm in his voice grew considerably.

"Da Ye Mu, you've lived so long yet I didn't expect your other abilities haven't increased; only your skill at talking has grown a lot."

"You know exactly what your joint purpose is, don't you? Or perhaps you're just acting out of fear."

"A bunch of sewer rats—do you really think you can accomplish anything?"

"Moreover, if you truly want to end the wars of the ninja world, shouldn't all villages be eliminated except for one?"

"That's the real reality, Da Ye Mu—you've reached this age and still haven't learned from past suffering."

"Don't you know that the true culprit of the ninja world is you, and your lot—this gang of sewer rats gathered together."

"Then you shout something like 'We are ninjas of such‑and‑such village,' and immediately swing your blade to kill people just like you."

"If you truly care about the so‑called ninja world, why not shut down your own village, or even unify the entire ninja world?"

"Stop spreading deceitful words here!"

Da Ye Mu's face darkened; he knows Madara Uchiha isn't easily fooled, but having this guy pierce his thoughts outright was something he could not accept.

Once a village is founded, no one is willing to abandon it; those already atop the clouds could never consent to descend.

He waved his hand broadly and roared angrily.

"I've endured enough suffering; I may not have lived as long as you, but I understand pain well enough."

"Because I comprehend this pain, I can contemplate what to do next to achieve the best outcome in the future."

"You're merely trying to satisfy your ambitions and desires; you, and even Uchiha Haori, are no different."

"We will never agree to you; you dare not destroy our home for selfish greed!"

"And then, is that all you have—this bunch of rotten fish and shrimp?"

Yuzhi gave a contemptuous smile, then looked disdainfully at everyone present and asked.

His words instantly enraged all the ninjas present; as ninjas they have their own tempers, and Yuzhi's mockery was something they could not hold back.

But Da Ye Mu didn't let them act; they are merely poised for action now.

And Yuzhi still waited leisurely; in fact, his endless rambling didn't really ruin Madara Uchiha's character.

Madara Uchiha, that guy, sometimes enjoys trading barbs; in the original, during the Fourth Great War he was constantly spouting cheeky remarks.

Besides the well‑known 'classic quotes,' his other banter is plentiful, seeming as if he's debating contemporary shadows over whose theory is correct.

Perhaps this method is what they call 'winning people over with virtue'?

But Madara Uchiha is clearly not adept at 'verbal evasion.'

Moreover, for him personally, compared to 'winning with virtue,' once he deems the opponent obstinate, he prefers to switch to 'winning with reason.'

After all, his reputation is earned by force; few survive under his command.

The only one who survived and persuaded him was also the 'reason‑winning' Senju Clan's ZhuZhang.

"Fine, there's really nothing to discuss with you lot."

Yuzhi shook his head slightly; his chakra was already stirring, and there was another reason for his rambling here.

He was waiting for someone; Nagato was on his way, and Yuzhi was naturally willing to wait for them.

Now that they're almost here, he can prepare to finish up.

"Looking at you all, I truly find it especially laughable.

Da Ye Mu, you have indeed lived a long time, and I suppose you see far, but your greed has already limited your vision.

As far as I know, the ninja world has already produced the Fourth and even Fifth Kage, yet your Rock Village is still you?"

"Desire is the key that limits a person's perspective; in my eyes, you're merely a self‑deceiving fool."

"Moreover, even if you manage this alliance out of fear, laying down past hatred and enjoying a not‑short period of peace, it would still be illusory."

"How long could such peace last? Ten years, a hundred years, or how long?"

"When everyone who fought in this war dies one by one, and when no one remembers the war."

"When their descendants forget the camaraderie of fighting side by side, a new split will begin, and a new war will follow."

"Because you've never been a whole, because you've never considered unifying everything; you're merely a loose, greed‑filled coalition."

"Da Ye Mu, I'm disappointed in you; perhaps you should have some courage, but in the end you're no different."

"Fine, I don't even want to say more about you sewer rat; you know what I'm best at, I think you understand, which is—"

Before he finished speaking, Yuzhi's chakra surged skyward.

It, containing the power of Indra, kept exploding, and that terrifying force seemed to solidify into substance at that moment.

An endless oppressive pressure vibrated in everyone's hearts; Yuzhi clearly did nothing, yet that sense of despair still spread through them.

"I'll send you to the Pure Land then; although I came this time to catch a beast, meeting you makes that impossible,"

"Catch a beast?"

Yuzhi's words gave Da Ye Mu a sudden jolt; abruptly he thought of something.

"The Land of Waterfalls, Seven‑Tails!"

"Damn it, you came here to catch the Seven‑Tails?!"

All of a sudden, Da Ye Mu wanted to open his mouth and tell the Madara Uchiha in front of him, "Give me the Seven‑Tails, you leave, don't act or babble nonsense."

But he didn't have time to speak, because Yuzhi was already stepping toward them.

Those slow steps, that Asura‑like captivating aura already spread through everyone's hearts.

At that moment he couldn't speak at all, only watch the person before him walk toward them—

Inside the Hokage Tower's advisory office in Leaf Village.

The Third Hokage and Senju Clan's Fuguma sat opposite each other in silence, their minds still a bit dazed.

How could they not forget everything that happened before, when they were merely sitting there discussing future policies.

Suddenly a strange power full of natural aura erupted, and immediately the two fell into an illusion.

They had indeed tried to escape that illusion, but no matter what they did they couldn't; the powerful binding made it impossible for them to do anything.

They could only watch helplessly as everything in the illusion unfolded, and that illusion still echoes in their minds now.

"Third Hokage, Second Hokage, are you okay?"

Minato and Ziraiye, standing aside, looked at the two with some worry; they had already arrived when the natural aura burst.

But seeing their current condition, they found it hard to ask, and just sitting there idly wasn't right either; after hesitating for a while, Minato finally couldn't help but ask.

"I'm... fine..."

After a while, the Third Hokage spoke softly, but his gaze had already turned to Ziraiye.

"Ziraiye, a question: in the prophecy you saw, who was the Hokage?"

"This one..."

Ziraiye was a bit stunned; he didn't understand what was happening with his teacher, but he reacted quickly and instantly guessed something.

"Teacher, you wouldn't also..."

"Answer the question first."

Senju Heiman's face darkened as he stared at Ziraiye and asked.

"At that time, was the Hokage you or Yuzhi?"

"Um... it was Tsunade..."

Ziraiye was now completely certain that his teacher and this Second Hokage were definitely brought by a prophecy; otherwise he wouldn't have asked such a question!

He was just curious which segment of the prophecy they had experienced.

Lately Ziraiye had been studying this prophecy; although it differed slightly from the one given by the Toad Sage, many details matched perfectly, and besides that there was Nagato.

He had basically mastered that guy's abilities; otherwise he wouldn't have been so at ease in battle, so he trusted this prophecy greatly.

Even if these prophecies were not from the same world, and might not even be the world where Madara Uchiha became Hokage.

Yet the information inside is truly valuable!

"Tsunade..."

The Third Hokage and Senju Heiman exchanged a glance; they both felt this choice was unreliable, and Senju Heiman, after thinking, asked bluntly.

"After you die, would you choose Tsunade?"

"Teacher, I'm already dead..."

The Third Hokage was both amused and exasperated—how could he choose after being dead? After thinking, he could only say softly.

"Probably Koharu and En made the choice, but their first choice would have been Ziraiye; Ziraiye certainly wouldn't agree, and Danzo... so, Tsunade's situation is understandable."

"Third Hokage, Second Hokage, what are you talking about?"

Minato stared at them with a bewildered expression; he had never received any so‑called prophecy, even if he knew of it he hadn't encountered it, and he kept saying he was dead—was that really okay?

Also, wasn't he the Fourth Hokage? How did he become the Fifth Hokage now?

Could it be that I'm dead too?

"Damn, that would mean Kushina would be widowed—how can that be!"

At that moment Minato's curiosity peaked, but he couldn't bring himself to ask, so he just stood there anxiously.

"Teacher, Second Hokage, what exactly did you see?"

Ziraiye, now especially curious, hesitated briefly then boldly asked.

"Hmph, perhaps we forcibly uncovered the Mirror's identity, so we're just like you."

Senju Heiman, though suspecting it was likely genjutsu, noted that Uchiha's genjutsu could certainly achieve such a feat.

Yet doubt is doubt, and the matter was too bizarre and strange, so he could only speak with tentative belief.

"Just now we entered an illusion together, and inside we saw many things..."

Senju Heiman recounted the recent memory in relatively detail, though he himself was also struggling to hold back.

Although his own technique had awakened him now, he was still free to do whatever he wanted.

Yet in that illusion, he became a puppet of Orochimaru, the Third Hokage's disciple, and was forced by that guy to brutally beat the Third Hokage.

Not only him, but his older brother as well; the two of them were controlled, fighting with power barely a fraction of what they had in life.

Yet, after doing so, they left the monkey dizzy, and what baffled him more was that the monkey finally used Dead Spirit Sealing?

That not only left no way for himself to survive, but also gave no chance for them to survive!

Nonetheless, Senju Heiman still felt this was commendable.

If it came to that, he'd rather be sealed forever in the Shinigami's belly than become another "pet."

Though the Third Hokage was also embarrassed and uneasy, he internally approved much of what he saw.

If the situation were reversed, he would probably act without hesitation.

He only wondered why no one came to help him.

"I clearly saw Ziraiye's Toad Sage, plus Hyuga, Zhu Lude, and Oil Girl—where are those clan members?"

The Third Hokage felt somewhat displeased, and what really broke his composure was that after he sealed the two Hokage and Orochimaru's hands, those people suddenly appeared.

"What heinous deeds have I committed to make you treat me this way?"

The Third Hokage almost burst into angry laughter, but then couldn't laugh because he hadn't seen Danzo.

"Summarize it."

Senju Heiman had finished speaking, glanced at the Third Hokage, then said.

"According to intelligence, Orochimaru not only defected but also allied with the Sand Village to attack Leaf Village."

At this point, Senju Heiman couldn't help but glare at the Third Hokage; he had previously claimed his disciples wouldn't cause trouble, yet now they began teacher assassination?

For a moment he truly doubted whether this illusion was created by Yuzhi, but he kept it to himself, needing to verify.

"Also, you seem to have incurred everyone's wrath; no one came to save you."

This... I don't know either.

Also, the Uchiha Clan seems gone; what's going on?

Teacher, I don't know.

The Third Hokage felt a bitter pang in his heart, but he couldn't help thinking of another matter: his own funeral.

Heaven knows why that damned illusion made him watch his own funeral.

He was clearly still alive—did he really crave his own death so much?

But at that funeral he also noticed several things: Naruto that brat came alone, and besides that, Sasuke Uchiha also came alone.

They had no family; could there be hidden circumstances here?

Moreover, in the illusion the coffin of Orochimaru's Impure Earth Reincarnation bore a 'four', but that coffin was stopped by him.

Could it be that Minato is inside that coffin?

Also, why did everyone refuse to rescue him, only acting to crush Suna after his death?

"Either they teamed up with Orochimaru, or they truly wanted me dead, and that caused this situation."

The Third Hokage sighed; the disappearance of the Uchiha Clan was likely due to Danzo, and the only one who could make everyone hate him was also Danzo!

And that world seemed not to have seen Yuzhi; perhaps that kid was already gone on the battlefield.

After all, in another timeline Uchiha Quannai also killed his teacher Senju Clan Feijian, and as a ninja, losing a misstep person is quite normal, so.

"A world without Yuzhi—could it be that terrifying?"

The Third Hokage couldn't help murmuring, and Senju Clan Feijian was also silent at that moment.

After a while, he shook his head and said,

"That world truly is terrifying: everyone betrays and abandons, no rescue, killed by one's own disciple, the Leaf Village devastated.

Moreover, the Fourth Hokage also seems dead, the Uchiha Clan no longer exists, even the Hyuga Clan ignored you, monkey—what exactly did you do?"

"Did I really also die?"

Minato was a bit unsettled now; although he had guessed, hearing that sentence still made him uneasy.

And Senju Clan Feijian's next sentence made his eyes widen even more.

"Dead—not only you, but your wife as well; only your son lives, named Naruto, right?"

"All dead"

Minato murmured softly; he seemed absent‑minded, filled with confusion at that moment.

"I don't know if it's true, but... if faced with such a situation, those would be my choices."

The Third Hokage remained silent for a long while before he finally spoke softly.

"What a terrifying story, what a terrifying future indeed."

But at that point he turned his head toward Minato again, and after a while he spoke.

"However, in that world your son is a good child."

"Is that so?"

Minato was still a bit dazed, while Ziraiye raised an eyebrow slightly; he couldn't help recalling his own prophecy, and gently patted Minato's shoulder, saying,

"Indeed, he truly is a good child."

Both the Third and the Second Hokage fell silent, yet all that had happened before resurfaced in their minds.

Whether it was the life‑or‑death battle with Orochimaru, or the rolling thunder after the war, the rain continuously washing and cleansing the shattered Leaf Village.

Or the funeral before the memorial stone, all of which are forever etched upon their hearts.

However, soon they became uneasy again.

Danzo refused to accept the Second Hokage; Orochimaru turned and killed the Third Hokage—how could there be any harmony in their line?

This is fundamentally "teacher's kindness, disciple's filial piety"; could killing one's teacher later become a tradition?

(End of Chapter)