"What did you say?"
Uchiha Madara suddenly opened his eyes, glaring at the whirlpool-headed white Zetsu, and said in a deep voice, "Aomi is coming?!"
"Yes, Madara-sama, Young Master Aomi has already reached the Land of Frost and is heading straight for us!"
Uchiha Madara quickly got up, furrowing his brows and thinking swiftly.
Why would Aomi come to the Land of Frost?
"Bring me my clan leader's attire, quickly..."
A hint of nervousness flickered across Uchiha Madara's heart; if Aomi saw him now, it really wouldn't be a good thing.
The recent changes in Konoha's direction had rendered Uchiha Madara unable to understand.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, that incompetent disciple of Senju Tobirama, was always externally strong but internally weak, and indecisive by nature.
But unexpectedly, he actually abandoned Senju Tobirama's petty mindset against the Uchiha, handing over Konoha's authority entirely to Aomi, decisively making one wonder if he was under some kind of Genjutsu.
This left Uchiha Madara a bit restless, and somewhat sentimental.
If Senju Tobirama back then could be like Sarutobi Hiruzen, not devising those plots and intrigues to exclude him, and instead allowing him to become the Second Hokage, setting future policies and attitudes toward other Hidden Villages...
Perhaps he would really have the chance to abandon the Eye of the Moon Plan?
Unfortunately, it's already too late.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen treating Aomi so well, in Uchiha Madara's view, added some obstacles to his plan.
The Uchiha's nature is always mercurial, not one to hit a smiling person.
So, given Sarutobi Hiruzen's favorable attitude, it was very likely that Aomi would think about serving Konoha.
Without experiencing the tempering of war, Aomi still doesn't realize that peace on this land can only be temporary and cannot exist forever.
Under such circumstances, if he were to bring up the Eye of the Moon Plan with Aomi, it would definitely not yield good results, and might even be counterproductive...
Uchiha Madara changed his clothes and tidied his appearance in front of the mirror, letting out a sigh.
Even though he's been mindful of healthy living lately, the erosion brought by time is something that cannot be repaired.
The once Ninja World Asura, Battlefield Rose, his thick, shiny black hair had already turned grey, his tall and straight posture had hunched over, and his handsome face was lined with wrinkles.
This appearance left him very dissatisfied.
Even if he put on the Uchiha Clan Leader's attire, he was still a frail old man...
And a powerless Uchiha, no matter how glorious the past, naturally lacks the persuasiveness in front of a rising new star from the clan.
So, should he retreat?
Uchiha Madara hesitated, knowing it was the most correct decision, but still from deep within, he wanted to meet Aomi.
And at this moment.
A white Zetsu emerged from the ground, reporting, "Madara-sama, Young Master Aomi has entered a valley and is no longer advancing!"
Uchiha Madara frowned, quickly forming hand seals, connecting to the vision of that white Zetsu, and his heart trembled.
"Possess me, let's go there!"
The whirlpool-headed white Zetsu was taken aback.
In this situation, shouldn't he be hiding quickly...?
What did Madara-sama see?
But looking at Uchiha Madara's eyes, it wisely remained silent, obediently transforming into white armor, taking Uchiha Madara into the earth.
#
In a valley within the Land of Frost.
Under the guidance of Dojutsu: Subi Chini, Aomi could clearly sense that the Sword of Totsuka and Yata Mirror were here.
"Aomi, what are you doing here?"
Senju Tobirama asked in confusion:
"The things with Root, although they can operate without you, still need your presence..."
"In three months, ninjas from other Hidden Villages will come to participate in the joint Chunin Exams, you as the Hokage... Root Leader, need to personally deploy relevant matters, Monkey's actions still lack a grander perspective."
Senju Tobirama almost referred to Aomi as Hokage.
But there was no helping it, ever since Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to "lie flat", leaving Konoha's affairs to Tsunade, the Hokage Assistant, almost entirely.
And Tsunade, almost talentless in governmental affairs, passed the decision-making power to Aomi.
One level passed to another, while Aomi, though not named Hokage, already held the reality of the Hokage's power.
The ninja clans that joined Root were now tightly bound with Aomi in interest, standing firm in their position.
Senju Tobirama didn't quite understand why Aomi suddenly came to the Land of Frost.
There's nothing here!
"Tobirama, I awakened a Dojutsu, called Subi Chini..."
Aomi said slowly, "This Dojutsu can see future visions and guide me to find certain destined artifacts."
Senju Tobirama was taken aback, how come another Mangekyo Dojutsu awakened...
It's indeed neither a cabbage nor a Great Fireball Jutsu, it is a Jutsu many Uchiha dream of their whole lives!
But more concerning to Senju Tobirama was the Dojutsu ability Aomi spoke of, "seeing the future".
Inside Aomi, Senju Tobirama had heard about Jiraiya's pursuit of the Child of Prophecy, and treated it with utmost disdain.
In his view, the so-called future cannot be prophesized.
Like a scientific experiment, under infinite variables, there would only be countless possibilities, guessing the most probable scenario is fine, but claiming to determine a single outcome...
Senju Tobirama didn't believe it.
And considering the Uchiha Clan's fervent nature, Aomi's contemplation of the Ninja World's falsehood and reality, along with his recent thoughts on peace…