Naruto: IY Ch. 30

"We're out of class now."

Takeshi, Kantaro, and Gian found White Zetsu, who had been waiting on the playground for a long time.

"Mm-hmm."

White Zetsu acted like a seasoned adult, hands behind his back, gazing at the three with a mysterious air.

"Did you bring the storybook I wanted?"

He extended one hand as he asked.

The three looked at each other and shook their heads. "Nope. Our moms like reading the storybooks too."

"What?!"

"Moms? Are moms that important to the Uchiha?"

"Uchiha?" The three kids looked puzzled.

"Ah, did I let that slip?" White Zetsu quickly covered his mouth, then waved it off and laughed. "Just kidding! What Uchiha? I don't know any Uchiha."

"Um... do you guys have any other storybooks?"

Takeshi scratched his head. "How about the ethics textbook? It has stories in it too."

Kantaro chimed in approvingly, "Yeah! Yeah! 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf,' 'The Tortoise and the Hare,' Ikkaku-sensei talks about them all the time and makes us memorize the entire text."

"So annoying! Why does the principal assign so many readings?" Gian grumbled, rubbing his head.

"Hurry and bring it over, Madara-sama can't fall asleep without me telling a story."

Class was about to start. The three quickly fetched the ethics textbook, then rushed back to class.

White Zetsu glanced around cautiously, then used his ability to burrow into the ground.

All of this was witnessed by a toad.

---

"You're saying that strange guy asked Takeshi and the others for storybooks?"

In the office, Yahiko rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Looks like Madara couldn't stand the loneliness anymore.

Not surprising, Hashirama had been dead for a long time now. Totally understandable.

"Just make sure you don't get caught. As long as he isn't endangering the village, let him be."

---

"Madara-sama, are you asleep?"

Seeing that Madara had his eyes closed and wasn't moving, White Zetsu whispered cheekily.

Madara stirred, opened his eyes, and looked at him in confusion.

"I brought the storybook back. Want me to read you a bedtime story?"

White Zetsu spoke like he was coaxing a child.

"I swea—" Madara almost lost it. After all these years, only those two brothers had ever gotten under his skin like this, and now this creature too.

"You don't want to hear it?" White Zetsu asked pitifully.

Sigh... Madara closed his eyes again.

I'll definitely make him fall asleep tonight! You've got this! White Zetsu hyped himself up inside, then sat down next to Madara and opened the book.

"The Boy Who Cried Wolf. So the story goes, there was once a shepherd boy who watched over the village's sheep..."

And so, the story began.

Madara thought to himself, If it were me, I probably would've just ignored that lying brat after the first false alarm. With this kind of "moral lesson," only someone trusting and naive like Hashirama would keep believing him.

In the story, there was also a lesson that caught his interest, the consequences of deception.

Lies destroying trust, leading to isolation.

Unity through honesty!

Yahiko had subtly slipped in the idea that the shinobi world should be unified, hinting at it through the story. He didn't mention it outright, Yoake was too weak right now. If the Five Great Nations heard that kind of talk, they'd crush them in an instant.

A glint flashed in his eyes. That was exactly how he used to think.

Back then, he was utterly convinced the shinobi world needed unity through strength, there could be only one way to peace.

But Hashirama had a completely different opinion about trust and cooperation. His firm opposition eventually made even Madara start to doubt himself, worrying that force might cause more harm than good. So he gave up on that vision.

"And are there any stories about what happens when people learn to trust again?"

Suddenly, Madara spoke, startling White Zetsu so badly he jumped up like a scared animal.

"Oh oh, Madara-sama, let me take a look."

White Zetsu flipped through the book in his hands. He went through the entire thing.

"Hmm... stories like that, there's only one."

Madara closed his eyes again in disappointment.

"I'll tell you the story of The Tortoise and the Hare, then."

"Wait, huh?" White Zetsu scratched his head in confusion after sitting back down.

"What is it?" Madara asked.

White Zetsu started reading the story aloud.

Madara's face twitched again.

The Tortoise and the Hare.

It went like this, one day, a speedy hare mocked a slow tortoise and challenged him to a race.

The hare was so confident in his speed that he decided to take a nap mid-race. Meanwhile, the tortoise kept moving steadily forward. When the hare woke up, the tortoise had already crossed the finish line.

"That's... actually not a bad lesson," White Zetsu admitted thoughtfully.

Madara was stunned for a moment.

He nearly forgot, this brat was Jiraiya's student.

Which meant... he was Hiruzen's grand-student. And that made him Tobirama's... great-grand-student?

So that was where all this shameless behavior came from, it was passed down through the line!

Tobirama, that cunning schemer, and Konoha had always painted Madara as the villain.

And Hiruzen? Claimed to be the strongest Hokage?

Shameless!

People like them, delusional, sick in the head, don't belong in my Infinite Tsukuyomi world.

What bad luck.

That whole bloodline from Tobirama's side ought to be groveling on the roadside like beggars, begging for scraps.

Just then, another White Zetsu suddenly emerged.

"Madara-sama, Hanzō is secretly leading eight elite Ame ninjas toward Yoake. Should we alert the vessels?"

Madara immediately grabbed the White Zetsu by the neck with one hand.

"What did that naturally evil brat Yahiko give you, huh?"

The White Zetsu was completely choked, unable to speak.

"Madara-sama, let go, let go! You told White Zetsu No. 2 to warn the vessels to run if they were in danger, remember?" the original White Zetsu hurriedly interjected.

Madara released his grip.

White Zetsu No. 2 wasn't dead but looked like he was on the verge of tears as he collapsed to the ground.

"No need to worry about them."

"If the vessels are lost, then come report back to me."

With that, Madara closed his eyes again.

After a long silence from White Zetsu, he started to feel his throat itch. He coughed twice. "Ahem, ahem."

"Oh, oh!" White Zetsu snapped back to reality.

He had forgotten to keep telling Madara his bedtime story.

---

A few days ago, Ame officially assembled its forces and declared war on Yoake.

The reason for war: We're broke.

Today, Hanzō suddenly appeared with hundreds of people on a small bridge just thirty kilometers outside Yoake.

However, the other major party in this event, Yoake, knew nothing about it. That was because Hanzō only informed the Five Great Villages.

The Five Great Villages didn't hold any goodwill toward Yoake, in fact, they even helped cover things up.

If it weren't for an old lady stopping a certain kid who likes playing with puppets, he would've come to lend a hand.

---

In Yoake's office, Yahiko looked at the Nara clan member standing in front of him.

"Where did these hundreds of ninja come from?!"

"Hundreds of ninja!"

Ridiculous! As the village that was declared war on, they only found out after the enemy was nearly at the gates.

Even more ridiculous, the one who told him was Hiruzen.

"The Hokage said: the film industry and toy factories are too deep for you to handle. If you're willing to submit Yoake and its shares, Konoha can step in to help. On the day of submission, you'll be made a Konoha jonin!" the Nara ninja said.

The location of Yoake was quite nice, fertile land, warm climate. Hiruzen hadn't noticed before, but now that he had, he was quite envious.

"Ame declared war on us without warning."

At that moment, a tired and dusty chunin from a village outpost ran in. Clearly, he had been traveling for days without rest.

The Nara ninja showed a "see?" and "what a hassle" kind of expression.

Yahiko's temples throbbed. If a low-ranking ninja could've learned Hanzō's plans in advance and warned them before the attack, he wouldn't still be a low-ranking ninja, it'd be a miracle if he survived at all.

He waved his hand. Seeing this, the chunin retreated.

"Yahiko, how about reconsidering?" the Nara ninja continued to persuade.

"Tell that your Hokage: If he's willing to hand over the Hokage title, I'll think about it. If not, tell him to prepare for war!" Yahiko said firmly.

Seeing the Nara ninja's strange expression, he added, "He should prepare himself."

"He only extended help because you're Jiraiya's student. He appreciates your talent. But fine, I've tried to talk sense into you and you won't listen. You're walking to your own doom. So troublesome. I'm never taking such a long-distance mission again."

After the Nara ninja left, all the capable fighters in Yoake poured into the office.

Everyone looked worried, but no one looked afraid.

They ate the village's food, drank the village's water, and drew higher salaries than the village leader. If they were scared now, even they couldn't forgive themselves.

Take Shuzen, for example. This was the first time he ever heard of something called a pension. Damn, if the village survived, he could collect it forever.

"Heh." Kakuzu didn't take it seriously. "That Salamader thinks he can eye my money? I've fought with Hashirama, you know."

Shuzen gave him a look, a bit complicated. It's fine to bluff young people, but don't fool yourself too.

Sakumo spoke, "Hundreds of people? Then we strike first, capture Hanzō."

He understood Kakuzu's strength, it matched a Kage-level ninja. Only he and Yahiko combined could defeat him.

There were also Jiraiya and Hiruko locked up in prison.

Nagato had the Rinnegan, the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths. As for what special powers they held, they hadn't yet discovered. Yahiko, even at his young age, had seen him use techniques a few times, clearly, these people were all at the elite level of a Konoha ninja.

Although the village didn't have many ninjas, they could fight.

After Sakumo finished analyzing the situation, Yahiko suddenly felt like Hanzō was just some overhyped has-been.

Yahiko said solemnly, "First, organize the villagers to prepare for evacuation if needed."

Everyone nodded.

Sakumo and Nagato went to mobilize the village's ninja. The rest stayed and watched Yahiko turn on the office microphone.

"Hello, hello..."

From telephone poles, schools, and prisons... all the loudspeakers across the village crackled with static, followed by his voice.

At this moment, all villagers, tourists, and merchants turned to look at the nearest loudspeaker.

They were already used to it.

At 7 AM, the children do morning exercises. At 10 AM, the older kids do a mid-morning routine.

Even when people had nothing to do, they'd often follow along. All the village's policies and announcements were broadcast through the loudspeakers.

Some first-time visitors to Yoake listened to the locals' explanations and couldn't help but nod.

Was there another event today?

Madara and White Zetsu looked up toward the sound.

Outside the village, on a river cruise ship, tourists were taking photos on the bow. Without exception, they were nobles from the Five Great Nations, or at the very least, people of considerable means.

Only people like them could travel freely without worry.

"Hello, hello, hello..."

A voice faintly came from within the village, and everyone turned to look curiously.

"Hanzō's acting like a fool! I regret to inform you that the Salamander, for his own selfish desires, seeks to trigger the Third Great Ninja War!"

"Though the enemy is approaching fiercely, don't be afraid! As long as we don't abandon you, nothing bad will happen!"

"Today! I will lead the charge!"

Bzzzt bzzzt bzzzt...

Another wave of static. The loudspeaker cut off.

Everyone guessed: Yahiko had gone to face the enemy.

The noblewoman from the Land of Fire, who was taking photos at the bow, lowered her camera at her attendant's instruction.

What the heck? The country of her idol was at war. Her idol had enlisted?

Wait, no, her idol was the village leader.

Next to her in line for photos were nobles from the Land of Wind, the Land of Earth... All of them wore faces of righteous indignation.

In their view, cinema was a refined, sacred art. And now some wretched fool like Hanzō would attack this place?

Had they let this guy eat too well lately?

---

"We're not running. We absolutely won't run!"

"Damn it! Hanzō failed to make something of himself, and now he's jealous of us?"

"I nearly starved to death in Ame, and the village leader here gave me food, gave me clothes, found me work, there's no way I can betray him!"

Villagers gathered in the square, cursing in rage.

At the school, Ikkaku looked at the children being hidden away on the playground by Konan's group.

"Protect the children!"

"But we're Konoha ninjas. Why should we care about them?"

Ikkaku's eyes were resolute. The two spies next to him still remembered that their hearts belonged to Konoha.

"Sensei... come hide with us!"

Somehow, Yuki found the courage to run from Konan's group, pulling on Ikkaku's sleeve with one hand and tugging on a spy's uniform with the other.

"Yeah! It's dangerous outside."

More students rushed over, crying, thinking the three adults planned to die for the village. Looking at the innocent faces of the children... The spies' eyes welled with tears.

Damn! We really are scum...!

Ikkaku said, "Protect the children!"

The two spies repeated, "Protect the children!"

Outside the school, near a street cart, Teuchi still squinted contentedly.

Yahiko was a good leader.

---

On a small bridge 15 kilometers outside Yoake, hundreds of Ame ninjas were resting temporarily.

Before launching the attack, Hanzō had heard the troops hadn't eaten yet. He found his trusted subordinate, Amemura, and stared coldly at him.

"Why hasn't the unit eaten lunch yet?"

"Reporting, Hanzō-sama! I've ordered them to eat only after we take Yoake!"

Amemura stood tall, replying with a booming voice.

"Good! That's the spirit!"

Hanzō patted Amemura's shoulder with his gloved right hand, clearly pleased.

"Spread the word, it's 10:30 now. We eat at exactly 11 o'clock!"

"Yes!"