Seeing Kakashi like this, Minato Namikaze had no choice but to knock him unconscious and use the Flying Thunder God Technique to return him to Konoha, immediately admitting him to the Konoha Hospital.
Now that two of his three disciples had disappeared, he absolutely couldn't allow the last one, Kakashi, to suffer any further harm.
Still, Minato hadn't forgotten his current duty—everything else would have to wait until he had safely escorted the Third Hokage back to Konoha.
For Minato, this wouldn't take long.
Using the Flying Thunder God Technique, he returned swiftly to the Land of Iron. After he explained the situation to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the latter did not hesitate.
He had Minato teleport both himself and Kawaki Aoba back to Konoha. As for Minato, he immediately resumed investigating the disappearances of Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin.
Kawaki Aoba, however, wasn't optimistic.
He already had a strong suspicion about the culprit behind their disappearance.
Uchiha Madara. Aside from him, Kawaki Aoba couldn't think of anyone else who would be interested in Obito—the supposed dead-last of the Uchiha clan who hadn't even awakened his Sharingan.
But what puzzled Aoba was why Madara would involve Nohara Rin in his plot against Obito.
Could it be that he intended to kill Rin at a critical moment to drive Obito into awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan?
If that were the case, Obito might indeed unlock the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"I need to keep a close watch on Kirigakure, in the Land of Water," Aoba muttered.
In the original timeline, Madara manipulated events to cause Obito's Mangekyō awakening after Rin's death—though this was orchestrated through Kakashi killing her under duress, not by Kirigakure directly.
Although the current circumstances diverged from that timeline, if Madara still intended to awaken Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan, it was likely that Kirigakure would once again be involved—perhaps through the Hidden Mist's role as the "Bloody Mist" under genjutsu influence.
As for the current complication—that the Third Mizukage had already broken free of Madara's genjutsu—Aoba doubted it would hinder someone of Madara's caliber.
After reporting to Hiruzen Sarutobi, Aoba left the Hokage's office and returned home. He left behind a shadow clone and used Instant Transmission (a fan-created technique, here assumed valid) to leave Konoha.
Ordinary ninja like Obito and Rin, even with chakra signatures Aoba remembered, were still difficult to find across the vast ninja world.
One reason was that Aoba's chakra perception wasn't on par with top-tier sensory types, and another was that Obito and Rin's chakra signatures were both weak and unremarkable.
But there was one person whose chakra signature he could track easily.
Uchiha Madara.
Tracking Madara was one thing—but approaching him was another. If Aoba appeared openly, he would risk exposing that the alias "Smoker" (a non-canon code name for Madara) was linked to Konoha and the very two people Madara had taken.
Approaching directly and asking for their release was out of the question. A more subtle and safe strategy was needed.
As Aoba pondered how to deal with "Grandpa Madara," the man himself had already intercepted the Third Mizukage and his companion, Yagura Karatachi, as they departed from the Land of Iron.
"Damn it… it's really Uchiha Madara! Mizukage-sama, go! I'll hold him off!" Yagura shouted, stepping in front of the Third Mizukage.
But the older man pushed Yagura aside and stood to face Madara directly—though he avoided meeting his eyes.
"Uchiha Madara… all these years, you've been manipulating me, haven't you? Thanks to you, I've probably been the most disgraceful Mizukage in history. Let's settle this, here and now."
Turning briefly to Yagura, he said, "Yagura, this is my battle. Return to the village and take up the title of Fourth Mizukage. That's an order."
Yagura bit his lip. He knew this was the right decision, having recently learned the truth behind the Mizukage's condition. But before he could respond, Madara made his move.
"Heh… trying to run? How naïve."
Without wasting another word, Madara activated his Susanoo, skipping lesser stages and going straight to the Complete Body Susanoo.
The Third Mizukage inhaled sharply. He was prepared to die, determined to take at least a piece of Madara with him. Though he had kept quiet about the genjutsu manipulation for the village's sake, the shame still weighed on him.
Even if his enemy was Uchiha Madara, he was still a Kage—he wouldn't fall without a fight.
His resolve was admirable, but the disparity in power was overwhelming.
Had Madara used a lesser stage of Susanoo, the Third Mizukage might have put up a fight. But against the fully-formed armored giant, he was like an insect.
The battle ended almost immediately. Despite unleashing several large-scale water-style techniques, none could penetrate the defense of the Susanoo.
With one massive hand, the Susanoo grabbed the Mizukage and crushed him effortlessly. His body was torn apart—his death, brutal and tragic.
Yagura, however, was spared—for now.
Madara had other uses for him.
Under the overwhelming pressure of Susanoo, Yagura was forced to look into Madara's eyes. The last thing he saw was the spinning pattern of Mangekyō Sharingan.
As the Susanoo faded away, Yagura stood silently—his will completely overridden.
He had been placed under Madara's genjutsu—destined to become his puppet, the new Bloody Mist's puppet ruler.
However, Uchiha Madara was not fully satisfied. Only he knew that the reason he could control a Kage-level shinobi like Yagura Karatachi using the Mangekyō Sharingan was because of power he had temporarily borrowed.
Though the power technically originated from him, the fact that it had to be reclaimed irritated Madara deeply.
"You've been watching for quite a while now. Why not come out already?" Madara turned slightly, his eyes narrowing toward a shadowy area—exactly where Kawaki Aoba was hiding.
Having been discovered, Kawaki Aoba showed no surprise. He calmly stepped out of the shadows.
Just as Aoba had precisely located Madara's position, Madara had also sensed Aoba's covert surveillance.
"You didn't interfere earlier, so I assume you're not here to fight," Madara said, arms crossed, Mangekyō Sharingan still active. "So, what do you want?"
Kawaki Aoba remained composed. "Madara, neither of us can overpower the other right now. Let's talk."
Madara raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Talk? About what? Or do you plan to explain why you're standing against me?"
Kawaki Aoba was momentarily stunned. Madara's words reminded him that it was he who first sought out conflict. In a sense, the fault lay with him.
Still, Aoba shook his head. "I don't oppose you out of spite. It's your plan that terrifies me."
"Oh?" Madara's expression shifted slightly. "You know my plan?"
The doubt in Madara's voice was clear. As far as he knew, the Eye of the Moon Plan was a closely guarded secret, known only to himself and Black Zetsu—his so-called will incarnate.
Aoba smiled. "The Eye of the Moon Plan—gather the Tailed Beasts, create the Ten-Tails, and cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi across the moon to trap the world in a genjutsu, ending all conflict."
As he suspected, this man knew everything.
Madara's expression darkened. Though he had suspected it, hearing it confirmed unsettled him.
He spoke in a low, heavy voice. "Ending war... bringing peace to the ninja world. Isn't that a noble goal?"
"Eliminating war is noble," Aoba replied. "But using a genjutsu to force peace? Trapping everyone in a dream... it's nothing more than a beautiful illusion—a shared lie. That's not peace. It's mass extinction of free will."
"Haha… hahaha…"
Madara burst into laughter. Aoba watched, wondering if Madara might cry from laughing too hard.
"You… Smoker, was it?" Madara scoffed. "You remind me of that naïve fool, Hashirama. You idealists never learn. Only Infinite Tsukuyomi can end suffering."
Aoba remained silent, unsurprised by the delusion of a man who had long abandoned reality.
But before he could write Madara off as a complete madman, Madara's next words caught him off guard.
"Even Hashirama… I once believed in his dream. I hoped his vision of peace might become real. I waited, observed, gave the world a chance."
Madara's voice hardened. "And what did I get in return? Three Great Ninja Wars. Bloodshed. Betrayal. Loss. Time has proven him wrong. Only I can enforce peace."
With that, Madara raised a hand, his immense chakra pressure exploding outward.
"You still intend to stop me, don't you?" he said with authority. "Come then. Let me see your resolve. You are only the second opponent I have ever acknowledged."
Kawaki Aoba stood silently, absorbing Madara's overwhelming presence. He didn't speak. He didn't move.
Madara waited.
Then, suddenly, Aoba began laughing—loudly, uncontrollably, just as Madara had earlier.
As his laughter echoed, his chakra surged, colliding with Madara's in a wave of pressure.
Madara grinned.
Yes. That's how it should be.
A true opponent shouldn't lurk in the shadows. He should confront his rival head-on.
"Madara," Aoba said, his eyes sharp, "I used to think you were just a powerful lunatic. But after hearing you out, I realize now—you're not the only one who's lost faith. This world is broken."
"Still," Aoba continued, "don't mistake me for Hashirama. I don't share his naïve optimism or needless compassion."
Madara's eyes flashed with interest, but Aoba held up a hand.
"Wait. Let me finish. I'm not as extreme as you either. I want peace too—real peace, in the real world. A peace that doesn't require illusions or chains."
Madara studied him carefully. "What are you planning?"
"I'll create my own path," Aoba said. "One that doesn't rely on genjutsu or sacrifice. If we could live in peace, who would choose war?"
Madara smirked. "Now you've piqued my interest. You reject both Hashirama's ideals and mine… what sort of world do you intend to build?"
He spoke with such ease, as if conversing with an old friend rather than an enemy.
But Aoba narrowed his eyes. "We're enemies. Do you really expect me to reveal my plan so easily? What if you decide to destroy it?"
Madara chuckled. "How do you know I wouldn't help you instead?"
"Heh. You really think I'd fall for that?" Aoba said. "That might work on academy kids—or Hashirama—but not me. You're still Madara Uchiha. If you were that easy to sway, you wouldn't be who you are."
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