"Sharingan?!"

The moment he saw the middle-aged man's eyes, the Raikage's face darkened. "A member of the Uchiha clan? Hmph. How arrogant. My intelligence reports that the Uchiha have broken away from Konoha and are now scattered fugitives. Tsunade, you should know this as well…"

"Tsunade? Tsunade!"

Seeing that she didn't answer him, the Raikage turned to look at her. He thought she was simply drunk and had fallen asleep, but he was shocked to see that all traces of drunkenness had vanished from her face, replaced by a look of pure, unadulterated terror.

"What's wrong with you? Is it so surprising to see a member of the Uchiha clan?"

"How about this, Tsunade," he offered. "I will not force you. Instead, I will help you capture this Uchiha and bring him back to Konoha for interrogation. In exchange, you will treat my subordinate. A fair trade, no?"

"Hey! Tsunade, did you hear me?!"

No matter how loudly he called, Tsunade remained unresponsive. Her pupils were dilated, her eyes fixed on the middle-aged man, her mouth slightly agape, as if she were seeing a ghost.

The middle-aged man sneered. "Raikage, you wish to attack me? Hmph. You haven't been out of your village for some time. You've grown bold."

"Arrogant fool!" Feeling so utterly dismissed, the Raikage's rage finally boiled over. He was already filled with a simmering anger over his subordinate's injuries. Now, faced with such a cocky Uchiha, he could no longer suppress it.

"Come outside!" he roared. "Let us settle this there! This is a tavern, and I have no desire to harm innocent people!"

"You dare to order me around?" the middle-aged man said, his voice a low, cold growl. "Who do you think you are?" He flicked his fingers, and in the next instant, the entire room erupted in an inferno of endless flame. No, not just the room—the entire street.

The Raikage was shocked. He quickly grabbed Samui and rushed out of the burning building. When he emerged, he saw that the entire street was a sea of fire.

"Water Release: Water Collision Wave!"

Samui used a water jutsu to extinguish a small patch of flames, creating a safe space for them. The Raikage was about to go back in to save Tsunade when he suddenly saw her appear behind him, the unconscious Shizune and Tonton in her arms.

"Be careful, Raikage!" she warned. "He is no ordinary Uchiha!"

"Hah! I was beginning to think you had lost your ability to speak! Tsunade, who is that man?"

"He… he should be…"

Seeing her hesitate, the Raikage pressed her. "Who is he?!"

"If I am not mistaken," she finally said, her voice trembling, "he should be Uchiha Madara. Probably." Tsunade desperately wished she were wrong. She had seen Madara a few times when she was very young, but she had been too little to remember him clearly. It was only when she grew up that she had seen a photograph of her grandfather, Hashirama, with Madara at his side. Although the man before them was different from the man in the photo, his temperament, that arrogant, dismissive expression, was exactly the same.

At first, Tsunade had not dared to believe it. But after seeing his power, she was completely convinced. To be able to use such a terrifying fire jutsu, to possess a Sharingan so dark and deep that it seemed to see through all things… who else could it be but Uchiha Madara?

"Uchiha Madara? You say he is Uchiha Madara?" The Raikage and Samui were stunned.

"Lady Tsunade, you must have had too much to drink," Samui said with a weak, desperate laugh. "This is a critical moment. How can you make such an unbelievable joke?"

The Raikage's expression was grave. He thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Yes, it is impossible. They are not from the same era!"

"Unless… he is a ghost!"