Naruto: The Legend of Red Haired Shanks

"So Itachi didn't step in because he was wary of that Uzumaki clan member?" 

"And Zabuza's sudden boost in strength is also connected to this guy named Shanks?" 

The people watching Zabuza's battle weren't just the merchants selling weapons to Gato. Black Zetsu had set his sights on Zabuza long ago. 

Once Zabuza entered the Land of Waves, Black Zetsu finally found an opportunity to gather more intel from him. 

"Yes, Madara-sama. This report details the abilities of that Uzumaki named Shanks. He seems unexpectedly powerful." 

Black Zetsu respectfully handed the collected intel to Madara. 

At this point, Madara was practically at death's door, but for the sake of the plan, Black Zetsu still had to serve him obediently. 

After all, right now, he was nothing more than a fragment of Madara's will. 

To be cautious, Black Zetsu hadn't dared to get close to Shanks. Everything he had gathered came from Zabuza. 

As someone who had existed since the time of the Sage of Six Paths, Black Zetsu was well-versed in the special abilities of every ninja clan. 

Of course, he couldn't claim to know everything, but he had a good grasp of the general abilities each clan possessed. 

However, what he couldn't predict was how a true genius might develop and push those abilities to new levels. 

"Three types of Haki? Observation Haki, Armament Haki, Conqueror's Haki…" 

Madara frowned as he studied the report. 

It had only been a few decades—not even a full century—so why did it feel like the entire system had been updated? He didn't even recognize these terms. 

"Observation Haki allows the user to sense enemies across a vast area. Even invisible opponents can be detected. With this ability, one can also foresee an enemy's attacks in advance. At an advanced level, Observation Haki can even read an opponent's emotions and sense their killing intent." 

Madara might have been an old relic, but he still had deep knowledge of the ninja world and the various clans' abilities.

"The Kagura Mind's Eye ability of the Uzumaki clan? No, this guy Shanks has a power far beyond that of an ordinary Uzumaki." 

Madara read through the description of Observation Haki. 

"At its highest level, Observation Haki can let someone see a glimpse of the future?" 

For the first time, Madara's wrinkled face showed a hint of shock and disbelief. 

Impossible. Seeing the future is simply impossible. 

No... wait. 

If the description had only mentioned sensing an opponent's attacks and predicting their movements in advance, that would be completely reasonable. 

But what if this ability wasn't just about sensing one person? What if it extended to sensing the entire world? Wouldn't that mean being able to perceive fate itself? To see the "future"? 

In that instant, something snapped in Madara's mind. His aging brain, dulled by time, suddenly started working at full speed again. 

Even if he didn't have much time left to live, he was still Madara. As long as he was alive, he was still the man who once dominated an entire era—the unparalleled genius of the Warring States period. 

Madara wasn't called "Madara" just because of Indra's power. 

Compared to Sasuke, the Madara of the past was on a completely different level. 

And it wasn't just about raw strength—his intellect was far superior as well. 

If there was one flaw in Madara, it was his arrogance. 

But in this moment, he instantly saw through the deeper meaning behind it all. 

Observation Haki was real. 

The intel from Black Zetsu was undoubtedly accurate. 

And now, in this era, another genius had appeared—someone capable of ruling over not just a single era, but shaping history for centuries to come. 

"Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki..." 

Madara's attitude shifted. 

If Observation Haki was real, then there was no doubt that Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki were real as well. 

What? You think the Shinobi world doesn't have such things? 

Wrong. Completely wrong. 

As someone who once ruled an entire era, Madara's vision was beyond what ordinary people could comprehend. 

Before he and Hashirama appeared, who would have thought that a single ninja could take on the entire Shinobi world? 

That's right—one man against the entire world. 

If not for the fact that two people of his caliber had emerged in that era, the Warring States period would have belonged to either Madara or Hashirama alone. One of them would have crushed all other shinobi to the point where they wouldn't even dare lift their heads. 

A true genius—a force strong enough to shake history—never asks whether something exists or not. 

If the path doesn't exist, then they'll be the first to carve it out. 

It's not that something "doesn't exist"—it's just that ordinary people can't reach that height. 

They're too weak to see the power right in front of them. 

But true geniuses... they create their own path. 

That was Madara's pride—the pride of Uchiha Madara. 

Standing above all, looking down on the world. 

Not even Hashirama could truly compare. 

To Madara, Hashirama was indeed strong—the only person of that era who could stand against him.

Hashirama had the advantage of Sage Mode, drawing power from the sages of Shikkotsu Forest. But Uchiha Madara… he had only himself to rely on. 

Feeling the intense aura coming from Madara, Black Zetsu silently stepped back into the corner. 

A long time passed. 

A frail, skeletal old man slowly rose from his sickbed. In that instant, Madara's body seemed ten years younger. 

He was still old, but now he had enough strength to stand on his own. 

"Take me to him. I want to see what kind of genius this era has produced." 

"But… Madara-sama, your plan…" 

Black Zetsu hesitated. 

If Madara left now, what about Obito? 

Of course, Black Zetsu wasn't truly concerned. He knew Madara was too proud to care whether Obito broke free from his control or not. 

This was just part of his usual act, playing his role as Madara's will. 

"Hmm?" 

Madara didn't say a word—he just let out a cold snort. 

Cold sweat dripped down Black Zetsu's forehead. He quickly nodded. 

"I'll take you there right away." 

Madara wasn't worried about his safety. As a man who had once stood at the top of the world, he would never become a relic of the past. He would not be left behind. 

Before his time was up, he wanted to see that man with his own eyes. He wanted to see how far that man could go. 

The Madara of the first era was a force that dominated the Warring States period. 

The Madara of the second era would be no different—he would suppress the current age just as he had before. 

That was Madara's pride. 

Even if he left this world for a time, when he returned, he would still be the one standing at the top. 

"Lead the way." 

Madara's voice echoed through the dark, damp underground chamber. 

Then, the heavy doors of the secret chamber slowly opened. 

A gust of wind rushed in, lifting his long, white hair. After all these years, he was finally stepping out of this tomb-like place once more. 

His pale, wrinkled face was exposed to the sunlight. The rotten, decayed air around him was swept away. 

A relic of the past? 

No. 

The moment Uchiha Madara set foot on this land again—he was still the Uchiha Madara of legend. 

--- ---

You can read 50 advanced chapters at my patreon.com/YeyeQiu