Originally, Chiba had planned to take on a mission with a high reward, hoping to ease some of the financial burden on Kakuzu. Although Kakuzu had agreed to cover all expenses for their cooperation, Chiba was not someone who would take advantage of others.
However, before he could even leave, unexpected events unfolded—Uchiha Madara had returned to Konoha. If Chiba left the village now, who knew what might happen? While he didn't necessarily care about most people, there were still individuals in the village who mattered to him.
The Next Day
Determined to investigate Madara and extract some useful information, Chiba set out. However, as he stepped outside, he realized he had no idea where Madara was staying. Left with no other option, he decided to visit Uchiha Tanaka to inquire about Madara's residence.
Upon arriving at the patriarch's mansion, he once again encountered Uchiha Fugaku.
"Hey, Chiba, you're here again? What brings you this time?" Fugaku asked.
Chiba hadn't expected to run into him so soon. "Yeah, Brother Fugaku, I came to see Uncle Tanaka. Remember the person I brought here yesterday? I wanted to find out where he's staying so I can check in on him."
"'Izumi' is a fellow clansman after all. He's had a tough life outside the village, so I thought I'd see if he needed any help. It's the least I can do as a member of the Uchiha clan." Chiba smiled.
Hearing this, Fugaku didn't suspect anything. In his eyes, Chiba had always been someone who was willing to lend a helping hand.
"I know where 'Izumi' is staying. I'll take you there."
"Then I'll trouble you, Brother Fugaku."
West Side of the Uchiha Clan's Territory
After following Fugaku, Chiba arrived at a two-story house standing on its own.
"Chiba, this is the place. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now," Fugaku said.
"Alright, Brother Fugaku, thanks for your help."
Once Fugaku had left, Chiba stepped forward and knocked on the door.
A moment later, the door opened, revealing the legendary figure known as the Shura of the Ninja World—Uchiha Madara.
Unlike their first meeting, where Chiba had been unaware of the man's true identity, today, he looked at Madara with a newfound awareness.
Madara, on the other hand, was slightly surprised to see Chiba. His return to Konoha had been solely for the purpose of observing Chiba, and he had been contemplating ways to approach him. Yet, before he could devise a strategy, Chiba had come knocking on his door.
As the two silently regarded each other, Chiba spoke first.
"Izumi, I hope you don't mind my sudden visit." Chiba smiled. "I figured you might be unfamiliar with a lot of things since you just returned to the village. I wanted to check if you needed any help."
Madara hadn't expected such enthusiasm. Though he didn't require assistance, he also couldn't turn down an opportunity to interact with his target.
"Thank you. As a matter of fact, I do need some help," Madara replied, a slight smirk playing on his lips.
"I arrived in Konoha just yesterday. While the clan leader provided me with a place to stay, I still lack some daily necessities. I'd like to buy them, but I don't know where to find them in the village."
Feigning frustration, Madara deliberately played along with Chiba's narrative.
In truth, despite being away from Konoha for decades, he still had a general understanding of the village's layout. However, this was an opportunity to deepen his interaction with Chiba.
"How about I be your guide for today?" Chiba offered, patting his chest confidently. "I know Konoha like the back of my hand."
"Really? That's great. By the way, I never got your name."
"Call me Chiba."
"Alright, then, Chiba. I'll be counting on you today."
"No problem! Leave it to me."
Streets of Konoha
As they walked through the village, the two figures—roughly the same height—strolled leisurely, both trying to outmaneuver the other in a game of deception.
"I didn't expect you to become a Chūnin at just 11 years old, Chiba. That's quite impressive," Madara commented as they walked.
Though neither had gained much from their conversation thus far, Madara had at least confirmed a few things about Chiba—for instance, he had yet to awaken his Sharingan.
"It's nothing special, just a bit of luck," Chiba replied modestly. "I faced weaker opponents in the Chūnin Exams."
"You're being too humble. Reaching this level without even unlocking your Sharingan is already an accomplishment. Once you awaken it, you'll undoubtedly be strong enough to become a Jōnin."
Hearing these words, Chiba began to seriously suspect that 'Izumi' was indeed Madara.
Would the real Madara ever say something so complimentary?
After all, in Madara's eyes, only a select few were truly worthy of his recognition. The first was Senju Hashirama, his fated rival and the reincarnation of Asura. The second was his younger brother, Uchiha Izuna.
To Madara, most other people were merely insignificant ants.
Of course, there was another person he could never forget—Senju Tobirama, the man responsible for Izuna's death. Among the Uchiha, sibling bonds were often deeper than even parental ties.
Take Itachi Uchiha, for example. He had ruthlessly killed his entire clan, including his parents, without hesitation. Yet, when it came to his younger brother, Sasuke, everything changed. He went to great lengths to ensure Sasuke's survival, even sacrificing himself in their final battle. Before his death, he even helped Sasuke remove the threat of Orochimaru and planted an Amaterasu trap in his eyes as a failsafe against Obito.
Though it was uncertain if Madara's attachment to Izuna was as extreme as Itachi's to Sasuke, it couldn't have been far off.
"You're flattering me. I'm not sure if I'll even awaken my Sharingan," Chiba said, shaking his head.
Madara, however, wasn't concerned. In his mind, there was a simple way to ensure Chiba's Sharingan would awaken—just create an opportunity for him to witness the death of someone dear to him, such as his mother, Uchiha Genka.
Pain, anger, helplessness, and despair—these emotions would undoubtedly trigger the awakening of a true Uchiha's Sharingan. It would only be a matter of time.