Naruto: Starting with the Celebrity of Japan

At this moment, Madara Uchiha was hiding in the cave.

"Whoosh—whoosh—"

The old man sat on the stone steps, breathing rapidly. His lungs sounded like an old bellows, as if they were about to fall apart.

The image of Madara Uchiha in his prime has long since disappeared.

"Is it alright?"

A white Zetsu stepped forward and asked.

"Using so much power is still... too much of a stretch..."

Ban said sadly.

Just now, in order to deal with Ran Shu, he did not hesitate to use his remaining lifespan and power to conjure up the image of a middle-aged Ban.

On one hand, it was to intimidate Ranshu so that he wouldn't suddenly attack him; on the other hand, it was, of course, to demonstrate his power to Ranshu.

But now, it's all been in vain.

He failed to win over Luan Xiu and even got angry at him, which cost him even more of his energy...

"Desperate search!"

Ban cursed unhappily.

As his physical strength continues to deplete, even with the supply from the Gedo Mazo, it will be difficult for him to live for much longer.

Therefore, the current freckles are somewhat urgent—

He must find a successor he has planned before he dies.

The original best strategy was to win over Luanxiu, but now that plan has failed, we have to resort to the next best option!

"Is that kid any good?"

Ban asked Bai Jue Dao.

The kid he was referring to was, of course, Obito, who was in a cave not far away.

Madara had already made two preparations. He taught Obito some of his Uchiha secret techniques so that he could study and comprehend them.

As expected, Obito, the successor among the middle strategies, has come in handy!

"He learns very quickly and his skills have improved significantly."

"Very good, let's begin the other plan as well. Once we capture that girl, I'll seal the Three-Tails inside her!"

"yes!"

White Zetsu responded to Madara's order and then left the cave to relay commands to the Hidden Mist ninjas who were under Madara's control.

In the cave, only the old, spotted figure remained for the time being.

A short while later, Ban let out a sinister laugh:

"Hmph, just as I thought... Hiding Obito was the right thing to do. If that Ran Shu had seen Obito, he might have ruined my plans..."

"Ran Shu, when Obito becomes my successor, when this former defeated foe of yours beats you senseless..."

"Will you also regret not accepting my gift today?"

……

In the woods where Ranshu and Terumi Mei were hiding.

"Here?"

Luanxiu asked.

"No, a little further in."

Mei Terumi replied, panting heavily.

"Then... here?"

"Ah! Almost there!"

"Have we arrived yet?"

"No, I can't feel anything anymore..."

"..."

Ranshu is currently tickling Mei Terumi's back as requested, but no matter where he tries to tickle her, it doesn't suit her taste.

Now it's confirmed that Mei Terumi was deliberately stirring up trouble!

"How dare you play me?"

Ranshu stood up angrily, walked to the side, and ignored Terumi Mei no matter what she said.

"hey-hey!"

On the other side, Mei Terumi smiled happily, looking as if she had won.

Luanxiu didn't let himself be idle. He checked his surroundings again to make sure that his current location was still safe.

Ranshu reluctantly ate one soldier's ration pill and gave one to Terumi Mei as well.

Despite Mei Terumi's constant insistence on eating cooked food, Ranshu is now essentially committing suicide by starting a fire.

As for whether Mei Terumi will ultimately eat the soldier's rations...

That's her own business; if she doesn't eat, she might as well starve to death...

After looking around, Luanxiu realized that there was nothing else to do.

So he found a big tree, leaned against the trunk, and took out the scroll that Minato-sensei had given him before he set off.

This is a scroll containing information about sealing techniques. He hasn't had time to study the contents of the scroll carefully since he set off.

Now that he has completely free time, he actually has time to study.

"Chapter One, The Definition of Sealing Techniques... Chapter Two, The Historical Origins of Sealing Techniques..."

Luan Xiu first skimmed through all the chapter titles written on the scroll, then he couldn't help but pinch the sides of his nose:

"Hiss—damn it, when are we going to get to the actual operation and application of the Four Symbols Seal?!"

Luanxiu was reminded of the domestically produced textbooks she used when she was in college...

It's full of theoretical stuff, but very little of it is actually practical...

But there's nothing we can do about it.

Minato probably felt that only by fully understanding the sealing techniques could one better comprehend and learn the Four Symbols Sealing Technique, which is why he included this content in the scroll...

Sigh, I guess I'll just have to study diligently...

Luanxiu patiently read on, reading the scroll as if it were a book written in a foreign language.

On the other side, Mei Terumi saw that Ranshu had started doing something else and instantly felt neglected.

She immediately started shouting, trying to get Luanxiu's attention:

"Obito! I need some water!"

No feedback...

"My hands are tied, so I can't eat my soldier rations. I need you to feed me!"

Still no feedback...

"I need to use the restroom!"

After those words were spoken, Luanxiu reacted!

He rolled over, changed his position, and continued reading...

"Damn it..."

Mei Terumi was at her wit's end. It seemed that Ranshu had made up his mind to ignore her.

……

Time passed by second by second, and soon it got dark.

Ranxiu stretched and felt the chill of the night in the Land of Water.

After thinking for a while, Luanxiu decided to light a small fire.

The firelight cannot be seen through the forest, so as long as the fire does not produce thick smoke, it should not be discovered by the Hidden Mist ninja.

Ranshu wiped the ground with a kunai, and a crimson flame ignited on the tip of the kunai.

After lighting the fire, Ranshu went over and untied Mei Terumi from her bonds. Then he returned to the fire, poking at the firewood with a stick and lost in thought.

"Um?"

Mei Terumi was somewhat surprised.

She rubbed the red mark on her fair wrist where the fire had been tied, and then joined the fire.

More than her physical discomfort, she wanted to know why Luanxiu had stopped controlling her.

"I said, Uchiha Obito—"

Mei Terumi plopped down next to Ranshu and began to speak.

"Don't call me Uchiha Obito anymore, it sounds like an insult. My name is Kumamoto Ransuke, just call me Ransuke."

Ranshu interrupted Terumi Mei's words and spoke truthfully.

"what?"

Mei Terumi was even more surprised now.

Her intuition told her that Ran Xiu wasn't lying...

Mei Terumi glanced at the flames, then at Ranshu, like a kitten that hadn't quite figured out what was going on.

She didn't ask why Ranshu, who wasn't an Uchiha, had the Sharingan, because she knew that even if she asked, Ranshu probably wouldn't answer.

On this slightly cool night.

Two people, exhausted from a long day, two people who were originally enemies, sat silently in front of the fire to keep warm.

"You should leave tomorrow. I'm going to break out on my own. I have a feeling I have a very important comrade to rescue. For the sake of letting you go, don't tell anyone where I am."

Luanxiu suddenly spoke up.

"A very important partner" refers to both Kakashi and Rin.

In Ranshu's second simulation, after encountering Terumi Mei, Ranshu went to rescue Rin, who had been captured.

As a result, Kakashi on the other side died under the combined attack of Kisame Hoshigaki and Raiga Kurosuki...

Now that Ranshu knows about this, he should be even more concerned, regardless of whether the same thing will happen again in the plot.

But when she heard that Ranshu was going to let her go, Terumi Mei suddenly felt a little lost.

"No way! You arrested me, so you have to take responsibility for me!"

She continued to act "rebellious".

However, this time it was her true feelings that were revealed.