C703 Spider-Man (Patreon)

As Peter and Madara walked into the Uchiha district, a wave of tension swept through the area. The clan guards, usually stoic and disciplined, found themselves stiffening with a mix of awe and fear. Their eyes widened as they recognized the two figures approaching.

Peter, the hero who had aided them during the Nine-Tails attack, was a powerful ally whose strength they had witnessed firsthand. But the man walking beside him was a different story altogether.

Madara Uchiha.

A name that resonated deeply within the clan—a name both revered and reviled. Madara was a legend, but also a traitor who had turned his back on the village and clan. The sight of him now, alive and walking beside Peter as if he were some sort of subordinate, sent a shockwave through the guards.

They knew their duty; Madara was labeled a traitor, and technically, they were supposed to bar him from entering the clan area. But who in their right mind would dare to stop Madara Uchiha? That would be suicide. The very thought of trying to halt his steps brought a cold sweat to their brows.

But thankfully, Peter's presence offered them some comfort. The guards had seen Peter’s power, had felt the might of his abilities during the Nine-Tails attack, and if anyone could keep Madara in check, it was him. So, they did nothing as the two men walked past them, the tension in the air palpable.

As they made their way deeper into the Uchiha district, passing by stores and houses along the way, the reactions of the clan members were varied but intense. Some watched from a distance, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear. They whispered amongst themselves, the name "Madara" passing through their lips like a ghostly chant.

Others, less bold or perhaps more fearful, immediately retreated into their homes or shops, slamming doors, locking shutters, and pulling blinds closed.

Madara, who had expected such a reaction, still felt a slight pang in his chest as he witnessed it firsthand. He frowned ever so slightly, surprised by the unexpected sting of seeing his clan react to him like this.

He had long thought he had severed all ties with his clan, had convinced himself that they no longer mattered to him. And yet, seeing them cower and hide, a small part of him still saw them as family—family that now feared him.

Peter, noticing the subtle change in Madara’s expression, said nothing. Instead, he quietly patted Madara on the shoulder, offering silent support. It was a simple gesture, but one that Madara found strangely comforting, though he didn’t show it.

As they continued walking, the tension remained thick in the air, but Peter’s presence kept the situation from escalating.

Madara’s frown slowly faded, replaced by the impassive mask he usually wore, though the weight of the moment lingered in his mind.

Eventually, they arrived at the clan heads house. Outside, Itachi and Shisui stood waiting, both dressed in their gear for training.

Itachi’s mother, Mikoto, was fussing over them, holding baby Sasuke in her arms as she ensured the two boys were prepared for their first day of training with Peter.

"Are you sure you have everything? Kunai? Shuriken? Water?" Mikoto asked, her voice full of motherly concern as she checked their gear one last time.

"Yes, Mom," Itachi replied, his tone polite but slightly exasperated. "We’ve got everything."

"Really, Aunt Mikoto," Shisui added, trying to gently reassure her. "We’re ready."

But Mikoto, ever the caring mother, wasn’t quite convinced. "I just want to make sure you’re both prepared. This is a huge opportunity, and you need to do your best. You don’t want to disappoint Peter."

The boys exchanged glances, both of them feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. Despite their growing impatience, they understood Mikoto’s concerns. After all, Peter was an extraordinary teacher to have, and they wanted to make a good impression.

However, their attention soon shifted as they noticed Peter and Madara approaching. The moment they saw the two figures, their conversations halted, and Mikoto’s smile vanished as her eyes locked onto the imposing figure walking beside Peter.

Madara Uchiha.

Mikoto’s breath caught in her throat, her body tensing as she instinctively pulled Sasuke closer to her chest. The warmth and joy she had shown just moments ago drained away, replaced by a deep unease as she stared at the man who was both an ancestor and a feared traitor to the clan.

“Madara…” she whispered under her breath, her voice barely audible, but the two boys heard her loud and clear.

Itachi and Shisui, though trying to maintain their composure, couldn’t help but glance at one another, thinking, ‘So he really is Madara Uchiha...’

Peter, noticing the sudden tension in the air, gave Mikoto a reassuring smile. "Good morning, Mikoto. It looks like Itachi and Shisui are ready for today."

Mikoto’s eyes flickered to Peter, the lightness in his tone helping to steady her nerves, though the presence of Madara still loomed large in her mind.

"Y-Yes," she replied, forcing herself to focus on Peter. "They’re ready."

But her gaze drifted back to Madara, unable to fully tear herself away from the sight of him, and the questions swirling in her mind remained unspoken.

Mikoto, her voice tense with worry, asked, “Will Madara be joining in their training…?”

Peter, noticing her apprehension, gave her a reassuring nod. “He might,” Peter replied casually. “After all, he’s probably the most powerful Uchiha alive, so his input would be helpful. But I promise you, your children will be alright.”

To emphasize his point, Peter reached over and placed a hand on Madara’s shoulder, pulling the older man slightly closer. “This old man is softer than he looks,” Peter added with a playful smile.

Mikoto, still uneasy, turned her gaze to Madara, trying to gauge his reaction. She saw a small scowl form on his face, but to her surprise, he didn’t react violently or protest. It was a bit shocking, considering Madara’s reputation.

This moment of restraint proved to her that, at the very least, Madara wouldn’t go against Peter’s words, though it didn’t entirely alleviate her concerns.

Still cautious, Mikoto asked, “Would you mind if Sasuke and I watched their training session?”

Peter smiled warmly and nodded. “Sure, the more the merrier,” he said, understanding that her request came from a place of concern. He didn’t want to add to her anxiety, especially with Madara’s presence being so intimidating.

With Mikoto holding Sasuke close, the group made their way to the training ground at the back of the house. The area was spacious, with plenty of room for the intense training that Peter had planned.

Once they were all assembled, Peter began the introduction to the day’s training. “Alright, today we’re going to focus on the most important part of training—your bodies.”

Itachi and Shisui, who had been hoping to learn some of Peter’s magic or advanced techniques, couldn’t hide their disappointment. They had expected something a bit more exciting…

Peter noticed their letdown expressions but continued undeterred. “Without a strong body, you’re just a glass cannon. Fire it once, or take any damage, and you’re useless.”

"Um..." Shisui raises his hand and asks, "What's a cannon?"

Realizing his mistake, Peter quickly corrects himself. "Think of it like a glass kunai. It may be sharp and usable, but it's also fragile. Throw it once, and there's a high chance it'll shatter..."

"Ohh," both boys mutter in understanding.

Peter continued, “So, first, we’re going to start with some light stretching to make sure you don’t pull any muscles.”

Both Shisui and Itachi exchanged confused glances. Stretching? They had been learning the importance of flexibility since they were toddlers. Was Peter seriously going to start their training with something so basic?

Seeing the skeptical looks on their faces, Peter smirked. “Let’s get started,” he said with a mischievous gleam in his eye.

Before either of the boys could react, Peter snapped his fingers, and both Shisui and Itachi were suddenly lifted off the ground by an invisible force. Their eyes widened in shock as they found themselves suspended in the air, completely at Peter’s mercy.

Without warning, the same invisible force began to stretch and twist their bodies in odd angles. At first, the sensation was strange but bearable. However, it didn’t take long before they began to feel a sharp pain as muscles they didn’t even know they had were stretched to their limits.

Madara, standing off to the side, watched with an amused expression, his lips curling into a faint smirk. It was clear he found the sight of the two brats being contorted in mid-air to be quite entertaining.

The best reaction, however, came from Sasuke, who was still cradled in Mikoto’s arms. The infant giggled and laughed at the sight of his brother and cousin being twisted and turned above him, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

Mikoto, on the other hand, initially looked worried as she watched her son and nephew being put through such a rigorous and unusual stretching routine. But as she observed more closely, she began to realize how beneficial this would be for them.

Her concern gradually eased, though she had to fight to keep a smile from forming on her face. Sasuke’s infectious laughter made it even harder to keep her composure, but she didn’t want to laugh at Itachi’s pain, so she maintained her serious expression.

Nearly an hour passed before Peter finally muttered, “Alright, that’s enough.”

With another snap of his fingers, the invisible force released the boys, and they were gently lowered back to the ground.

Itachi and Shisui stumbled slightly as they landed, their bodies feeling like jelly from the intense stretching they had just endured.

“Now we can work on your physical strength,” Peter announced, just as the two boys were trying to regain their footing.

Itachi and Shisui exchanged weary glances, but before they could even brace themselves, Peter snapped his fingers again—a sound they were quickly beginning to associate with something unpleasant.

Sure enough, as soon as Peter’s fingers clicked, a spell circle formed in the air above them and then shot down toward the ground.

The moment it connected, the boys were suddenly pressed flat onto the earth, the weight of intense gravity pinning them down and sinking them into the dirt.

Peter, watching with a satisfied smile, calmly instructed, “I want you to run around the training ground five times. Once you’re done, we’ll start the real training.”

The two boys’ eyes widened in disbelief as they struggled to push themselves up against the crushing force.

‘This isn’t the real training?!’

A/N: 1800 words :)