Chapter 227: Conversation with Madara

Inside Uchiha Madara's base,

Obito suddenly appeared before him with a flicker.

"Grandpa Madara, I'm here."

Madara turned around with his hands behind his back, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"Oh, it's Obito. Have you captured the Five-Tails?"

Obito shook his head. "I haven't gone to Iwagakure yet, Grandpa Madara. I've been busy with other matters these past few days."

Madara's expression remained neutral, but he casually steered the conversation.

"Hmm? Were you dealing with that disobedient subordinate of yours? Did you manage to catch that guy, Orochimaru?"

Obito sighed. "Tch, that guy is as slippery as a snake. There's no way to get a hold of him."

He waved a hand dismissively. "Besides, with everything going on, I don't even have the time to bother with him."

Madara chuckled and feigned curiosity.

"Speaking of which, what exactly did your subordinate do that made you chase him all the way to Ryūchi Cave?"

Obito shrugged. "The attack on Konoha caused quite a stir. Grandpa Madara, didn't you hear about it at the time?"

Madara nodded. "Yes, Black Zetsu mentioned it to me."

Obito spread his hands helplessly.

"I wanted Orochimaru to use Edo Tensei to bring back a few people for me. I wasn't asking him to do it for free—I offered him something in return."

His expression darkened slightly. "But that bastard took the people I wanted resurrected and launched an attack on Konoha!"

"That's basically the situation... Tell me, how could I not hunt him down after that?"

Madara spoke in a tone of mild curiosity, though his words carried an undertone of indifference.

"Hmph, that jutsu... the one created by that Senju Tobirama bastard. Are you facing an enemy you can't handle? Do you need me to deal with them for you?"

Having just helped Obito get rid of the White Snake Sage, Madara's offer didn't seem out of place.

Obito quickly waved his hands, visibly embarrassed.

"No, no need. I can handle it myself."

The more Obito tried to brush it off, the more "curious" Madara became.

"What's the matter, Obito? This isn't like you. Are you saying I wouldn't be able to deal with your enemy? Do you think they're stronger than the White Snake Sage?"

His eyes narrowed. "Or perhaps... you were disappointed in my performance last time and now think I'm useless?"

Faced with Madara's pressing questions, Obito stammered before finally sighing and chuckling bitterly.

"Fine, I won't hide it from you anymore."

He scratched his head. "The people I wanted Orochimaru to resurrect were the same ones we planned to use against you."

Madara's expression flickered with well-timed surprise before shifting to something more complicated.

"Against me... No wonder you were hesitating and acting all secretive."

Obito gave an awkward laugh. "Heh, back then, we had only just started working together, Grandpa Madara."

"I was afraid you were just playing with me... so I had to keep a backup plan!"

Madara smacked Obito over the head.

"(#`O′) You brat!"

Obito didn't even try to dodge. He just winced, rubbing his head.

"Ouch! Grandpa Madara, that hurt!"

Seeing Obito willingly take the hit without phasing through it, Madara felt a little more at ease. Still, he spoke in a gruff tone.

"Good. It's supposed to hurt. Otherwise, why would I hit you? And besides—"

His gaze sharpened. "Do you really think reviving a few people would be enough to pose a threat to me?"

"Tell me, which 'old friends' did you prepare for me?"

Madara stared at Obito intently, his heart growing tense. The answer would determine how he viewed Obito moving forward.

Obito's expression turned slightly serious. "Are you sure you want to know, Grandpa Madara?"

Madara hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. He felt a strange mix of anticipation and fear—anticipation that Obito would be honest with him, and fear that a lie would make him lose everything.

Obito finally spoke. "Orochimaru has modified Edo Tensei. The resurrected individuals can retain their emotions and memories."

He paused. "So, to deal with you, I planned to resurrect Hashirama, Tobirama, your father, and your younger brother."

He wasn't lying.

Madara let out a quiet breath, his expression shifting from shock to controlled fury.

"Obito, you actually—?!"

"Grandpa Madara, please hear me out first."

Obito's bitter smile remained. "I planned to resurrect the two Hokage to ensure Konoha's safety in case of emergencies."

"As for reviving your father and younger brother... I thought that if they were by your side again, maybe you'd abandon the Moon's Eye Plan."

He met Madara's gaze. "I never intended to use them as hostages or to threaten you."

"No matter what, they were my predecessors. I wouldn't desecrate them like that."

Madara crossed his arms and regarded Obito coldly. "And yet, allowing your subordinate to dig up my father and brother's remains isn't desecration?"

"You actually think bringing back Izuna and my father would be enough to change my mind about the Moon's Eye Plan?"

Obito met Madara's sharp gaze, his tone unwavering.

"If, back then, someone had understood and supported you, I truly believe you wouldn't have taken this path."

"Besides, if there ever comes a chance, Edo Tensei might not just be a resurrection technique. Maybe one day, we could restore their physical bodies and truly bring them back to life."

He continued, "Their bodies have long since decayed, but Edo Tensei can reconstruct them. With the power of the Ten-Tails, you could—"

Madara cut him off, his voice unreadable.

"I could revive them... and under the influence of familial love, I might abandon the Moon's Eye Plan?"

Obito nodded slightly. "Yes. I think it's worth trying."

Madara studied Obito with a cold, unreadable gaze. He appeared furious on the surface, but deep down, his resentment was fading.

Though Obito had initially planned to use those resurrected against him, in a way, it was also for his sake. More importantly, Obito hadn't intended to desecrate Izuna's memory.

That was good enough.

After a long silence, Madara let out a heavy scoff. "Hmph. I'll let this slide for now."

"But don't make decisions for others so easily. What you consider a good thing may not be seen the same way by someone else."

"What you believe is right and what others believe can be very different. Do you understand, Obito?"

Obito chuckled. "Heh, coming from you?"

"Aren't you also making decisions for the entire world, deciding to give everyone what you think is happiness?"

He smirked. "Have you ever considered that some people might rather find joy in this cold, cruel reality instead of living in a dream?"

Madara was momentarily stunned.

He wanted to refute Obito—but found himself unable to.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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