Things Have Gotten Very Bad Because of Uchiha Obito
In truth…
Madara was overthinking it.
Shigen had no real interest in the Ten Tails possibly reviving in the future, and he had already explained everything that had happened since his return to Madara.
For example…
Obito, trying to seize control of the Eye of the Moon Plan, ordered his subordinates to kill a Tailed Beast, delaying the plan significantly.
Or…
Obito, attempting to take over Akatsuki, allied with Orochimaru to resurrect the former Hokage using Edo Tensei—nearly destroying the organization—yet inadvertently triggered Shigen's return.
Put simply:
Obito had stirred up one disaster after another.
And Shigen had been cleaning up the mess.
"I'm ashamed…"
Madara could only apologize after hearing everything.
Veins bulged on his forehead in frustration—he couldn't believe the man he had chosen with such care before death, Uchiha Obito, turned out to be so foolish and shortsighted.
After all, Black Zetsu, left behind to assist Shigen, had always been dependable—carrying out every order without hesitation, loyally tending to Madara's legacy…
But Obito?
Had done nothing but bring trouble.
Madara was starting to regret it. Perhaps he had been too impressed by Obito's emotional outburst, by the awakening of his Mangekyō—but power alone did not equate to the strength necessary to carry out the Eye of the Moon Plan.
That fool…
Had caused so much chaos just for control.
But really… did it matter who had control?
Wasn't the plan to bring peace to the world through Infinite Tsukuyomi? Who cast the genjutsu should make no difference—right?
Well…
Maybe it did.
After all, the one who gained the Ten Tails and cast Infinite Tsukuyomi would essentially become a god—perhaps Obito's ambition was only natural.
Still…
Madara glanced at Shigen, unable to see any sign of such ambition in him.
On the contrary, Shigen treated Madara with genuine respect, and clearly had no intention of fighting over the plan. He was even entrusting the Ten Tails and the Eye of the Moon Plan entirely to Madara.
"We leave the plan to you."
"Because Edo Tensei restores the dead to their prime, and my body has certain issues… Since Obito stole your eye and betrayed Akatsuki, Black Zetsu sought out Kabuto to revive you. Now, all must be entrusted to you once more."
"You don't seem like someone with bodily issues…"
Madara narrowed his eyes, sensing the terrifying chakra hidden beneath Shigen's calm exterior—power that made even him uneasy.
"If I'm not mistaken… your chakra surpasses even Hashirama's."
That was… staggering.
In the face of Shigen's chakra, Madara felt an almost illusory sense of disparity.
A difference like…
A step on a divine staircase.
No.
It wasn't an illusion.
Madara remembered how Shigen had casually changed the weather to welcome him—it proved their powers were of entirely different magnitudes.
"This kind of power…"
"Should be called Six Paths-level."
Shigen freely revealed the nature of his power, even dangling a hook before Madara:
"Once you obtain the Ten Tails, you'll have this kind of power too. Because this chakra contains seven types of elemental changes—it's a qualitative leap beyond normal chakra."
That explanation…
Ignited Madara's intense curiosity.
After awakening the Rinnegan, he had finally mastered six nature transformations. But this… this was something even greater.
As a former warrior who once reveled in battle, Madara was excited. He couldn't suppress the urge to challenge Shigen.
His fingers twitched slightly.
He wanted to fight.
"You'll understand once you become the Ten Tails' jinchūriki."
Shigen, as if blind to Madara's fighting spirit, waved it off lightly.
"For now—where are we with the Eye of the Moon Plan?"
Madara finally turned to business.
"The situation… may be quite bad."
Shigen led Madara deep into the Akatsuki base, where the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path still sat dormant—a giant, empty husk.
Clearly—
They hadn't even completed step one.
Worse…
The Rinnegan Madara left behind had been lost.
Still, not all was bad.
Akatsuki had never been stronger.
With Shigen alive and Madara reanimated, they now had two individuals strong enough to crush the entire ninja world and capture any Tailed Beast.
But…
The Three Tails had yet to be revived.
No matter how strong they were—there was nothing for them to do yet.
Just as Madara sighed and muttered some complaints, a summoning jutsu activated—suddenly, the Demonic Statue vanished.
"Summoning Jutsu…"
Madara's mouth twitched into a sarcastic smile.
"Someone just summoned away my statue… right in front of me."
"Probably… Obito."
Black Zetsu emerged cautiously, reporting:
"The other Rinnegan is in Kabuto's hands. Only Obito has implanted it."
"He took my eye?"
Madara glanced back, sneering:
"Perfect."
He needed someone to use Rinne Tensei on him anyway.
That idiot would make the perfect sacrifice.
"Find him."
Shigen turned to Black Zetsu.
"From now on, the Eye of the Moon Plan and Akatsuki—are Madara's responsibility."
"Then…"
Black Zetsu agreed, though he cast a worried glance at Shigen.
"…"
Though Shigen couldn't see, he turned precisely toward Sasuke.
"I'll look after the boy. He'll be our backup."
"Totally unnecessary—"
Madara started, but stopped when he looked at Sasuke's face.
He nodded instead, and even smiled faintly.
"So this child… is the last Uchiha?"
Now…
This final clansman…
Would he one day stand behind him?
Things…
Were becoming interesting.
Even before the Eye of the Moon Plan officially began, Madara found himself curious about Sasuke—perhaps hoping this descendant might become his comrade.
Especially since this boy resembled Izuna so much.
"Izuna…"
"Before you died, you asked me to protect the Uchiha…"
"But back then, not one of them chose to follow me…"
As Madara recalled his brother's final words, he stared at Sasuke with a strange sense of fate.
"Now, perhaps… this is what you meant?"
"To protect this last little Uchiha…"
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Powerstones?
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