CHAPTER 59

Hearing this, Mizuki Ryosuke was momentarily startled. Just from surface-level observations, Uchiha Madara had managed to see through his essence and directly connect him to the changes happening above.

As expected of the legendary Uchiha Madara.

However, Mizuki Ryosuke did not attempt to deny it.

"Yes, everything happening up there is according to my plan."

"Originally, I came here just to see if Yagura was truly under someone's control."

"I simply didn't expect to meet the infamous Ninja Shura himself."

As he spoke, Mizuki Ryosuke raised his head and locked eyes with Uchiha Madara's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan without hesitation.

There was no trace of fear on his face, only a calm and composed sharpness hidden beneath his gaze.

He dared to meet the gaze of those cursed eyes, showing no fear of falling into the depths of Mangekyō's illusions. At the same time, this subtle move served another purpose—it provided a reasonable justification for his presence here, preventing any gaps in his story from being exposed.

Uchiha Madara smirked slightly, the amusement in his crimson eyes deepening.

Seeing the hint of intrigue in Madara's expression, Mizuki Ryosuke knew his plan was already half successful.

What can be accomplished in three seconds?

For some, it might be just enough time to take a sip of water or blink.

For Mizuki Ryosuke, however, three seconds were all he needed to analyze the situation and formulate a countermeasure.

After Madara effortlessly dispelled his illusion, the pressure on Mizuki Ryosuke had escalated to an extreme level.

Faced with the legendary Uchiha Madara, engaging in battle would be the worst possible choice.

Even if Mizuki Ryosuke unleashed all his hidden techniques, his chances of victory were nearly nonexistent.

While it was true that the Madara before him was far from his prime, weakened and sustained only by the Gedo Statue and Hashirama's cells, Mizuki Ryosuke had already calculated the risks.

Even in his current state, Uchiha Madara possessed terrifying trump cards:

• The Gedo Statue, the husk of the Ten Tails, which granted him a nearly endless source of vitality.

• The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, an evolved form of the Sharingan that had unlocked the full power of Susanoo.

• Wood Style techniques, inherited through the implantation of Senju Hashirama's cells, granting him access to techniques that could suppress Tailed Beasts.

Although it was uncertain if Madara's body could handle summoning the Perfect Susanoo, even a partial Susanoo was more than enough to be a headache.

And that was just what was visible on the surface.

In the original timeline, Uchiha Madara had never revealed his unique Mangekyō ability, meaning there was still an unknown factor that could potentially turn the tide of battle instantly.

Many had speculated that the reason Madara never displayed his Mangekyō's ability was simply that it was rendered obsolete by his other godlike powers—Tengai Shinsei, Susanoo, and his unmatched mastery of Fire Release.

With these uncertainties, Mizuki Ryosuke knew that direct combat was the worst possible strategy.

Running away was also not a viable option.

Even if he managed to escape, he would forever be on Madara's radar, forced to constantly look over his shoulder for a future confrontation.

No, the best strategy required something different.

It was a gamble—one that seemed utterly insane on the surface.

A strategy that most would dismiss as suicidal.

But if successful, it would place Mizuki Ryosuke in an unparalleled position of influence.

That strategy was—

"Turning enemies into allies."

It wasn't about forming an actual alliance with Madara, but rather, manipulating the situation to create a temporary truce based on shared interests.

There was a saying: There are no eternal enemies, no eternal friends—only eternal interests.

To do this, Mizuki Ryosuke first needed to thoroughly understand Uchiha Madara's personality.

Madara was an arrogant man, a self-proclaimed god of war.

In his eyes, everyone besides Senju Hashirama was nothing more than a pawn on the chessboard.

Even those who were "useful" to him were only means to an end, tools to achieve his twisted version of peace.

Unlike Hashirama's vision of peace, which focused on unity and happiness for all, Madara's pursuit of peace stemmed from his own ideals, disregarding what was truly best for the world.

To Madara, the entire ninja world consisted of only two types of people:

1. Valuable Pawns – Individuals who could help him realize the Eye of the Moon Plan.

2. Worthless Waste – Those who would merely "enjoy" the peace he created without contributing to it.

By that logic, there was a way for Mizuki Ryosuke to survive this encounter—he simply had to prove himself as a valuable pawn.

In the original timeline, Madara had chosen Uchiha Obito as his successor.

At the moment, Mizuki Ryosuke knew that Madara had already given his Rinnegan to Uzumaki Nagato, and he was simply waiting for the right time to execute his plan.

Obito was meant to serve as Madara's direct disciple—the one to carry on his legacy and execute his will after death.

But why should it be Obito?

Why not Mizuki Ryosuke?

For Uchiha Madara, the identity of the pawn was irrelevant—as long as his plan could be realized, he would not care who carried it out.

If anyone else knew about Mizuki Ryosuke's plan, they would call him insane.

But in Mizuki Ryosuke's eyes, the feasibility of this plan was surprisingly high.

As long as he could demonstrate sufficient value, even if Madara did not choose him as his "heir," he could at least secure a position as a trusted asset within Madara's inner circle.

By embedding himself within Madara's schemes, he would gain access to knowledge and influence that no other shinobi in the world could obtain.

And the most dangerous places were often the safest places to hide.

This would allow Mizuki Ryosuke to remain within the shadows of history until the time came for Madara's resurrection.

It was a perfect application of his personal philosophy—the Middle Way, maintaining balance between risk and reward.

Now, for this insane plan to work, the first and most crucial step was to prove his worth to Uchiha Madara.

And what better way to do so than demonstrating his ability to resist the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan's illusion?

After all, in the original timeline, the first thing that convinced Madara to choose Obito was his potential.

Obito had been chosen not because of his experience, but because Madara saw in him a raw, untapped power that could be molded into the perfect tool for his ambitions.

Strength and potential were merely different forms of capability.

So now, despite knowing exactly who he was facing, Mizuki Ryosuke did not look away.

He continued to meet Madara's gaze, unwavering, unafraid.

After all, what could be a greater testament to his strength than standing before Ninja Shura himself—and not blinking?

JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCE 40+ CHAPTERS

patreon.com/Kora_1