'Still . . . to think Mito-sama not only managed to capture some White Zetsu but also extract intel from them . . .'
Based on the location he was asked to investigate, Shiki had a pretty good idea of what he was looking for.
'The Mountains' Graveyard, old Madara's hideout . . .' The boy was suitably apprehensive but not too much.
Sure Madara was a decade younger than when he met Obito in the original timeline, even if he was extremely weakened, he would likely not die immediately without the Gedo Statue and could probably use Swirly Zetsu as a prosthesis to move around.
That made him a threat to be wary of for sure.
'Still, now that I have Spacetime Ninjutsu, escaping should not be that big of a problem. I'm only going to investigate, a fight might not even happen.' Even as he thought that, Shiki's intuition protested against the flags he was raising.
'If there is a big issue, it is due to the fact that at this stage, Madara would have already awakened the Rinnegan and still have his original eyes, making him a far more dangerous opponent.' The boy mused.
Nagato's parents only came to the Land of Rain after Uzushio's destruction, this was something Shiki was quite sure of after some investigation.
Since it was highly unlikely Madara would plug his eyes into a kid in the middle of Uzushio, it was fair to assume that the transplant only occurred after the Second Great War started.
'Maybe the whole incident where Nagato's eyes supposedly "awakened" were merely a fabricated memory implanted by Madara to cover up the transplant.' Shiki even theorized.
Regardless, the boy did not think he would be unable to deal with the Rinnegan's standard abilities, the issue was Madara's unique one.
Limbo: Border Jail.
Madara's unique Rinnegan ability.
'Honestly, as far as raw power goes, it is pretty underwhelming, just sturdier Shadow Clones and you can't even make many. For a weakened, decrepit Madara, making a single Limbo Clone might be the limit, if he can make one at all. Not to mention they'll be as physically weak as him.'
Limbo Clones mirrored the original's abilities after all.
The real issue lied elsewhere.
'Without Six Paths level chakra, they can't be interacted with, without Six Paths Sage Mode, the Rinnegan or, possibly an equivalent dojutsu, they can't even be perceived.' Shiki could not think up any solution.
'Even a single weakened Limbo clone still represents an untouchable and undetectable enemy. Unless someone is simply durable enough to take all of its attacks unprepared, they're completely screwed . . .'
'Can fuinjutsu hold Limbo Clones even without Six Paths Chakra mixed in?' That was the question swirling in the boy's mind.
If they could, then there were still ways to fight back, limited as they were but if not, then the only thing Shiki and his side could do, is pray that the old man is either too infirm to fight, can't make Limbo Clones in his old age, or simply does not want to reveal himself.
That said, with White Zetsu not only discovered but interrogated by Mito, Madara was most likely already aware that some information was exposed.
'Mito-sama did not mention any names to me so the information she got might be so fragmented that only the most critical location of the source was discovered.' Shiki theorized.
'Right now, I can retreat without hesitation. If I want to test tactics and gauge Madara's currently available power, I have to do it while I have this leeway, not during wartime.' The boy decided.
He was going to take some risks today.
*
At the Mountains' Graveyard, a forested mountainous area littered with the bones of colossal prehistoric beasts . . . Or just extremely large summoned beasts, depending on who you ask.
Using Ryugan: Zenchi to conceal himself perfectly, Shiki skulked close enough by his long range "sight" to finally reach his target.
What he saw though, was something far beyond what he expected.
The boy knew Madara lived in a vast underground network of ruins left by the Otsutsuki, the lore of the place had been expanded upon later.
But he still underestimated just how extensive the network was.
As Shiki's eyes followed the descending path from the Mountains' Graveyard opening, they found a complex system of caves spreading in all directions.
By instinct, the boy turned his gaze downwards and, far below the level he kept his surveillance to, the Otsutsuki caves spread through the ground.
'They are so deep that nobody ever bothered to go far enough to find them . . . And that's not all . . .' Shiki almost slapped himself for neglecting something so critical despite having the sight to investigate.
Roots.
An unimaginably immense system of roots, far more extensive and all covering than the caves themselves, seemed to spread throughout the deep underground, alive and full of vitality.
'Are these the roots of the God Tree?' Shiki wondered.
It was the only explanation he could come up with and it made plenty of sense.
The boy's gaze kept wandering underground, tracing the roots and cave systems that reached far beyond what his current level of "sight" could reach.
Until . . .
'That's-!?' Shiki paused in shock.
An old wrinkled man in dark robes bearing the Uchiha fan, seated upon a throne of stone, behind him a massive bound statue with chained hands and a blindfold.
But finding who he was looking for would not have shocked Shiki.
What shocked the boy was that when his gaze focused on the old, seemingly sleeping figure, its dry wrinkled lips curved upwards in a smirk.
"Spying on this old ghost is not so easy, little brat." The old man chuckled.
With the "sight" of Zenchi capturing even sound, Shiki heard him perfectly.
Then suddenly, ringed purple eyes flashed open and the boy intuitively knew, his location was discovered.
'How in the hell!? The Rinnegan can't do shit like that!' He was stumped.
His nearly undetectable gaze had been noticed and, even through his potent camouflage, it had been traced back to him.
"Let us speak, boy, you have intrigued me . . ." The old man spoke again.
'He probably won't let me leave just like that . . . But since I wanted to test him, this development might not be all bad . . .' Shiki comforted himself.
Inwardly though, he felt as though he had grossly underestimated the legendary shinobi and might be about to pay for it.
*
It was a dark, barely lit stone chamber, damp and smelling of mold.
Inside Shiki stood, facing a large stone throne with an enormous, ominous statue looming behind it.
On the throne, He sat in a relaxed posture, the legendary Rinnegan in his eyesockets evaluating the boy before him.
"You seem to be aware of my identity." The old man commented, not bothering to act overly mysterious just yet.
"You're Uchiha Madara." Shiki simply responded.
The old man smiled, apparently pleased to still be recognized.
"That wretched Mito really came across a gem. She's looking more alive than in her so-called prime." Madara casually continued.
'Damn old man and his snooping Zetsu. He really knows a whole lot.' Shiki inwardly spat but let nothing show on his face.
'How did he even detect me?' The boy was still hung up on it, stealth and counter sensory was one of his best skills and a great source of his confidence, getting shown up on it did not bode well at all.
"Wondering how I sensed you? You're still too green, boy." Madara chuckled.
The old man seemed to be rather amused.
+++++
Hey, Author here!
To promote the novel I will be releasing BONUS CHAPTERS on SUNDAYS based on the previous week's power stone count.
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
500 Power Stones = 2 Bonus Chapters
1000 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters
Every earned BONUS CHAPTER on Webnovel will also be posted on Scribble.
Just a reminder that you can read up to a FULL MONTH ahead of this site on pa-treon.
I'm trying to become a full time Author now and I'm not going to be starting any new novels just so I can make sure this one is properly completed.
Find those sweet advanced chapters on pa-treon.com/lusoba without the -