Land of Earth — Hidden Underground Base
"Sir Madara, that concludes all the information we've gathered this time," said the half-white, half-black Zetsu, respectfully reporting to Madara.
A moment of contemplative silence followed.
Madara Uchiha was deep in thought.
Manipulating the entire shinobi world wasn't a feat one could accomplish on impulse or brute force alone.
The dynamics of power and influence were ever-changing, never static. Thus, Madara needed to constantly assess, refine, and recalibrate his plan. And it was Zetsu's existence that provided the most critical edge.
Information.
Even Uchiha Kiyo, with all his clones and wide-reaching influence, wouldn't dare claim that his intelligence network rivaled Zetsu's. The depth of their insight, the reach of their infiltration, was unparalleled.
"Nagato needs a push," Madara muttered quietly.
The progress of the Rinnegan's awakening was painfully slow. At this pace, Madara wasn't sure Nagato would master the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique before the final phase of his plan.
The Rinnegan, while a divine dojutsu, had inherited some core traits from the Sharingan — particularly, its dependence on emotional and physical stimulation to evolve and awaken true power.
Madara had originally intended to use Danzo for this purpose — as a provocateur. Danzo, despite being beneath Madara's notice as a person, had the ambition and influence that made him useful. His aggressive stance toward Amegakure and tendency to reach for foreign aid would have inevitably led him to seek Hanzo's cooperation. In turn, Hanzo's involvement would have escalated conflict with Akatsuki.
All Madara needed was to nudge Hanzo into targeting Akatsuki, pushing Nagato into a corner, forcing him to awaken and take drastic action. It was a perfect trap.
But Danzo was dead.
The circumstances of his death were still uncertain, but the involvement of Uchiha Hui was strongly suspected. Whether it was Hui's mastery of Water Release or his other unknown techniques, Danzo's demise had not only disrupted Madara's plans but also soured his opinion of Hui.
He had no choice but to accept the setback.
Danzo's tenacity, his ability to survive, was often underestimated. Yet even he had fallen.
"Danzo is no more… The plan must change."
Madara's original strategy had hinged on waiting for Danzo to initiate negotiations with Hanzo, setting off the chain reaction. But now, with Danzo out of the picture, there was no longer a need to delay.
"We'll advance the plan concerning Nagato," Madara declared.
Zetsu hesitated. "Sir Madara, are you sure? The shinobi world isn't in full chaos yet. If Nagato summons the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path now, the movement might be too large. And without the Gedo Statue, what will you use in its place? You haven't yet found a suitable successor to inherit your will."
"It'll suffice," Madara responded confidently. "Even without the Gedo Statue, I still have access to Hashirama's cells."
Before the Root organization had been dismantled, Madara had already siphoned off all the critical data and research they had conducted — particularly those relating to the transplantation of Hashirama Senju's cells.
Their innovations had impressed even him.
By using sealing techniques to contain the unstable properties of Hashirama's cells and configuring them into a stable chakra source, they had created a temporary alternative to the Gedo Statue.
Madara had taken that concept and refined it further.
He would use large quantities of intercellular Hashirama tissue as an internal energy core. Though it lacked the sheer magnitude of chakra the Gedo Statue provided, it was more than enough for a temporary solution.
"Prepare cultivation chambers. We'll need to develop and preserve more Hashirama cells. Once the Gedo Statue is out of reach, this will be my only source of vitality."
The time to move had come.
Danzo's death had accelerated everything, but Akatsuki's rapid growth also played a role.
Their development had far exceeded Madara's expectations.
Yahiko had unexpectedly broken into the Kage-level, a feat Madara hadn't foreseen. Even Uchiha Kiyo, with his foreknowledge and analysis, had been taken aback.
One year after establishing his base of operations, Kiyo had received the news of Yahiko's advancement from his subordinate Yun. The sheer disbelief had rendered Kiyo speechless.
In the original timeline, as recorded in the Root archives of the future, Yahiko had barely been at the edge of Kage-level during the final years of the Third Great Shinobi War. Now, he had surpassed that threshold an entire year earlier.
At first, Kiyo thought Yun was joking.
But it was the truth.
Perhaps it had been the details about the battle between Earth and Stone that had sparked something in Yahiko — a small but powerful shift in perception that led him to discover his own unique path.
Such anomalies were becoming more common.
The appearance of new variables, new paths — a consequence of subtle interferences in the timeline.
Akatsuki now had not just Yahiko, but also Yun — who had awakened a mysterious dojutsu referred to as the "Heavy Eye." With strength comparable to Nagato and Konan, Yun had become a pillar within the organization.
Akatsuki effectively had multiple Kage-level fighters, and with Yahiko's explosive ideals and charisma, their momentum was dangerous.
Madara couldn't afford to let them get out of control.
"Zetsu, intensify the unrest in the shinobi world. Increase the frequency of conflicts. And target Hanzo — push him into direct confrontation with Akatsuki."
Zetsu grinned. "Understood."
…
Meanwhile, in another corner of the Land of Earth…
Tsuchi had finished refining a batch of alchemical pills and distributed them. With his preparations complete, he began his journey toward the deeper territory of the Land of Earth.
"What's the rush now? Isn't the alchemy project mostly complete? And the conflict with Iwagakure after their raid on Konoha is still months away."
Tsuchi frowned, pushing forward.
"Recently, I've made significant progress in alchemy. But something still feels… missing."
The medicinal efficacy had improved, and the system of alchemy was beginning to take shape, but the foundation wasn't complete.
"A proper alchemical system… needs theoretical backing."
Realization struck him like a flash of lightning.
"I haven't formalized the basic theory!"
In his rush to innovate and improve efficacy, he had overlooked what once made his cultivation methods so powerful — the constant refinement of foundational theory.
He slapped his forehead in frustration. The sudden movement caused him to lose balance on the uneven path, nearly stumbling, but he quickly recovered and pressed forward.
"From the beginning, my cultivation success came from a disciplined system: build a theoretical framework, validate it, refine it, and grow step by step."
He had forgotten that habit.
Well, not forgotten — Uchiha Kiyo's original body had been doing just that within the broader cultivation system. But when it came to alchemy, tools, and talismans, those foundational frameworks had been neglected.
It was time to correct that.
"I'll start immediately once I reach the Land of Earth. While gathering intelligence, I'll also formalize the basic theoretical structure of alchemy."
"Revisiting old knowledge, I might uncover new revelations."
As Tsuchi silently renewed his resolve, Madara Uchiha, across the continent, began moving his pawns into position.
The game was accelerating — and the board would soon change forever.