In the Land of Water, within Kirigakure.
Inside a secret underground chamber beneath the Mizukage building, two tall figures stood on either side of the entrance—Shamon, the Second Kazekage of Sunagakure, and the Third Kazekage.
However, both had blank expressions, like soulless puppets. Each had a kunai stabbed into the back of their head, attached with seals of the Impure World Reincarnation technique that wiped out consciousness.
Two Kazekages serving as door guards.
This sight would drive anyone from Sunagakure into a blind rage, willing to risk everything just for revenge against Madara Uchiha.
"Roar!"
From deep inside the sealed chamber burst powerful chakra waves along with thunderous roars like dragon cries.
Indeed, nine blue chakra dragons flew out of the mouth of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. They surged toward the teapot sealing Shukaku, swarming over it and devouring the tanuki's massive chakra.
[Phantom Dragon Nine Sealings]
This process had continued nonstop for a full day and night—and now finally approached its end.
Crack!
The moment Shukaku was completely absorbed by the statue, the teapot that once contained it shattered loudly into countless pieces.
Then, the giant Demonic Statue seated atop the lotus throne slowly opened one of its nine perpetually closed eyes.
Actually, these eyes had opened before—but only briefly, during Heiyan's covert surveillance of Madara Uchiha, when parasitic spores briefly controlled the statue.
Now, with the Tailed Beasts' chakra returning to the statue, its eyes would awaken one by one—and remain open forevermore.
When all nine eyes were fully opened, the statue would be completely resurrected, becoming the Ten-Tails.
However…
Strange to say, the first eye didn't fully open—it remained half-closed, slightly narrowed.
After all, Shukaku had already been drained of its chakra once by Heiyan, leaving behind only half its original power.
Madara frowned at this scene but didn't dwell too much—he had never used Phantom Dragon Nine Sealings before and lacked experience.
This situation… must be normal.
He stood watching in silence as the statue began to change.
He'd sent the Second and Third Kazekage after Shukaku for two reasons: testing the battlefield effectiveness of Impure World Reincarnation and verifying the possibility of reviving the Outer Path statue.
At least based on current results—everything went smoothly.
That should be enough.
Next, Madara didn't plan to act again immediately, but rather take a break for some time.
His new plan involved Zetsu continuing grave-robbing across the shinobi world to gather more elite warriors' corpses. Meanwhile, others would track down the remaining Tailed Beasts to monitor their movements.
Once the time was right…
Madara would resurrect all the strongest warriors in history at once, creating an elite Impure World Reincarnation army. Then he would strike decisively, swiftly capturing every last Tailed Beast for his grand purpose.
Thinking thus, Madara glanced at Nagato beside him.
Although only five years old, Nagato had grown at an astonishing pace under Madara Uchiha's personal tutelage, revealing tremendous potential. At such a young age, he had already become worthy of hosting the Rinnegan.
Therefore, Madara Uchiha decided that once he captured all Nine Tails and revived the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, he would transplant the Rinnegan into Nagato—and then kill himself.
After that, following his instructions, Nagato would use the power of the Rinnegan to perform a ninja technique called "Samsara: Life Reincarnation," fully restoring Madara at his peak strength.
At that time, Madara would fuse with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, becoming the Jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails. Then he could cast Infinite Tsukuyomi [an all-encompassing genjutsu], completing the Moon Eye Plan.
"Almost there..."
Madara murmured, his eyes burning with fanaticism.
According to his estimation, that day was not far off—perhaps three or four more years, and his grand design would finally come true.
"Nagato, if one day I asked you for something from your body, would you give it to me?"
Inside the hidden room, Uchiha Madara patted Nagato on the head as he asked the boy this question.
"Of course I would!"
Without hesitation, Nagato nodded vigorously in immediate agreement.
"What if... that something was your life?"
Madara paused for a moment before asking again, gazing intently at Nagato.
Hearing this, Nagato hesitated briefly, but soon afterwards, he flashed a brilliant smile.
"Even my life can be yours."
...
Mikazuki Island, Penglai Ninja Village.
After returning, Heiyan re-entered Eternal Space, beginning another period of secluded cultivation.
To date, Heiyan directly or indirectly controlled multiple Kekkei Genkai and Kekkei Tota techniques, including Scorch Release, Storm Release, Magnet Release, Boil Release, Lava Release, Wood Release, Heavenly Release (Qian), Terrestrial Release (Kun), and Yin-Yang Release.
That makes ten in total.
For Heiyan, these were invaluable experiences and assets. They made him the most eligible ninja to pioneer the development of Kekkei Mora.
Now, with favorable timing, location, and people aligned perfectly,
Heiyan, filled with confidence and determination, began walking down this path.
Day by day passed.
Mikazuki Island was a place of eternal spring; those who lived here long-term often lost track of the changing seasons and the passage of time.
Unbeknownst to them, over three years had quietly slipped by.
The year was now Konoha 38.
During these three years, Heiyan occasionally emerged from Eternal Space to return to the village, spending brief moments of relaxation and reunion with everyone else.
Yet later, the intervals between each rest became longer and longer. For the last time, he hadn't left Eternal Space for more than a full year.
It seemed that Heiyan's cultivation had reached its most crucial stage.
Far beyond thousands of miles away, across the world of shinobi.
Since the great ninja villages took control of their respective countries, four years of peace had passed, marking the most glorious era in the history of ninja.
Unfortunately, such peaceful days of mutual development and tranquility couldn't last forever.
As time passed, many underlying problems between nations resurfaced, gradually coming into light once again.
Imbalance in economic development, territorial disputes, resource competitions...
Around these issues, local conflicts and frictions have flared up again among the major ninja villages, escalating further.
Now, the number of ninjas in the Five Great Ninja Villages has increased manyfold compared to four years ago, giving rise to numerous young prodigies and elite ninjas.
Among the high-ranking elders of each village, ambitions are rapidly growing. They're restless, sensing that the world of shinobi is on the verge of upheaval.
Inevitably, the Second Great Ninja War could not be avoided.
The entire shinobi world stands on the brink of full-scale war, and its scale will be unprecedented.
Hidden beneath Kirigakure, in an underground chamber,
Zetsu and Nagato stand beside Madara's stone chair, awaiting his command.
Madara Uchiha, who had been dormant for over three years, appears even older now. Even with the Outer Path's Demonic Statue and Hashirama cells prolonging his life, his days are numbered—no more than a few years at best.
Yet for Madara, the time remaining is sufficient.
At this moment, after three years of preparation, all arrangements are complete.
With their support, Madara rises unsteadily and makes his way toward the center of the hidden chamber.
"Hmph!"
He lets out a sharp grunt, his hands flying through hand seals before slamming them onto the ground.
BOOM! The earth trembles as thunderous vibrations echo through the chamber, dust rising into the air, as a row of wide yellow coffins slowly ascends from below.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! Coffin lids slam against the floor one by one, shaking the room, as figures begin to step out, one after another.
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