"Konoha's White Fang."
Uchiha Madara looked at the intelligence report with great interest.
"Currently the strongest combatant in Konoha. He's approaching your level, Madara."
Black Zetsu had obtained intel on White Fang the moment it became available. White Zetsu had been underground during the battle.
"My level?" Uchiha Madara sneered. "Do you truly understand my power?"
Slicing through a mountain range was hardly difficult for him. He could unleash even greater destructive force if he wished.
Just a mere successor.
"That's why I said 'approaching.' He's now qualified to face you in battle."
Black Zetsu understood Madara's strength perfectly, hence his assessment. Even Madara wouldn't find it easy to withstand that slash.
But White Fang could only deliver such an attack once before being drained of combat ability—this was where he couldn't compare to Madara. Madara could maintain such overwhelming power continuously.
Madara was dismissive. In the entire shinobi world, only Hashirama Senju was worthy of being his opponent. Everyone else was just fodder, existing only to amuse him.
"Then I look forward to it. Only then will this world become somewhat interesting."
Though he scorned White Fang's strength, Madara still welcomed the emergence of a new rival. After all, a world full of ants he could crush effortlessly would be too dull before his plans came to fruition.
Only with rivals did challenges hold meaning.
The title "Ghost of the Uchiha" wasn't earned lightly.
"Moreover, the reason for his strength lies in Uchiha Kin's Basic Internal Energy Technique."
Black Zetsu added.
"Uchiha Kin."
Madara narrowed his eyes. He had been keeping tabs on this individual for some time—even the three layers of the Basic Internal Energy Technique were already in his possession.
Konoha couldn't detect White Zetsu's reconnaissance. Besides, the technique wasn't solely stored in the Scroll of Seals; Shimura Danzo also possessed a copy. For White Zetsu, obtaining it was child's play.
The fact that Madara could still move freely was partly due to this technique. This sealing art unexpectedly had rare life-extending effects.
"Do you intend to make Uchiha Kin your successor?"
Black Zetsu inquired.
Such formidable talent in deducing ninjutsu would make an excellent pawn. He was inclined to steer things in that direction.
But Madara shook his head.
"Uchiha Kin harbors darkness in his heart. He cannot awaken the Mangekyō."
Only those with light in their hearts, when plunged into darkness, could awaken the Mangekyō through despair.
From Madara's perspective, if Uchiha Kin were cast into darkness, it would be like returning home—he'd feel completely at ease.
Not a shred of discomfort.
Why would the Uchiha produce someone like this?
It was absurd.
In all his years, Madara had never encountered an Uchiha like Kin.
Still.
If he couldn't even awaken the Mangekyō, he was no better than a worthless fool like Tobirama Senju. The Mangekyō Sharingan was indispensable to his plans.
"What about that Fugaku, then?"
Black Zetsu pressed.
Uchiha Fugaku, by Madara's estimation, had the potential to awaken the Mangekyō.
"A weak-willed fool who only knows how to endure the village's oppression."
Even if someone like that awakened the Mangekyō, they'd remain nothing more than a pitiful worm struggling within the village.
While such a successor might be easier to control, he'd be outmaneuvered and crushed by others in the shinobi world before achieving anything significant.
Choosing him over Uchiha Kin would be pointless.
"Regarding the successor, we need only wait."
Thanks to the chakra accumulated through the Basic Internal Energy Technique, his lifespan was being extended.
He wasn't the least bit worried.
If this generation yielded no suitable candidate, the next one might.
Were it not for this aged and frail body, he would have taken action long ago.
He hadn't expected the Rinnegan to awaken only in his twilight years.
"But with the Basic Internal Energy Technique, Konoha is growing too powerful. If this continues, the combined forces of the other villages won't stand a chance against them."
Black Zetsu didn't want to see a peaceful shinobi world. If Konoha became too dominant, it would return to the era of peace under Hashirama's rule.
In terms of numbers, Konoha's forces were indeed smaller.
But their elite shinobi were anything but few.
Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, White Fang, Might Dai, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Shimura Danzo—seven elite shinobi could be fielded at once.
And who knew what other hidden forces they possessed?
No single village could oppose such strength.
"Konoha..."
Madara's gaze flickered.
The village he and Hashirama had built.
But Konoha's current dominance didn't align with his plans.
It would hinder the growth of his chosen successor.
"Under the guise of Kirigakure, distribute the Basic Internal Energy Technique to the other villages. Strengthen their forces."
"As you wish."
Madara closed his eyes.
In the name of peace, all sacrifices were justified.
For the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Land of Rain.
Purple poison mist spread in all directions.
Standing atop a giant salamander, Hanzo of the Salamander loomed, his breathing mask firmly in place.
Under the toxic fog, shinobi from Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and even Konoha had no choice but to retreat.
With his power alone, he had repelled the forces of three great villages.
But not all had escaped unscathed. Many shinobi had inhaled the poison, collapsing where they stood.
At this moment, Amegakure shinobi swarmed forward from behind Hanzo, delivering the final blow to their enemies.
Among the three factions, Konoha's forces had suffered the least casualties.
Some of their shinobi could endure the poison long enough to retreat with their comrades.
"Hanzo of the Salamander! Do you intend to make an enemy of Konoha!?"
A Konoha shinobi, unable to flee in time, knelt on the ground, his leg grievously wounded in battle. With no allies nearby, escape was impossible. He could only challenge Hanzo with his words.
"Know this—Konoha's White Fang will never let you get away with this!"
"White Fang?"
Hanzo looked down at the shinobi from his elevated position.
"You great villages have run rampant in the Land of Rain, displacing its people and inflicting untold suffering. The damage you've wrought upon this land is already too much."
"What does it matter if I make an enemy of you?"
"What does it matter if White Fang comes?"
Hanzo raised his sickle high and hurled it toward the distant Konoha shinobi.
"Let White Fang come. I'd like to see for myself how strong his blade truly is."
The Land of Rain had endured too much in the conflicts between these great villages.
And now, on its very soil, he was being threatened?
His hand gripped the chain attached to the sickle as the blade pierced the Konoha shinobi's skull.
The body crumpled lifelessly to the ground.
"Konoha! Iwagakure! Sunagakure! Your era of wanton destruction ends here!"
"If you seek battle, then Amegakure shall give you battle!"
Rain fell from the sky.
Like the Land of Rain's weeping tears.
Amidst the land's despairing wails, from the ruined rubble emerged shinobi after shinobi, each wearing Amegakure's forehead protector.
They encircled all those attempting to flee.
"If you want war!"
"Then war you shall have!"
The poison mist spread outward.
At this moment, Hanzo of the Salamander, the Rain Shadow of the Land of Rain,
Declared war,
Upon the three great villages!
...
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(End of Chapter)