To confirm his incredible hypothesis, Madara carefully lifted the infant from his chest and turned his ancient gaze to White Zetsu. "You, hold this child for me."
"At once, Lord Madara!" The clone stepped forward and took the baby. But mere seconds after Shiro left his grasp, an overwhelming wave of weakness crashed over Madara. It was a cold, draining fatigue that seeped into his very bones.
He recognized this feeling intimately. It was the chilling embrace of death itself.
"Quickly! Bring the child back to me now!" Madara roared, using the last dregs of his strength to command the bewildered Zetsu.
Confused but obedient, the clone placed Shiro back into Madara's waiting arms.
"…"
Instantly, the suffocating presence of death receded.
In its place, a gentle current of rejuvenation began to flow through him. It was not a torrent of power, but Uchiha Madara could distinctly feel his failing organs warming, his life force rekindling. Even the chakra he could no longer mold began to stir with latent heat.
"This is a... miracle!"
Uchiha Madara stared intently at the infant in his arms, his initial shock transforming into unrestrained joy.
This child possessed the astonishing ability to restore life!
And the longer Madara looked at him, the deeper the affection he felt, a profound connection that made the thought of parting with him unbearable. It was as if the boy possessed a magical quality, an innate charm that made you want to keep him close and protect him at all costs.
"Hahahahaha… HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Uchiha Madara lifted Shiro high into the air, his laughter echoing through the cavern—a booming, triumphant sound. Though the rasp of old age was still there, it was now laced with a powerful, undeniable vitality.
Obito, Black Zetsu, and the crowd of White Zetsu clones could only stare, utterly bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
One of the clones tentatively asked, "Um… Lord Madara, if I may be so bold… are you still planning on dying?"
"Dying?" Madara's voice boomed. "I would if I could, but it seems fate has other plans! Hahahaha… Not only am I alive, I can feel my very body reversing the ravages of time!"
At that moment, Uchiha Madara was electric with excitement. "I was certain it had to be this child! Hahaha, heaven has been cruel to me for so long. Is this the treasure you finally bestow upon me at the end of my days?"
"It must be destiny! From this moment on, this child is under my protection! He will be raised by me, Uchiha Madara! Look at him… doesn't he bear a slight resemblance to my younger brother?"
Watching Madara's ecstatic display, the onlookers remained stunned into silence.
Before they could even process his words, Madara kicked aside the gnarled scythe that had been his staff for decades. He cradled Shiro and sat back upon his throne with renewed authority.
"It seems my death is no longer necessary! Obito, return that black rod to the statue. In time, if my body can return to its peak, you will not need to prepare for my revival!"
"The Moon's Eye Plan will be executed by me, Uchiha Madara, personally!"
"Uh…"
Obito was completely flustered. Just moments ago, he had been entrusted with the fate of the world. Now, he was suddenly a superfluous piece on the board. The whiplash was jarring.
However, the feeling of being sidelined was fleeting. Obito didn't truly care about his own role. All he cared about was creating a world where Rin still existed. Who ultimately brought that world into being was irrelevant to him.
Seeing the supposedly dying Madara now vibrant and alive, Black Zetsu remained impassive, though a flicker of cold satisfaction stirred within its shadowy form. If Uchiha Madara could complete the plan himself, it would make everything far more efficient. The revival of his mother, Kaguya, would be that much closer.
"White Zetsu, what is this child's name?" Uchiha Madara asked, his stern features softened as he gently teased the infant in his arms.
The clone shrugged. "We do not know, Lord Madara. Perhaps you should give him one?"
"Hmm…" Uchiha Madara nodded, his mind sifting through names worthy of his new ward. He looked at the child's pale skin and the stock of white hair that crowned his head. He was a stark contrast to the darkness of the Uchiha, a pure, blank slate.
"Shiro," Madara said, the name coming to him with sudden clarity. "A fitting name. Little one, do you like it?"
Shiro stretched out a tiny hand, his bright eyes blinking, as if in confirmation. It was fate itself helping shiro as this was also the name he had in previous life.
"Hahahaha! Excellent! From this day forward, you shall be known as Shiro!"
"I, Uchiha Madara, have lived a glorious life, but I have grown old in solitude. You are a gift sent to me by fate itself. I will adopt you as my own son?"
Uchiha Madara! A living legend known as Lord Madara, a man who once stood peerless in the ninja world, above all others. How could anyone refuse such an offer?
Shiro's tiny hands flapped with even more excitement, and the smile on his face grew brighter.
"Hahahaha! Very good. I feel as if this child understands my words. He has a remarkable spirit!"
Just then, White Zetsu spoke up. "Lord Madara, since you plan to execute the project yourself, shall I retrieve the Rinnegan you left with the Uzumaki boy?"
Madara shook his head. "There is no need to rush. Let us wait until my body has recovered further."
"As long as my son remains by my side, at this rate of recovery, I am certain I will return to my peak within a few years! It will not be too late to reclaim my eyes then. What belongs to me will always be mine! Let the Rinnegan remain with Nagato for now; they can continue to serve my purpose."
"Besides," Madara continued, "we have a far more important task to attend to."
Hearing this, Black Zetsu, White Zetsu, and Obito asked in unison, "What is that?"
"Heh heh…" Uchiha Madara's gaze never left the child in his arms, his expression one of profound, protective fondness.
"Raising a child!"
"White Zetsu, go and find me some milk! It must be human milk; we cannot let the boy go hungry!"
"Obito, go and buy some diapers! Get the highest quality ones you can find! Shiro must be comfortable at all times!"
"Black Zetsu, you…! Never mind. You are dismissed. Find a cool corner and stay there. Do not frighten my son."