At the northern tip of the Frost Country peninsula, in a massive valley known as the Graveyard of Mountains, Uchiha Madara sat in silence, eyes closed, deep in thought.
Through the countless White Zetsu scattered across the land—creatures with shapeshifting abilities rivaling Wood Clone Jutsu, able to sink into the very earth—Madara kept his grip on the shinobi world's information. Even without stepping outside, he saw everything.
Obito Uchiha had long been marked as prey.
But now, this sudden upstart named Uchiha Seiji—thanks to both his clan heritage and his connection to Obito—had forced his way into Madara's view. More than that, Seiji had sparked something rare: Madara's genuine interest.
For a relic of the last era, watching the world through Zetsu's eyes was like some cranky old man flicking through TV channels out of boredom. The petty scuffles of Kage-level shinobi? To him, it was all children's play—barely good enough as a sleep aid. He'd rather reread the old letters from Izuna or Hashirama.
But recently? The "Uchiha Channel" on the Konoha Broadcasting Network had hooked him. He'd become a full-on die-hard fan. Eat, sleep, bathroom—everything in between was glued to White Zetsu-vision, binge-watching his clan.
And the episodes starring Seiji beating down Hachidai or clashing with Obito? Those jolted Madara awake from his semi-dead stupor. His blood stirred, his brain whirred, and for the first time in decades he felt alive again.
Originally, Madara's plan was simple: lay low, scatter Zetsu into mid-level posts across the five great nations, then set the stage for the Third Ninja War. When the timing was right, he'd corrupt Obito, mold him into his spokesman, and push the Moon's Eye Plan forward.
He loathed his current decrepit body. If not for the necessity of laying groundwork, he would've let himself turn to dust long ago.
But after seeing Seiji… things changed.
Madara couldn't deny it: his calm was disturbed.
The boy's talent was terrifying. At his age, his ocular power already rivaled that of a three-tomoe Sharingan. His chakra reserves were remarkable. His mastery of Water Release was proof enough of his genius in ninjutsu.
And his mind—eleven years old and already playing a thirty-year-old veteran like Hachidai into becoming his loyal pawn.
But above all else, Madara couldn't ignore how much Seiji resembled Izuna. His looks, his way of winning over clansmen, the aura of a younger brother born to support a greater destiny… it was almost identical.
For a moment, Madara even saw double—Seiji's face overlapping with memories of that brother: the one who united the Uchiha behind him, gave him unconditional loyalty, and finally, without hesitation, gave up his eyes.
The best little brother in the world.
If Madara could win Seiji over, perhaps… just perhaps… he wouldn't treat him like a mere pawn. Maybe, after the Infinite Tsukuyomi, he'd even give the boy a happy ending.
Compared to Obito, who was far too raw and narrow, Seiji was irresistible.
This is Izuna, reborn in miniature.
If Seiji agreed to stand at his side, Madara wouldn't waste another glance on Obito.
And yet—Madara bristled. The boy's path wasn't straight. This child who bore Izuna's likeness seemed to be leaning toward Tobirama Senju's way of thinking.
Unforgivable. Absolutely not.
"Damn that vile Senju Tobirama… may he die a thousand times over." Madara spat the curse reflexively, his expression darkening as his thoughts sharpened.
Corrupting Obito was boring—his mind was too simple, too weak. Plant a seed of pain, whisper the right words, and he'd crumble. There was no challenge.
But Seiji?
Seiji was Izuna.
Madara thought back. Had he ever once deceived Izuna successfully? No. If anything, it was Izuna who had supported him, out-thought him, steadied him. Even if Izuna's power fell short, his loyalty and brilliance had always been Madara's foundation.
Madara and Hashirama. Izuna and Tobirama. Two sets of brothers, mirrored. The elder brothers—one fiery, one cold. But the younger brothers? Both were the true brains, the ones who fought, schemed, and shored up their reckless older siblings.
Madara fancied himself a schemer. He'd even managed to corrupt Obito. But without Izuna, he couldn't even take a single clansman with him when he defected. That said it all.
Now, the old warlord chuckled low, his somber face cracking into a grin filled with fierce excitement.
A rivalry with his brother's shadow? Oh, that was thrilling. Especially when it was an adorable, youthful version.
In this lifetime, he'd never managed to deceive Izuna once. But this time—he'd conquer Seiji.
"Still… two hands are better than one. Obito stays as backup. If Seiji really has Izuna's wits, he won't be swayed so easily."
This was the last gamble of Madara's life.If he won, he'd become the shinobi world's final victor.If he lost, even the Rinnegan he'd fought tooth and nail to awaken would fade into dust.
His eyes narrowed."Setsuna… that useless relic. Parading around with my name and ruining my plans…"
"Obito, under the sway of hawks like him, will certainly fall into darkness—but not deep enough. To truly break him, he must first feel love, taste the world's beauty, and then watch it all be torn away. Only pain that extreme can forge the tool I need."
Madara's lips twisted. "But the girl he likes… likes Seiji instead. Obito can't compete. That jealousy burns, yes, but it's not enough."
He sighed, unexpectedly melancholy. "Always the same. Izuna too—always so beloved. And he left no children behind… I failed you, little brother."
Then his gaze sharpened. With one hand, he seized a nearby White Zetsu, saturating it with pitch-black chakra. The creature writhed, screaming, before kneeling.
"Obito craves love? Then I'll give him one."
Madara recalled—there was an Uchiha orphan girl once, named Rin. No ninja talent. Unknown, forgotten. But as the Shinobi Channel's most obsessive viewer, he remembered her.
"Perfect. Obito, I'll hand you your dream romance. And the price… will be your entire life."
The White Zetsu shifted, features reshaping. It became a girl—Uchiha Rin. Only now, her plain face refined, her resemblance to Nohara Rin uncanny.
Madara waved lazily. "Go. Capture Obito's heart."
Then he leaned back, eyes glinting with rare exhilaration. His mind spun with new schemes.
How to capture Seiji? How to win over this child Izuna?
The thought alone made his ancient blood surge.
In the valley, his laughter rolled low and dangerous:"Fufufufufufu…"
Meanwhile, Seiji snapped awake from his dreams, uncharacteristically shaken.Because in his mind, a mechanical voice had just chimed:
[Detected: Uchiha Madara has developed intense possessive interest in host. Binding as confrontation target!]