With the death of Uchiha Setsuna, under normal circumstances, the clan would have held an extravagant funeral. After all, he had been the head of the clan—the Uchiha clan leader.
Unfortunately, war was imminent. There was simply no time to waste on elaborate rites. In the end, the funeral was conducted hastily and concluded without ceremony.
Afterward, Uchiha Rokuro naturally succeeded him as the new head of the Uchiha.
He neither declined the position, nor did anyone raise an objection.
And yet, the very first order he issued after taking office caused the entire Uchiha clan to erupt.
"Clan Head—this is real? You really have a way for all of us to awaken the Mangekyō? And not just that, but an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan without blindness?!"
The speaker was Uchiha Meika, once Setsuna's personal guard and now one of the highest-ranking figures in the clan—his status nearly equivalent to that of a former grand elder.
However, as the Uchiha's influence had grown year after year, their clan members were no longer oppressed. rose steadily, and the old internal factions had long since merged. The concept of "elders" had effectively ceased to exist.
"Not everyone," Rokuro corrected calmly.
"The prerequisite for using this ninja tool is possessing a three-tomoe Sharingan. Given the current state of the clan, roughly a thousand people qualify."
"Then… what's the success rate?"
"One hundred percent."
The moment those words fell, every Uchiha executive present nearly leapt from their seats.
All of them possessed three-tomoe Sharingan. Many had been quietly worried—some of them were already well past their prime, fearing they had long missed the window to awaken the Mangekyō.
Historically, every Uchiha who awakened the Mangekyō had done so before the age of twenty. There had never been a case of someone in their thirties or forties suddenly breaking through.
Now, hearing that anyone with three tomoe could awaken an Eternal Mangekyō with absolute certainty, how could they not be ecstatic?
"Alright," Rokuro said.
"After you return, spread the news and organize the clan. We only have one of this ninja tool. Producing more takes time and effort, and the Akatsuki are closing in—we don't have the luxury of waiting."
"Your task is to select the hundred strongest clan members to become the first batch of awakeners."
"As for the rest, don't worry. At most, within half a year, everyone will complete their awakening. Make sure to smooth things over—don't let this cause internal discord."
Uchiha Meika took the lead in acknowledging the order and immediately went to make arrangements.
When only Rokuro and Uchiha Izumi remained in the room, she widened her eyes and stared straight at him.
Rokuro calmly lifted his teacup, sipping as he met her gaze.
"What?"
"And you still ask?" she shot back.
"You broke through again, didn't you? Let me guess—you obtained Asura's chakra, right?"
"Heh," Rokuro chuckled.
"Sharp eyes. You even figured that out?"
Izumi lifted her chin slightly.
"To everyone else, you're Konoha's strongest shinobi—your chakra already vast like an ocean. But to me, no matter how much chakra you had, it still had a limit."
"Now? Even when I activate sensing ninja tools, I can't measure your chakra at all. Yet your ocular power hasn't increased much."
"So the only possibility is Asura's chakra, not Indra's."
"Clap, clap, clap."
Rokuro applauded lightly, then took out the Chakra Analyzer and handed it to her.
Izumi didn't hesitate. She immediately injected her chakra and initiated conversion.
Almost instantly, her body was nourished by Asura's chakra—vitality surged through her. Her skin and muscles became more elastic, her bones tougher…
And even certain dimensions began to expand.
In mere moments, she went from A to C.
Still no match for Tsunade—but at least the kids wouldn't go hungry anymore.
"Ah~ looks like your body-image anxiety is finally cured."
"I've said it once already—I do not have any kind of body-image—anx—ie—ty!"
Izumi roared, turning her back on him as she tugged at her shirt.
"…It's tight."
"Looks like you'll need new clothes," Rokuro said with a grin.
"Is this what they call the troubles of happiness?"
"Izumi," Rokuro continued, his tone turning serious,
"The Akatsuki have already begun collecting the tailed beasts."
"According to reliable intelligence, sealing a single tailed beast takes at least three days, and the process must strictly follow the order—from the One-Tail to the Nine-Tails."
"The One-Tail has already been sealed. That means, at the absolute fastest, they'll attack Konoha in twenty-one days."
"That's the best-case scenario. Realistically, we probably have a little over a month to prepare."
"Use this time to complete the Hashirama cell transplantation."
Izumi tugged at her shirt again, not questioning where his intelligence came from.
After all these years, she already knew—Rokuro carried a secret, as though he were omniscient of the entire shinobi world.
"Rokuro… combining Uchiha Madara's power with Senju Hashirama's—can it really awaken the Rinnegan?"
"Absolutely," he replied without hesitation.
"And after awakening it, you'll also gain a unique dōjutsu—like the Mangekyō, but vastly stronger."
"To face the enemies that are coming, the Rinnegan is the minimum requirement. Without it, survival itself is questionable."
"That strong?" Izumi frowned.
"You mean the two leaders of Akatsuki? Are they really that dangerous?"
Rokuro thought for a moment, then decided to reveal a little.
"Right now, they're still inferior to me."
"But once they obtain the power of all nine tailed beasts… they'll ascend to an entirely different realm."
"Then why don't we stop them?" Izumi said quickly.
"Especially Naruto—just hide him away somewhere sealed. Even if Akatsuki gathers eight beasts, it'd be meaningless."
"That would work," Rokuro admitted.
"But Akatsuki has a very peculiar individual—someone who can merge with plants."
"In theory, every plant in the shinobi world is his clone. Finding a place he can't detect is extremely difficult."
Naturally, Rokuro didn't mention that sealing techniques could evade even White Zetsu.
After all, he still intended to orchestrate Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's resurrection.
From that perspective, he and Black Zetsu were technically on the same side.
The difference was—Rokuro had no interest in becoming Kaguya's disposable pawn.
Let Obito or Madara fulfill their destined roles.
Under Rokuro's leadership, the Uchiha clan began mass-producing Mangekyō Sharingan.
With Tsunade, Jiraiya, and others already brainwashed by Kotoamatsukami, there was no longer any need for secrecy.
Moreover, with a powerful enemy looming, every major Konoha clan desperately wanted stronger forces to oppose Akatsuki.
Even if they knew the Uchiha's rise threatened them, in the current situation, they could only swallow the bitterness in silence.
Just as the Uchiha made their move, Akatsuki—as Rokuro had predicted—continued capturing tailed beasts in sequence.
（There is some debate in the original canon. During Gaara's sealing, several eyes of the Demonic Statue were already open, implying prior seals. Yet later, White Zetsu claimed sealing must proceed from One-Tail to Nine-Tails. Whether this was a retcon or oversight is unclear—this story follows the sequential approach.）
Without Six Paths-level strength, Akatsuki required three days per seal, and constant chakra output meant recovery time was unavoidable.
Thus, twenty-one days was unrealistic—Rokuro's one-month estimate was spot-on.
Among the nine beasts, aside from the Nine-Tails, the Four-Tails was the hardest to capture.
Its jinchūriki, Rōshi, was now Iwagakure's Hokage-level advisor—his status comparable to Danzō's during Hiruzen's era.
With Akatsuki exposed, Iwa would never sit idle.
Before attacking Konoha, Akatsuki would need to annihilate Iwagakure first.
Fortunately, Iwa had been devastated by Konoha three years prior—Ōnoki and the Five-Tails jinchūriki had both been slain by Rokuro himself.
Despite three years of recovery, Uchiha influence had crippled the Land of Earth's economy.
Iwagakure's current strength was less than half of its former peak.
While Akatsuki continued their operations, news arrived—
Large numbers of Uchiha had awakened the Mangekyō.
Obito was utterly shaken.
"How is that possible?! Since when did the Mangekyō become so cheap—any random nobody can awaken it?!"
Black Zetsu calmly reported the intelligence.
"I attempted to infiltrate Konoha and destroy the ninja tool."
"But it's now guarded by over a hundred jōnin at all times."
"More importantly—Uchiha Rokuro himself is protecting it. I had no opportunity."
"That tool… it really lets everyone awaken the Mangekyō?"
"So it seems. Ten Uchiha have already succeeded."
"I reviewed their profiles—mediocre talent. None should've qualified."
Obito cursed under his breath.
Back then, he had awakened his Mangekyō only after witnessing Rin's death.
Now? No sacrifice. No cost. No backlash.
Just a ninja tool.
The jealousy and rage nearly drove him mad.
"The Mangekyō is a cursed eye—it can't be this easy! That tool must be destroyed!"
"Destroying it is meaningless," Black Zetsu replied coldly.
"As long as Uchiha Rokuro lives, any number of tools can be recreated."
"Unless you can kill him, going now is suicide."
Obito's half-light, half-dark face twisted grotesquely.
"No one will stop the Eye of the Moon Plan."
"I'm going to find Nagato—now. We attack Iwagakure immediately."
"Once I become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki, no number of Mangekyō will matter."
With a swirl of Kamui, Obito vanished.
Black Zetsu remained where he was.
"Tch… Obito's unreliable," White Zetsu muttered.
"Shouldn't we just resurrect Madara instead?"
Black Zetsu chuckled darkly.
"I already planned for that."
"I had Orochimaru obtain Madara's body long ago."
"Now it's clear—Obito can't complete the task. Neither can Nagato."
"Compared to Uchiha Rokuro… they're still lacking."
Unaware they were mere pawns, Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi had already completed Madara's modification.
Using technology, they reactivated the corpse and injected vast quantities of newly cultivated Hashirama cells.
Not only that
They added Kaguya-adjacent genetic material:
Shirozetsu lineage
Kaguya clan (Kimmimaro's clan)
Even Kinkaku and Ginkaku's cells
From a genetic standpoint, this body was now the closest thing to Ōtsutsuki Kaguya herself.
"Excellent. Preparations complete," Orochimaru said.
"Begin, Kabuto."
Kabuto placed a living sacrifice beside Madara's corpse.
Orochimaru formed seals personally.
"Orochimaru-sama… about control—"
"Don't worry," Orochimaru sneered.
"I've improved the control mechanism."
"With my current power, even Madara—or Hashirama—would obey me."
"If I still haven't awakened the Rinnegan, it means I lack chakra."
"So I'll resurrect both Madara and Hashirama—obtain their chakra—and become the next Sage of Six Paths!"
He laughed maniacally, hands raised.
Then
"Edo Tensei!"
The sacrifice screamed in agony as ash enveloped both bodies.
Moments later
Uchiha Madara stood before them, cracks covering his form.
"…Did it succeed?"
"Nagato did well—hm?"
His excitement faded instantly.
"This is… Edo Tensei?"
"This wasn't the plan."
Madara looked at Orochimaru… then Kabuto.
"Who are you?"
"Madara Uchiha, I am Orochimaru. You were resurrected by—"
"I'm not interested in you," Madara cut him off coldly.
"Tell me the state of the shinobi world."
Arms crossed, chin raised, Madara gazed down at Orochimaru with disdain.
Orochimaru sneered.
"It seems you don't understand your position."
"You are Edo Tensei."
"I am your master."
He formed seals to assert control—
Only for the binding force to rebound violently.
It felt like a child trying to topple a grown man.
Completely outmatched.
Madara snorted softly.
"I'll give you a piece of advice."
"Never use Edo Tensei lightly."
"Once it's released, you'll face an immortal opponent—entirely beyond your control."
He formed seals.
"Edo Tensei: Release!"
END OF CHAPTER
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