Black Zetsu, dragging his long-desired Plan B, moved swiftly underground, his mood exceptionally gleeful.
After so much misfortune, at least one thing had gone smoothly.
He had even saved the spare Sharingan he had prepared just in case.
Originally, he was ready for Uchiha Naraku to die so he could revive him with Izanagi.
However, the kid had actually managed to evade the final fatal blow and even manifested Susanoo.
It was a pleasant surprise.
Zetsu was impatient to bring him back and begin the grand plan.
He painstakingly delivered Naraku to the underground cavern of the Mountain Prison.
When he presented the boy to Madara like a prize, the legendary shinobi's aged eyes widened instantly.
"Izuna... Izuna...?"
Black Zetsu was stunned.
Uchiha Madara nearly stood up from his seat.
He could never be mistaken; even after several decades, he would never forget what Izuna looked like in his youth.
This young man named Uchiha Naraku resembled Izuna by at least sixty percent.
If he grew just a few years older, the likeness would be almost perfect.
Madara's breathing became heavy as he stared intently at the unconscious Naraku.
The young man's face, so similar to his brother's, was pale and gaunt.
He looked devoid of vitality, his chest rising and falling so faintly it seemed he might stop breathing at any second.
It was just like the moment Izuna lay dying before him, while he stood by, powerless.
Old memories, carrying the heartbreak of that era, surged and broke through decades of mental confinement.
Anger and grief nearly drove the old man mad.
"What have you done!?"
His aged body erupted with such intense killing intent that Black Zetsu shivered involuntarily.
"Lord Madara, isn't this our plan?"
Upon hearing this, Madara's feverish mind was doused with cold water.
The chill traveled from head to toe, pulling his consciousness back to reality.
That's right.
He had agreed to Black Zetsu's plan to bring the successor here.
Yes... this was Uchiha Naraku... not Izuna.
But deep down, he couldn't help but associate the two.
What was the relationship between Uchiha Naraku and Izuna?
Could Izuna have left behind an heir before he died?
At twenty-four years old, it was entirely possible.
Or had his brother been reincarnated into the Uchiha clan after all these years?
Black Zetsu had mentioned this child was gentle, exceptionally talented, and skilled with the blade, Fire Style, and genjutsu.
Madara hadn't paid much attention before, but now he realized those traits were identical to Izuna's.
Could it really be reincarnation?
Madara's emotions fluctuated violently again.
However, the coldness and loneliness he had endured for years suppressed them once more.
Reason reclaimed the high ground.
He lowered his head and silently sat back in his seat, his breathing becoming slow and steady.
It was impossible.
Izuna had died long ago in this hopeless, false world.
He would not return.
This brat was just a lucky fellow who happened to resemble him.
Even if he were Izuna's descendant, so what?
He would never be Izuna himself.
Only by realizing the Infinite Tsukuyomi and creating a perfect world could war be eliminated.
Only then could Izuna and everyone else find true happiness.
Madara forcefully suppressed the stirring in his heart.
He motioned to Black Zetsu with his eyes.
"Put him over there."
Seeing Madara return to his cold, rational demeanor, Black Zetsu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Who would have thought that even at such an age, Madara still remembered his brother so vividly?
For a moment, Zetsu thought the old man would soften.
He had already prepared three different arguments to persuade him otherwise.
Fortunately, Madara's mind was clear; he knew this brat was just an ordinary Uchiha, nothing to pity.
Uchiha—Zetsu hated the Uchiha the most.
Almost every generation of Indra's reincarnations had been an Uchiha.
They were stubborn as mules, always disregarding his advice and acting on their own.
Such difficult personalities were a constant trouble.
After all these years, only Madara had been easy to deceive and obedient while also being highly capable.
With the addition of Plan B, the liberation of his mother was just around the corner.
Looking at it that way, the Uchiha didn't seem so annoying after all.
Black Zetsu placed Naraku on the spacious bed nearby, revealing his blood-stained and torn clothes.
A sudden question came from the shadows behind him.
"What exactly did you do?"
"Lord Madara?"
Black Zetsu turned around with a puzzled look.
Madara frowned, staring at Naraku's chest.
He found the wound unsightly and unpleasant.
Venting his lingering frustration, Madara grumbled in a deep voice.
"He suffers from the bloodline limit sickness; why did you let him take such a severe injury?"
Black Zetsu was speechless.
You really do care about this brat, don't you!
Damn brother complex!
I hate the Uchiha!
Naraku, watching the entire scene from within his mental space, was nearly sore from laughing.
If he hadn't needed to stay "unconscious," he would have woken up just to mock Black Zetsu.
Oh, look at this. Isn't this Black Zetsu?
Haven't seen you in a thousand years—have you really become this weak?
After laughing at Zetsu, Naraku asked the system to pull up the archive footage of Uchiha Izuna.
He wanted to study the man's mannerisms carefully.
His goal was to make Madara hallucinate the moment he saw him.
It wasn't for any grand purpose; it was simply too much fun to play this game.
If his favorability rating got high enough, he might even squeeze more benefits out of old Madara.
Having made up his mind, Naraku immersed himself in the task of studying the anime footage.
He entrusted his body fully to the system, which provided subtle physiological cues to Madara.
Two days passed, but Naraku showed no sign of waking.
If it weren't for his injuries gradually healing and his chakra recovering, Madara would have thought him dead.
Occasionally, a vague sound would escape the boy's throat.
Troublesome brat.
Madara muttered words like "disappointing" to himself.
His fingertips tapped the armrest of his seat as he closed his eyes with a hint of annoyance.
Only by closing his eyes could he resist looking at the boy.
Ever since he saw that face, he couldn't suppress the impulse to reminisce about Izuna.
Each time he realized what he was doing, he had already been staring for a long time.
He, Uchiha Madara, the Ghost of the Uchiha, when had he become so weak?
The moment the thought crossed his mind, he suddenly opened his eyes.
He turned toward the bed.
He sensed that the young man's chakra had become active.
He was finally about to wake up.