Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan trembled violently as he locked eyes on the "child" before him—a vessel bearing the legendary chakra of a living legend.
His voice came out almost through gritted teeth.
"Y-you… really are… Uchiha Madara?"
A dangerous smirk curled at the corner of Madara's lips.
"What? Even the little Uchiha can't recognize their ancestor?"
Shisui's single eye shone with disbelief.
"But you… you were already—"
"Dead?" Madara sneered.
"For those truly strong, death is merely the start of another game."
The Nine-Tails scoffed from within the sealed space.
"Stop pretending. He's just an old ghost borrowing his son's body to come back."
Naruto, however, leapt with excitement.
"Dad's this powerful?!"
He had always known Madara was strong, but he never imagined that this "dad" was actually Sasuke's ancestor.
Wait a second… that makes me senior to arrogant Sasuke?
Naruto's cheeky grin widened as he thought that.
Meanwhile, far away at the Uchiha estate, Sasuke shivered mid-training with his shuriken.
"Feeling a cold? Whatever, keep training!"
He wiped his nose and resumed, knowing full well that his combat skills were outmatched not only by his brother but even by Naruto.
He had to push harder!
Back at the hunter's cabin, suffocating silence stretched for a full minute.
Finally, Itachi took a deep breath and made a gesture that even caught Madara slightly off guard.
He knelt on one knee, performing the oldest Uchiha clan ritual.
"Honored ancestor, please guide us."
Madara raised a brow.
"Oh? No doubts about my identity?"
Itachi lifted his head; the black three-tomoe of his Sharingan reflected Madara's eyes.
"This Mangekyō pattern… I can think of no one else but Uchiha Madara from back then."
Shisui also struggled to his feet, bowing.
"Please save the Uchiha clan."
Madara gazed at these two young Uchiha descendants. A subtle flicker crossed his eyes—a stir of emotion barely perceptible.
After so many years, once again, someone approached him with such devotion, seeking help…
"Hmph. Rise." He turned, voice still cold.
"I've said it before: whether the Uchiha live or die is none of my concern. But—"
His Sharingan returned to the normal three-tomoe form.
"Since you sincerely ask, I'll graciously put on a little performance for you."
Soon, Madara drew clear lines on the ground with kunai. A meticulous plan began to take shape.
He pointed.
"Step one: Itachi returns to the village with the severely injured Shisui, claiming he discovered Danzō attempting to manipulate the jinchūriki."
He stabbed the kunai into the ground at the kanji for "Danzō," then gestured to Shisui's damaged right eye.
"Emphasize the eye extraction and the Wood Release experiments."
Both Itachi and Shisui nodded in agreement. The plan made sense.
After all, if Danzō wanted to seize the Sharingan, he had to prepare for retaliation.
Moreover, their reasoning rested entirely on truth, not a shred of lie.
Madara continued.
"Next, I will release Nine-Tails' chakra around the Uchiha estate to simulate a 'jinchūriki rampage.'"
A cruel smirk curled his lips.
"Make sure the current clan leader—Fugaku, I believe—'just happens' to see Danzō there."
The Nine-Tails chuckled at the plan.
"Danzō really is a perfect scapegoat!"
Ignoring the Nine-Tails, Madara turned to Itachi and Shisui.
"When the Anbu arrive to 'suppress' it, I'll pretend to be sealed."
He traced the final line with his kunai.
"Your task: make everyone believe—this was all Danzō's scheme."
A sharp glint appeared in Itachi's eyes.
"Third Hokage won't be easily convinced…"
Madara sneered.
"That's why he needs 'evidence.'"
He withdrew a blood-stained scroll from his chest, formed a hand seal, and summoned a disembodied arm from within.
"This is…"
Itachi stared in confusion at the white arm—it clearly wasn't a human arm.
Madara said,
"This belongs to that Danzō fellow."
Shisui inhaled sharply.
"You even… have this?"
"Battlefield cleanup is a basic skill," Madara said with a scoff, though curiosity crept into his tone.
"Though I wonder… the cellular composition seems derived from Hashirama."
"Hashirama? How is that possible?"
Both Itachi and Shisui were baffled.
Madara had identified the cells as Hashirama's from the arm alone.
After all, Hashirama had long been buried under the watch of Tobirama and the Anbu—how could anyone have acquired a sample unnoticed?
Madara waved off the concern.
"Hashirama's cells are remarkably resilient."
He suddenly recalled something amusing.
"You know? That man didn't need to do anything; just standing there, minor injuries healed themselves."
Both Itachi and Shisui widened their eyes.
If the First Hokage was this powerful, then how strong must the ancestor standing against him have been?
Yet, neither noticed Madara quietly muttering behind them:
"Hard to believe he managed that kunai suicide act back then."
Soon, the plan was complete.
Moonlight filtered through the broken windows, casting a silver sheen over the three figures.
Itachi finally spoke.
"Honored ancestor, why help us?"
Madara looked east, where dawn was breaking.
"Who said I'm helping you?"
His eyes sharpened.
"I'm simply cleaning house. After all, that old Danzō dared to touch the Sharingan's power."
The Nine-Tails squinted, sharp teeth bared.
"Ha! Old man, you only care because he's threatening Naruto's safety, and you want to gut him, right?"
Inside the sealed space, Madara unusually did not refute. He just stared ahead, lost in thought.
The Nine-Tails' ears twitched, suspicion in its gaze.
Normally, if Madara didn't respond, it would receive a punch from Susanoo.
But today… he was behaving strangely.
"Hey! Old man? Old Madara? React a bit!"
The Nine-Tails even jabbed him with its tail.
Still, Madara didn't move.
The Nine-Tails froze midair, its fox-like face growing serious.
Could he have fallen under a genjutsu?
Just as it hesitated to strike him awake…
A muffled boom. Blue Susanoo fists smashed into the Nine-Tails' face without warning, sending ripples through the sealed space.
The Nine-Tails was slammed into the water, sending a spray meters high.
"Cough! Cough, cough!"
It climbed out, shaking off the soaking fur, glaring at Madara.
"You old bastard! Acting mysterious is one thing, but sneaking an attack?!"
Madara slowly withdrew Susanoo, snorting.
"Shut up."
Satisfied, the Nine-Tails grinned.
"Now that's more like it. That deadpan look earlier… I thought something weird had possessed you!"
Madara ignored the teasing, silent for a moment, then spoke.
"Nine-Tails, I had a dream yesterday."
The Nine-Tails blinked, then scoffed.
"Uchiha Madara, troubled by a dream?"
Madara didn't reply to the taunt, eyes fixed on the distance.
"It was a very strange dream."
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