Hidden Rain Village.
Ryou returned from Hozuki Castle riding the Seven-Tails. On the way, he used Hashirama cells to absorb the Seven-Tails' Chakra, turning it into a Seven-Tails spore.
Ryou stroked the Seven-Tails' head, feeling somewhat apologetic: "Chomei, sorry, I'll have to trouble you for a bit later."
Because Madara wanted to seal the Seven-Tails inside the Gedo Statue, Ryou had to hand it over.
"Woof! Woof!"
The Seven-Tails barked like a dog twice, its face full of attachment to Ryou.
This kind of trust was the sense of security a pet has for its owner; it believed its owner would not deceive it.
Ryou found it pitiful.
Since the Seven-Tails had been unsealed, it hadn't had a moment of freedom, being brainwashed either by Shisui or by himself.
Under the Uchiha's Sharingan, Tailed Beasts were like incompetent husbands.
Ryou did sympathize with the Seven-Tails, but there was no other way. Currently, Ryou, who hadn't mastered Sage Transformation or awakened the Mangekyo, could not resist Madara.
Soon, the Seven-Tails landed on the plaza of the former Great Tree of Takigakure.
Madara, clad in red armor, was waiting on the plaza. Since Black and White Zetsu hadn't returned yet, Madara didn't know the situation at Hozuki Castle.
He asked Ryou, "Where is the item?"
Madara was referring to the Box of Ultimate Bliss. He was only sealing the Seven-Tails today because he needed to go to Hozuki Castle to retrieve the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
Madara was very interested in the Box of Ultimate Bliss, which could grant wishes.
Ryou jumped down holding Ryūzetsu and walked toward Madara, his face full of indignation: "Ancestor, we were deceived. There is no Box of Ultimate Bliss that grants wishes at all."
"Inside is sealed a demon called Satori that can read people's minds. The legend that the Box of Ultimate Bliss can grant wishes is a lie."
"Satori?!"
Madara was somewhat puzzled.
Ryou then informed Madara about Satori's intel. Madara was quite surprised upon hearing it: "To think it has such a terrifying ability. As long as one fears the opponent or harbors malice toward them, all their moves will be predicted."
Ryou nodded. Ryou was able to defeat Satori because of an information gap; having seen the movie version, he knew that if he attacked Satori without malice, he wouldn't be predicted.
Otherwise, even if the Thousand-Armed Kannon were summoned, the opponent would still be able to predict it.
The Thousand-Armed Kannon's stats were high, but they were all focused on attack power; its speed or agility would be completely overwhelmed by Satori.
Madara then commented disdainfully: "But in the end, it's just a beast. If it were me, a single glance from the Rinnegan would put a collar on it."
What else could Ryou say? The stat monster thought he was all about the skill.
He could only brainlessly flatter Madara: "Lord Madara is mighty! Lord Madara is invincible in the world!"
Madara unconsciously crossed his arms, his expression becoming arrogant and disdainful.
Madara quite enjoyed Ryou's flattery: "The title 'Lord Madara' suits me quite well. Don't call me Ancestor anymore; call me Lord Madara!"
"Yes, yes, yes, Lord Madara!"
Ryou then asked if he wanted to go visit a brothel?
"Get lost!"
Madara reached out to shock Ryou with lightning, but Ryou quickly dodged.
Madara slowly realized: "Wait a minute, so you mean you didn't bring the Box of Ultimate Bliss back to me from Hozuki Castle, but instead injected Tailed Beast chakra to open it right there!"
"(≧∀≦)ゞ."
Ryou smiled somewhat shyly: "Lord Madara, wasn't I just testing the goods for you?"
Madara's lightning crackled toward him. Ryou wanted to flee, but it felt as if he were being held down by a ghost.
It was the Limbo shadow. Madara had used his Limbo shadow to block Ryou's retreat.
"You little brat, tell me, what wish did you make?"
Ryou screamed from being shocked by Madara. Chizu, holding Ryūzetsu nearby, didn't dare to look.
If this powerful Lightning Release were used on an ordinary person, even a slight touch would char them to a crisp.
The Seven-Tails was somewhat afraid of Madara's power, but seeing its master being taken advantage of by a stranger, it hissed and rushed forward.
Madara unleashed a Shinra Tensei, directly blasting the Seven-Tails away.
In front of Madara, a Tailed Beast was like a stray dog on the side of the road.
Ryou cried out in pain: "Lord Madara, Lord Madara, please let me go!"
"I just wanted a little catgirl. I didn't wish for power surpassing yours or to escape your control."
"Really?"
"For real! If I'm lying, may my ancestors never find peace in the afterlife."
"Damn it, you brat, using the ancestors as a shield again!"
Madara shocked Ryou once more, telling him that he was still his strictest grandfather and not to harbor any little schemes.
And—
"To make such a boring wish, you really don't seem like a descendant of the Uchiha Clan! You deserve to be punished!"
Madara's Lightning Release intensified, and Ryou screamed.
After a while, seeing smoke rising from Ryou's head, Madara let him go and used Bansho Tenin to suck the Seven-Tails over.
He took the Seven-Tails and prepared to go to the underground space of the Gedo Statue to seal it.
Before leaving, Madara looked at Ryou and said, "The Shinobi Allied Forces should be fully formed today. They will invade the Land of Rain in a few days."
"This time, you will deal with the Shinobi Allied Forces. This is your test."
"Yes!"
What else could Ryou say? Being a lackey meant taking hits for the boss.
Madara didn't ask about the situation in Kusagakure; it seemed those people weren't even worth his notice.
What a bunch of pitiful people. Of all the people to side with, they had to choose Madara.
"Woof! Woof!"
As the Seven-Tails was being dragged away by Madara, it looked at Ryou piteously, its eyes seemingly hoping its master would save it.
Ryou watched helplessly. He had seen how the Seven-Tails rushed to save him when he was being shocked by Madara.
But now that it was being taken away by Madara, Ryou could not lend a helping hand.
The more Ryou thought about it, the angrier he got. He roared at Madara's back: "Madara—go fuc—"
Candy suddenly covered Ryou's mouth with her paws and smiled awkwardly at Madara: "Ancestor, I'm sorry, my master is wasted."
Madara snorted: "If he's drunk, then get lost. Are you waiting for dinner?"
"Yes, yes, we're leaving right now!"
Candy grabbed Ryou's collar and immediately dragged him far away from Madara's range.
Madara watched Ryou's departing back, shook his head helplessly, and then took the Seven-Tails into his underground space.
Candy brought Ryou to an alley in the Hidden Rain Village. Ryou suddenly punched the ground, creating a huge crater.
He then pointed at Candy and questioned: "Damn it, Candy, why did you stop me? If it weren't for you just now, I would have hit him with a Rasengan!"
Candy was speechless: "Is there no end to this? If you're so capable, go hit him now!"
Ryou smiled angrily, grabbed Candy, and started cuddling her aggressively, venting his frustration on her.
Chizu and Ryūzetsu walked over, concerned about the lightning burns on Ryou's body.
Ryou waved them off: "I'm fine. I'm thick-skinned; even heavenly lightning couldn't kill me."
Candy broke free from Ryou's grasp and jumped onto his shoulder: "If you feel weak, then find a way to get stronger!"