What the people of Konoha didn't know was that Shimura Danzō wasn't the only one keeping an eye on Uchiha Ran.
In a hidden corner of the shinobi world, deep within a vast underground cavern, a billowing shadow was giving a report to an elderly man seated before it.
"Lord Madara, it's exactly as I've said: Uzumaki Mito and Tsunade seem to have lost their minds—they're determined to protect Uchiha Ran."
Having finished the report, the shadow fell silent, patiently awaiting the old man's response.
Yes, that elderly man was none other than Uchiha Madara himself.
His hair had gone completely white, his face was etched with deep wrinkles, and his body looked feeble and withered—no longer did he bear any trace of the fierce arrogance and commanding presence he once possessed.
He sat motionless upon a stone throne, eyes closed in meditation.
Black rods were embedded in his back, connected to a massive, ominous statue looming behind him.
If one looked closely, they could see life-filled chakra coursing through the pipes and into Madara's body, sustaining his existence.
Seeing the long silence, Black Zetsu began to grow anxious and finally asked again:
"Lord Madara, what shall our next move be?"
Uchiha Madara smiled faintly and slowly opened his eyes.
They were pale violet, with faint concentric patterns—an eerie and otherworldly sight.
They weren't fully awakened Rinnegan yet, but their shape made it clear that their awakening was inevitable. It wouldn't be long before they fully transformed.
"You said Uchiha Ran has fallen for Hashirama's granddaughter?" Madara asked, still smiling.
"Exactly, Lord Madara!" Black Zetsu nodded. "Judging by my observations, everything points to that."
He didn't fully grasp human emotions like love, but after watching Uchiha Ran and Tsunade constantly glued to each other, even he could draw a conclusion.
"Hah," Madara chuckled softly. "Isn't that wonderful?"
"Wonderful?" Black Zetsu was taken aback. "Lord Madara, if this continues, Uchiha Ran may never leave Konoha. What will become of our plan?"
The plan he referred to was, of course, the Eye of the Moon Plan.
Originally, the main executor was to be Uchiha Madara himself.
And indeed, under the subtle guidance of Black Zetsu, he had already set foot on that path—grafting Hashirama's cells onto himself and preparing to awaken the Rinnegan.
But neither he nor Black Zetsu had anticipated that the evolution from Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan to Rinnegan would take so long. At this point, Uchiha Madara was nearing death.
Even if he succeeded in obtaining the Rinnegan, his life would depend entirely on Gedo Mazo keeping him alive. He would no longer be able to complete the task—gathering the Tailed Beasts, becoming the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki.
So they had come up with a contingency plan.
They would find a young Uchiha—any Uchiha—and twist his heart, make him wholly devoted to Madara and the Eye of the Moon Plan.
Once such a candidate was ready, Madara would sever his own life support and allow himself to die.
The chosen successor, guided by Black Zetsu, would continue in Madara's stead: awaken the Rinnegan, collect the Tailed Beasts, and at the critical moment, use Rinne Tensei to resurrect Madara—so he could become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki and complete the Eye of the Moon Plan.
For years, Madara searched for someone worthy, but to his disappointment, none of the Uchiha met his standards.
The only one who showed promise was Uchiha Ran—the exile.
Even though the boy was far from ideal and remained something of a mystery to Madara, there was no choice left. He had decided to take a chance.
"As long as Tsunade lives, he truly may never leave the village," Madara said calmly. "But what if Tsunade were to die?"
"Die?" Black Zetsu's eyes lit up. "If Tsunade is killed, Uchiha Ran would be devastated. With no one left to shield him, conflict with Konoha's leadership would be inevitable… and that would be our chance."
Uchiha Madara let out another quiet chuckle but didn't say anything.
His thoughts ran much deeper.
Right now, Uchiha Ran was still far from perfection—but if one day he were to watch both his brother and the woman he loved die before his eyes… if his heart were to fall into despair and darkness… then reality itself would forge him into the perfect vessel.
"What of Kirigakure?" Madara suddenly asked.
"All is quiet. The Third Mizukage remains under control. Kirigakure is still firmly in our grasp," Black Zetsu reported. "Do you intend to start a war between Kirigakure and Konoha?"
But Uchiha Madara shook his head.
"After Hōzuki Gengetsu's death, Kirigakure has fallen. They're no match for Konoha.
If a war breaks out, it would be nothing but a one-sided massacre."
"I can't leave Gedo Mazo now, and I have no desire to appear before others. And you alone can only do so much. So… we must plan carefully."
"Understood!" Black Zetsu responded, visibly invigorated.
He didn't care about war. He didn't care about death or people. The only thing that mattered to him was the Eye of the Moon Plan—and its successful completion.
---
Meanwhile, back in Konoha.
After her heated argument with Utatane Koharu, Tsunade's mood had improved significantly, and she returned to the hospital.
Uchiha Ran was there too, but he didn't seem happy to be alive. There was no sense of relief, no triumph in his expression.
"Ran… are you… are you alright?" Tsunade asked gently.
She was truly afraid that Uchiha Ran would want nothing more to do with her.
Just the thought that she'd nearly caused his death sent chills down her spine.
How could she have been so foolish?
She had handed the knife to Utatane Koharu—the very woman she despised—and nearly lost the person she cared for most.
"Sigh… What's there to say…" Uchiha Ran sighed heavily. "I only narrowly avoided disaster. Just like five years ago."
"But can you really hide forever? Can you escape fate? This was bound to happen eventually."
"There is a way!" Tsunade snapped back, her tone sharp and decisive.
"A way?.." Uchiha Ran gave a bitter smile. His voice carried the weight of utter hopelessness.
Tsunade walked over to the door, peeked outside. Seeing no one in the corridor, she closed it, locked it, and came back to him.
"What are you doing?" Uchiha Ran leaned away, half-jokingly shielding himself with his arms as if startled.
"You idiot…" Tsunade clenched her teeth in frustration. She pulled a scroll from her robe and hurled it at Ran before returning to her seat with a scowl.
"What's this?" Ran asked curiously, unrolling the scroll—only to feel his breath catch in his throat.
Inside was a technique of terrifying power.
This was the very jutsu Tsunade had used to fight on par with the greatest shinobi of her time. Few could stand against her when she wielded it.
"Tsunade, thank you… but I don't need this." Ran stood up, placed the scroll gently on the table, and pushed it toward her.
Tsunade rose as well. Pressing her hand down firmly on the scroll, she shook her head.
"Ran, it was my fault you nearly died. So you have to accept this—whether you want it or not."
They stood close—leaning slightly toward one another. No more than a foot apart.
Tsunade glanced down—and accidentally caught sight of Uchiha Ran's lips.
And suddenly… she wanted to bite them.
The moment the thought hit her, she blushed fiercely, her face flushing red, and quickly sat down, staring at the floor.
So embarrassing…