Wrong!
Dead wrong!
Strength can make you a powerful Ninja, but it won't make you a worthy Kage.
With your power and reputation, you could easily take the seat.
But do you think you'd be a qualified Kage?
I…
Before Kitsuchi could finish, Ōnoki cut him off.
The most important quality of a true Kage is knowing when to act.
Seize every chance to strengthen the Village and make it greater.
Then, even if your strength is lacking, many will still follow your lead.
Yes, Tsuchikage-sama.
This time Sunagakure saw an opening and took a bite.
Tell Sunagakure: five million. If they're not satisfied, we go to war.
They open with fifty million—do they think Iwagakure is Konoha, rolling in ryo?
Iwagakure has nearly twenty thousand Ninja; every year is a tight squeeze with barely any surplus.
The Land of Earth only gives Iwagakure two hundred fifty million a year—ask for fifty million and we might as well shut down.
If I could really pull fifty million in spare change, why bother fighting Konoha at all?
Yes, Tsuchikage-sama.
…Land of Grass.
Caught between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth, bordering the Land of Rain.
Somewhere underground.
"Black Zetsu, where's Black Zetsu?"
A low, aged voice sounded.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"You there."
"Yes, you—the one squatting on the floor drawing poop.
I don't know how Hashirama's cells produced something like you. Get over here and tell me how long I slept and what's happening in the Ninja World."
"Lord Madara, do you need to get up to pee?"
"…"
Uchiha Madara's face darkened as he watched the swirl-faced White Zetsu run over grinning.
This idiot.
He said coldly, "How long have I slept, what's the situation in the Ninja World, and where's Black Zetsu?"
"Eh~ Lord Madara has so many questions right after waking up. Black Zetsu didn't tell me anything. Wait here, Lord Madara, I'll go ask."
The swirl-faced White Zetsu said sheepishly, "I've been wondering what poop feels like. Maybe Lord Madara should get up first, pee, then…"
"Shut up, idiot."
Madara's face was black. If he weren't stuck full of tubes and unable to move, he'd have hung this thing on the Gedo Statue to dry.
Why did I have to fiddle with Hashirama's cells?
And create this thing!
As expected, Hashirama's an idiot; anything born from his cells is an idiot too.
"Hashirama, you idiot!"
He cursed Hashirama again in his heart.
Pure Land.
"Achoo~"
Senju Hashirama sneezed.
"Madara! It must be Madara calling me. I have to find him."
"Enough, Brother. That bastard Madara isn't here—you've searched three times already."
The spectral Senju Tobirama watched his big brother muttering about Uchiha Madara and felt his face darken.
Damn Uchiha Madara—he must have faked his death back then. I wonder how Konoha is now; hopefully the kid can hold out.
"Damn Uchiha Madara, that naturally evil Uchiha."
"Hmph, naturally evil Senju Tobirama—die! My brother will destroy Konoha."
A long sword slashed from behind Senju Tobirama, but he dodged with a Flying Thunder God.
"So it's you—Uchiha Izuna I killed. Want another taste of being pierced through the chest?"
"Hmph, naturally evil Senju Tobirama, last time you ambushed me; today I'll kill you."
"Bring it." ×2
"Hey, Tobirama, Izuna, stop fighting,"
Senju Hashirama saw the two about to clash again and expertly summoned a giant Buddha to separate them…
Back underground.
Uchiha Madara had finished listening to another White Zetsu's report.
"Hmph, so the Ninja World is at war again. If Hashirama had listened to me earlier, none of this would have happened.
As expected, Hashirama was wrong; only I am right. The Eye of the Moon plan is the only way to save the Ninja World.
Don't worry, Hashirama—once I bring peace to the world, I'll show it to you. I'll prove how wrong your decision was!"
"Lord Madara, I'm back."
Just as Uchiha Madara was lost in beautiful visions of the future, Black Zetsu's voice rose from the ground.
"You're back. Report—how are my eyes?"
"Lord Madara, your eyes are currently in Sunagakure, brought there personally by the Third Kazekage."
"Why are they in Sunagakure?"
Uchiha Madara let out a cold snort.
Could it be they're after my eyes?
That little brat should be grown by now—how's he doing? Targeted by greedy fools, his life must be rough.
Good—more hatred will help him grow faster and be easier to guide."
"Um~ Lord Madara, actually life in Sunagakure has been pretty nice.
Well fed, well dressed, no war, and with his mother beside him.
The current Kazekage even took him as an adopted son and treats him very well—doesn't look like he's after your eyes."
Black Zetsu scratched his round head.
Hearing this, Madara was stunned.
Then he frowned and said firmly,
"Impossible—absolutely impossible!
What is that?
The Rinnegan!
The Rikudō Sennin's Rinnegan!
Legendary!
No one can resist the power of the Rinnegan.
If the Kazekage brought him to Sunagakure not for my eyes, then for what?"
"Maybe… for his mother~"
"???"
"!!!"
What the heck?
The once-resolute Uchiha Madara choked on Black Zetsu's words and couldn't speak for a long while.
He stared blankly at Black Zetsu.
After his mother!
Hmph!
Only after a long time did he recover, disdain and ridicule on his face.
"Hmph, just… just like that guy Hashirama?
All slaves to lust!
People who've lost themselves!
Fools!"
I, Uchiha Madara,
called the Asura of the Ninja World, evenly matched with the God of Shinobi—Senju Hashirama.
Back then at the Valley of the End, if Hashirama hadn't played dirty,
sneaking up from behind—
a shameless ambush—
I'd have won.
But it doesn't matter.
I left a trump card; in the end, I won.
Because Hashirama is dead!
Afterward I disappeared to carry out the Eye of the Moon plan,
the plan Hashirama rejected.
I will prove to Hashirama
not to show how great I am,
but to tell him personally—
he was wrong!
Yet now a small problem has appeared.
My eyes—that little Uzumaki brat—have been abducted.
But it's no big deal; I can handle it!