"I'm sorry, Nagato's eyes are a matter of great importance; we have to be careful. From the way you just reacted, you know about the Rinnegan?"
Yahiko stared at Fugaku's face, which was mostly covered by bandages, but he could still discern his expression from the area around his eyes.
"The Rinnegan, the Sharingan, and the Byakugan are the three great Dōjutsu Kekkei Genkai of the ninja world. The Sharingan and Byakugan have never ceased to exist, but the Rinnegan has only appeared in the Sage of Six Paths a thousand years ago. If I hadn't seen it today, I would find it hard to believe in the existence of the Rinnegan."
Although Fugaku had seen the stone tablet in the Naka Shrine, with his level of visual prowess, he could only see to the extent where merging the eyes between blood relatives would grant him a pair of eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
There was more content below, but that required a stronger visual prowess to read, so Fugaku didn't know whether the Rinnegan truly existed since a millennium is a very long time, enough to turn the Sage of Six Paths into legend.
"Please keep this a secret. If Nagato's power is leaked, the Akatsuki will definitely attract the attention of many, and with our current strength, we can't cope."
Yahiko clenched his fists for a moment, then released them helplessly, unable to justify killing an innocent person just for a secret.
So they're not going to act against him? How naïve are these people, have they not experienced the cruelty of the ninja world? Fugaku was puzzled. Considering their abilities, it seemed they had specifically studied ninjutsu, but their sensei hadn't taught them about the brutality of the ninja world, which was strange.
In his view, to become a ninja, one must witness the true ninja world; otherwise, without understanding it, how could one survive?
"If the Rinnegan is so important to you, why not hide it? Or keep the eyes covered."
Fugaku asked, finding the idea of using hair to cover the eyes one of the least intelligent methods he had encountered.
"Nagato can't control these eyes yet, and there are times when he needs to fight. He can't just be an ornament for the Akatsuki because of a pair of eyes."
"Can't control the eyes? How is that possible, can you not control your own hands?"
Fugaku, who possessed a Dōjutsu Kekkei Genkai himself, was well aware of this. Even if one couldn't control it at the beginning, it could gradually be controlled with practice in chakra control.
That red-haired boy could even walk on water; how could he not control chakra?
"The fact remains as is. For now, please don't leave the Akatsuki; I hope you can understand us."
Yahiko bowed slightly to Fugaku, not wanting to kill to keep a secret but also not allowing him to divulge what he knew. Thus, they would keep Fugaku under observation within the Akatsuki until they were strong enough not to fear others.
"I have nowhere else to go for the time being, and staying here is no issue. Besides, since I've said I won't talk, I naturally will adhere to that."
Fugaku fell silent after speaking, then looked at Nagato, who seemed somewhat hesitant, and reminded him, "There's no power that can't be controlled unless it isn't yours."
One's own power can definitely be controlled; if not, it indicates that the power is foreign, like a tailed beast within a Jinchūriki or a transplanted Sharingan from another clan.
The Uchiha do not fear others transplanting their Sharingan because non-Uchiha cannot properly use the Sharingan Kekkei Genkai. They might manage to utilize the Sharingan's power in a few battles, but the continual drain of chakra poses a risk of depleting the user.
"Understood, then please excuse our rudeness, and continue to stay with the Akatsuki."
Yahiko expressed relief, having truly been worried that Fugaku intended to leave. If it had come to that, he didn't know what he would have chosen.
Between the principles of the Akatsuki and his family-like bonds with Nagato and Konan, Yahiko felt he might choose the latter.
After returning, Yahiko simply gathered the Akatsuki members and announced that Fugaku had joined the Akatsuki, to handle some logistical matters until he healed. His arrangement also intended for Konan to keep an eye on Fugaku.
Yake was a name Fugaku had come up with on the spot, his surname derived from the Uchiha ancestral land, Naka Shrine.
That night, as Fugaku lay in bed unable to sleep, he suddenly rolled over and grabbed the neck of a strange figure that had appeared beside him.
The appearance of this person shocked Fugaku, with a ghastly pale complexion, and only half of the face resembling a human, the rest like tree bark, not at all human-like.
"Fugaku-san, shush, don't make a fuss. Someone wants to meet you, come with me."
Zetsu deliberately lowered his voice in a comical manner to Fugaku, who, upon hearing Zetsu call out his name, showed a grim and fierce expression, instantly thinking of killing the bizarre creature before him.
His identity could not be revealed; once exposed, it would lead to pursuit by Konoha and Uchiha Yōichi.
"Don't rush; I mean you no harm. There's just someone who wants to talk to you. But if you don't want to go, Itachi-san misses you too. And remember, this is just one of my clones."
After speaking, another Zetsu clone appeared from the ground beside him and said to Fugaku, "Like this one, it's also a clone, so killing us is futile; we mean you no harm, come with us."
Fugaku calmed down, thinking of his son, then said, "Alright, I'll go with you."
"That's good. My clone will take your form, acting in your stead within the Akatsuki until you meet the person. How about that, I've really thought this through."
After touching Fugaku and synchronizing with his chakra, the Zetsu clone transformed, astonishingly taking on Fugaku's exact appearance, not just a Transformation Technique, but a perfect copy, even mimicking the chakra.
"Let's go; I've checked already, the one watching you is asleep."
After speaking, the Zetsu clone led Fugaku outside, quickly bypassing the Akatsuki patrols, and then stopped suddenly outside.
Fugaku became alert, facing another peculiar figure that appeared. "Is this the person who wants to meet me?"
"No, this one is to help you travel faster. Attach it to you; you're too slow. At this rate, it would take at least three days."
After Zetsu finished speaking, he approached Fugaku and suddenly exploded into a thin film-like substance, wrapping around him.
"Don't resist, eh? I'll give you control of your body in a moment, but you can't use my power yet."
Fugaku suppressed his urge to resist upon hearing this, mainly because he didn't know how his son Itachi was doing, so he dared not act rashly.
With the strange creature attached to him, Fugaku immediately felt his strength increase significantly, and his injuries also healed considerably.
"Pretty impressive, right? This is just a simple possession. If you could really use my power, you'd be truly astonished!"
Zetsu boasted, "Alright, now release control of your body; I need to hurry."
"Who exactly are you?"
"You'll know when you meet the person soon."
After speaking, Zetsu controlled Fugaku's body to use Earth Release: Subterranean Voyage Technique. As a special Zetsu, Zetsu naturally had this ability.
Traveling underground, the speed now was three to four times faster than Fugaku's own pace; it would take less than a day to reach Madara's secret base.
Fugaku was shocked by this; he felt himself sinking into the ground and moving rapidly underground; this exceeded his understanding of ninjutsu, even Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique couldn't surpass the speed of a ninja running on land.
But despite his shock, since he had decided to meet this mysterious person, Fugaku calmed his emotions.
He was not without means to fight back, still able to use Susanoo, so he was indeed curious to see who this person behind the scenes was.
After a long journey, Fugaku suddenly felt himself arriving in a vast underground space. Once his feet touched the ground, the creature on him suddenly detached.
"We've arrived, the person who wants to meet you is inside, come with us."
Zetsu spoke, leading Fugaku into the interior.
After passing through a corridor, Fugaku entered a dark, spacious underground space. Although there was little light, he could still see a giant stone statue ahead.
And in front of the statue was a platform with a figure sitting on it.
Fugaku guessed that the figure on the platform was the person behind the scenes and shouted, "Is it you who wanted to meet me? How is Itachi? If you dare harm my son, I will never forgive you."
Itachi? His son?
Madara looked at Zetsu, who shrugged and said, "That was just to get him to come here. With Konoha's tight security, it's not easy to kidnap someone, Madara-sama."
"Madara?"
Fugaku repeated the name, having seen if he wasn't mistaken, that person seemed to have Sharingan.
"I am Madara, and Zetsu is the one I sent to find you, failed Uchiha clan leader."
"Madara? Impossible, Madara died decades ago!"
Fugaku exclaimed in shock and disbelief, then his expression darkened, "If you think using the name of Madara will intimidate me, you are mistaken."
"There's no need for that. No one in the ninja world dares to use my name unless I have granted them that title."
Madara then spoke calmly as if reminiscing, "The battle with Hashirama was within my plans. To obtain his power, I used Izanagi to fake my death, deceiving Hashirama and acquiring his power."
"Although I obtained the power of the Senju, in the eyes of the village and the Uchiha clan, I am still a failure. However, Hashirama's idea was also wrong. Wars still occur in the ninja world, and there have been three Great Ninja Wars in just a few decades, which is not much better than the Warring States period. Therefore, I have devised a new plan for peace, the Eye of the Moon."
"The Eye of the Moon Plan will be led by me. You have activated the Mangekyō Sharingan, so you qualify to join. Once the Eye of the Moon Plan is completed, you will also be able to achieve your own goals through it."
Fugaku frowned, thinking this was an invitation to join? He then asked, "My goals? Do you know what my goals are?"
"Your wife left you, you betrayed your clan, and in ten years, no one in the Uchiha clan except your son will remember you. What else could your goals be?"
Madara looked at Fugaku indifferently and continued, "I know the taste of betrayal. Back then, no one in the clan believed me, and now those suppressed can only curl up in the guard squad. Having been a clan leader, you should know better than anyone. But to the current you, that doesn't matter anymore."
Fugaku's face looked terrible, and his eyes, inflamed with anger, revealed the triple tomoe. Each time he remembered these matters, the rage in his heart became uncontrollable.
"Now you have two choices. Join the Eye of the Moon Plan, and you will have everything you desire. After revenge, everything will return to the world you most long for. The other option is to refuse, but then I will take your eyes."
Madara finished speaking and directly cast a genjutsu on Fugaku. Connected to the Gedo Mazo behind him, even if the triple tomoe in his eyes weren't his own, he could easily pull Fugaku into an illusion.
"This is my genjutsu world. Now make your decision."
Fugaku was suddenly pulled into a genjutsu, unable to break free no matter how he tried, and even unable to use Susanoo.
This level of Sharingan genjutsu convinced Fugaku of Madara's identity, using an illusion to render him utterly powerless, something only Uchiha Madara could achieve in the ninja world.
"Join the Eye of the Moon Plan. What do I need to do?"
Fugaku fell silent for a moment before finally agreeing, "And what exactly is the Eye of the Moon Plan? You haven't told me."
"For now, there's nothing you need to do. Someone will tell you about the Eye of the Moon Plan later."
Madara released the genjutsu and spoke to Fugaku, "But after a while, 'I' will come to find you, and then you can be useful. After completing the Eye of the Moon Plan, all the desires in your heart will also be fulfilled."
His opportunities to act were not many. Once the plan with Obito was completed, he would let him replace himself as Madara in the ninja world.
(End of Chapter)