Note:Hope everyone like the book cover.
(Madara POV)
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Opening my eyes, a sharp, relentless throbbing echoed in my skull, as if my own mind was hammering against itself.
'How long was I out?' I questioned, pressing my palm against my face, feeling the unsettling sensation that my grip on reality was slowly unraveling, slipping through my fingers like sand.
"Good morning, Madara-sama. I trust you slept well during the two weeks," White Zetsu's voice suddenly rang out from nowhere, startling me enough to instinctively summon Susanoo for a brief moment before forcing it to dissolve.
How many times do I have to tell this fool not to sneak up on me like that?
…
Sigh.
"Zetsu, how is that child's development progressing? Has he been adapting well to those eyes?" I asked with measured patience, though the sensation of discomfort lingered as I continued to adjust to the eyes that predated even the Sengoku period.
These eyes were a far cry from Izuna's, but this was the best I could secure for the time being.
For now, they would suffice—they allowed me to see clearly even in the dim and oppressive underground mines, which was enough.
"It's going smoothly, Madara-sama," Zetsu (White) responded with his usual cheerfulness. "Nagato can keep his eyes open without fainting now. And as for the other Zetsu, the ones impersonating his deceased parents, they're doing an outstanding job in their roles. The child suspects nothing. He's swallowed every word they've told him. He no longer questions the initial pain or the changes in his vision, fully believing it was all caused by some deficiency due to malnourishment. He accepted it all like a good little boy!"
Zetsu's tone grew even more gleeful as he began to ramble on about nonsense—this time about poop, no less.
I sighed.
'I'm far too old to tolerate such drivel...'
Naturally, it was Hashirama's fault. Why else would Zetsu (White), born from his cells, behave like this?
"Enough of that idiocy," I cut him off sharply. "Now, tell me how the state of the world is progressing."
At my command, Zetsu (Black) emerged from the ground, his form flowing up like thick, oily sludge, followed closely by Zetsu (Spiral).
"Madara-sama, here is the monthly report," he said with his usual formality. I listened closely as he began.
After I hypnotized and dispatched that mummy( Second Tsuchikage Mū) to assassinate that nuisance(Second Mizukage Gengetsu) over in the Land of Water, the ripples of my actions had shaken Iwagakure. They have temporarily halted from participating the Second Shinobi War and are now keeping their forces stationed at the borders, waiting until they elect their next Tsuchikage.
Naturally, it'll be that boy(Onoki) within a few days; the others are too weak and inconsequential to be taken seriously.
As expected, Iwagakure has also begun considering signing a peace treaty with the severely weakened Sunagakure—pathetic, really, how their negligence has brought them to such a state— and their focus, for now, has shifted to both Konoha and Amegakure.
This development works in my favor. It will push Konoha into a corner, forcing them to deploy more Uchiha to the battlefield to avoid further losses in manpower and the more Uchiha they send, the higher the likelihood that one of them will finally awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Of course, there's also the chance that they'll instead turn to Hashirama's wife, relying on her to bring out the Nine-Tails sealed within her. Though, I highly doubt she has the capability to wield that power effectively, has no beside me and Hashirama could ever hope to command that beast.
As for Kirigakure, they've been toying with the idea of starting a war to avenge their fallen Mizukage. However, the right hand man of the previous Mizukage, the one I control, has been successful in holding them back from that course. He steered them toward focusing on strengthening themselves first, all while angling to have himself elected as the Third Mizukage. (Naturally, I had already given him the necessary commands beforehand—he's too much of a simpleton to pull off anything on his own.)
I no longer concern myself with Kirigakure's future after verifying the credibility of the Uchiha Stone Tablet through the memories of their tailed beast and there's nothing else useful I found when I went there in hopes of hastenning the awakening of the Rinnegan one and a half decade year ago and only awakened Rinnegan just a few years ago by simply waiting.
But I feel secure in the knowledge that no one will interfere with my plan now that I've taken care of that pest, who had started to catch on to my control over the previous Mizukage's right hand man.
As for Gengetsu's clan, which will likely be stifled in the aftermath, well, they have only him to blame. His incessant use of that Hydrification Technique, even during idle moments, was what prevented me from exerting control over him, hence I had to eliminate him as he gave me no other choice.
But anyway, with Kirigakure firmly under my control through that simpleton, I can utilize them as part of my plan.
However, my expression soured as I learned about the growing bond between the Uchiha and the village.
"Tsk, that brainwashed fool(Kagami) is proving to be more effective than I'd anticipated," I muttered, irritated by the development.
Who would have thought that the Uchiha brat sent to be under Tobirama's tutelage would become such a nuisance to my plans, preventing the clan from pulling away from the village as I had hoped?
Instead, he's turned into a bridge, maintaining the relationship between the two intact. Despite the Uchiha being heavily monitored, confined to the village, and trapped in their role as the Konoha Military Police Force, they continue to do the village's bidding.
It wasn't until my will suggested sparking a war by sending White Zetsu disguised as Ame shinobi to stir up Hanzo, that deluded fool, who was all too eager to believe in the dream of a Sixth Great Village, that the Uchiha were permitted to leave the village to participate in war.
Yet even with the Uchiha now sent to the battlefield, their numbers are small, mostly composed of the dovish faction led by that same brainwashed fool, making them worthless for shaping to my will.
The whole clan is starting to sway toward the village's side, especially after the Monkey's (Third Hokage Hiruzen) trickery. The hawkish faction is isolated, having been framed for crimes they didn't commit, and the girl they believed to be murdered in some scheme is actually alive and has been sent to the Anbu to be brainwashed into obedience.
At this rate, I won't be able to craft a proper puppet to execute my will and ensure the Uzumaki brat follows my plan, reviving me to my prime with the eyes I entrusted to him.
"Madara-sama, I have a suggestion to deal with this situation," Zetsu(Black) spoke up, of course, already in tune with my thoughts as always.
"While gathering intelligence, I discovered that Kagami will be traveling to the capital for some business soon. Why not ambush and eliminate him on his journey?"
"We can leak his travel route to other villages and the black market a day before he departs, ensuring he's intercepted and dealt with," he proposed.
'If only the other Zetsu were as sharp as Black Zetsu, I'd have fewer headaches,' I sighed, feeling a touch of pride.
'See, Hashirama? My will is far superior then the ridiculous personality your cells gave the other Zetsu.'
"The plan is sound, just make sure it can't be traced back to us, and while you're at it, frame the hawkish faction. That should undo any progress the dovish side has made."
It has to be subtle enough for the Uchiha to believe they aren't directly involved, yet convincing enough to sow doubt among Tobirama's followers and distrust towards the clan.
"I understand, Madara-sama."
As he left with Zetsu(Spiral) to make preparations, I leaned back against the cold stone of my throne. Sleep was creeping in again, inevitable since I had connected the Gedo Statue to myself through these damn pipes just to keep my lifespan from slipping away. It could be a century before anyone with the Mangekyo Sharingan awakens their eyes. Fortunately, the Uzumaki brat's long lifespan, thanks to his bloodline, gives me some time before a pair of Mangekyo emerges whom I can mold to my will and continue my plan. After all, Uzumaki Ashina, the oldest I know, is still alive and kicking in Uzushiogakure.
"Madara-sama, won't you give me something to do?" Zetsu(White) asked, clearly restless and eager for a task.
I thought for a moment before answering.
"If the war in the Land of Rain heats up to its peak, send some Zetsu disguised as Konoha shinobi to kill 'his parents' right in front of him and continue watching him closely," I ordered.
The boy must never form ties with Konoha, or my plans will crumble.
With that, he strode out, and I slumped further into the cold stone of my throne, letting my eyes finally close. Exhaustion weighed on me, even though I had been asleep for straight solid weeks and had only woken up an hour earlier. It felt like I was slipping beneath the surface of a vast sea of dreams, being pulled down slowly but surely.
'Not too bad, I suppose. Better than waiting endlessly with no progress…'
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Author Note: In the series, Madara typically refers to Black Zetsu, Spiral Zetsu, and White Zetsu simply as "Zetsu." To maintain consistency, I will refer to them as Zetsu but will distinguish each by placing the rest of the name in brackets. This also applies to other characters whose names he won't spell out because they are not worthy enough for him to remember.(and he won't admit he has dementia.)
Additionally, the White Zetsu he talks to is the original one (the chatterbox).
·This chapter timeline takes place few weeks after Nawaki's ambush event.