"It doesn't seem that difficult, the Mangekyō Sharingan," Uchiha Sogetsu commented, sweeping his hair from his forehead with a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
He sighed, saying, "I thought it would be more of a challenge. You've made it sound like a monumental task, but is this all there is to it?"
He felt no thrill in achieving the Mangekyō. The ease with which he obtained it shattered the lofty expectations he had built.
The Mangekyō Sharingan wasn't as legendary as it was made out to be.
A heavy silence hung between Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu. The air was thick with tension.
"This kid is asking for trouble," Madara thought, his fists clenched. He had to keep his cool, his face calm, despite the green-eyed monster of jealousy roaring inside him.
Taking a deep breath, Madara tried to smother the flames of envy. "Stay calm," he whispered to himself, "I'm too experienced to be ruffled by a young punk. This is nothing new." But the words did little to quench the bitterness he felt.
"It's just a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan," he muttered under his breath. "Nothing to make a fuss over. Not for Uchiha Madara."
Clearing his throat, he feigned casualness. "Now that you've awakened the Mangekyō, there's something you should know," he said, his voice low and gruff. "The Mangekyō comes with immense risks."
"Risks? What do you mean?" Uchiha Sogetsu asked, clearly surprised.
Uchiha Madara finally found a point of authority. He leaned back in his stone chair, resting his weight on his cane as he smirked. "Let me explain," he said, taking his time. "Before I answer your question, do you know why the Sharingan is called a 'cursed' eye?"
Uchiha Sogetsu, playing along, rubbed his chin and pretended to be deep in thought. "Is it because of the conditions needed to awaken it?" he asked, knowing the answer but enjoying the act of being a naive learner.
"Partly, but not entirely," Uchiha Madara responded with a slight nod. "The real reason is—"
Uchiha Madara spoke in a measured tone: "When you frequently use the powers of the Mangekyo Sharingan, it puts immense strain on your body. Every time you call upon its strength, it brings you one step closer to blindness. Eventually, you'll lose your sight entirely and be plunged into darkness."
He paused for a moment, glancing at Uchiha Sogetsu's face, noting the expression he expected to see. Panic, shock, confusion, fear.
Uchiha Sogetsu's reaction was complex; he seemed genuinely disturbed. After all, no one wants to lose their sight, especially with such harsh consequences.
"Why? Why does it have to be like this?" Uchiha Sogetsu's face showed deep bewilderment. His fists clenched as he gritted his teeth, "I've awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan and gained immense power. It's supposed to be something joyful, but instead, it's leading to these dire consequences. Why is that?"
"Do you understand now?" Uchiha Madara asked. Although he found the question somewhat odd, he continued: "This is why the Sharingan is known as the cursed eye."
"But you must have a solution, right?" Uchiha Sogetsu suddenly raised his head, staring directly at Uchiha Madara. "As an old relic from the Warring States period, you must have found a way, right? After all, you're not blind, are you?"
Got him, Madara thought to himself. A slight smile played at the corner of his lips as he spoke in a tone that hinted at mystery: "A solution? Haha, I might know a way."
Uchiha Sogetsu's expression darkened, a hint of displeasure crossing his features as he replied coldly, "If you think you can blackmail me, you're mistaken. I don't respond well to threats."
"No, this isn't a threat; it's a proposition," Uchiha Madara replied with a sly smile, his eyes gleaming with a cunning light.
"I can help you with the side effects of the Mangekyō Sharingan. I can also teach you ninjutsu that will make you stronger—strong enough to surpass the Five Great Ninja Villages. For me, that's just a small favor."
"So, what's the price?" Uchiha Sogetsu asked, trying to hide the eagerness in his voice. "If we're talking about cooperation, you should be upfront about your goals."
Madara's voice dropped, his expression growing contemplative as he asked, "Before we get to that, tell me—what's your opinion on the current state of the ninja world? What do you think of the Ninja Village system your clan helped create?"
Uchiha Sogetsu hesitated for a moment, adjusting his glasses before answering.
"The First Hokage had the right idea," he said seriously, "but he chose the wrong path. The chaos of the Warring States Period didn't end with the emergence of the Ninja Villages. As long as there are ninjas, there will be conflict. It's our fate."
Madara raised an eyebrow, surprise flickering in his eyes. "I'm impressed," he said quietly. "You seem to grasp the deeper issues."
Sogetsu nodded, his voice low and somber. "As long as people are alive, they'll fight over resources. Resources are finite, so conflict is inevitable. This is the case in Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure. There will always be those who grow jealous, and jealousy breeds hatred, which in turn leads to war."
My Dear Friend.
Uchiha Madara, who had been misunderstood all his life, suddenly felt a connection, as if he had found a kindred spirit. His heart raced, and a surge of energy seemed to emanate from his old, silent body, compelling him to rise from his stone chair, trembling as he did.
Madara Uchiha looked at the young man before him with a gaze filled with admiration and approval. "You understand well," he said, his voice carrying a hint of warmth.
"I didn't expect someone so young to grasp the complexities of our world so thoroughly. If Hashirama had even half your insight, we might have achieved peace long ago."
There was an undercurrent of resentment in his words. Clearly, even after all these years, he couldn't entirely let go of the differences between him and Senju Hashirama.
"You grew up as an orphan, in a world that discriminated against you," Madara continued, trying to draw the young man in.
"You've seen the cruelty of the ninja world. Don't you want to end it all? This cycle of violence and conflict has persisted for thousands of years. It's time to put an end to the tragic fate of ninjas, to usher in a new era of peace, where everyone can live in harmony."
"In this new world, there will be no more war, hunger, or poverty. Everyone will be equal and live happily. All wishes will come true, and no one will cry anymore!"
"I have dedicated my life to this dream," Madara declared with increasing passion. His aged body seemed to rejuvenate as he spoke, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "Uchiha Sogetsu, I hope you'll join us in realizing this grand vision!"
"Does such a world really exist?" Uchiha Sogetsu asked, his eyes distant, as if he could see the utopia that Madara was describing.
"Of course, it does," Madara replied with a confident smile. He stretched out his arms, as if to embrace this wonderful future.
"All we need to do is gather all the tailed beasts, then I will become the new Sage of Six Paths. With that power, I will cast the ultimate genjutsu—Infinite Tsukuyomi—where everyone in the world will live happily within a perfect illusion!"
"Wait, an illusion?" Uchiha Sogetsu interrupted.
"Yes, the Infinite Tsukuyomi is the ultimate illusion inscribed on the stone tablet of Naka Shrine," Uchiha Madara explained. "With this illusion, we can shape a perfect world within our dreams."
"Why not consider an alternative approach? What's the solution?" Uchiha pushed up his glasses, appearing somewhat perplexed. "Though the realm of genjutsu is enticing, I believe we should address the root cause."
"Address the root cause?" Madara momentarily stood in awe, his arms outstretched.
"Not a bad idea!" Uchiha Sogetsu's gaze shifted, his tone suddenly fervent. "Since we're gathering the tailed beasts and aiming to become the new Six Paths Sage, why not tackle the issue at its core? By eliminating all ninjas and eradicating chakra altogether, we can resolve the ninja world's conflicts from the very source!"
Black Zetsu shuddered at the notion.
Even Uchiha Madara, who considered himself quite radical, couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth in response. "Well, I dare say that's a tad extreme."
********
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