"Konoha's White Fang."
Uchiha Madara looked at the information in his hand with some interest.
"He's now Konoha's strongest combat force, and he's getting close to your level, Madara."
Black Zetsu had long since obtained intelligence on the White Fang as soon as possible.
White Zetsu was present underground at the battlefield.
"My level?" Uchiha Madara snorted coldly, "Do you really understand my strength?"
Cutting a mountain in half was hardly a challenge for him.
He could even unleash more devastating power if he wanted.
Just a junior, nothing more.
"That's why I said 'close.' The opponent now has the qualifications to face you in a fight."
Black Zetsu, understanding Uchiha Madara's strength well, evaluated accordingly.
That slash, even for Madara, wouldn't have been easy to counter.
But the White Fang could only manage such a blow once before losing his ability to fight, which made him incomparable to Uchiha Madara.
Madara could maintain that level of power continuously.
Madara scoffed in disdain. In the entire shinobi world, only Senju Hashirama was truly qualified to be his opponent.
Everyone else was just a flock of weaklings, merely toys for his amusement.
"Well, I look forward to it. Only then will this world be interesting."
Though he belittled the White Fang's strength, Madara was still eager for a new opponent to emerge.
After all, a world full of weaklings who could be crushed at any moment would be too dull until he achieved his goals.
A worthy opponent was needed to give meaning to the challenge.
The title of "Shinobi Asura" was not given lightly.
"Moreover, his power comes from the Uchiha Jin's basic internal energy technique."
Black Zetsu added.
"Uchiha Jin."
Madara narrowed his eyes. He had already been watching this person for some time and even had a copy of his three-layer basic internal energy technique.
Konoha hadn't noticed White Zetsu's probing.
Plus, the foundational technique wasn't only in the Scroll of Seals; Shimura Danzo also had a copy.
White Zetsu had easily acquired it.
The reason he could still move around freely was because of this basic internal energy technique.
This sealing technique even had a rare life-extending effect.
"Are you planning to make Uchiha Jin your successor?"
Black Zetsu asked.
Such powerful mastery of ninjutsu analysis could make him an excellent pawn.
Black Zetsu was tempted to guide him.
But Madara shook his head.
"Uchiha Jin harbors darkness in his heart. He can't awaken the Mangekyo."
Only those with a light heart falling into darkness would awaken the Mangekyo in despair.
According to Madara's view,
If Uchiha Jin were to fall into darkness,
It would be like coming home.
There'd be no discomfort at all.
Why would the Uchiha produce someone like this?
It was ridiculous.
In all his life, Madara had seen all kinds of Uchiha members.
But Uchiha Jin was a first.
However,
If he couldn't even awaken the Mangekyo, he was no different from trash like Senju Tobirama.
The Mangekyo Sharingan was essential for his plan.
"What about Fugaku then?"
Black Zetsu inquired again.
According to Madara, Uchiha Fugaku had the potential to awaken the Mangekyo.
"Hesitant, a weakling merely bearing the oppression of the village."
Such a person, even with the Mangekyo, would be nothing more than a pitiful creature struggling within the village.
If chosen as his successor, it would make control easier.
But he wouldn't accomplish anything significant before being toyed to death by the other shinobi.
Choosing him would be no better than watching Uchiha Jin.
"For now, we wait on the successor."
As chakra accumulated through the basic internal energy technique was slowing his aging,
Madara felt no concern.
This generation didn't have one, but that didn't mean the next wouldn't.
If not for this aging body, he would've personally stepped in long ago.
He hadn't expected to awaken the Rinnegan only at his old age.
---
"And now Konoha has grown too strong due to the basic internal energy technique. If things continue at this pace, even all the hidden villages combined won't be enough to contend with Konoha."
Black Zetsu had no desire to see a peaceful shinobi world. If Konoha grew too strong, peace similar to when Senju Hashirama lived would return.
In terms of numbers, Konoha indeed had fewer shinobi.
But the number of elite shinobi was significant.
Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, the White Fang, Might Duy, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Shimura Danzo.
Seven elite shinobi could emerge at a moment's notice.
Who knew what other forces lay hidden?
Such power couldn't be countered by a single village.
"Konoha, huh?"
Madara's gaze flickered.
The village he and Hashirama had founded.
But Konoha growing too powerful wasn't part of his vision.
It would affect the growth of his chosen successor.
"In the name of Kirigakure, distribute the basic internal energy technique to the other villages to bolster their strength."
"Understood."
Madara closed his eyes.
In the name of peace, any sacrifice was worth it.
For the sake of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
—--
Land of Rain
Purple poisonous mist spread in all directions.
On top of a massive salamander, Hanzo stood wearing a breathing apparatus.
In the poisonous fog, whether Suna-nin, Iwa-nin, or even Konoha-nin, they had no choice but to retreat.
Hanzo alone drove away the ninja from the three major villages.
However, not everyone managed to retreat unscathed. Many shinobi inhaled the poison and fell, unable to move.
At this point, the Rain shinobi behind Hanzo swarmed forward, giving their enemies a final farewell.
Of the three factions, Konoha suffered the least damage.
Many of them managed to endure in the poisonous mist for a short time, enough to help their comrades escape.
"Hanzo of the Salamander! Do you intend to make an enemy of Konoha!?"
A Konoha shinobi who couldn't escape knelt on the ground.
His leg was gravely injured from the battle, and there were no teammates nearby.
Under these circumstances, fleeing was impossible, and he could only question Hanzo.
"You should know Konoha's White Fang won't let you off easily."
"White Fang?"
Hanzo looked down from above.
"Your great shinobi villages have rampaged across the Land of Rain, leaving its people displaced. The damage you've done to this country is already too much."
"So what if I'm your enemy?"
"What if White Fang comes?"
Hanzo raised his scythe high, aiming it at the distant Konoha shinobi before throwing it.
"White Fang... let him come. I want to see just how powerful his blade really is."
The Land of Rain had borne too much pain due to these major villages' battles.
And they dared to threaten him on his own soil.
Grabbing the chain attached to the scythe, Hanzo watched as it pierced through the Konoha shinobi's head.
As the body collapsed, lifeless,
"Konoha! Iwa! Suna! Your era of recklessness ends here!"
"If you seek battle, then we of Amegakure will accompany you!"
Raindrops fell from the sky,
As if the Land of Rain itself was weeping.
Amidst the despairing cries of the Land of Rain,
Amidst the ruined wastelands, one by one, shinobi with the Rain's forehead protectors emerged,
Surrounding all those who sought to flee.
"Since you desire war!"
"Then let there be war!"
Poison mist spread out.
In the Land of Rain, the Rain Village's Hanzo of the Salamander declared war,
Against the three major shinobi villages.
---
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