Standing within the Valley of the End, at the head of his own statue, Uchiha Madara gazed at the statue of Senju Hashirama that stood just across.
He was fully geared, ready to set out to war. His eyes, currently black without any sign of Sharingan- or Rinnegan-like traits, showed that he was able to turn the eyes on and off, which proved that he indeed is the owner of these eyes that used to belong to Nagato for years.
"The world despises stagnancy. How sad is that?"
Madara, feeling a bit nostalgic as he recalled his old days, whispered.
"The old gets replaced. The young grows old. The happy memories don't last for long, before the demise takes over everything."
Currently, the duplicates of the original White Zetsus were released throughout the world, wreaking havoc everywhere to ensure that the villages don't get the time to recover. Considering how they have been warring against one another, it could be said that all of them were severely weakened at the moment, making them perfect for Madara to assault.
"Look at today's world. A little bit of manipulation was enough to make these fools fight each other to their downfalls... humans are born inherently evil, and peace is impossible."
The Eye of the Moon Plan.
"You were wrong, Hashirama. They cannot be convinced. Humanity is fated to be doomed."
Madara felt his heart racing, for he knew that the end of his plan was near.
"There is no hope in reality. If so... I will recreate reality itself. By shining this world under the light of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, I will create the world of infinite idealities, where every human being can be happy without a worry."
In order to do so, right now, he needed to collect the tailed beasts.
"However, before that's done..."
At the moment, Madara needed to confirm—whether Akashi was alive or not.
Although it was logically impossible for Akashi to escape the carefully laid trap that he made through the sacrifices of countless Sharingans, his instinct said otherwise.
"Akashi..."
Madara felt his hands clenching tightly as he thought of the brown-haired, rogue shinobi.
Madara identified Akashi's existence since he was nothing but a weak and helpless child. It was by chance that back then, and Madara dismissed him, thinking that his struggles would reach nowhere in the end.
To think that such a child would grow into the most troubling factor to his plan today... Madara cursed at himself for not taking care of Akashi earlier.
Now, to confirm whether Akashi was alive or not, he dispatched a great number of White Zetsu army to Ame, a number that was at least tenfold greater than the number sent to other villages.
With Hanzo critically injured—Madara actually predicted that Hanzo wouldn't be living for long with that injury of his—Ame no longer had the capability to fend themselves against such a number. Without the existence of Akashi, they won't survive through the day.
Now, the sun was setting. Madara, still on top of the head of his own statue, was awaiting a report.
"...Madara."
At last, White Zetsu arrived, emerging from the stone platform of the statue that Madara was standing on top of.
"He's alive."
Madara's face darkened.
"..."
There was silence, and Madara's eyes could be seen with a cold gleam as he calculated the upcoming scenarios.
"Is that it?"
"Oh, and that sword he always carries with him. It broke at the end of the fight."
"Ryuma, you mean."
Madara's eyes narrowed, finding that piece of information very helpful.
"Ryuma is known as the most durable sword in the world. Being several folds heavier and without a particular ability, unlike the other Seven Swords, some even considered the blade as the sword of the idiots... until Akashi's teacher, Gin, stole it."
In other words, Ryuma was the only sword that could withstand Akashi's potent use of Fire Release, Energy Release, and Yang Release. In the first place, it was only Akashi who'd think of putting one's metallic tools aflame; they weren't meant to be compatible.
Up until now, Madara identified that most of Akashi's threatening abilities came from the premise that Ryuma could handle his chakra. Without such a medium, Akashi needed to pivot his style vastly, which would, as far as Madara could tell, limit his combat capability.
"His battles were mostly won with the use of tactics and deceits. Without that weapon of his, his arsenal is surprisingly small."
"Well... the size of his chakra pool isn't that impressive either. It's at the level of high jonin to low kage at best..."
Madara, with Rinnegans, had the capability to use not only the five basic elements, but also Yin Release and Yang Release.
As Uchiha, he was naturally born with a talent for chakra control and a large chakra reserve—both of which were further amplified by Rinnegans.
With his battle sense and countless techniques which he learned and copied from others, it could be said that he was the very reincarnation of the war god himself.
Logically speaking, Madara didn't see a way Akashi could overpower him.
After the reflection, Madara laughed. He laughed without control, to which the White Zetsu reacted with a body gesture of confusion.
"To think I, Uchiha Madara, would feel threatened by one puny ninja of all things!"
Then, his laugh abruptly died down. A cold expression sat on his face.
"Infinite Tsukuyomi cannot be prevented. It will soon come true. My ideal will be made into reality."
For the first time in a long while, Madara chose ignorance over vigilance in order to protect his dignity.
Even as he proclaimed his confidence, there was an irking feeling that he couldn't get rid of, as if Akashi indeed had a way to pull out a victory, that there was something that Madara wasn't aware of.
Perhaps, it was for this reason that Madara chose ignorance.
__________
It was around midnight that the commotion in Ame settled down.
In comparison to other villages that were suffering from the unending flood of White Zetsu army, Ame met its unprecedented peace.
Although the environment was at peace, the citizens weren't.
Many things haunted them. One was the belief that the White Zetsu army would return again. Two was that they had to rely on the world's most fearsome criminal of all things. Three was that... Hanzo was in a critical condition.
"Hanzo-sama! If you were to die, we...!"
Citizens all gathered near the central tower, where Hanzo was getting treated.
The shouts and pleas containing desperation didn't know when to end.
It showed that Hanzo was, even though he made many mistakes in the past, made up for his wrongdoings and served as a great leader.
"...I don't like this."
Mei, watching the crowd from afar, expressed her opinion.
"After all that, no one is giving credit to Akashi."
"That's what having the brand of a criminal does."
Yahiko shook his head, solemnly.
"It is very difficult to gain trust. Surprisingly, trust of commonfolks is typically gained through superficial traits. I learned through my work under Hanzo that many of them don't wish to think for themselves, to try to learn 'why.'"
Only the two of them were present at the moment.
"Where is Konan?"
"She is at rest. A lot happened, after all."
Responding to Mei's question, Yahiko asked,
"What about Akashi?"
Within a week where Akashi, Konan, and Hanzo were all absent, the two of them became acquianted to each other.
Although Yahiko felt reluctant to trust a foreigner like her, he nonetheless placed his trust in her, since Akashi was the one who brought her. On the other hand, Mei didn't like Yahiko and the two others for being dead weights to Akashi, but respected them for their deep connections with him.
"He didn't tell me. But..."
Mei recalled how Akashi had been since she met him. He was all-time gloomy and depressed, no matter how hard he tried to mask himself.
Today, Akashi was different. It was as if he managed to overcome those negativities within himself. Mei couldn't help but wonder what exactly happened inside that red orb that trapped him and Konan.
With the conversation ending, the two of them returned to minding their own businesses.
Mei, in particular, took out a specially modified chakra paper, one that was used for Akatsuki members to communicate.
It was through this tool that she sent Akashi's orders down to the members. It was specifically designed by Akashi such that only those whose chakra signatures are contained in the paper could decipher the encrypted messages.
Shark reporting. We are in the Land of Wind, monitoring a potential appearance of Uchiha Madara to seize the jinchuriki of one tail. He isn't seen, but Sunagakure is already struggling with the number of White Zetsus.
At what time did those creatures appear?
Around ten hours ago or so.
Mei realized that the time of appearance matched the time when White Zetsus appeared here, Ame.
'How exactly is he doing this?'
Never did she hear about feats like this being possible. It was as if Uchiha Madara had taken a foot into the domain of divinity.
Jagged here. We are currently moving out of the Land of Rivers that we temporarily inhabited for the sake of the recovery of Bushy Brow's father. We are in the process of entering the Land of Fire, aiming to investigate the situation in Konohagakure.
Mei understood the delay, for the initial order was to assemble in Ame. Without Akashi's Flying Thunder God, travelling from one place to another was bound to take a long time, and even with Flying Thunder God, there were limitations, which were that the distance that it could cover correlated with the amount of chakra required.
Jagged reporting again. We have been discovered by Jiraiya of the Sannin. Will report again after moving to a safe location.
No need. Initiate a conversation to find out what he's after.
Mei's eyes widened upon seeing the response that followed Juzo's report. It wasn't written by her, meaning that it was Akashi who wrote it.
This paper-communication idea was derived from him in the first place. He should know that you have ties with me.
Rogerthat.
Pocketing the paper, Juzo, with Gai and Dai with him, stoically looked at Jiraiya, who stood across them in a casual, smirking demeanor.
"So, are you ready to talk?"
Jiraiya raised his arms and made a shrugging motion.
"Tch..."
Gai, frowning with an evident dislike as he stared at the symbol of Konoha engraved on Jiraiya's forehead protector, he remained silent.
Dai, with his eyes holding an immense distrust, placed his hand on Gai's shoulder.
"I get why you'd be hostile, but... now's not the time to act like that, right?"
Jiraiya placed his eyes on Juzo, who reluctantly nodded.
Leader's orders were orders, and just as he said, Jiraiya simply wanted to talk, it seemed.
Seeing the nod, Jiraiya let out a light sigh.
"You know, we planned on visiting Ame ourselves before whatever that White Zetsu army thing happened... haa, well... let me first tell you what exactly is happening in Konoha. That's what you're here for, isn't it?"
__________
Walking in solitude, Akashi arrived at the house sitting at the outer edges of the village. It was the same house that he previously visited and discovered the assault of the masked man on Nagato.
The door was closed. Knocking it twice, Akashi didn't bother to wait for the response and creaked the door open. He then entered, making loud footsteps to signal that he was coming.
"...Akashi, is that you?"
In the darkness, a voice resounded. Clearly, it was Nagato's.
Upon approaching, Akashi's eyes had no problem seeing within the darkness, for he was used to operating during the night.
He saw that Nagato was seated, with his eyes closed. His eye sockets were still empty, and the sight that he lost won't come back. His face looked calm, and he made a slight smile, for footprints were enough for Nagato to know that the person in front of him was Akashi.
"I'm back."
Akashi, not bothering to hide, stated. Pulling a chair, he sat in front of Nagato, within the hand's reach.
"And there is no time to rest, Nagato."
"...Huh?"
"There is something that I must try."
Raising his right hand, Akashi softly placed it over Nagato's closed eyes.
"Akashi, what—"
Nagato paused upon regaining the sensation around his eyes. Bewildered, he was about to say something, but before he could do so, Akashi removed his hand.
"Nagato."
Nagato grew goosebumps as Akashi spoke calmly.
"Can you open your eyes?"
Nagato, for the first time this week, moved his eyelids.
...He could see.
"Akashi, I..."
Akashi couldn't help but smile in relief.
Nagato, in front of him, had red-colored eyes that gleamed brilliantly upon receiving the moonlight that shone by the window.
"You have beautiful eyes, Nagato."
The potential of the Yin-Yang Release was boundless.