"The Hidden Villages crippled by Uchiha Kazuki… still don't have enough strength."
Isshiki sat on the Raikage's desk, speaking softly.
"That Senju Tobirama seems to have used some kind of jutsu to resurrect the dead? This must be that woman's son's doing… Souls of the dead shouldn't gather like that without dissipating."
"Looks like I'll have to try it myself."
"If it works, I'll revive the former Kage of these Hidden Villages. They'll at least serve as useful cannon fodder…"
For a being like Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, the Impure World Reincarnation technique posed no challenge.
It was merely a matter of communicating with the Pure Land—there was no reason a mortal could do something he couldn't.
But what Isshiki didn't realize—
Those Kage, whom he assumed to be unconscious puppets, were already burning with fury inside!
After months of passive exposure to Isshiki's presence, the Third Raikage and Ōnoki had come to understand one thing: this was an alien invader.
He was using their names with ruthless means to purge dissent within their villages. And now he intended to lead their shinobi as cannon fodder into war against Konohagakure!
And the reason for this war—was Kazuki.
It was only today, through Isshiki's mutterings and their own observations, that these Kage finally understood what Kazuki had done.
This shinobi world doesn't have just one Ōtsutsuki.
Kazuki had sealed one using his own body!
And back then, the reason Kazuki had spared their lives… his words had been strange.
It sounded like a farewell—like a warning, rather than a victor's declaration.
"From now on, bear the name of the 'Three Surviving' and struggle to grow stronger. As the price for surviving, each of you must shoulder your own honor…"
"If fate allows, we'll meet again."
That was what Kazuki had said at the time.
Coupled with the fact that, at the height of his power in Konoha, Kazuki had proactively sought to establish a peace accord with the other Hidden Villages—it left Ōnoki and the Third Raikage feeling even more conflicted.
Could it be that Kazuki had truly desired peace back then… and wasn't just baiting them into an ambush?
Sure, it had all the signs of luring the enemy by feigning weakness… but in the end, Kazuki let them go. He hadn't slaughtered them all in one fell swoop.
That made Kazuki's motives far harder to pin down.
And now, Isshiki's cruelty and arrogance only deepened the Third Raikage and Ōnoki's suspicion—that perhaps Kazuki had given up on the peace treaty because they betrayed it first, and he came to believe the shinobi world couldn't be trusted.
So, before sealing away Kaguya, he had no choice but to pacify the Hidden Villages first—these sources of instability in the shinobi world. And he deliberately held back, leaving them alive to preserve some fighting power for the future.
In comparison…
Even with their iron wills, Ōnoki and the Third Raikage now felt as if they were nothing more than insects in the shinobi world compared to Kazuki!
How could they have been so disgraceful?
Kazuki had kindly and clearly offered a peace agreement—so why had they insisted on tearing up the treaty and attacking Konoha?
"Uchiha Kazuki… you… you'd better not lose!!"
"You're the pride of the shinobi world—don't fall to those aliens!!!"
These were the furious cries echoing in the hearts of Ōnoki and the Third Raikage.
Meanwhile—
Having completed his life-rejuvenation forbidden technique and regained his youth, Uchiha Madara was laughing loudly in a mountain valley, his booming voice shaking thick layers of dust loose from the cliffs.
"This is the body of my prime! This is the power that comes from living flesh and blood!"
Madara clenched his fists tightly. His Rinnegan glowed with intense violet light, and his expression twisted with excitement.
After decades of dormancy in an aged body, this surge of vitality was almost intoxicating—even for someone of Madara's temperament. His chakra exploded with overwhelming arrogance.
Uchiha Obito cast a sidelong glance at Madara and gently shook his head. Turning to Black Zetsu, he commented: "He may be the so-called Shura of the shinobi world… but judging by his temperament, he's nowhere near Kazuki's level."
The moment that name was spoken, even within Uchiha Obito's body, Black Zetsu instinctively shuddered, his brow creasing in discomfort.
Damn it…
Can you please stop suddenly bringing up that man's name?
It's seriously terrifying!
"Obito, the time has come… Uchiha Madara has regained his prime state. We need to have White Zetsu inform them that Senju Tobirama has been resurrected. Once the fighting breaks out, we'll seize the chance to rescue Kazuki and steal the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path!"
Suppressing his own unease, Black Zetsu spoke solemnly to Uchiha Obito.
"Got it. Rin, go take control of the White Zetsu and have them deliver the message…" Obito nodded.
Uchiha Madara was still laughing heartily.
Just then, Uchiha Izuna walked over, beaming as he spoke to his older brother.
"Welcome back, Brother! This shinobi world's stage—only you dancing upon it feels truly right!"
Hearing Izuna's words, Madara's smile widened. He clapped a firm hand on his younger brother's shoulder.
"Izuna, without you… I never could've made it this far!"
"It's all thanks to you!"
Obito frowned. He really didn't want to watch this overly affectionate scene.
Sure, they were brothers—but did they really have to act so clingy?
Black Zetsu gave Obito a speechless look, clearly unimpressed with his sarcasm toward the Uchiha brothers.
Seriously? Maybe take a look at your own expression the last time Kazuki's name came up. You were ten times more emotionally complex than these two.
Just as Madara and Izuna were still celebrating—
A White Zetsu burst out from the ground, interrupting the rare moment of joy.
"Madara-sama! Izuna-sama! We've captured highly valuable intel from Konohagakure!" White Zetsu shouted at the top of his lungs.
Madara gave a devilish smirk. "Well done. You've finally located Kazuki, haven't you?"
Izuna clapped his hands and smiled. "Double the blessings!"
White Zetsu scratched his head. "It's not about Uchiha Kazuki. We discovered that the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, the First Hokage Senju Hashirama, and Uzumaki Mito have all been resurrected!"
"Among them, Tobirama appears to be truly alive, while Hashirama and Mito seem to have been revived through Impure World Reincarnation."
Madara's expression twisted instantly.
That bastard Tobirama actually got resurrected? And Hashirama has been brought back with Edo Tensei?
What in the world was going on?
Izuna, too, was thrown into utter confusion. How did that bastard come back to life?!
In the blink of an eye, Izuna's face suddenly changed. "Damn it—I was wrong!"
"I thought Kazuki had posed as the reincarnation of me and Senju Tobirama to resolve the conflict between the Uchiha clan and the Konoha leadership peacefully…"
"But if that bastard really has come back to life, then that proves Kazuki is deeply involved with him! White Zetsu, are you sure he wasn't brought back with Impure World Reincarnation and is actually truly alive?"
Izuna unconsciously activated his Mangekyō Sharingan. His usual gentle tone had become piercing and frigid at the mere mention of Tobirama's name.
If there was anyone in the shinobi world capable of making Uchiha Izuna lose his composure—
It could only be Senju Tobirama!
"Yes, Lord Izuna. He's not in Edo Tensei form—he's fully alive. And that's not all… for some reason, Tobirama now possesses a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan. Even while walking around Konohagakure, he keeps them activated the entire time…"
Under Black Zetsu's manipulation, every word from White Zetsu was designed to strike at Izuna's nerves, turning this usually refined and amiable man into a raging beast.
"Damn it! Damn it! That bastard actually tricked me!" Izuna roared in fury.
"What else? What other intel do you have? Tell me—now!"
White Zetsu shrank back and replied timidly: "Just today, Senju Tobirama suddenly appeared in Konohagakure. This was the first time we've been able to catch concrete intel on him…"
"Based on his speech at a Konoha council meeting, it seems that Uchiha Kazuki has been sealed deep within the ocean of the Land of Water. Tobirama plans to mobilize a large military force to be stationed in Kirigakure."
"It appeared to be an effort to further reinforce the seal on Uchiha Kazuki! We weren't able to eavesdrop on the entire conversation—Uzumaki Mito's sensory perception posed too great a threat to us, so we had to retreat immediately..."
Uchiha Izuna was breathing heavily, countless pieces of intel flooding into his mind like a tangle of ropes, twisting and knotting into chaos.
"Whatever Senju Tobirama is planning… we have to stop him!"
With a fierce wave of his hand, Izuna growled, "Brother, what do you think?"
Uchiha Madara, equally livid, nodded furiously.
"This time, we must kill Senju Tobirama! Even if Hashirama begs me, it won't matter!"
"He really did do something to Kazuki… After using him to resurrect himself, he then sealed him away—and now he wants to strengthen the seal even further!"
"Worst of all, Tobirama actually dared to covet our clan's Sharingan—he even obtained a pair of Mangekyō! That's the ultimate insult to the Uchiha!!"
Off to the side, under Black Zetsu's manipulations and sincere emotional coaxing, Uchiha Obito was just as incensed as the others, joining in on denouncing Tobirama.
"Izuna, let's take action! We can't let that bastard keep persecuting Kazuki!"
Madara said in anguish, "Even Hashirama is siding with that guy now—he must've been deceived by him!"
Izuna took a deep breath, the savagery in his eyes gradually replaced by calm clarity.
"Brother, we don't have any forces under our command. And while regular shinobi may not mean much to us, there are those new ninja tools Kazuki invented…"
"We'll need the strength of the other Hidden Villages. Spread the news that Kazuki has been sealed—then we'll use genjutsu or direct control to manipulate their leadership and turn them into our cannon fodder!"
"I know you're impatient, Brother—but based on what I know about Tobirama, we must let others wade into the mud ahead of us. That's the safest route!"
Madara nodded firmly.
"No time to waste—let's act now!"
"Uchiha Obito, will you come with us?"
Obito nodded without hesitation.
"If it's for Kazuki, of course I will!"
And so, under Black Zetsu's careful orchestration, this trio of Mangekyō-wielding Uchiha found themselves sharing the same strategic mindset as Isshiki.
Both sides had simultaneously set their sights on the remaining shinobi of the other villages—ready to treat them as chess pieces and disposable pawns.
With the revelation of Kazuki's sealing, the situation across the shinobi world suddenly escalated. The entire world had become a giant powder keg… and the fuse had already been lit.
Meanwhile, in Konohagakure—
Deep beneath Root's underground laboratory—
Senju Tobirama exhaled slowly, a flash of joy passing through his eyes.
"The Dragon Vein Seal—the same one once used to banish the Sage of Six Paths—was a success!"
"We can finally go rescue Kazuki now!!"
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