"Saving the shinobi world—you sure can talk big…"
Indra gave a cold snort. "No need to provoke me. If you need my help, just say so."
Then, remembering that Madara had called him a loser earlier and realizing he hadn't responded to the jab, Indra threw in a parting shot so he wouldn't feel he'd lost face: "Though I never thought much of a loser's plan. I heard you couldn't even beat Senju Hashirama while wielding the Nine Tails? That's honestly hilarious."
"In my time, Asura had the Nine Tails and the Sage of Six Paths himself backing him, and only then did he barely manage to edge me out."
Indra glanced at Madara's now darkened expression, feeling far more satisfied.
"Oh, and—you're not here because of the whole reincarnation matter, looking for some kind of explanation from me, are you? Let me tell you this—being chosen by my chakra is your good fortune."
"Even if your mind may have been influenced by my chakra, without it raising the ceiling of your talent, you'd never have come this far."
Indra and Asura, for once, were thinking along the same lines.
When confronted by their reincarnations, both brothers wondered if they were there to start trouble… After all, this sort of thing—akin to seizing another's body—was more than a little awkward.
But their ways of handling it couldn't have been more different.
Asura's first move was to apologize, hoping Senju Hashirama would forgive him… whereas Indra arrogantly declared that it was Uchiha Madara's good fortune.
Hidden in Indra's words was another meaning—If Madara weren't my reincarnation, what chance would he have to stand before me and question me?
"You're ridiculous. You think Hashirama and I haven't noticed your and Asura's chakra? With such petty tricks, you thought you could influence the two of us?"
Madara crossed his arms, his gaze icy as he stared at Indra. "For the founder of the Uchiha, your measure is disappointing."
"You think I lost to Hashirama? I merely discovered the key to awakening the Rinnegan and had no wish to keep wasting my time with someone wallowing in the illusion of peace. I only pretended to lose."
Madara stood proudly, speaking words whose truth was anyone's guess.
In Indra's eyes, however, this posture of Madara's was all too familiar…
For a capable powerhouse, gathering intelligence was a necessity.
So, after the Allied Shinobi Forces were formed…
Indra had been secretly using ocular powers and other techniques to collect nearly a century's worth of intelligence—from the twin gods of the Warring States Era to the meteoric rise of Kazuki…
This ancestor of the Uchiha knew far more about Madara than Madara might have imagined.
And now, seeing Madara's stubbornness, Indra couldn't help but think of himself.
So this is him without my chakra's influence?
The defiant tone, the feigned indifference to others' approval, the cold, unyielding gaze and stance—it was practically a mirror image of himself.
Indra also recalled what Madara had said earlier—"Perfect Susanoo is no longer unique in this era…"
All at once, Indra's urge to keep arguing with him faded.
Ever since the appearance of Ōtsutsuki other than Kaguya in this shinobi world… Indra, quick-thinking and cautious, had known that his feud with Asura and the Sage of Six Paths was laughable.
If there had been no external threats, Indra could still tell himself that he fought for fairness and for a different vision of peace…
But with the arrival of the Ōtsutsuki from beyond the skies, such a struggle was nothing more than meaningless internal consumption, sapping the shinobi world's strength—a farce when placed in the open.
And because of that, Indra had only become more convinced he was right…
For even without knowing of the Ōtsutsuki, his ideal of pursuing strength to forge peace would at least have left the shinobi world far stronger than it was now.
In his own mind, he had already judged himself the victor over the Sage of Six Paths and Asura…
What he most wanted now was to shatter the invading Ōtsutsuki with his own philosophy, a form of uncompromising atonement for the millennium of turmoil he had brought to the shinobi world.
But such words, Indra would never say aloud.
The pride of Indra's bloodline—or rather, the Uchiha clan's inherited need to save face—was exactly like this.
"All right, enough of that… Whether you or I are the loser, one thing's certain: neither of us is the victor."
Indra let out a disinterested sigh and waved a hand. "You came to me about the shinobi world's future, didn't you? Go on then—what's your plan?"
"Just don't disappoint me. You are my reincarnation, after all, so don't tell me you're here seeking my approval, trying to rally everyone to gang up on Kazuki or something…"
At present, in Indra's mind, the shinobi world's first true crisis still lay in the trial Kazuki had left behind.
At the mention of Kazuki, Indra's eyes narrowed, a flicker of fighting spirit and curiosity sparking within them.
He really wanted to fight Kazuki!
As one of his distant descendants, Indra was deeply curious—how had Kazuki climbed all the way from the bottom, without even being the reincarnation of his chakra, to reach a realm surpassing the Sage of Six Paths?
Even before awakening the Rinnegan, he had managed to seal Kaguya with nothing but his body. To face such an opponent in an all-out battle would be exhilarating beyond measure…
"Of course not."
Madara's own eyes narrowed. He clearly saw the battle lust flare in Indra's gaze at the mention of Kazuki, and couldn't help but feel amused.
Even Madara had to admit… in today's shinobi world, there wasn't a single ninja who could last more than two exchanges with Kazuki.
Having watched Kazuki grow up, Madara knew better than anyone—Kazuki was the culmination of every essence the shinobi world had to offer, refined to perfection.
Kazuki was, in a sense, the living history of the shinobi.
In him, one could see the shadow of every great warrior—only stronger, sharper, perfected.
But what intrigued Madara even more…
Was what thought had crossed Indra's mind to make him, mid-flare of temper, suddenly calm down.
"You think Kazuki is a calamity for the shinobi world? No… Kazuki is its only savior," Madara said gravely.
"Though I find you intolerable, setting aside your failures and this so-called chakra reincarnation, objectively speaking, you're still a warrior with a cool, strategic mind."
"That's why I'm telling you this—and why I want you in the plan."
Madara then laid out Senju Tobirama's plan in full.
He spoke plainly about the overwhelming strength of the Ōtsutsuki pursuers, and how even at his current level, Kazuki still approached them with caution…
How, in order to face the enemies threatening the shinobi world's future, Kazuki had resolved to burn himself out—resorting, if necessary, to stirring the power of the Ōtsutsuki God and Gaia's consciousness.
In Madara's view, there was no reason to hide any of this from Indra.
And just as Indra had seen himself in Madara…
Madara, speaking with Indra now, felt the same uncanny likeness, as if their personalities had been carved from the same mold.
A plan to unite the entire shinobi world's strength, unleash every last drop of its potential, and meet the invaders in one final, decisive battle—this aligned perfectly with Indra's creed of strength above all.
Besides, even if Indra disagreed—so what?
This plan, though extreme in tone, was no shameful conspiracy. It was nothing more than the desperate counterattack one launches when faced with the end of the world.
It was something that could be laid bare under the sunlight for all to see…
And Madara's judgment had been correct.
When Indra finished listening to the plan, he fell into a long silence.
After a while, the corners of his mouth curved into an excited grin, and he spoke slowly: "You didn't disappoint me… Now this is how it should be! Though I still think you're being too soft. Those who hide under another's wings should pay their dues to the warriors who charge into battle—this is something that can be made public without issue!"
"But…"
A glint flashed in Indra's eyes.
"Must we rely on Kazuki? From what I see, if the entire strength of the shinobi world were concentrated in me alone, with my skill and power, I could face the Ōtsutsuki pursuers myself!"
Madara gave an inward, dismissive laugh—you?
It wasn't that Madara looked down on Indra, but no matter how strong he was, he still stood on the same tier as himself, Hashirama, and others of that level.
Yet instead of mocking him, Madara thought for a moment, then spoke seriously: "What I just told you—that's Senju Tobirama's plan."
"In truth, what you said is something I've also considered."
"Kazuki has already sacrificed too much for this world. There's no reason to place all the weight on his shoulders alone."
"My view is, if the Ōtsutsuki pursuers appear, before Kazuki makes a move, we could pool our strength into one person—or take turns on the front line—to defeat the enemy."
Madara continued evenly: "Doing so would also align with Kazuki's aim of testing the shinobi world's unity… Though Tobirama claims Kazuki only wants to keep people from growing divided…"
"But Tobirama doesn't understand the Uchiha—nor does he understand Kazuki!"
"If Kazuki has voiced this, it proves he has indeed felt disappointment toward the shinobi world…"
"My stance is that when the Ōtsutsuki pursuers arrive, we should keep Kazuki from acting—gather everyone's chakra into a single whole and face the enemy ourselves!"
Madara's tone deepened.
"If we win, we'll naturally regain Kazuki's respect. If we lose, we can at least gather intelligence on the enemy for him, instead of serving only as tools to replenish his chakra!"
"As for your idea of taking the lead… fine! But if all the world's strength is poured into you and you still lose—then I'll step in!"
Indra smirked with pride. "It won't come to you. I don't lose."
In that moment—
Madara and Indra both broke into laughter.
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