Peace... Almost
Tobirama's dusty face held something close to contentment.
The war was over. Terms agreed. His student—foolish, weak Hiruzen—would survive.
Not a wasted trip.
"If this succeeds..." Tobirama's voice was quiet. Almost warm. "...the ninja world will know peace." His gaze settled on Jinghang. "You have vision, boy. Wisdom. As a dead man, I'm... satisfied." He turned to Hiruzen. "I have no regrets. Hiruzen."
"Destroy the Impure World Reincarnation scrolls when you return." Tobirama's tone hardened. "All of them. The living shouldn't rely on corpses to solve their problems."
Hiruzen's throat tightened. "...Yes."
He finally came back. And we were so broken he had to beg our enemies for mercy.
What have we become?
"Cherish this peace." Tobirama's eyes closed. "Live well."
Jinghang's voice cut through the moment.
Tobirama's eyes opened. "...Yes?"
"One more thing."
"I'm done with the world of the living, boy. The war is—"
"What if I told you Uchiha Madara is still alive?"
Tobirama's eyes blazed. Killing intent—sharp, cold, decades of hatred—flooded the tent.
Jinghang smiled inwardly. The Second Hokage. The man who hated Madara more than anyone.
Even death won't stop him now.
"Look at this." Jinghang pulled out a worn notebook.
Tobirama snatched it. Flipped the cover.
"Uchiha Madara" in bold script.
His hands trembled.
"This is... his handwriting. I'd know it anywhere." His voice was ice. "How do you have this? Unless—" His head snapped up. "He's alive."
Hiruzen's face went white. "That's... impossible. The Valley of the End—"
"Bastard." Tobirama's voice was venom. "That evil, cunning—"
"He's old now." The Third Raikage spoke up. "But still dangerous. Kazekage and I fought him. Took one of his eyes. He's real."
Hiruzen looked like he'd been punched. "All this time...?"
"Every war. Every conflict." Jinghang's expression was grim. "He's been orchestrating it. Building toward something called the Eye of the Moon Plan."
"Eye of the Moon..." Pain's voice was barely audible. "What is it?"
"A genjutsu." Jinghang's tone was careful. "Cast on the entire world. Everyone trapped in an illusion. Living out their perfect dreams."
Pain's Rinnegan flickered.
(A world where Yahiko is alive. Where we never suffered. Where—)
"Sounds... peaceful."
Jinghang's expression hardened. "Sasori. Show them."
Sasori unrolled a scroll. Poof.
A corpse hit the ground.
White. Humanoid. Wrong.
"What the hell is that?" Homura recoiled.
"A White Zetsu." Jinghang's voice was cold. "This is what happens to humans under the Eye of the Moon. You enter the dream. Slowly, you lose yourself. Your mind. Your soul. You become... this." He gestured at the lifeless thing. "No thoughts. No will. Just a puppet."
"If Madara succeeds—" Jinghang met his eyes. "—humanity ends. Not with a bang. With a dream. And then we all become these."
Pain's face—usually impassive—showed horror.
"I... I didn't realize."
"You couldn't have." Jinghang's tone softened. "It sounds beautiful. That's the trap."
"Why didn't you tell us this earlier?" Hiruzen's voice was strained. "At the Five Kage Summit—"
"Would you have believed me?" Jinghang raised an eyebrow. "Even now it sounds insane." He smiled humorlessly. "Back then? You'd have thought I was running a scam. 'Hi, I'm a dead legend, send money and I'll save the world.'"
Hiruzen's mouth twitched. Fair point.
"If what you're saying is true—" Tobirama's voice was steel. "—then Madara and his followers are the greatest threat this world has ever faced."
"Then I'm staying." Tobirama's eyes burned. "This is my generation's failure. I'll clean it up. I'll drag that bastard to the Pure Land myself."
Jinghang clapped. "Perfect."
Exactly what I needed.
(Hashirama would've been better—stronger. But Bunpuku already sent him off. Tobirama will do. He spent YEARS developing anti-Uchiha techniques. Never got to use them because of the Valley of the End. Now he gets his chance.)
(And he'll be MOTIVATED.)
"How many of these... White Zetsu does Madara have?" Hiruzen's voice was tight.
"Seventy to eighty thousand." Jinghang's tone was casual. "Most are chunin-level. Some jonin."
"Eighty thousand?!"
"At least." Jinghang shrugged. "Raikage and I killed a few thousand once. Barely made a dent."
Everyone stared at the corpse on the ground.
Eighty thousand.
Hidden. Waiting.
"We need the Alliance." Hiruzen's voice was hoarse. "Now. Not in six months. Now."
"Agreed." The Raikage's expression was grim.
"Agreed." Pain's voice was flat.
Tobirama's smile was cold.
"Then let's get to work."
[Strategic Mastery: Madara reveal = perfect timing (right after peace treaty, when everyone wants stability). White Zetsu corpse = physical proof (makes threat real, not theoretical). Pain's temptation = shows Eye of Moon's danger (even "good" people could fall for it). Tobirama's rage = converts "rest in peace" to "one last mission" instantly.]
[Manipulation Layers: Jinghang controls information flow = reveals Madara AFTER securing alliance framework (now everyone has shared enemy). Downplays White Zetsu numbers = "70-80K" when original had 100K (leaves room for "worse than we thought" later). Uses Tobirama's hatred = doesn't have to convince him, just remind him Madara exists.]
[Character Dynamics: Tobirama's arc = peaceful death → vengeful resurrection (Madara is his Voldemort). Pain's near-fall = shows he's still vulnerable to "perfect world" promises (Jinghang has to actively save him from temptation). Hiruzen's urgency = realizes external threat is NOW bigger than internal politics (forces cooperation). Alliance transformation = from "trade organization" to "anti-apocalypse coalition."]
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