On an island outside the Ninja Continent, there was a mountain that appeared ordinary on the outside but was actually filled with high-tech far beyond the ninja world's current understanding.
A man stood on a cliff that was actually a balcony from the inside, wearing a white monk-like haori. His hair was tied up on top with a long braid trailing behind, and a Roman numeral "IV" was tattooed under his left eye. Holding a glass of red wine, he gazed through an advanced barrier at the golden beam of light descending from the sky. He couldn't help but sigh.
"A thousand years have passed, and there are still descendants of that woman, Kaguya, who can awaken the Samsara Eye through bloodline alone, without the need for elixirs. Truly an outstanding case of atavism."
This man was Otsutsuki Isshiki—the one who had come to Earth with Kaguya Otsutsuki in ancient times to plant the Divine Tree. During the sacrifice stage, he had been betrayed and nearly devoured by the Ten-Tails. Now, he occupied the body of a monk named Jigen.
Isshiki's eyes grew colder and more sinister.
"The Outer Path Demon Statue, the Samsara Eye, the Rinnegan, and the Wood Release infused with the sacred tree's characteristics… All of it has resurfaced in this era. It seems that Kaguya, along with her two sons, prepared a backup plan. As expected… they didn't die."
"If I had already cultivated a second vessel, and this body could endure my full power, I would have reincarnated already. But if I did so forcibly now, my lifespan would be short. I must make that woman, Kaguya, pay—"
His tone turned frigid as he spoke, but then Isshiki paused, his gaze once again fixed on the night sky, on the massive golden beam of light that had cut off a third of the moon. His eyes shimmered with greed and frustration.
Both Uchiha Madara and "Otsutsuki Toneri" were compatible vessels—perfect for reincarnation, able to evolve both the Samsara Eye and the Rinnegan.
Unfortunately, they likely bore some sort of "wedge" mark left behind by Kaguya and her sons.
If he tried to seize their bodies, Kaguya might detect him before the reincarnation succeeded.
Her two sons could also become aware of his presence.
The very means that even Kaguya had been sealed with… Isshiki did not dare to underestimate.
He wasn't sure whether the split between Kaguya and her sons had been a trap laid for him.
To successfully replant the Divine Tree and harvest a chakra fruit, Isshiki couldn't afford to be rash.
He had already endured for a thousand years. A little longer wouldn't hurt.
"The Divine Tree bears fruit once every thousand years. Since that woman Kaguya stole the last one, the higher-ups must have noticed something by now… Perhaps our clansmen are already on their way to this planet."
"Before they arrive, I must raise a vessel capable of bearing my full power. If they discover me and the second Ten-Tails, I might be threatened into submission."
Finishing the red wine, Isshiki muttered to himself, "Keep fighting… Your time is running out."
…
In a vast plain of the ninja world, a bottomless crater had formed.
Wisps of high-temperature steam rose from its depths.
Uchiha Madara lay at the bottom of the pit, still wrapped in a thin layer of Susanoo armor, staring up blankly at the moon—now with a third of it missing—and murmured, "One blow… sent me from the moon back to Earth. So this is the power of the Samsara Eye? No wonder he always looked down on mine…"
Thanks to Hungry Ghost Path's absorption, Susanoo's defense, and the Wheel Grave's help at the last moment, Uchiha Madara had survived the crash from the moon.
The four shadow clones that cushioned the fall prevented his body from being crushed outright—he had only spat blood, and his internal organs had churned violently.
But for someone like him, enhanced by Hashirama cells and White Zetsu tissue, these injuries would recover quickly.
The physical wounds weren't the issue.
What had truly shattered… was his pride.
Izayoi's single attack from the moon had completely crushed Uchiha Madara's confidence and dreams.
If the Infinite Tsukuyomi really was the jutsu that created White Zetsu, then his grand plan of severing all fate was nothing more than a cruel joke.
And if his strength wasn't enough to kill "Otsutsuki Toneri," he could not save the ninja world's future.
Whether it was for building an ideal world or killing gods to liberate mankind—he wasn't the chosen one.
Madara was completely lost.
Should he continue to fight "Otsutsuki Toneri"?
He had already been knocked back to Earth. Going back up would be meaningless defeat.
The Three-Tails had yet to revive. He couldn't verify the Infinite Tsukuyomi's authenticity.
Who knew when the Three-Tails would return? Toneri could destroy the world at any time before that.
His Rinnegan and Complete Susanoo were countered, and his chakra absorption was inferior…
Could he really stop this opponent?
"Madara…"
A familiar voice pulled him out of his daze.
Looking up, Madara saw Black Zetsu—his upper body emerging from the earth via the Mayfly Technique.
Madara stared at him silently before speaking.
"Otsutsuki… Black Zetsu."
"..."
Although his body was a product of Yin-Yang Release and lacked organs like a heart or lungs, Black Zetsu still felt a moment of suffocating panic.
Forcing his voice to remain calm, Black Zetsu replied, "Madara-sama, isn't the Otsutsuki clan Toneri's family? Why would you call me that?"
Madara didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked slowly, "Black Zetsu, would you betray me?"
"How could I?" Black Zetsu quickly said. "I am your will, born from you. I would never betray you!"
But inside, his heart was heavy and fearful.
How did Madara know that name—"Otsutsuki Black Zetsu"?
What had Toneri shown him?
Could Hamura have already detected his existence?
Only the Sage of Six Paths and Hamura should have that power…
If they already knew about him, why hadn't they eliminated him?
Were they using him for something?
Countless thoughts spun in Black Zetsu's mind, but he quickly composed himself.
The priority was regaining Madara's trust.
"Did Toneri say something to you?" Black Zetsu asked bitterly. "He's trying to divide us."
"Yeah, I think so too." Madara dismissed Susanoo's armor, stood up, and looked again at the cracked moon.
Turning back to Black Zetsu, he smiled faintly. "You are the incarnation of my will. If I had created you, I would know."
"I underestimated the newer generation. I lost this battle." He sighed, but then his gaze firmed.
"The Rinnegan and the Samsara Eye are both divine eyes. There's no such thing as one being inferior—it's just that mine isn't fully developed. I can still get stronger."
"Let's go. We'll build up power again."
Madara levitated into the air.
Black Zetsu sank into the earth, then re-emerged to follow Madara on foot across the plain.
Trying to appear casual, he asked, "Did you meet the Otsutsuki clan on the moon? Are they human-like?"
"I didn't see any other members," Madara said. "They may have moved… or perhaps Toneri is the only one left."
He paused and stared at Black Zetsu. "And Toneri looks different from what you told me."
"How so?" Black Zetsu asked quickly.
Madara looked at him with a half-smile. "He calls himself a pure-blooded Otsutsuki. His Samsara Eye has fully evolved. And unlike humans of the ninja world… he has horns."
"H-Horns? A human with horns?" Black Zetsu echoed in disbelief, hiding his dread.
Horns.
This meant Toneri's atavism may have reached Hamura's level.
Could Hamura have left behind a secret technique for purifying the Otsutsuki bloodline?
Why was Toneri alone on the moon?
Could Hamura have seized the bodies of his descendants to prolong his life?
Black Zetsu shuddered at the thought.
He had to send White Zetsu clones to investigate.
Meanwhile, Madara studied Black Zetsu's reactions closely.
He didn't completely believe Izayoi's words, but suspicion had taken root.
Even more terrifying was the realization that Izayoi's mastery of Yin-Yang Release surpassed his own.
Those black spheres Izayoi used clearly involved Yin-Yang Release, creating not just matter—but natural disasters.
His own Yin-Yang Release, while theoretically able to create life, could only manifest Black Zetsu and black rods.
He couldn't create new materials or elements, nor could he generate massive elemental destruction.
Madara thought back to that vision in the illusion—Black Zetsu entering his body via the Outer Path Demon Statue…
Yin-Yang Release… possession?
If Black Zetsu really was Kaguya's third son, then perhaps Madara had only believed he created him because of that possession.
"The Divine Tree, the chakra fruit, Kaguya Otsutsuki, the Rabbit Goddess, the Sage of Six Paths, Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, Infinite Tsukuyomi…"
Madara ran through the ancient names and mysteries in his mind.
"Anyone who truly exists will leave traces. Even after a thousand years, the gods won't be forgotten."
Looking again at the broken moon, Madara found his purpose again.
"True or false, I'll confirm it with my own eyes. I won't let you destroy this world. The ninja world… I will protect it!"
Blue Yin-Tun chakra erupted, and Madara soared into the sky using Complete Susanoo.
Black Zetsu disappeared underground once more.
But just before he vanished, a trace of cold malice flashed in his eyes.
He knew Madara no longer trusted him fully.
That unknown man on the moon must have told Madara too much.
Why hadn't Madara destroyed him?
Probably because he didn't trust the moon man either—or was simply too arrogant.
Black Zetsu felt fear… and anger.
So close. If not for Obito killing the Three-Tails, Madara would have cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi by now.
But no matter.
Madara wouldn't give up on the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
He just needed to become the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki.
And once that happened, Black Zetsu still had hope.
He might even use that moment to test Madara himself.
Sneering to himself, Black Zetsu thought: "You who stole my mother's power don't know the true strength of the Rabbit Goddess!"
Meanwhile, on Earth, Izayoi had no idea about Isshiki's worries.
But his wooden clone had watched the entire conversation between Madara and Black Zetsu.
Though he couldn't fully understand it, their facial expressions were enough for him to piece together much of it.
And all the intel had been transmitted in real-time to the real Izayoi.
The clone was pleased.
And the real Izayoi?
Even more satisfied.
Because that attack—from the moon to the Earth—had hit its mark.