"Kid, Madara-sama lives just ahead."
In front of a hidden cave somewhere in the shinobi world, a man and a cat stood side by side.
"This place really is remote and deserted..." Renya couldn't help but sigh as he stood before the cave.
For Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama to live in such a secluded location, it would be a miracle if anyone managed to stumble upon them.
Even if Senju Tobirama himself came here, he would never imagine that two such powerful figures were living inside.
The two of them had secluded themselves deep in the mountains, living a reclusive life.
If Scar hadn't personally led the way, no one would have ever come here.
It could only be said that Uchiha Madara was far too cautious. To prevent his identity from being exposed and endangering the "Eye of the Moon" plan, he didn't hesitate to hide away in some forsaken corner.
When Renya thought of how Madara would one day rely on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to sustain his life, living like a rat in the gutter, he felt at ease.
For the sake of realizing the "Eye of the Moon" plan, he was willing to give up some things.
In truth, Uchiha Madara was pitiful as well—devoting his entire life to chasing a dream, only to discover it was nothing more than Black Zetsu's scheme to resurrect its mother.
Blinded and used as a pawn, yet completely unaware…
Renya intended to rewrite Uchiha Madara's tragic fate—but not now.
Madara's body was still at its peak. Even if Renya told him the truth, he would never believe such words so easily.
On the contrary, he would likely think Renya was trying to stand in the way of his dream of bringing peace to the shinobi world.
For now, Renya could only join Madara's camp, making sure Madara didn't make a move against those close to him.
Ten years from now, once Madara's strength had declined, he could reveal the truth.
Though he knew Madara still wouldn't believe him, with age his strength would inevitably wane, and by then he would be no match.
At that time, Renya could simply use his fists to convince Uchiha Madara!
No matter how powerful a man was, there would come a day when he declined. That was exactly what the saying "youth beats age" meant.
This way, he could both protect those around him from Madara's harm, and also keep Madara from being deceived by Black Zetsu like in the original story.
It was practically killing two birds with one stone!
Renya couldn't help but admire his own brilliance. I really am a genius!
With just a small trick, he could prevent the outbreak of the Fourth Shinobi World War.
If Black Zetsu ever discovered that Uchiha Madara knew the truth, it would be furious!
A plan plotted for a thousand years, so easily unraveled by him… just the thought of it was amusing.
"What are you standing around for, meow?" Scar had gone into the cave, only to find Renya hadn't followed, and poked his head out to ask.
"Coming, coming." Renya snapped out of his thoughts and quickly followed inside.
As he entered the cave, he noticed signs that someone had been living there, but there was no sight of Hashirama or Madara.
The furnishings inside were simple—two wooden beds, two wooden chairs, a clay stove, and traces of a campfire in the middle.
"Looks like Madara-sama went out, meow."
"When do you think they'll be back?"
"They should return before nightfall. They're probably at the river catching fish."
Renya nodded at those words and sat on one of the chairs, waiting quietly for them to return.
"So the cook really did come here for Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama!"
Seeing Renya enter the cave, Black Zetsu confirmed its suspicions.
Could it be that the cook really had traveled such a long way just to make meals for the two of them?
If that were true, then he was truly dedicated!
But Black Zetsu had a feeling that things were not that simple. It decided to keep observing in secret to uncover Renya's real purpose in coming here…
Its form melted into the ground, slipping silently into the cave.
Its mayfly technique was extremely powerful, allowing it to completely merge with the earth or walls, erasing its chakra and presence, making it nearly impossible for sensory shinobi to detect.
This was the very reason it had managed to plot in the shinobi world for thousands of years without ever being exposed.
In other words, as long as Black Zetsu didn't expose itself, even powerful shinobi like Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama would never notice its presence.
Not only Black Zetsu, but White Zetsu could also use the mayfly technique.
White Zetsu was an army of humans who had been absorbed by the "Infinite Tsukuyomi" thousands of years ago, transformed by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya as a means to oppose her own clansmen.
Since Black Zetsu was the will of Kaguya, it could naturally command White Zetsu as it pleased.
Its intelligence network was built entirely out of countless White Zetsu…
"Why haven't Hashirama-san and Madara-sama come back yet?" Renya murmured softly, watching the sky darken.
He had been waiting nearly an hour, yet the two still hadn't returned.
Didn't Scar say they went out to catch fish?
If Scar hadn't already left, he would definitely have given that fat cat a good questioning.
Half an hour earlier, Scar had happily dispelled the summoning technique after Renya promised him three grilled fish.
"Gurururu—"
Renya's stomach growled in protest.
After an afternoon of traveling, his body was indeed running low on energy.
Since he had no idea when they would return, he decided not to wait any longer. Better to fill his stomach first.
Renya took out some ingredients from his storage scroll and began preparing dinner inside the cave.
"This kid really did come here just to cook, huh…" Black Zetsu didn't even know what to say.
Noticing that Madara and Hashirama still hadn't returned, it sent a White Zetsu to look for their whereabouts.
By now, it should have come back.
Black Zetsu sank deeper into the underground, soon seeing the returning White Zetsu.
"Black Zetsu-sama, I found Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara!" White Zetsu said excitedly.
"Where are they?"
"They're in a tavern in town, drinking."
Black Zetsu: "???"
"Hahaha, Hashirama, admit defeat! You can't outdrink me!"
Under the dim tavern lights, Uchiha Madara leaned on one hand, the corner of his mouth lifting in a proud smirk.
The wine jar in front of him was already more than half empty, yet his black eyes were still sharp and clear, as if the alcohol meant nothing to him.
Across from him, Senju Hashirama's cheeks were flushed, his gaze slightly unfocused. But unwilling to admit defeat, he shook his head stubbornly and reached for another jar.
"Madara… I can still drink… I—I haven't lost…"
His movements were clumsy, spilling some of the wine across the table, but he still stubbornly filled his cup and tilted his head back to gulp it down.
Seeing this, Uchiha Madara sneered, "Since that's the case, I'll make sure you lose completely!"
As he finished speaking, he grabbed a sealed jar of wine, smashed open the clay seal, and drank straight from it.
Wine ran down his jaw, soaking into his clothes, but he paid no mind. His throat bobbed as he gulped, and in moments the jar was empty.
Senju Hashirama's eyes widened, then he too defiantly grabbed a jar and mimicked Madara, drinking recklessly.
However, his alcohol tolerance was clearly weaker. Barely halfway through, his arm began to weaken, the jar tilting and spilling the rest all over himself.
Black Zetsu, who had just arrived and learned of the situation: "…"
At the rate they were going, it was worried Uchiha Madara might just drink himself to death here…
"Ugh… Madara, you…" Hashirama mumbled incoherently before collapsing to the floor in a drunken heap.
Uchiha Madara set down his jar, his body swaying slightly before steadying.
He walked over to Hashirama, looked down at him for a while, then suddenly sighed.
"You clearly can't drink that much, yet you insist on showing off… What an idiot."
Saying this, he grabbed Hashirama's arm and hauled him up.
Hashirama's head drooped weakly against Madara's shoulder. His breathing was steady—he was clearly already asleep.
"Let's go. I'll take you back."
Supporting Hashirama, Madara staggered out of the tavern.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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