Ryou's hand touched the skin of the White Zetsu clone; it felt somewhat woody to the touch.
With a thought, Ryou mobilized the Chakra within his body to activate a forbidden jutsu.
Chimera Technique: Kekkei Genkai Plunder!
The Chimera Technique involves completely merging someone else's Kekkei Genkai cells into one's own body, thereby seizing their Kekkei Genkai.
The White Zetsu clone did not struggle; it was absolutely obedient to Madara's will.
Tobi watched, find it a bit frightening: "So scary, being absorbed like that. In a moment, he'll be squeezed out like poop."
Obito, beneath Tobi, stopped struggling and watched Ryou's actions in shock.
To be honest, he felt like he was seeing the real Ryou for the first time.
He was so unfamiliar that it was frightening.
Hidden in Madara's shadow, Black Zetsu quietly watched Ryou absorb the White Zetsu clone.
Ryou's appearance also gave Black Zetsu an opportunity. Nagato and Obito were both too naive; who knew what kind of trouble they would cause if left to execute the Eye of the Moon Plan.
It would be better for Madara to personally collect the Tailed Beasts himself.
Both Black Zetsu and Madara believed Ryou was a restless existence, but they were dismissive; even if Ryou had any tricks, he was just a clownish buffoon.
A Madara restored to his prime would be the number one person beneath the Six Paths.
Even if Hashirama were resurrected, he could not stop Madara with the Rinnegan.
As time passed, the body of the White Zetsu clone slowly shriveled, as if the entire person had been absorbed by Ryou.
At the same time, Ryou's white hair slowly turned black, and his figure began to become upright. In an instant, he regained his youth, transforming into the appearance of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old Sasuke.
Obito was shocked; an old man with white hair had turned into a young man in the blink of an eye, this—
No wonder Ryou wanted to defect, this is an evil technique!
Madara's Sharingan slowly widened, and his breathing became a bit hurried. He also wanted to regain his youth like Ryou.
Upon seeing Ryou's youthful appearance, Madara's Sharingan opened to its limit, and he couldn't help but stand up.
"Izuna!"
Uchiha Izuna's appearance was that of a standard handsome man of the Uchiha Clan, looking very much like Sasuke. No, it should be said that Sasuke was cast from the same mold as Izuna.
When Madara first saw Sasuke after being resurrected, he noticed the resemblance to Izuna and sincerely invited Sasuke to join him.
Even when Sasuke firmly refused at the end, Madara still didn't deal a lethal blow. If he had burned Sasuke to a crisp with one fire, there would have been no subsequent rescue by Yakushi Kabuto.
And there wouldn't have been the scene of Naruto and Sasuke joining forces against Madara.
This was Madara's obsession with his younger brother.
Ryou was a distant relative of Mikoto and looked very much like her; his appearance was also cast from the same mold as Uchiha Izuna.
So, the moment Madara saw Ryou's resemblance to Izuna, he lost himself for a moment.
Madara thought Ryou might be Izuna's descendant, but then he shook his head; Izuna had died young and had no descendants.
Madara's brothers had all died in the Warring States Period, and their lineage had basically gone extinct.
Ryou might be from a distant branch of the family, perhaps his grandson's generation.
But even if Izuna were alive, Madara would have to harden his heart for the sake of creating a world without conflict.
In the world of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, Madara's brothers would not have to go to the battlefield, and tragedy would never strike again.
After devouring the White Zetsu cells, Ryou felt a surging life force rushing through his limbs and bones, every inch of his skin trembling as it absorbed the newfound power.
His Chakra was now at the Jonin level, no, it surpassed that of an ordinary Jonin.
Moreover, because of the White Zetsu cells, Ryou now possessed the abilities of White Zetsu.
White Zetsu had so many special abilities.
Perfect Disguise, Chakra Absorption, Environment Fusion, Mayfly Technique, Spore Clone... he could even use Wood Release.
The current Ryou was like a White Zetsu that was not controlled by the original White Zetsu.
Madara could hardly suppress his inner excitement as he stood up leaning on his cane: "Good, very good. Ryou, quickly perform the technique on me and restore my youth."
"I will lead you back to Konoha. At that time, everyone in Konoha will be at your disposal, and I can even make you the Daimyo of the Land of Fire."
"Really?"
Ryou showed a look of surprise.
Madara nodded: "I, Uchiha Madara, have never told a lie in my life."
"Alright, Ancestor. I love Tsunade the most. Once we take Konoha, Tsunade must belong to me."
Ryou looked surprised on the surface, but in his heart, he understood old people best; they don't tell big lies, but they love to tell little ones.
"Fine, fine, fine, she's yours. Even the Hokage's wife can be given to you."
"Biwako! Now that's classy! Better give her to you, Ancestor!"
Madara had no interest in women, but to keep Ryou placated, he agreed without a second thought: "Fine, fine, fine, she's mine, she's mine."
Obito also wanted to join in and say Rin was his, but he was ashamed to associate himself with these two Uchiha scumbags.
"Come, Ryou, quickly restore my youth."
"Alright!"
Ryou slowly walked over, then suddenly looked behind Madara in shock: "Lord Hashirama, what are you doing here?"
Madara was confused, but when he turned around, he saw nothing. Damn, he'd been tricked.
"Haha... you old fossil, I'm leaving. Have fun by yourself!"
Ryou transformed into White Zetsu and instantly activated the Mayfly Technique to dive into the ground.
Obito struggled with all his might. Uncle, take me with you, Uncle!
Tobi held Obito down firmly: "Obito, don't even think about escaping, or I'll make you eat poop."
Madara turned back and couldn't help but chuckle: "Slippery kid!"
Black Zetsu was puzzled; according to the intelligence, Ryou didn't know Earth Release, and that Earth Release just now was so fast—it was clearly White Zetsu's Mayfly Technique.
This guy... could it be that by absorbing someone else's life, he absorbs their abilities as well?
If that's the case, he's slightly impressive and has some utility.
But, kid, when did you get the delusion that Madara wasn't using Genjutsu?
Ryou swam underground for a long time. In White Zetsu mode, he didn't need to breathe oxygen, which meant he didn't have to surface for air.
He fled desperately, fleeing regardless of everything.
It wasn't that Ryou didn't want to join Madara, but Madara was too dangerous. Ryou didn't know if Madara would kill him the moment he restored his youth.
Ryou touched his heart.
He really wanted to cut his heart out to see if he had been branded with Madara's Cursed Seal.
But he kept running and running, until Ryou felt like he was just going in circles, right up until he was hit on the back of the head with a club.
Before he lost consciousness, he cursed in his heart: Son of a...! You didn't block me from ascending, but you're blocking me from tunneling?!
"...Ancestor, I was just joking just now. You know, as soon as I become young, I like to joke around. Didn't you laugh just now?"
Ryou hugged Madara's leg and begged for mercy, while White Zetsu stood beside Madara like a loyal servant.
Ryou had been caught in Madara's Genjutsu and had been running in circles underground. As soon as White Zetsu returned, he found a White Zetsu clone with its own consciousness and wondered if Lord Madara had created a new one.
After seeing clearly that it was Ryou, he gave him a whack with a club and brought him up.
Madara also had to admit that he was truly old to have been fooled by such a small trick from Ryou.
He ignored Ryou and looked at the White Zetsu beside him.
White Zetsu said, "My Lord, Orochimaru seems to have discovered my spores!"
Having just witnessed Ryou's forbidden jutsu, Madara no longer needed to fear being discovered by outside Ninjas.
"No matter, he's just a poisonous snake. Once I return to my peak, Konoha will be nothing more than a group of clownish buffoons."
Madara then stroked Ryou's hair: "Ryou, don't waste any more time. Quickly help me restore my youth!"
"I imagine that for all these years, you haven't been able to be with Hashirama's granddaughter because of your Uchiha status. Don't you want to take revenge on Konoha?"
Ryou quickly nodded: "I do, I want to even in my dreams."
Madara said, "If you want to, then help me!"
"Yeah, if you stall any longer, Lord Madara will treat you like poop and lock you in the toilet."
Tobi shouted from the side.
Ryou lied through his teeth: "Ancestor, it's not that I don't want to, but my forbidden jutsu has a cooldown. I can't help you restore it right now!"
"Cooldown?"
Madara was puzzled.
Ryou nodded: "Yes, this technique is too perfect—so perfect that you only need to take someone else's life to gain a second one. Ancestor, do you think such a technique would be without flaws?"
Madara nodded. Every Ninjutsu has a flaw; there is no such thing as a perfect technique in the Ninja World.
"Then how long is the cooldown? I've waited all these years; I can afford to wait a bit longer!"
Ryou tested the waters: "Thirty years!"
"ಠ_ಠ."
Madara just stared quietly at Ryou, and everyone in the base stared at Ryou as if the air had solidified.
Even Obito felt that Ryou was lying.
Ryou gave an awkward smile: "Just kidding. Didn't I just see the atmosphere was too stiff and wanted to lighten it up? It's not years, it's days. Ancestor, you can still afford to wait a month, right?"
Ryou's technique had no cooldown. Could the fact that it cost a human life each time be considered a flaw?
To the powerful who did not treat human life as human, it was indeed a perfect technique with no flaws.
But people are not leeks; you can't just cut one crop and expect another to grow back immediately.
A life for a life, that was the equivalent exchange.
Madara's eyes slowly turned blood-red: "But now, I cannot wait even a single second."
Genjutsu: Hypnosis!
Oh crap! This guy is trying to control me!"