Land of Iron.
As a neutral samurai nation, the Land of Iron had always been known for its calm and peaceful atmosphere.
With its abundant mineral resources and expert smithing techniques, it had long been the top supplier of ninja tools to the various shinobi villages.
Merchants came and went in an endless stream.
But recently, one particular incident had shattered that tranquility.
Two Uchiha jonin—each possessing the fully awakened three-tomoe Sharingan—died mysteriously during what should've been a simple escort mission. The Uchiha clan would never sit idly by in the face of such a loss.
For two elite jonin to perish without even managing to send back a single message… this wasn't something anyone below Kage level could deal with.
Given the gravity of the situation, Uchiha Kagami, the clan's current representative, had no choice but to come investigate personally.
"Lord Mifune, I must ask for your assistance in providing all relevant information concerning the deaths of our clan's jonin within your borders."
"No problem. The mysterious deaths of your shinobi in the Land of Iron are not something we take lightly. The Uchiha and Konohagakure will receive a full accounting."
"I deeply appreciate it, Lord Mifune."
Kagami bowed respectfully in gratitude.
With Mifune's permission, Kagami launched a public investigation, deliberately ensuring his movements were visible to all.
He might be stronger than most elite jonin, but that didn't make him invulnerable to a silent assassination. By keeping his movements open and traceable, even if something were to happen to him, it would leave behind clues.
The thought made him sigh unconsciously.
Two close friends—killed over something as trivial as an escort mission. It didn't make sense. A happy family of three was now reduced to just one child.
Kagami didn't even know how to face Uchiha Kaien anymore. He dreaded the thought of the boy crying and asking him why his parents were gone.
The more he thought about it, the more infuriating it became. In his eyes, a fleeting crimson glow flared—within the three tomoe of his Sharingan, an unusual pattern momentarily surfaced.
"No matter what... this must be answered for!"
...
"Lord Madara."
In a pitch-black cavern, a voice echoed from the shadows, its tone grim. The speaker gazed at the man before him—eyes glowing with eerie purple ripples, radiating immense ocular power.
"How did it go?" The voice was steady, commanding.
"The two Uchiha who caught wind of the truth have been... dealt with. These are their Sharingan."
Black Zetsu let out a sinister cackle as he handed over two containers, each holding a pair of preserved three-tomoe eyes.
"Good. Clean up the rest of the traces."
Uchiha Madara, looking down upon the creature he'd brought into existence with Yin-Yang Release after awakening the Rinnegan, issued the command with icy detachment.
"Yes, my lord…"
Black Zetsu fell silent and stepped aside. Behind the two stood a massive humanoid statue with nine closed eyes and a lifeless, withered body. From its back extended ten spike-like protrusions.
It was the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path—summoned only recently by Madara after attaining the Rinnegan. This was the foundation of his Eye of the Moon Plan.
He had believed summoning the statue in the Land of Iron would go unnoticed. He hadn't expected two Uchiha to stumble onto the edge of the truth.
They hadn't discovered much, but the timing made Madara uneasy. Having just summoned the statue, he was feeling unusually sensitive. He ordered Black Zetsu to eliminate them before any more threads could unravel.
Toying with the containers holding the Sharingan, Madara used the Rinnegan to probe their chakra signatures.
"Oh? One of these three-tomoe eyes... it's on the verge of evolving into a Mangekyō? Was it triggered by emotional trauma at death?"
His interest was clearly piqued.
"The one with stronger chakra died after his wife. He watched her die."
So it all made sense. The grief had driven his Sharingan's power to its limit—but before the transformation completed, he was killed. The evolution halted right there.
"What a shame… no Mangekyō was born."
That was Madara's final assessment.
"Lord Madara, now that you've awakened the Rinnegan, shall we begin executing the plan?"
"No... not yet. Even with the Rinnegan, I no longer have the strength to take down the Five Great Nations all at once. Find me a suitable vessel—someone to serve as the container for my eyes. Nurture them carefully. When the time comes, use them to cast Rinne Tensei and resurrect me in my prime."
Madara brushed a strand of hair away from his face. His once-jet-black locks were now mostly white, streaked with only the occasional dark strand.
Am I... already old? he wondered, gazing at his own hair in a rare moment of introspection.
But with the Rinnegan... death can no longer bind me. This is the power of a god!
Although the Rinne Rebirth Technique had limitations, with the right vessel, Madara could return even after death—breaking free from the chains of mortality itself. That was why he dared to claim divine power.
"Yes..." Black Zetsu melted into the shadows again, off to carry out Madara's will to the letter.
...
Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi projected the image in his crystal ball for his three students to see.
"Take a good look. If there's any child who catches your eye, it's about time for you all to consider taking on apprentices."
The orb displayed a classroom currently supervised by Yamakawa Taiga.
By locking onto Taiga's chakra, Hiruzen was able to monitor the surrounding environment.
He glanced at his students with quiet pride.
Though different in temperament, each of them had reached elite jonin level at a young age. They were his greatest achievements—especially Orochimaru, whom he was particularly fond of.
He'd once taken them in as students. Now, it was their turn to pass the torch. That, to him, was the essence of the Will of Fire.
Just as he was basking in sentimentality, a brash voice cut through his thoughts.
"Mentoring kids? What a hassle. Let Orochimaru and Jiraiya handle that. Oh, and Orochimaru, do me a favor and take care of Nawaki too."
The speaker was a vibrant blonde with her hair in a ponytail, her figure curving confidently beneath her outfit—radiating untamed energy.
"Tsunade, you can't say that. These kids… many of them dream of becoming Hokage someday. They are Konoha's future."
Hiruzen chuckled warmly, clearly impressed by this batch of students.
"That blond brat... he's got something in his eyes. I like him. And let's be honest—he's as handsome as I was at that age!"
Jiraiya squinted at Minato's enthusiastic speech through the orb, a sly glint in his eyes.
"The Great Toad Sage said the child I take as a student will be the Child of Prophecy!"
"Oh please. You? Just pray you don't lead them astray. That alone would be a miracle—Prophecy or not."
Normally, Jiraiya would've punched anyone who said that.
But it was Tsunade, so he quietly unclenched his fists. Not worth the fight.
"I kind of like that Uchiha kid's dream," Orochimaru said suddenly, his voice smooth and magnetic, pale face half-shadowed. "To live... just to keep on living. It's simple, but... profound."
"That's kind of boring, don't you think?" Jiraiya raised an eyebrow.
"Only with a long enough life can one hope to master all jutsu. Don't you agree, Jiraiya?"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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