The sky finally broke, and a heavy rain began to fall…
One of the White Zetsu clones carefully cradled Shiro in its arms, shielding him from the downpour as it prepared to return to their hidden sanctuary.
Shiro let out a slow, shaky breath, his tiny chest rising and falling.
It didn't matter who had found him. For now, at least, he wasn't going to perish in the storm…
This 'Heaven's Favored' talent is no joke! he thought with a sense of wonder. I can't believe even a creature like White Zetsu couldn't resist my charm!
Taking advantage of the momentary calm, Shiro focused his thoughts inward, opening his system panel to review its functions more carefully.
The system was called the Strongest Sign-in System. At set intervals, he could perform a "sign-in" to receive a reward. The current interval was a full year, and the system was only at level one. To upgrade it, he would need to complete randomly assigned system tasks to gain experience points. Leveling up promised to significantly shorten the sign-in cooldown and unlock more advanced functions and rarer rewards.
He saw a greyed-out icon for a system shop, a tantalizing glimpse of future possibilities…
The two White Zetsu moved with surprising speed, perhaps driven by an instinct to keep Shiro out of the rain. Before he could even finish exploring the system's interface, they had arrived at their secret base.
The entrance was nowhere to be seen; it was a completely sealed, underground space.
But this was no obstacle for them.
The Zetsu clone holding him split its torso open, creating a fleshy, hollow space. It gently placed Shiro inside, its voice strangely soft. "Don't worry, little one. It will be over in a moment. It might feel a bit tight, just hang in there."
The other clone observed, "It's strange. He hasn't cried or made a fuss this whole time. He even seems to smile at us every so often. I think he actually likes being with us…"
The clone holding Shiro chuckled with a hint of pride. "It must be fate! Let's hurry, I don't want the little one to be cooped up for too long!"
With a shared nod, the two Zetsu melted into the damp earth, sinking into the ground together…
Inside a vast, dimly lit cavern, the two clones emerged from the floor. They were about to announce their return when the main White Zetsu body, standing nearby, hissed at them. "Quiet! Lord Madara is giving Obito his final instructions!"
Ahead of them, two figures with spiky hair—one ancient and withered, the other young and broken—stood facing each other.
One of the clones whispered, "It seems Lord Madara and Obito are having quite the intense session in the genjutsu world."
The main Zetsu body snickered. "Indeed. The first step of Lord Madara's plan is complete. Rin is dead… Just look at the hatred in Obito's eyes. It's magnificent."
The clone who had carried Shiro ignored the commentary. The moment it solidified, it carefully opened its body and lifted Shiro out.
"Gasp… Cough! Cough!" The time during ye mayfly technique of zetsu had been brief, but it had left Shiro struggling for air. His infant lungs were tiny, and the space had been utterly devoid of oxygen.
"There, there, it's alright now. Don't cry, just breathe deeply," the clone cooed, cradling Shiro and gently patting his back.
"I cannot believe this! Why did you bring a human child here?!" the main Zetsu body demanded, its tone sharp with reprimand.
The clones had found Shiro without sending a signal back to the main body, which had been preoccupied watching Obito's vengeful slaughter of the Hidden Mist ninja.
The clone holding Shiro pouted. "Tgis human child feels so familiar. Check it yourself "
"Ridiculous! How could that be…" Just as the main body was about to snatch Shiro away, the figures of Madara and Obito stirred.
The genjutsu had ended.
The decrepit Madara spoke, his voice a dry rasp. "Obito, from this day forward, you are the savior of this world…"
"Now, I will bestow upon you the Uchiha's forbidden Six Paths Technique, and the secrets of the Yin-Yang Release…"
As he spoke, Madara placed a withered hand on the main White Zetsu's shoulder. A thick, black substance spread from his palm, consuming half of the Zetsu's white form before stopping.
"I have infused my will into this Zetsu. You may consider this half of it to be me. Use it as your guide…"
With that, Uchiha Madara formed a hand seal. From the chest of the great demonic statue carved into the cavern wall, a branched black rod emerged.
"Obito, that rod is the embodiment of my will. Use it when you wish to wield the Six Paths Technique…"
Uchiha Obito remained silent, his gaze fixed, absorbing Madara's final testament.
Suddenly, Madara seemed to sense something else. He tilted his head, and his ancient eyes locked onto the infant in the clone's arms.
"Who is that child? What is he doing here…"
Hearing this, the clone zetsu immediately scurried forward and presented Shiro to Madara.
"Lord Madara, I just found this abandoned baby. What do you think? Isn't he adorable? We should keep him…"
Uchiha Madara's expression was a cold, unreadable mask. He was not swayed by such trivial things as a Zetsu's whims.
He said nothing, but as he slowly raised his hand, a palpable killing intent flooded the cavern. He was preparing to extinguish the child's life without a second thought.
Though he was only an infant, Shiro felt that murderous aura wash over him, cold and absolute.
This can't be happening! Lord Madara, you were my favorite character! How can you do this to me…
Desperate to save himself, Shiro focused all his energy into a pitiful, pleading smile.
As the corners of his small mouth curved upward, Madara's raised hand paused in mid-air…
This child…! Madara felt a flicker of surprise. An indescribable sense of closeness bloomed in his chest, a warmth he hadn't felt since his brother Izuna was alive…
Seeing the shift, the White Zetsu clone realized Madara was also moved and immediately handed Shiro over to him. "Lord Madara, look closer! This child is truly special!"
He was. Even in a single glance, Madara could perceive something extraordinary about him. He found, to his own surprise, that he quite liked the infant.
However, what good was that now? His life was already over…
Madara held Shiro and slowly walked back toward Obito.
The three chakra transmission tubes connected to his back, which had kept him alive for decades, suddenly went taut.
SNAP!
The tubes broke. His borrowed time had run out.
"Ha… ha…"
The moment the connection was severed, Uchiha Madara's body buckled.
Shiro was startled, and his tiny hands instinctively gripped Madara's robes, trying to keep him from falling.
Madara staggered back and collapsed onto his stone throne, groaning weakly.
"Go, Obito. I am dying. In the time before you revive me… you… you must…"
"You must…"
"Hm?"
His final words trailed off. Uchiha Madara abruptly closed his mouth.
The next moment, in a single fluid motion, he stood up.
The action stunned both Obito and the White Zetsu.
"What's happening? A final surge of life?" one clone whispered.
The main body was incredulous. "Impossible! Without the chakra from the statue, Lord Madara should be dead!"
"But… Lord Madara, he's…!"
Uchiha Madara himself was utterly shocked. He subconsciously raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist. A strange, powerful sensation—a feeling of pure vitality—was surging through his withered body.
He took a few experimental steps. The chronic ache in his spine was gone. The weakness in his legs had vanished, replaced by a forgotten strength…
'Strange… why am I not dead? This shouldn't be possible…' madara thought to himself.
Just then, Madara's gaze fell upon the child clinging to his chest, who was still looking up at him with an innocent smile. That smile radiated a vitality that felt even warmer and more potent than the chakra of his old friend, Hashirama…
A stunning realization dawned on Madara.
"Could it be… because of this child?"