Ruri frowned deeply, puzzled.
"But what's that person even after? Don't tell me she really thought just saying a few words would make you abandon your plan. What a joke."
"You're right. For now, I'll just stick to my original plan."
Though a bit reckless, Mitsuki still decided to go through with his plan to attack Kirigakure in the Land of Water.
In today's shinobi world, Mitsuki was confident that no one could stop someone like him who had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique. With that jutsu ensuring his safety, he didn't believe there was anyone in the Land of Water who could truly threaten him.
Ruri spoke up. "If that's how it is, then I'm coming too."
But Mitsuki immediately rejected that idea.
"No. I'll move more freely alone. If anything unexpected happens, I can teleport away instantly with the Flying Thunder God."
If his only enemies were the shinobi of Kirigakure, taking Ruri along wouldn't have been a problem. But now that the enemy was unknown, ensuring mobility was his top priority.
Confidence was good—arrogance was not.
…
Land of Water – a dark underground chamber.
There, in the shadows, lived an old man—one who had survived by faking his death after a life-or-death battle with Hashirama.
That man was Uchiha Madara.
"Lord Madara, here's the intel you asked for—information on Uchiha clan members who might make suitable pawns."
A half-white, spike-covered Black Zetsu handed a scroll to the shriveled old man.
The old man, with pipes connected to his back, snatched it from his hand—it was indeed Uchiha Madara.
He scanned through the first report, his face twisting in irritation.
"Uchiha Ruri? Why are you showing me a report about some little girl? Have you grown lazy lately?"
Zetsu gave a helpless shrug.
"Lord Madara, this girl — Uchiha Ruri— has shown exceptional talent. She's already awakened a Three-Tomoe Sharingan."
Madara scoffed. "A mere girl. Awakening the Sharingan early doesn't mean much for an Uchiha."
Still grumbling, Madara continued reading. Then two names caught his attention.
"Uchiha Shisui… suspected to have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, huh?"
Catching that, Zetsu added,
"He hasn't demonstrated any Mangekyō abilities yet, but his strength far surpasses those with just the normal Three-Tomoe Sharingan."
Madara raised a brow. To think that even in this age of weak-willed Uchiha, one of them had managed to awaken the Mangekyō.
But that very strength made him unsuitable as a puppet. The stronger they were, the harder to control.
Then another name in the scroll drew his attention.
"Uchiha Obito?"
Zetsu tilted his head. "Lord Madara, this one's talent is rather low. He hasn't awakened his Sharingan yet, and he's not the sharpest tool in the shed either. His only redeeming trait seems to be his kindness—he's always helping old people."
Madara chuckled darkly.
"Hmph. The best soil for a Mangekyō to bloom in… is an Uchiha filled with love. A simple mind is easier to manipulate. If he likes helping old people so much—he can start by helping me."
"Uh…"
Even Zetsu couldn't quite follow Madara's logic, but well—he was the boss.
Madara stepped down from his chair, stretching his frail body. He spent most of his time asleep, waking only when Zetsu brought something truly important.
After finishing Obito's report, Madara asked, "And this Shimizu Mitsuki—who exactly is he?"
At that, Zetsu perked up, suddenly full of energy. He eagerly began reciting every bit of war intel he'd gathered in recent times, spilling it all out like beans from a sack.
If anyone were to ask who had made the biggest waves in the shinobi world lately, Shimizu Mitsuki would definitely be on that list—after all, he was the one who had single-handedly ended wars between two major Hidden Villages.
But what intrigued Madara wasn't Mitsuki's military prowess.
It was his connection — to Uchiha Obito.
According to Zetsu's reports, the person who had the greatest emotional influence on Obito wasn't his teacher, Minato, nor his teammates Kakashi or Rin—but rather Mitsuki.
Madara's mind immediately began working, plotting how to use that bond to lure Obito into darkness.
The simplest way? Set up a situation where Mitsuki is killed.
Obito clearly held an almost blind admiration for him. If he were to witness Mitsuki — someone he saw as invincible—die as just another casualty of the shinobi world's endless wars, the shock would shatter his ideals and drive him to reject the world entirely.
But that alone wouldn't be enough. To ensure Obito's complete collapse, Madara needed something more—a greater trauma.
He tapped his fingers together in thought.
Given Mitsuki's strength — on par with the Five Kage — and his mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique, Madara needed a way to trap him. Something that could stop him from escaping.
Just like how the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers once killed that cunning Tobirama.
"Does this Mitsuki have anything—or anyone—he holds dear?" Madara asked, opening his eyes slightly.
Zetsu tilted his head, thinking hard. "From what we can tell, Mitsuki is the perfect embodiment of the Will of Fire. He cares deeply for all shinobi of Konoha."
Seeing Madara's dissatisfied expression, Zetsu quickly added, "But if we're talking about who's most important to him, that would probably be his childhood friend Nohara Rin. Others who matter to him include Kakashi Hatake, Uchiha Ruri, Heiji Hyūga, and Tsunade Senju."
Madara leaned back into his chair and closed his eyes in thought.
Rin, Heiji, and Tsunade—all were within Konoha's walls. Reaching them would be too difficult.
That left only the two who were currently on the battlefield: Ruri and Kakashi.
He'd have to observe a bit more before deciding which to use as bait—but given their current proximity, Ruri and Mitsuki being on the same battlefield made things very convenient indeed.
If he could lure the two of them to the Land of Water, he could personally step in—use genjutsu to take control of Ruri, force her to kill Mitsuki, and then frame Kirigakure for their deaths.
That would push Obito straight into the abyss.
Madara glanced around the chamber and asked, "Where's White Zetsu?"
Zetsu shrugged. "No idea. Probably out there… observing humans taking a dump again."
"Hmph. That idiot. No surprise, considering he's a worthless clone made from Hashirama's cells. I'm going back to sleep for now. Keep an eye on Ruri—and find a way to lure her to the Land of Water."
"Yes, Lord Madara."