"Swish—"
After several seconds of silence, the flattened body of "Uchiha Plankton" began to swell like it was being inflated.
In the next instant, he revived on the spot.
Shock froze in his single eye as he stared at the two unfamiliar men before him.
Even Madara was visibly shaken.
Because it was precisely him who could grasp the true weight of what Akira had just done.
Rewinding time for an area…
And rewinding time for a specific individual…
Were entirely different concepts.
If Akira designated himself as the target of reversal, then any injury he suffered in battle could simply be undone.
Which meant—
Killing him in a fight would be nearly impossible.
As for Plankton, his experience was far less analytical.
He clearly remembered being destroyed.
Yet here he was, inexplicably alive.
The long-haired young man's eyes told him everything—
This place was dangerous.
"Whoosh!"
His eye erupted with a violent vortex as he tried to slip away through space-time.
His judgment was correct.
Unfortunately…
He was facing a monster who controlled time itself.
Akira, almost playfully, adjusted the rewind speed of Umotoryu to synchronize perfectly with the rotation speed of Plankton's space-time vortex.
"Whoosh—"
The vortex outside his eye spun and spun…
For a full minute.
Yet Plankton failed to absorb himself even once.
Midway, he tried to cancel the vortex—
But he couldn't stop it.
Akira stared at him.
"Fun?"
Sweat poured down Plankton's face.
He forced a dry laugh.
"H-Heh… yeah… fun. Really fun."
Akira spoke calmly.
"Tell me what you are."
"I might give you a painless death."
Plankton said miserably,
"I don't even fully know myself! I'm a failed clone of Uchiha Shin! Because I was contaminated with Hashirama's cells, I survived in this form!"
"I'm the only one who can truly use this Mangekyō's ability!"
"This eye not only retains Shin's power to control marked objects—"
"It can also teleport between marks! Even myself!"
"It's called… the space-time technique Futodama no Mikoto!"
"Hashirama's cells… as expected."
"And Futodama no Mikoto, hm?"
"Good."
"I'll make it quick."
Slash.
The moment Umotoryu ceased—
Akira's fingers shot forward with lightning speed, plucked out the eye—
And stomped Plankton flat again.
As for Hashirama's cells…
Akira had dealt with them for nearly twenty years.
He already had his own arrangements.
He had no interest in scraps like this.
He examined the eye in his hand.
Umotoryu already possessed spatial properties through the Time Zone dimension.
He had no intention of keeping the eye.
Edo Tensei enhanced by Midonō could accept transplanted Sharingan.
After transplantation, they would assimilate into the Edo body and regenerate even if destroyed.
Akira extended the eye toward Madara.
"You may not value its origins."
"But it's undeniably useful."
"Please accept it."
Madara possessed overwhelming ocular power and combat strength.
But he lacked space-time capability.
This eye filled his only weakness.
However—
Accepting it meant joining Akira.
Becoming his "like-minded comrade."
Madara's heart still carried unresolved knots.
He did not take it.
Instead, he asked,
"Give me a reason."
Akira's hand remained raised.
He smiled faintly.
"Does the answer to your earlier question count?"
—"Why did you choose me?"
Madara's gaze deepened.
That was the core of it.
He said quietly,
"Speak."
Akira's voice was steady and sincere.
"Up until now, our lives have been filled with loss and regret."
"That's precisely why we understand what the right path truly is—far more than those who've never stumbled."
"I'll help you truly reach the other shore."
"And in return…"
"Help me protect what is precious to me."
Akira's words moved like a gentle dawn breeze.
Ripples stirred in Madara's heart.
Like a pebble skipping across a childhood lake.
So there is someone in this world who understands me better than Hashirama.
And he is an Uchiha I've never even met.
He knows I didn't start the Eye of the Moon Plan for selfish desire.
He knows my greatest pain—
That I never truly crossed to the other shore.
He knows my regret—
That I spent most of my life chasing a hollow dream.
He knows that at the end, I acknowledged Hashirama's path—
But never admitted defeat.
He knows that more than anyone…
I longed to truly end this world's curse of war.
But knowing…
Is not the same as sincerity.
And not the same as truth.
I learned that lesson in blood.
Suddenly—
Madara stepped forward and grabbed Akira by the collar.
Their faces nearly collided—
One cracked and pale.
One warm and alive.
His Rinnegan burned as if to pierce Akira's very soul.
His voice was hoarse, heavy with madness.
"Akira."
"I was deceived once."
"I wasted most of my life."
"I have no time left to squander."
"So promise me."
"Don't lie to me."
Akira felt the crushing weight of Madara's presence.
He had underestimated the depth of Madara's pain—
And the resolve born from it.
"Alright."
"I promise you."
"On matters that determine the ninja world's fate—"
"I will never lie to you."
Madara spoke slowly, deliberately.
"Good."
"Then I promise you this."
"As long as you walk the right path—"
"Even if I'm reduced to dust—"
"I'll carry you to the other shore."
With that—
He snatched the eye from Akira's hand.
He lifted his robe.
And pressed the Mangekyō—Futodama no Mikoto—
Into the right eye of the Hashirama face on his chest.
"There."
"That should suffice."
Akira lowered his hand.
"Please take care of me from now on."
Madara snorted lightly.
"Enough with the formalities."
"It sounds awkward."
"Just call me what your wife does."
"Uncle Madara."
Akira smiled.
"Uncle Madara. I look forward to working with you."
"Mm."
Madara nodded in satisfaction.
His gaze drifted to Akira's wristwatch.
7:58 PM.
He remembered—
Last night, Akira had returned home exactly at eight.
"Let's go back, Akira."
"Don't keep Hikari waiting at the door."
"And at dinner…"
"Tell me about your full plan."