After preparing a lavish spread of food and wine, Hikari—just like the night before—took Yuki out for a walk, leaving uncle and nephew alone to talk.
Over drinks and dishes, Akira casually laid out his plan, as if chatting about daily life.
Madara had already "watched" Boruto through Akira's genjutsu, so communication was smooth.
"Uncle Madara," Akira began, "my plan is called the Ōtsutsuki Purge Plan."
"The guiding principle is: stabilize internally before confronting external threats."
"So it's divided into two stages."
"First—'internal stabilization.'"
"That means eliminating the local Ōtsutsuki."
"The Momoshiki-Kinshiki-Urashiki trio who'll arrive soon."
"Isshiki, who's been lurking here for years."
"And his organization, Kara."
"Purging them is the goal."
"To achieve it, I'll rely on Kaguya's legacy."
Madara's wine glass paused mid-sway.
"Kaguya's… legacy?"
But he didn't interrupt.
Akira continued.
"Momoshiki, Kinshiki, and Urashiki are just appetizers."
"Isshiki and Kara are the main course."
He paused, his gaze darkening.
As powerful as Isshiki was, as long as he failed to complete resurrection through Karma, Naruto and Sasuke could still handle him.
At a terrible cost.
Back then, Naruto burned Kurama's life to activate Baryon Mode, pushing Isshiki to the brink.
Sasuke, exhausted, was ambushed by Momoshiki-possessed Boruto and lost his Rinnegan.
They lost their trump cards.
And faded into the background.
After that, Kara's true terror emerged.
Amado's creations—
Eida, Daemon, Code—
Each implanted with divine Ōtsutsuki abilities.
All more dangerous than Isshiki.
Eida's power caused a disaster worse than Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Omnipotence.
A single move that robbed almost everyone of themselves.
Triggering nearly ten years of Divine Tree chaos.
Neutralizing these cyborgs was also part of Akira's "internal stabilization."
"During this phase," Akira said, "I'll gather more Ōtsutsuki intel to prepare for 'external suppression.'"
Internal and external were goals, not methods.
Madara nodded.
"And after inheriting Kaguya's legacy?"
"The second-stage method?"
Akira replied,
"My initial idea is to use Isshiki's Ten-Tails."
"Cultivate chakra fruit."
"Use godly power to fight gods."
"Form strategies based on gathered intelligence."
"Defend, counterattack, and strike proactively if necessary."
Madara drained his cup.
Visions of divine warfare flashed through his mind.
Heroic spirit surged in his chest.
Of course, this plan rested on one premise—
That the Ōtsutsuki currently lacked a supreme leader.
According to Momoshiki in the original timeline, the highest god—
Ōtsutsuki Shibai (also called Shibai Ōtsutsuki)—
Had ascended to a higher dimension.
A conceptual deity.
Unbeatable by definition.
If Shibai were still active here, Akira would flee with his family without hesitation.
Shibai's remains, left behind after transcendence, became Amado's blueprint for creating divine techniques.
If possible, Akira intended to seize both Amado's technology and Shibai's remains.
Divine techniques in his own hands would be invaluable for "external suppression."
Madara poured himself another drink and refilled Akira's.
Then he asked the most practical question.
"So how do you plan to collect Kaguya's legacy?"
Akira swirled the liquor.
Under the chandelier's light, its reflection resembled ten swaying tails.
He sipped elegantly, letting out a satisfied sound.
"Ee~"
Then he picked up some edamame.
"When you talk about Kaguya's legacy, the first thing is the Ten-Tails."
"Fifteen years ago, when Naruto and Sasuke sealed Kaguya, the Ten-Tails' husk—the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path—was lost in the initial space of Amenominaka."
"I'll retrieve it."
"Then recollect the scattered chakra."
"And restore the Ten-Tails."
Madara wasn't surprised.
"After that, you'll become its jinchūriki?"
Akira considered, then took some fried cartilage from Madara's plate, dipped it in salt, and ate.
"That's undecided."
"I don't know if Ten-Tails jinchūriki power conflicts with chakra fruit."
"And honestly, it's just a way for humans to imitate Ōtsutsuki power."
"Sealing the Ten-Tails to gain Six Paths power is already the limit."
"It works against Isshiki-level foes."
"But against higher-tier Ōtsutsuki, it's not enough."
"True," Madara agreed.
He had felt that power in the illusion.
He never underestimated the Ōtsutsuki.
Especially Isshiki.
If Isshiki fully reincarnated…
Even at my peak, after absorbing the Divine Tree, I might not win.
Naruto's Baryon Mode had been terrifying.
But like Might Guy's Night Guy—
It burned once, then vanished.
Madara poured himself another drink and downed it.
A toast to lost youth.
And unreachable heights.
Setting the cup down, he said,
"No matter what you choose, you'll need Rinnegan."
Akira nodded.
"I've got a plan for that."
"Oh?" Madara raised a brow.
"Let's hear it."
Akira wiped his mouth, hiding a mysterious smile.
"Uncle Madara, allow me to keep some suspense."
"It'll be revealed soon."
"Fine," Madara snorted.
"Let's see what you're up to."
He stood.
"Come take a walk."
"Wait, let me clean up first."
Akira carried the dishes to the kitAkira.
Wrapped leftovers.
Stored them.
Washed and sorted trash.
Wiped the table.
Nearly twenty minutes later, he came back with two trash bags.
"Let's go, Uncle Madara."
Madara sighed inwardly.
So this is married life.
Akira was his first reference.
Hashirama?
After Konoha's founding, Madara never even visited his home.
Not only Tobirama—
Hashirama's wife didn't like him either.
They lived in a quiet mountain village in the Land of Lightning.
Moon bright, stars sparse.
Fireflies drifted over grass.
At a clearing, Madara stopped.
"There's something I want to confirm."
"Do you still have my blood?"
"Yes. Plenty."
Akira took out a porcelain vial.
Madara dipped his finger and formed seals.
This Edo Rinnegan is authentic. With my blood, it should work.
——Summoning: Demonic Statue of the Outer Path!
Nothing happened.
The ground didn't even tremble.
The summoning failed.
Madara stood slowly.
He licked the blood from his finger.
No taste.
But emotion surged.
"I could sense that space… but it's too far."
"Even my Rinnegan can't summon it directly."
He looked at Akira.
"Since you're determined to retrieve it…"
"You must already know how to reach Kaguya's root space, right?"
"Yes," Akira replied, hands clasped.
——Summoning: Edo Tensei!
Boom!!!
A coffin rose.
The lid slid open.
Madara's eyes widened when he saw who lay inside.
"This is…?!"