"No… although that Uchiha Kaoru was born into the Uchiha clan… he's completely different from the clan members you remember, Lord Madara," Black Zetsu said softly, perhaps worried that Kaoru's past impression of the Uchiha clan might limit Madara's view of Kaoru.
"That guy possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan, and his eyes seem incredibly powerful. He defeated Nagato, so his abilities are likely even superior to the Rinnegan…"
As he spoke, Kaoru's Mangekyō Sharingan, which seemed capable of using any ability, flashed in Black Zetsu's mind.
"Eyes stronger than the Rinnegan?!" Hearing this, Uchiha Madara scoffed, his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan erupting with a sharp light.
"Black Zetsu, do you know the power of the Rinnegan? A mere Mangekyō Sharingan doesn't even qualify to be compared to the Rinnegan, let alone surpass it…" Madara said coldly, his tone filled with arrogance.
"Lord Madara, I know you don't quite believe me, but that's the truth…" Seeing Madara's dismissive expression, Black Zetsu's heart grew heavier. His entirely black face showed no emotion.
"Lord Madara, I know you don't quite believe me, but that's the truth…" Seeing Madara's dismissive expression, Black Zetsu's heart grew even heavier. His entirely black face showed no emotion.
Kaoru's emergence as a variable not only disrupted Uchiha Madara's plan but also his plan to resurrect his mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki… We can't let Uchiha Madara fail due to underestimation…
"We've captured seven Tailed Beasts and sealed them into the Outer Gedo Statue, but now that Kaoru has defeated Nagato… and taken the Rinnegan, we can't control the Gedo Statue. Neither Obito nor I are his match…" Black Zetsu revealed the painful truth in a low voice, one by one. "Moreover… we still don't know his ultimate goal."
"Things have really escalated to this point…" As he listened to Black Zetsu's narration, Uchiha Madara's eyes seemed to glaze over slightly. Having just been revived into this world, his face finally began to show a serious expression. He had never imagined the situation would become so dire. "It sounds like the current situation is very unfavorable to us…"
"Therefore, Lord Madara, it's up to you to take action…" Black Zetsu continued.
"It doesn't matter… You two continue with the plan to capture the Tailed Beasts," Madara said indifferently upon hearing Black Zetsu's words.
"But the Rinnegan has been taken… we can no longer control the Gedo Statue…"
Before Black Zetsu could finish speaking, Uchiha Madara's eyes widened. His Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan instantly merged, finally forming the ripple-patterned Rinnegan!
"Summoning Jutsu!" Madara slammed his hand onto the ground. Mysterious, complex incantations unfolded before him, and a massive, grotesque statue materialized out of thin air!
It was the Outer Gedo Statue!
This was the benefit of Edo Tensei. Although Uchiha Madara's own Rinnegan had been stolen, as long as he remained in his Edo Tensei body, he possessed another pair of Rinnegan. Unless he was truly revived, these Rinnegan would disappear.
"I can really summon the Gedo Statue… It seems that after Uchiha Kaoru took my Rinnegan, he didn't transplant it into himself. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to summon the Gedo Statue so easily…" Madara mused, looking at the statue before him. He had stolen the Rinnegan but wasn't using it. What was Uchiha Kaoru's true objective?
"So… we can continue capturing the remaining Tailed Beasts," Madara continued after some thought, his purple, ripple-patterned Rinnegan emitting a sharp, blinding light. "Uchiha Kaoru… I wonder what the truth will reveal about him… I never thought that in this era… I would find a worthy opponent…"
"Uchiha Kaoru is indeed an unimaginable opponent…" Kabuto, who had been silently listening to Madara and Black Zetsu's conversation, suddenly interjected. "His seemingly endless power… that power which even Lord Orochimaru greatly feared…"
"Perhaps he has already surpassed you at your peak…" Kabuto murmured, recalling Kaoru's power that seemed to look down on all beings.
"Surpassed me at my peak, you say…" Hearing Kabuto's words, Uchiha Madara glanced at him dismissively. "You lowly worm, don't be so presumptuous… as if you've ever witnessed my full power…"
"No matter how powerful that young man named Uchiha Kaoru is…" Madara said, looking up at the sky, his tone tinged with nostalgia. "The undeniable fact is… in this world, only Hashirama could ever contend with me… No, even Hashirama now means nothing to me…"
After a moment of thought, Uchiha Madara withdrew his gaze and asked Black Zetsu: "Where is that Uchiha Kaoru now?"
"The place where you once lived, Konoha Village…" Black Zetsu replied in a playful tone.
"In that case… I'll go meet that so-called greatest variable." Uchiha Madara waved his hand, exuding an unstoppable aura.
Uchiha Kaoru…
In this boring era without Hashirama…
I hope you won't disappoint me too much…
...
In Konoha Village, Kaoru was leisurely reading a book at home. His sister, Wan'er, was lying on the sofa beside him, her head resting on Kaoru's lap, eating snacks and reading manga.
The two of them appeared quite relaxed at the moment.
However, although Kaoru held the book, he couldn't focus on its contents.
Because Kaoru was deeply concerned about Black Zetsu's parting words. And, calculating the time, although the original plot had been completely altered due to his intervention, according to the original story, Uchiha Obito should be preparing to declare the Fourth Great Ninja War by now.
And… judging by this timing, in the original story, Yakushi Kabuto would also be seeking cooperation with Obito with his Edo Tensei army. He wondered if this plot had changed due to his actions.
If it hadn't changed, then he needed to be careful. Although Kaoru wasn't afraid of the Edo Tensei army, Uchiha Madara, among them, was someone he couldn't afford to underestimate.
Even as an Edo Tensei, Uchiha Madara could easily defeat the Five Kage, his power being quite immense. Since Kaoru hadn't fought Madara directly, he was still unsure of his true strength. As his Rinnegan was in his possession, a confrontation between them was inevitable. And what if Madara targeted Wan'er?
After some thought, Kaoru decided that he and Wan'er should further enhance their strength. His Sharingan had already been developed to its limit. How else could he increase his power?
"I wonder if that thing exists in this world…" Kaoru suddenly remembered something.
"Wan'er, go report to Lady Tsunade that my sister and I need to leave the village for a while," Kaoru said, patting Wan'er's cheek with a smile.
"Go out? Are we going on a trip?" Hearing Kaoru's words, Wan'er jumped up from the sofa and said.
"Something like that…" Kaoru said, rubbing his chin uncertainly.
"Great! I'll go tell Lady Tsunade right away!" Excitedly jumping up, Wan'er put on her shoes and ran towards the Hokage building.
Meanwhile, Kaoru began packing his belongings at home.
"Okay, Lady Tsunade agreed! Brother, are we leaving now?!" Less than half an hour later, Wan'er returned home, shouting excitedly.
"Let's not delay. We'll leave now!" Kaoru nodded.
"Great! Then I need to pack more things, like sunglasses and a sun umbrella…"
"No need. Let's just go…" Before Wan'er could finish, Kaoru put his arm around her waist and vanished from the room using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
In a sky filled with swirling yellow sand.
____________________
For more advance chapters visit my patreon
patreon.com/kane45
Tier: 10$ Casual Reader - +20 Advance Chapter
20$ Intermediate Reader - +40 Advance Chapter
40$ Expert Reader - +80 Advance Chapter
Update: "Monday to Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day"
"Saturday and Sunday - Off"