Hearing Uchiha Madara speak, Isamu—still lying on the ground—let out a cold sneer.
"Heh! You, who abandoned your wife and son, are quite something. How could you possibly remember a minor character like me? I'm nothing more than a passerby in your life."
Madara froze for a moment, clearly shaken. A vague realization surfaced in his mind.
"You… you… you are…"
The answer came immediately.
The White Zetsu on the ground spoke calmly:
"Looks like you haven't forgotten everything. That's right—I am your son. My name is Uchiha Tensei."
The White Zetsu Main Body widened its eyes in shock.
"So it's you… You actually managed to find this place."
Madara dismissed his Limbo clones at once. Complex emotions filled his gaze as he looked at his son. He had never imagined that Isamu could locate him on his own.
Freed from restraint, Isamu stood up and walked slowly toward him.
When he stopped in front of Madara, neither spoke.
They simply stared at each other.
Like father and son, their expressions were identical—heads slightly raised, eyes filled with arrogance. Neither yielded an inch.
Then—
Without warning—
Isamu clenched his fist and punched Madara straight in the face.
"You—! What are you doing—" the White Zetsu Main Body shouted, stepping forward, only to be stopped.
"Stay out of this," Madara said calmly. "This is my affair."
He wiped the trace of blood from the corner of his mouth and looked back at Isamu. Despite the attack, he didn't retaliate.
Seeing this, Isamu was slightly surprised. Given Madara's pride, he should've exploded with rage. Instead, he remained calm.
Isamu spoke:
"That punch was for my mother. You failed to protect her. You failed your duty as a husband. You can't deny that, can you?"
Madara gave a small nod.
He didn't argue.
Back then, his marriage had only been a formality forced by the clan. He had never truly cared. Thinking back now, he knew he had failed her.
Seeing no response, Isamu raised his other fist, ready to strike again.
Madara didn't move.
Didn't dodge.
Didn't resist.
He simply stood there, waiting.
But just as the fist reached his face—
Isamu stopped.
The punch hovered a centimeter away.
Then, instead of striking, he lightly tapped Madara's chest.
"I was going to throw that one for myself," Isamu said quietly. "But after seeing your actions through White Zetsu's memories… I know you cared, in your own way."
"I'm not heartless. And as your son… I don't have the right to hit you for that."
With that, Isamu turned and walked out of the stone chamber.
Madara stood there in silence.
For the first time in a long time, something stirred in his chest.
He placed a hand over his heart and closed his eyes.
That feeling—
It was familiar.
Family.
Since Uchiha Izuna had died, he hadn't felt it again.
And yet now…
It had returned.
Inside the shadows, Black Zetsu remained completely still, barely daring to breathe.
Damn it… how did he find this place?
Unlike Madara, Isamu wasn't easy to manipulate. If he discovered the truth, everything would collapse.
Madara cared too much about his son—using him to eliminate Isamu was impossible.
Now, all Black Zetsu could do… was hope Isamu didn't notice anything.
For the first time in a thousand years—
He felt uneasy.
Outside the cave, however, Isamu had none of those concerns.
He was practically bursting with excitement.
"Heh… that was incredible!"
"Totally worth rushing here without even eating!"
"I actually punched Madara—and he didn't fight back! That's insane!"
"Susanoo Madara, Rinnegan Madara… and they still took a hit from me!"
"Even Hashirama never got that treatment!"
"That privilege belongs to me alone!"
"I'm seriously on another level right now!"
Just as he was enjoying himself—
A White Zetsu suddenly popped out of the ground.
"Hi, Uchiha Tensei."
"—WHAT THE—?!" Isamu jumped back. "Don't you know that kind of thing can scare someone to death?! Give a warning before you pop up like that!"
The White Zetsu tilted its head, confused.
"But… I greeted you?"
Three question marks practically floated above its head.
Isamu sighed, speechless.
I can't exactly tell you I'm celebrating hitting Madara…
"Never mind. What do you want?" he asked. "You didn't come just to say hi, right?"
"Oh, right," White Zetsu said. "Lord Madara asked me to show you around the base. Later, he wants to have a… what was it called…"
It paused, thinking hard.
"Oh! A family dinner!"
Then it added curiously:
"By the way… is 'family dinner' something tasty?"
Isamu stared at it.
"…You're kidding, right?"
Then he rubbed his forehead.
"It's not a type of food. It means family members gathering together to eat."
"Ohhh…" White Zetsu nodded.
"…Tch. I thought it was something delicious. What a disappointment."
Isamu was completely speechless.
These things really are… something else.
He even started wondering—
Are they defective… or is this just what happens when you're made from Hashirama's cells?
The more he thought about it—
The more it made sense.
Yeah… that's definitely the reason.