After the roaring noises finally faded into the distance, the collapsed mountain cave returned to silence.
However, the area had changed drastically. Large portions had caved in, and the poor mice that lived underground scurried around in panic before finally relocating to safer ground.
No doubt, Black Zetsu had the same thought.
"Whoa!"
As the rocks were pulled away, Black Zetsu looked down nervously and cried out,
"Lord Madara!"
"Lord Madara, are you alright?"
Of course Madara was fine.
He was Uchiha Madara, after all. He had seen far worse in his lifetime.
This was just a minor cave-in.
When Black Zetsu ordered White Zetsu to dig out the debris, they finally saw him.
Madara was unscathed.
Even with just a partial manifestation of his Susanoo, his defense was unparalleled.
Yet from his blood-red eyes and trembling body, it was obvious—he was teetering on the edge of losing it.
"Black Zetsu..."
The atmosphere grew tense.
Madara suddenly turned his gaze onto Black Zetsu.
Had he realized something?
Black Zetsu, an incarnation of Kaguya Otsutsuki's will, grew anxious.
To be honest, Senju Yukika's earlier words were deeply unsettling. They clearly hinted at his future plans.
Black Zetsu had no idea how Yukika knew so much.
But if Madara became suspicious now, all their careful plans would fall apart!
"Lord Madara..."
Black Zetsu cautiously approached, straining to listen.
His mind raced. If Yukika had truly planted suspicion, how could he explain it away?
"You know, after today, when I die..."
"When I meet Tobirama Senju in the Pure Land, you know what he'll say to me?"
Staring hard at Black Zetsu, Madara ground his teeth.
Black Zetsu was confused.
How the hell should I know?
"He'll say his grandson beat me up!"
"Even his grandson's dog beat me up!"
...
Black Zetsu's mouth hung open.
Honestly, he had no idea how to comfort Madara right now.
"Go! Make Nagato create the Rinne Rebirth! Now! Immediately!"
Madara roared in anger.
He could no longer endure the humiliation. It was the first time in his life he'd been so openly mocked by a junior right above his head!
Even when the Uchiha lost to the Senju during the Warring States Period, it had never been this degrading!
Why?
Because of the Senju—Tobirama's grandson!
"Lord Madara, won't that embarrass Nagato?"
The Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique was no simple matter.
Nagato probably didn't even know how to properly use the Rinnegan yet—at best, he could summon the Gedo Statue under extreme anger.
But mastering the Rinne Rebirth?
Impossible.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have needed to painstakingly search for a worthy Rinnegan vessel.
The Rinnegan was the pinnacle of ocular power, something not just anyone could inherit.
"Also, Lord Madara," Black Zetsu said, looking helpless.
"The situation in the Land of Rain isn't simple."
"White Zetsu's intel says Jiraiya of Konoha has started making contact with Nagato."
Jiraiya?
Madara sneered, "Who is that?"
"Doesn't matter," Black Zetsu replied, "He's closely tied to Orochimaru—they're cut from the same cloth."
"And Orochimaru… was that kid's teacher, fully involved in this mess!"
Black Zetsu felt bitter.
He never imagined a child would know all their plans.
More importantly, that child was a Senju, there to provoke Madara.
If they couldn't stabilize Madara now, everything would be lost!
"Lord Madara, our immediate priority is to relocate and investigate what happened to the Senju clan."
"How was our plan exposed? If Senju Yukika knows, does that mean Hashirama and Tobirama know too?"
"Worst-case scenario—is Yukika a countermeasure left behind by Hashirama against you?"
A countermeasure!
Madara froze.
Hashirama and… Yukika?
It was hard to say. After all, deception was a weapon of war.
Madara frowned, unable to calm his rage.
But Black Zetsu's words made sense.
The exposure of the plan concerned the peace of the entire world.
Madara wasn't one to be blinded by anger. Back when Konoha was founded, he had trusted Hashirama, believed the village would bring peace. He endured even though the man who killed his brother stood right beside him.
Yes.
The Infinite Tsukuyomi was the key.
After his resurrection, collecting the Tailed Beasts, absorbing the Ten-Tails—no one could stop him then!
But how had Yukika known his plan?
Madara was puzzled.
He was working on Infinite Tsukuyomi, and Yukika was building infrastructure?
It was laughable that the boy could talk so casually about it.
If he understood Infinite Tsukuyomi, he should also understand its consequences.
Yet Yukika didn't stop him?
What was that boy thinking?
He was the Senju Clan Leader—what about his clan when Infinite Tsukuyomi came?
Madara fell deep into thought.
It wasn't about the Senju anymore. Yukika's behavior had completely baffled him.
Besides—an infrastructure fanatic?
"Go, investigate everything the Senju have gone through these years," Madara ordered, taking a deep breath. "I want every detail—analyze the problem from the source."
He glanced at the wrecked base and shook his head.
Anger solved nothing.
Nagato couldn't act yet.
He had to endure—but only temporarily.
For Infinite Tsukuyomi, he would endure anything.
His vision was broader than anyone else's.
Yet Yukika's appearance made him wary—and, to his surprise, filled him with a trace of admiration.
Those who sought peace…
Was Yukika one of them?