"What else is needed?"
Sasuke stared at Shigure, unable to hide the urgency in his voice.
Seeing the anxiety in his eyes, Shigure answered directly.
"A forbidden technique—Impure World Reincarnation."
Sasuke's expression tightened.
"That technique is currently in the hands of Orochimaru… and Konoha."
Shigure continued calmly:
"While I can restore someone to life, there are prerequisites. The soul must already exist in the Pure Land. What I do is create a suitable vessel and fuse the soul into it."
"That is not true resurrection."
If the soul itself had to be recreated—or forcibly summoned back from the Pure Land—that would exceed even Shigure's capabilities.
Even techniques that tampered with the laws of life and death had limits.
"That's why," Shigure concluded, "I need to cooperate with Impure World Reincarnation."
Sasuke didn't fully grasp the mechanics.
But he understood one thing.
If they obtained Impure World Reincarnation, his clan could return.
"So we just need that technique?"
"No." Shigure shook his head. "Impure World Reincarnation requires genetic material from the deceased. If you want to revive your clan, you'll need their cells."
Cells.
Sasuke fell silent.
It had been over twenty years since the Uchiha massacre.
The bodies would have long since decayed.
And after that night, it was Konoha's ANBU who handled the aftermath. Sasuke had never known what truly happened to the corpses.
The clan compound had grave markers.
But were there really remains beneath those stones?
His expression darkened.
"So… there's no way."
He had come so close to seeing them again—
Only to be stopped by something so simple.
Shigure glanced at him.
In truth, one person could certainly be revived.
Uchiha Itachi.
But Sasuke's silence spoke volumes. The resentment he still carried was deep. Mentioning Itachi now would only reopen wounds.
Shigure sighed softly.
"Not necessarily."
Sasuke's head snapped up. Hope returned to his eyes.
"You have a way?"
"Of course."
Shigure smiled faintly.
"Do you remember Danzō?"
Sasuke's gaze sharpened instantly. "Of course I do."
"Danzō's right arm was embedded with numerous Sharingan. If those eyes still exist, they can serve as genetic material for Impure World Reincarnation."
Sasuke froze.
"You mean… the Sharingan were preserved?"
Shigure nodded.
"The corpses may be gone. But the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan are too valuable to discard."
Unlike flesh, the dōjutsu itself held immense research and military value.
There was no way Konoha would simply destroy them.
"…Then I need to go to Konoha."
"You do," Shigure replied. "But Konoha right now…"
With Hashirama's resurrection and Kirigakure's rising dominance, tensions were already high.
Sasuke's fists clenched.
"I won't give up. No matter what."
Shigure studied him for a moment, then nodded.
"Good."
"If you've decided… come with me."
Kirigakure Hospital.
Shigure led Sasuke into a sealed ward.
"Lie down."
Sasuke frowned. "What are you planning?"
"To help you open your eyes."
"I already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"But not the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
Shigure's voice softened slightly.
"This was someone's final wish. Accept it."
"And if you're going to Konoha… you'll need this power."
Sasuke understood immediately.
Itachi.
His body stiffened for a moment.
Then, without another word, he lay down and closed his eyes.
Shigure began the surgical procedure.
Unlike Uchiha Madara—who could transplant eyes almost recklessly thanks to Hashirama's cells—Sasuke did not possess such regenerative capabilities.
Without precise surgery, forced transplantation would lead to rejection or blindness.
Chakra scalpels flickered in Shigure's hands as he carefully replaced Sasuke's eyes.
As he worked, a thought crossed his mind.
Hashirama Senju had already been resurrected.
If history continued to twist itself…
Would Uchiha Madara return as well?
Deep within Orochimaru's underground hideout, the air was damp and heavy.
Uchiha Obito stood before the man seated in the shadows.
"Madara…"
He spoke the name quietly.
Uchiha Madara slowly opened his eyes, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan spinning faintly.
"It seems," Madara said coldly, glancing around the cave, "that the task I entrusted to you has failed."
Obito's expression darkened beneath his mask.
"There was… an accident. A shinobi appeared. Extremely powerful. He destroyed all of our plans."
Madara's lips curved slightly.
"Powerful?" he repeated. "How powerful?"
"He killed Nagato."
Madara's gaze sharpened instantly.
"Oh?"
Nagato was an Uzumaki. Vast chakra reserves. Abnormal vitality.
And most importantly—
He possessed the Rinnegan.
With those eyes, and mastery over the Six Paths' abilities, Nagato should have been nearly untouchable.
To kill him meant only one thing.
The opponent was extraordinary.
"It seems," Madara murmured, "that an interesting figure has emerged."
Then his expression changed abruptly.
"The Rinnegan. Where are they?"
Obito lowered his head.
That single motion told Madara everything.
The temperature in the cave seemed to drop.
Before the tension could snap, a familiar voice sounded from behind.
"So this is the legendary Uchiha Madara… the man said to rival Hashirama Senju."
Orochimaru stepped forward slowly, a faint smile on his lips.
Madara turned his head.
"And you are?"
"Orochimaru," he replied politely. "It is an honor, Uchiha-sama."
Madara's eyes narrowed.
"So you are the one who used Impure World Reincarnation to bring me back?"
Orochimaru nodded without hesitation.
Madara gave a low chuckle.
"It seems you and Obito have already formed an alliance."
"That's correct," Orochimaru replied calmly. "The enemy is too strong. I had no choice but to intervene personally."
Madara leaned back slightly.
"What is this person's name? The one who has you both so wary."
Obito answered:
"Shigure."
Madara frowned faintly.
"He was once a shinobi of Konoha," Obito continued. "Now he is the Sixth Mizukage of Kirigakure."
Kirigakure.
Madara remembered it well.
Among the Five Great Nations, only the Land of Water had ever truly rivaled the Land of Fire. Not because of military strength alone—but because of geography.
If Konoha was the heart of the continent,
Then the Land of Water was the sovereign of the seas.
An isolated power, difficult to invade.
Obito's voice grew heavier.
"He has already secured eight tailed beasts. Only Konoha's Nine-Tails remains outside his grasp."
Madara's eyes lit up completely.
Eight?
So this Shigure intended to gather them all—just as Hashirama once had.
Obito continued, his tone tense.
"He likely knows about the Eye of the Moon Plan. He understands the connection between the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and the tailed beasts."
For a moment, Madara said nothing.
Then his expression turned dark.
Obito.
The boy he had chosen so carefully.
The successor to his will.
Not only had the plan failed—
Even its secrets had been exposed.
Useless.
Madara let out a cold laugh.
"No wonder," he said slowly, "you resurrected me."
(End of Chapter)
📝 Limited-Time Offer (Ends Soon): $9 → 20 chapters ahead
🔟 Pa-treon-com/LordMerlin
😊 Thank you for your support!