All things in the world originated from a single source—fire.
This was the true power of the Rinnegan.
Uchiha Madara felt both exhilaration and regret.
Sadly, he had only awakened the Rinnegan at the end of his life, when his body was already decaying with age. Madara was absolutely certain that if he had awakened these eyes twenty years earlier, he would have had more than enough time to activate the Infinite Tsukuyomi and reshape the entire world according to his will.
Now, however, there was no room for hesitation.
His next destination was the Naka Shrine.
There, he would use the Rinnegan to read the remaining contents of the stone tablet. Those hidden passages undoubtedly contained the complete method for activating the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
He would soon uncover the final truth.
Madara's heart surged with excitement as he carefully planned his next steps.
———
Land of Fire, deep within the mountains.
Flames roared through Yangyan Village.
Sakumo Hatake led his ninja unit with ruthless efficiency. The mission was a complete success. The village's granaries were burned to ash, buildings were reduced to ruins, and every ninja who attempted to resist was swiftly eliminated.
After confirming the destruction of all strategic targets, Sakumo led his team back toward Konoha without hesitation.
———
Land of Fire, Konoha.
Konoha Hospital was packed to capacity.
The corridors were filled with people suffering from missing limbs and severe disabilities. They had all gathered for a single reason—to receive treatment using the Limb Regeneration Technique.
Hope shone brightly in their eyes as they stared toward the Limb Regeneration Room.
Every time someone emerged from that room with a newly regenerated arm or leg, murmurs of awe and excitement rippled through the crowd. Although the regenerated limbs were slightly pale, softer in texture, and occasionally misaligned, they were real.
Living proof.
Proof that the disabled could return to normal life.
Proof that the Limb Regeneration Technique truly existed.
Those who walked out of the room touched their new limbs in disbelief. If not for the hospital's strict rules on silence, they would have shouted in joy and knelt in gratitude, praising Lord Orochimaru for giving them a second chance at life.
"Too many people…"
Tsunade pushed open the door and stared at the seemingly endless queue outside.
"We have no choice," Orochimaru replied calmly as he reviewed patient data. "Today is the first official use of the Limb Regeneration Technique. Naturally, there will be a surge of patients. It will gradually decrease."
He adjusted several machines and issued instructions to the medical staff. Then he glanced at Tsunade, who looked visibly bored.
"If you're tired, Tsunade, you can rest for a while."
"I'm not tired," Tsunade replied immediately. "If anyone's tired, it should be you."
She felt slightly frustrated. Most of the equipment in the Limb Regeneration Room had been replaced, and she wasn't fully familiar with the new systems. All she could do was check the physical condition of incoming patients.
Orochimaru looked at Tsunade in her pink nurse uniform and smiled faintly.
"If that's the case, you might want to change into a white coat or normal clothes."
"White lab coat…"
Tsunade glanced at her uniform, then recalled Hyuga Mio wearing a pristine white coat. Her fists clenched instinctively.
"Orochimaru," she said through gritted teeth, "do you think Mio would be more helpful here than me?"
"No," Orochimaru answered without hesitation. "In terms of medical expertise, no one in Konoha surpasses you."
Sensing the faint jealousy in her tone, he added casually, "I just think the nurse uniform restricts your movement. And… too many people are staring at you."
"I'll change after we're done," Tsunade said, her expression softening into a wide smile. "If there weren't patients and medical ninjas here, I'd really like to hug you."
Orochimaru frowned slightly as he watched the bustling medical staff.
"Once they fully master the Limb Regeneration Technique," he muttered, "we won't need to come here anymore."
He walked briskly toward the doctors.
"These parameters are wrong."
"I—I'm sorry, Lord Orochimaru!"
"You've added far too little nutrient solution," Orochimaru snapped. "Are you trying to grow a giant arm here?"
"Oh no! I'm terribly sorry!"
"Apologies won't fix mistakes," Orochimaru said coldly. "You're doctors. Making avoidable errors is irresponsible toward patients."
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru!"
Tsunade watched the scolded medical ninja standing stiffly and nearly burst into laughter.
"Hm?"
Orochimaru shot her a dissatisfied glance.
"I'm not laughing!" Tsunade shook her head vigorously, blinking innocently.
———
Meanwhile, the second phase of the Grand Resurrection Plan had begun.
As Uchiha Madara headed toward the Naka Shrine, Black Zetsu followed him silently from the shadows.
Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.
A thousand-year-long scheme was finally entering its next stage.
The Naka Shrine, once the secret meeting place of the Uchiha Clan, had long since fallen into neglect. Even during times of peace, few visited it. During war, it was almost completely abandoned.
Disguised in a black robe and mask, the aged Uchiha Madara stepped inside.
Dust covered every surface.
His eyes narrowed in disbelief.
How could this place be so neglected?
As far as he knew, the Uchiha Clan was thriving in Konoha. Even in their darkest times, the Naka Shrine had never been allowed to fall into such disrepair.
Madara moved soundlessly across the dusty floor, leaving no footprints. He located the hidden entrance leading underground and descended into the basement.
In the dim, flickering light, the stone tablet stood unchanged.
For a moment, Madara thought he saw the figure of Senju Hashirama beside him.
"Hashirama…" he murmured. "I'll prove that I was right."
His eyes shifted from crimson to ripple-patterned violet.
The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan transformed into the Rinnegan.
As he gazed at the tablet, information visible only to the Rinnegan revealed itself.
The husk of the Ten-Tails—the Gedo Statue.
The separation of the Nine Tailed Beasts.
The Infinite Tsukuyomi.
To activate it, one had to become the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki. And to do that, all nine tailed beasts had to be gathered and the Gedo Statue summoned.
A black staff formed in Madara's hand. He considered destroying the tablet—but stopped.
It should remain.
Perhaps another Uchiha with the Mangekyō Sharingan might one day decipher it.
But only one person could truly save the world.
Uchiha Madara.
———
At the Mountain Graveyard, Madara raised his hand.
"Summoning Technique: Gedo Statue!"
With a thunderous explosion, a massive, tree-like humanoid emerged from smoke and earth.
Madara stared at it in awe.
Such terrifying life force…
Could this grant immortality?
To achieve that, he would need help.
A scientist.
Shi.
If Shi refused… then death was the only option.
With cold resolve, Madara headed toward the laboratory base.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)