Black Zetsu, dragging his long-desired PLAN B, moved swiftly underground, his mood exceptionally gleeful.
After so much bad luck, at least one thing had gone smoothly, and he even saved the Sharingan he had prepared just in case.
Originally, he was ready for Uchiha Naraku to die, and then revive him with Izanagi, but this kid actually managed to evade the final fatal blow and even used Susanoo, which was a pleasant surprise.
He was already impatient to bring him back to discuss the grand plan.
After painstakingly and diligently bringing Naraku back to the underground cavern of Mountain Prison, when he pretended to be loyal and presented Uchiha Naraku to Madara like a treasure, the latter's aged eyes widened instantly.
"Izuna... Izuna...?"
Black Zetsu:???
Uchiha Madara almost stood up from his seat.
He would never be mistaken; even after several decades, he wouldn't forget what Izuna looked like in his youth.
This young man named Uchiha Naraku resembled Izuna by at least fifty to sixty percent, and if he grew a few more years older, he would probably look even more alike.
His breathing gradually became heavy as he stared intently at the unconscious Naraku.
The young man's face, so similar to Izuna's, was pale and gaunt, devoid of any vitality, and his chest showed only a faint rise and fall, as if he would stop breathing the next second.
It was just like when Izuna was about to die in front of him, and he had been powerless.
Old memories, carrying the heartbreak of that time, surged and broke through decades of confinement, once again appearing in his mind.
Anger and grief almost drove him mad.
"What have you done!?"
His aged body erupted with intense killing intent, startling Black Zetsu into an involuntary shiver.
"Lord Madara, isn't this our plan?"
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Madara's feverish mind was doused with cold water, chilling him from head to toe, and his consciousness returned to reality.
That's right, he had agreed to Black Zetsu's plan to bring the successor here.
Yes... this is Uchiha Naraku... not Izuna... but deep down, he still couldn't help but associate Naraku with his younger brother.
What was the relationship between Uchiha Naraku and Izuna?
Could Izuna have left behind offspring before he died?
Twenty-four years old, it was entirely possible.
Or had his brother been reincarnated into the Uchiha clan after so many years?
Black Zetsu had previously mentioned that this child was gentle, exceptionally talented, skilled with swords, Fire Release, and genjutsu... He hadn't paid much attention when he first heard it, but now, these traits were exactly the same as Izuna's!
Could it really be reincarnation...!
Madara's emotions began to fluctuate violently again, but this time, the coldness and loneliness he had endured for years suppressed them, and reason once again took the high ground.
He lowered his head and silently sat back in his seat, his breathing becoming slow and steady.
Impossible, Izuna had long since died, died in this hopeless and false Ninja World, and would not return.
This brat was just a lucky fellow who happened to resemble him a bit.
Even if he might be Izuna's descendant, so what? He would never be Izuna himself.
Only by realizing the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan and creating that dreamlike and perfect world could war be completely eliminated, allowing Izuna and everyone else to find happiness.
Madara forcefully suppressed the stirring in his heart, motioning to Black Zetsu with his eyes, and said, "Put him over there."
Seeing Uchiha Madara return to his cold and rational demeanor, Black Zetsu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Who would have thought that even at such an old age, Madara still remembered what his brother, who had died decades ago, looked like.
For a moment, he even thought the other party would soften, and had already prepared three drafts of his persuasion.
Fortunately, Madara's mind was clear; he knew this brat was just an ordinary Uchiha, nothing to pity.
Uchiha, humph, he hated Uchiha the most.
Almost every generation of Indra was an Uchiha, stubborn as a mule, and always disregarding his advice and acting on their own; such difficult personalities were truly troublesome.
After all these years, only Madara, this Indra, had been easy to deceive and obedient, and also highly capable; he had reached this point with little effort, and with the addition of PLAN B, the liberation of his mother was just around the corner.
Looking at it this way, Uchiha didn't seem so annoying after all.
Black Zetsu thought, casually placing Naraku on the spacious bed nearby, revealing his blood-stained and torn clothes.
A sudden question came from behind.
"What exactly did you do?"
"Lord Madara?"
Black Zetsu turned around with a puzzled look, though his color didn't show much expression.
Madara frowned, staring at Naraku's chest, never having found a wound so unsightly and unpleasant.
He had to vent his anger, so Madara grumbled in a deep voice, "He has bloodline limit sickness, why did you let him get such a severe injury?"
Black Zetsu:???
You really do care about this brat, don't you!
Damn brother complex!
He hated Uchiha the most!
...Naraku, who had watched this whole scene in his mental space, was almost sore from laughing; if he couldn't reveal himself, he would have woken up to mock Black Zetsu.
Oh, oh, oh, isn't this Ōtsutsuki Black Zetsu?
Haven't seen you in a thousand years, so weak?
After laughing at Black Zetsu, Naraku asked the system to pull up the scenes related to Uchiha Izuna from the first season of naruto.
He wanted to observe them carefully twice more, aiming to make Uchiha Madara hallucinate Izuna the moment he saw him.
No other reason, it was purely too much fun to play like this.
Maybe if his favorability rating was a bit higher, he could even get more benefits from old Madara.
Having made up his mind, Naraku immersed himself in the great task of catching up on the anime and studying.
His body was fully entrusted to the system, which occasionally dropped hints to Madara... Two days passed, but Uchiha Naraku showed no sign of waking up.
If it weren't for his injuries gradually healing, his Chakra slowly recovering, and an occasional vague sound from his throat, Madara would have thought he was dead.
Troublesome brat.
Madara muttered words like 'disappointing' in his heart, his fingertips gently tapping the armrest of his seat, closing his eyes with a hint of annoyance.
Only then could he resist looking at the other person.
Ever since he saw that face, he always couldn't suppress the impulse in his heart to reminisce about Izuna by gazing at Naraku.
Each time he realized what he was doing, he had already been staring at the other person for a long time.
He, Uchiha Madara, the Shura of the Ninja World, when had he become so... weak.
The moment this thought crossed his mind, Madara, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and turned to look at the other side of the room.
He sensed that the young man's Chakra on the bed had become slightly active, as if he was about to wake up...
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