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"The Seven-Tails from Takigakure will be easy enough to obtain, but dealing with Iwagakure and Kumogakure—the two major villages—presents some difficulties."
Qianyu organized his thoughts before speaking. "That's why I hope you, Lord Madara, can assist me in stirring up conflict between Kumo and Iwa. When the time comes, I'll invite several great villages to jointly attack Iwagakure, plunging the entire shinobi world into chaos and making it easier for my people to act."
Qianyu planned to use this opportunity to eliminate Iwagakure, letting Konoha profit from the fallout while he fished in troubled waters.
Of course, the more important reason was revenge against Ōnoki.
Ōnoki, I, Qianyu, hereby declare the start of the Third Great Shinobi War! Qianyu thought coldly.
Back when he was weak, Ōnoki had schemed to trap and kill him. Qianyu had never forgotten that debt. Now that he possessed sufficient strength, it was time to make the other party pay.
Swish.
As Qianyu explained, the figure of Black Zetsu silently materialized from a shadowy corner.
Madara Uchiha glanced at him but paid no further mind, turning his gaze back to Qianyu. "Acceptable. However, I will require some time to make arrangements."
The White Zetsus could perfectly mimic anyone's appearance—even close acquaintances or sensory-type ninja wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
Coupled with the pawns he had manipulated over the years, with careful planning, inciting war between two villages wouldn't be difficult. Especially with Kumo and Iwa—two villages with an already poor relationship and equally overflowing ambition. They were basically two powder kegs waiting for a single spark.
"Good. Given your current… diminished state, Lord Madara, leave the remaining matters to me. I will acquire the chakra of the other seven Tailed Beasts for you."
Having received Madara's affirmation, Qianyu gave a slight nod, offering a reciprocal promise.
"With the power of the Ten-Tails and my medical skills, you should recover your strength swiftly. When that time comes, no one in the shinobi world will be able to stand in our way. Capturing the complete Tailed Beasts will be child's play."
"Excellent, Qianyu. Proceed as you've outlined." Madara Uchiha nodded in satisfaction, approving the plan.
Madara could tell Qianyu had his own little schemes, but it didn't matter. Once he recovered his power, Qianyu's petty machinations would become a joke.
Brat, as repayment, I will personally weave a perfect dream for you when the time comes, Madara thought.
Stimulated by Qianyu's words, the blood that had run cold in his veins for decades was boiling once more. He couldn't wait to return to his peak, to dance across the shinobi world, and enact his Moon's Eye Plan.
Unbeknownst to him, Qianyu observed it all with silent, detached eyes.
A motivated tool, eager to strive, was a good thing. How else would the boss make money, right?
(The harder the employee works, the faster the boss upgrades—not to a Ferrari, but straight to a Bentley.)
"Lord Madara, just notify me before you plan to make your move. I'll use the Flying Thunder God Technique to maintain contact with you periodically."
"Hn."
After discussing a few more details, Qianyu prepared to disperse his Paper Clone.
At that moment, Black Zetsu, standing to the side, flashed Qianyu a wide, creepy smile.
This kid's efficiency is truly remarkable. Far superior to Madara's in every way. Just a few words, and the Moon's Eye Plan, stalled for so many years, is finally moving forward.
Mother… just wait a little longer. I will soon free you from that unfilial son Hagoromo's seal.
Qianyu swept a glance over Black Zetsu but said nothing.
Laugh while you can. When the time comes and I pin Kaguya to the ground right in front of you, we'll see if you're still smiling.
Meanwhile, on the other front, Qianyu's main body had long since led the Konoha ninja in repelling the elite attacking force from Kirigakure.
It was a shame he hadn't run into Jūzō Biwa personally. He'd wanted to say hello, maybe ask if the guy was interested in defecting to Konoha and working under him.
"Holy shit. Not only did I get Yin-Yang Release, but I also successfully secured Madara Uchiha?!"
Just then, the memories from his Paper Clone returned. Qianyu blinked, then a look of wild joy spread across his face.
High risk, high reward! No kidding. This trip was definitely worth it. The haul is even bigger than I imagined!
"What's up, Qianyu? Think of something happy? You look thrilled." Nawaki, walking beside him, asked curiously.
"It's nothing, nothing. Let's hurry back to the village." Qianyu waved a hand dismissively.
"Tch. Always brushing me off," Nawaki muttered under his breath, turning away and ignoring him.
Behind the two, Nonō silently watched Qianyu's retreating back, saying nothing. She had a feeling Qianyu had been deliberately avoiding her lately.
Hmm. While the rewards are great, a recovered Madara Uchiha is also a serious problem. I must have a countermeasure ready.
Unaware of Nonō's gaze, Qianyu pondered how to keep Madara in check.
Looks like I need Orochimaru to start improving the Impure World Reincarnation. If we can bring back the Senju brothers at their peak, that should at least keep Madara pressured.
Time was of the essence. After returning to Konoha and reporting to Hiruzen Sarutobi, Qianyu went straight to the laboratory within the Root base.
"Lord Orochimaru. I've decided to proceed with the Hashirama Cell transplant directly."
Qianyu glanced at the busy Orochimaru, picked up several syringes containing the pale cells from the lab table, and spoke calmly.
"Qianyu-kun? Did something happen on this mission? Why the sudden…?!"
Orochimaru was startled. He immediately put down his experiment and rushed to Qianyu's side to dissuade him.
"Qianyu-kun, this batch of Hashirama Cells is still unstable! We should wait. A rash transplant could cause bodily mutation and death!"
They had worked together for so long. Without Qianyu's support, he wouldn't have come this far. For both Qianyu's sake and his own, Orochimaru didn't want anything to happen to him.
"Lord Orochimaru, 'stability' also means a loss of Hashirama's original power. I'm confident I can overcome the cells' rejection. Just watch."
Saying this, Qianyu took a transplantation syringe and, under Orochimaru's tense stare, drew three full units of the milky cell solution, preparing to inject.
"Qianyu-kun! That's far too much!"
Orochimaru's face paled. The "one unit" he had defined was theoretically the absolute limit the human body could withstand. Three units? Was Qianyu trying to get himself killed?!
"Lord Orochimaru, start the timer for me."
Qianyu smiled slightly and, without hesitation, pushed the plunger, injecting the Hashirama Cells into his body. Simultaneously, he activated his Yin-Yang Release, working to "assimilate" these foreign cells and make them his own.
Thump. Thump.
Orochimaru's heart hammered against his ribs. His golden, serpentine pupils were locked onto Qianyu, unblinking, terrified he might suddenly burst into a tree or die from organ failure.
"One minute… Five minutes… Ten minutes!"
Orochimaru's voice trembled as he called out the time.
A full ten minutes passed. Qianyu remained smiling, his body showing no abnormalities whatsoever. His chakra felt rock-solid, completely unaffected.
"Qianyu-kun… How did you achieve this? Please, you must teach me this method!"
A fanatical light shone in Orochimaru's eyes. He grabbed Qianyu's hand, his words tumbling out in an excited rush. This method—this path toward truth—he would obtain it at any cost.
"Lord Orochimaru, don't get too excited just yet. Let me show you something even more fascinating."
To make Orochimaru commit wholeheartedly, to go all out in perfecting the Impure World Reincarnation, Qianyu felt he needed to show off a bit.
"Watch closely."
Qianyu took another sample of Hashirama Cells. In front of Orochimaru, he extracted them and began manipulating them with Yin-Yang Release.
Under Qianyu's control, the cellular fluid gradually formed a twisted, humanoid shape, writhing unconsciously before their eyes.
"Qianyu-kun… You… you gave it life?!"
Witnessing this abstract spectacle, Orochimaru's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. His voice, quivering with excitement, even slipped briefly into a higher, almost feminine register.
"Strictly speaking, these living cells already possessed life. But your understanding isn't wrong. I used Yin-Yang Release to… shape that life."
Qianyu dispelled the technique and began painting the grand picture. "It's said this art can create all things from nothingness. I've only just begun to scratch the surface."
"Create all things from nothingness…" Orochimaru took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "Speak, Qianyu-kun. What do you need me to do?"
Tch. Communicating with a genius is so efficient.
Qianyu was quite satisfied with Orochimaru's reaction. He cut straight to the chase. "I need your assistance in perfecting the Impure World Reincarnation. The faster, the better. This matter may directly affect the survival of the entire shinobi world."
"During this mission, I encountered an enemy of unimaginable power. It's no exaggeration to say that even if the Five Great Villages united, they might not be his match." Qianyu's expression turned grave.
"So, Qianyu-kun wishes to borrow the power of the deceased?" Orochimaru mused.
"Correct. The shinobi world is on the verge of an unprecedented upheaval. We must prepare for everything before it arrives."
Qianyu gave a slight nod. "When the time is right, I will reveal the ultimate secret of the shinobi world to you. I promise you this: at the pinnacle of that truth in the future—by my side—there will be a place for you."
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru's golden vertical pupils glimmered intensely.
"Qianyu-kun, it's a deal then. For that promise alone, I will work day and night until the results satisfy you."
"Excellent." Qianyu patted Orochimaru's shoulder and laid out his specific demands.
"I want the reanimated to possess power infinitely close to their peak strength when they died. And they must retain their complete intellect and consciousness."
Orochimaru: "…Hah?"
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