"True peace? Someone like you actually cares about peace? Don't make me laugh. Why don't you tell me your real reason for doing all this?"
Hearing Uchiha Madara claim it was all for peace, Isamu looked at him with open disdain.
No one would believe such nonsense. If it were truly for peace, he never would have resorted to these methods. Even while hiding away in this dark cave, he had indirectly caused the deaths of countless people. Just think about all the innocent lives lost in the Hidden Mist because of his schemes. Peace? What a joke.
"Believe it or not, I'm telling the truth. You know the stone tablet hidden beneath the Uchiha Clan shrine, don't you? The method for Infinite Tsukuyomi is recorded there, and those words were personally left behind by the Six Paths Sage. To achieve true peace, I've devoted my entire life to this goal. What could you possibly understand?"
The more Uchiha Madara spoke, the more agitated he became, eventually rising to his feet.
As expected, it all came back to that stone tablet.
Basing his entire life on something that had been tampered with by someone else… Madara's life was truly tragic. In the first half, he was overshadowed by Senju Hashirama. In the second half, he became a pawn manipulated by Black Zetsu.
A complete tragedy from beginning to end.
After a moment of thought, Isamu sneered.
"And you're certain it was written by the Six Paths Sage? Which eye of yours actually saw him write it? Besides, if he truly had the answer to peace, the Ninja World wouldn't be the mess it is today. He was just an old man who couldn't even resolve the conflict between his own sons, yet you trust him completely. I honestly don't understand what's going on in your head."
"Old man? What do you mean?"
Madara frowned in confusion.
"Heh. Fine, I'll enlighten you."
Isamu leaned back slightly.
"Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo—the man you call the Six Paths Sage—founded the Ninja Sect, the predecessor of the modern ninja system. He had two sons. The elder was Ōtsutsuki Indra, the ancestor of the Uchiha Clan. The younger was Ashura, the ancestor of the Senju Clan…"
He recounted the entire story of the conflict between Hagoromo's two sons.
So it really is him.
There was no doubt anymore.
No one else could possibly know events from a thousand years ago.
To think that he was actually Uchiha Madara's son…
Listening silently, Black Zetsu felt a chill run through him.
This was the same man who had ruined his plans a thousand years ago.
What did he want now?
"In the end, the talented and gifted elder son wasn't chosen to inherit the Ninja Sect. Instead, the younger son inherited everything. Enraged, Indra left with his followers and created his own faction. Their descendants continued fighting for generations, eventually becoming the Uchiha and Senju clans you know today."
Isamu looked directly at Madara.
"So tell me, do you really trust an old man who couldn't even settle matters between his own children?"
Madara remained silent for a long moment.
"I never imagined the ancestors of the Uchiha and Senju clans were brothers… nor that both clans descended directly from the Six Paths Sage. Where did you learn all this?"
"Don't worry about where I learned it. Just know that it's true. As for the Six Paths Sage, let's end the discussion here."
Isamu immediately shut down the topic.
If he continued, he might reveal too much.
Some things were better left unsaid.
Madara wanted to ask more, but seeing Isamu's attitude, he knew there was no point.
"We've talked long enough, and I've already figured out what's really going on in your head."
Isamu crossed his arms.
"When it comes down to it, this Eye of the Moon Plan is just your way of denying Senju Hashirama. There's also your lingering attachment to your younger brother mixed into it. Don't bother arguing. My conclusions are never wrong."
Without giving him a chance to respond, Isamu completely cut off any rebuttal.
Madara remained silent.
Because Isamu was right.
The so-called dream of peace was only part of the truth.
Deep down, his actions were driven by selfish desires.
Hashirama had always been his rival. Even after founding Konoha together, Madara still wanted to prove he was superior.
Destroying the world they had built together was, in a way, his final act of defiance.
And beyond that…
He wanted to create a world where Izuna could live happily.
That was the wish of an older brother.
"Alright. I've gotten the answers I came for. It's time for me to leave."
With a wave of his hand, Isamu dismissed the Truth-Seeking Orb stool and stood.
"Wait. I still have questions."
Madara stopped him.
"Ask. I doubt we'll meet again anytime soon."
Now that Kakashi Hatake had entered the stage and the Eye of the Moon Plan was moving forward, their next meeting would likely be during the Fourth Great Ninja War.
"What exactly is that black sphere? What can it do?"
Madara pointed toward the floating Truth-Seeking Orbs.
The corner of Isamu's mouth twitched.
He had expected questions about the clan, the family, or the village.
Instead, Madara only cared about power.
Typical Madara.
"This is a Truth-Seeking Orb, also known as Kekkei Mōra. It's a power beyond both Kekkei Genkai and Kekkei Tōta. It's created by combining all seven chakra natures—fire, wind, earth, water, lightning, yin, and yang."
One of the black spheres shifted shape as he spoke.
"It can transform according to the user's will. As for its power… it's essentially invincible."
"I see…"
Madara's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"Then—"
"Stop."
Isamu raised a hand.
"You can figure out the rest yourself. I have more important things to do. If you're just going to keep asking questions like that, then forget it."
Madara fell silent.
For him, those questions were anything but trivial.
Yet Isamu dismissed them as unimportant.
"Tian Qi—"
Madara paused.
"Will you stop the Eye of the Moon Plan?"
Looking at the white-robed figure before him, he finally voiced the concern he had buried deep inside.
Isamu laughed.
"You're overthinking things. If I wanted to stop you, you wouldn't still be sitting here talking to me."
He paused.
"However, I'll say this much: even if I don't stop your plan, someone else eventually will."
Madara frowned.
"The chances of your plan succeeding are infinitely close to zero."
The words echoed through the cave.
"Take care of yourself."
With that final warning, Isamu opened a spatial portal and stepped through it.
His figure vanished.
"Infinitely close to zero?"
Madara frowned deeply.
"How could that be? As long as you don't interfere, I will succeed."
He couldn't understand what Isamu meant.
After Isamu disappeared, Black Zetsu finally let out a breath of relief.
That troublesome man was finally gone.
Still, one thing bothered him.
Judging from his words, he clearly knew Black Zetsu was here.
Yet he hadn't exposed him.
He hadn't even acknowledged him.
Did he simply not care?
Did he look down on him that much?
Black Zetsu's expression darkened.
So what if he does?
Once Mother is revived, everyone who stands in my way will pay the price.