The blood moon hung overhead, its crimson light shrouding the entire land as a suffocating stench of blood filled the air.
Catching that nauseating scent, Uchiha Asuka, who had just regained control of his body, frowned slightly. His gaze briefly swept past Madara before he continued staring blankly at the Ten-Tails in the distance.
Sensing the change in the young man beside him once more, Madara crossed his arms over his chest and said calmly.
"Are you surprised that I know about the stone tablet?"
Asuka nodded lightly. Just as he was about to say something, Uchiha Madara raised a hand to cut him off. "I followed the method recorded on the tablet and did indeed awaken the Rinnegan. That proves the contents of the tablet are real."
At this point, Madara paused, and his gaze toward the Ten-Tails became somewhat more complicated.
Long before awakening the Rinnegan, he had already sensed that something was amiss with the tablet's contents. He had also noticed the flaws in the "Infinite Tsukuyomi" plan.
However, with the awakening of those "Sage's Eyes" and the explosive growth of his power, the Infinite Tsukuyomi that had once filled him with doubts no longer seemed quite so worthy of caution.
Then Uchiha Madara lowered his eyes slightly. The tablet's contents surfaced in his mind as he said quietly, "Before awakening the Rinnegan, I also resisted this plan. I also wanted to change everything through my own efforts and find a way to bring peace to the Ninja World."
"But after Hashirama died, he failed to accomplish it. After I awakened the Rinnegan, I failed to accomplish it."
After saying that, he glanced at the silent Asuka before lifting his head to look at the Ten-Tails in the distance.
The writing on that stone tablet was at